In today's society, it's completely possible, in fact probable, that even the most innocent of women is well educated on the topic of sex. Sex education is everywhere: on television, on the radio, in books, in movies. In fact, the odds of gaining adulthood and not being an expert would be slim or non-existent, unless one happened to hie oneself off to a cave at birth, to come out, well, never. So it isn't unexpected that the academic Hands On heroine — an avowed expert on woman's sexuality — isn't really all that experienced with men. She may not be experienced – but she sure knows what she wants, even if it is out of her reach.

In fact, what Lara is experienced in is masturbation, and that's Masturbation with a capital "M". Why do I capitalize it? Because not only has she written books on the subject, she also wins a contest – the annual woman's center self-pleasure fundraiser. It's such a big deal that a gorgeous journalist comes to interview her. Mark's only competition for her favors is BOB, her battery operated boyfriend. Only he doesn't know that. Lara is convinced that someone like she could never attract Mr. Hot-As-Hell-Reporter

The problem is that Mark really needs to exploit her for his job. And the perfect irony is that the whole reason behind the lack of Lara's sexual experience with actual live men stems from a man in her past who already exploited her once. So what is supposed to happen when these two try some hands on experience?

There's an intrinsic irony here betwixt Lara's wounded innocence and knowledge. Furthermore we find a lesson — hot as it may be – for all women to break out of their embarrassed or passive or shy shells and tell their men exactly what they want in bed. Lara certainly has no problem with expressing herself, and in recompense for the task of explaining to a very hot man exactly what she wants — well, she gets exactly what she asks for. As usual, the answer for Jaci's heroine lies just beyond her comfort zone, but that is how growth happens, in fiction as well as life. So listen up ladies, and heed the lesson well. Tell the men in your life what you want. It's not just a turn on. It may entirely turn around your sex life.

Hands On is a quick read, as hot as you can expect any Jaci Burton novella to be. Plus it is plain spoken and, even without rope and leather, as hot as it can get.

Reviewer Maîtresse
© November 2005