License to Thrill [Mass Market Paperback]

Upon fining a note in his grandfather's things with the name Mabelline Sikes and the destination Las Vegas scribbled on it the flying challenged Mason soon finds himself hightailing it to sin city in search of the floozy who has lured his grandfather away. Upon arrival Mason mistakes private detective Charlee Champagne for Maybelline.

Charlee's grandmother is supposed to be away on fishing trip and she is bound and determined not to give this good-looking man any information about Maybelline no matter how charming and gorgeous he is. Circumstances soon lead Charlee to believe that her grandmother may indeed be with Mason's grandfather and the two may be in a boatload of trouble. Reluctantly Charlee agrees to go with Mason on a road trip to Los Angeles where the two are believed to be headed.

Mason finds himself attracted to the flamboyant Charlee and is dumbfounded by the attraction because she is defiantly not the type of woman he usually seeks out. The straight-laced Mason is not Charlee's type either. Sure he is drop dead gorgeous and has a boatload of charm but he is way too stuck up for her tastes. Now if he would only stop finding excuses to kiss her she might be able to resist his charms.

With half a million dollars on the line, a pair of wayward grandparents on the run and a pair of thugs in a Malibu on their tale this unlikely duo is thrown together and encounter one mishap after another. Forced together can Charlee and Mason make it to L.A? without falling head over heals in love? The verdict's still out but all bets are off in this wild and funny cross-country adventure.

Lori Wilde has given the reader a hilarious treat with her first single title. Mason and Charlee are characters that are larger than life and invite the reader to come along on their laugh filled, action packed cross-country journey. Ms Wilde's clever dialogue and ability to get her characters into way too much trouble makes for a highly entertaining book.

License To Thrill proves to be a welcome addition to Ms. Wilde's book list. It was great to see this talented author expand her delightful and humorous storytelling into the longer format and I look forward to future books by her.

Investment banker Mason Gentry has been sent to Las Vegas to search for his grandfather who took off with a half million dollars in Gentry company funds. Mason comes from a wealthy, socially prominent family and as the dutiful younger son, always winds up doing the grunt work. He's a straight arrow who always follows the rules, but he's also tall, dark and handsome . . .

. . . and the last thing PI Charlee Champagne wants to see waltzing into her office and her life. Guys like Mason Gentry are truly dangerous to Charlee and she's got good reason for her fear. Charlee grew up mostly on the road with her restless grandmother Maybelline after her mother died. Her father is a good-for-nothing petty criminal who contributes to her distrust of men. Charlee has a bit of a chip on her shoulder about her upbringing and the "trailer trash" label she's tried to shed, so when Mason comes along, she's all cool attitude.

When it becomes apparent that Charlee's grandmother has disappeared with Mason's grandfather, the unlikely duo embarks on a road trip to Arizona and ultimately to LA in pursuit. During the trip, buttoned-down, live-by-the-rules Mason and rebellious, live-by-my-own-rules Charlee clash, but they also are attracted. Charlee is a beguiling mix of toughness and vulnerability that Mason has trouble resisting. Mason is honest, steady, dependable and the kind of man that she has had all too little experience with. They are both finding it increasingly difficult to keep their hands off each other and their minds on the problem at hand. Where are Maybelline and Nolan and what secrets lie in their shared past? Well, it's lots of fun finding out, though I will say toward the end, the antics and obstacles were getting kind of silly and I was ready to wrap it up - my only complaint with this book.

Lots of fun story, great characters and wild and crazy adventures make this a nice escape from reality. The author's treatment of the grandparents was also well done. They're real and believable - not stereotypes of silly, clueless seniors. They also rekindle their own romance from years ago. Lori Wilde is fast becoming a favourite in the vein of Nancy Warren - another of my fave authors. Highly recommended!

Okay, that remark might sound hokey or dumb but in the case of this book, it is decidedly true. My reaction to this story was, hmmm, a pleasant surprise. After reading the back blurb, I was expecting another of those 'wild heroine meets uptight, upright hero and they immediately jump each other bones' stories that seem to abound in romance today.

Not so. LICENSE TO THRILL is an insightful, thoughtful, beautifully crafted story with great pacing, intelligent characters, crisp dialogue and a nifty little mystery. Oh, and it's a whole lot of fun, too.

The characters - in particular the romantic couple - are, in fact, what propelled this story to another level for me. This duo is appealing, smart, dynamic and have great chemistry together. Yes, they are attracted to each other, but do not act on the attraction - immediately anyway. The heroine, Charlee Champagne, is without question one of the best drawn heroines I've read in a while. She's strong, capable but with a core of vulnerability that's totally believable. And the hero, Mason Gentry, is no slouch himself. Both characters are larger than life and together they rock. I felt as if I was sitting chatting with this pair throughout the book.

LICENSE TO THRILL - Ms. Wilde's first single-title - is a real gem. Fast, fun, sexy? Oh yeah...

This story is my first by Lori Wilde and definitely will not be my last. I love her writing style.

Debbie Jett.....