Tara Jean Sweet is doing what she does best, pretending to
be what she's not to help make a dying man's wish come
true.
Well, it works. His family comes running after seeing the
engagement photo; Tara Jean in a miniscule pink leather
skirt posed on Lyle's old lap. Yeah, their opinion of her
is
low, mean and filthy-minded but that doesn't matter, not
when Lyle is the man who gives her the chance to make
something of her life. Her job designing low-class leathers
for his family business has allowed her to build a life
light years from what she is used to. She'd do a lot more
than tarnish her non-existent good reputation to try and
repay what he has given her, even if it risks drawing a
danger from the past to her door.
Luc Baker has an impossible decision to make. His 20-year
career in the NHL is at a crossroads. He could take
(slightly) early retirement and live out the rest of his
life on the money he has earned and never achieve his goal
of bringing the Stanley cup to Toronto, or go back on the
ice and risk permanent brain damage leading to early onset
Alzheimers. To those outside the sport it seems an easy
decision, but not to him. His entire reason for living is
connected to the puck and goal, his team more of a family
than any he has known.
He's still reeling from the doctor's ultimatum when the
engagement photo of the man who fathered him shows up, a
knowing smirk on the face of the tart on his lap. If it
were
only up to him he'd let the foolish old man do whatever he
wants but Luc has his sister to consider. Her pyramid-
scheming husband opted out with a bullet to the head,
leaving her and her son penniless. She needs the money the
old bastard will leave behind and she needs Luc to go with
her to confront the man who is the demon of their childhood
before he leaves everything to the bimbo.
Molly O'Keefe has written a deep, meaningful and thoroughly
entertaining book. Tara's character is one I will remember
for a very long time, and the situation Luc is dealing with
is straight from the pages of today's news. Add in the
danger and humor that weaves through it's powerful plot and
CAN'T BUY ME LOVE is a strong winner. Book 2 in the series,
Can't Hurry Love followed in August, 2012.
A girl from the wrong side of the tracks, Tara Jean Sweet
knows that opportunity will never knock; she’ll have to
seize it. Elderly Texas rancher Lyle Baker has a dying
request: He will give Tara Jean a stake in his leather
business in exchange for a little family subterfuge. All
Tara Jean has to do is play the part of a gold-digging
fiancée to lure Lyle’s estranged children home. The mission
is soon accomplished.
Now Lyle’s gone—and his ridiculously handsome son, Luc, an
ice hockey superstar sidelined by injuries, is the new owner
of Crooked Creek ranch. He’s also Tara Jean’s boss. But
being so close to sinfully sweet Tara Jean does crazy things
to Luc’s priorities, like make him want to pry her deepest
secrets from those irresistible lips. But when Tara Jean’s
past demands a dirty showdown, will Luc stay and fight?