Limecello’s review of Free Pass by Elizabeth Scott
Contemporary Erotic romance published by NAL on 2 Dec 08

I really like Elizabeth Scott’s books – I’ve read her previous two as well. But I will say she’s exceedingly hard to find through Google searches (you generally get the YA author).  Though I didn’t like what I saw of the trailer (granted they’re not my favorite thing anyway).   Free Pass is similar to Ms. Scott’s other books in that she focuses on three couples and their stories. Free Pass differs, however, in that she has the men taking a much more prominent role. That, and it isn’t an anthology. The stories aren’t separated, and everything is set out as one book. Nevertheless, each chapter focuses on one couple at a time, so I’m not sure if I would have preferred the other format. Regardless, Ms. Scott has published yet another terrific, and steamy work.

The premise of this book is that the women want to preempt the typical “seven year itch” by allowing their husbands one fling to get rid of the urge. As aforementioned, Free Pass is about three different couples. Here, the women are friends because they workout together. One comes up with the outrageous idea, and convinces her friends to do the same. Initially the characters are all resistant to the “free pass,” but it slowly insinuates itself and tempts each of them with the possibilities.

Cherisse and Wesley are your typical “small town” couple. They live in Minnesota, but have gone to Miami for a vacation.  Here, they feel free to let loose, and go on with their flings because “what happens in Miami, stays in Miami.” Cherisse and Wesley are actually my favorite couple in Free Pass. They’re both incredibly personable and endearing. Cherisse is refreshingly normal, and Wesley is quite down to earth as well. It’s clear they have a strong bond, and their relationship is going well, they simply want an adventure.

Cherisse ends up finding herself a lifeguard-cum-waiter-cum-actor, while Wesley hooks up with a hair model who also works in a book store. Their “flings” are very different from the type of person their spouse is, and somehow, Ms. Scott manages to craft the situation so Cherisse and Wesley feel closer to each other after each has sex with a stranger.

The same occurs with the other couples: Debra and Gordon, as well as Melanie and Thomas.

Debra and Gordon go to Greece, and meet a pair of wild Russians. The scenes were entertaining, though I felt some of the characterizations were a bit too much at times. Debra and Gordon play the wide-eyed naive Americans, and the Russians are extremely outrageous. Yuri and Katya’s diction just started to irritate me at times, but it wasn’t too distracting. Debra and Gordon decide to use their “passes” with their new foreign friends. I enjoyed the descriptions of the town, and was impressed by the vastly different situations Ms. Scott created for the Debra and Gordon with their respective Russian indiscretions.

Melanie and Thomas have the most unique experience. Melanie was the one who came up with the free pass idea – but she and Thomas are the one couple that don’t exactly go through with it.  Richard, a nice traveling businessman, is the man Melanie chooses, and what I liked about this pairing was how much depth Ms. Scott gave Richard. (I hope he’ll have a happy ending in her next book.)

It was interesting and impressive how Ms. Scott managed to take such a taboo subject, and create a romance. Free Pass is effectively a book where three couples cheat on each other, juxtaposing two discordant ideas. (Though the question also is – is it really cheating when your spouse knows? And even more, allows it?) However, she takes the concept of making something forbidden normal, and follows the couples’ relationships from there. Cherisse, Wesley, Debra, Gordon, Melanie, and Thomas all realize what they have together is truly special, and not something they can find with anyone else. While one might think doing such a thing would tear the couples apart, their foundations are strong enough to withstand it, and the result is an extremely sexy book with a surprising and satisfying amount of romance.

They’re not separate, so I’m not giving different grades, but it’s floating in the ether between an A- and a B+. I definitely recommend this book for readers who are looking for something well-written and new, and especially for those who like a lot of heat in their books.

Grade: B+

Summary:

These three couples have shared good times with each other as friends. But as they celebrate their seven-year anniversaries, they’re planning to share some even better times-with strangers…

Vacationing in Miami, Cherisse and Wesley are up for more than sunbathing, when Wesley spies a naughty lady through his telescope and Cherisse focuses her gaze on the lifeguard. Meanwhile, Melanie passes on the hot men at her health club and chooses a private workout with an out-of-towner. When her husband accidentally walks in on them, it’s anything goes. And at their rental in Greece, Debra and Gordon discover a Russian couple making love in a private show just for them. For the restless Americans it’s quite a come-on-and an irresistible invitation…

No excerpt available.