Emma Darcy

• Merry Christmas by Emma Darcy

• Harlequin Presents #1923 December 1997

• Rating - good

NFM

Back Cover:

She was supposed to be a modern-day Delilah

When Keira Mary Brooks returned to Sydney, her cousin Justin greeted her with open arms. It was not what she'd expected.

Neither were Justin's plans. He wanted Keira to assume the alias Delilah O'Neil and to seduce a man.

For the sake of family, Keira reluctantly agreed. But then she met Nick Sarazan, the man of her dreams. 'Come dance with me,' said Nick. 'I'll show you we're made for each other.'

Spoiler Warning: All my reviews contain spoilers to some degree  

My Review:

The heroine is a free spirit.  The heroine is asked by her cousin to "seduce" a man away from his wife (they are having marriage problems but he wants her back).  The heroine reluctantly plays along, but then she meets a man and is attracted to him and runs off with him.  Too late she finds out that the hero is actually the guy she was supposed to seduce, and he has in fact been seducing her to keep her out of the way. 

I love Emma Darcy.  Her name on a book insures I buy it, even in lean months when I have to pick and choose what books to buy her book is among the first in the cart.

About the book:

Jack Maguire has been spurned by his father ever since Jack was seven and his father divorced Jack's mother in order to marry his mistress.

Jack Maguire was turned away from his father’s house and has never forgotten that day or how much he wanted his stepsister, Sally. Now a billionaire tycoon, by a twist of fate Jack’s inherited his father’s property and has an opportunity to get revenge.

Back Cover:

Break up or marry?

Lissa Gilmore had given Kane Marriot a year of her life - more than enough time to determine they were going nowhere.  Three weeks without a word from Kane was the last straw.  Each day that passed steeled Lissa's resolve to end the relationship.  Then Kane Breezed back and proposed.  Marriage was exactly what Lissa anted.  But what exactly did Kane expect by exchanging vows?
 

Favourite Scene: (this is a big kiss: she just dumped him over the phone, and he convinced her to meet him anyway.  And as soon as he sees her he kisses her intensely) 

He dropped his bags and reached for her in the same motion, enclosing her in his arms, pressing her body to his as if nothing had happened between them, as if she weren’t incredibly late— As if he loved her and wanted no-one else but her and all was forgiven— As if all of him was hungry for the feel of her, the softness of her, the easy giving that he took for granted and now took again as though it was his by right. Lissa could feel his heart beating faster than usual. The hand he thrust through her hair to tilt her head to his was not gentle. And the eyes that bored down into hers were turbulent with questions instead of twinkling with love and loving. He hadn’t liked waiting. He hadn’t liked it one bit.
He kissed her hard, wanting to smash the barriers she had raised, wanting to dominate again.  

"As far as her family was concerned, the worst thing Joanna had ever done was marry Rory Grayson. The best thing she'd ever done was divorce him. As far as Joanna was concerned, she never wanted to see him again.

But if she did see him again - and felt nothing - Joanna would know she was ready to remarry with a free heart. No regrets, no hard feelings. Of course, Rory, being Rory, had entirely different feelings - and a plan!"

Another good one by Emma Darcy... she's the best!

"She was supposed to be a modern-day Delilah.

When Keira Mary Brooks returned to Sydney, her cousin Justin greeted her with open arms. It was not what she'd expected.

Neither were Justin's plans. He wanted Keira to assume the alias Delilah O'Neil and to seduce a man.

For the sake of family, Keira reluctantly agreed. But then she met Nick Sarazan, the man of her dreams. 'Come dance with me,' said Nick. 'I'll show you we're made for each other.'"

This was really good - dated of course, but I liked the free spirit in Keira.

A short, fast paced read about a sexy alpha hellbent on revenge but whose motivation and methods change when he meets the spirited and kind-natured heroine. The title is very appropriate.

Good Read