Candy Man

Not only is Dean going to stand Annie up on Valentine’s Day, he is sending friend Scott Barnes to deliver the news along with some roses and a box of chocolates. Scott is also armed with Dean’s lame excuse of “something came up at the office” when he shows up at Annie’s door. Annie, however, is not as prepared; she opens the door in some very revealing lingerie to a complete stranger who turns her evening upside down. Annie is furious with Dean for sending someone to lie for him and Scott is completely taken by Annie and would love to comfort her, but he does not want to be rebound guy or take advantage of Annie. An interesting Valentine’s Day ensues and nothing will end the way they expected it to.

CANDY MAN is the third book by Sage Burnett. Scott and Annie are, as usual for Ms. Burnett, enjoyable characters. Scott is a little different from other leading men in Ms. Burnett’s books because he does not possess the usual self-confidence that the others have. Annie is believable because even though she never felt the intense attraction that she does with Scott, she is still hurt and angry at Dean for treating her so callously.

This reviewer is not as fond of CANDY MAN as Ms. Burnett’s other titles. It seems to be a little lacking in the passion department. The story seems to drag a little as Annie and Scott first meet each other, which is due in part to the more reserved nature of Scott, to Scott’s credit, that reserved nature does not carry over into the love scenes!

June 2007