Passion

Lisa Valdez's Passion is another book I bought at the literacy signing. It's getting considerable buzz at review sites and blogs, so I decided to give it a try. I'm so glad I did: 4 out of 5.

Mark and Passion (named by her father after Passion Sunday, when she was born) meet at Crystal Palace. They feel an instant attraction, and their first encounter results in steamy sex behind a large screen. While the attraction is initially physical, they continue to meet behind the screen. With each encounter, their feelings deepen.

As others have mentioned, I thought it was pretty incredible that Passion and Mark could have sex behind a screen in such a busy place without being noticed. There's also one sex scene where I thought, ouch. But it's a compliment to Valdez's skill that I was able to get past these moments and enjoy the fantasy.

There are many sex scenes, they are explicit, and they start early in the book. Readers who prefer more vague descriptions should be warned. I liked the fact that the sex reflects the evolving relationship; it didn't feel gratuitous. Passion is an engrossing read with a nice love story at the center.