A Black Tie Affair

Sherrill Bodine

Fifteen years ago Athena Smith and Drew Clayworth were experiencing the first romantic love of their lives. She comforted him when his parents died unexpectedly. Her father worked at his family's retail business. Then she betrayed him. Drew can't trust Athena again.

Now Athena is one of the preeminent fashion historians in the country working at the Fashion Institute of Chicago. Bertha Palmer had been one of Chicago's leading social lights almost a century ago. Her gowns would be perfect for the show and scholarship that Athena wants the museum to sponsor. The Clayworth's own four of them. Athena has avoided the Clayworth's ever since her betrayal of Drew. Recently her father had to retire early under suspicious circumstances, making her and her sisters, Venus and Diana, even more wary of the family. For those gowns, she will take on the Clayworth's in this historical arena despite her personal feelings.

But when she gets sick at the Clayworth vault, Athena goes to the hospital. Drew goes to make sure everything is all right. They are back together, temporarily, through the actions of the fates. When the four dresses are then stolen from the Clayworth vault, Athena and Drew must work together to get them back. Not only are they valuable historically and monetarily, but they are also dangerous to anyone close to them for too long.

Sherrill Bodine has once again written a light froth romance with enough substance to keep the reader interested. Fashion history can be fascinating and Bodine makes that the center of A Black Tie Affair. That is also what keeps the novel moving. While I was interested in Athena and Drew's relationship, it is completely predictable. Of course when a romance reader picks up a book she (occasionally he) usually knows who will get together with who by page 2. We expect that. We expect some conflict getting to that point. The only real bumps in Athena's and Drew's relationship is learning to trust again. It stays rather flat. But with the stolen dresses and the cause of the illness (based on an actual occurrence), the novel has the conflict that keeps the reader happy.

Bodine has included her characters from Talk of the Town in this book - Rebecca Covington-Summers is still witty and charming. Bodine promises two more to follow that will feature fashion, retail, Venus, Diana, and the Clayworth men.

Notice:  Strong sexual content

Publicist provided for review