Simply Sensual [Large Print] [Hardcover]

Carly Phillips (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: June 2004

When Grace Montgomery decides to seduce her sexy neighbor, private investigator Ben Callahan, the chemistry between them sizzles and Ben doesn't stand a chance! What happens when Grace discovers he's been paid for his amorous attention by his feisty grandmother? It's SIMPLY SENSUAL so don't miss it!

--This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.

Editorial Reviews

Review

4 STARS - Sizzle the winter blues away with a Simply Sensual tale ... alluring, wonderful and fascinating! -- Romantic Times Magazine

5 STARS - Simply Sensual is a fast paced read that never forgets the emotions - Nor the heat! Well done! -- Scribes World

Carly Phillips never fails to satisfy. Her sensual, stimulating stories leave her fans begging for more! -- Affaire de Coeur

Carly Phillips writes the best in hot, sexy romance today! Give yourself a well-deserved treat and read Simply Sensual! -- Writer's Club Romance Group at AOL

Readers will need to keep the fan going ... Ms. Phillips gives her fans something extra... -- Rendezvous --This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.

From the Author

Dear Readers, SIMPLY SENSUAL is the third of my "Simply" Books (Simply Sinful and Simply Scandalous) for Harlequin's Blaze imprint. You can read fresh and get to know new characters or revisit old friends. I've enjoyed bringing you these hot, sexy stories and I know you'll find the pages sizzling! Visit my website for more info. --This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.

See all Editorial Reviews

Product Details

• Hardcover: 245 pages
• Publisher: Chivers North Amer (June 2004)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0754098508
• ISBN-13: 978-0754098508
• Average Customer Review: 3.4 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (14 customer reviews)

More About the Author

New York Times bestselling author Carly Phillips tossed away her legal briefs and a career as an attorney to become a stay at home mom. Within the year, she turned her love of reading into an obsession with writing. Over 25 published novels later, Carly writes sexy contemporary romances, striking a balance between entertainment and emotion, and giving her readers the compelling story they have come to expect and enjoy.

Carly is a New York Times bestseller, USA Today Bestseller and Publisher's Weekly bestseller. The triple play earned her a spot on Romance Writers of America's coveted Honor Roll. In 2002, Carly's novel, The Bachelor, became Kelly Ripa's "Reading with Ripa" pick on Live with Regis and Kelly, making it the first romance ever chosen on a nationally televised bookclub.

Carly received her undergraduate degree from Brandeis University and is a graduate of Boston University School of Law (J.D.). To date, Carly has over twenty-five novels to her credit, all available wherever books are sold.

When not writing or playing online, Carly loves to read, to knit, and to spend time with her family. She lives in Purchase, New York with her husband, two daughters and two soft-coated wheaten terriers who act like their third and fourth children.

For more information, visit Carly's always updated web site at www.carlyphillips.com where she has monthly contests, excerpts and much more.

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

11 of 12 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Highly recommended, February 2, 2001

By 

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

This review is from: Simply Sensual (The Simply Series, Book 3) (Paperback)

Ben Callahan readily accepted the offer from Emma Montgomery. As a private investigator, he is more accustomed to clients who tried to weasel their way around expenses and final pay, rather than Emma's generous offer. He not only needs to cover his own bills, but also the cost of the independent living community where he has placed his mother. Emma's job is also intriguing. Emma believes her granddaughter is "in the process of finding herself and she needs a keeper."

The first moment Ben sees the picture of Emma's granddaughter, he's hooked. Just looking at Grace Montgomery's picture is enough to rev up his libido. So Ben travels to New York City, taking the apartment across the hall from Grace. When he sees Grace in person, his reaction is equally instant and intensive.

The sight of Ben in her hall sends Grace's adrenaline pumping. She has escaped to New York to experience life and discover her self-identity. A treat like Ben is just one of the perks of living away from home, even if she mostly watches from a distance. Ben adds spark and zing simply with his presence. Grace has had enough of men who wine and dine her for her connections and family money. She believes Ben to be different. He seems to let her know up front just who he is and what he wants. Little does Grace suspect Ben's connection to her grandmother.

Carly Phillips presents a highly seductive novel in SIMPLY SENSUAL. Her heroine lends the novel a marvelous sparkle with her spirit and spunk. Phillips also lends comic relief with Emma Montgomery, who is charming, refreshing, and addictive. I would love to see her matchmaking skills reoccur in another of Phillips' delightful romances! Highly recommended.

7 of 8 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Simply HOT, SEXY, and SEDUCTIVE, January 13, 2004

By 

PadreRat (San Diego, CA United States) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Simply Sensual (The Simply Series, Book 3) (Mass Market Paperback)

Carly Phillip's third installment of the SIMPLY series is a winner with me. We knew after SIMPLY SINFUL that Grace was the next person Emma Montgomery was turning her matchmaking eye towards. Grace has been living in New York off her trust fund when she realizes that she cannot put her parent's expectations behind her. So, learning from her brother, she stops taking money from her trust fund and finds a job helping people. She is hired as a photographer to create a brochure that will show how poorly some children live. This is tricky because Grace wants to show the kid's potential while touching people with her pictures so they will give generously to the fund. In order to accomplish her goal, she has another job to supplement her income. She must also travel to areas most people consider dangerous in New York to get her pictures. Grace has done this without the knowledge of her family. As a result of her tight lips her grandmother, Emma, is concerned over her welfare.

Emma hires a P.I., Ben Callahan, to keep an eye on Grace. Emma isn't looking for personal details but rather a report that Grace is happy and safe in her life. Ben needs the extra money to help his ill mother move into an assisted living facility. Ben takes residence in the apartment across from Grace. There is an instant attraction when they first meet. This book showcased the chemistry better than the last two books in the series.

As for Grace, she is trying to go beyond her comfort zone. She feels an attraction to Ben and decides to do something about it. She is cute as she tries to play off the sexy vixen when she really is a sweet and down-home kind of person. Grace finds Ben tagging along with her as she goes into the neighborhoods to take her pictures. On one particular day, she is attacked and told not to return or she will be seriously hurt. This starts a minor mystery that brings Ben and Grace closer together. Grace is happy to have found someone who wants to be with her because of who she is and not what family she belongs to. Lots of tension breaks out when Grace finds out the truth about how Ben came into her life.

I enjoyed the way this relationship unfolded. Two adults who felt something and let things go naturally. They do average activities like washing a car and turn it into a sensual chore. This is the best of the series to date and maybe we will find Emma working her magic again sometime soon.

5 of 6 people found the following review helpful:

2.0 out of 5 stars I usually stick to full length novels because, January 5, 2004

By 

L. G. Schilling "gigibookworm" (SPRING HILL, FL United States) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Simply Sensual (The Simply Series, Book 3) (Mass Market Paperback)

I feel these abbreviated series romances do not always allow the author to fully flesh out the characters and so I usually find them lacking. This book, although very well written was no different.
This is the story of P.I. Ben Callahan who is contracted by a matchmaking grandmama to follow her granddaughter, Grace, to make sure she's safe and report back on her activities. It seems that Grace has recently renounced her blue bloodlines and decided it is time to live on her own efforts rather than on Daddy's cash. Grandma is understandably worried since Grace is all alone in New York and so Ben swallows her unlikely story and despite his own misgivings accepts to befriend Grace and report all back to Grandma. However, things become a little difficult for Ben when Grace gets a load of his gorgeous self and decides to seduce him.
There was very little I enjoyed about this book. First, I thought it was well-written and the love scenes were very steamy. But in the end I simply could not care for either Ben or Grace and I never felt as if I knew who they were supposed to be. The relationship seemed to me to be based on their mutual attraction, their sexual chemistry and not much else. Also, the plot was flimsy and the matchmaking grandma plot device was in my opinion just plain silly. In short, while this book was an easy read, the relationship was too superficial for my taste. I will give this author's full length novels a try though because I really did enjoy her writing style. Recommended with many reservations :0)