SWEET - BODY CANDY

Author: Taylor Tryst ISBN: 9781419919374 4/2009 EROTIC Publisher: ELLORA'S CAVE

Sophia Maddox is not only living her dream, but her fantasies, creating edible Body Candy to aid in sexual fulfillment. Until a sexy detective knocks on her door and threatens to expose her secrets. Little does he know, Sophie will do anything to protect those secrets, even using him as a sexual guinea pig for her newest candy creation. Though not what he seems, Brody Burkett must investigate a murder, save his silent partner, and prevent his death. But add Sophie to the mix and his sweet tooth — and desire for her — can't be satiated, even with both of their lives in danger.

RRAH's THOUGHTS AND PONDERINGS:

Taylor Tryst’s erotic novella, SWEET - BODY CANDY, is set in Minneapolis where Sophie Jensen runs an erotic candy company under an assumed male name. She tried getting financing as herself unsuccessfully, but managed to pick up a silent partner as a guy. Unfortunately, her silent partner, Brody is in partnership with his conservative, politically-minded brother. Someone doesn’t like Brody and his brother being involved in Body Candy and in a moment of insanity decides to kill them all, starting with Brody’s brother. Can Brody and Sophie stop licking Body Candy off of each other long enough to stop the killer?

Tryst creates the plotline, but it seems like it’s really just a set piece to use for all the ensuing sexual playtime. The story opens with Sophie enjoying her new raspberry mint squirt-on body candy in the bathtub, and the story closes with Sophie and Brody doing the same in a hot tub. In the middle, the villain threatens to make use of it with Sophie before he kills her. And though the romping around is incredibly erotic, the foundation of the plot crumbles around the duo in the most unbelievable ways. The villain makes it to their hiding spot before they do, despite the fact he was way behind them in the chase. The bad guy talks about Sophie’s new product even though it is still in the experimental phase and not public. The FBI and Sophie's sister rescue them just in the nick of time and then they disappear just as rapidly. But the most egregious “huh?!?” moment came for me when Brody’s brother has just been killed, and Brody takes the time to get and take an engagement ring to present to Sophie. They’ve never met before in person, and his main intention upon finding her is to get her to a safe spot away from the villain… but he took the time to get a ring. Does he really not care that his brother is dead?? Maybe trying to combine a murder mystery with a full-on sexual fantasy needs more thought.

The erotic portions of SWEET - BODY CANDY are so well written, that they almost make up for the failings of the murder plotline. It seems like Sophie and Brody have been jonesing for each other from the time they first spoke on the telephone while forming the company, and though they consummate their physical relationship during a most inappropriate time, I felt very sympathetic to them and their needs.

Susan Barton