Yvonne Lindsay

Good book. Rosalind flew from Australia to Royal to see if she could win back the man she broke up with six months earlier. To her dismay, she discovered that Drake had moved on and was engaged to someone else (An Heir of His Own). So when the sparks flew between her and TCC member Gabe, she had no problem giving in to them. One unforgettable night together and Ros flew on to New York to find buyers for her clothing line. A few weeks later, she's on the way back to Texas to tell Gabe he's show more going to be a father.

Gabe wants a wife and child but doesn't want the messy emotions of marrying for love. He even went so far as to hire a matchmaker to find him a woman who would accept his conditions: a marriage of convenience; she gets a settlement when they marry and complete access to his money for as long as they are married. If the woman leaves the marriage, Gabe receives full custody of the child. So far, he has no takers on his proposition.

When Ros tells Gabe her news, he immediately proposes they get married, using his contract. Ros will get the cash infusion she needs for her business, and Gabe will get the child he wants. Though the plan is for a paper marriage, the chemistry between them is too strong, and they give in immediately. Gabe freaks out at the depth of the connection he feels with Ros and suddenly pulls away, going from hot and heavy to cold and aloof overnight. Ros knew quickly that she would have trouble with an emotionless marriage.

I liked watching their relationship develop. These two people are opposites in so many ways. Gabe doesn't believe in love; Ros does. Gabe is a country boy, and Ros is definitely a city girl. Gabe is super-protective, and Ros is very independent. Gabe's childhood with a father that cheated on Gabe's mother and paid little attention to Gabe added to a relationship where his ex also cheated on him, leaving him determined to protect his heart. He'll save all his love and care for his child; after all, he knows very well what not to do. But Gabe has difficulty keeping his mind from thinking about what it would be like to have a real marriage which only makes him more determined to fight his feelings.

Meanwhile, Ros is determined to show Gabe what he's missing. But no matter what she does, he keeps pushing her away. The one time she managed to break through his barriers, she made the mistake of whispering her feelings when she thought he was asleep. He wasn't, and the next morning's fallout was devastating for her. I cheered when she stood up for her own needs and flew back to New York.

I felt Gabe earned every bit of his misery, especially when he kept fighting his feelings. It wasn't until an unexpected conversation with his father that he realized what an idiot he was. I cheered when he went after Ros. His emotional confession at the end warmed my heart and gave me hope for their future. I especially liked seeing him admit what a selfish jerk he'd been. I hope to see them reappear in future books so I can see how they are doing. show less

Good conclusion to the series. Raif attends Shanal's wedding to his nemesis, Burton, under duress as a favor to his cousin Ethan. Raif has cared for Shanal since he was a teenager, but she didn't feel the same. So when Shanal bolts from the wedding before the vows, Raif is only too happy to help her escape. He sees two benefits: helping the woman he loves and exacting revenge on a man he despises.

Shanal is caught between a rock and a hard place. Desperate to help her parents, she agreed to show more marry a man she doesn't love. If she marries Burton, she will be tied for life to a man she doesn't love. But if she doesn't marry him, her parents would lose everything, and she would lose her job and possibly her professional reputation. At the last minute, she decides she can't do it and runs, with no idea what to do next.

Raif and Shanal have a complicated history. She is three years older than he is and was aware of his crush when they were teens and did everything possible to discourage it. For years she continued to see him as that youth. She and Raif frequently clashed at gatherings they both attended, but she was grateful for his help in this situation. I loved seeing Raif's care and support as he whisked her away to a friend's riverboat. Stuck together 24/7, Shanal quickly realized that there was more to the man Raif had become and that their sparks of antagonism hid sparks of another kind. I liked seeing Raif open up about his problems with Burton and why he worried about Shanal. When those sparks turned into action, I had high hopes for their relationship. Then Burton showed up and, with a few words, pulled Shanal back to his side.

I ached for Raif, who not only felt betrayed but also extremely worried about Shanal. He knows what Burton is capable of and fears for her safety. He also suspects that Burton has some hold over her. Shanal frustrated me with her willingness to give in to Burton's demands. Things became even more complicated when Shanal realized she was pregnant with Raif's baby. That's when Burton's true nature came out. Burton's creep factor was high from the start, but his words and actions at this point terrified Shanal.

A confrontation with Burton, then with Shanal, reinforced Raif's need to save her. Once Raif has the whole story, he puts his plans into action. I loved his determination and refusal to give up. Shanal worked hard to believe that her trust in Raif was not misplaced as her rescheduled wedding fast approached. I loved the ending and the perfect way it all came together. show less

Good marriage of convenience story with some twists. Galen wants to give his ward, a little girl named Ellie, a stable home after the trauma of losing her parents. He uses his grandmother's matchmaking program to find a suitable wife. He's not looking for a grand passion, only someone compatible with whom he can make a life.

Peyton is out for revenge against the Horvath family, especially the matriarch Alice, whom she blames for the devastation her family experienced. She manipulates the show more matchmaking program to ensure that she is matched with Galen. She expects the marriage to get her close enough to the family that she can get the information she needs for her exposé.

I liked Galen. He is intelligent, kind, and protective of those he loves. I loved seeing him with Ellie, who adores him. His sympathy and understanding of her loss is heartwarming.

I had a harder time liking Peyton. Her focus on revenge prevented her from seeing the possible collateral damage. She also allowed her personal bias to influence her research instead of the balanced writing she is known for.

Having never met before the wedding day, neither Galen nor Peyton knew what to expect from each other. The sparks of attraction are undeniable, but Peyton resists as long as she can. She has no intention of remaining in the marriage, and intimacy will complicate matters. However, during their "honeymoon," Peyton tries to guard her heart from more pain but discovers that Ellie and Galen have wiggled past her walls.

Galen quickly realizes that he has fallen hard for Peyton but can sense that she is hiding something. I liked his patient hope that she'll open up to him. I liked how he made Peyton part of parenting Ellie, even though she initially tried to hold back.

When the truth comes out, Peyton and Galen must decide if their marriage is worth saving. Grandmother Alice plays a big part in the ending as she reminds Peyton that every story has two sides. I ached for Peyton as she looked at her past from a new perspective. There's a twist that surprises Peyton, though I had my suspicions. I also hurt for Galen and his feelings of betrayal when he learned the truth. It takes a little time for each to realize that they belong together. I liked Galen's determination to convince Peyton of his love.

The ending was good, as Alice's matchmaking program and her instincts proved right again. show less

Wanting What She Can't Have
3.5 Stars

"Tis better to have loved and lost than never to have loved at all" - Unfortunately, Raoul Benoit has lost sight of this maxim in his anger and hurt following the death of his wife in childbirth. Unable to bond with his infant daughter, Raoul agrees to allow his wife's best friend, Alexis Fabrini, to care for the baby even as he struggles with his attraction to her. Alexis is determined to put aside her unrequited feelings for Raoul, but their close show more proximity makes it impossible to deny their chemistry. Can Alexis help Raoul become the loving father and man she knows he can be?

Series note: Alexis is introduced in the previous book, and Tamsyn and Finn, the couple therein, appear here as well. While it is not necessary to read the two books in order, it does help to grasp the continuity of the series.

The problematic hero trope characterizing this series continues with Raoul, who is cold and uncommunicative for much of the book. While it is clear that his unyielding attitude stems from his fear of losing another person that he loves, it is difficult to empathize with such a taciturn and unfeeling man. His harsh treatment of Alexis is one thing, but his rejection of his daughter is close to unforgivable. That said, he does eventually come to his senses and manages to redeem himself with a good grovel.

Alexis is a sweet and loving heroine. Her willingness to put aside her own life to help Raoul and his daughter is commendable. Unfortunately, the romance is undermined by the fact that Raoul is obviously still in love with his dead wife. While he and Alexis have intense physical chemistry, his feelings for her are primarily due to lust rather than love.

Overall, the title of this installment is quite apt as Alexis wants Raoul but it is unclear, despite his admission of love, that she actually has him. show less