Fiction Vixen Book Reviews

Laid Bare by Lauren Dane
Paperback: 336 pages (I read the Kindle version)
Publisher: Berkley Trade (August 4, 2009)
ISBN-13: 978-0425229712

Unexpected Desire... It's been ten years since clean-cut, sexy-as-hell police officer Todd Keenan had a white-hot fling with Erin Brown, the provocative, wild rocker chick next door. Their power exchange in the bedroom got under his skin. But love wasn't in the cards just yet... Now, life has thrown the pair back together. But picking up where they left off is tough, in light of a painful event from Erin's past. As Todd struggles to earn her trust, their relationship takes an unexpected and exciting turn when Todd's best friend, Ben, ends up in their bed--and all three are quite satisfied in this relationship without a name. As the passion they share transforms Erin, will it be enough to help her face the evil she thought she had left behind?

Todd is a straight laced, country music loving cop and Erin is a free-spirited rocker.  They are opposites to say the least but as we know, opposites attract.  When they begin an intense affair, the sexually self assured Erin arouses Todd’s most secret sexual fantasies.  However Todd panics and is not yet ready to accept his sexual kinks and so they end the relationship and go their separate ways.

10 years later Todd is back in Seattle newly divorced and making a fresh start for himself with a new career.  He runs into Erin, who, after making it big in the music industry is also back in Seattle running a small cafe.  When they meet again, the spark is still there only this time, Todd has embraced his true nature both emotionally and sexually and he’s ready to pick up where they left off.  Erin however is in the process of rebuilding her life after suffering a personal tragedy that has left her broken emotionally scarred.

In the process of rebuilding and rediscovering their former relationship, Todd and Erin become more adventurous and welcome Ben, Todd’s bisexual best friend into their bedroom.  What begins as exploration and experimentation blossoms into a full blown loving relationship between the three of them.

My thoughts:

I think it goes without saying (but I’ll say it anyway) that all of Lauren Dane’s covers are amazing.  I love it when a cover actually reflects the characters described in the book and they got it right on this one for sure.  The hair, the tat--perfect.  That is definitely my Erin and the lovely gentleman with her could be my Todd or Ben. 

I loved the well developed characters and relationships in this story but Erin, by far, was my favorite.  She is bold, self assured and completely comfortable in her skin.  Although vulnerable and emotionally fragile after a heartbreaking loss that might have ruined some women, Erin is a survivor.  She is strong, and not so foolish as to think she can recover from her loss alone.  She embraces her relationships and calls on their strength to support her through the delicate process of healing and reconciliation.

It took me a little longer to read this book than usual.  Not because it was a particularly long book, but mostly because I felt like I needed to let my eyebrows grow back between reading sessions.  Yes, it was that hot!   But beyond a highly erotic read this was a story about love, relationships, raw emotion and sexuality, grief and reconciliation. I think one of the things I liked best was the strong family relationships. So many times we see broken heroes or heroines with little or no family ties forced to turn to their romantic relationships for support. It was refreshing to read about good strong supportive families dealing with the unexpected curve balls life inevitably throws. 

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This book was purchased by me.