Notorious Vickie Lewis Thompson

Notorious, by Vickie Lewis Thompson is number 1 in the Blaze line by Harlequin and was released in 2001. And damn did they launch the line in style. My reading in this line has jumped me all through the years, from 2001 through to 2006 and I have several 2007's waiting for me in my too be read pile. Compared to some of the later books, Notorious is a little thicker and well worth the read.

Keely Branscom is Notorious by her home town's standards. She's a confirmed wild child and grabbed the title by both hands when she posed for a centerfold at the tender age of nineteen. Her actions caused a major rift between Keely and her father, but all she really wanted to do was trigger a reaction from Noah Garfield. Except that, back then, he hadn't known what to do with the auburn bombshell.

But now, years later, Noah is still head over heels in love, or just lust, with the daring Keely. When they run into each other in Vegas, just outside a strip joint, he thinks the worst and only wants to save her from herself. But Keely has no desire to be saved. She's not quite the fallen woman Noah believes her to be, in fact she's now an established magazine writer with a growing career behind her, but her past actions have made it all too easy for Noah to believe the worst about her choices in life.

He's in Vegas for a wedding. She's there to write an article. But he's determined to save his childhood friend from her choices and offers to let her share his hotel room. He's not going to touch her. Not going to lay a hand on her. And sex is the last thing that will happen between them.

But he's not reckoned on Keely. She's going to show him exactly what he's been missing, no matter what it takes.

Wow, I'm really glad I stumbled on this novel in the local thrift store of all places. When I spotted it on the shelf for a mere 25 cents I had to add it to my collection. Ms. Thompson launched the line with a steamy, well written coming of age childhood sweet hearts. The sex scenes are steaming. The 'I want you but I can't' that controls Noah for so long is sweet and delicious. Although Ms. Thompson hasn't released any more Blaze novels since 2005, one look at her website shows she has had, so far, an amazing career with Harlequin and other publishing houses.

ISBN 0-373-79005-8