Tempt Me in Vegas - Maureen Child (SD #2619 - Oct 2018)

This billionaire doesn’t play well with others…

Until he meets her!

Cooper Hayes won’t share his hotel empire, especially not with his business partner’s secret daughter -- even if Terri Ferguson is the most beautiful woman in Vegas. He’s obsessed with sinful fantasies -- and buying her out. But Terri refuses his offer…while she shares his bed. With enemies working against them, how far will Cooper go for a love that money can’t buy?

Good book with interesting characters and a sort of Cinderella storyline. Cooper got the shock of his life when he found out that he wouldn't inherit his business partner's half of their hotel empire. Instead, Jacob left it to the daughter he gave up for adoption. Cooper was furious and not about to let "some interloper crash the party." He was determined to find a way to convince her to let him buy her out. My initial impression of him was that he was a bit on the selfish side, focused on his own desires.

Terri was the adopted daughter of two schoolteachers and stunned when she learned of her inheritance. She had a normal life with her parents, went to college, and now works as a bank teller. She was nervous about the inheritance but also excited to see what the chance would bring her. I liked the way that she had some experience in the service industry and understood what was important.

The sparks of attraction flew between Cooper and Terri from the moment they met, though both tried to resist. Cooper looked at Terri as the enemy, someone who stood between him and his goals. He was a committed bachelor thanks to a previous relationship gone wrong, and her effect on him disturbed him.  Terri wasn't quite sure what to make of Cooper. Just being near him caused her to lose her train of thought. Terri was determined to learn the ropes quickly and was frustrated by the way Cooper ignored her. After two days her frustration reached its peak, just as Cooper finally showed up to talk to her. I loved her bluntness as she made her displeasure known. Their conversation in the rooftop garden was enlightening for both of them, and great fun to read. I loved that Terri had no trouble telling Cooper exactly what she thought of his attitude toward whether she belonged there. Cooper started to see that there was more to Terri than he had thought. Things were just getting interesting between them when Cooper's ex-girlfriend showed up.

I loved how Celeste's arrival gave Terri a little extra motivation in jumping into the StarFire pool. Terri had spent some time just observing what went on around her, and talking to various employees. She had an entirely different way of looking at things than Cooper did. I loved her first foray into being a part of the company and seeing her stand up to those who looked down on her. It was especially satisfying to see Cooper's reaction. But Cooper still hasn't let go of his goal, and I was a bit disgusted by his attitude. To make matters worse, there are others who have their own agendas who are also working against Terri. I had high hopes as Cooper and Terri spent more time together, and the attraction between them burst into flames. Cooper was freaked out by the strength of his feelings for her and rationalized them away. But those who want Terri gone were impatient and tricked Terri into taking an action that Cooper didn't want. This played directly into Cooper's distrust, and he said some pretty vicious things, breaking Terri's heart. I was quite impressed with her fortitude though, and absolutely loved when she called in the "cavalry."

I was so mad at Cooper for the things he said and did, and couldn't wait for him to realize what an idiot he had been. In the meantime, the blows kept falling for Terri. I loved that she had Jan there for support and to talk her off the ledge. I cheered for Terri's renewed resolve. Cooper's "aha" moment came with help from an unexpected source. His big moment at the end was good, though I thought he should have spent a bit more time groveling. However, he did finish it off quite nicely.

I loved seeing Terri really get into what she was doing at the hotel. She had excellent instincts, even though her self-confidence was a bit shaky at first. I adored the part with the honeymooners, and the board meeting about the London hotel was outstanding. It was oh-so-satisfying to see Cooper's surprise at all the things that she had made her own. I also loved her friend Jan and how she was there at the beginning to give Terri the kick she needed, as well as at the end to provide Terri some backup. I'll bet those two are going to be a kick-ass team. The one who surprised me the most was Celeste. I didn't like her at first, as her reasons for showing up were obvious. But I saw another side of her during the shopping trip that gave me hope. Though she backslid a bit at the end, she also made up for it. I'd like to see both Celeste and Jan get their own stories.

 

Fit For a Sheikh - Kristi Gold (SD #1576 - Apr 2004)

Series: Texas Cattleman's Club: The Stolen Baby (Book 6)

HOT PURSUIT

Tracker Darin Shakir worked alone. The mysterious Cattleman's Club member had been burned in the past and he wasn't about to see innocents hurt on this mission. But plans had gone awry -- he'd wound up injured, and in bartender Fiona Powers's capable hands. The feisty redhead was more than a match for this brooding sheikh and insisted on helping Darin. But his temporary, sexy new partner was a very tempting distraction Darin didn't want, even as he yearned to show Fiona the fiery attraction blazing inside.

Good book. Though this is the last in the six-book Stolen Baby subset of the Texas Cattleman's Club series, it can be read as a standalone. There was enough backstory given that I didn't feel lost, though I'm sure it would have been even better had I read the previous books before this one. I still want to read the others. The premise of the series is that a doctor is running a black market baby ring, and various members of the TCC get involved in stopping it. In this book, the doctor is on the run, and TCC member Darin Shakir has stepped up to find him and bring him to justice.

Darin is well known for his ability to track anyone under any circumstances, and equally well known for working alone. He isn't happy about being told that he has to work with an FBI agent and plans to do his best to avoid it. Thanks to a case of mistaken identity, he believes that bartender Fiona Powers is that agent. When his first encounter with the bad guy goes wrong, Darin is injured and ends up in her hands.

I loved the scene in the bar when Fiona and Darin first meet. There are sparks between them, but Darin tries to focus on his mission and believes that she is his FBI contact. When he's injured saving her, Fiona takes him back to her apartment and insists on caring for him. I loved the contest of wills between them, and Fiona's method of ensuring his cooperation. Both Fiona and Darin are stubborn when they believe they are right, and this trend continues throughout the book.

I enjoyed the development of the relationship between Fiona and Darin. Darin has been a loner since the deaths of his fiancée and unborn child in circumstances he blames himself for. He makes it clear that he doesn't do relationships and that anything that happens between them is short-term only. This makes it all that more unsettling for him when he can't stop thinking about her and experiences something closely resembling possessiveness and jealousy at several times during their search for the bad guy. Fiona has plans for her future, and they don't include a relationship. Over the next few days, as they worked together, I loved seeing Fiona's feisty attitude knock down the walls that Darin had put up around his heart. Fiona had believed that she could get through her time with Darin without losing her heart. The heat between them was intense, though there were several times when luck was against them doing anything about it. When they finally succeeded, the connection surprised them both. I ached for them both when it was time for Darin to leave. She knew how she felt, and that the pain of losing him would linger for a long time. It took Darin a bit longer to realize his feelings. I loved the scene at the airport when she shocked him with her goodbye words and his stunned reaction. It still took some good advice from his friends to get him moving in the right direction. I did like his big moment, and both the love and respect he showed for her. The epilogue was good too, bringing all the couples from the series together.

The mystery of the story was well done. Tracking and capturing the elusive kidnapper was not as easy as Darin thought it would be. That first encounter when Darin was injured gave a good idea of the challenges ahead of him. Because of his past, I understood his wish to work alone, and how hard it was to accept Fiona's help. For the reader, there was also the occasional peek into the viewpoint of the bad guy, adding an extra layer of intensity to the growing tension. The final confrontation was terrific, with some unexpected twists. I loved Fiona's strength of will and her part in taking down the bad guy. I could feel Darin's fear for her and his determination to save her. I was on the edge of my seat until it was all over. My only unresolved question was if they were able to find all the missing babies.

Power Play - Beverly Long (HRS #1977 - Jan 2018)

Series: Wingman Security (Book 2)

A security expert puts everything on the line when a woman from his past turns to him for protection…

Kellie McGarry is off-limits to Trey Riker. Building a security empire is the perfect distraction for him, but a threat against Kellie changes everything. In jeopardy and caught in a terrorist group’s web, she’s the one woman Trey will do anything to protect.

For Kellie, the sparks between her and Trey are more than inconvenient. She’s torn between the evidence that implicates him and her instinct to trust him. Determined to get the truth about Trey and save her own life, Kellie must make a choice now -- but the wrong one could be her last.

Good mix of romance and suspense. Trey is a member of the Wingman Security company. When he gets a call from his best friend asking him to check on the man's younger sister, he jumps right on it. He remembers Kellie as the gawky little sister from when he and Anthony were in college. He's stunned by the grown-up Kellie and immediately attracted, though she's off-limits as his friend's sister. Though she makes it clear that she is fine when he talks to her, Trey gets the feeling that she isn't telling the truth.

Kellie has recently taken a job in a mining company owned by another of her brother's friends. After receiving a couple of puzzling emails, she realized that there was something strange going on. Further investigation revealed irregularities involving explosives and the possible collusion by people close to her. Kellie isn't sure who she can trust, so she is suspicious of Trey when he shows up.

I really enjoyed the development of the relationship between Kellie and Trey. There is an immediate connection between them that is impossible for them to deny. Trey is willing to risk Anthony's displeasure to pursue whatever it is, but Kellie is resistant. Though she is equally attracted to Trey, his connection to her boss makes her suspicious. Trey is gentleman enough not to push when Kellie suddenly pulls back, but he's also suspicious of the sudden withdrawal. I loved the protectiveness that he showed, both at the club and later, when he realized just how much trouble she was in. I loved his determination to find her and get to the bottom of the problem. It was easy to see Kellie's conflict between her suspicions and her instinctive trust of Trey. Once she took the leap of faith and confided in him, their connection grew even faster. I liked the way that Trey was protective without being overbearing and smothering and that he respected Kellie's intelligence and abilities. I liked seeing Kellie's barriers come down as she came to trust Trey. She also saw past the reputation that her brother had given him to the man that he was. They also developed fantastic teamwork that was essential for their survival at the end of the book. I loved seeing them share their dreams for the future and their confidence that they would make it happen.

The suspense of the story was really good. The seriousness of the danger Kellie was in was obvious from the beginning. Her unwillingness to trust anyone made it even more difficult. I was impressed by Kellie's resourcefulness as she tried to get away. I also loved Trey's determination to find her and protect her. I loved the scene in California when Trey caught up with her, and her attempt to get away again. Kellie's realization that she could trust Trey came just in time as the bad guys' pursuit of them intensified. I loved seeing Trey's talents in security figure out how to evade capture. The depth of their danger became more obvious as they decoded the emails that Kellie had received. Their capture and subsequent stranding had me on the edge of my seat as I followed their attempts to save themselves. I loved that it didn't go smoothly or easily, as that added an extra level of intensity. I loved the epilogue and hearing how it was resolved. I especially loved Kellie's comment that set Trey to laughing.