"Reckless" is a sassy way to describe foolish behavior. Whoever chose this title was on the right track, but it's not quite strong enough to convey how stupidly these characters behave. I would have called it "Return to Dysfunction Junction."

Rachel Dean has big plans for her 10th reunion. A loser in high school, she has matured into a stylish, sexy woman. She intends to seduce and humiliate her three worst tormentors. But before she can check into her hotel, she hits a stray dog with her car.

Garrett McClean happens upon the distressed damsel and dog. As luck would have it he's a vet and he offers to take them to his father's clinic. In his truck Rachel spies some mail addressed to Carl McClean, Garrett's brother and her first victim. Assuming Garrett is Carl, she hits on him.

Garrett does not correct her, fearing it will jeopardize his chances of scoring. After an intimate encounter at the clinic, they are both kicking themselves. Rachel is genuinely attracted to "Carl" and worries it will ruin her scheme. Garrett realizes what a putz he is for not being honest, because he wants a relationship with Rachel.

I was relived when the mistaken identity thing is cleared up the next day; they're staying at the same B&B. Unfortunately, what happens next is worse. Garrett makes an idiot of himself pursuing Rachel, and as the grand finale, proposes to help her with her seduce and destroy mission. All he asks in return is that she be available sleep with him whenever he wants. Not only does she agree, she gets mad when he decides not to hold her to her part of the bargain.

Rachel could be the valedictorian of the Ally Mc Beal academy. She is irrational, neurotic and irritating. Garrett is just plain dumb. Becoming Rachel's co-conspirator doesn't redeem him as it's intended to; it merely proves he is lacking pride and common sense. Secretly, he hopes she will abandon her plan and concentrate on him, but in the meantime, he cheerfully drives her to Austin to trap one of her victims and plays the role of attentive suitor in front of the other. He can live with a little despicable plotting as long as he and Rachel can spend quality time together.

The one good thing is that Rachel's plan never gets off the ground. I only wish the author had taken this as a sign and scrapped the entire premise. Nothing could have saved this book, but I have an alternate ending in mind that's worthy of this silly couple:

Rachel: Oh darling I love you, but I'm afraid we're both really messed up.
Garrett: We certainly are, my sweet little nutcase. Let me take you away to where we can share our most intimate secrets.
Rachel:You mean?
Garrett: Yes sweetheart, we're going to therapy.