Lora Leigh, Nauti Boy

Nauti Boy

Lora Leigh

Berkley Heat, Mar 2007, $14.00

ISBN: 0425214133

Rowdy Mackay left his old Kentucky home to join the marines to escape the seductive lure of Kelly Benton as he knew she was too young though he wanted her; he even re-upped because of her though he always asked about her as she owns his fantasies and dreams. Now he is a veteran returning home as a civilian with the objective to make Kelly his.

However, Kelly is not the same precious happy person as some unknown adversary assaulted her and was probably going to rape her, but his attack was interrupted. The villain was never caught, but she believes her stalker remains nearby watching and waiting. Rowdy persuades her that they must draw out her assailant if he is to be caught. His plan is for her to participate in sexual games with him and his cousins, but once she acquiesces he does not want to share the woman he loves with anyone, even blood relatives.

Though some readers will question the use of sex, especially a m nage de quatre to capture a stalker, this is an interesting, erotic, romantic, suspense thriller with the emphasis on the erotica. Kelly is a likable realistic protagonist whose zest for life and Rowdy has been damaged by the attack though her agreeing to having sex with her beloved seems genuine; adding his two cousins seems more a stretch as that does not fit her character before or after the assault. Still fans of the subgenre will enjoy the exploits of NAUTI BOY (mostly in bed) as he makes love to his dream woman which keeps her relatively safe as that is the preponderance of the storyline.

Harriet Klausner