Brother Christopher is a lawyer with "an active sideline in law enforcement." He and Marissa's best friend Vi Leon are sharing hot kisses on the hood of her car within a few hours of meeting, and passionate sex the next day. Vi is adopted, abandoned only days after her birth, her name written on the blue bracelet she wore.

Three months later, the problem with Marissa and Tristan has been resolved. The author inexplicably gives us very few details about this. But Vi has a problem of her own. Unknowing, Christopher visits briefly in the third month of her pregnancy, He doesn't see her again for another year. He's busy “on assignment,” investigating an antiques dealer named Juan Rodriguez. The dealer's mistress, Vicenta Leonardez, reminds Chris of Vi.

Vi's safety and that of the baby figure prominently in the action-packed conclusion.

The plot is disjointed and the author leaves us with many questions. Vi has a job, but we are never told what it is. The nature of Chris' work is also unclear. He's been working seemingly alone on this assignment for two years with little success. And brother Anthony has the same vague career. Marissa's father might be some sort of a gangster. And why spend a third of the book on Marissa and Tristan without telling us what actually happened?

Emily Wade-Reid does a good job reflecting on the responsibilities and emotional connections of parenthood. While the romance of the relationship could benefit from further development, the sex is hot and the final showdown is tension-filled.

Overall rating:
Sensuality rating: Very sensual

Reviewer: Lynn Bushey
January 11, 2008