Metsy Hingle

Laura's mother got a loan and used her stock in the hotel as collateral and defaulted on the loan. Now Jackson Hawk comes to claim the hotel but she is not let him steal away her family's legacy.  Jackson is determined to take over the business, especially after finding out that she is dating his hated stepbrother.

Laura Spencer was the General Manager of the Contessa Hotel in post Katrina New Orleans. 

Does he fit the story? Yes.  Does he suit the heroine? Yes. Would he suit you if the adventure was yours? Yes. Does the guy on the cover represent your mental picture of the hero the author has penned and if you were casting a movie of this book, who would play the hero? Yes but if I were casting the movie I would cast Richard Gere In his Pretty Woman days.

Jackson Hawke foreclosed on her mother's loan to take over the family hotel but Laura wasn't going to give up. She made a crazy bet with him that if she lost she would spend a night with him, but if she won he would write off the $15M debt. Jack's afraid she'll ask her boyfriend, but Laura doesn't know Jack is Matt's stepbrother.

The family hotel she manages is in debt to the tune of $15 million. He's collecting on the debt and taking over the hotel. Then they make a bet: she has 30 days to raise $15 million and save the hotel, but if she doesn't do it, she has to spend a night in bed with him. They are both attracted, but it's complicated by the fact that the heroine's been dating his asshole stepbrother.

This is the story of Maria Barone and Steven Conti. If you are familiar
with the Barone series, the Barones blame the Contis for a string of
misfortunes that has plagued their family because of a curse that Lucia
Conti placed on the Barones when their grandmother eloped with her
fiance years ago. Maria and Steven met at a wedding reception months ago and fell

Couldn't decide if I liked mom or not, she seemed flighty, but not at the same time. WHat a convoluted family these two people have. Jack is a stereotypical tycoon hero (arrogant, conceited, etc.) and Laura seems to be a great GM then she lets things get so personal and doesn't seem to know the real status of her own hotel???? Fun tale though

I am not sure why but I just could not get into this book.  I actually put it down and read two other books before I completed it. 

The Barones and the Contis have a long-standing feud and curse but now Maria B and Steven C are caught in the middle. She's 7 months pregnant with his baby but afraid to accept his proposal because of the curse, their families and their other problems. Will this turn into Romeo and Juliet or can he convince his great aunt to call off the curse?

This was a good read, after I got past the first couple of chapters.  I like the way Jack had a mean plan, but in the end it showed that he did have a heart.  Laura had wasted to much time on a man who was not right for her.  Just the look in Jack's eyes let her know that.  I loved the way she put Matt in his place.  The best brother won!