Straight From the Hip by Susan Mallery

First, let me start off by saying that Susan Mallery has become one of my favorite authors and I look forward to each new book! Straight from the Hip is the third in a quartet of books in the series, Lone Star Sisters. I highly recommend that you read Under Her Skin and Lip Service beforehand. Here is the synopsis from Amazon.com: Izzy has always been the fearless Titan sister. But when an oil rig blows up, leaving her barely able to see, her sisters find themselves as concerned by her emotional withdrawal as by the possibility that the explosion was no accident. Are the mind games their long-lost brother Garth has been playing turning physical? Or is someone else out to get them?
When her sisters enroll her in a survivor training camp, Izzy is not happy. Nick, her instructor, is determined that she won't be left in the dark. In more ways than one. But if he tells her the terrible truth behind why he's helping her, he'll never see her again. Unless they're both willing to take the biggest risk of all.

After reading the first two books in the series, I wasn't really to pleased with Izzy...she is a bit self-centered and I was not sure how that would play out in her own story. Nothing to be worried about, though, as Mallery tells a wonderful, poignant story of love. There are some great supporting characters as well...Nicks gay assistant, Aaron, becomes a close friend and a great help to Izzy during her stay at the camp and adds some great dry humor. You also get updates on her sisters, Lexi and Skye, as well as their best friend, Dana, who gets her own story in Hot on Her Heels. I really enjoyed watching the relationship develop between Izzy and Nick...they have lots of snappy dialogue and sexual tension that finally translates into some steamy bedroom moments. Nick has his fair share of demons, as does Izzy, and the way they finally come together and grow as characters is wonderful.

Overall, this book rates four stars for me. Its a quick, sexy, emotional read and I am very anxious to read the last story that Mallery has set up with two unlikely people!