Review: Heat Waves

Heat Waves (Destination Wedding - Book 3) by Susan Lyons

Publication Date: July 2011
Publisher: Penguin Group USA
Genre: Erotic Romance
Pages: Paperback, 368pp
ISBN-13: 9780425241240
ISBN: 0425241246

(Received for an honest review from Berkley Heat)

Purchase: Barnes & Noble, Book Depository, IndieBound

Susan Lyons on the WEB: website, blog, facebook

Excerpt from Heat Waves, WARNING: This excerpt contains adult content and is only appropriate for those over 18 years of age.

Book Trailer: You can check out Youtube for the book trailer to the first book in the series Sex on the Beach, but no trailer was available for Heat Waves.

Synopsis:

Get ready to sizzle...

Liz and Peter can’t think of a more fun, sexy place to get married than the Greek Islands. And they’re not the only ones looking for a steamy holiday, cruising in the sun…

"Rock the Boat"

For widowed wedding planner Gwen Austin, the charismatic Santos Michaelides is the perfect man to help her rediscover herself as a sexy single woman. At least until she finds out there’s more to the cruise director than meets the eye—in more ways than she believed possible. In fact, he's an insurance investigator, working undercover to get the goods on one of the passengers. How is control-freak Gwen going to cope when she discovers Santos has the potential to mess up the wedding—and mess with her heart?

"Making Waves"

When prosecutor Kendra Kirk meets up again with Flynn Kavanagh, the sexy IT consultant she’d unsuccessfully prosecuted for white collar crime, sparks of all kinds fly. When he professes his innocence, she believes him and soon they’re lovers—secret ones, because if her boss ever found out, she’d be seen as sleeping with the enemy. Kendra’s job is the most important thing in her life, so what will she do when she learns the truth about the crime and must choose between work and love?

Thoughts:

Author Susan Lyons combines steamy romance with intrigue and mystery in her latest book, Heat Waves, the third book in the Destination Wedding series. The book is comprised of two intertwined novella's that follow the same characters who are a part of a wedding cruise to the Greek isles. Lyons fans, as well as any erotic romance reader will find this one full of suspense, sex, and fun in the sun. Lyons is able to mingle both love and sex into a contemporary romance that will leave readers wanting more.

"Rock the Boat"

In "Rock the Boat", Gwen Austin a widowed wedding planner is attempting to give Liz and Peter a spectacular destination wedding in the Greek Isles aboard the cruise ship, the Aphrodite. Unfortunately, the cruise director she has been in contact with has been replaced at the last minute by Santos Michaelides. Gwen quickly finds out that Santos is really an undercover insurance fraud agent who is investigating someone on board. But he isn't opposed to spending his free time wooing the young widow. The romance between them heats up as Gwen begins to worry that Santos could ruin her perfect wedding. But is there love strong enough to last after the last guest leaves the boat?

"Making Waves"

In "Making Waves" lawyer Kendra Kirk is attending a cruise ship wedding with her family. Kendra takes her work seriously and it leaves little time for romance or finding Mr. Right. When Kendra is unexpectedly reunited with Flynn Kavanagh, a man she prosecuted for a crime involving the thief of over $5 million dollars she is shocked by their immediate attraction. Even though Flynn was acquitted, he still carries the stigma of people believing he isn't innocent including Kendra. The attraction between is so strong that they are helpless against it. But what will Kendra think when finds out what really happened to the missing funds?

Susan Lyons fans are well acquainted with her steamy, erotic writing style. Lyons is able to capture the strong emotions that run high when relationships are new and exciting with a flair. This book is geared toward an adult audience and isn't appropriate for young readers as some scenes are quite graphic, but adult readers who love a hot and steamy read will love it! I have not had the opportunity to review a lot of books from this genre, and I was pleasantly surprised that the plot was rich and full of suspense as well as sex and meaningful romance. Lyons does a fantastic job of intertwining both novella's and making them a complete story. I have not read the other two books in the series, but this one can easily be read as a stand alone.

There were two things that I really loved about this book. The first was the setting. Lyons does a remarkable job of bringing her love of Greece into the minds and hearts of readers. Her descriptions of the people and place, will have readers booking their next vacation, cruising the islands of Greece. I thought this was a great setting for a destination wedding, which has become really popular in recent years. With so many exotic destinations to choose from I think Lyons picked the perfect one for this book. The cruise ship itself, the Aphrodite is a place that anything seems possible as far as love is concerned. The wedding attendee's are primed for romance and the ship is the perfect place to find love.

The second thing about this book that I really enjoyed was the intrigue and suspense aspect. Santos is investigating Flynn, who he believes is responsible for the loss of over $5 million dollars. As he digs around for clues the reader starts to get the idea that there is a lot more to the story. Flynn comes off as an honest guy who has taken a bad rap, he doesn't appear to be a criminal, but the reader has to ponder whether everything is always black and white. I liked the way the author was able to keep the reader interested in what was going on in the case as well as the bedroom.

This one is definitely hot and steamy! If you want to read something that will cause your temperature to raise a little and your hear to beat a little faster, this one might be for you. I recommend it to erotic romance fans and even main stream romance readers who are looking for something that's not their usual fare. If you are looking for fun in the sun and a great escape try Susan Lyons latest book and why not have a Heat Wave while you're reading!

Heat Wave (recipe)

For this very special Greek island cruise, I created a special drink. Pull up a lounge chair and enjoy!

1 1/2 oz. coconut rum
1 oz. peach schnapps
3 oz. orange juice
3 oz. pineapple juice
1/2 oz. grenadine
fruit for garnish (optional)
Mix all ingredients except the grenadine in a parfait glass, with ice cubes or crushed ice. Top with grenadine. If desired, garnish with a maraschino cherry and/or a slice of orange, pineapple, or peach.

Heat Waves is available NOW from your favorite bookseller.

I'm giving this one 4 out of 5 apples from my book bag!




I'm a Pacific Northwester with homes in Vancouver and Victoria, British Columbia. I have degrees in law and psychology, and have had a variety of careers, including perennial student, computer consultant, and legal editor. Fiction writer is by far my favorite, giving me an outlet to demonstrate my belief in the power of love, friendship, and a sense of humor.
I write sexy contemporary romance that's passionate, heartwarming and fun and am published by Kensington Aphrodisia, Berkley Heat, Kensington Brava (writing as Susan Fox), and Harlequin Spice Briefs.

I also write sweet short romances which are published by The Wild Rose Press, and I've contributed to all three of Freya's Bower's "Dreams & Desires" charity anthologies.

My books have won Booksellers Best Awards, the Aspen Gold, the Golden Quill, the More Than Magic, the Lories, and the Beacon, and I've also collected a RT BookReviews Top Pick.

"Ms. Lyons' gives readers characters you can relate to, genuine emotional context and undeniable passion wrapped up in a compelling storyline that leaves you eagerly anticipating her next release." - Chrissy Dionne, Romance Junkies

Please visit my website at www.susanlyons.ca for excerpts, behind the scenes notes, discussion guides, book videos, contests, recipes, and lots of other good stuff!