Lipstick on His Collar (Harlequin Temptation, No. 895)

Rating:
Summary: Romantic Times Review
Review: Home early from a business trip, cosmetics chemist Miranda Chase encounters a man she had a one-night stand with a year earlier. Now retired from the police force for medical reasons, Nick Ryder is helping out an old friend by temporarily providing security for Miranda's apartment building. Nick's presence makes Miranda uncomfortable until she finds a burglar in her home. In the aftermath, their attraction flares again, but the relationship can't go anywhere: once Nick pays off his ex-wife's debt to the IRS, he's planning to sail off into the sunset on his houseboat, alone. Besides, Miranda prefers dry land and loves her modern conveniences. It's a case of the best-laid plans...in Dawn Atkins's LIPSTICK ON HIS COLLAR (4). By turns funny and sexy, what's most remarkable is Ms. Atkins's handling of the hero, who in less skilled hands could have become just another burned-out cop.

Rating:
Summary: A Smart and Sassy Romance!
Review: LIPSTICK ON HIS COLLAR is a sparkling combination of delicious romance, comedic situations, a dash of mystery, and characters with real problems and honest solutions. Sophisticated Miranda and earthy Nick (who lives aboard a sailboat) are a believable match. The writing is fresh, funny and vivid, the story romantic yet realistic. Give Dawn Atkins a try!

Rating:
Summary: Delightful comedic feast! Very highly recommended
Review: When the woman in the red dress burst through the door of the cop bar, Nick Ryder's heart stood still. Her sensuality and boldness attracted him, even as she determinedly downs too many drinks in hopes of forgetting the earlier part of the evening. On chemistry overload, Nick spends the night making love to Miranda Chase. She makes him promise to call afterward, but when he does, his calls are refused.

A year later synchronicity brings them together. A shooting has forced Rick to reevaluate his priorities, and he has accepted a medical discharge from the force. He temporarily plays doorman as a favor to a friend, much to the delight of the ladies of the building, including Miranda. Still, Nick and Miranda come from very different worlds with very different priorities and only a burglary promises to bring them together, however temporarily.

Once again author Dawn Atkins proves her deft ability for combining an amusing romantic romp with sensual interludes in LIPSTICK ON HIS COLLAR. These dynamic characterizations address the modern questions of priorities and social status with verve as Miranda and Nick match wits. She likes the finer things of life, reveling in the luxuries she can easily afford. He is an ex-cop with an ex-wife who proved detectives do not provide the lifestyle or profits necessary to support the designer lipstick crowd. With nothing in common, Miranda will have to leave a lot of lipstick marks to prove that love can overcome ambition. Outrageous antics, such as Miranda's tackling of a burglar and the over abundance of sprained ankles, make for a marvelous read, making LIPSTICK ON HIS COLLAR come very highly recommended.