Surf, Sea and a Sexy Stranger

One Hot Fling #1

by Heidi Rice

Honed, handsome, and needing the kiss of life! Millionaire entrepreneur Ryan King is mortified: he's just been pulled from the ocean by a pretty female lifeguard! Why, after months recovering from a horrific motorbike accident, did he get back on his surfboard? For the same reason he wants a hot, wild woman back in his bed - to prove he's the same man he was before...Maddy is shocked to find that this half-drowned, totally gorgeous surfer has her body humming! She always ends up getting used - maybe this time it's her turn to do the using? It's the short, sizzling affair they both need - until their dangerously addictive liaison careers out of control..

Genres: Harlequin, Romance, Harlequin Presents, Contemporary Romance, Contemporary

192 pages, Mass Market Paperback

First published November 19, 2010

About the author

My name's Heidi Rice, I'm a USA Today Bestselling author. I'm married with two sons (which gives me rather too much of an insight into the male psyche!).

I love my job because it involves sitting down at my computer and getting swept up in a world of high emotions, sensual excitement, funny feisty women, sexy tortured men and glamourous locations where laundry doesn't exist ...

I also tutor a 14-week in-depth online Write a Romance Novel course. So, if you have ever wanted to learn how to write romance from a bestselling author, check it out here: www.profwritingacademy.com/course/wri...

Now I believe wholeheartedly that readers should give honest and open reviews on Goodreads and Amazon and elsewhere. If you didn't like a book you are entitled to say so (even if it's mine! ouch). But you may notice that none of my book reviews are less than four-stars. That's simply because as an author myself I know how pathetically sensitive I am about bad reviews and with that in mind I prefer to spread the love among other authors — and don't do public reviews of books I didn't like. Just thought I'd clarify that!

You can find out about my latest releases and all my other books at www.heidi-rice.com

Reviews

[Alex is The Romance Fox · Rating 5 out of 5]

I loved reading Heidi Rice’s fabulous Brothers & Sisters Series and I found myself having to go back and read Surf, Sea And A Sexy Stranger (Modern Heat) (Brothers & Sisters, #1) again, just to see where it had all begun.

I loved it the first time and the second time and now the third time….loved it even more!!!!
The storyline is still fresh and enthralling. The hero, Ryan and heroine, Maddy are still as adorable and lovable as ever.
The great writing and dialogue, which I loved……so I am going to share a few lines that I really liked –
Maddy has gone to Ryan’s incredible house on the cliff, to check him out after he had a bit of a “slip-up” when he was surfing – I loved that she was a lifesaver….-

”I came to see if you were okay.”
“Why wouldn’t I be?” He tightened the belt on his robe and shoved the lapel black into place, spoiling the view.
“You didn’t stay to get checked out. You should really go to the hospital after an incident like that.”
“Is that so?”
“Yes, actually it is.”
The penetrating blue eyes lifted back to her face. “Did someone make you my guardian angel while I wasn’t looking?” he asked dryly.

Okay, so Maddy hurts her finger and Ryan is going to help her!!! And get mighty turned on too!!!

He forced his gaze away, so desperate to taste her he thought he might explode.
A scarlet line marred the soft flesh at the base of her thumb.
“Ouch,” he murmured.
Get your head out of your pants, King. She’s hurt. (Ryan trying to be in control!!!)

I had to laugh here…

”Out of the water, Madelaine.” He held a towel up in front of him like a bullfighter. “I want to taste you and I can’t do that while you’re in the bath. Not without a snorkel.”

The Cornwall backdrop was totally stunning. Little villages, the beaches, the cliff tops……I just wanted to go there myself.
Read this series……..it’s really brilliant.
The other 3 books - https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/1...
https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/1...
https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/1...

Hey, can I repeat myself and say that this book has one of my FAVOURITE covers of all Mills & Boon ever!!!!!



1st Review 2012
Could I possibly have resisted reading this book???? A gorgeous man looking into my eyes, telling me that I wanted to meet him, wanted to know him….omg….this has to be the BEST, MOST BEAUTIFUL COVER of any M&B books ever!!!!!!!!!
And then, I turned to the back cover and went weak at the knees…..yes I wanted to get into this book like right now!!!! Would you want to buy this book if you read this????.....
Honed, handsome, and needing the kiss of life! Millionaire entrepreneur
Ryan King is mortified: he’s just been pulled from the ocean by a pretty female lifeguard! Why, after months recovering from a horrific motorbike accident, did he get back on his surfboard? For the same reason he wants a hot, wild woman back in his bed – to prove he’s the same man he was before… Maddy is shocked to find that this half-drowned, totally gorgeous surfer has her body humming! She always ends up getting used – maybe this time it’s her turn to do the using? It’s the short, sizzling affair they both need – until their dangerously addictive liaison careers out of control…

Heidi Rice is one of my favorite M&B Modern Heat authors and I love her books. She just knows how to write hot, sensual and emotional, passionate stories and Surf, Sea and a Sexy Stranger is no exception.
Ryan A gorgeous, sexy millionaire, who has been rendered impotent from a motorbike accident, is recuperating at Trewan Manor, a fabulous house on top of a cliff….and is saved from drowning when he’s attempting to do some surfing, by a woman lifeguard…this is a new career from your usual M&B heroines…loved it.

Maddy Westmore is one of those heroines who has had it with men…they are not to be trusted ever…from her father’s affair with his secretary, which she had observed personally to the men who had passed through her life….it was always her who was used and never received anything back. But she has a soft heart and a caring nature so of course she wants to know how Ryan is after the rescue. She is also very innocent when it comes to handling the full seduction scene with Ryan…..who sleeps with her to prove that he is not impotent…(one of the symptoms from his motor cycle accident). And wow are the sex scenes hot…does this man know what to do with a woman’s body!!!!!!! I wanted to be in Maddy’s place…I wanted to be her….

After a mutual decision to have an affair with no strings attached, it soon becomes clear that they have a special chemistry between each other.

There are a lot of issues that both have to overcome before they can truly find their HEA.
Loved the dialogue…. Loved this part…”I hate to rush you. But if you’re not annoyed, could you tell me what you are? Exactly?” … and the humor….She grinned, the charge of excitement making her erogenous zones do a happy dance. “Time to seize control of your sex life, Madeleine Westmore.” …. the description of the settings….Cornwall…such a beautiful and romantic place…. and the secondary characters….Maddy’s brother…now I wanted to know his story….which I am hoping to read next…..Cupcakes and Killer Heels.

Oh and the epilogue….loved loved it!!!!!! I was so into this book and have read it 3 or 4 times and each time I am still excited as if it was the first time I read it…..

[Ana · Rating 2 out of 5]

Ryan's been in an accident that hurt his leg badly. He does everything he can to convince himself that nothing's changed - surfing included. When he hits his head on the board he gets rescued by a lifeguard. To add insult to injury it's a female lifeguard one that he feels attracted to. If only there wasn't a small problem...

Maddy just decided to try and change, no more being Miss Fix-it, she only wants a sexual relationship for a change. Of course that isn't as easy as it sounds, especially when she begins to fall for him.

I had a lot of problems with Ryan. IMO he acts condescending to Maddy. He's older, much more experienced and has no problem with making that clear and taking advantage, I have no idea why she put up with him. He's commitment phobic, but that's expected.

And Maddy's phobia of having sex with her boss was a bit odd, but she did have her reasons.

One thing that was different is that problem of Ryan's. He's impotent, and when he actually gets aroused by Maddy he tries to take advantage of it by being quick. Maddy didn't enjoy their first time, and this has got to be one of the few times a HP hero wasn't a god in bed all the time.

Rating:

2.5 stars

[Margo · Rating 3 out of 5]

Two and a half stars. The H is a selfish jerk user who finds himself surprisingly vulnerable due to an accident. He meets the h while he is trying to figure out what is wrong with life, while at the same time wanting to get back to the way things were. There's a lot of pushing away (emotionally), and he's definitely a work in progress.

Safety: He's patronizing about sex and his superior experience, although he never rubs OW in her face. Other women from his past are mentioned, including a former flame, a supermodel with whom things ended ended badly; and an older woman, a business contact and past lover whom the H dumped when she started to have feelings for him. The older OW has no interest in the H except as a business contact (the affair was years ago, and very brief), and she feels sorry for the H. She is very kind to the h, too, and says that it's clear that the H has changed as a result of meeting the h. There is a final "encounter" of sorts with the supermodel, but it was merely the h overhearing the supermodel disparaging the H in a way that he kind of deserved in a karma sense.

I think this is one of those H's where you have to assume that he'll continue to make good progress in terms of becoming more sensitive, but that he'll probably need a lot of guidance and will continue to provide the h with teachable moments.

[Judy & Marianne from Long and Short Reviews · Rating 5 out of 5]

The title Surf, Sea and a Sexy Stranger only covers the initial chapter; it’s what happens with that sexy hunk later which makes this book such an amazing reading experience. This story defines what I look for in a romance book and Ms. Rice delivers.

Maddy is the heroine and she’s such a warm and wonderful person it was a pleasure watching her deal with the cranky dude she saved from drowning. The fact that she was basically innocent of much of the cynical angst and manipulative plotting that most of the females Rye, the hero, was used to dealing with meant that this story got me excited. As soon as Maddy told him off with her “Cheers, Grumpy.” salvo, I was hooked. Ms. Rice provided Maddy with some of the most adorable and hysterical dialogue opportunities that worked so well with Rye’s surly attitude. It was when she got Rye to laugh that completely ensnared me and ensured that I would not put down this book until I was done. I never knew what Maddy was going to say and neither did Rye which was half the fun. I enjoyed how the heroine talked to herself and called herself, ‘Ms. Fix-it’. This story is chock full of clever writing and great descriptions. I don’t know how to express the extreme satisfaction that I got while reading this story.

Rye is a deliciously complicated man with a few defensive layers just begging to be unraveled. He’s rich, he’s commanding and boy, does he ever know his way around a woman’s body. There were quite a few times I really wished I was Maddy when he does what he does to her, more than once. Readers might need to grab a few ice cubes because this story is hot. I don’t mean that it’s graphic, it’s not. What makes it so darned effective is Rye’s seduction of the heroine and her reaction to it. The writing is superb. When he asked her if she likes a certain kind of sex play, it’s her reaction to him and his reaction to her reaction that had me reading wide eyed in eager fascination. It was enthralling, entertaining and a heck of a lot of fun. The thing is, I can get caught up in talking about all this spice and it is distracting, effectively so. And I’m not the only one who gets distracted by it. It was a pivotal revelation in the story. I enjoyed it when Maddy figured Rye out and came to a few hard conclusions. It was the hero’s response that made this romance so dramatic.

This story is character driven with the conflict being mostly internal. It’s about letting go of fears, earning trust and not being afraid of the future. It’s about celebrating what is truly important in life and grabbing the brass ring. Secondary characters are few but the most telling are Rye’s buddies, Phil and Zack. They are on scene enough to help a reader understand Rye a bit more and to stir up the plot advancement a little bit. Then there is Cal, Maddy’s brother. If there ever was a hook for a future book, Ms. Rice delivered it with an effective lure. There is no way readers are going to want to be left dangling after that little piece of internal dialogue from Maddy. Certainly not me. I sense a sequel and I can’t wait!

As much as I feel that the dilemma of Maddy’s future employment was solved a bit too sweetly for my tastes it didn’t dilute the sheer delight I received from the very complete and heartwarming happily ever after. I really liked how the author chose to bring it all together. In fact, the revelation at the end and Rye’s reaction to it from his point of view made me want to hug him. Maddy and Rye are really good together and the Ms. Rice got their personalities to fit perfectly.

Surf, Sea and a Sexy Stranger is a very emotional book despite the very cheery title. This book hit all my happy buttons and is the kind of book I would have no problem telling all my friends to read. There is so much to like and enjoy throughout the entire story, it’s actually hard to pick just one scene or moment that was better than another. They all contributed to my maximum enjoyment and I look forward to reading other books from Ms. Rice. If her sense of humor and interpretation of life’s quirky moments are typical for her style of writing then the author has found herself a new fan.

originally posted at http://longandshortreviews.blogspot.c...

[Iris · Rating 2 out of 5]

The first line in the book is promising "That guy's got to be the world's worst surfer" said by lifeguard/waitress/artist Maddy who eventually has to rescue the titular stranger but the story falls off the cliff quickly. As you can probably tell by the abbreviated resume, Maddy's got a lot to do so I was pissed on her behalf when she also has to endure surly ingratitude, getting caught in drenching rain, bad sex, sexual harassment and threats at her work place and being gaslighted at the hands of the sexual opportunist H within a day of meeting him.
They end up having sex the evening they meet. Rye, who has been experiencing some ED issues after a serious accident is concerned about being able to keep it up long enough to complete the act, so doesn't notice when Maddy tries to slow him down. Which leads to Rye getting off, so he's pleased and relieved, but h is annoyed. Rye admits she has every right to be and apologizes without getting defensive and proceeds to make amends and give her the O's she so richly deserves. If only the book ended here!

Next morning H, who owns but doesn't manage the cafe where h works, threatens to fire her when she states her firm rule against sleeping with her boss. Which would be bad enough except the author further tries to soothe her fictional H's fragile ego by having h completely forget how exactly the sex went wrong. Maddy's thoughts from the previous night, that there was only 2 seconds of foreplay and he was rubbish in bed transform to where she convinces herself that her body and inexperience, though she wasn't a virgin, were the real problem. This is reinforced by Rye who implies he can be like a sex mentor to her. Basically he wants to continue using Maddy for a bit longer until he's convinced that he's got his mojo back.

This also has the minor but annoying plotline where the h is an artist, and suddenly with no apparent effort at all, but with the assistance of who she's sleeping with, success!

It gets bumped up to 2 stars because I love scenes where the sex is bad or awkward particularly when it's the H who is responsible because boy do I get tired of these guys who are sex gods and who are spared having to endure human emotions and embarrassments. It's handled well here.

[Teresa · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was another sizzling book by Heidi Rice - heat level set on high!

I thoroughly enjoyed it. I don't think it really needed the epilogue but the author did have us guessing right up to the end how this was going to be resolved.

I have this in the RIVA cover and it looks so much snazzier in pink.

[Melissa Maxwell · Rating 5 out of 5]

I just loved Maddie and Rye's story though I wish I would have known this was the first in the series before reading the sequels. There story was sweet but Rye was an idiot through a lot of the book if you are asking me. Another home run of Heidi in the writing department. I think that i have almost read all of her published works.

[Natalija · Rating 4 out of 5]

Wow, Ms. Rice, this was such a pleasure to read! Very hot, beautiful male character & the sweetest heroine. Recommended!

[Chris Coulson · Rating 4 out of 5]

Enjoyable read

[Susan in Perthshire]

I loved all the books in this series although I read them out of order! However, I subsequently went back and read them all again in proper sequence and enjoyed them all over again.

This is the first- Maddy and Ryan’s story. I loved the initial meeting and first sexual encounter. Heidi Rice did something different with this and she did it brilliantly. Ryan had been worrying about his performance issues since his accident and was delighted when his body reacted as it used to when he saw Maddy. Unfortunately his overexcitement meant Maddy was left hanging! I’ve rarely seen this tackled in a category romance and I just loved it because of what we learned about Ryan and Maddy as a result.

Their growing relationship and the development of the trust they both needed, was beautifully done and I really loved the entire story. Engaging, interesting and emotionally satisfying.

This review was written after my most recent read of the series. 4.5 stars.

[Maria (Lectumari) · Rating 3 out of 5]

¡Qué historia tan intensa! 💕 Este libro me atrapó con la química explosiva entre los protagonistas y ese toque de vulnerabilidad que te hace suspirar. Entre paisajes paradisíacos y emociones a flor de piel, fue imposible soltarlo.

[Daisy Daisy · Rating 4 out of 5]

I loved the H in this book for the main part and our h seemed a decent sort too although a little insecure.
The h was a lifeguard and rescues the H from the sea when his dumb ass decides surfing is a good idea with a bum leg. His macho image is not happy about this and he tries to fob the h off but she is having none of it. The accident has made him feel inadequate and as a result he had trouble in the bedroom department with his previous lover so hasn't attempted it since. Until the h comes along and he shock horror disgraces himself with a below par performance in the bedroom. Shes about to go for the walk of shame out of there when offers to rectify the situation. He doesn't disappoint the 2nd time.
Alas this guy has a few more issues and he leads the h a bit of a merry dance before he surrenders and they get their HEA.
An enjoyable read and it seemed a bit more grounded in reality than the usual HP fayre. I look forward to rest of series. I have a soft spot for gorgeous Cornwall so maybe that influenced my review slightly.

[Sarah · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was my first Mills and Boon book and I actually came into it with low expectations. How glad I was to be wrong, it was a short, easy, fun read with good characters and details. I will definitely look out for more Heidi Rice books in the future.

[Doris · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is the first Heidi Rice I ever read and was hooked. I just had to get her back list of books :-)

[Glynda Roy · Rating 5 out of 5]

Great romance.

[Amina · Rating 5 out of 5]

Just what I needed. A bit far fetched and unrealistic when it comes to real-life romance, but that's why we read novels! Loved it. Loads of awesome scenes, and not too long.

[Mudpie · Rating 3 out of 5]

My first book by this author!

The initial sex scenes were pretty hot and even graphic, but later on we just read about it. The way the hero could not let her go, yet tried to keep her emotionally distant, was frustrating. But it was consistent with his character, that he dared not let anyone close after his parents' selfishness and a stern and cold but rich grandfather.

SPOILERS

Their first sexual encounter was refreshing! Hero was impotent since after his accident. But it seemed he recovered his mojo after he saw and was attracted to the heroine! He got clumsy and she was dissatisfied but was too shy and inexperienced to call him out on it. I wish he had suffered more humility because this former manwhore needed to be taken down a peg or two!

Anyway what he did to help her career showed his true feelings even before he know...the epilogue was so sweet.

[Tinochowota19 · Rating 5 out of 5]

The way you portray your characters and the plot of the story is just amazing. It’s an unforgettable book.

[Samantha March · Rating 3 out of 5]

Mills and Boon were so kind this year to send me a wonderful package with chocolates, face masks, and of course- two books! The first I read from M&B was Surf Sea and a Sexy Stranger by Heidi Rice. Maddy Westmore is on lifeguard duty when she has to rescue a man from drowning. The deliciously sexy man turns out to be millionaire entrepreneur Ryan King, though Maddy doesn’t know who he is. Rye has turned into a bit of recluse since a motorbike accident, which left him with a bad knee and inability to perform sexually. He is standoffish to Maddy after she pulls him from the water, mainly because he is embarrassed, but also because he is extremely turned on by her. Maddy insists on checking up on him after the surfing accident, which leads to a surprising night of passion. Maddy, who has a shoddy family background thanks to an affair by her father and has been used by several past boyfriends, can’t believe she gave in so easily to Rye’s charms. And Rye can’t believe he was able to get it up. The pair decide to give “just friends with benefits” a shot, but it is clearly not what they both want. But when their complicated backgrounds come to light, Maddy and Rye need to decide if they could make a relationship work, or if they are just not meant to be.

Surf Sea and a Sexy Stranger has a lot of romance and passion between the pages, but I kept finding myself a bit bored. I enjoyed Maddy’s character, she was jaded yet innocent and I was really rooting for her, but Rye didn’t connect with me so much. His womanizing and egotistical ways was a big turn off, so I didn’t quite understand the attraction to Maddy and vice versa. Trying to be just friends with no strings attached was clearly not working from the beginning, and Maddy’s outright resistance to date her boss (Rye) wasn’t too convincing, and I think that is where the story fell flat for me. And there are a lot of sex scenes, which isn’t really my cup of tea either. I did think the writing was very good though, this is my first read from Rice but it is evident she is very talented. The dialogue and description of the surroundings were both excellent, and I think I will try another by this author and see if I enjoy it more. Overall though, it was an interesting read and I would recommend this book. I would give it a try and see what you think of Maddy and Rye and their complicated romance.

[Lu Bielefeld · Rating 3 out of 5]

14/06/2011

Muito legal!
Eu achei um livrinho bom de ler... o mocinho está estropiado devido a um acidente e nunca mais vai poder surfar como antigamente e a mocinha é a salva-vidas que o resgata do mar. Ele fica P. da vida pois além de tudo é salvo por uma garota, kkkkk!

A primeira vez deles é muito engraçada, pois o mocinho vem de uma longa crise de impotência, que segundo o médico é psicológica, e a mocinha acha que nunca vai ter um bom sexo e se acha inadequada.

Ela tem como regra nunca dormir com o chefe... a cena é engraçada.

Ele tem como regra nunca se envolver...

Eles resolvem ter um caso e por aí vai...

[Angela · Rating 3 out of 5]

This is the free book Mills & Boon's website is currently giving away.

Can you just have a sexual relationship with no ties? At first it looks good, but then feels destructive. Its an easy, escapist read.

[Debra K · Rating 5 out of 5]

For a more detailed review, please visit my blog -

Debra's Book Cafe

Thank you

Debs

[Harlequin Books]

Miniseries: One Hot Fling

[Harlequin Books]

Miniseries: One Hot Fling

[Lucy Furby · Rating 3 out of 5]

easy read.....some unrealistic scenes but thats to be expected with a mills and boon!! generally enjoyed it.

[TSN ☮ · Rating 1 out of 5]

DNF 45%
Another one of those girls who say no but is so spineless that they let the men, who "knows" that she doesn't mean it, and have sex with her anyway. It's a little too close to rape for me.