Loving Jilly by Sylvie Kaye

Story: 9
Presentation: 9
Total: 18
Publisher: The Wild Rose Press
Spicy Contemporary
To Purchase

Blurb: When a harried caretaker with no spare time hires a soulful builder who’s willing to take the time, he fixes more than she bargains for. Jilly is a New Orleans daycare aide by day and by night an errand-running caretaker to the three quirky aunts who raised her. What Jilly doesn’t have time for is a man who wants more than she can spare.

Zack is a brawny carpenter who works for his father’s construction company. He’s attracted to Jilly but wants the real deal when it appears all she has time for is a slam-bam-thank-you-man relationship. Will his patience and persistence gain him the time he needs to win her trust and her heart? Or will her aunts’ stop his clock with a voodoo hex?

Review: The story was well developed with lots of twists and turns. The characters, both main and supporting were interesting personalities, even those who were ancestors. The three aunts Jilly lives with and looks after are funny, annoying, and endearing. The aunts approve of Eric because he is a good Southern both with a white collar job, while Zack is a Yankee and a blue collar construction worker. Eric and his boyfriend, Ken, become involved when they give Jilly advice about her relation with Zack. The gay guys act as cupids for the straight couple. Even other minor characters add much humor and interest to this story.

The first time Jilly and Zack meet, it is attraction at first sight; maybe not love at first sight, but definitely lust. She is hot and bothered with lots of sexual thoughts and fantasies.

This was a true romance where love overcomes all odds, with interference from her family, from his family, from long ago family secrets and life in general. I really enjoyed the book.

Cover was appealing, the prominent nipples on both characters was suggestive of the hot sexual hints and innuendos given to the reader throughout the story. Being familiar with the construction business, I was impressed when the author used correct terminology and usage for tools and methods used in building.

Descriptions of the sight and smells of bayou Louisiana added a lot of detail to the story. Descriptions of pre Civil War mansions and furnishings seemed very authentic.

Jilly's explanation of how to eat crawfish, with all the pinching, pulling and sucking became very erotic; especially when she compared it to sex - "wet and messy, but rewarding".

Usage of Cajun French language really added atmosphere. Fais-do-do is a party or having a good time. Local ideas like using a stainless steel butter knife to get rid or strong odors like onions was interesting.

The only problem I had was with unusual terms like chakras and tantric that I felt should have been explained when they were first used. Having to stop reading and look for definitions interfered with my enjoyment of reading. Probably other readers know what they mean but I didn't.