Suzanne Enoch – Flirting with Danger

The first book in the Samantha Jellicoe series, published March 1, 2005.
Genre: contemporary romance, with some suspense



Playing With Fire Will Get A Girl burned ...

The Palm Beach job should have been a slam dunk for thief extraordinaire Samantha Jellicoe: relieve a British playboy millionaire of a priceless antiquity. But when an explosion throws her into the arms of said playboy Rick Addison, even a pro like Sam has to review the rules ...

A Bad Girl's Guide To Flirting ...
Always wear black when breaking and entering -- it's both practical and slimming.
When asking a sexy multi-millionaire for help in clearing your name of murder, try dropping in through his skylight to get his attention.
You may consider staying in his mansion for "protection" but beware -- hidden grenades can spoil any bedroom fun.
For car chases and evading bad guys, take his Bentley Continental GT -- it has a roomy backseat.
Should he propose a legitimate partnership, make sure you really want to leave that life of crime behind. It also wouldn't hurt to keep the black dress handy, in case you change your mind ...


I so love this series. I’ve read it 5 times now, and I still cannot get enough of this couple.
It sounded like an easy job for Sam, just steal one little item and be on your way again. The owner is out of the country, so there should be not many servants around either. Getting in was easy, security may be high tech, but there are a lot of blind spots, and she slips through those fast. But then she spots something odd, a trip wire in the middle of a hall way? That is such a stupid thing, everyone will keep tripping over it, setting of the alarm. While she is examining it, she gets caught by one of the security guards. And then the owner of the mansion makes an appearance. But when the guard seems to be oblivious of the trip wire, Sam just knows something is wrong here. When the explosion goes off, she just barely manages to safe Richard Addison’s life. She even drags him to safety on the next floor, before she escapes. But unlucky for her, the security guard dies in the explosion, and she is the only suspect the police have. Even though the description is not much to go on.
But Samantha will have to clear her name. She is a thief, and a good one, but she is not a murderer. And the limitation on murder does not go away. And so she drops in on Richard Addison again, and asks him to help her clear her name, and in exchange she will help him find out from her side who is after him.

Very intrigued by his beautiful thief, Rick agrees to the bargain, much to the dismay of his solicitor and friend. And also the Palms Spring police department is not happy when they find out who exactly Samantha Jellicoe is, or rather, who her father was. They don’t believe she never went on the wrong path. But Samantha has a respectable background working for an art museum, and that really comes in handy this time. Posing as extra security and as an art specialist, let alone his new girlfriend, exposes her to the public eye, and she really hates that. And even though she likes living in this mansion, aggravating his solicitor friend, and trying to go straight for the moment, she still is ready to flee back to her old life.
Finding out who is after Rick and his artwork might be deadly after all.


I keep telling I love this, and I love that, but I just do. Suzanne Enoch usually writes great historical romances, but I truly believe this contemporary series is just as great, if not better. I adore the characters, and especially the humor. Getting together an American girl / artthief and a British billionaire / lord / businessman is sometimes really hilarious. Sam sure has had an unusual childhood, learning to pick pockets when she is 5. And she knows it is wrong, but she just loves being a thief, with her own code of honor. She is one of the best there is, and has made a nice retirement fund for herself already. But she is not just ready to quit jet. She loves the thrill, the adrenaline, and she really needs that in her life. Something Rick just doesn’t get.
Rick is just your average gorgeous and mega rich hero. He wants to “safe” Samantha and force her on the straight and narrow. He can’t stand her for having secrets, and to do things without him (which I really dislike!). He keeps pushing and pushing, but Samantha can be just as stubborn. And I love it when she gets even with him. Rick is not used to someone telling him no. He was divorced three years ago, when his wife betrayed him by sleeping with someone he called friend. And he sure took his revenge on them, I loved that part!
And now, he has trouble trusting other people, and he does not like Samantha to distrust the ones he does trust and like and has employed for many years. But when she explains her reasons to him, he insists to go with her on some B & E, and he actually likes the thrill. Which makes him understand her a little bit more. But still, he has no intention of letting her go, so he will make her give up this line of work. He still keeps distrusting her a lot, and being in lust with her is not making that easier. Or is it love?

I love Suzanne Enoch’s writing voice. The story is fast paced, with some action, hot lovescenes, great characters and some twists in the plot. Samantha never reacts as I would predict, and I love that. Lots of humor, and I also love the difference between The Queens English, and American English, Sam really teases Rick with that. Do you say the booth or the trunk of the car?

9 stars.

© 2012 Reviews by Aurian