passionate

Back Cover:

She's carrying his baby--so she will be his bride!

Italian billionaire Francesco Mastroianni was captivated by Anna. But their passionate affair was cut short when Anna's father attempted to blackmail Francesco into marrying her. Seven months later, Francesco is shocked to see Anna again. She's struggling to make ends meet and she's visibly pregnant! If she's carrying the Mastroianni heir, that can mean only one course of action for Francesco: marriage!
 

My Review:

Mmm!  This was kind of nice.  They had a whirlwind holiday romance, and he was about to propose, but then he "found out" she was supposedly a gold-digger, he dumped her in a bitingly short letter that implied he'd moved on to other women.  The heroine hates his guts and thinks him a cad and womanizer.  When he realizes she's pregnant and it's his baby, he wants to support her financially but he's bitter about her using him last time for money.  She scared him off women, which I liked, I'm glad he didn't rush blindly into bed with other women, it's a trite way for a man/woman to soothe their ego and it's over-used.  I liked seeing him distrust women and throw them off him, because he wasn't ready to open himself up with women again.  Slowly he started to see that he might have been wrong about the heroine. 

Back Cover:

Rachel's marriage had ended in bitterness and tears. Ben had cheated on her, she was sure, though he denied it. Now their only point of contact was their small daughter, Daisy, and that suited Rachel. But when she announced that she had met someone new, and wanted a divorce, her ex-husband's reaction was very surprising! Ben seemed reluctant to accpet that their relationship was over, and had very definite ideas about where Rachel's future happiness lay. Did Rachel dare to believe the brittle bonds still tying her to Ben could ever be the basis for a lifetime of loving? 

Front Teaser:

"If you've come here to insult me—"
As she brushed past the sofa, Ben leaned forward and caught her arm. His husky, "I didn't," drove all coherent protest from her head.
Dear God, she thought incredulously, had he only to touch her for her to fall apart? He knew what he was doing. He always had.
And she mustn't ever forget it. 

Such a steamy reunion story, every touch between them was emotional. 

Back Cover:

Creed Fortune had hungered for Maya Blackstone for nearly a decade, but he'd held back to protect his family's reputation. After all, the press would have a field day if they uncovered a clandestine affair between a Fortune heir and his very own stepsister! Then a heated argument between Creed and Maya turned into a feverish night of lovemaking. Even though the raven-haired schoolteacher melted his heart in ways he'd never dreamed possible, Creed had to find a way to douse their dangerous attraction. Otherwise, the sordid truth could topple the Fortune empire!
  

Copied Blurb:

There was nowhere Carmen could hide from this prince of Judar. No stone he wouldn't turn to find her, no wall he couldn't tear down. Nothing would stop Farooq Aal Masood from claiming the mother of his baby.

She had betrayed him. And she would pay. In his bed. As his wife...until he tired of her. And though Carmen professed to love him, that it was all a misunderstanding, well...Farooq would never fall for her lies again!

4 Stars! ~~~ Though published in 1988, this one marvelously hold up to the changing times.

Country of the Heart by Robyn Donald

Harlequin Presents # 1040 ~ January 1988

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Nothing like he remembered…