Tanya Michaels, Who Needs Decaf?

Who Needs Decaf?

Tanya Michaels

Flipside, Dec 2003, $4.50, 216 pp.

ISBN: 0373441800

If Sheryl Dayton had her way they would invent an alarm clock that instantly served caffeine, went into snooze, and served a second cup a few minutes later. Anyone with an active mental icon including her boss Brad Hammond at Hammond, who happens to be her former boyfriend, knows not to even say good morning to Sheryl until she has inhaled at least two cups of coffee.

However, author Kendra Mathers is suing Hammond for copyright infringement as she insists that their new computer game Xandria Quest comes from her novel. Seattle Sojourner investigative journalist Nathan Hall seeks information, preferably dirt, on Hammond. On the other hand, Sheryl tries to keep the potential damage to the firm to a minimum. She visits Nathan to see if she can persuade him to back off, but also finds herself instantly attracted to him. Nathan proves better than any cup of coffee to start one's life, especially her dormant sex life that makes him the king of roast.

Though Sheryl needs to try decaf (heresy to her), fans will enjoy this often frantic romantic romp. Sheryl is a bit wired but fun to follow while Nathan is almost obsessed with gaining the story (should have bribed her with gourmet Starbucks) until he has a new fascination: Sheryl. The support cast is never fully developed though the author and the game maker play pivotal roles. Still this is a very amusing contemporary that will percolate up (not drip) the readers.

Harriet Klausner