For this month's choice in Wendy's 2013 TBR Challenge I read Sweet Talk by Julie Garwood. For some reason in the winter months, I seem to tend toward Paranoramals and Romanctic Suspense novels (see last month's TBR post).Sweet Talk is romantic suspense from veteran writer Julie Garwood. I don't think I've ever read a Garwood book I didn't like, I like some less than others, and this was a less than others book.
Olivia had a serious illness as a child which separates her from her family. Her father is the poster child for Swindlers Inc. Her mother and older sister only exist to fawn over the father. Olivia rises above with the love of her aunt and the friendship of her childhood hospital mates known as the Pips. (I hope the pips each get a book). After attaining degrees in law and accounting she crusades for children at risk part-time and works for the IRS with the mission to expose her father's ponzi scheme.
On an ill-fated job interview Olivia meets Grayson as he, for the first of many times, stands between her and certain death. Grayson is a handsome, rich, well connected FBI agent who fights mixing business with pleasure especially, after he is placed in charge of Olivia's protection.
The verbal exchanges between Olivia and Grayson are enjoyable and I liked it when Grayson's wit sometimes got the best of Olivia. Her background allowed me to forgive some of her naivety and foolish zeal in some situations. What got on my nerves was after she was almost killed and Grayson asks if she has any enemies, she spouts a long list of people who might want to off her but then goes all Whitney Houston in the "Bodyguard" on him and freaks out when he assigns personal security to her. I don't need it blah, blah, blah...! Really! After what happened to her, any sane woman would be grateful instead of taking every opportunity to ditch her protection.
Anyway, I enjoyed Olivia and Grayson as a couple, I could picture them as crime fighting duo battling for truth and justice. The epilogue made me smile and I hope to hear more about this couple in future books.
My grade for a hot millionaire protector, a gusty, sincere, sometimes irritating heroine, the family from hell, the "Pips" and some breath holding suspense : B-.
