Intimate Fantasy (Harlequin Temptation No. 840)(Fantasies Inc.) [Paperback]

Julie Kenner (Author)

Product Details

• Paperback: 224 pages
• Publisher: Harlequin (July 1, 2001)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0373259409
• ISBN-13: 978-0373259403
• Product Dimensions: 6.6 x 4.1 x 0.7 inches
• Shipping Weight: 3.2 ounces
• Average Customer Review: 4.8 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (5 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #903,706 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

More About the Author

When Julie was knee-high to a grasshopper (an expression that she would like it known she has never, ever used in real life) she informed her parents that she was going to be a novelist, and proceeded to write Kitty Claws, a bestselling book about a cat as Santa. (The book sold out its entire print-run of one, so lets not split hairs about that "best-selling" thing, okay?)

After that stellar start, Julie continued to dabble in the literary arts, writing short stories on yellow pads that she forced her mother to type, scribbling poems on ruled notebook paper that she forced her mother to type, making up skits and songs that she forced her mother to watch and listen to, and diving head-first into high school journalism, at which point, mom finally got a break.

In college, she continued with the journalism thing, picking that as her major and working at The Daily Texan, the student newspaper for the University of Texas. The idea that she could actually write novels and, oh, buy food too, completely eluded her.

The journalism thing cranked along nicely for about one semester. Then Julie got a job as a production assistant on a movie originally called Splatter, but which was released as Future Kill (and can still be found in Blockbuster and through Netflix), with really great Giger poster art. Julie worked her tail off, appeared as an extra, had a great time, and promptly switched her major to film.

Graduating at the ripe old age of 19, Julie chickened out and didn't move to Los Angeles to become the next Steven Spielberg. Instead, she stayed in Austin and worked as a media assistant until she decided that perhaps law school was the better way to go because, hey, a degree in film slides so seamlessly into law. (Or, more likely, grad school was inevitable and the LSAT seemed doable.) Not one to waste time, Julie took the LSAT in December, and was admitted to Baylor Law School on a full scholarship the following February. Law school and Julie got along great, and after graduation, Julie went to work as a law clerk on the Fifth Circuit Court of Appeals, where she had a fabulous time drafting legal opinions, preparing the judge for court, and taking regular trips to New Orleans on a government per diem. During her two year stint as a clerk, the writing bug bit again, and Julie wrote a stage play that will never, ever see the light of day. Really. So don't even ask.

After her clerkship, Julie decided she could handle moving to the Big City, and she took a job with Skadden, Arps in L.A., where she worked on a variety of cases with some very smart lawyers. After a year, she moved on to smaller and smaller firms (and had a short stint as a production exec at a small film company, thus justifying all those credit hours in college). She continued to work with very smart lawyers, one of whom introduced Julie to Julie Garwood (her books, not the woman herself), and the writing bug bit again.

Though Julie had been dabbling with writing in her limited spare time, she'd lacked focus. Now, she'd found it, and she was determined to write an historical romance. You may, after reviewing Julie's book list, note that there are no historical romances on there. Let's just say that she didn't succeed at that task. Julie did, however, discover that while she has a head for contemporary nuances, the ins-and-outs of historical detail are enough to make her head explode.

The in-progress historical was promptly shelved, and Julie turned her attention to fleshing out a contemporary romance, having decided that category romance was the way to go, since with the demands of a legal job, she'd be much more likely to finish 240 manuscript pages than 400.

Finish them she did, and though she got nice feedback on the voice, the novel didn't sell. One editor, Harlequin's Brenda Chin, returned a rejection letter with a note that the hook wasn't enough of a "sexy premise."

Always up for a challenge, Julie came up with the opening line, "You need a man," which she thought had oodles of sexy premise potential. She just had to find a story to go with the line. Eventually, she did, and Nobody Does It Better, Julie's first published novel, was born. She entered the first few chapters in contests, finaled, and was ultimately judged by that same Brenda Chin, who ended up buying the manuscript. (Which is not the reason Julie thinks Brenda is a really cool person. Truly.)

By that time, Julie had realized that 400 pages were manageable after all, and she'd almost completed a paranormal romance along the lines of The Little Mermaid about a cat who is in love with her master. The Cat's Fancy sold just a few months after the original sale. Both books came out in 2000, along with a second Temptation, and Julie has had at least 3 books hit the shelves annually every since, and now has well over twenty books to her credit, crossing over a multitude of genres, most of which are represented in some way by the clever pictures in the collage at the top of this page.

Praised by Publishers Weekly as an author with a "flair for dialogue and eccentric characterizations," Julie's books have hit lists as varied as USA Today, Waldenbooks, Barnes & Noble, and Locus Magazine, all of which has made Julie a happy camper. Julie is also a two-time RITA finalist, both times for books about strong women (a superhero and a demon-hunter). There's probably some deep meaning there, and if you know what it is, feel free to drop Julie a line.

Julie was also the winner of Romantic Times' Reviewer's Choice Award for Best Contemporary Paranormal of 2001, the winner of the Reviewers International Organization's award for best romantic suspense of 2004 and best paranormal of 2005, and the winner of the National Readers' Choice Award for best mainstream book of 2005. Not that she's keeping track or anything.

Julie writes a range of stories including quirky romances, sexy contemporaries, young adult novels, suspense, paranormal mommy lit, and (soon!) darker urban fantasy.

Her initial foray into the urban fantasy mommy lit genre--Carpe Demon: Adventures of a Demon-Hunting Soccer Mom--proved especially successful, resulting in a Booksense pick, a Target break-out book, other accolades and honors, and a movie deal. Specifically, Carpe Demon, is in development as a feature film with Warner Brothers and 1492 Pictures. Julie frequently pounds on her battered wooden desk (Salvation Army, $25, gotta love it) in order to urge the project from development to screen. (In Hollywood, these things are never certain until you're watching the movie and eating popcorn.)

Julie and her husband moved from Southern California back to Texas in 1995, and Julie quit the practice of law to write full time in 2004. Now, she lives and writes in central Texas with her husband, two daughters, and several cats. She is an active supporter of Love Without Boundaries. Click here to learn more about the charities Julie supports.

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

2 of 2 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars One man, two identities., July 8, 2001

By 

Barbara O'Neill - See all my reviews

This review is from: Intimate Fantasy (Harlequin Temptation No. 840)(Fantasies Inc.) (Paperback)

In an effort to save her family's business, Kyra Cartright has decided to accept a proposal of marriage to a business acquaintance for whom she has feelings but not of the toe-tingling variety. Before she tells him "Yes," she decides to indulge in one final breakaway weekend on Intimate Fantasy Island--never realizing that her wildest fantasies were about to change her life forever.

Tony Moretti made his livelihood saving other peoples' lives. But in the space of one afternoon, he lost not only his life's work, but also his health and self-confidence. Scarred and in pain, he accepts his friend's offer of R&R at Intimate Fantasy island before settling down to life without the thrills he'd become used to. By day, he lounged around the pool, but by night he morphed into the mysterious Michael, an unidentified man who traveled in the shadows and rescued those who had gotten into trouble. And one of those is Kyra.

Kyra finds reality far better than her fantasy in the arms of Michael, a man with masterful bedroom skills. And by day, she finds a wonderful friend in Tony, a man whose scars are overlooked in favor of that special `something' about him that draws her closer and closer.

Afraid the truth will ruin all he's accomplished so far, Tony holds back and doesn't tell Kyra of his alter ego. A boating excursion turns deadly, prompting questions and revelations and, for Tony, the point where he must decide to risk it all and tell Kyra the truth.

Julie Kenner creates a tender and passionate love story with two very real people, each faced with life-altering events, in a story line that is both credible and heart tugging. My heart melted for Tony, whose life of a firefighter has gone from the heroic to the mundane as he contemplates a desk job and can't quite handle it. Kyra is just what he needed to gain back his self-confidence and zest for life. She saw past the scars and the pain to the real man inside. A man who *does* make her toes curl!

1 of 1 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars From Back Cover, July 18, 2006

By 

E. K. Poire (Hawaii) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Intimate Fantasy (Harlequin Temptation No. 840)(Fantasies Inc.) (Paperback)

His fantasy

When an accident puts firefighter Tony Moretti permanently on desk duty, all he wants is a chance to be a hero one last time. And at Fantasies Inc., he gets to be a real one! Each night, he dons a disguise and patrols the island, rescuing unsuspecting guests from dangerous situations. But when he saves sexy Kyra Cartright, he has the feeling that he's the one who's in over his head

Her fantasy

Kyra Cartright wants to have an adventure-a sexual adventure. After putting her life on hold to look after her family, Kyra's ready for a fantasy. And she definitely gets one! One whole week of steamy, sultry nights spent in the arms of a daring stranger, and lazy, decadent days falling for a sexy, mysterious guest. Kyra's losing her heart--to both men! Only she never dreams they're one and the same...

[3rd in the Fantasies Inc. series]

1 of 1 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars It's a fantasy come true! -- Very highly recommended, June 30, 2001

By 

C. Penn "WordWeaving" (Greenville, SC) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Intimate Fantasy (Harlequin Temptation No. 840)(Fantasies Inc.) (Paperback)

Harlequin Temptation has a tantalizing miniseries called Fantasies, Inc. Merrilee Schaefer-Weston lives vicariously through the happiness of others. For a hefty fee, she brings guests to Fantasies, Inc, a cluster of four, lush, paradise resorts off the Florida Keys. A stickler about client confidentiality, Merrilee offers people's deepest, most private secrets and desires. At the end of their fantasy, guests have a choice of walking away and continuing as they were before, or accepting a risk that changes their lives. The third novel of this miniseries by Julie Kenner is named for the island INTIMATE FANTASY.

Kyra Cartwright wants one fling before she saves the family business by accepting the marriage proposal of Harold Stovall, President and Chairman of United Media Corporation. Without Harold, Kyra will lose everything. Never mind he doesn't make her tingle or set her libido on edge. She's always done the right thing and marriage will be no exception, but before she commits, she's going to have one wild week. She wants passion: "weak-kneed, heart-pounding, scream-inducing passion." In one week, she'll create enough memories to last a lifetime. When she finds that passion with a mysterious hero who wears an eye patch, the question remains as to whether she'll risk living her fantasy with a complete stranger. And when she meets Tony, Kyra findsa herself torn between the fantasy and reality.

Anthony Michael Moretti made a career of being a hero until a burning building caused permanent scarring and a life-long back injury. During the night, with the protection of the dark and the name Michael, he feels almost whole again, prowling Intimate Fantasy Island. Opportunities like saving people from drowning, wearing his disguise, gives him the feeling of being needed. But during the daylight hours, as Tony, he still feels isolated by his scars. Until he meets Kyra.

Julie Kenner has yet to write a romance I haven't enjoyed...thoroughly. INTIMATE FANTASY proves my fandom once again. We've all fantasized about that sexy, dark, mysterious stranger who provides a provocative night of play. Kenner uses that classic fantasy for her own purpose, creating mind candy of the best flavor. But rather than just providing shallow characters, Kenner creates real people, with the weaknesses and the fears we all share. I find it refreshing that the hero has a bad back--that fact lends the story an air of credibility that makes it all the better. Very highly recommended!