LIBERATING LACEY
Anne Calhoun
Ellora’s Cave
ISBN:  9781419920486
May 2009
Ultimate Romance

Lacey is a thirty something businesswoman who has been divorced for several months and decides to live a little on the wild side, going to a bar called BUFF.  She is out to see what it might be like to pick up someone and have casual sex.  She catches the eye of sexy cop, Hunter.  He identifies her as a classy woman by her dress, her beautifully done red hair and makeup, and the way she holds herself.  He, of course, accommodates her wish for a quick encounter in the parking lot.

Then the book gets interesting.  What should have been a quick, meaningless encounter begins to turn into a relationship.  Hunter is intrigued by Lacey’s fancy house, her obvious money, and why in the world her ex-husband didn’t hang on to her.  Lacey, in the same way, is intrigued by the younger Hunter, his occupation as a policeman, and his fascination with her.  While she expects him to leave, he ends up staying around, spending time with her, mulching her flower beds.  Yet, Hunter worries about finding himself out of his league with this elegant woman with a hot, passionate side.  Hmmmm…..

This is a complex, detailed, absolutely fabulous book.  The intimate relationship between these two complex people is hot, hot, hot!  But the novel is about much more than sex, it lets us into Hunter’s relationship with his carpenter father.  It also gives some insight into the role of sexual and emotional intimacy for men and women, the similarities and the differences.  We get a thorough view of both characters and their pasts.  There is a surprise at the end of this book that draws everything into perspective.  I loved this book and the clever way it is written.  Not to be missed for fans of ultimate fiction.  I want to read more by this talented author.

Reviewed by Jeri Neal
Rating:  4 1/2