Sandy M’s review of Smart and Sexy (Sky High Air, Book 1) by Jill Shalvis
Contemporary Romance published by Brava on 1 April 2007

I have found another author to glom. I have never read Jill Shalvis before this and I think I’ve been missing some great reads. I had an immediate response to her characters, especially her hero, the action is nearly nonstop, and the romance and the emotion is to die for. Smart and Sexy is one satisfying read.

Getting back in a plane after crashing six months ago has been difficult for Noah Fisher, but he’s back in the pilot’s seat and he’s heading to Mammoth for a weekend of skiing and those infamous bunnies that frequent the slopes. As luck would have it, his recreational plans are interrupted when he discovers a highjacker on board. And it’s a woman to boot. As long as she’s flashing a gun around, Noah does as she asks, but when a storm is heading their way, it doesn’t bode well for the flight or Noah’s peace of mind. He doesn’t want a repeat of the last time he tried to outrun a storm. However, he’s about to find out that said storm is nothing compared to the way his little highjacker is about to ravage his life.

Bailey Sinclair is on the run. Men with guns and violence in their eyes are hounding her every move to get the money her late husband owes them and they think she can lead them to their bounty. But pulling Noah into her troubles wasn’t the smartest thing to do and she needs to correct that mistake ASAP. No matter what she throws at him, he’s kept them at least one step ahead of the bad guys and he hasn’t left her side once. The more her feelings grow for him, the more she wants to protect him, keep him safe from these bastards chasing her. But once she gets a taste of him, how will she ever be able to walk away?

Thanks to his lone and unorthodox childhood, Noah has the “skills” needed to keep Bailey and himself alive as they run from one place to the next with bullets flying around them. He thinks on his feet and thinks ahead, when he’s not thinking about Bailey. She makes his blood boil, both in bed and out. She still has trust issues and that drives him crazy. But when they have their hands on each other, sparks fly off the page right straight to your libido. Their lovin’ is hot and heavy and done in both familiar and unique places that will get your heart racing. The action moves everything along quite quickly, and although they have a few close calls, it’s Noah’s fast thinking that keeps them alive to go on to their next destination. The other characters at Sky High Air look out for Noah the best they can and I enjoyed their part in the story. I look forward to reading about Shayne (Strong and Sexy, Book 2) and Brody (Superb and Sexy, Book 3) as soon as I can my hands on their books. [ed note: you are really lucky and will have your hands on Shayne (well the book) in the next day or so as he came out in Jan 2007 and Brody will be out the end of may!!! So you can go to the store or hope my ARC makes its way to you soon]

Grade: A

From the back cover:

Flying Solo Is Way Overrated

Noah Fisher has worked for months to make Sky High the most prestigious charter airline in California. He’s long overdue for a break—something involving ski slopes, cold beers, and hot ski bunny babes, not necessarily in that order. The itinerary doesn’t include being hijacked by Bailey Sinclair, gorgeous widow of one of Sky High’s wealthiest (ex-) clients. But here they are, and being crammed in a cockpit with the scared, stubborn, unbelievably sexy former model he’s been fantasizing about invokes Superman tendencies that could get Noah in serious trouble.

Bailey is desperate to find the stash of money hidden by her conniving, thieving late husband—before the bad guys he owed find her. It’s a long shot, but nothing compared to the gamble she’s taking by being so close to Noah. Every minute in his company has Bailey thinking about doing crazy, reckless things like touching, grabbing, kissing…and oh wow, being kissed right back. Suddenly, seat-of-your-pants seems like the only way to fly, and maybe it’s the altitude playing tricks, but this is one trip she never wants to end…

Read an excerpt here.