Book Review for Sexy by J.A. Huss

Imagine the man of your dreams.

The blue eyes. The unruly blonde hair. The perfect abs. How strong his muscular thighs feel as you dig your fingernails into the denim of his jeans.

Now imagine looking up to meet his gaze as he guides you towards his belt. Offers you a new life, a new destiny, a whole new world as he teaches you how to make him moan. Coaches you in the art of being sexy.

Would you say no? Could you say no?

Fletcher Novak is that perfect man and he just made Tiffy Preston the offer of a lifetime. And all she has to do is... everything he tells her.

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With the popularity of Magic Mike, I'm frustrated there's not more romances featuring flirty and sexy male strippers on the shelves.  Luckily the drought is over with Ms. Huss' latest release introducing us to the charming player with a hidden heart of gold who unexpectedly falls for a woman who always assumes the worst of him and denies the existance of love.  From start to finish it's the sensual and complex Fletcher who holds your attention as there's vastly more substance behind his stylized looks which made for an intriguing unwrapping of the heartfelt layers that combined to make a hero worthy of the title.  I just wish the heroine had been as engaging as Fletcher as he routinely overshadowed Tiffy.  Despite my occasional irritation with Tiffy though this was still an immensely enjoyable read that I hope leads to more stories set in this world as it's teeming with energy, sensuality, and compelling characters.

Fletcher Novak seems like a man in control of everything.  He makes a good living dancing in a popular male revue, has numerous moneymaking side businesses, and understands the intricacies of women like no other.  His reputation though isn't perfect as there's a long line of angry women who wanted more than he promised them.  With the future of the hotel where he dances hanging in the balance Tiffy Preston comes to straighten him out but has the tables turned on her unexpectedly as they begin a flirty battle of the sexes that changes his life irrevocably.  Fletcher comes from a family of money who, except for his grandfather, were cold when it came to emotions.  In every way Fletcher is hot, a man who embraces strong emotions, and soon finds himself drawn to Tiffy though he knows the low opinion she has of him.  Under the guise of helping her win the heart of the staid and sturdy man who sees her as a friend, Fletcher spends many hours teaching her the meaning of sexy and the power behind it.  While unleashing her hidden vixen he discovers he wants to know even more about her and show her that he's the man she belongs with which leads to a rocky road to HEA with her insecurities and trust issues putting them and readers through the emotional wringer.  Fletcher's a delightful hero who's loyal to those few who own his heart.  Even after everything Tiffy said about him and did to him, he still had her best interests at heart and protected her from afar.  He has secrets but he never lies, he's honest in everything he does even when others don't want to hear it.  He's smart too which all adds up to a compelling man who had me captivated from the first page to the last.

Tiffy's early years were full of doubt, fear, and uncertainties as her mother raised her on her own making ends meet however she could.  It all left Tiffy a bit jaded even after her mother married into wealth.  Upon her mother's death she was left thinking love is a lie and those who rely on sex to make money are without honor.  These preconceived notions have her constantly at war with Fletcher but equally drawn to him.  At every turn he defeats her plans to fire him and his intelligence becomes an even bigger aphrodisiac for her.  Tired of being seen as a friend to her older co-worker Cole she hires Fletcher to teach her how to be sexy and win him over which binds them even closer together as she slowly discovers that her long-held beliefs aren't always true.  Overall I found Tiffy a strong-willed woman but a bit cold and judgemental at times.  She often jumped to conclusions and was slow to hear the truth as she always assumed the worst.  Being with Fletcher though brought out a softer and more carefree side to her that I enjoyed.  All she wanted out of life was safety, which the boring Cole represented, and it saddened me that she was willing to sell out her happiness based on her preconceived beliefs to get it.

Fletcher and Tiffy were a formidible couple with a crackling connection and interactions that teemed with sensuality.  Their banter was witty, flirty, and showed their constant battle of the sexes which had me further engrossed in their HEA.  Tiffy was a woman tainted by her past and I felt sympathetic to her pain, but she still frustrated me with her constantly assuming the worst of Fletcher.  By stories end though she was a different person, someone more open and understanding due to the time she spent with him.  The other moments where Tiffy shined were in her interactions with her gay friend Claudio who was supportive but called her out when she was wrong.  Their banter was playful, a bit catty at times too, but always in the name of love.  Claudio was a breath of fresh air and I'd love a novella focused on his burgeoning romance with another dancer.  Fletcher though was the highlight of this story and I quickly became obsessed with him.  He was never what he seemed, he was a smart and sexy multi-faceted man, honest and loyal all wrapped up in a pretty package.  No matter what life threw at him he always came out on top and it's that strong will that made him the perfect match for Tiffy.  Though he too doubted love existed, he was willing to admit when he found it.  From its delicious hero to its sexy storyline Ms. Huss has crafted an exhilarating tale full of steamy encounters and unforgettable characters that I still have on my mind long after the final page was turned.

My rating for this is a B+

*I bought this book with my own money for my personal bookshelf.