A Million Dirty Secrets

Beautiful, naïve Lanie Talbot is so devoted to caring for her ailing mother and unemployed father that she puts herself up for auction, selling her virginity and two years of constant sexual availability to the highest bidder. Noah Calhoun, a driven but philanthropic business tycoon, turns to the underground sex trade in hopes of satisfying his physical needs while protecting his shattered heart. He and Lanie—who trade off narrating their intertwined tale—butt heads constantly, but their passion for each other is undeniable. Readers may be troubled by the depictions of the present-day sex industry, both positive (Lanie is breathlessly attracted to her “buyer” and he’s kind and generous to her) and negative (Lanie’s best friend assures her that she is “way too good for this sort of thing,” unlike the other women in the room), as well as the shame Lanie feels and sometimes projects onto others for having desires. Even so, smoldering sex scenes and a cliffhanger ending will leave erotica fans panting for more. Agent: Alexandra Machinest, Janklow & Nesbit Associates. (Sept.)