April 1, 2006
Elizabeth Stanton is an heiress charged with making sure the holdings that have been in her family for generations not only survive but prosper. However, her ex-husband has drained Elizabeth's assets down to the last penny and run off with his girlfriend. All Elizabeth has left is her Houston mansion and the family farm. When Max Riordan comes to call, Elizabeth is uneasy as she always is when confronted with his take-charge demeanor and blunt speech. Max is a self-made millionaire, but has yet to dent the steel walls of Houston society. He proposes a deal: if Elizabeth marries him, he'll see that she's financially solvent again. In return, Elizabeth will use her social standing to gain him entree into society. Elizabeth sees no way out and agrees. Both Max and Elizabeth are unprepared for the true attraction that develops between them, and it's a real pleasure to watch how cleverly Gray brings these wonderfully well-drawn characters together in this pleasurable read.(Reprinted with permission of Booklist, copyright 2006, American Library Association.)