Review - Crazy for Love

Title: Crazy for Love
Author: Victoria Dahl
Publishing Date: July 2010
Genre: Contemporary
Rating: B
Sensuality: Hot
Book Disclosure: I purchased a new copy.

Chloe Turner escapes to an isolated island off the coast of Virginia to escape the crazed paparazzi who have taken an interest in her ever since her fiancé crashed a plane in order to fake his death. She has been dubbed "Bridezilla" by the media and it has turned her life in to a circus. Her best friend Jenn rents a little house on the island and both women end up next door neighbors to two very hot brothers Max and Elliot. Max has a little problem with control issues that he hides from everyone including his brother. Chloe and Max hit it off, but they have big obstacles they need to overcome. Can they trust each other enough to reveal all their secrets?

Crazy for Love was a good read and I think my favorite of Victoria Dahl's books thus far. I really enjoyed both Chloe and Max and the story line was a hoot. For me Max really stood out. Outwardly he came across as this care free playboy who loves woman and an adventurous lifestyle. Only no one understands that this is all an act. Max is actually a complete control freak riddled with worry over all the dangers that surround the people he cares about and he is a sucker for a damsel in distress aka Chloe Turner.

This time Chloe sees Max for who he really is and is not bothered by his compulsions at all. For the first time in his life he can let his guard down and be himself. The other thing that I really liked about the book was the humor. There is really great dialogue between the characters and it was rather humorous. The story moved along at a rather quick pace. Here is a fun little example of Victoria Dahl's quick wit.

"I'm not lying!" When the bird chatter died out for a few seconds, Max realized he'd shouted. He glanced over to a puzzled Elliott and a suspicious Jenn and offered a friendly wave. "Sorry." Chloe, on the other hand, was smirking at the water. He leaned in close and whispered. "You're the first woman I've touched in nine months."

The smirk faded from her lips, but Max's heart was dropping. Had he just said that? Aloud? Way to play the desperation card, Max Sullivan. "It's nothing weird, though. I just decided that celibacy was... I mean, not celibacy celibacy. Just..."

"Celibacy?" She squeaked.

"No!" To offset another shout, he offered Jenn the flash of a sick smile over his shoulder. "Forget I said anything."

She shifted and tried to cross her arms, but the fishing rod and life vest interfered, so she just edged away from him. "So...You're sending mixed signals here. Flirting with me and then telling me you're celibate."

"But I'm going to have sex with you," he insisted, just before the roar in his ears warned him that this was getting very bad, very fast. His pulse pounded, pushing a headache to life behind his eyes.

"Really?" Chloe drawled.

"Oh, Jesus."

"Am I going to like it?"

"I didn't mean it like that ."

"Uh-huh."

He ran a hand through his hair, aware of the drop of sweat snaking down his neck. "I meant that I really wanted to, even though I told myself it was a bad idea, and I couldn't stop thinking about you and that red bikini. And your eyes!" he added belatedly. "And you're such a normal girl. You're not glamorous or...Um."

"I'm starting to believe you really aren't a player, because this is the worst seduction ever."

"Oh," he said, unwilling to let another full word pass his lips. He'd just blurted out the most insulting things he'd ever said to a woman. And, of course, he'd said them to the nicest girl he'd met in years. How had this become such a disaster? "I'm so sorry."

She shrugged one shoulder. "Lucky for you, I'm one of the few women in the world who actually revels in being called normal. I'll even take average at this point."

"Chloe," he managed. That one pained word was all he could get out before he slowly lowered himself to the bench seat behind him. Suddenly, he didn't care about the danger of being on a boat in open water. He didn't care that Elliott was leaning out way too far to slip the squirming fish back into the water.

Today Max Sullivan had discovered that he only had two speeds: fake and charming or freakishly awkward. Jesus. He'd spent so many years pretending to like women he didn't care for that he couldn't manage the most basic interaction with a girl he really did.

Chloe dropped into the space beside him and pressed her knee against his. "Max?"

He shook his head.

"You know what?" When she took his hand, her fingers felt beautifully delicate sliding between his. "In all honesty, I'm totally going to have sex with you, too. So it's a good thing you're onboard."

Max narrowed his eyes at her. "Is that a joke?"

"Well, the 'onboard' part was a joke, but maybe not a good one, if you have to ask. But I wasn't joking about having sex with you."

"You must have been."

"No. I haven't been celibate, but I've been monogamous, so I understand that it feels...awkward."

"By awkward, I assume you mean the ridiculously stupid shit that keeps spilling from my mouth?"

See what I mean? If you want to read a fun contemporary, look no further. Crazy for Love has just what you’re looking for.

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