365 books in 365 days Challenge ... book #220

Taken for His Pleasure - Carol Marinelli
Mills & Boon Modern
In 'Passion & Pleasure' Mills & Boon By Request
Harlequin Mills & Boon, 2009
ISBN: 9780263871425


My rating




From the back cover:

"She's there to handle his every need
Rebel billionaire Anton Santini has been assigned undercover protection in the shape of Detective Lydia Holmes - but how on earth can a woman as staid and sober-looking as she is pose as his mistress?
She's there as a professional
Lydia finds it hard to maintain her proefessional facade around the sexy Italian. Getting into her role, she surprises even herself with her new-found breathtaking beauty. Her transformation is Anton's cue - she's ripe and ready for his loving..
She's there for his pleasure?
Anton takes her to his bedroom...for his pleasure..but he doesn't expect what she gives in return - and he's helpless to resist..."


This is the third book in the By Request omnibus and one that I was looking forward to reading as I am a big fan of Carol Marinelli's books (ignoring the last one I reviewed of course).

The heroine Lydia is an undercover detective and has been assigned to provide protection to businessman Anton, the hero, after he received threats. As part of the undercover operation Lydia is to pose as Anton's love interest, something she is not looking forward to. Neither is Anton, whom feels trapped by all the restraints on him and doesn't really take the threat seriously. However, he is very attracted to Lydia and tries to get her to let down her guard. As they spend more time together Anton is surprised by how much he trusts Lydia and begins to open up to her, although not about everything. Despite Anton's opinion that there is nothing to it, the threat is always there and the stress and tension of it leads to Lydia and Anton giving into the passion between them. But for Anton, Lydia's career is too dangerous for him to accept. Especially when the threat against him becomes very real.

I don't think I have ever reading a Modern/Presents that has a heroine with a career such as a Police Officer, so this is really interesting to me. The whole story is such a great idea, and what I like most about it is that although there is the underlying threat to the hero, this is not the main focus of the book, so it manages to keep from going in the suspense direction. Carol Marinelli has managed to create a suspenseful book that shows the journey the hero and heroine take together with all the elements you would want from a great Modern/Presents.
I simply adored the hero, he is so wonderfully complex, tender and alpha all at the same time. There is a lot of emotion in this book, at certain moments I was reading with a lump in my throat, and it is woven into the story perfectly.

This book is beautiful, with lots of passion, two perfectly matached characters, and a really interesting story.

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