"strong character driven contemporary romance"

The fire killed her father Oliver and destroyed the family's Cascade Valley Winery. Though she knows her beloved dad would want her to rebuild, Sheila Lindstrom cannot finance the project. Instead her lawyer informs her that Wilder Investments President Ben Wilder was Oliver's partner and over the years lent money to keep the winery afloat. The insurance goes to Wilder. However, to Sheila what is worse is her dad's shredded reputation as most people believe Oliver set the deadly inferno and must find a way to tell her daughter.

Unable to sit back idly, Sheila confronts Wilder Investments temporary president Noah Wilder. He has troubles with his teenage son Sean who is missing from school; he also runs the family company that he does not want anything to do while his dad recuperates in Mexico from a heart attack. Feeling like a traitor to her beloved father, Sheila is attracted to a man she considers a pirate. In spite of the angry termagant behaving as if she wants to skin him alive, Noah reciprocates. However, the winery business impairs their potential loving partnership.

This is a rewrite of a strong character driven contemporary romance that holds up quite well even though the plot has a historical feel to it because the investigations into the fire are pre-Internet. Sheila is a terrific protagonist struggling with the loss of her late father's reputation as much as or more so than the family business while delaying her need to grieve and falling in love with the enemy. Noah is an ethical individual who wants to learn the truth, clean up his father's questionable practices, help Sean, and persuade Sheila they belong together. Readers will enjoy this fine character driven tale.

Harriet Klausner

Reviewed by Harriet Klausner
Posted June 12, 2005

Summary

Her legacy has just gone up in flames

Sheila Lindstrom is reeling from the aftermath of the devastating fire that claimed the life of her father and all but destroyed the Cascade Valley Winery, the family's pride and joy. Without the insurance proceeds needed to rebuild the winery, Sheila risks losing everything to corporate monolith Wilder Investments. When she confronts company president Noah Wilder, an undeniable attraction hits both of them with the force of a tidal wave. Will mistrust and deceit undermine this volatile union -- or will love rise from the ashes?