Olivia Cole's brother, Alastair, has used her as the marker against his large gambling debt. Lord Breckenridge, Griffin Wright-Jones, isn't sure why Alastair would put his sister in such a uncomfortable position, but the decision wasn't his to make and feels compelled to the matter stand. As the days pass without word -or money- from Alastair, it becomes clear Olivia won't be leaving Breckenridge's gaming establishment any time soon.

Not having her father's protection has made Olivia vulnerable, but she refuses to surrender her life to fear. Griffin was born to a loftier station, but he's been forced to step outside society's boundaries to keep his family's heritage from slipping away. Working together these two halves could make a whole, but only if they lower their guard enough to allow it. Tested by: a fire, a gentleman villain focused on claiming Olivia, a wife returned from the dead, an angry mistress, and familial betrayal, it seems as if the world is standing in the way of their happy ending. Or is it?

These characters are so well crafted they could walk out of the pages. Secondary characters are also given depth and history, helping to create a more three-dimensional world. Even better is the complex dance Olivia and Griffin perform to get better acquainted. They are constantly watching, judging, and reevaluating each other so that they are equally responsible for the shape of their relationship. The humor that shows up throughout the story, in a wide variety of conversations, makes THE PRICE OF DESIRE even more fun to read. Find a quiet place and settle in for a while; once you start this story, you won't want to stop.