Jennifer Apodaca, The Sex on the Beach Book Club

The Sex on the Beach Book Club

Kensington Brava, Jan 2007, $14.00

ISBN: 0758214502

In Goleta, California, private investigator Holly Hillbay enjoys her vocation especially when she can kick the butt of a cheating male though realistically the money is in the tedious background checks. Currently she is frustrated with men ever since her former fianc Brad the cad stole her best paying client from her. So she plans to fully take pleasure in exposing cheating Wes Brockman, owner of Books on the Beach. Her client Phil Shaker believes his wife Tanya is sleeping with Wes using the book club as a pretense.

Holly goes undercover by joining the book club, but quickly concludes the hunk is not doing it with his client's spouse though she might be cheating with one of the other members like Cullen. She also believes Wes is hiding something so unable to resist she makes inquiries into his secret while her chip on her shoulder (and the rest of her body) demands a tryst with him on the beach. She also begins investigating Cullen even as the case spins out of control with a homicide in the bookstore ending the cheating Tanya's extramarital affair.

This is a terrific private investigator romance that is fun to read as in your face Holly takes no prisoners while trying to uncover the truth that seems to keep twisting on her (and the audience) with every clue she uncovers. The storyline is fast-paced and filled with red herrings. Though Holly's abrupt manner can be irritating as we got the message except if you are Wes, fans of romantic mysteries will appreciate this fine tale that starts with wicked women whodunit and never slows down until the final on the beach encounter.

Harriet Klausner