Gwen’s Review of Hands On by Amie Stuart
Erotic romance novel released 1 Jun 07 by Aphrodisia

This novel consists of three interlocking stories about three BFF’s – Lexi, Lanie, and Carlotta. All three women have blue collar jobs (construction foreman, mechanic, and electrician, respectively) and adventurous private lives. This is a book about these friend’s femininity, their men, and personal discovery. Oh, with some very hot sex thrown in for spice. In my opinion, the cover alone is worth the purchase of this book – that is a very sexy, beautifully shot photo and a work of art on its own.

This book starts with the “mildest” of the three stories: Lexi’s, or Alex to her workers. She has been lusting after a drywall supervisor on the job, Wade. She and Wade manage to hook up, of course, after some amusing scenes including a lap dance in an upscale strip club. I’m not sure if this is a “love match” for these two, but it’s definitely a lust match. It’s a fun cute story.

The second story is a little edgier: Lanie’s, or Mel to her mechanics. Lanie owns her own auto repair garage and manages to hook up with her brother’s friend, Jeff, after a painfully amusing scene at her parents’ backyard picnic, which is a welcome home dinner for her youngest brother, Jackie, recently released from the pen. This story explores a complicated family dynamic – very Catholic family, prolific siblings (12 g’children among three brothers), and two outcasts – Lanie and Jackie. Lanie’s ostracism is self-imposed – she’s in her 30’s, owns her own successful business, not married and has no kids, and is bisexual (unbeknownst to her family) – everything her family seems to not value. Jackie’s ostracism was state-imposed – he spent 10 years in prison for robbery or burglary (not sure which). Lanie ends up helping Jackie reconnect with life, and hooking up with Jeff and she has a ball doing it, all while freeing herself from her family’s expectations.

The third story is the edgiest of all: Carlotta’s. Carlotta is also mildly bisexual, but not so much she makes it a lifestyle choice. She hooks up with a man she originally describes as the “Geek Meister” – but she soon discovers that, in her words, still waters run deep. This story becomes a rather painful tale of self-discovery and catharsis. Carlotta discovers she’s a “submissive” at heart but also that she is terrified of letting go of control of the smallest elements in her life. In fact, her need to control is more a stranglehold than a gentle grip. The conflict this creates when she discovers her submissive self makes for a very good story. I would have liked it to be about 20 more pages, but that’s a sign of a good book, in my opinion. This was the story I thought I might end in a love match.

I was impressed with this book. I didn’t skim paragraphs or skip pages, and I read it all in one sitting. It was engrossing, fun, and very sexy. I found Carlotta’s story the most compelling because it seemed the most genuine. I enjoy books where a character is forced on a journey of self-discovery, kicking and screaming. I enjoy that because, if we’re smart, it’s often the way life is – forcing us to confront issues, instead of hiding from them.

I highly recommend adding this to your poolside reading pile this summer.

Grade: B+

Here’s the book blurb:

Monday through Friday they’re known as Alex, Mel and Carl. But come Friday night Lexi, Lanie and Carlotta trade their blue collar personas in for high heels, martinis and men. They’re smart, sexy and successful, and they’re taking HANDS ON to a whole new level.

Lexi Kimball has the unenviable position of Safety Supervisor on a construction crew. The one person everyone loves to hate, she’s caught between bringing a job in on time and getting it done without any accidents. Not an easy task in the best of circumstances, but throw in a sexy foreman with an adventurous streak and a construction site plagued with problems and you’ve got a recipe for trouble.

Melanie Daniels comes from a long line of mechanics and has no illusions about working in a man’s world. To the men who work under her at Chick’s Garage, an auto shop that caters exclusively to women, she’s Mel. On the weekends she’s Lanie, a bisexual completely comfortable in her own skin…until she finds herself challenged by her brother’s best friend.

Carlotta Quintanilla isn’t your average blonde. The sexy Nicaraguan can wire anything, anytime, anywhere better than any man, and she looks hot in a tool belt. When it comes to men, not only does she know how to play the game, she wrote the rules. She meets her match in a quiet computer geek who has a thing or two to teach her about control.

Read an excerpt.