Bella Andre, Take Me

Take Me

Bella Andre

Pocket, Nov 2005, $13.00, 285 pp.

ISBN: 1416509577

Full-figured Lily Ellis knows what unrequited love is as she has desired Travis Carson since they were children, but he prefers petite females with an intelligence somewhat below their dress size. Outside of how good a woman looks, his only other criterion is bedroom performance.

Lily's sister, fashion designer Janica Ellis begs her to replace her only full sized model who has the flu. Only for Janica, Lily agrees, but pleads with her pal Luke Carson to come and give her moral support. Luke is unable to go because he is due in ER, but persuades his twin brother Travis to be there for Lily. Travis reluctantly agrees, but to his shock, Travis cannot believe how sexy Lily looks, and how much he wants her. However, when Lily makes it clear she desires him too, Travis flees as he will never commit to one woman having been burned by love once before, while the heroine cannot believe her fantasy desires her.

TAKE ME is a fine contemporary romance, though readers and the heroine will initially doubt that Travis, whose preference is rattling with bones rather than move handles, would suddenly desire Lily like he does. However, fans will increasingly become convinced that he does by his actions and reactions, including running away from love. Bella Andre provides a fun, often amusing tale, with a serious theme of to thine own self be true.

Harriet Klausner