Susan Lyons always creates sexy and steamy erotic romance tales that are set on an exotic location.

Heat Waves is a compilation of two connecting stories. The first story, Rock the Boat, focuses on wedding planner Gwen Austin planning her first destination wedding. Her clients Liz and Peter want an exotic destination location and when Gwen suggests Greece, the couple jumps on board. Gwen is a controlling perfectionist and anxiety hits her when she realizes the original cruise director is not able to assist her with the wedding. Instead, she has to deal with Santos Michaelides, a rookie director who appears to want to play instead of work.

Santos Michaelides is not really a cruise director but an insurance fraud investigator who is out to find proof that IT consultant, Flynn Kavanagh, is guilty. He is prepared to disrupt the wedding if need be but when his attraction to the sexy wedding planner gets in the way, Santos decides that he doesn’t want to hold this secret to himself.

Gwen is a widower who is trying to regain her life. She wants to find her sensuality and enjoy being a single woman again. Santos pushes her buttons and she finally relents and step out into a passionate affair with him. The problem is that she feels guilty for the feelings stirring inside of her.

I really enjoyed the steamy scenes between Gwen and Santos but Gwen became a Debbie downer by constantly bringing up the subject of her deceased husband. Even after the two became intimate, Gwen is focusing on the past and is guilt ridden. The negativity takes away from her the connection that the author tries to build. At the end, the romance is wrapped up quickly and the mystery behind Flynn is not resolved until the next story.

Rating: 7
Heat: 5

The second story, Making Waves, focuses on Flynn Kavanagh and Kendra Kirk. Flynn really didn’t want to be on a cruise, especially after the hard year he's had. Flynn’s friend, Liz, convinces him that he should attend her wedding and try to put the pieces of his life together. Once on the ship, Flynn comes face to face with Kendra Kirk, a woman he was attracted to until he discovered she was the prosecutor who wanted to put him behind bars.

Kendra is astonished to see Flynn at her cousin Peter’s wedding. She can’t deny that he is a desirable man but she sees the harsh looks he gives whenever she is around and that is fine with her because the man committed insurance fraud and stole millions of dollars. Though he is acquitted of the charges, Kendra doesn’t trust him. However, Flynn sets out to prove to her that he is innocent and he isn’t above seducing her.

Once Kendra finds out Flynn didn’t commit the crime, the two continue their secret romance but Kendra’s workaholic personality conflicts with her newfound love life. Kendra must decide whether Flynn is worth it after they discover the truth about the missing funds. Can she really be with him?

The short story starts off realistic enough. I didn’t expect Kendra and Flynn to jump into bed immediately and fall in love which doesn’t happen. The two try to work it out though Flynn holds a lot of anger towards Kendra.  The chemistry falls into place though at times Flynn’s abrupt behavior dampens the moment. The mystery is wrapped up too tidy and it isn’t believable, especially the outcome (I don’t want to reveal any spoilers).

Rating: 7
Heat: 5

~ Samantha