Sandy M’s review of Satisfaction Guaranteed (The Goddard Project, Book 1) by Lucy Monroe
Contemporary Romance published by Brava on 1 May 2007

All it takes is another man sniffing around his home turf and Ethan Crane sits up and takes notice. Much to Beth Whitney’s delight — and consternation. She’s had all kinds of sexy and lusty fantasies about the agency’s No. 1 agent for two years and not once has he stepped out of that polite, friendly, and teasing posture whenever he interacts with her. But when Beth’s ex-fiance is hired as the new agent on the block, suddenly having Ethan’s attention zeroing in on her is spine rippling and disconcerting all at once. Wait till she finds out what her father has up his sleeve.

When her fiance left her at the alter three years ago, Beth knew she’d never have a relationship with another agent again. They’re just not family material and a family is what she wants. She suffered enough growing up without her father around for the milestones in her life. He was too busy protecting the country to help her blow out birthday candles or see her in a school play. She’ll work for the agency herself, but all of the men who work around her are off limits. Even Ethan, who is handsome, sexy, and a dare devil, an adrenaline junkie who takes all the dangerous cases and isn’t ready to settle down any time soon. She can fantasize about him, but she’ll never let it never go further than that. Famous last words until her father pulls her into Ethan’s current case. She’s doomed before they even get started.

When the new recruit begins to show an interest in Beth, Ethan begins to show a little possessiveness toward her, something he’s never done before. He even gets into a friendly but icy pissing match with Alan, trying to protect her from empty come-ons, but she’s not one to let a couple of men call the shots in her life and she tells them so in no uncertain terms. That heightens Ethan’s awareness of her that much more. Then when they’re thrown together on the case that Ethan is raring to get started on, after his initial disapproval because of the potential danger due to her not being a trained agent, he finds Beth is a woman who can hold her own and think on her feet — when he’s not got his hands all over her. Something clicks fast and furious between them, so intense he’s thrown off balance to the point he backs off and ends up hurting Beth, which bothers him almost as much as not having sex. And that’s not like him one bit.

For not having any type of relationship, not even flirting, before these two characters are thrown together for a good cause, sparks that turn into fireworks begin to fly right off the bat. I loved their initial “getting to know each other” scenes so they would be able to realistically portray lovers for the case. They check out each other’s apartments down to the most minute details, all the while the sexual tension grows until they — and you — are about to explode. When Ethan gives himself over to Beth to play out her fantasies, things get hot fast and eventually burst into flames, despite the handcuffs. From there the love and sex just gets better between them, and even with some insecurities and hurt feelings along the way, Ethan and Beth learn to work together, trust one another implicitly, and finally want the same thing, each willing to compromise to gain what they both thought they’d never have.

Yeah, there’s a story in this book. A really good story. I liked it too. But love scenes by Lucy Monroe just work their magic and you find yourself so entranced in her characters coming together to explore new-found sensations and feelings while having the time of their lives that everything else fades around you just like it does in real life.

Grade: A+

From the back cover:

Anytime, anyplace, Ethan Crane’s your man. An agent’s agent, he’s tough, smart, and fearless. Exactly the guy you want when the stuff hits the fan—and precisely the kind Beth Whitney avoids like the plague. It took a fiancé (make that ex-fiancé) in the business to teach her, but she’s learned her lesson: Don’t. Date. Agents. Ever. It’s this little rule that’s kept her gainfully employed at the agency, doing her part for world security from behind a desk. So when a case throws the two together, Beth’s determined to keep it strictly professional. So far, so good—except for the steamy kisses, the red-hot phone sex, and…What was that rule again?

To Ethan, Beth couldn’t be less his type if her father ran the agency, which, oh yeah, her father does run the agency. Still he can’t help but be impressed by her inspired work in the field—a total turn on. Off the field it’s even better. Seems the old adage that opposites attract happens to agents too. Even if Beth insists it’s just a fantasy. Hot pursuit of a notorious information broker is what they should focus on—not each other. That can wait until they’ve accomplished a job well done. Or can it?