OFF THE CLOCK - Roni Loren
The Pleasure Principle , Book 1
Berkley
ISBN: 978-0-425-27854-3
January 2016
Erotic Contemporary Romance

New Orleans, Louisiana - Present Day

Dr. Marin Rush has always focused on the research aspect of sex therapy, but when her research grant is denied and her brother is accepted at a prestigious art school, Marin knows she'll have to do clinical work in order to afford everything. The interview at a private clinic seemed like a godsend, until she realized she'd be working with Donovan West.  Marin and Donovan have a bit of a history, and she's not sure how she feels about him mentoring her in her new job.

Donovan West's work is his life, and he knows that as the head of the sex therapy division at the clinic, he has a pretty good set-up where he's at. With a director's position opening up though, he'd be able to focus a little more on research, so he's determined to get that position.  Unfortunately, the director of the center isn't a fan of his, and Donovan has a hard time keeping another doctor in the sex therapy wing.  Marin, with her almost non-existent clinical background isn't likely to help his cause.  Especially when her tendency to blush will cause his sensitive patients to feel like they are being judged.  It also doesn't help that the chemistry between them burns as hot as it did in college – only now, giving into it could mean their jobs.

The first book in an exciting new series, OFF THE CLOCK introduces us to the doctors at The Grove, an exclusive clinic catering to the rich and famous.  As a sophomore in college, Marin had a crush on her professor's Teaching Assistant, Donovan.  During spring break she helped him with his research and things got pretty heated between them.  After Marin's personal life exploded, she didn't see him again, but now that she has, Donovan is aware of just how young she was – and how forbidden their earlier interaction was.  While not exactly forbidden this time around, an affair between them would definitely cause them some problems.

Life has definitely thrown some curve balls at both Marin and Donovan, which has caused each of them to focus on their work.  Marin has been raising her brother for the past nine years, leaving no time for a social life, and while her work revolves around sex, her own experience is very limited.  She'll need to be more comfortable hearing the outrageous things patients may say, and when Donovan offers to help her get more comfortable with sex, it's impossible to resist.  Donovan is used to people not sticking around, and he's not interested in a long-term relationship.  Helping Marin out should be easy, but Marin gets Donovan in a way nobody else ever has, and threatens his determination to remain on his own.

Both emotional and fun, OFF THE CLOCK is a sexy story that I highly recommend.

Jennifer Bishop