Emma Holly
Personal Assets (2004)
Author: Emma Holly
Genre: Contemporary Romance
Plot Summary:
Bea Clouet is a beautiful, free-spirited French artist that has found herself the heiress of Meilleurs Amis (best friends), a Paris-based chain of high-end clothiers. Bea, however, is more interested in maintaining her carefree bohemian lifestyle than in taking over the reins of the family business. She is also looking forward to seducing her newly widowed stepfather, the young and sexy Philip Carmichael. Bea’s mother, Evangeline, was a hardhearted diva of the fashion world and had taken Philip on as a boy-toy/husband. After her death, Philip assumed the responsibility of running the string of stores. Bea had always admired Philip and, now that her mother was gone, felt there was nothing to prevent her from letting him know about her feelings. Bea seduces him, but feels that Philip could never love her the way she loves him. Philip initially feels guilty about succumbing to Bea’s advances, but soon discovers that he is having strong romantic feelings for her. Bea shares her naughty secret with her best friend Lela, a plucky, world-weary vixen, who is visiting from America. Meanwhile, Meilleurs Amis is starting to suffer cash-flow problems, stemming from a failing New York store. Lela asks Bea and Philip if she could take a sales job there in order to monitor its operation and possibly impress them enough to be promoted to a management position. They agree and Lela flies to New York. The story shifts its focus to Lela, who meets a handsome and powerful CEO, Simon Graves, while at her new job. The two agree to a strange barter of services: Lela will have sex with him if he will teach her the skills it takes to succeed in the corporate world. The arrangement immediately takes on a new dynamic, as the two begin to fall in love with each other. As their relationship begins to heat up, Simon is faced with a dilemma: he is planning a hostile takeover of Meilleurs Amis, and doesn’t know how to tell Lela about it. SPOILER: Simon takes control of Meilleurs Amis, but Bea and Philip are able to retain positions of authority in the company. Lela eventually forgives Simon for withholding his business plans, and their relationship becomes stronger than ever. Bea and Philip defy the media, the fashion world, and universal social mores, by joining hands in holy matrimony.
Geographical Setting: Paris; New Orleans; New York; Rome; Blackheath, England.
Time Period: Modern Day (2004)
Appeal Characteristics:
This book features two sexually liberated female protagonists that find love despite the strange circumstances of their relationships. At first, it seems that these two women are only concerned with fulfilling their sexual desires, but eventually we’re shown that they really (perhaps unknowingly) want to find the perfect man to settle down with (and they do). The main characters are developed sufficiently enough to make them seem real, though the reader may find it difficult to feel any sympathy for them. On the other hand, the male characters (especially Philip) are two-dimensional and flimsy. The plot is light, with most of the suspense being generated by the promise of a lurking sex scene. A mood of intense sexual yearning and arousal persists throughout the book. Readers that like reading about the business of haute couture and European settings might enjoy this read.
Read-alikes: Readers that enjoyed Personal Assets should check out some of Holly’s other books: Cooking Up a Storm (2004) and Ménage (2004). These two will offer a similar mood of sexual intrigue. They feature young, professional women that are not afraid to explore their desires. Scruples (1978), by Judith Krantz, features a strong willed female owner of an exclusive boutique in Beverly Hills. One of her love interests is a fashion designer, and part of the books takes place in Paris. Hot Pink (2003), by Susan Johnson, is a highly erotic story that has a young web developer falling in love with a young (and taken) up-and-comer in the corporate world. Mistletoe Maneuvers (2005), by Margaret Allison, is a steamy read that features a hostile takeover and a love affair between corporate rivals.
Red Flags: There is graphically depicted sex throughout this book. These scenes include homosexuality and group sex (girl-girl-boy and boy-boy-girl). There is a lot of cursing and some alcohol drinking, but no drugs or violence.
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