Los Angeles, California - Present Day

Shayne Mahoney never has trouble getting women, as he’s always surrounded by the most beautiful women imaginable. But there’s something about the disheveled, klutzy and out-of-place woman who’s just entered the party his company is hosting. After spilling a drink on her, Shayne follows her to a supply closet, where she lays the hottest kiss on him. Learning that she’s Dani Peterson cools things off in a hurry, though. First, because her mother is the most influential client Shayne has, and second, he knows from her mother that Dani is a little crazy.

Dani knows the exact second when the mysterious stranger she’s making out with realizes she’s the “crazy girl.” Just because she didn’t fight for the inheritance her step-father meant to leave her and she prefers her work at the zoo to society events doesn’t make her crazy. Of course, seeing a person with a gun standing over a dead body, only to have both disappear a few minutes later doesn’t exactly make a person feel sane. Not knowing what else to do, Dani runs back to Shayne. Yet, while she feels safer with him around, she also knows that Shayne is a danger to her heart. If only she could keep her hands off him....

STRONG AND SEXY is a fantastic blend of sensual love story and laugh-out-loud romantic comedy. Shayne finds Dani’s clumsy yet honest attempts at seduction a refreshing change from the women who usually throw themselves at him and is charmed by her. Dani has always felt like a fish out of water in her mother’s high society world and has devoted herself to her career to the point that she feels inept around men. While she is definitely attracted to Shayne, she figures he’s way out of her league and, therefore, she should stay away from him. Unfortunately he’s just too sexy for her own good, and with Dani apparently being stalked, she keeps turning to Shayne for help. Shayne has always run the other way when it comes to commitment, but he can’t stop thinking about Dani and, for once, wants to see what may happen if he sticks past two dates.

Noah and Bailey, from Ms. Shalvis’s previous release, SMART AND SEXY, make an appearance, as do Noah and Shayne’s business partner, Brody, and their concierge, Maddie. Each of these characters has some insight to add, trying to help Shayne and Dani get together, and often in comical ways. A thoroughly entertaining tale, STRONG AND SEXY is a book not to be missed.

Jennifer Bishop