If you’re looking for a mature hero and heroine who enjoy each other’s company with no babies, cowboys or amnesiacs in sight, this is the book for you.

Lydia McKinley is a college professor and doctoral candidate in molecular biology. She and her neighbor, Scott Pearson, have an acquaintance based on discussions of DNA. Fed up with endless harassment from sisters determined to find them perfect mates, Scott and Lydia strike a bargain to escape their sisters’ clutches. They’ll go to parties and social events together and pretend to be an item. But as their relationship progresses from acquaintanceship to friendship, something deeper begins to build.

I loved the fact that Lydia was a microbiologist. I love scientist heroines and there aren’t enough around. Lydia was strong, relatively confident, and knew what she wanted. While she preferred being alone to going out, she did make exceptions, especially once she and Scott made their bargain.

Scott was a confident, charming lawyer. He had already decided he wanted to get to know Lydia better, and when they struck their bargain, he made good use of the opportunity.

Both Scott and Lydia are focused on their careers. They agree in the beginning that they don’t have time for relationships, which is one of the reasons they continue to avoid their sisters’ matchmaking attempts. As they get to know each other, however, their attraction builds. A kiss here and an embrace there alerts them to the attraction, but they continue to think that work is most important. Silly people.

While I like to read romantic suspense, it’s also nice to read stories that focus on nothing but the relationship between the main characters. That’s the case with Surprise Partners. There are no sub plots to interfere with Scott and Lydia and their growing attraction to each other. Their sisters try to fix them up with other dates, but they eventually back off. Speaking of the sisters, I wanted to smack both of them. They were annoying and condescending in the way they thought they knew what was best for Scott and Lydia. It was sweet and satisfying when they finally did realize what was best.

There was some minor conflict in the form of a suitor who wouldn’t take no for an answer. This seemed unnecessary as the final conflict was quite adequate. The way Wilkins resolved this conflist was a nice twist on traditional roles.

I just loved watching this relationship unfolding. Scott and Lydia were such a good pair – great friends first, and then great lovers. I’ve said it before: Gina Wilkins is an author who rarely lets me down. If you haven’t tried anything by her, I urge you to start now.