Coffee shop owner Anna Dewinter has been a family friend of Maxwell Chandler's ever since she was a young girl. However, their feelings for each other go way deeper than friendship, even though neither has ever said a word to each other about it, and certainly never acted on them. Then in a surreptitious turn of events, for the first time ever, both are free from any other relationships, and with a helpful boost of liquid courage, Anna seduces Max. Not that it was a hard to do, as he is extremely easy pickings!
Within a week's time, Max is able to face up to his need for Anna, recognizing her as the only woman he'll ever want. Anna, on the other hand, is gun shy, and so he mounts a campaign to wear her down. All is going as planned until his vindictive ex-fiancée shows up, and almost ruins everything.

A Little Harmless Sex by Melissa Schroeder is a thoroughly engaging read. On the one hand is the free-spirited Anna, who holds her insecurities inside, hiding them behind an overtly casual attitude towards sex, never allowing a man into her life for more than four weeks at a time. On the other is the outwardly straight-laced Max who is willing to break all the rules in order to claim the woman he loves. Max is domineering, yet sensitive, and Anna is both giving and yet occasionally aggressive. Their combination is absolutely combustible as shown by the explosive sex, which ensues once they both give into their innermost desires. Melissa Schroeder has done an excellent job creating characters with whom it's easy to sympathize, and just as easy to pull for Max, in his victory of love over fear. Five Angels!

Reviewed by: Lynn