Tempt Me, Taste Me, Touch Me

In these three erotic novellas about a trio of girlfriends experiencing all that Napa wine country has to offer-especially the men-erotica newcomer Andre (Take Me) makes sure each woman is fiercely her own, complete with convincing backstories and particular neuroses. Prim-and-proper Carrie has just turned down a calculated proposal from one of San Francisco's elite, full-figured Rose has just been dumped for a thinner woman, and sex-obsessed Vanessa is just looking for a little distraction. Scenarios that could easily have been trod with reckless sexual abandon, however, give way to sweet, sensual, empowered stories enveloped in heady romance. Andre scores with her subtle use of Napa Valley food, wine and atmosphere, making her stories that much more delicious. Unfortunately, they all follow the same structure, and it quickly becomes clear that each woman is playing for keeps, not a roll in the hay. Though her erotic possibilities are hedged in by the spicy-but-safe formula, and readers may lose interest before they can finish their second helping, Andre provides some escapist fare for sentimental genre fans.