Publisher: Carina Press
Pub Date: August 1, 2011
FTC: digital copy provided by the author because she knows I love witty banter
The Blurb:
Dr. Bastian Talbot and self-proclaimed sex goddess Charlie Pierce heat up the air waves with their flirty banter as radio hosts Dr. Hot and the Honeypot. Off the air, they’re best friends…but Bastian wants to be so much more. He wants Charlie—in bed, and forever.
Problem is, Charlie doesn’t do commitment. Sure, she’s had X-rated fantasies of Bastian, but he was always just a friend—until he impulsively proposes and unleashes the lust they’ve been denying for years. Charlie’s willing to explore where their wild chemistry leads, but she won’t marry him. And he won’t have sex with her until she accepts his proposal, despite her seductive schemes.
What are Dr. Hot and the Honeypot to do? Ask their listeners for advice on how to tame a sex kitten and turn a perfect gentleman into a shameless lover. The Race to Wed or Bed is on…who will turn up on top?
I loved this book. I really did. A steady, responsible hero with a sense of humor, a heroine not afraid to embrace her naughty side, some sexy and outrageous banter, and S'moregasms*. Can't ask for much more than that.
This is a friends to lovers story. One of my favorite tropes in all of romancelandia. And I'll admit that I enjoyed having the man be the one pining for more from his "friend."
One of the best things about Turn it Up is that the characters are mature. They are adults. They both have issues, although the heroine has the lion's share of them. But they also have a deep respect for each other than creeps into their dialogue on their show. There's already an element of trust, which gives Bastien something to build on. And unlike some books I've read where the heroine's skittishness about commitment made no sense, Charlie has plenty of reasons to think of herself and her relationships the way she does.
What really made this book shine was the banter. I can't say enough about it. The late night talk show format gave a perfect excuse for lots of interplay and dialogue, and Ms. Kelley used it to full advantage. I laughed out loud through most of the book, frantically highlighting passages that made me smile.
A few favorites:
"An aroused woman is a beautiful thing."
"Now, see, I'm not too sure about that. Orgasms cause some seriously painful-looking faces."
His deep laugh filled the radio room. "That may be, but it's just the intensity of release. Like jumping off a cliff. You're not going to be smiling when you hit the ground but the flight down is fantastic."
"Hit the ground? Dang, Doc, what kind of women are hanging out with if you equate an orgasm with pulling a Wile E. Coyote off a cliff?"
***
"There's no such thing as a cold shower for the heart."
***
"I'm sorry. Can we chalk it up to blue balls talking?"
"Wow, your balls sound just like you."
Turn It Up is outrageous, sexy, witty, and incredibly moving. I highly recommend it for fans of contemporary romance.
My Grade: A
*S'moregasms are made like regular s'mores. Only difference is you swap out the Hershey's bar with a full size Reese's Peanut Butter Cup.
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