If you're looking for a book in which two people who split up as teens are reunited 13 years later for a week of lots of "no-strings" sex, this is the book for you. As you might expect, the no-strings thing doesn't work. Darn those feelings.
Rosie and Leo dated as high schoolers, splitting up when Leo left to escape his stifling rich parents and Rosie stayed put to take care of her younger siblings (see books 1 and 2 in this series). The break-up is mutual, it's not contentious and they always knew it was coming. In the intervening 13 years, Rosie got married and then divorced. Leo traveled the country selling his art and having a whole lot of sex. And then making art of him and his friends having sex.
I described this book to a friend as "he likes being bossed around and she likes doing the bossing." He asks her what she wants during the week he's back in town and she makes a sex list. It's very specific. Then they work through the list. There's kink, but it's reliant upon conversation. For example, he tells her he likes to be slapped but not super hard and he's not really into whipping/flogging. They also talk during sex, which is creative and refreshingly low on PIV interaction compared to other acts. Lots of toys, some pegging, much edging, etc. There's also a group sex scene and a scene in which she asks Leo and his good friend to have sex for her to watch. Leo's up for a lot and it's pretty great. He's pansexual and seems to just really like making people feel good. He also has lots of ink etc. Rosie is a kindergarten teacher and everyone thinks she's sweet. And she is! She's also enjoying exploring the sex she didn't get to have with her bad ex-husband.
This is very much an erotic romance. They have a strong bond from years ago, things like bottle rockets reminding them of the last summer they spent together, but they're also re-learning each other and re-connecting through sex. Their chemistry is excellent and McLellan continues to be a skilled writer.
Romance readers will know how this ends and honestly, I tired of the sex (LOL, I know) but if you're looking for a very hot read with both real and metaphorical fireworks, this will do the job well.
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Suzanne received a copy of this book for review.
Content Warnings: mild kink, references to cheating, strained/non-existent parental relationships, heroine raised her siblings. probably more that I'm forgetting, I'm sorry!