"A Sensuous Walk on the Wild Side"

Julie Kenner delivers a tantalizing fantasy in her contribution to Harlequin Temptation's Fantasy Inc. series. Kyra is preparing to marry to save the family business, and wants to have one last fling. Tony, a firefighter, was injured in the line of duty and badly scarred. Both end up on a seductive island to experience their deepest fantasies and escape from reality.

Tony's fantasy is to recapture his ability to save people, since he was badly injured and is unable to return to active duty. By night, he goes by the name of Micheal and wears a dashing mask, saving damsels in distress. Of course, this is how he meets Kyra - who is hanging upside down from a tree in the rain, trying to rescue an ungreatful cat.

Sparks fly at their meeting, and Kyra finds herself fantasizing about her hero. Her fantasy is to finally let go and have a fling - a role which her anonymous hero, Micheal, fills admirably. Little does she know that Micheal is really Tony, who becomes her best friend. Friends by day, Kyra and Micheal burn up the sheets by night. Lois Lane and Clark Kent anyone? Of course this reviewer has always been a sucker for a man with a secret identity.

Eventually, of course, Kyra must choose between the life she left behind and her fantasy man. Will she choose familial obligations??? Or love???

Intimate Fantasy is a delightful read, as Kyra experiences the sexual fantasies of women everywhere. My only disapointment was the short length of the book. I felt that there was so much development waiting for Tony and Kyra, and expecially towards the end of the book there just was not enough space for these two wonderfully rounded characters. In addition, there is a subplot that begins in this book and continues through the rest of the series which is wonderfully fleshed out, and will be sending me to the book store to hunt the rest of the series down. Overall, this was an excellent read - a definate keeper.

Reviewed by Bonnie Rock
Posted January 10, 2002