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.