A Black Tie Affair [Mass Market Paperback]

Sherrill Bodine (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: January 1, 2010

SUITED FOR SEDUCTION

Fashion curator Athena Smith will do anything to get her perfectly manicured hands on the Clayworth family's celebrated couture collection for her exhibit. So when she's called in to make sure the gowns are the real deal, she's ecstatic...until a dress she's examining turns out to be loaded with toxins (talk about killer threads!) and Athena faints, only to wake up face-to-face with the One That Got Away, notorious Chicago bachelor Drew Clayworth.

Drew still believes Athena betrayed him all those years ago, and he's sure he can't trust her. But when the priceless gowns go missing, she offers to help track them down. Reluctantly allied in the quest, Drew and Athena are soon stunned by the barely restrained passion still sizzling between them...and memories both bitter and sweet. Is their new partnership just a business arrangement? Or is this something more than...

A BLACK TIE AFFAIR

Editorial Reviews

Review

GLOWING PRAISE FOR SHERRILL BODINE AND TALK OF THE TOWN:

"Talk of the Town is like a box of the heroine's decadent chocolates--impossible to resist."
--New York Times bestselling author Sherryl Woods

"I love this book! Fizzy, frothy fun expertly blended with sexy romance, powerful friendships, much warmth, and lots of laughter. Don't miss this witty and wonderful page turner."
--New York Times bestselling author Barbara Bretton

"A recipe for a rousing good time, in Talk of the Town, Sherrill Bodine serves up a modern fairy tale that's dishy, delicious, and utterly delightful."
--New York Times bestselling author Connie Brockway

"A funny, energetic and charming story that's sure to entertain many readers...The depth and reality of Bodine's characters make the story come alive, and readers will finish the novel with a happy feeling inside."
--Romantic Times BOOKreviews Magazine

About the Author

Sherrill Bodine has been writing stories since junior high, when she won a pair of silver skates in a state-wide essay contest. While moving twenty-two times back and forth across America and rearing her four children, she published fifteen award-winning novels under two pseudoynyms (Lynn Leslie/Leslie Lynn). Now she's decided to be herself and write about the people, parties, and high-life in the city she knows best: Chicago. When she's not in the Windy City with her husband, family, and Newfoundland and pug dogs, she's fulfilling her passion to travel to exotic locales around the world. You can visit Sherrill online at www.sherrillbodine.com.

Product Details

• Mass Market Paperback: 240 pages
• Publisher: Forever; 1 edition (January 1, 2010)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0446618594
• ISBN-13: 978-0446618595
• Product Dimensions: 4.2 x 0.6 x 6.8 inches
• Shipping Weight: 4.8 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 3.5 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (17 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #509,602 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

4 of 4 people found the following review helpful:

3.0 out of 5 stars A Light Read, January 20, 2010

By 

Fiction Vixen "Fiction Vixen Book Reviews" - See all my reviews

This review is from: A Black Tie Affair (Mass Market Paperback)

Fashion curator Athena Smith has the chance to acquire some vintage couture dresses for her exhibit at the Chicago Fashion Museum. The rich and powerful Clayworth family have agreed to allow Athena to examine the dresses for authenticity and she is allowed to visit the family's Secret Closet, a large underground vault that houses the collection. While examining the dresses, Athena is overcome by mysterious fumes that have the affect of truth serum and is rushed to the hospital. In all the confusion the dresses are stolen.

When Drew Clayworth hears what has happened he rushes to the hospital to see Athena. However things are awkward for Drew since he Athena have a romantic history but have not seen each other in 15 years because of a betrayal on Athena's part. Athena is feeling no pain due to the affects of the mysterious fumes and blurts out that she has missed him and still loves him. Drew, not sure what to do with this information goes along with it. To further complicate their damaged relationship, Athena's father has been accused of questionable business practices by the Clayworth family and Athena feels compelled to stand by her father even though she is in love with Drew.

Because of the health risk the dresses pose, Drew and Athena set out to recover them as soon as possible forcing them to spend a great deal of time together allowing old feelings to resurface and the sparks to fly.

A Black Tie Affair is a light, fast read, with several moments that made me laugh out loud. While I was amused and generally entertained, there were a few things that didn't work for me. The big reveal on Athena's betrayal was disappointing. While it was certainly something young lovers might break up over, it doesn't seem like something a couple would avoid each other for 15 years over especially since their lives are so intertwined. Also, the mystery of the noxious fumes was never fully resolved. While there was a good theory, there was no real confirmation as to what caused all the trouble in the first place. We never found out who stole the dresses so I assume the author is leaving that open for another book in the series. I would have liked a bit more resolution.

If you're looking for a light read with bit of love and romance lightly sprinkled with mystery, then you might enjoy A Black Tie Affair.

2 of 2 people found the following review helpful:

2.0 out of 5 stars A Black Tie Affair by Sherrill Bodine, January 17, 2010

By 

A. Schreiner "smexybooks" - See all my reviews
(TOP 500 REVIEWER)    (REAL NAME)   

This review is from: A Black Tie Affair (Mass Market Paperback)

Athena Smith is desperate to get her hands on four couture dresses for her museum. With the profits the collection could bring in, it could help her young intern have enough money to attend college. The problem is, the dresses are owned by the prestigious Clayworth family and Athena has a very big history with them. Years ago, she fell hard for Drew Clayworth, but things ended badly between them. Since then she has kept her distance. Making matter worse, her father, who was employed by the Clayworth's, was let go due to what the Clayworth's say was shady business dealings. Athena refuses to believe her father would be anything less than honest, and those hurt feelings add to her already rocky relationship with the family.

Athena gets the opportunity to go into the Clayworth's secret closet, a vault where all of their treasure is stored to confirm these dresses are the originals. As she is inspecting the gowns, she unknowingly becomes infected with a truth serum, that the gowns are laced with. After starting to hallucinate and becoming very confused, she ends up in the hospital. While there, the four gowns go missing. Now Drew is forced to keep close company with Athena while they look for the gowns and rekindle love lost.

A Black Tie Affair is a book that I had a hard time finishing. I think the author was going for lighthearted and fluffy, but I found the story and characters to be ridiculous and flat. The situations they were put in seemed quite silly. Athena becomes sickened by a truth serum, which of course leads her to discover inside herself that she truly loves Drew. As the stolen gowns are found, Athena and Drew race to each scene with no legal authorities - Athena is the one wearing plastic gloves to take the gowns off of these people.

Worse, the book ends without completely solving the mystery. The rekindling of their relationship and the romance scenes are decent, but for much of the book you don't know why they broke up so many years ago. The reason makes sense for them to break up at the time, but I don't understand why they then couldn't see each other for fifteen years.

I found A Black Tie Affair to be a disappointing book, lacking engaging characters and humor.

1 of 1 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars wonderful second city romance, January 8, 2010

By 

Harriet Klausner - See all my reviews
(#1 Hall OF FAME REVIEWER)    (TOP 1000 REVIEWER)    (REAL NAME)   

This review is from: A Black Tie Affair (Mass Market Paperback)

Chicago History Museum costume curator Athena Smith looks forward to seeing the Bertha Palmer collection owned by John Clayworth and Company though that means potentially dealing with the man who broke her heart Drew Clayworth. The firm's Security Chief Bridget O'Flynn takes her to the renowned Secret Closet. Athena is ecstatic as she gently touches the four dresses unaware of the toxin they contain.

Athena wakes up in the hospital after hallucinating that Drew stayed with her to help her learn the truth about her father's alleged indiscretion. Drew believes Athena betrayed him though he has not moved past his feelings for her. However, while she was rushed to the hospital, someone stole the valuable nineteenth century dresses. Athena offers to find the dresses as she has the contacts if someone tries a sale so Drew accepts. Neither welcomes the attraction that remains strong.

The Talk of the Town in Chicago is Sherrill Bodine's wonderful second city romance. A second chance at love thriller, fans will enjoy the rocky ride between two individuals who distrust one another as they hold the other culpable for their break-up. Although the whodunit takes a backseat to the romance, fans will enjoy Ms. Bodine's entertaining joy ride.

Harriet Klausner