Customer Reviews

Simply Sinful (Blaze) (Temptation, 775)

5 star:		(8)
4 star:		(5)
3 star:		(3)
2 star:		(1)
1 star:		(1)

 

 

Kayla Luck is built like a blonde bombshell so everyone takes on look at her and assumes she's a dumb bimbo. In actually, Kayla is a very smart accountant who has inherited her aunt's etiquette business, Charmed. The police received a lead that Charmed is a front for a prostitution ring. Detective Kane McDermott is sent to investigate. Kane poses as a traveling salesman who needs pointers for a big dinner with his boss. He convinces Kayla to go out to dinner with him hoping he can trap her. It doesn't take long for Kane to realize that Kayla is innocent but he is so attracted to her that he can't cut the evening short. The two end up spending the night together. The next morning when Kayla goes back to her business, there is a thug waiting for her who demands to know where the "money and books" are. When Kayla's sister comes in the front, the thug runs out the back. The sisters call the police to report what happened and guess who shows up...Kane. Kane is now convinced that there had been a prostitution ring run out of Charmed before Kayla inherited the business and that her life is in danger. When his boss won't authorize protection for Kayla, he takes leave and guards her himself.

This was a very good book. I sat down and read it in one evening. The relationship between Kayla and Kane was very touching to see develop.

In "Simply Sinful," Carly Phillips pens a hot love story pitting Detective Kane McDermott against etiquette school, Charmed!, owner Kayla Luck in a battle of wills where everyone wins.

The story has a believable premise (detective goes undercover to investigate whether business is a front for prostitution), the characters are people I would like to have as friends. They're honest with each other, they speak believable (intelligent) dialogue, there is no BIG MISUNDERSTANDING to keep them apart and they evoke a sense of sympathy and caring.

Although both had suffered loss of parents and other close family, my heart went out to Kane the most. Kayla had her sister (& her aunt, before the aunt's death), but Kane had no one who really loved him. At times, I had a lump in my throat as it became clear he blamed himself for the death of his mother even though he was a child at the time and there was little he could have done to prevent the suicide.

An air of sensuality sizzles and crackles between them, yet Kane is ever mindful of Kayla's position and the danger she's in, and treats her with fiercely protective tenderness. (Hot chocolate and whipped cream will never mean quite the same thing to me again. ::: big grin::: ) These two are great for each other and I was very happy with the story's resolution.

I loved this story and can't wait to dive into Cat's story, "Simply Scandalous." And be on the lookout for Carly's "Simply Sensual," in January 2001. I know I will. Carly also writes novels for Zebra Bouquet, as Karen Drogin. Check out "Perfect Partners" and "The Right Choice."

This is the first book of the Simply Triology by Carly Phillips- a full length contemporary romance that has all of Carly Phillips' usual elements...a great hero, a brave heroine and sizzling plot.<

BR> Kayla Luck is running her deceased aunt's etiquette school. Unbeknownst to her, the police and detective Kane are investigating it as a possible prostitution ring. Kane and Kayla are immediately drawn to each other, but the police case gets in their way. Soon Kayla is in danger and Kane must protect her, help her clear her aunt's name and find out the truth.

A great secondary character, is kayla's sister Cat- who will soon have her own story in book 2 of the triology.
This book is a great read- Carly Phillips has a fast paced and breezy writing style that will appeal!

Heroine: voluptuous

          If a shapely woman is running a "school for socially awkward men", surely it must be a front for a more lascivious and illegal business. After all, sex is what women who look like centerfolds do best, right?

But don't try telling that to Kayla Luck, owner of "Charmed" finishing school for men. You'll just break her innocent little heart. Especially if you happen to be sexy, happy to be single Kane McDermott, the undercover police detective who is investigating her and has already won that same sweet heart.

Too bad for both him and his case the feeling is mutual.

What worked for me:

It was funny watching a slick alpha male trying to pass himself off as being inept with women. I kinda wish that had gone on longer.

The overall setup for this story was intriguing, as was the mystery.

          Size-wise Kayla was a lushly built gal whose brains were never taken seriously because of the size of her bosom. (As a side note I have always thought that it is interesting that women with large breasts are treated as sex objects, but women with both large breasts and hips are viewed as being maternal.)

What didn't work for me:

I felt this book could have used a bit more polishing, but that's just my perfectionism I guess.  And for some reason the chemistry between the hero and heroine just didn't sizzle for me, which is odd because I generally I love a tough guy as the lead. (I enjoy reading about (near) virginal heroines and alpha heroes in Regencies, but that combo doesn't sit as well with me in contemporaries. Who knows why?)

Overall:
"Simply Sinful" might appeal to fans of sexy contemporary romances, especially if they like a bit of intrigue thrown into the mix.

Warning: This book has some steamy moments and coarse words within its pages.

If you liked "Simply Sinful" you might also enjoy "Getting Lucky", "It Had to be You", "Lola Carlyle Reveals All", "Born to be Wild", "Some Girls Do", "Heaven in Your Eyes", "Runaway Bay", or "This Heart of Mine".

Ever since I first read "The Playboy" I have been an avid Carly Phillips fan. So I had to read the Simply Series. Simply Sinful, although definitely not her best work, is a fun and entertaining read. The relationship between Kane and Kayla is sexy and kind of taboo, which just makes it even more fun.

Although, the tortured hero was a little over the top for me, especially how he would be so convinced things wouldn't work out one minute and then be madly in love the next. For some reason I also was not a big fan of Captain Reid, even though he was supposed to be a likable character. I just found him to be kind of annoying. Luckily he is mentioned by other characters more than he actually appears in the book.

I loved Kayla's sister Catherine, every scene between Kane and Cat made me smile. She acts just how a good sister should. I'm halfway through Catherine's book "Simply Scandalous" and am loving it even more than this one. If you are a romance book fan, especially if you are a Carly Phillips fan, then "Simply Sinful" is definitely for you.

I thought this was an enjoyable, light read. But I have to admit, I am getting a bit tired of the heroine always being so noble. Kayla (the heroine) naturally falls in love with the Kane (the hero) right away and spends a great deal of the book trying to get him to have the same feelings for him. Little does she know that he does have these feelings, but is running away from them. This seems to be the standard operating procedure for many romance novels, at least the ones I had read of Phillips. All-in-all, I enjoyed the characters and the writing. Great contemporary romance...

Kane McDermott is an undercover detective who finds himself with the petty task of investigating Kayla's etiquette school for businessmen. It appears that it may actually be a house of ill repute. The attraction between the two is sizzling. Just when he determines that she may be innocent, evidence stacks against her and danger lurks around the corner. In order to protect her, he will have to come clean, which could destroy the fragile relationship.

Phillips breezy story has great tension and her usual heated sensuality featuring incredible chemistry between the protagonists that'll keep the reader glued to the pages of this romance with light suspense. It is the best of the trilogy which also includes "Simply Scandalous" featuring her sister Cat and "Simply Sensuous."

This book was great for a quick, mindless night of entertainment. I was a little disappointed that the characters were so flat in their emotions. I would have preferred to see a little more development and explanation for Kayla's feelings toward Kane. But, despite the minor lackings of the plot, the book was fabulously entertaining, if not mind-blowing.

I am an avid reader of all genre's including romance. This is by far the worst book I've read in a long time. The author tells, not shows, what is going on and has long bouts of meaningless and endlessly repeating thoughts between the dialog. A few times I had to go back a couple pages to remember what the previous character had said.

The plot might be okay if it were executed well. It wasn't. There are a lot of fun easy reads out there. Books like this is what gets the Romance genre laughed at.

If you love romance novels of all kinds, sure, maybe try this author. If you are not such a big fan, but want something that's modern, sexy, and funny--steer clear.
I was in the mood for a romance novel, so I grabbed this at the grocery store, and gave it away when I was halfway through (though I skimmed through to the end). The plot is often implausible and wrought with cliche. The dialogue is unbelievable and crap--for example, the hero keeps calling the bombshell by out-of-style and often derogatory nicknames, like "doll," sometimes several times within a couple pages. And that's still when he barely knows her The author constantly describes what people are wearing, in careful detail, which is just plain stupid and boring. Finally, the heroine is more than a bit pathetic.
I think it's cliche and bad writing, and I don't know how this woman keeps getting published. Maybe because of people like me who innocently buy her novels.