Zoe Costas just left her job with the Secret Service to
concentrate on launching her own security business. She's
living with her wild and quirky Greek family, who are
trying to control their more outlandish antics. The good
behavior act is mainly for the benefit of Social Services,
who are investigating Zoe's parents over their pending
adoption of a troubled foster child, Samantha. Zoe is
thrilled to have another sister and believes that Sam will
be happy with her family. Trouble begins when a lawyer
named Ryan Baldwin appears at Sam's 14th birthday party,
claiming to be Sam's uncle and apparently seeking custody.
Zoe saves the party from disaster by helping Ryan pretend
to be a social worker. She convinces him that this way he
can get to know his niece before announcing that he wants
custody and disrupting Sam's life again.
As Zoe gets to know Sam's birth family, she wonders if the
uptight wealthy parents that drove away Sam's mother will
welcome back an outspoken, difficult teenage granddaughter.
Ryan loosens up around the crazy Costas household, but he
still isn't sure they can raise his niece appropriately.
Zoe and Ryan stick close together as they each try to
protect the best interests of their families, but their
undeniable attraction makes sparks fly over more than
custody issues. When Samantha is in danger, can Zoe and
Ryan set aside their doubts, repress their attraction and
work together to protect the frightened teenager?
This book is a sequel to UNDER THE BOARDWALK (June 2005,
mass market release) and for maximum enjoyment you should
read them in order. The previous book introduced the Costas
family and the story of Zoe's twin sister Ariana's romance
with Detective Quinn Donovan. In an effort to fill in the
gaps for new readers, frequent and sometimes awkward
references to the plot of the first book include Zoe's
faked death while in a federal safe house, family history
and a misbehaving pet monkey. I believe the two novels
should be closely paired since the strong family background
stories are interrelated. That said, this was an
entertaining story with engaging characters. If you're in
the mood for a little SUMMER LOVIN', pick up this sexy
novel.
Zoe Costas knows a con when she sees one.
Zoe’s a security specialist and a Costas through and
through. Her eccentric, rather dubious family runs an
Atlantic City spa that’s just this side of legit. So Zoe
isn’t fooled by the charm or good looks of this “Ryan
Baldwin” when he shows up claiming to be related to Sam,
the little girl the Costas are about to adopt.
But Ryan is Sam’s uncle and one of the rich, upright -- and
uptight –Boston Baldwins. Ryan’s search for his sister
Faith, the family’s black sheep, has led him to news of her
death, and a niece he never knew he had. But someone else
has also tracked Sam down -- someone who never wanted the
child found.
Ryan is determined to protect Sam and find out what really
happened to his sister. And Zoe “Whatever-It-Takes” Costas
is just the woman to help him do it….
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