Olivia Gates

3-1/2 stars. In general a pretty good story. The hero was cruel at the beginning as you see him dumping her for betraying him. Of course as is the case with all good HP heroes or heroines, he never asks for her side of the story. The story starts 6 years later when he needs to marry so he blackmails her into marriage since he never really got over her and decides to get her out of his system this way. The downfall of the book for me, if there is one, is that he changes his mind about how he feels about her so early that you really can't get behind his asshattery. The heroine even wonders if he is manic depressive, his mood changes so often and so rapidly.

He was so totally in love with her that he couldn't keep up being mean to her. The writing was okay but a bit OTT in a florid almost purple prosy way. There were a few plotting inconsistencies but nothing real major. On the whole I enjoyed it.

I received this book free for review from netGalley.… (more)

Good book. Richard appeared in previous books as a secondary character. Unlike the others, Richard had been on the wrong side as a youth and young man, responsible for training the boys kidnapped and held, though he also tried to watch out for them. From the first book, From Enemy's Daughter to Expectant Bride, Rafael was especially close to Richard, though the others in their brotherhood do not trust him. Richard has a reputation for being cold, unfeeling, and ruthless. This was especially obvious eight years earlier when he seduced the wife of the man responsible for Richard's involvement in The Organization to get information from her. He never expected the feelings she stirred up in him, and he walked away, never expecting to see her again.

Isabella spent years as the trophy wife of a drug lord to protect her family. Her short affair with Richard was intense, but leaving with him was impossible. It took her months to figure out his motivations for their liaison, and she knew she had to escape before her husband realized it too. Eventually, she earned her medical degree and moved her family to New York to join a friend in her medical practice.

When Isabella comes to Richard's attention all those years later, he wants to be sure her past won't cause problems for those he cares for. Their first meeting is volatile, as he makes demands and issues ultimatums. Isabella isn't the same person she had been when he knew her last, and she refuses to be intimidated by him. Unfortunately, the attraction that still burns between them complicates matters. But that's nothing compared to the shock Richard receives when he discovers that Isabella gave birth to his son soon after her escape.

This is where my feelings toward Richard began to change. That cold, emotionless, and ruthless man fell utterly in love with his son. I loved seeing a different, kinder, and softer side of Richard emerge, as he was embraced not only by young Mauri but also the rest of Isabella's family. It also affected Isabella, making it harder to keep him at a distance. Richard is stunned to find that the ability to feel he thought was gone forever had only been buried. I loved seeing the changes in him as those feelings begin to grow. When it comes time to talk about telling Mauri that Richard is his father, Richard knows he has to tell Isabella everything about his past. Doing so convinces him that he's too broken to trust himself in their lives. I ached for him and the devastating feelings of loss he experienced and for Isabella, who believed in him but thought he no longer wanted her.

Richard's departure precipitates a crisis involving Mauri. I liked that Richard was the first one Isabella called and how he sprang into action. This was one time when the immediate and unquestioning support of the brotherhood was critical. Not only did Antonio (the doctor) drop everything, the others also came to lend their support. The effect on Richard was amazing, and I had to laugh at the teasing he endured. I loved how the crisis brought Isabella and Richard back together, and the emotional turmoil brought everything to the surface. With no more secrets or misunderstandings, Isabella and Richard have a happy future ahead of them.

I liked the secondary characters also. Isabella's mom was terrific with the way she pulled Richard in from the moment she met him. I think she suspected the truth from the start. Isabella's son Mauri was adorable. He's smart and funny and connects with Richard immediately. Their relationship is fantastic and brings out an unexpected side of Richard. I also liked Isabella's partner Rose. Neither of them suspected their connection when they met, and both were stunned when they found out. One of my favorite scenes was with Numair (Pregnant by the Sheikh) after saving Richard's life. It had a profound effect on both of them.… (more)