Lying in Bed

It's Tuesday so it must be book review day - at least for this week.

I've just recently finished M.J. Rose's new erotic romance for Harlequin Spice - Lying in Bed - and I loved it. I'd almost bet she's seen a blip in her sales over the past couple of weeks because I've been talking about it to everyone - including almost every single person at RWA National in Atlanta.

What did I like about it? I loved the story. A woman artist writes erotic stories and letters for people who can't write themselves. Her clients then send the story or letter to their lovers. But this is the smallest part of what is so fascinating about this book.

It's beautifully written, the language lush and yet crisp at the same time, the perfect reflection of the story it tells. The characters, including the few secondary characters, are brightly drawn and very human. I wouldn't have been surprised to run into them on the street in my city - or any city, for that matter.

If you're concerned about Lying in Bed being erotic romance, don't be. It is erotic, but in the very best way - it's all about sensuality, not sex. And it is romantic - also in the very best way.

When you read Lying in Bed , think about how you experience the world through all five of your senses. Walk on the beach or in the forest and listen, really listen, to what's going on around you. Smell the salt of the ocean, the faint scent of autumn in the wilderness. Taste the chocolate that's melting on your tongue, the sharp tannin of red wine at the back of your throat. Watch the leaves or the tall grass dancing in the wind, and then feel the wind on your cheek. This is what Lying in Bed is all about.

Read it. You'll love it.

Kate