Her Final Fling

Single in South Beach #5

by Joanne Rock

Mixing business with pleasure...

The last thing Christine Chandler expects when she takes this job is to be distracted by jet-setting Vito Cesare. She should be focused on the landscaping that could make her company a success. Instead, her gaze constantly strays to Vito's hot bod. And by the sizzling looks he sends her way, he's thinking the exact same thing. Can she give into this particular temptation and walk away unscathed?

Spending time with Christine is doing crazy things to Vito's libido. Yet every time he makes a seductive move, she slips away...until he proposes a fling. No hassle, no strings, just a lot of adult fun. But after just a few steamy kisses, he's breaking those rules and feeling much more than heat for her. Looks like he has to convince her that this will be her final fling!

224 pages, Mass Market Paperback

First published June 24, 2004

About the author

Joanne Rock is a USA Today bestselling author of over one hundred works of popular fiction, including domestic suspense and romantic suspense. A frequent speaker at regional and national writing conferences she enjoys giving back to the writing community that nurtured and inspired her early career. She has an MA in Literature from the University of Louisville and has taught fiction, film, and writing at the college level. When she's not writing, Joanne enjoys travel to gather new ideas.

Reviews

[Joanne Rock]

This was the final book in my Single in South Beach series. The others are - in order- SEX AND THE SINGLE GIRL, GIRL'S GUIDE TO HUNTING AND KISSING, ONE NAUGHTY NIGHT, GIRL GONE WILD and DATE WITH A DIVA.

[Maura · Rating 4 out of 5]

We round out the Cesare brothers with Vito, race-car driver extraordinaire who is back in town for Giselle's wedding. While he was away, his matchmaking uncle hired a gardener to re-do his landscaping and told her she could live in the house. Christine Chandler has no where else to go, so when Vito returns, he realizes he'll just have to deal with having a very attractive roommate. He also recognizes the attraction and wonders if he could just have an affair with Christine before returning to Europe for his career. He manages to talk Christine into it, but only because she's had her heart broken and isn't looking for a relationship. So they establish the rules for their affair and Christine tries to ignore the fact that she's developing feelings for Vito, who still doesn't seem the least bit interested in turning their affair into anything more. And given her promise to keep it light, Christine isn't about to ask Vito for anything more.

How strange that the one book in the series that is the least tied to Club Paradise is in fact my favorite of the series. I absolutely loved Christine, who was down to earth, not grating or annoying and wasn't an emotionally flighty wreck who gets all pissy because Vito doesn't love her. Sure, she feels the emotions and realizes that this is breaking her heart, but she manages to stay level-headed at the same time and remember her promises and assurances to him. Vito for that matter was not as likeable next to her...especially since it took him so frickin long to realize he loved Christine. Probably 3/4 through the book and he still didn't love her. I also don't think he fully appreciated the fact that even though you extract promises of non-commitment, it doesn't mean you aren't breaking their heart when you move on. And his insistence on having things be spontaneous and affectionate during their affair probably didn't help matters. And he wondered why all his affairs had ended in emotionally wrecked women... But that's why I liked Christine so much - she refused to let on that he was affecting her in that way and she refused to become a doormat for him.

[Kathleen · Rating 4 out of 5]

Will a professional racecar driver and landscaper work together in time for a wedding... Watch love bloom for Christine and Vito.

Christine has been offered the job of a lifetime to get a garden wedding ready, that will launch her new business in Miami. She has a place to stay in the Cesare property. She was hired by the bride's uncle and assured that she would have the house to herself, so she was very surprised to find out that the bride's brother Vito was home early for the wedding. And she had one big problem with that... He was so hot and sexy that she was more worried about her attraction to him than she was about her job, that she knew about, Vito not so much. But when the attraction was mutual, they concocted a deal for a fling that would end after the wedding. Could they do it, or will hearts be broken.

I really liked this book. Vito and Christine were just dynamite together. There instant attraction to each other no matter how they fought it,., just grew each day like the flowers in the garden. And well when an outdoor shower was put into play... WOW I loved the uncle Giuseppe and the neighbor Mrs. K and they and the whole family found away to bring these two beautiful people together.
This book is filled with family, friendship, and a lot of spicy romance that lead to Love.

[Kate · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book is linked to an earlier story in the series (“Girl Gone Wild”). The FMC from that story is traveling but will soon be getting married. Her oldest brother returns to South Floria to get ready for the family to descend on South Beach for the wedding. Vito is an international racing star. He discovers an uncle has hired an attractive young landscape designer to redesign their family’s yard for the upcoming event. Christine is living in the family’s home while digging up and replanting the yard. She and Vito are soon considering a casual hookup, despite Christine’s many barriers and their different lifestyles. As the wedding approaches, deeper feelings grow. This engaging story does have a good HEA, and it was fun to see some characters from earlier books again. I received a copy for free and am leaving this review voluntarily.

[Debbie Benson · Rating 4 out of 5]

I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review. I did like Vito and Christine as a couple. It was the right mix of steam and romance and I'm glad they fall in love.

[Andrea Lujano · Rating 3 out of 5]

Protagonistas: Vito & Christine

Profesiones: Piloto de Carrera & Paisajista

Pais: USA

[Angélica · Rating 5 out of 5]

Me encantó, definitivamente amo las novelas de este sello (Fuego, Pasión y Tentación) y tendré muy en cuenta a la escritora 😁

[Caro · Rating 3 out of 5]

This was a pretty good book. I liked the characters and all the personalities. There was humor, steaminess, good dialog, emotions, some fun, and a good HEA. I wouldn't mind reading this again. I'd also like to read more in this series and see the stories for the rest of the 'Big Italian Family'. ;) This was a good fun read. Good for the cuddle/snuggle, passing time, or pretty much a relaxing anytime read. Enjoy

[Lauri · Rating 3 out of 5]

I thought it was interesting how this series turned from focusing on the hotel owners to one of the owner's brothers.