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© 2005, Peggy Hunter Reviews For A LESSON IN PASSION by Peggy Hunter Cordelia Van Helt acts as a fairy godmother in this erotic rendition of Cinderella…or more aptly Sleeping Beauty. Lucy is a woman who has no idea of her potential or her beauty and is lying dormant until Shane comes along to wake her up. These two lost souls go away for a weekend to discover each other at the encouragement of their fairy godmother Cordelia, and come away with some newfound knowledge of themselves. It was interesting to read this aspect of their growth. The scenes between Shane and Lucy are sizzling hot and when they get one-on-one this couple simply singes the pages. Beware of your fingers! One aspect of the book that made me chuckle was Lucy’s initial belief of Shane’s occupation, something that the circumstances rallied to give this impression to our heroine. Lucy learnt to unwind and become comfortable with her body through Shane…while our hero also learnt the benefits of caring for a genuine and passionate person. Their ultimate achievement was falling in love. A Lesson In Passion has not only an interes ting and fast paced plot, but has a very nice ending that will leave you with a very satisfied sigh. Aggie Tsirikas Peggy Hunter has provided a quick short story, with two very different characters, filled with very true emotions that any reader can connect with. Lucy’s doubt in her own beauty is wonderfully written and will leave the readers heartbroken for her. Shane’s self confidence will add a smug grin to anyone’s face. The physical moments shared between the two are playful yet sizzling. Will Lucy learn that beauty is not what the world sees, but what she sees? Will Shane and Lucy survive being locked away together with nothing but time on their hands? A Lesson in Passion is a wonderfully written story that had me smiling the entire time. The playful spirit that develops between Shane and Lucy is rewarding and frustrating for them both. I thoroughly enjoyed watching them work themselves in and out of intense moments. This is a light hearted romance that any reader will enjoy. Peggy Hunter did a great job and earned 5 Angels in the process! Reviewed by: Jessica Fallen Angels Review 5 Angels A Lesson in Passion by Peggy Hunter was a different look on matchmaking and bringing people together in spite of their fears. I thought it sinfully sexy and well written. Peggy Hunter is now on my author radar! Sample Chapter For A LESSON IN PASSION by Peggy Hunter
“Damn,” Shane said under his breath as the bedside phone began to ring. Bright sunlight assaulted his eyes as he brushed his shoulder length brown hair away from his face and looked at the offending instrument. “Leave a fucking message,” he murmured before he rolled over. When he heard the click of the answering machine in the living room pick up the call, he rolled over. The scent of the woman beside him filled his senses. She smelled of expensive perfume and stale wine as she turned her face toward him and opened her eyes. “Good morning, lover,” she purred as she touched his cheek with her hand. Her long blond hair, no doubt from a bottle, splayed across her pillow as she smiled at him with love swollen lips. Shane winced at her touch. Her hand felt cool against his unshaved face. Bringing her home from the party last night seemed like a good idea at the time. She had been flirting with him all night, making sure he knew what she wanted. He didn’t let her down. Shane broke his number one rule, he’d let her come home with him rather than going to the woman’s place. He had no intention of bringing her to his apartment, but she’d made him so damn horny and said they couldn’t go to her place. Now he was faced with finding a way to get rid of her. The last thing he wanted to do was share breakfast with the woman and plan the day with her. God, he wasn’t even sure what her name was. Susan? Shirley? Something with an s, he was certain of that much. Shane pulled away from her touch and sat up on the bed with his back to her. “I need a shower,” he grumbled as he got up and walked to the bathroom. Shelly. That was it! When she gasped and chuckled, he turned to look at her. “You’ve got the imprint of my fingers on your ass. I didn’t realize how hard I was holding on when I sucked you off last night.” Shane sighed. “Look, Shelley, we had a great time last night but—” Her laugh cut him off. “We had a fabulous time. I’ve never met a man who could fuck better. But if you’re trying to come up with a nice way to tell me to get lost, I’ll spare you the effort.” Shane blinked as she got out of bed and reached for her clothes. “I’ve got a husband who is probably wondering why I didn’t come home last night.” Shit! She grinned as she walked up to him. “You see, I used you just as much as you used me.” She planted a kiss on his lips as she buttoned her blouse. “Thanks for scratching that itch for me. You were great.” As she walked to the bedroom door, she turned and looked at him. “By the way, my name is Sandy.” Her laughter split the air as he heard the apartment door close firmly, leaving him standing in the middle of his bedroom stark naked. Shane walked to the bed and sat down. No fucking wonder she didn’t want to go to her place. That’s what he got for thinking with his dick. Damn! Shane flopped back onto the bed and stared up at the ceiling. Since his marriage broke up three years ago, Shane often enjoyed women’s company. The short-lived marriage had left him bitter enough to know he’d never commit to anyone again, but that didn’t mean he didn’t want great sex as often as he could get it. He’d always been the user. Until now, that is. Shane sighed when the phone rang. He considered letting the answering machine get it again and then decided to answer it. “Shane!” Cordelia Von Helt’s familiar voice sounded on the other end. “I heard you got to town and moved into your new apartment a couple days ago.” Shane smiled fondly. “Yeah,” he said, “Still a bit of unpacking to do, but I’m here.” “And you didn’t call me immediately? I’m disappointed in you, Shane,” she chided softly. “I’m sorry, Cor. This past week has been crazy.” He decided not to tell her about the party he’d gone to the night before. “I’ll come by to see you today.” “Well, that’s why I’m calling. I’d like to you come to my summer house on Carleton Island for the weekend.” “Oh, Cor, I can’t do that. I’m starting my new job on Monday and I’ve still got so much to do around here.” He hated the idea of disappointing the old woman, but he didn’t have a choice. “Maybe we can do it some other weekend, after I’m settled in.” Cordelia’s voice grew cool as she replied. “Shane, I’ve known you for many years and I’ve never asked you to do anything for me. I need you to come to my summer house this weekend and I won’t take no for an answer.” “Cordelia,” Shane said, “It’s not that I don’t want to—” “Good,” she said quickly. I’ll send my driver to pick you up in an hour.” * * * * “Cordelia isn’t really my aunt,” Lucy replied. “She’s a good friend of the family, that’s all.” “Still, she invited you to spend the weekend at her posh estate on Carleton Island. It’ll be the perfect weekend for you. A chance to regroup and sort things out.” Lucy smiled at her coworker. “I suppose. I could use a little down time.” “After everything you’ve been through in the last few weeks, I’d say so,” Mary said. “I just wish I wasn’t leaving Doctor Benton in a lurch. Friday is the busiest day at the dental clinic and it’s his last full day before he retires.” “Don’t worry about me,” Doctor Benton said as he rounded the corner and pulled a file folder from the holder on her desk. “If I didn’t think you needed a long weekend, I would have said so.” Lucy nodded. “I know, but—” “No buts,” he said, “You’re just missing one day of work and you’ll be here on Monday for my official retirement and to meet the new dentist taking over the practice.” He looked at Mary and winked. “I wonder if my dental hygienist feels like helping me today?” “I’ll be right there,” Mary said as she turned to Lucy. “Poor old man, he can’t manage anything without me.” Lucy grinned and leaned forward. “Aren’t you curious about the new dentist taking over?” she whispered. Mary rolled her eyes. “God, yes. I don’t know why Dr. Benton has kept it such a secret.” Lucy was about to express her own concerns when a glint of light caught her eye. She peered out the front widow and saw a black stretch limousine pull up in front of the clinic. Mary beamed. “Look’s like your ride’s here. Have a blast, girlfriend.” Lucy sighed. Cordelia would have to send the largest limo in her fleet. While the older woman might have been a friend of her family for many years, the fact she loved to show off her money always made Lucy feel uneasy. Cordelia’s past was anything but opulent. Born to poor farmers, she used her good looks to land rich husbands. She swore her fourth marriage to billionaire financier Hendrik Von Helt was for love. She was forty-nine when she married the eighty-three year old man. Three years later, Hendrik died during a lovemaking session with his young wife. He had no immediate family and Cordelia inherited everything he owned. While most people didn’t believe her love was sincere, Lucy never doubted it for a moment. Every time she’d seen them together, she could tell the light shining in their eyes was true love. A love of the ages. Something Lucy had long since given up hope of ever finding. At twenty-nine, Lucy knew one thing for sure. What Hendrik and Cordelia shared was not only rare, it was almost unheard of. Hendrik didn’t care that his wife’s body wasn’t perfect. He had come to love the woman she was, warts and all…figuratively speaking. Lucy met her ex-husband, Jon, in high school. They married right after graduation against her parents’ wishes. Wedded bliss was short-lived. He soon found fault in her, no matter how hard she tried to please him. He often told her she was so flat, he felt like he was sleeping with a man. No matter what Lucy did, she always felt ugly when her husband looked at her naked body. She’d never been able to satisfy his needs in bed. Still, when she came home and found him in bed with one of his coworkers, she felt her heart break into a million pieces. Lucy would never forget the moment she walked into her bedroom and found Jon with the woman. The woman was on her knees and elbows as Jon shoved his length into her from behind. He groaned and cursed as he bucked his hips. “Fuck me harder, Jonnie,” she cried. “Yes, it’s so good.” Jon leaned forward and grabbed her huge
breasts as he continued to grind his hips against her ass. She could
hear the sound of their bodies smacking together as he moaned. She screamed, “Oh God, I’m coming now, Jonnie. Harder!” Lucy felt tears of frustration prick her eyes. Jon was making her climax. In the years they’d been married, she had never once experienced a climax and here was this woman, on the verge of something Lucy knew nothing about. It was true. Lucy knew it without a
doubt. She was undesirable “Ms. Bedford?” Lucy blinked back to reality as she gazed up at the stoic man standing over her desk. “Uhm, yes,” she said. “That’s me.” “My name is Stanton,” he said as he tipped his chauffeur’s cap. “I’m here to take you to Mrs. Von Helt’s summer house.” “Yes, yes, of course,” Lucy said as she got up from the desk and leaned down to grab the bag she’d packed and brought into work this morning. “Allow me,” Stanton said as he lifted the bag and stood to one side. “After you, ma’am.” Stanton followed her out of the clinic door and walked to the back of the limo. He opened the trunk and placed her bag inside. As Lucy reached to open the door, Stanton quickly opened it for her. Lucy offered him a nervous smile as she got in. She blinked when she saw the limo already had an occupant. The door slammed shut and Stanton got into the driver’s seat. Lucy quickly peered over at the man occupying the seat an arm’s length away from her and offered another nervous smile. “I expect Stanton is dropping you somewhere on our way,” she said. The man looked annoyed. “As a matter of fact, I was thinking the same thing about you. I’m going to Carleton Island for the weekend.” Lucy’s gaze washed over him. She could tell he was tall, at least six feet, and dressed casually in jeans and white t-shirt. His chiseled features were enhanced by the long dark brown hair pulled back into a ponytail. Rich brown eyes regarded her with wariness as he leisurely crossed one leg over another. “When Cordelia Von Helt asked me to spend the weekend at her summer house on the island, she didn’t say I’d be sharing the place with anyone.” He looked down his long perfect nose as he regarded her with hooded eyes. “I guess you were wrong. Seems I’m spending the weekend there, too.”
“It’s a big house, I expect we won’t be in each other’s way,” he replied. Lucy leaned forward and knocked on the window between them and Stanton. As the window slid open, Lucy said, “I don’t think this is a good idea after all. I’d like you to take me home.” Stanton looked in his rear view mirror. “My instructions are to take you and Mr. Shane to the summer house on the island.” He leaned forward and retrieved a video cassette. “I’m sure if you put this into the VCR, you’ll have all your answers.” When Lucy took the cassette, the window closed before she could argue further. “This is crazy!” Lucy cried as she flopped back against the seat. “Shall we watch the video before we pronounce judgment?” “I don’t care what Cordelia’s got in mind, I’m not for it.” He took the cassette from her hand and popped it into the VCR. He turned the small television on and leaned back. “Shut up and listen.” Lucy was about to tell the guy to go screw himself when Cordelia’s voice came over the speakers. “Hello, Shane and Lucy. I’m sure you’re both wondering what’s going on.” “I’ll say,” Lucy grumbled. “Shh,” Shane said, “Just listen to what she has to say.” “If I know you both, I know Shane expected something to happen and is taking it all in stride, while Lucy is waiting for the first opportunity to escape the limo. Don’t bother trying to escape, my darling, the doors are locked. Only Stanton can let you out.” “This is outrageous!” Lucy cried. “So, I’m sure you’re both wondering what I’m up to,” Cordelia said. “At least one of us is,” Shane said with a snicker. “Shane, I’d like you to meet Lucy. She’s a very dear friend of mine who needs your help. You see, she hates herself. She thinks she’s ugly and that no man could possibly love her. This weekend, I want you to show her just how beautiful she is.” Lucy shrank into the seat. How could Cordelia do this to her? Lucy had told Cordelia about her life in confidence. Now the woman was using it against her! “That’s not true at all,” she said as she looked at Shane. The frown on his face caused her to stop dead, any further words completely flew from her mind. He was no more pleased about the prospect of trying to convince her she was anything other than what she was. Cordelia continued, drawing her gaze away from the man beside her. “Lucy, this is Shane. You’ll find him to be a valuable teacher in the ways of love but he’s not without faults as well.” “Fuck off, Cordelia,” Shane whispered. “Don’t go there.” Cordelia went on. “You see, Shane had a bad marriage too, and now he screws just about anything that moves but he doesn’t know what real love is all about. I’ve chosen him to teach you about good sex because I know you can show him what love and trust is all about. “I don’t expect either of you to have anything more than this weekend together. I don’t expect you’ll want to see each other after you part ways. But I want you both to see that there is more to life than what you’ve allowed yourselves to have. You have much to teach each other, so have fun this weekend, explore each other and, if you’re lucky, you’ll touch each other’s soul.” With that, the video ended. Lucy blinked
at the blue screen on the TV in disbelief. She’d been duped by
the one woman she trusted. Cordelia had no intention of Lucy spending
a weekend alone at her summer house. She had set her up with…with…Lucy
slid a gaze at the man…a gigolo. The term didn’t seem to
fit him and yet, what else could he be? A sensual shiver coursed over her body and settled deep in her core. Shane was definitely sexy as hell. She imagined her hands sliding over his firm jaw upward to the band that held his hair back. She’d release it and his hair would cascade over her as he bent to take her nipple in his mouth. |