Perfect Pleasures

October 17, 2016
Mello’s second Bad Boys of Boulder contemporary (after Playing for Keeps) successfully finds love for MMA superstar Zachary, one of the sexy, athletic Barrett twins, “poster children for everything right in the sports industry.” Freelance sports writer Kenzie Monroe doesn’t exactly hit it off with Zachary when they first meet at Revolution, his world-famous training camp in Phuket, Thailand. Soon enough, however, mutual attraction (she thinks he’s “orgasmic eye candy”; he lusts after her “voluptuous curves”) overcomes their qualms and the two become lovers. There’s only one thing between them: Kenzie’s quest to find the father she’s never met, Kai Tamura, a legendary Thai fighter and Zachary’s beloved trainer and mentor. Zachary promised to keep his whereabouts secret—but that could mean losing Kenzie forever. Mello heaps on the sensuality with lush descriptions of Thailand’s tropical attractions and local color as well as plenty of lusty sex. Readers who appreciate splashy locations and earthy lovers will find much to enjoy here.

September 15, 2016
In this second installment in Mello's Bad Boys of Boulder series, following Guilty Pleasures (2016), MMA (mixed martial arts) fighter Zachary Barrett is unsettled by the beautiful reporter Kenzie, who is doing a story on him and his twin brother, Alexander. She stays at Zach's Thailand training facility, but the fighter avoids her as long as possible. She reminds him of a promise he made long ago to her estranged father. Despite this secret, the two have powerful chemistry that deepens into love. Kenzie is able to see her father before he dies of Alzheimer's, and Zach finds the balance and focus he has needed since his divorce. MMA and boxing romance novels remain popular, and although this story has more focus on the characters, the training-facility details will inspire many readers to find a gym. Mello's strengths in showing depth in relationships with realistic growth and compromises shine in Zach and Kenzie, but there is still plenty of sizzle to add to the fun. Mello is a unique and intelligent voice in romance, with a growing readership.(Reprinted with permission of Booklist, copyright 2016, American Library Association.)