The Velvet Tiger by Emma Darcy (M&B)

Reviewed by Janet85 on June 15th, 2008, 4:47pm

by Emma Darcy

Format: Print Books

Series: Harlequin Presents

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.  

Another Fav Scene: (she's just had a complicated c-section, and she asks about the baby, but he hasn't left her side to see if the baby is ok!  She yells at him, the hero is adorable!!!)

“Kane Marriott, you go and find out immediately what’s happened to my baby.”
“Lissa...” Anxious protest.
“Immediately!”
“I’ll get a nurse to sit with you.”
“Immediately!”
“You’re not to be left alone.”
“I’m getting very upset, Kane.”
“I’ll go immediately.”

My Review:

Oh I love the opening scene where the heroine dumps the hero over the phone, and he says "you can't mean that" again and again, then slams down the receiver on her.  That was a great scene, and I loved the uniqueness of this book: the premise is that the hero needs to convince the heroine to stay with him from page one.  I have so much respect for the heroine, she knows her feelings, she knows the hero's flaws, she knows what her challenges are, and she makes her choices about their future relationship fully informed and based on what she can live with.  This is a very strong woman.  The story was unique for a HP, it was very rational and the path to love required trust, honesty, opening up, and making tough choices about a realistic future together.  This felt very realistic, but it also whisked me away with the passion and intensity of the love/bond they shared.  I felt these two people really needed each other and had such a lovely future ahead of them.  The hero was a good man, alpha but messed up in ways (and for once his issues weren't about being a player or jaded about women, he had major family issues). 

My Rating: 4/5 stars, this is one of my absolute favourite Emma Darcy books.  Well done.