On the Couch    by Alisa Kwitney Order:  USA  Can Avon, 2004 (2004) Softcover Read an Excerpt     Reviewed by Melissa Parcel New York City psychologist Marlowe Riddle has not had a date for over a year. She's been researching a book entitled 'Behavioral Effects of Disguising Identity,' but so far, her efforts have been unproductive. That is, until she begins receiving odd phone calls in the middle of the night asking for an 'appointment.' Marlowe dismisses these as wrong numbers ... until the call from Joe. Joe Kain is a NYPD detective investigating a suspicious death. The last phone call the victim made was to a call girl. When Joe dials the number, he connects with Marlowe, and mistakenly assumes she gets paid for having sex. Marlowe sees this as a titillating research opportunity for her book and carries on the ruse. Joe and Marlowe fall for each other. What will happen when Marlowe's real career is revealed? This is a cute chick lit novel. Marlowe and Joe are fun characters whose relationship just gets hotter as time passes. The love scenes are most definitely sizzling, not for the easily embarrassed. The witty banter keeps the story moving and interesting. Chapters alternate between Joe's and Marlowe's first person points of view, which provides insights into their motivations. The suspense storyline almost felt tacked on, as the interaction between Joe and Marlowe is much more entertaining. And with the romance element as the focal point, there really isn't much need for the weak mystery plot. On the Couch is primarily a passionate romance, sure to please chick lit lovers everywhere. Note: Opinions expressed in reviews and articles on this site are those of the author(s) and not necessarily those of BookLoons. Find more Romance books on our Shelves or in our book Reviews