You Sexy Thing! is the second book I’ve read this month featuring a hypocritical hero. Did somebody save them all up for me or is this the beginning of a disturbing new trend?

Dylan Fairbanks is a sexy sex therapist and author who preaches abstinence for the unmarried. On a promotional tour to plug his latest book, he’s innocently looking for his hotel room when he steps into the wrong room and gets an eyeful of a stunningly beautiful, perfectly built woman showering. As he gapes he finds himself becoming jealous of the water glistening all over all of her red-gold curls. (No, I didn’t make that up!)

Grace Mattias is a sexy sex therapist and author who encourages patients to go on a “sexual safari” and experience casual relationships before settling down. She’s showering up for a radio talk show appearance to plug her latest book when she discovers that a Peeping Tom has entered her room. She makes light of the situation and a mortified Dylan slinks away.

Later that same day, they’re surprised to discover that they’re both guests on the same radio talk show. Gracie teasingly calls him “Tom” and much to Dylan’s dismay, the host catches it and proceeds to lead them into a candid sexual discussion that leaves them both a little overheated. Their repartee rakes in the ratings and their promoters sneakily decide to pair them up on a promotional tour. Gracie, who hasn’t been taking her own advice and has been celibate for far too long, intends to use Dylan to gain a little “sexual safari” experience of her own. Will Dylan be able to resist Gracie’s wily sex-kitten ways? Or will he practice what he preaches and continue to save himself for wedded bliss to his long-time girlfriend Diana?

Ahh, the girlfriend. Now, there’s the rub. I love a good sexual fantasy as much as the next Blaze reader, but when either of the couple are committed to someone else I tend to get all hot and bothered for all the wrong reasons. Diana is not just a casual girlfriend. She and Dylan have had a serious but sex-free sixteen-month relationship and when the story begins Dylan is considering proposing to her. Is he in love? Who knows, but that’s beside the point because when he meets Gracie he and his poor neglected penis go wild and forget all about Diana. Dylan’s been married before, for a disastrous four months, and intends to make his planned marriage to Diana stick – or at least that’s what he tells himself in between lustful thoughts of Gracie. Sure, he feels guilty, but whenever he and Gracie are alone he’s unable to stop his wayward hands, lips, and groin from reaching out to hers. This is a man who has written a book preaching about abstinence and self-control, yet he exhibits less self-control than a dog in heat. And speaking of dogs, not only does Dylan dislike them, he basically abandons one his parents had given him. Why? Because it chewed up his stuff and had the nerve to have bad breath. Geez, I sure hope the heroine keeps a tube of toothpaste tucked under her pillow or he may heave her out the door too. If this was supposed to be one of those endearing, quirky character traits it sure backfired with this dog lover.

Gracie and Dylan’s relationship is an all-out lust-fest with little in the way of relationship development. When paired together in public they tend to argue, annoy, or try to best one another. It’s pretty entertaining. When they’re alone (or think they are) they’re having sex or indulging in foreplay, and that’s about the extent of their “romance.” The sex scenes are hot, but not extraordinary enough to make up for the lack of romance or emotional connection.

Gracie is really the saving grace of this story. Her casual attitude towards sex is refreshing, and despite the sex-kitten looks and talk she’s incredibly genuine and likable. She’s easygoing, interesting, and just a little shocking. Raised by wealthy, cold parents, she could easily have turned into one of those “poor neglected me” whining little rich girls. Instead she’s taken that experience and learned from it; enjoying her life and living it exactly the way she wants to. Yeah, I liked Gracie.

So what have we got? A stuffy hero with questionable likability, a heroine who’s hard to resist, plus a good strong dose of lust. None of that romantic falling-in-love nonsense here. You Sexy Thing! isn’t the worst thing I’ve read all month, but it doesn’t make me want to run out and buy up the rest of the “Blaze” titles, either. Though readable and entertaining at times, the lack of emotion may leave those looking for a red-hot romance a bit cold.