Product Description

Product Details

• Amazon Sales Rank: #129382 in Books
• Published on: 2009-03-31
• Released on: 2009-03-31
• Original language: English
• Number of items: 1
• Binding: Paperback
• 304 pages

Features

• ISBN13: 9780352345028
• Condition: NEW
• Notes: Brand New from Publisher. No Remainder Mark.
• Click here to view our Condition Guide and Shipping Prices

About the Author

Customer Reviews

Very Hot, Well Written Erotic Romance
I've read a number of Lauren Dane's novels and have always liked her voice, both in her paranormal, and contemporary work. Megan Hart is new to me, although I do have "Stranger", in my TBR. I found their combined voices in this novel to be wonderful. I got to know these characters easily and despite the strong personalities of the men and women I could sense their vulnerabilities and angst in taking tentative first steps in new relationships. I have to say the dry wit and clever verbal sparring, particularly between "Kate and Dix", and certainly some of the sarcasm, had me laughing out loud.

taking care of business

The setting for this story is in a hotel in Philadelphia where Human Resources Director Leah Griffin has organized a conference for her company's managers. Leah's closest friend, Kate Edwards, a successful, driven attorney, is attending providing legal advice for the company.

Leah and Kate are lifelong best friends who share their most intimate and naughty secrets without fear of reproach. They also instinctively know when it's time to back off and allow time for painful experiences to be internalized before they are spoken aloud. I really like books that have a theme involving friendship between women. I think it gives more reader insight into their personalities and depth to the characters.

Leah has just ended an 18-month relationship with a rather immature, unpleasant and demanding man, Mike. She has been unhappy and dissatisfied with her personal life for a long time, unable to achieve sexual satisfaction during the majority of the intimate relationships of her life. I could feel her frustration welling up from the pages. Kate knows what her friend needs in a relationship, however Leah is unable to admit it to herself.

Kate has been enjoying an exciting sporadic sexual liaison with Charles "Dix" Dixon, the head of the legal team for Leah's employer. Kate or "Katherine" as she is known in professional circles is brilliant, has a razor sharp tongue and is ruthless, a top-notch attorney. I loved this character; basically she takes no prisoners in the "boardroom". However, "Kate", has a vulnerable side with respect to her personal life having been burned at the stake early on in her career related to an intimate relationship with a colleague. Needless to say she is very reluctant with respect to entering into a more committed relationship with Dix.

Leah, meets Conference Services Manager, Brandon Long, a mature younger man originally from Iowa, for whom she instantly feels an attraction. While she initially dismisses him, because of his youth she soon learns she was sorely mistaken and finds he has a strength of personality, integrity, and is sexually experienced. At the beginning of the book Leah is somewhat unpleasant with Brandon because of her relationship history and emotional conflicts, making it difficult for a reader to like her. However, as Brandon responds to Leah as a female dominant and her insecurities are laid bare, I at first empathized and then began to like her.

Dix is a 40 something divorcée who is a supportive and involved father of two teenage girls. Dix is sexually obsessed with Kate, ruminating about her constantly. He wants a more committed relationship but she puts up innumerable roadblocks. Kate and Dix are both tough, evenly matched career attorneys, the fireworks between these two just blazed off the pages sexually and during intense arguments leading to even hotter sex. Kate's soft side is revealed in the bedroom under Dix's "very experienced" ministrations.

I was struck by what I can only describe as intense verbal "foreplay" between both couples, the non-verbal nuances, and the intensity of their sexual encounters. The sensual prose, I thought was outstanding.

We have to have the conflict between lovers and trust me there is a truckload that arises between Leah and Brandon, and Kate and Dix. I was really squirming wondering how the authors were going to resolve the issues between these lovers and bring them together, especially Leah and Brandon. However, at the end of the day, Ms. Hart and Ms. Dane did not disappoint.

I will look forward to reading more of Megan Hart's and Lauren Dane's work.

Reader Review
I can only say how much I loved this book. I love both of these authors and I started to read this book and tried to figure out who wrote what section. I couldn't tell, because this book just flowed so well. It was truly seamless. The two stories were intertwined so nicely, and I really wanted more.

Leah's breakup with her creepy dom boyfriend was such a turning point for her. Brandon came into her life at the perfect time. He showed her that she can be in control and still 'be in control'.

Katherine's ability to compartmentalize her feelings for Dix was really amazing. Having the courage to let go and deal with her emotions, was her turning point.

I enjoyed the interaction between the two friends, and the sex scenes were smokin' hot. Add in a little corporate drama, and a psychotic assistant, this makes for a wonderful book that you won't want to put down.

Taking Care of Business
Leah Griffin is about to leave for a company conference that she has put together, but first she has a bit of business to take care of. Mainly to break up with her live-in boyfriend and tell him to get out of her house. So it's not much of a surprise that Leah really isn't looking for another relationship. However, she is looking forward to spending some time with her best friend who is coming to the conference. All Leah's good intentions seem to disappear once she meets the hotel's conference service manger. Brandon Long is tall, dark and too sexy. Best of all he is a bit younger and wants nothing more than to please Leah, or so it seems.

Kate Edwards has made some serious changes in her life that just about no one important to her knows about. Like she bought a condo, changed positions and most importantly she is moving within two hours of Leah. Leah's company has hired Kate as a specialty contract attorney, something Kate is very, very good at. But this job has also given Kate something she has tried to avoid the majority of her adult life - a secret relationship with someone she is currently working with. Charles Dixon is Kate's downfall, he is a hot attorney and a serious bad boy who Kate has problems saying no to. Now that they will be within driving distance with each other, Kate wonders just how this might affect her secret fling with Charles.

Kate and Leah have always backed and pushed the other since the beginning, and this weekend is no difference. Leah is amazed to learn of the secret that Kate has kept from her, but even she can see that Charles makes her friend happy - well when he isn't driving her up the wall. Kate is happy that Leah dumped her creep and when they spy Brandon, Kate is only too willing to push Leah into experiencing Brandon in all ways possible. Passion isn't the only thing that complicates what was at first a simple working weekend; however it is the only thing that brings everyone face to face with his or her heart's desire.

I was surprised when I started reading Taking Care of Business as I expected an anthology. Instead I found a very complex book that combined both women's lives during a conference they will never forget. The hot and erotic sex that each couple have was enough to all but turn on my fire alarms. Kate and Leah are both very strong women who know what they want and are not afraid to fight or ask for it. Brandon and Charles have fallen for the perfect women for them and now just have to get them to agree. Sometimes when two authors write the same story, I can tell who did what, however this is not the case in Taking Care of Business. Everything blends so beautifully that if I hadn't seen the cover, I would have thought only one author had written it. If you are looking for an escape involving strong and professional women and equally strong and hot men, you cannot go wrong with Ms. Dane's and Ms. Hart's Taking Care of Business.

Jo
Reviewed for Joyfully Reviewed