Susan Meier

Terrific conclusion to the series. At the end of the previous book, The Bodyguard and the Heiress, Danny was hit by two stunning revelations. First, that he is the missing third heir to the Hinton billions. Second, that he is a father himself. As this book opens, Danny is still trying to process the changes in his life. One of those changes is having custody of his son, which means he needs a nanny.

Marnie needs this job as a nanny. The fantastic pay will go a long way toward her goal of show more setting up her own nanny agency. Being a nanny also helps her keep a low profile. She worries that something that happened when she was a teenager will resurface and ruin her life again.

I liked the first meeting between Danny and Marnie. He has all but made up his mind to hire the nanny he calls "Mary Poppins" when Marnie arrives for her interview. Something about her attitude made him think she was just what he needed. Her reaction when he told her about his father sealed the deal. Marnie is thrilled to accept the job. But both of them have time to reconsider before she arrives at his apartment. Marnie fears that the notoriety surrounding Danny's father could pull her into an unwanted spotlight, risking exposure of her secret. It didn't help anything that she also encountered her father, who she hadn't seen since she was a kid - and he didn't recognize her.

Then there was Danny, who rightfully claims that his trust issues have trust issues. He feels betrayed on many levels. His parents never told him that he was adopted, so the shock of his father's identity was even worse. His biological father hired him to handle his estate affairs because of who he was, not because of his abilities. Then he found out about his son and discovered that Rex's mother had never planned to tell him he was a father. He begins to question whether Marnie is what she appears to be or if she is pulling some sort of con on him.

Marnie's arrival at Danny's apartment set the tone for her time there. Though she intended to bail on the job, the chaos she encountered when she arrived helped change her mind. I loved how she took charge as she saw Danny floundering and how her actions helped calm his fears. Danny and Marnie quickly became friends as they bonded over caring for Rex. It didn't take long for that friendship to turn to more as sparks of attraction complicated their situation. I loved watching them grow closer. Danny's enjoyment of showing Marnie the fun parts of his new world was sweet to see. I ached for him when her fears sent her running from the love he offered. I loved the way that she finally conquered those fears and took control of her life. I loved the ending and how Marnie and Danny came together. show less

Christmas in August! I just got the third book in the trilogy, so I can indulge my preference to read a series from start to finish. This was a heartwarming Cinderella story. The book opens with Leni working in the diner that her adoptive parents own. She has just graduated with her degree in social work and is helping out while looking for a job. She is all decked out like one of Santa's elves when a good-looking stranger stops in the diner. Nick is on a mission for a friend. He needs to show more find Eleanor Long and let her know that she may be one of three heirs to a multibillionaire's fortune.

I loved the first meeting between Nick and Leni. There is an immediate connection between the two of them. Nick finds himself acting out of character, flirting with the waitress, and being unusually light-hearted. I loved the give-and-take between him and Leni. That all comes to a screeching halt when he finds out that Leni is his missing heiress. Leni is stunned by the news. I loved that she kept her head and didn't immediately leave for New York the way he wanted her to. Instead, she made him wait until the next day so that she could talk to her parents about it. Nick isn't used to not getting his way and isn't quite sure how he feels about it.

I enjoyed watching the development of the relationship between Leni and Nick. Leni is a down-to-earth young woman whose primary interest in her inheritance is the ability to help her parents. Her father suffered a job-related injury, and the medical costs are overwhelming. When the estate's lawyer has to postpone their meeting, Nick is left to watch over Leni. Despite his attraction to her, Nick is determined to keep a distance between them. Leni is not exactly cooperative in that endeavor. I loved watching her poke and tease him until he loosens up, only to have to do it again and again as he battles his feelings for her.

I ached for Nick, who is still grieving the death of his older brother. He is overwhelmed by guilt, also, because he feels responsible for Joe's death. He feels as though his parents blame him, too, and does everything he can to fill in for his brother. Though part of him wants to see where things could go with Leni, he mostly feels unworthy of having a relationship with her.

I loved the scenes where Leni shook Nick out of his comfort zone. The ice skating scene was fantastic as he allowed his old fun side to come out. There was also a profoundly caring part to Nick. When Leni's father ended up in the hospital, Nick was there by her side, doing anything he could to help Leni and her mother. It didn't take long for Leni to realize that she was falling hard for Nick. I ached for her as she accepted that sometimes love wasn't enough to overcome all obstacles. It took an eye-opening conversation with his father for Nick to see what he was doing. I loved his big moment at the end, as he let go of his grief and embraced the future.

I loved watching Leni throughout the book. She had a hard time accepting her inheritance because of her anger at her biological father. She felt that he had abandoned her and her mother, leaving them to struggle while he went on his merry way. When her mother became ill and gave Leni up for adoption, it added to her resentment of him. Fortunately, she ended up with loving adoptive parents. Now she has a chance to help her family, but it means letting go of her anger. I liked the way that Nick helped her with that.

Leni is also very independent. I enjoyed seeing her go head-to-head with Nick over using any of the estate "slush fund" before being proved an heir. Even once she was confirmed, Leni remained true to herself. I had fun watching her shop, taking advantage of her new reality. The scenes at the hospital party and the fundraiser ball were fantastic. I especially enjoyed watching her shine at the ball. I ached for her dismay at being tricked at the coffee shop and loved how Nick came to her rescue. But what I loved the most was how she decided to make a difference with the money she inherited. The epilogue was a terrific followup. show less

Sweet story. It opens at the wedding of Sabrina's brother, Seth. Sabrina is a bridesmaid and Seth's best friend, Trent, is the groomsman who is partnered with her. Trent has known Sabrina for years and is accustomed to seeing her as a cool, well-put-together woman. This day, Trent sees a different side of her. She looks fine on the surface, but Trent notices a somewhat frazzled air about her.

I really liked Trent's keen observational skills. Although he swears that he is not attracted to her, show more that she isn't his type, he can't deny his need to take care of her. He claims it is because she is his best friend's little sister. When he discovers what the issue is, he offers to help her track down her ex so she can tell him about the baby. Rather than merely giving her use of his jet, Trent decides to accompany her. I loved watching Trent do his best to take care of her as well as try to pry her out of her ice maiden exterior and learn to have fun. I especially enjoyed the scene in Spain with the personal shopper. Trent never expected to develop feelings for her.

Sabrina is the youngest and only girl in her family. Because she was a girl, she avoided the bullying and abuse that her brothers suffered at the hands of their father. However, she did bury her own inclinations under the prim and proper façade that was expected of her. Getting pregnant was not in her plans, but she embraced the prospect with determination and happiness. She is confident the father won't want to be involved, which is fine with her, but she does feel compelled to inform him. Discovering the pregnancy the morning of her brother's wedding complicated matters, as she doesn't want to tell her family until she tells Pierre. She is surprised when Trent figures out her secret, and more so when he offers to help.

I enjoyed the development of their relationship. Sabrina and Trent are so different from each other that neither expected the attraction that flared between them. Sabrina is determined to raise the baby on her own, though it didn't take long for her to realize that she could see Trent playing the part of father. Trent tries to deny his feelings for Sabrina, afraid that he isn't capable of loving another man's child. I ached for him because those feelings were caused by the way he was treated by his stepfather. His fears cause him to push Sabrina away when all he really wants is to pull her closer. I liked seeing him finally face his feelings and confront his past, determined to be the kind of man Sabrina needs. I loved his big moment at the end. It was sweet and romantic and perfect for them. show less

Good conclusion to the series. I've been looking forward to Liam's story. As the heir to the throne, Liam has a lot of responsibility and needs someone to share the load. He thought he had found someone, only to have her break things off and disappear from his life. Though he knows he needs to marry, Laim is no longer interested in finding a love match. He's content to accept an arranged match with a suitable woman picked out by his father.

Demi was also burned by love when the man she loved show more took her father's payoff rather than fight for her. She also has a poor example in her parents' marriage. She is not interested in marrying anyone, preferring to devote her time to charity work. She turns Liam down flat until he discovers her father has a backup match planned for her. Suddenly, Liam is the lesser of two evils!

I liked the honesty between Liam and Demi when they discussed the proposed match at their first meeting. Liam wasn't going to force anything, and they parted amicably. But an unexpected protectiveness was aroused when he discovered the alternative planned for her. I liked seeing him go to her and explain what he had found. The scene at the food bank gave Demi a different look at who he is and made it a little easier to choose him. Both are adamant that their match will be one of convenience and friendship and that love will never come into the picture.

I like how Liam swept Demi off to his island home. He's determined to make her feel comfortable in her new home. I loved the variety of activities that Liam used to introduce her to life on Prosperita, from casual dinners to royal appearances. Having grown up in a royal household, Demi adjusts well to those duties. But neither expects the sparks of attraction that flare between them complicating their emotionless pact. It was interesting to see how each deals with that problem. Liam focuses on their passion, believing it will suffice as the basis for their marriage and fighting against his growing feelings. Meanwhile, Demi attempts to keep an emotional distance between herself and Liam, afraid of ending up like her mother. But no matter how hard she tries, she falls for the man who swears he will never love again.

Liam and Demi have much to think about as the wedding rapidly approaches. I ached for both when the breaking point came. I loved how his brother Axel provided a much-needed wake-up call for Liam, opening his eyes to the truth. All he has to do is convince Demi. I liked the ending and seeing two people who were so right for each other finally admit their feelings in a very emotional scene.

The epilogue provided an update on the whole family two years later. I laughed out loud at Liam and Demi's surprise for King Jozef. show less