Michele Hauf

Contemporary/It Girls series, Book 2

Overall:
Sensuality:
Cover Cheese:

Now, you know I love to wax down-and-dirty when it comes to talking romance.

But it surprises even me that this week's subject made it past the editorial staff.

I mean, there aren't a lot of main-stream romance reviewers brave enough to explore the gritty stuff -- books whose central themes surround the secret fantasies of certain kinds of men.

Men whose baser needs drive them to thoughts of --

Polymeric bioluminescence.

Nanotechnological ionic branding.

Sub particulate matter transfer.

Oooh. Makes a girl's knees weak, don't it?

It does if you're Rebecca Whitmore, certified gemologist, haute couture-loving freelance spy, and heroine of "Flawless," the snazzy, sexy, and awfully well done new novel by Michele Hauf.

Becca's a member of the Gotham Roses, a high society of secret agents looking to take a ladylike bite outta crime committed by the "rich and untouchable."

She's been sent to Scotland Yard to examine an enormous hunk of diamond central to an attempted murder case.

While doing so, Becca finds herself under the scrutiny of Aston Dane, one big hunk of sexy British international agent. The crack MI-6 investigator wants to know what Becca's seen microscopically encoded upon one of the diamond's surfaces, but he won't tell her why.

Turns out the ion beam-branded encoding may represent secret formulae coveted by the CIA, the British government, and some tastelessly-coutured mob types.

To unlock the diamond's secrets, Becca and Aston zig and zag through four countries in 48 hours, shagging leads, sporting LaCroix, and enduring a painfully witty and torturously erotic night in a Parisian hotel.

I haven't been this jazzed about a "kick-butt heroine who's a sexy spy" novel in, well -- never.

But Michele Hauf's tight prose and quintessentially cool dialogue make "Flawless" zing.

Hauf paid particular attention to research, and to not turning characters into spy novel caricatures.

Dane and Becca are appealing, although not entirely charming. Dane's cocky but not smooth. And, while Becca feels most comfortable with folks below her billion-heiress station in life, she prefers them not too far below, darling.

Tell you what else Ms. Hauf gets right: the placement of sensual tension and emotion-driven erotic scenes in a novel that ain't about the sex.

'Cause it's all about the bling, baby.

So, strap on your Christian Louboutin's, buckle up your Versace Euro-trash jacket, and get yourself ready for action.

"Flawless" is a joyride from start to finish.

Go on, love.

Buy the book.

Check out Michele Hauf's kick-butt website at www.michelehauf.com. Play with a cool "Flawless" illustrated supplement and enjoy coloring fun!