Author Risque has a new fan in me. After reading Red Light Special, her sophomore title, I concluded that she was a gifted storyteller who brought the heat to each page. Now, having finished Smooth Operator, I realize she is definitely an urban erotica writer to be reckoned with. Of the two books, Red Light Special is still my favorite. But Smooth Operator is an excellent read, too, full of power, passion and perfectly crafted plot twists that will leave readers stunned and begging for more.

Lyfe Carrington is a six-foot-two hunk of chocolate with sexy swagger who makes women do a double take. It’s that hood handsomeness that got him recognized by his beautiful, rich, power-hungry wife, Payton. Payton owns Anderson Global, an investment firm she inherited from her late husband. When she met Lyfe, he was an ex-felon working as a UPS delivery guy. After a whirlwind romance (or maybe whirlwind incredible sex), they married, and Payton appoints Lyfe vice president of her company. He has proven to be just as powerful in the boardroom as in the bedroom, but Payton - feeling like she owns him - never misses the opportunity to let him know that she’s in control... or is she?

When Payton sends Lyfe to the company’s New York office so she can do her scandalous deeds without him being privy to them, the story takes an interesting turn. Lyfe’s secretary in New York is Arri Askew, a voluptuous vixen whom he’s immediately attracted to. Arri, though, is much more than a typical office professional. At night, she whips out her webcam, sheds her clothes, and lives out the erotic fantasies of her clients via her site, A Smooth Operator. That secret side job is merely a means to an end to help raise her strung-out sister’s five-year-old son. Although Arri has past hurts to contend with, she can’t help being drawn to Lyfe.

As the story unfolds, Lyfe suddenly has issues much greater than an affair with Arri or his conniving wife’s drama. An FBI investigation could take him back to a life he’s tried to forget, and one wrong decision could land him back in prison.

Smooth Operator is an action-packed read with hints of betrayal, revenge and underhanded scheming coupled with suspense - and of course, freaky triple-X sex that is not for the timid. The author incorporates edgy urban characters, develops them into likable protagonists, and cleverly weaves in unexpected twists to seal the deal and make for an unforgettable tale. As a new Risque fan, I’m looking forward to the thrill ride she concocts in her next book. The challenge, however, will be to explore different types of characters and unique themes while still delivering erotic suspense that leaves readers satisfied.