Fantasy Man by Barbara Meyers

Animals are often featured in romance novels, and can be delightful characters in their own right. From cats and dogs to horses, I’m sure we all remember a book with a lovable animal character or two. This is the first one I’ve come across with ferrets.

What’s it About? 

Quinn Fontana never thought witnessing two murders would lead to her first taste of freedom. But when her overprotective brother puts her on a plane for L.A. to hide until it s time to testify, she can t stop the shiver of anticipation. If her life is going to be cut short, she plans to live it to the fullest. And that includes seducing her intended protector her brother’s best friend and star of her private fantasies.

When security consultant Reif Callaghan awakens after a rowdy night out with his coworkers to find a warm, willing woman in his bed, he s almost past the point of no return when he realizes it s Quinn. And he s come way too close to debauching his best friend s little sister. Her enticing offer one night, no holding back, no regrets is a temptation he can t resist. Until he realizes she s been hiding a piece of vital information that could cost not only their one chance to turn fantasy into reality, but their lives.

First Impressions

This book definitely starts off with a bang…or a banging as it were. Quinn was sent to stay with her brother’s best friend, Reif, after witnessing a mob hit gone awry. Nothing like a double homicide to put you in the mood. She wakes up in Reif’s bed and starts to initiate some hanky panky with the semi-conscious hunkenstein. Everything comes together nicely in the end for our two love-birds, but I couldn’t help but feel that their first coupling was almost a bit too…non-consensual?

“I’m sorry, but this is a litigious society, I’m going to need verbal consent.”

Quinn definitely seemed to be aware of what she was doing, but Reif was sort of going through a bizarre version of sleep-walking. I couldn’t really understand why Reif would later take the blame for their sexual encounter. Must be the sign of a true gentleman when a man takes the blame for his sleep-screwing habits.

A Comedic Climax

This book definitely focuses more attention on the blossoming romance between Reif and Quinn than anything else. I loved watching how their relationship evolved into one of true friendship, where they were more than happy to spend an evening together just watching TV. Don’t get me wrong, they definitely did some other stuff to work up a sexy sweat, but I love when we have a book where two people can just be together. In addition to this romance we do get snippets now and then of the ferret-loving mob member who is trying to locate Quinn, and honestly I wish we could have seen even more of him. In fact I feel like there could have been a bit more suspense surrounding the whole mob murder story.

Even the climax of the novel geared more towards the comedic rather than the dramatic. I like to think of myself as a light-hearted, funny person with a good sense of humor, but I have a feeling if a mob person was holding a gun to my head I wouldn’t exactly be cracking jokes. Of course, there’s no way in the name of ferrets that I’m about to test this theory!

*A copy of this book was provided for an honest review*

Series: Implied.

Should you read it? It’s sweet and sexy, and will even convince you that ferrets are adorable. It could have been a bit more suspenseful, but overall was a pretty fun read.

Smut Level: After having sex with Reif while he was only somewhat conscious, Quinn convinces him to spend one night with her where his attention is solely focused on her. Quite demanding little thing, isn’t she?

Get it on Amazon: Click Here. $5.50 Kindle Price. Samhain Publishing, Ltd. 199 Pages.