High school English teacher Shari Wilson has been fantasizing about her downstairs neighbor Luke Lawson for quite awhile and since he hasn't asked her out, she decides to take matters into her own hands. And she has been helped out by an unwitting mailman, who has been mixing up their mail. So armed with a packaged addressed to Luke, she heads downstairs to give him his mail and to ask him out.Luke Lawson writes sex advice columns for men's mags under the name Lance Flagstaff. He's also written a book and is waiting for a copy in the mail. And, of course, he has noticed the girl upstairs, how could he not.Shari brings Luke his package and when the book fall out and she sees the title "Sex for Total Morons" by someone named Lance Flagstaff and she believes Luke has problems in that department. Since they have been flirting for awhile, Luke doesn't tell her that he's Lance, instead he acts like he really needs the lessons and Shari is a teacher, after all.So Shari begins to teach Luke all about sex by the book and you know, I think maybe I might have learned a thing or too as well. Ms. Nancy warren has delivered a book with nifty and witty characters that I couldn't put down. But then I figured that once I started it, that I'd be stuck in place for an afternoon, because I've read Ms. Warren before and she never disappoints.A Harlequin Dreamers Review by Lori Mayer
By the Book mixes humor with a red hot read!
Published by Thriftbooks.com User , 21 years ago
Misunderstandings and chemistry lead to a relationship between Shari and Luke. But when chemistry leads to some deeper feeling, can they untangle the misunderstandings in order to discover just what the feeling is that's growing between them?Nancy Warren's ability to mix humor and sexual chemistry truly hits home in this story that will steam up your summer even as it makes you chuckle! A great story!!
Hilarious!
Published by Thriftbooks.com User , 21 years ago
"By the Book" was a fun read, aside from being a BLAZE, which I almost always enjoy. I laughed through the whole thing, especially since I felt like it told was more from Luke's side. We get to see the humour in his little deception because we don't get quite as much from Sheri; I could feel the smirk behind some of the scenes. I loved the bit of charecter that feeling lends to the story. Luke and Sheri have the greatest chemistry between them, and they have tenderness and friendship, as well as great sex. You know that their conflict will be quickly resolved because of the easiness between them. This one's a keeper!
Does he really need to be taught about sex, by the book?
Published by Thriftbooks.com User , 21 years ago
What is a stud like Luke Lawson doing with a book called Sex for Total Morons: A How-To Guide in his mail? That's what neighbor Shari Wilson wants to know. Shari and Luke's mail has been getting mixed up. When Shari goes to Luke's door to give him his mail, the aforementioned book falls out of the package. Funny, because just before she took the mail to Luke, she was prepared to seduce him. Well, what about now? Is Luke the moron?Wow! Luke is speechless. He's had seduction on his mind, too. However, now that Shari has seen this book, he can tell by the look on her face that she thinks he is sexually inept. Shari is flabbergasted. After all, Luke is just too sexy for his own good. He exudes sensuality. He needs love lessons? Well, she is a teacher, after all. She starts to get an idea. Shari knows Luke is a writer, but she has no idea that the writer of the book, Lance Flagstaff, is Luke, his pseudonym. Well, Luke gets creative. He decides to use this opportunity to ask Shari to teach him the ins and outs of sex.Luke and Shari strike up a deal - Luke is to go to Shari's ex-friend's wedding with her, and Shari will give Luke four weeks of love lessons, by the book. What's interesting is that Luke convinces Shari that he'll read the book, and that they'll practice chapter by chapter. You've got to remember that Luke felt that attraction in the beginning, too. So, after their first "lesson", Luke devises a way to double-up on the lessons. How can Luke, lover extraordinaire, keep hiding the fact that he's very good at what he does? Well, actually, as a result of some embarrassing moments, it seems to Shari that he really does need the lessons, that he is perhaps shy, and so she takes her role of teacher quite seriously. Let me tell you. I didn't want to put BY THE BOOK down. The attraction between Luke and Shari evolved quite nicely. First it was sexual, and then moved on to teacher/pupil, then it finally began to grow to more intimate levels to each of them. BY THE BOOK was an emotional read. As a reader, I "needed" to see the two of them recognize the deepness of their feelings, while allowing neither of them to get hurt.Ms. Warren never disappoints. Page after page, I was yelling to Luke, "TELL HER", and whispering to Shari, "Please understand." It was very interesting to see how long this would go on between the two of them. BY THE BOOK was extremely sensual, with quite an emotional tug. The characters were wonderful, as well. Luke was a serious writer, with the typical nuances of many of the writers I talk to everyday, while Shari was a wonderful, sincere woman, who, in thinking she was doing Luke a favor, endeared herself to me. Ms. Warren is an autobuy for me, without a doubt. I know each time I pick up a book of hers, that I will have a wonderful reading experience.
A sensual treat! Highly recommended
Published by Thriftbooks.com User , 21 years ago
A sensual treat! Highly recommendedA dyslexic mailman brings neighbors Shari Wilson and Luke Lawson together frequently. The night Shari finally works her nerve up to ask Luke out, however, things go badly wrong when the package she is bringing to Luke falls open, revealing the startling book title: SEX FOR TOTAL MORONS: A HOW-TO GUIDE. Mortified that she had been fantasizing about a man who needs a how-to book for steamy encounters, Shari makes a quick exit.Determined to repair bridges with his flustered neighbor, Luke devises a plan. As the author of the book, Luke certainly knows how to please his partner. But Shari is a high school English teacher, and would be the perfect woman for helping Luke to experiment and see first hand how valid his own advise can be. So he makes plans to follow his own advise in the book, asking Shari to help. Imperfect but steamy encounters combine the humorous with the risqué in BY THE BOOK. I couldn't resist a chortle when Luke suffers from sleep depravation and low blood sugar, passing out at the sight of Shari's naked body. Indeed, Duets fans will easily recognize author Nancy Warren's quirky, irreverent humor in every page, even as she turns on the heat in this sensual treat. Shari and Luke certainly discover that nothing works exactly by the book when the heart is involved! BY THE BOOK comes highly recommended.
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