A Slippery Slope by Tanya Gallagher

Have you ever thought to yourself: “Wow, this romance novel could use a whole lot more lube?” No? Well, neither had I. I never knew that was something I needed until A Slippery Slope by Tanya Gallagher (and oh dear, I never thought about the title until just this moment). This book is a breath of fresh air among the contemporary romance genre.

Natalie Bloom is an expert in quitting things: college, her unfinished novel, her relationship with a cheating ex-boyfriend. When she decides to start a business selling lube to get her life back on track, she’s determined not to give up, even if making it work means partnering with the one person she’s avoided for years. 

Jackson Wirth may be sexy, magnetic, and good in business, but he’s also the man who broke Natalie’s heart years ago. She knows better than to fall for his charms, but when Jackson’s marketing plans involve testing lube and visiting sex shops, things between them get unprofessional fast. 

Soon Natalie has to admit her feelings for Jackson are more than casual. But Jackson is tied to their town and Natalie has only ever wanted to leave. The harder she falls for Jackson the more she risks losing everything she’s worked for. Will she have to choose between the life she’s dreamed of and the man she’s falling in love with…again?

A Slippery Slope didn’t do away with all the tropes that you often find in contemporary romance novels but it brought a lot of new elements into the mix that will certainly held my interest multiple times over. I loved the ex-best friend romance mixed with a little love-hate romance (two of my all-time favorite relationship plots). Their relationship was a lot of push and pull between the characters but there was lots of fun and flirt to balance out the drama.

Natalie drove me a little crazy with her low self-esteem and her woe-is-me attitude, but then again I’d probably feel the same way after catching my boyfriend cheating on me so I can’t really hold it against the girl. I love Jackson with all my heart though. I’ve never had a book boyfriend before but… I think it would be him. Sexy and business smart? Be still my beating heart.

Both characters were funny and personable with a chemistry that leapt off the page. There was plenty of drama. There was more than enough passion to satisfy without being tacky. And there were plenty of hilarious mishaps involving lube. I mean, what more could you ask for in a romance novel really?

A Slippery Slope comes out March 13th.  Pick up your copy here if you're down for some laughs.