Brady Stone had just learned the new manager of the property he wanted was a woman…and quite desirable. Charming Samantha Donovan into giving away corporate secrets would be even sweeter considering she was the enemy's daughter. The business magnate had been planning his revenge for years. Now the only thing standing between Brady and victory was a beautiful, innocent pawn. His head told him to forget about any possible future with Samantha. But his heart knew that in destroying the Donovan empire he would be ruining his last chance at happiness.
I've known Jules Bennett for a few years because she attends the annual Lori Foster event every June in Cincinnati. Not only is she cute as a button, she's also very sweet and easy to talk to. And it's always a thrill when someone who loves to write achieves their dream, but when it's someone you know, it makes it all the more wonderful. I'm so happy for Jules With a bit of asking (okay, whining!) I managed to score a copy of her current release. Though this is not her first release, this upcoming book is published by Silhouette Desire, and I think that's a pretty big deal.
Samantha Donovan is the manager of the luxurious Lani Kaimana hotel in Kauai, a resort recently purchased by her father. Due to some issues with the previous owners that resulted in the reduction in current staff, Sam is dealing with a lot of challenges in keeping the resort running smoothly, often taking on other responsibilities such as filling in for a waitress or acting as bellhop. If only her father would take the time and listen to some of her ideas, he might realize that she has a brain in her head and the business sense to get this wonderful hotel back on its feet in all its obvious splendor.
Brady Stone is bent on revenge. While his father was gravely ill, Stanley Donovan stormed in and took over the Lani Kaimana, the hotel both Brady and his brother Cade have been a part of for most of their lives. Due to the heartlessness of the takeover, Brady has little sympathy for the Donovan name, and intends to get the hotel back at any cost. He certainly didn't count on Sam Donovan being such a lively and pretty distraction, but then again, she just might prove to be the key to taking back ownership of the hotel and restoring it back to its rightful owners. However when Brady's feelings run deeper than mere attraction, can he destroy the one woman who just might own his heart?
My thoughts:
Though I don't read category much these days, I do like to pick one up from time to time, and this one was a fun, lighthearted read. Samantha is understandably frustrated with her father for treating her like a silly child, and cannot figure out why he continues to ignore her ideas and make her feel like she can't do anything right. I wish she would have pushed back more. Everytime things got tense between them on the phone, she'd end the call instead of standing up for herself. For someone who prided herself on being independent, she sure had a problem defending herself to her own father. Still, she wasn't a puppet, and I actually liked Sam very much. She was smart and more than capable of handling the operation of running a hotel, perhaps even beyond the role of manager. I just wish we would have had the opportunity to see that.
Brady was someone I wavered over a bit because he went to the hotel strictly to find a way to take it back, regardless of the means. I could surely understand his feelings of revenge and how emotional losing his father must have been, but he kept saying "it was business". Got that. Despite what it might take, Brady was determined to see it through. Yet even though he didn't seem to have many qualms about using Samantha, if that's what it came down to, it was also evident he was conflicted about it. He realized that the more he got to know her, the more he admired and cared for her. Also, he became angry with her father on "her" behalf, unable to believe the man would treat his daughter so callously when she was such a bright, creative, clever person who had solid ideas about how to run the company. The hotel was her pride and joy, and it showed. I liked that Brady recognized her talent and intelligence and even thought of what an asset it would be if the two of them were working together. Of course, inevitably she finds out just what it is Brady's been up to, and he realizes just how much he stands to lose. At this point I began to really like Brady and even sympathized with him and his brother for losing their father and their family's hotel.
"Seducing the Enemy's Daughter" was a quick, enjoyable read, and I really liked getting to know these characters and getting a bit of a feel for running a hotel and living in such an exotic location. Jules' next book "For Business...or Marriage" is brother Cade's story. I'm looking forward to that one.
Rating: **** out of *****
Labels: Jules Bennett
posted by Stacy~ at 2/08/2010 08:32:00 AM
I like the cover. Yum. If only I had more time to read categories.
byI don't read categories much either, but this one sounds perfect for the contemporary romance challenge I'm in. Great review!
byHasn't this guy ever seen a romcom? Seducing women for revenge or a bet never works!
byFor someone who prided herself on being independent, she sure had a problem defending herself to her own father.
bySee, I so get that. It's like you move into their sphere of influence and revert back to being a child in their eyes. They don't take you seriously and treat you so, and you can't stop acting how you always have around them.
Thank you Stacy!