The proposal was as unexpected as her feelings for the man whose dark good looks rivaled an even darker past. Painful experience screamed that Taylor Reid should run far and fast from Jackson Santorini. But keeping custody of her brother meant becoming her former boss’s bride.
And giving Jackson a baby.
Despite his powerful size and presence, Jackson had been wounded… deeply… by a woman. Yet he’d protected her at a personal cost, if his restrained ardor in deference to her virginal apprehension was one indication. Suddenly, for Jackson’s sake, Taylor wanted to replace pain with pleasure. Only, she’d never imagined what sensations — and secrets — she would awaken…
Taylor Reid has been her brother’s guardian since he was 6. His father left when he was 2 and didn’t look back. Now Nick’s father is back and he wants Nick – any way he can get him. Taylor is a wonderful person and has basically been Nick’s mother but she’s a temp and doesn’t even have a steady job. How can she fight Nick’s dad, a rich, powerful lawyer?
Jackson Santorini was Taylor’s boss while she was temping at his movie studio in Auckland. Jackson had feelings for Taylor but even though he was in a loveless marriage – he was still married and wedding vows meant something to him. When Jackson meets up with Taylor again he’s no longer married – his wife having committed suicide a year earlier. He’s now anxious to start a relationship with Taylor. He offers to marry Taylor so that they can fight Nick’s father but he also wants Taylor to give him a child. Taylor has been hurt by men in the past and though she agrees to the marriage she’s not sure she’ll be able to accommodate Jackson in an intimate way.
This was a pretty darned good read. Jackson was a little overbearing and acted like a typical Harlequin alpha hero most of the time and I have to admit to rolling my eyes a few times when he got the “me Tarzan, you Jan” thing goin on.. Dominate & possessive were his two most prominent traits – ug. But he could also be kind and gentle and that was his saving grace. He never pushed Taylor into doing anything she didn’t want or wasn’t ready for and that was wonderful. At first I felt he was a bit too focused on having a baby and for good reasons – which I won’t divulge – but he did realize the error of his ways and got with the program.
Taylor was an interesting character. She was timid but yet brave. She was like a mother bear with her cub when it came to her brother and being a mother myself I had to admire that.
Having only read Singh’s Psy/Changeling series (which I adore) and her Angels’ Blood book (also wonderful) I was a little hesitant to read one of her categories but in the end it was well worth it.
Rating: 4 out of 5
Thanks for this review, Tracy. Being a big fan of Nalini’s Psy-Changelings and her new Hunters Guild series, I’ve always wondered about her categories but never bought one. This one sounds good.
Christine – you’re just like me! I was definitely hesitant but since I had to read a category I figure it might as well be an author I love! 🙂
I’ve also been curious about this one! I’ve noticed it at the library, but wasn’t sure about it.
Sounds like it might be worth checking out when I’m caught up with Psy-Changeling. (I just picked up Hostage to Pleasure from the library today!) 🙂
I didn’t even realize she write category romances. Have only read one of her longer formats. Was ok, but cannot say it was a fav. Such an old bah humbug I am!! Great review!
I have one of her categories. I bought it maybe in 2007?? I haven’t read it though…Maybe I should :).
Renee – it’s interesting…I thought I would be able to tell that it was Nalini’s voice in the book but I really couldn’t…this was published in 2004 so I’m thinking she’s changed and grown since then. But it was still good.
Sarah – Well I think her longer novels are wonderful but I can see how some wouldn’t like them. Knowing your reading tastes I can see how you would feel it was just ok. 🙂
Amy – I realized after reading this that I was actually looking for one of her other categories, Craving Beauty, and thought this was the one I was looking for. I should really check the names on those! lol Alice has Craving Beauty as one of her DIK books so I’m curious to see about that one as well.
I’ve been trying to post a comment, but Open ID isn’t cooperating with me ATM…
I’ve been wanting to read a Singh category, but Sony’s ebook store doesn’toffer many options at all. I need to look again and see if they’ve added any. You’ve piqued my interest for the book, so thank you!!
Kmont – I’ve been wanting to read them for a while as well. I might have to read the Singh category that I INTENDED to read for next month! lol