The British Billionaire Affair by Susanne James, HP Ex, June 08

Reviewed by Bronwyn Jameson on June 9th, 2008, 1:55am

by Susanne James

Format: eBook

Series: Harlequin Presents

Not your usual intense, passionate, sophisticated Presents. This one has an old-fashioned feel, a leisurely pace, and a romance that develops slowly with a series of dates and without any external situation pressing the characters to act and react.

The British Billionaire Affair by Susanna James

Harlequin Presents Extra #11

Jun 2008

Miniseries: Tall, Dark and Sexy

ISBN: 9780373823512

Setting: England

Candida (!) is an interior designer whose dreams of being a novelist where quashed by a scathing review of her first book when she was very young. Max is the famous, successful novelist who penned that review. Many years later they meet, by chance, at a party thrown by his sister.

At first neither of them know the other's identity. Candida finds Max "imperious and domineering" but Candida has not been reading many Presents. He is quite the tame and gentlemanly alpha. At that first meeting, he massages her feet which would have won me over right then and there!

As a means of getting to know her, Max contracts Candida to redecorate his luxury flat. He takes her to dinner, on a picnic, walking his dog, berry picking. She takes him home for her father's sixtieth birthday and the true conflict is slowly revealed.

It's not all about her quashed dreams but more internal. At heart she is an unsophisticated small-town girl and happy to be so. She doesn't think she could ever fit in Max's world. He enjoys female company but doesn't want another serious relationship after a disastrous marriage.

Although we're told about their attraction, it doesn't burn the pages but proceeds with caution. The sensuality is very mild for a Passion line. It's told mostly through Candida's point of view with some short hops into Max's and his sister's and her father's head.

As a said at the start, this is a very unusual Presents. Not a sweep-you-away fantasy romance, but one that could happen to you.

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Bronwyn Jameson:
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