Upon a reread, I really liked the chances Loretta Chase took with this book. Whores for (both) main characters! Unrepentant ones! The hero and heroine vie hard to get the upper hand of each other throughout most of the book, and I usually don't like that trope, because so often someone winning means someone losing too and I don't like seeing losers in relationships. But the author did a superb job of maintaining that fine balance of power between the h/h, and I never felt like one of them ultimately 'triumphed' over the other.

I did wish we were privy to Francesca's thought processes in deciding to trust James again after finding out about his deception though. I felt like her reaction was brushed off as purely emotional, and when the anger cooled so did the doubts disappear. And the epilogue tied everything up just a liiiittle too neatly. If I were her, apology or not I'd still be reluctant to entertain old so-called friends who were so ready to turn their backs on her before.

But other than those small niggles I really enjoyed this book. The seduction scenes, the attempts at one-upmanship and their bewilderment when they both get more than they bargained for, I loved it all. I loved the overwhelming sense of equal give and take between the h/h, especially. I think Loretta Chase handled it beautifully, and it's why she'll always number in my list of favourite authors ever.