A Princess by Christmas - Jennifer Faye (HR #4445 - Oct 2014)

A royal kiss under the mistletoe

Prince Alexandro Castanovo arrives in snowy New York intent on protecting his royal family from scandal. And when Reese Harding -- down-to-earth and heart-stoppingly beautiful -- finds room for him at her inn, it seems like the perfect twist of fate.

Not long ago Reese's world came crumbling down, shaking her foundations. But this enigmatic stranger intrigues her! She's learned to be wary of secrets…but when she discovers Alex's true identity, might there be enough magic in the air to make this regular American girl a princess by Christmas…?

Very sweet fairy tale type of romance. Reese is struggling to make ends meet at her inn. Several years earlier she'd had to leave school, giving up her dreams of becoming an artist, when her father died. His death brought secrets to light that devastated her mother and made it difficult for Reese to trust another man.

Alex shows up at the inn one night, expecting to be able to stay in the room he had reserved. Unfortunately, there had been a mix-up and there were no rooms available. In order not to lose his deposit, Reese put him up in her room until one became available for him. Alex is in New York to try to head off a scandal involving his older brother and an ill-advised marriage. He is attracted to Reese and finds her infinitely fascinating, but knows there is no chance of a relationship between them. Alex has spent most of his adult life paying very close attention to his duty to his family and country and ignoring anything that would be strictly for himself. He also refuses to allow himself to fall in love, having seen his father's devastation after his mother's death. Alex comes up with the idea of asking Reese to pretend to be his girlfriend in order to draw the paparazzis' attention. He doesn't expect to start to have feelings for her. 

Reese liked Alex before she found out who he was. He was attractive, nice and fun to be with. She wasn't so happy when she found out his secret, as she'd had enough experience with deception thanks to her father. When Alex begged for her help in order to protect his brother and his home, she couldn't say no. She knew that there was no chance that their deception could become real, but her heart was harder to convince. When he took her home to his Mediterranean island she was entranced by it. The things they did together as part of the deception were a lot of fun, and she found herself falling deeper for him. Just when she thought there might be a chance for them, things fell apart and she fled for home.

I loved the way that the author used How the Grinch Stole Christmas to show Alex the price of devoting himself solely to duty. He had to learn about the importance of love, and when he did, he did it very well. I loved his "go big" moment, and the epilogue was very sweet.

Her Pregnancy Secret - Ann Major (HD #2311 - July 2014)

She'd almost made him believe she was innocent

Michael North knew Bree Oliver was a gorgeous gold digger after his brother's fortune, so he seduced her in a night of lovemaking and swore he'd let her go. Then a tragic accident changed everything. Now he must honor a deathbed promise to his brother -- to protect the one woman Michael can never trust.

But watching over the pregnant Bree tests the tycoon's self-control. Is Bree as virtuous as she claims? Or is he a fool to fall for her act? Torn between desire and distrust, Michael's walking a treacherous line, unaware of the shocking secret she's carrying….

I had high hopes for this book because it's a theme I usually enjoy. But the hero, Michael, spent so much of the book being not just a jerk, but a cruel one, that I couldn't connect with him at all. It all starts when he seduces the woman he thinks is after his younger brother. He's going to expose her to Will as the gold digger he thinks she is. He doesn't expect to feel so connected to her, but still believes himself to be right. After telling her exactly why he slept with her and what he thinks of her, he walks out. He doesn't understand why his brother gets so angry when he exposes Bree, and why it creates such a wedge between them. When his brother is involved in an accident involving Bree and a friend, Michael barely makes it in time to say goodbye to Will. He's not happy when Will makes him promise to look after Bree and the baby she carries. He's still convinced she's been after Will's money all along. He continues being a complete ass to Bree, even as he starts to suspect he might have been wrong about her.

I understood Michael's protectiveness of his brother. Michael had had a horrible early life before being adopted by Will's father, and never felt that anyone really cared about him except for Will. Michael had also been badly burned by a woman who was a gold digger and saw all women through that experience. But I felt it took way too long for him to see that he was wrong about Bree. Even when he did, his attitude still remained that of a manipulative jerk. I also thought it took too long for him to realize the truth about the relationship between Bree and Will, and even then it took photographic evidence to do it. I really didn't feel too sorry for him when  Bree refused to have anything more to do with him.

Bree was a warm and caring woman who was trying to keep her late brother's restaurant going. Will had been one of her brother's friends and investors and became a friend of hers also. When she first met Michael she was attracted to him, even though Will told her what a cold, manipulative man he could be. During their second meeting, she fell completely for the caring, romantic man he seemed to be, and was completely devastated by his words and actions the next day. Though her attraction to him remained strong, she was also determined not to give in to it without a complete change of attitude on his part. As they started to get closer, she tried to protect herself but ended up falling for him anyway. I liked the way that she stood up for herself and her own needs against all of his attempts to get his way. I did understand her reluctance to believe he had changed at the end. She had her own issues with the past, and had trouble believing he wanted to be with her for any reason other than that she was pregnant.

Seeing the two of them learn to let go of the past was the redeeming factor in the book. It took a lot for Michael to let go of the things that had made him so cynical. I did enjoy seeing him have to work to show Bree that he had changed, because if it had been too easy I don't think it would have meant as much. 

The Manhattan Encounter - Addison Fox (HRS #1810 - July 2014)

Series: House of Steele (Book 4)

Will the mighty Steele fall?

He'd faced down madmen with guns, hunted thieves and jumped off buildings for fun. So why is Liam Steele at his wit's end when Dr. Isabella Magnini needs his protection? The brilliant and beautiful scientist's work is revolutionary, and someone wants to keep her insights secret--no matter what it costs.

When the House of Steele comes together to protect Isabella, Liam realizes just how isolated he's truly become. And as he and Isabella dodge bullets, fires and even an invasion, he knows he's in more danger than ever. Because how will he ever let her go?

Fantastic conclusion to the series. Liam is assigned to protect Isabella by his grandfather. She has done some ground-breaking research and someone is trying to stop her from going public with it. It started lightly with someone searching her home and office, but the threats have become more physical. 

Liam has never had trouble concentrating on his job before, but Isabella has really thrown him off his game. As the oldest in the family, after his parents' deaths Liam considered himself responsible for his siblings, even though they had their grandparents. He has also kept himself apart from everyone else, preferring to to get too close to anyone, which even bled over into staying away from his family as much as he could. The case with Isabella, however, requires that they all work together, and Liam begins to realize just how much he has missed his family. He has also become more emotionally invested in keeping Isabella safe.

Isabella has always had a brilliant mind. She has no family and has devoted all her time to her research, causing her to be isolated from other people too. Her mentor had left her a lot of money which she uses to continue her research into ways to cure disease using DNA manipulation. When the attacks begin, she realizes that her research can also be abused, and goes to the Steeles for help. She is surprised by her attraction to and fascination with Liam. She had never experienced feelings like that before. One of the things I liked best about her was her fantastic skills of observation. She saw beyond Liam's surface coolness to the man underneath. I loved the way she could call him out on his attempts to keep her at a distance and make him talk to her. I occasionally got frustrated with the way she felt responsible for all the bad things that happened, but that was the type of person she was.

I loved the way that they were open with each other. Though it started with Isabella, she dragged Liam into it also. She had no trouble speaking her mind, and if she didn't like something she said so. She also didn't let Liam hold back from her. Liam was often surprised by the things she said, but soon came to appreciated her bluntness.

The suspense part of the story was excellent and very well done. Isabella's research felt like it was something that could exist now, and the threats against her felt very realistic. It was interesting to see how the person(s) responsible carried out their actions and to hear their motivations. Just goes to show how selfish and warped people can be.

I also loved having the entire Steele family involved in the case, including the new members. The interactions among them were fascinating to see. I also loved Isabella's clear view of them all and their roles in the family.

Swept Away by the Tycoon - Barbara Wallace (HR #4426 - May 2014)

A woman who's been burnt… Chloe Abrams has had quite enough rejection for one lifetime. These days, she's flying solo!

A man who needs hope… Former soldier Ian Black was once the king of Manhattan. Then his PTSD caught up with him and his whole world crumbled. Now he's on a mission to rebuild it.

A love worth risking everything for! Ian sweeps Chloe off her feet and makes her feel cherished. Dare she start to believe the most heartwarming truth of all -- that the best men stick around forever?

Good book. Chloe hasn't had good luck with the men she's dated, so she has decided to take a break from men for awhile. Then she meets Ian, a guy who hangs out at the coffee shop she goes to every day. He teases her, he tells her she deserves better than she's gotten, and is easy to talk to. She thinks of him as "The Slacker" at first, because he's always there and doesn't seem to have a job. Ian is trying to put his life back together. After several years in the military, he put what he learned into a successful business. But he had been cold and ruthless, and a functioning alcoholic, until his life fell apart. Now he's trying to fix it.

I loved the opening scene, as Chloe discovers what a jerk her current boyfriend is and what she does about it. But it just reinforces her belief that she can only attract losers. I loved Ian's commentary as he compliments her on what she did. He's been watching her for awhile and likes what he sees. Ian spends his time at the coffee shop going over his past and working to make amends to the people he has wronged over the years as part of his recovery. Because he feels he has been such a rotten person he doesn't think that he deserves kindness from anyone. 

I loved the banter between Chloe and Ian as they first started getting to know each other. Chloe was a bit snarky toward him at the beginning, but began to see a different man than the one she expected. She ends up listening to him when he tells her about himself and is impressed with the way he is taking control of his life now. She also sees his insecurity when he talks about seeing his son for the first time in thirteen years, and offers to go with him for moral support. When the weather traps them together for a couple days they get closer, and their attraction starts to build. Ian still doesn't believe that he deserves the kind of happiness that Chloe can give him and starts to withdraw. Chloe sees that withdrawal as just another example of how she isn't good enough for any man to stay with. Chloe has always felt a sense of rejection because of the way her father walked out when she was young. He had never been there for her and she always felt the lack. When she hears Ian talk about his son and his own actions she wants him to understand how important it is that he keep trying to reach him.

Both Ian and Chloe have to face the demons of their pasts before they can look at a future together. I loved seeing Ian discover that the most important person he has to forgive is himself. And Chloe has to be willing to take a chance risking her heart, depending on love to make Ian want to stay. I loved the final scene at her friend's wedding.

Be Mine - Jennifer Crusie, Victoria Dahl, Shannon Stacey (HQN - Jan 2013)

SIZZLE by Jennifer Crusie

Business takes a backseat when successful ad executive Emily Tate meets Richard Parker.  He's an accountant who's been sent to keep her in line and under budget in her ad campaign for a sensual new perfume called Sizzle.  And if Emily's not careful, she could well melt in Richard's hands.

Emily is an ad exec who is very good at what she does, but she does have problems keeping within a budget. The company assigns accountant Richard Parker to keep her under control. Emily calls him Richard the Hun because of his habit of just rolling right over anything she has to say.

Emily doesn't want anyone trying to control what she does. She's determined to do things her way no matter what. She is frustrated because he doesn't listen to what she says about her advertising needs. She is also attracted to him, just as he is to her. I was a bit put off by the way he was coming on to her at work. It felt a bit too much like sexual harassment to me. She said no to going out with him several times before she gave in. Then when they went out, he never listened to what she said, ordering for her at the restaurant, ignoring her when she told him what she wanted. Then later, practically assaulting her, not listening to her when she said stop. Richard was a total jerk through most of the story. He ignored just about everything she said. When she'd get through to him he'd say "sorry" but then go right back to not listening. I'd have hit him with something hard to try to get through. I didn't really feel the relationship between them. Even her "lesson" on listening felt more like a sex scene he sort of liked than an actual lesson, as shown by his actions the next day. He finally got it when her secretary lectured him, and he came through on the advertising campaign, but I hold out no hope that he actually changed. I understand why Jennifer Crusie herself doesn't like this story. From the FAQs on her page: "Can I write to your publisher to request that they publish a reprint Sizzle?

DO NOT ASK FOR A SIZZLE REPRINT. That damn book is following me around the way early porn films follow actresses."

TOO FAST TO FALL by Victoria Dahl

Series: Jackson Hole (Book 1.75)

For Jenny Stone, driving is her escape -- from her past, her problems, her quiet life in Jackson Hole.  But after Deputy Nate Hendricks stops her -- again -- for speeding, she could lose more than just her license.  She could lose her heart.  Nate seems to think that Jenny should replace her love for fast driving with something even more...heart pumping.  And despite her need for speed, Jenny's never been one for defying the law.

I really liked this one. Jenny is a pretty responsible person in everything except her driving. Sometimes she just needs to go out and drive fast. Unfortunately for her, Deputy Nate Hendricks seems to be on that same stretch of the road when she does. So far she's only gotten warnings, but this time he tells her to get to driving school before he stops her again and gives her a ticket that will get her license pulled.

Nate doesn't know why he keeps letting Jenny off, but she gets his motor running. When he makes plans to meet his cousin, he chooses to do it at the saloon where Jenny works. At that point, they connect during something other than a traffic stop and their chemistry is off the charts. Just when things start to get interesting they are interrupted by Jenny's flaky ex-husband.

Jenny feels guilty about the way her marriage ended so she agrees to store some landscaping equipment for him until he can make other arrangements. At the same time Nate discovers that he is involved in some shady business with Nate's cousin's nephew, and fears that Jenny is also involved. When he goes to her house to ask her about her ex, he ends up getting distracted, then sticks his foot in his mouth by questioning her after they'd had sex. 

Nate is torn because he doesn't want to believe she's involved, but it's hard to ignore what he sees. Jenny is hurt by his lack of trust, and does what she does best, which is run. She has to decide if it's time for her to stop running away from her problems and start running toward a chance for happiness. I loved the ending and Nate's really sweet way of grovelling. 

ALONE WITH YOU by Shannon Stacey

Series: Kowalski (Book 6.5)

When waitress Darcy Vaughan's friend asks her to help out with the launch of a fledgling restaurant, she's happy to oblige.  Little does she know the owner is Jake Holland, the perfect guy who slipped through her fingers after their one night of passion.  But for Darcy and Jake, one touch was just not enough.

My favorite of the three stories. Darcy meets Jake at a local bar where she is participating in Trivia Night. Her usual partner isn't there, so Jake is assigned to her. He is passing through on his way to open a restaurant in another town. They connect quickly and have a hot night together. He gets her number and promises to call. Through a series of unfortunate events, the number gets destroyed and he can't call, though he tries hard to find her.

Darcy's boss, Kevin Kowalski, asks her to help his friend set up their new restaurant. She is stunned to discover that the friend is Jake, the guy who got away. She figures that he was just a player and refuses to listen to his excuses. The attraction is still there, but they agree to keep their relationship professional.

This decision gives them a chance to get to know each other without the physical getting in the way. They develop an excellent friendship and working partnership. I really enjoyed the banter between them, especially when it came to the menu items.  The friendship develops into love for both of them, but neither one actually says it. Jake has these great plans running around in his head for Valentine's Day and the grand opening, but doesn't let Darcy in on any of it. All she sees is him talking about how well they've worked together, so she takes her broken heart back home. It takes friends pointing out to them what idiots they're being for them to come to their senses. I loved the ending and how Jake used a trivia contest to show her how he cared.

The Sarantos Baby Bargain - Olivia Gates (HD #2301 - May 2014)

Series: Billionaires and Babies (Book 45)

He'd come for the baby…and his ex-wife.

Naomi Sinclair had once fallen hard for Andreas Sarantos. Marrying the irresistible Greek venture capitalist had seared her soul with pleasure -- and despair. For she soon discovered he was incapable of love. Now her ex-husband is back…to claim her orphaned ten-month-old niece.

Andreas let Naomi get away once. But adopting his best friend's baby girl gives him the leverage he needs to bring his unwilling ex-wife back to his bed. Will having the only woman he's ever wanted erase the scars of his dark past? Or will he lose Naomi, this time forever?

Good book, full of incredibly intense emotions. Naomi had relentlessly pursued Andreas years before, hoping that the intense passion they felt for each other would grow into love. Instead she found that the only time they connected was in bed. When she finally admitted to herself that staying with him would destroy her, she left, begging him for a divorce. Four years later she is stunned and furious when he shows up claiming guardianship of her orphaned niece and demanding she remarry him if she wants to remain in Dora's life.

I would have liked this better if I hadn't spent the first half of the book completely detesting Andreas. His actions had all the appearance of emotional abuse. He was obsessive in his desire for her, but when they weren't in bed he completely ignored her. The first time she left him, he came back with an offer of marriage, but his behavior never changed. He ignored all her efforts to tell him why she was so unhappy. When he showed up again, this time to claim Dora, he used her to try to get Naomi back. His actions were just as manipulative as they had been before. When she goes to his older brother for help in stopping him, there is finally a hint that he's not as bad as he appears. He is stunned to discover that she really had been unhappy married to him, that all her complaints hadn't just been temper. He realizes he has to convince her that things can be different, but he's honestly not sure that he can do it. It's at this point that a different side of Andreas starts to appear. He spends more time with Dora, getting more comfortable with her, though I was irritated by his unemotional actions with her. I found his reasoning with her when she misbehaved unbelievable, as ten month olds are not reasonable beings. He also spends time with Naomi, refraining from any kind of physical pressure, trying to show her the changes he is trying to make. Unfortunately, he still hasn't learned that he actually has to talk to her about his plans and reasons for doing things. I loved seeing him open up enough to tell her about his past and the reasons he had acted as he did. He was finally allowing himself to feel the emotions that had been locked up for so long, but he was still afraid to actually say the words. It wasn't until a heartbreaking twist at the end drove her away that Andreas found the courage to take those last steps.

Naomi turned out to be a much stronger person than I expected at first. She was determined to get involved with Andreas even though he told her it wouldn't work. She gave up everything that she was in order to be the person she thought he wanted, just because she loved him so much. I wanted to shake her when she married him the first time thinking that things would be different. When she finally realized that he would never give her what she needed most from him she left for good and tried to put her life back together. When he showed up at her home I couldn't believe that she let her passion for him take over the way she did. Her fears of losing Dora were overwhelming. I loved seeing her blast Andreas over his uncaring actions. It was also interesting to see her conflicts. She was afraid of the way he still made her feel, but she was also willing to do almost anything not to lose Dora. She had to deal with having Andreas back in her life, but she was having a great deal of trouble believing the changes she saw in him. Once she learned of his past she saw his actions in a different light. She came to realize that she had never stopped loving him, but didn't believe he had any feelings for her. The more she saw of him the more she believed that she was only included because he needed her help with Dora. She loved the way that he and Dora bonded but she began to believe that she wasn't of the least bit of interest to him at all. When she learned of a secret he had been keeping from her it only reinforced her beliefs, destroying what happiness she had managed to attain. I loved seeing the way that Andreas came to her and how his actions finally convinced her of his love. There was also a nice little surprise for them both at the end.

I loved catching up with Andreas's brother and sister and seeing the family start to come together after being torn apart for so long. I loved seeing Ari again and watch the effect that his happiness had on Naomi and on Andreas. I also liked the way that Ari tried to help Naomi. It was really interesting seeing Andreas discover that his family had continued to care for him even though he had been so awful to them all. It was fun seeing them all at the family get together and the effect they had on both Naomi and Andreas. It was sweet to see how Cali and Ari showed Andreas where he had gone wrong with Naomi and his surprise at what they told him.

His Lover's Little Secret - Andrea Laurence (HD #2295 - Apr 2014)

Series: Billionaires and Babies (Book 44)

She's kept her baby secret for two years…

But even after a chance run-in forces her to confront the father of her son, Sabine Hayes refuses to give in to all of Gavin Brooks's demands. His power and his wealth won't turn her head this time. She'll let him get to know Jared, but she won't go back to Gavin's privileged world…or his bed.

Yet Gavin never stopped wanting the woman who challenged him at every turn. He has a right to claim what's his…and he'll do just about anything to prevent her from getting away from him again.

Very good second chance story.  Gavin and Sabine had had a brief relationship almost three years earlier.  But Gavin was rich and Sabine was not, and she had never felt comfortable in his world.  She broke off their relationship before she knew she was pregnant and had never told him about it.  When Gavin finds out about his son she's okay with letting him get to know Jared, but she won't let herself get sucked back into his life.

Sabine has settled in to being a single mother.  Jared is her life and she does everything she can to make it a good one.  She has never forgotten the love she felt for Gavin, but her insecurities about fitting into his life had sent her running.  She had never told him about Jared, fearing that he would take Jared away and raise him the same way he had been raised.  Gavin was stunned to find out about Jared and determined to be part of his son's life.  He had never forgotten Sabine and the way she had never been impressed by his wealth.  Gavin had gone through his life never expecting a relationship to last because he had been raised by a succession of nannies and boarding schools, therefore he hadn't been surprised when Sabine left him a few weeks into their relationship.  He understands her fears about his parenting abilities and works very hard to overcome them.  I loved seeing their trip to the zoo.  I also loved his reaction to taking Jared to the circus on his own.  

Sabine has dealt with the problem of not fitting in her entire life.  She was disowned by her parents when she left home to pursue her dreams.  While she had never been overly impressed by Gavin's wealth, she never really felt like she fit into his world.  Now that he's back in her life she has to overcome those fears if she has any hope of a future with him.  I liked the way that she has more confidence in herself now, but those insecurities are still lurking.  I really liked seeing Gavin and Sabine work on compromising in order to give Jared what he needs.  Their attraction to each other is still as strong as ever and their love had never died.  Each of them had to learn to trust those feelings and actually express them.  Just as things start looking up for them, their feelings are put to the test.  Things get pretty intense but it also helps bring their issues to the surface where they can deal with them.  The epilogue was really sweet.

Safe in the Tycoon's Arms - Jennifer Faye (HR #4417 - Mar 2014)

The man behind the headlines…

When billionaire Lucas Carrington returns to his New York mansion, he never expects to find beautiful stranger Kate Whitley making herself at home. Invited by his aunt to stay, he soon discovers she's a woman in need. She's raising funds for her sick daughter, so he agrees to let her stay -- temporarily!

Kate may not belong in Lucas's high-society world, but she sees there is more to this tycoon than the headlines suggest. Yet with so much at stake, can she trust herself and her heart with New York's most sought-after bachelor?

Sweet story of two people who have not had an easy life lately.  Lucas comes home early from a business trip to find a strange woman living in his house.  Kate is just as startled to find a strange man where none was expected.  After straightening out what is going on, Lucas agrees to let Kate stay for awhile.

Kate is wary because she has learned not to depend on other people.  From her father's desertion when she was a child to her ex's selfish ways dependence only brings her trouble.  When Lucas offers her a deal she is cautious about accepting it.  He'll let her stay at the house and use it to host her fundraiser if she'll take the lead on fixing it up.  As they work together on the house she starts to see past the surface grumpiness to the heart that shines through.

Lucas has been neglecting the house, lost in the unhappy memories it contains.  When he and his wife divorced she took their daughter and refuses to allow him contact.  He doesn't want to put the child in the middle of a fight because he had been the victim of just such a battle when he was a kid.  So he buries himself in work and ignores everything else.

In spite of his problems Lucas has a good heart and wants to help Kate.  As the work continues and they spend more time together they both feel a strong attraction.  They also discover that they have a lot in common and enjoy spending time together.  I really enjoyed seeing the way that Lucas tries to lighten things up for Kate.  He makes sure she eats and drags her out occasionally to give her a break.  He's growing to care for her, but knowing her opinion of the way her father abandoned her, he has kept his problems with his own daughter secret.  He wants to tell her but is afraid of what her reaction will be.  

There is a strong attraction between them from the beginning that they try to ignore.  The romance is a slower buildup as they get to know each other.  Kate learns to let go of a little of the independence and how to accept help when it's offered.  Lucas finds himself wanting to be a better man because of Kate's influence, even wanting to take another chance at getting access to his daughter.

There are a few twists and turns to their relationship, as they seem to move forward for awhile and then backward a little.  It all gives them the opportunity to learn more about each other.  I loved the ending.

Reilly's Promise - Christyne Butler (Samhain - May 2008)

She stands for everything he despises. Only, the minute they meet, she becomes everything he desires. Former US Marine turned private investigator, Reilly Murdock is no stranger to high society. Thanks to his malevolent millionaire stepfather, he turned his back on that elite world years ago. But when a friend calls in a favor he's honor bound to repay Reilly finds himself stuck as glorified babysitter to a spoiled heiress with secrets of her own. 

Since her father's sudden death six months ago, Cassandra Van Winter has been trying to conceal her family's millions of dollars of debt. She can't afford to let anyone near enough to discover the charade she's maintaining. At first, the discovery of a multi-million-dollar necklace seemed like the answer to her prayers, but that was before the "accidents" started. Now, she takes one look at the six feet of muscle her mother's hired to protect her, and curses her body for coming back to life. As the "accidents" increase and danger comes closer, Reilly gets closer too. Before long it's not just her life in danger, but her heart.

I loved this book.  Reilly is wallowing in his misery when his friend and mentor "Digger" calls him.  The daughter of a friend has been having unexplained "accidents" and her mother is worried.  Would Reilly go act as bodyguard and see if he can find out what is going on?  Reilly isn't thrilled with the idea of babysitting a rich girl, but he owes his friend so he goes.  

I loved Reilly.  He is going through his own personal hell, having been injured during the war and been given a medical discharge.  He hadn't expected to end his career as a Marine just yet.  Now he's working as a private investigator and drowning his sorrows when he isn't working.  Digger's request for assistance can't be refused, but Reilly really doesn't want to be around high society people again.  He'd spent years in that world, putting up with his stepfather's nastiness and he doesn't have any desire to be there again.  His first sight of Cassandra knocks him for a loop, as her beauty awakens long buried feelings.  It isn't going to be easy though, because she wants nothing to do with him as a bodyguard.  He has to convince her that those accidents aren't really accidents, keep her safe and try to resist the attraction he feels for her.  I loved the chemistry between Reilly and Cassandra.  There's a fair amount of snarkiness between  them as Reilly uses sarcasm to try to keep distance between them, but he's fighting a losing battle.  He also discovers that Cassandra isn't the spoiled brat that he expected and that there's a lot they have in common.  He suspects that she's keeping some kind of secret that might have bearing on what is happening, but she's not telling.  I loved seeing him blow away her expectations about him as he fits so well in her world.  I got quite a laugh out of seeing her first sight of him in his tux and then as he handles things at the party they went to.  I also enjoyed his surprise about his own circumstances when he talked to his half brother and what he did with that information.  He had some pretty intense memories that he had to deal with but being with Cassandra ended up giving him a different outlook and helped him accept some of the things that had happened.  He had a couple instances where he fell down on his job as bodyguard because of his personal reactions to Cassandra, but they worked out okay.  

Cassandra is hiding a pretty big secret from the world.  Her father's death six months earlier exposed the fact that he was deeply in debt.  Cassandra is doing her best to keep that information quiet as she works desperately to find a way to recover.  In her work as the owner of an antique store she acquired a necklace that is worth millions.  As she prepares to sell that necklace strange things begin to happen.  She refuses to think she's being targeted until her mother hires a bodyguard for her.  She tries to convince Reilly that he's not needed until he saves her from yet another "accident".  She is also fighting him because he's making her feel things that she's avoided for years.  She's had enough trouble with men over the years that she really doesn't trust them, but Reilly is making her rethink that distrust.  I loved her strength and independence as she tries to secure a decent life for herself and her mother after her father's death.  Her resistance to Reilly at first is mainly because she doesn't really believe there's a threat, but once she is convinced she is very glad to have him around.  I loved her growing appreciation for his abilities, and also for the way he makes her feel.  There are times she came across as a bit snobby, such as her resistance to him coming to the party with her.  But overall she was a good person caught in a bad situation.  Her feelings of betrayal were deep when she learned of his background and it only emphasized how much she had come to care for him.  I was very impressed with the way she kept her head at the end when she was in danger.  I loved the ending and the way she surprised Reilly.

The mystery of the accidents and the stalker was very good.  I was definitely invested in finding out what was going on and who was behind it.  I did have the who figured out pretty early, but the exact why was still in question up to the end.  There was also a very interesting twist that I didn't see coming before it was all wrapped up.  I would like to see a story involving Reilly's brother as he seemed to be a pretty interesting guy in the few times he was included.

Daring to Trust the Boss - Susan Meier (HR #4411 - Feb 2014)

When accountant Olivia Prentiss joins Tucker Engle's company, she's unceremoniously demoted--to stand in as his PA However, Tucker's not in for an easy ride. Olivia's worked hard to get where she is now, and refuses to bow to her gorgeous boss's commands--however fearsome his reputation.

But soon Olivia begins to see there is far more to her boss than meets the eye. And on a business trip to Italy, she sees straight through Tucker's hard and proud exterior to a man with a far more vulnerable edge....

Good book with some wonderful characters.  Olivia has come to New York to accept an accounting job at Tucker's company.  Unfortunately, Tucker's PA was in an accident and he needs a temporary replacement, and Olivia is it.  She's not happy about it, as that's not what she's worked for, but she has no choice.  She knows his reputation, but she won't allow herself to be browbeaten and stands up for herself when she needs to.  As she becomes more involved in the work she begins to see a different side to him.  On a business trip to Italy she gets to know him better and comes to like what she sees.

I really liked Olivia.  She had grown up in a small town, and gotten involved with one of the sons of a wealthy family while in college.  When he attacked her  she had the courage to stand up for herself and try to hold him accountable.  She stood her ground when he fought back and came out on top.  But she needed to get away and start a new life.  She now has trust issues with men, especially wealthy ones.  She may have to work for Tucker, but that doesn't mean she's going to let him walk all over her.  I loved her common sense way of looking at things and her ability to read people.  Those abilities get her involved even more with Tucker's plans and a trip to Italy ensues.  As she spends more time with Tucker outside of the office, she begins to see more of the man behind the ruthless businessman and grows to care for him very much.  I loved seeing her influence on him and the way he does things.  I ached for them both during Olivia's family emergency, when each of them had to decide if they could trust enough to open their hearts.

Tucker had grown up in foster care, moving through many different families.  He had never experienced the kind of love and life of being a part of a real family.  He was determined from a young age that he would be successful and has never lost sight of his goals.  Olivia is something he doesn't quite know how to deal with.  She is very good at her job, but he doesn't understand why he can't get her off his mind.  I loved his confusion when her family came to visit and he saw what their relationship was like.  When he went to her apartment after she didn't show up for work because she was sick, he tried to take care of her.  He felt useless because he had no idea what to do for her, but he tried.  He found himself opening up to her while they were in Italy, which scared him.  He doesn't want to get close to her because in his experience, everyone ends up leaving him.  He really likes her but he fears one or both of them are going to get hurt.  When she had a family emergency he was there for her, but then his insecurities got to him and he left.  I loved the advice he got from Constanzo and what he decided to do about it.  I loved the epilogue and how it showed the changes in both of them.