He Said, She Said
Cheryl Kushner
Harlequin Flipside, Jan 2005, $4.50, 218 pp.
ISBN: 037344205X

The tale of the tapes is Jack Spencer vs. Megan Sullivan, best friends until they shared sex last New Year's Eve. Jack thought that was the greatest moment of his life; to Megan that was the worst moment in her life. He thought his best pal would become his life mate while she felt he tossed her some pity sex because she was depressed, having just been jilted. Instead of a loving relationship, she ended their friendship.

Jack, a TV hunk who can have just about any woman, decides he needs an opportunity to win her heart so he hires a reluctant Megan to redecorate his Manhattan apartment. With the help of her Machiavellian mother, Jack declares the war of the sexes with one goal in mind; Megan will be his forever. As for her part, Megan struggles between her desire for Jack, her memory of what she believes was his feel-sorry sex with her and the horde of women chasing after him.

Though He Said, She Said has been used a lot in movies and books, Cheryl Kushner refreshes the plotline with the escapades of her lead duo that alternates retelling the same incident from totally different perspective; readers will think of Men from Mars and Women from Venus. Jack is heroic in his efforts to persuade Megan he truly wanted her then and needs her at his side (and in their bed) forever. Readers will be a bit frustrated with Megan for not seeing the obvious yet will also empathize with her confusion as to why her heart wants Jack as a friend and lover.

Harriet Klausner