CRAZY FOR YOU

Author: Kate Angell ISBN: 0505526166 4/2005 CONTEMPORARY Publisher: LOVE SPELL
*Present time, with flashbacks to the 1920's

From the moment she spotted his hamburger-and-french-fry emblazoned boxers with the word supersized on them, Bree knew Sexton St. Croix was trouble. Here was a man with just one thing on his mind, but Sex had hired her to do a job and she'd let nothing get in her way. Not even a sudden insatiable craving for fast food, the hotter the better. Sexton St. Croix had a big problem. His luxury ocean liner was haunted—by the ghost of an unflappable flapper named Daisy. Now, in an effort to persuade Daisy to "cheese it," he'd opened the ship to a veritable psychic circus. With every type of paranormal phony swarming the decks, he was counting on Bree's "clairsentience" to save his bacon. Her exquisitely sensitive fingers could detect the emotional vibrations of an 80-year-old love triangle and the unsolved murder that had resulted, while her tender touch unlocked secrets in his own heart. Here, at last, was the woman to convince the pleasure-before-promises playboy of the virtues of good, old-fashioned romance.

RRAH's THOUGHTS AND PONDERINGS:

Apparently, since reading BLOOD MOON OVER BENGAL, I now have a thing for the 1920's era style of romance. Kate Angell's April 2005 release, CRAZY FOR YOU, has helped to keep the fire burning in my newfound taste for jazz and flapper girls. Though her book visits 1925 only in flashbacks, there is enough detail in those passages to keep you reading and wondering just what happened to Daisy, the ghost flapper haunting her old cabin on the cruise ship.

I try so hard not to be prejudiced when I scan the back cover of a book. However, I am only human, so certain names (hard to pronounce, wierd ones) just put me off. So, when I took a look at the hero's name in this book I just knew it was going to be a leaker. Never have I been so glad to be wrong! Drum roll please..... Here it is - Sexton. Yep, everyone does call him Sex. Can you imagine? Naming your child Sex?

Well, Sex is as sex does, if that makes sense, all over this book. With a lot of women—in mini-flashbacks, thank goodness—and even more obnoxious boxer shorts that describe his, err, well, sex. Sex is changed when he meets Bree, a psychic he hires to rid his family's cruise ship of the ghost of Daisy, the supposed murderer of his great-great uncle. Bree touches people in order to read them, and when she touches Sex the first couple of times, she becomes his past lover and actually climaxes from what she witnesses. Ewwww! Being that type of physic is not for me!

Anyway, Sex and Bree develop a romance despite the fact she believes in Daisy's innocence and he believes the family story told by his other ancient uncle, Ramsey. There is a pretty hot romance with Sex's sister, Celia, and his best friend, Jax, as well. Let's just say a good time is had by all on this voyage. Well, except for the 1925 murder mystery, and the fact that Bree can get trapped in a past vision if she isn't careful.

As cheesy as I thought this book was going to be, I really and truly found it fun, sexy, and utterly charming. Sexton turns out to be quite a guy—above the waistline—and Bree is pretty unflappable despite her petite size. There are some super funny side characters (Mimi!) to lighten up the tale, as well. So, if you are looking for a fresh and unique storyline, and find ghosts and speakeasies something you would like to spend an afternoon with, then sail away with CRAZY FOR YOU.

Shannon Johnson