FAST & LOOSE – Elizabeth Bevarly
Berkley Sensation
ISBN: 978-0-425-22085-6
April 2008
Romantic Comedy

Louisville, Kentucky – Present Day

Cole Early is one of the country’s best Thoroughbred horse trainers, and one of his prodigies is in contention at the Kentucky Derby. Unfortunately, Cole didn’t foresee how difficult -- and tight -- to find living accommodations during Derby week would be. Luckily, he hooks up with a rental agency in securing a house. The day he arrives in Louisville and picks up the keys, he literally knocks down an intriguing redhead who captures his attention. She brushes him off, so he pushes any covetous thoughts about her to the side. After all, he has a race to train for. But, to his surprise, Cole keeps running into the woman and he can’t get her off his mind.

Lulu Flannery designs and produces glass art, and though it provides her a steady income, she decides to rent her house to a stranger through an agency during Derby week. Of course, this renter better keep his/her paws off her personal stuff, so she leaves tons of Post-it notes with instructions. Getting knocked down at the rental agency while turning over her keys, she recognizes the man as the infamous Cole Early who’s the darling of the Derby and Hollywood crowd. Lulu has no intention of getting anywhere close to Cole, but darn it, he always seems to be around where she hangs out. If only Lulu didn’t have to stay with her friend Bree and could hide out in her own home. Cole, however, is persistent in meeting Lulu.

I suspect if you’ve read this far then you know whose house Cole is renting. With the suspense of when will they discover this little tidbit hanging over FAST & LOOSE, it keeps readers chuckling because we know the truth is hitting Cole and Lulu in the face, even if they don’t see it. Cole hangs out with the rich and famous because, well, he is the person to know right now with a horse favored to win horse racing’s Triple Crown. But deep down, Cole is an ordinary person who just wants to enjoy being around people who love horses and with a woman at his side to share his successes. Meanwhile, even as he spots Lulu around town and wonders about her, he’s intrigued by the pictures around his rental house and fantasizes about the ladies in the pictures. Ha, won’t he be surprised by the truth…

Lulu just wants to be successful and make money so she can remain independent. Cole is way out of her element, what with his being a womanizer and a cad for knocking her down. Okay, maybe she is a teeny bit attracted…but she can’t let him know! Lulu considers herself a wallflower, and hanging out with the rich and beautifully dressed is not her style. But when Cole finally corners her and makes her an offer she can hardly refuse -- for one week she must pretend to be his girlfriend and attend the Derby gala affairs with him -- well, the money is a tad attractive. Oh, yeah, and Cole is not too bad himself.

Quirky, fun, and an all-around entertaining read, FAST & LOOSE will grab you the moment Cole and Lulu bump into each other. Despite spending a good portion of the first part of the story apart, the electricity when they’re around each other sizzles with enough sparks that wearing asbestos gloves might need to be a necessity for readers. Their energetic banter and reaction to each other will make readers chuckle and smile. The horse racing is part of the background, but the plot is about the building relationship between Cole and Lulu, as well as a secondary story involving Lulu’s friend Bree and Bree’s coworker Rufus.

As always, Elizabeth Bevarly has created in FAST & LOOSE the kind of truly pleasing story that fans have come to expect from her. There’s passion, romance, and laughter, all of which will keep you riveted to the very end. Get to your nearest bookstore and grab your copy of FAST & LOOSE.

Patti Fischer