The Hard Stuff [Paperback]

Karin Tabke (Author), Bonnie Edwards (Author), Sunny (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: January 1, 2006

Karin Tabke, Stakeout. Cool. Calm. Collected. That's gorgeous detective Stevie Cavanaugh. Solo surveillance on a male escort with a taste for dangerous play? No big deal. Until special agent Jack Thornton, the sexiest one-night stand she ever had, shows up to watch the action too - and gets Stevie hotter than hot...Bonnie Edwards, Bodywork. Lisa Delaney's classic Cadillac coupe needs work and she knows exactly who to call: Tyce Branton. The man has a reputation for making temperamental engines purr like kittens. And when it comes to women, he has some very satisfied customers...Sunny, Chinatown. NYPD officer Lily Huang is kidnapped by a ruthless gang and held hostage. One man stands between her and her captors - the FBI agent who shares her cell. And desperate pleasure is their only escape.

Product Details

• Paperback: 313 pages
• Publisher: Kensington (January 1, 2006)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0758214081
• ISBN-13: 978-0758214089
• Product Dimensions: 8.3 x 5.5 x 0.9 inches
• Shipping Weight: 10.4 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.6 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (15 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #309,684 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

16 of 18 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars The Hard Stuff will keep you up all night long...., March 1, 2006

By 

Stacy ~ "book lover" (Chicago 'burbs) - See all my reviews

This review is from: The Hard Stuff (Paperback)

"Stakeout" by Karin Tabke

Detective Stevie Cavanaugh is a woman in control. At least until special agent Jack Thornton gets within her sights, then she is a woman on the verge of violatile reactions, and emotions. No one pushes her buttons like Thorn does, and God help her, she wants him to do it again....On the trail of a dangerous and brutal killer, Stevie comes face to face with the one man who makes her so hot she can't stand it, only he walked away from the heat. But as much as she still wants him, Stevie is not about to let Thorn walk all over her again. This is her investigation, and she may be forced to work with him, but only on her terms. Jack regrets how things went down with Stevie all those years ago, but he never forgot her. Together, they were a combustible combination, and the more Stevie tries to convince Thorn she's not going down that road again, the hotter the tension gets between them. One of these days, something's got to give, and when it does, watch out or you'll get burned....

"Bodywork" by Bonnie Edwards

Car expert Tyce Branton is hired by the Widow Delaney to restore and sell her collection of classic cars, only he had no idea that the woman who specifically requested his services is a woman from his past. Back then she was Lisa Brady, a sweet girl from the wrong side of the tracks. Now she was everything a trophy wife represented, a greedy witch who would sell her deceased husband's automobiles just to rake in the cash. But Tyce didn't know everything, and as the sizzling heat between them burns relentlessly, he begins to see the woman she became, one who didn't need a man's help to survive. Unrequited lust turns into something hotter, but will it be enough, or will the flames die out when Tyce's assignment comes to an end?

"Chinatown" by Sunny

New York police office Lily Huang is in the middle of a tough case when things get out of control and she's kidnapped by a gang. Things go from bad to worse when her tracking device is discovered, and she is trapped in a cement-walled basement with a man who may or may not be an FBI agent. And to make things even more interesting, Wes Penzatti has an uncontrollable lust for Lily. Their limited time together is intense, and after they are rescued, they are immediately separated. Wes can't forget what Lily did for him, though he's plagued with guilt. Soon it becomes unbearable, and he tracks her down. Not only is Lily the courageous woman who endured being kidnapped, she is so much more, and Wes realizes that Lily didn't do anything she didn't want to do. Maybe they have a future after all....

Each story is scorching in its own way, whether it's dealing with old relationships or establishing new ones. These three stories are very earthy, extremely sexual, and immensely satisfying. While the new Aphrodisia line offers a warning on the cover, readers should be aware that there are no nasty surprises but just very intense physical encounters between consenting partners. Have the a/c cranked up and the ice cubes kept nearby because you are going to need them!

10 of 11 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars A Hot Anthology!!!, January 11, 2006

By 

Kristi Ahlers (Illinois) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: The Hard Stuff (Paperback)

Kensington's new Aphrodisia line is HOT and not for the faint of heart but wow are they well written showcasing some of the latest and greatest new talent out there.

Karin Tabke's "Stakeout" brings together two lovers that have not seen each other since "the night" and now these two have to not only deal with the serial killer they are staked out to capture and the attraction they have between them. Will they catch the bad guy and cool the heat between them or will things burn out of control?

Bonnie Edwards' "Bodywork" is the story of Lisa Delaney. She has a Cadillac that needs a little tender loving care. When she takes it to Tyce Branton's body shop she gets a little more then she bargain on.

In Sunny's "Chinatown" NYPD police officer a gang of men who won't stop at anything has kidnapped Lily Huang. When she is thrown into a room with a man she at first doesn't know if she had been thrown into the fire or if she has just been given a reprieve. Will Lily survive this capture or will the danger and passion be more then she bargained for?

This was an awesome and hot set of stories. As stated in the beginning these are not for the faint of heart. All three contributing authors are writers the reading public should keep in mind when looking for titillating and sensual reads.

10 of 12 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Sizzling hot!, January 14, 2006

By 

E. Ramer (Wisconsin USA) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: The Hard Stuff (Paperback)

In Karin Tabke's STAKEOUT, Detective Stevie Cavanaugh is surveilling a male escort with unusual sexual tastes when Special Agent Jack Thornton, her former training inspector and one-night stand, comes to takes over the operation. He'd like to take over Stevie too, but the tough talking cop proves she's more than a match for him. In the bedroom and on the job.

Bonnie Edward's BODY WORK is more traditional. Lisa Delaney, a young widow, hires Tyce Branton to fix her late husband's collection of Cadillacs so she can auction them off and fly off to Europe. Tyce is an expert with cars and women--and a man who cared for Lisa when she was trailer trash. They both moved on since then...or have they?

In CHINATOWN, author Sunny brings readers an exotic tale of danger, suspense and sensuality. When NYPD officer Lily Huang is imprisoned by a ruthless gang leader, she shares more than comfort with her fellow prisoner, a hard-bodied FBI agent. Although they're rescued, danger lurks. So does passion.

Karin Tabke's STAKEOUT throbs with energy. The writing is strong and so are the characters; the story is loaded with action and surprises. Although BODY WORK is hot and steamy, sweet emotion runs through Bonnie Edward's heartwarming story. Sunny's CHINATOWN tells a powerful story with shimmering sex. If you like your fiction hot, this is the book for you. I highly recommend this book. Karin Tabke's GOOD GIRL GONE BAD will be coming out September `06, and I'm eager to read it.