Yvonne Lindsay

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 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.… (mehr)

A Forbidden Affair
3.5 Stars

"All's Fair in Love and War" - These are the words Nate Hunter Jackson lives by and mercilessly puts into action when a chance encounter with Nicole Wilson, the daughter of his late father's nemesis, provides him with the perfect opportunity for revenge. While her relationship with Nate begins with seduction and blackmail, Nicole cannot deny their attraction and growing feelings for one another. Can these unlikely lovers put aside the past to have a future together?

Series note: The events in this book take place in parallel with those in book #1. As such, it is necessary to read The Wayward Son first.

Yvonne Lindsay is a skilled writer and an engaging storyteller. However, her heroes leave much to be desired as Nate's morally questionable actions, like Judd's, do not present him in a positive light. That said, he does acknowledge his feelings more readily than Judd and his groveling is excellent.

Nicole is a much more appealing heroine than Anna. One cannot help but sympathize with her given the betrayals she has experienced from those who are supposed to love her. As such, her difficulty believing Nate's declarations are understandable.

The next book returns to the Masters family in Australia, and I wonder if the Wilsons will put in an appearance. It should be interesting.… (mehr)

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 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.… (mehr)

Non di certo entusiasmante, anche lento nella narrazione, si legge in fretta e altrettanto in fretta si dimentica.
Una storia peraltro assurda e credo praticamente irrealizzabile partendo dal fatto che Kayla, la protagonista, dopo la morte della sorella si è fatta impiantare un ovulo della defunta fecondato cinque anni prima dal loro amico Van ed è diventata madre di una bimba.
Trovandosi in difficoltà a mantenere la figlia si rivolge a Van, del tutto ignaro di quanto da lei fatto, per ottenere un aiuto. Ricevuto un rifiuto e non contenta dei problemi che la angustiano, si fa impiantare anche gli altri due ovuli a suo tempo fecondati nonostante il parere contrario di Van che si vedrà costretto ad agire.
Un libro talmente assurdo ... come non ne avevo mai letti primi.
… (mehr)