Gwen’s review of Your Mouth Drives Me Crazy by HelenKay Dimon
Romantic suspense novel published 26 June 2007 by Brava (Kensington)

This is a contemporary romantic suspense set in Kauai, Hawaii. The hero, Kane, is the police chief and the heroine, Annie, is a photographer on a mission of revenge. Annie washes on shore, nude, practically at Kane’s front door. The suspense surrounds why she shows up there and why he’s around to find her. The book’s title is clever – the heroine is a smartmouth par excellence and then of course the obvious sexual innuendo.

I almost didn’t want to read this book. I’m not “crazy” about titles that are this long and that are so, well, odd. Boy am I glad I didn’t listen to myself this time. This book was a BLAST to read. I guffawed or laughed loudly several times, and had some tears, too.

Here are a couple of exchanges that amused me. This first is between Annie and the hero’s best friend, Josh, while they stand on the porch, watching Kane wade into a fracas on his front lawn:

“We’re not actually going to stand up here and miss the action, are we?” she asked her bodyguard.
“You know, Annie. I’m starting to like you.”
“I grow on people.”
Josh cracked a smile. “A little like mold
“Only without the helpful medicinal qualities.”

And this one, while it sounds a little misogynistic, is actually very appropriate for the point in the story. Annie and Kane are getting to know each other better and she’s wondering if she’s hooked up with the wrong guy:

“I got a question for you, island boy.” Annie clutched her journal to her chest.
“Hit me.”
“Does anyone on this island like you?”
That one was easy. “Not as far as I can tell.”
“Maybe I need to find another island tour guide.”
“You act as if anyone else would be able to stand you.”

This book was a breath of very fun, fresh air. It’s been a while since I read a romance that didn’t seem to be trying too hard to be funny or clever. This was just a very fun, clever story with a couple of twists, some suspense, a couple of good villains, and enough sexual chemistry and steam to keep the pages flipping. What was different, though, was the characters don’t immediately get into each other’s pants – well, not that way, at least. Their passion is given time to build and you want it as much they do by the time they satisfy it.

The suspense elements are very believable and it is interesting how they resolve. I cheered at the end for the scene where it all comes together. The build-up to that point is very charged. Other things I like about this novel is the plot is tightly woven. The characterizations are believable and remain true throughout the story – no cop-outs and uncharacteristic reactions. The story arcs are all very satisfying and culminate in a nice HEA.

And damn if I haven’t always fantasized about living on Kauai myself! HelenKay hit all my hot buttons and left me with a smile on my face. This was a very good read. If you’re a fan of snappy dialog and wonderful settings, this is the book for you.

Grade: A

Here’s the book blurb:

NEVER LET ME GO

Annie Parks came to Hawaii to gather information and settle a score, not spend time handcuffed to a sexy stranger’s bed. Okay, so this particular stranger saved her from drowning after she was pitched overboard by some goons. And he’s about six feet of hard, Hawaiian muscle and gorgeous cool that’s making forgotten parts of her say, “A-lo-ha!” She needs to stay focused, but a side dish of Kane Travers is awfully tempting.

Kauai Police Chief Kane Travers is not a vacation kind of guy. So it figures that when Internal Affairs suspended him, he’d end up rescuing a sarcastic, dishonest, extremely hot redhead who is clearly hiding something. Amnesia? Yeah, right. Kane’s got half a mind to give Miss Whoever She Is something she’ll never forget. His cop senses tell him that the lady’s in deep and needs his protection. But how can he get her to tell him anything when all he wants is to take her home and do everything?

Read an excerpt.