"The Flirt" Kathleen Tessaro

I had the chance to read an ARC of Kathleen Tessaro's new novel, "The Flirt", scheduled to be released in June 2008, and I'm so glad that I did. I've long been a fan of chick-lit, although I enjoy intelligent chick-lit, not books that are too fluffy or (dare I say it?) cheesy. I'm not a fan of cheese. I haven't read any of Kathleen Tessaro's other books, but it looked intriguing and I couldn't wait to give it a try!

Hughie Armstrong Venables-Smythe is a young unemployed actor looking for work in London when he sees an ad in the paper for someone who is well-mannered and morally flexible. Utterly broke and desperate for work he applies for the job and gets it. It's at that point that he finds out that his job description includes flirting (and lots of it!) with a variety of women who's husbands or parents have paid for these women to have their spirits lifted.

Next we meet Leticia Vane, in her early thirties, who designs lingerie of all shapes and sizes for women looking to please her husband. She lives in a world filled with beauty and elegance, yet her personal life leaves much to be desired. Due to a heartbreak in her past, she refuses to love anyone or have anyone love her in return and believes only in "no strings attached" sex.

Finally we meet Olivia Bourgalt du Coudray, a lonely woman married to an impossible man. Olivia just wants to be loved, but instead her husband leaves her alone for the majority of the time and when he does see her, he's fond of going into frightening rages. Olivia is unhappy and doesn't know how to solve the problem that is her marriage.

Soon both Leticia and Olivia both begin receiving mysterious notes from a secret admirer. Through these notes both women eventually figure out who they truly are and what it is that will make them really happy.

This book was a pleasure to read and it has found a permanent home on my bookshelf. It has intriguing plot twists, likable characters throughout, two very racy (and well-written) sex scenes and (of course) happy endings for almost all. I'll be checking out her other titles in the future because this woman definitely knows how to write addictive chick-lit! My suggestion? Snag a copy of this book as soon as it comes out!

For more on "The Flirt" by Kathleen Tessaro visit:
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