The Strength of Desire by Alison Fraser (HP 1836)

Reviewed by Janet85 on June 8th, 2008, 4:28pm

by Alison Fraser

Format: Print Books

Series: Harlequin Presents

Back Cover:

'Well, well,' Jack said with scorn, 'little brother! He always did want my toys.'

Hope finally confessed to her womanising ex-husband that his callous behaviour had once driven her to the arms of Guy, his younger brother. Then Jack's death brought Guy back into Hope's life, and left her with two legacies: one was the startling contents of Jack's will and the other was the truth about her child. Both meant that neither Hope nor Guy would be able to forget their misguided, short-lived affair...

Favourite Scene:  (I liked how breathy the last line was)

Appalled by her own weakness, Hope forced herself to remember all of it. Not just the love, but what followed. The hurt. The loss. The ultimate pain of betrayal.
It didn't seem to make any difference: her body continued to tremble at his nearness.
It made no difference to him either, as his hands began to caress her bare skin.
'All this time, and nothing's changed.' He spoke the words in her ear as they stood there, caught by the past.
She shook her head and breathed, 'I hate you,' meaning it.  'And I hate you,' he breathed back, clearly meaning it too. 

Another Fav Scene: (a little tiff between heroine and her daughter, tee hee!)

Hope wondered what was the correct word for the crime of killing a daughter. Daughtericide. It didn't sound right. It was a surprisingly uncommon crime. 

My Review:

This was emotional.  She married the hero's brother at 17, and the brother cheated on her and the marriage fell apart.  She fell in love with the hero and they had a brief affair, but then she "went back" to her husband.  The heroine had a child... but it wasn't her husband's, no one has been told though.  Now after the death of her ex-husband, the heroine is forced by the will to live with the hero.  The passion is still there between them.  They have issues though and both thinks the other was responsible for them not being together years ago.  I could feel the love there, the hero was wrecked emotionally.  Great read.  I felt so bad about the wasted years apart though. 

My Rating: 3.5/5 stars, intense emotional story.