Scandalized by Ivy Owens

Scandalized by Ivy Owens

Published by Pocket Books ISBN 9781982199852

Mass market paperback, $9.99, 320 pages

If the hot summer days haven't got you steamed up enough, Ivy Owens debut romance Scandalized will.

Gigi is an investigative journalist with the foreign desk for the Los Angeles Times. She's about to break a big story about powerful and wealthy men who are using a London nightclub to sexually abuse women.

When her flight back to LA gets cancelled, she runs into the brother of her childhood friend at the airport, someone she hasn't seen in fourteen years. Alec offers for her to stay in his hotel suite and promises to be a perfect gentleman.

Gigi is reluctant at first, but the thought of spending the night on the airport floor holds no appeal. Gigi and Alec talk over old times and they find themselves undeniably physically attracted to each other. What's a hot one-night stand between old friends?

The one night stand turns into more when they return to Los Angeles. Gigi figures out that Alec is famous which complicates and adds a thrill to their burgeoning relationship. As Gigi's big story is about to go live, Alex tells her that he has information that will break her story wide open. 

This is where things get complicated.  Gigi's integrity will be challenged if it comes to light that she is sleeping with a source (as it should be). Her dream of being a serious journalist doing the big stories will be gone, yet she finds herself falling in love with Alec.

Gigi's decision has consequences for not only her, but also for Alec and her own newspaper. Does she make the right decision? 

That storyline doesn't really come into play until the last third of the book. The first two thirds of the story is all about Gigi and Alec's relationship, and the many sex scenes are explicit. If that is not something you enjoy, you may not want to read this one. However, if you enjoy reading that, you will be pleased (and hot and bothered!). 

One thing that rang true for me was the scene at the airport when the flight was delayed. As someone who travels frequently, I related to this:

"Near the gate, the flight attendants have carefully avoided stepping behind the podium. If they so much as hover nearby, an irritated line forms."

I can't tell you how many times I have seen that happen.  

Thanks to Gallery Books for putting me on Ivy Owens' tour.