A BLACK TIE AFFAIR by Sherrill Bodine

Publisher: Forever
Date published: January 2010
ISBN: 978-0446618595
Contemporary Romance
Mass Market Paperback
Obtained via Publisher
Reviewed by Valerie


Athena Smith is a fashion curator and is afraid of losing her job if she doesn’t get her hands on the Clayworth family’s couture collection for an exhibit. She is asked to come and take a look at the gowns to see if they are really the real thing. While she’s on the floor, examining the underskirt, she faints and wake’s up face to face with Drew Clayworth. It seems the dresses are full of toxins which have anyone who comes in touch with them hallucinate. Drew and Athena have a past. He believes she betrayed him. When the dresses go missing, they have to work together to find them before the toxins infect anyone else. What surprises them is, that although they have some bittersweet memories, the spark still fizzles between them. Will their working together be just a business arrangement, or will something come of it?

I really enjoyed this story. It was fun, entertaining and quite a roller-coaster ride. I loved the two main characters and was especially interested in the fact that this author actually took this premise from a real life case of someone getting poisoned by a gown! I enjoyed the interaction between Drew and Athena. It was sizzling hot, amusing and it kept me on the edge of my seat wondering, will they, won’t they? Ms Bodine writes realistic characters that will worm their way into your heart. There is a lot of warmth and emotion and this is a story that will give you a good feeling at the end. I can guarantee that this is a story that will captivate and hold you until the last page. I certainly want to pick up TALK OF THE TOWN and any subsequent books. Sherrill Bodine is an author that has caught my attention and I hope to read more of her work soon.

This is an objective review and not an endorsement of this book.