"A fine conclusion to the American Heiresses series"
Meryl Carrington is the baby of her family, and the only
one of five sisters who is yet unwed. All she cares about
is proving to her father she is capable of running his
railroad company. Her sisters all had gone off and gotten
married, but that was not the life for Meryl. She wanted to
fill the role at her father's side normally reserved for a
son of the family. She finally gets a chance to prove to
her father she deserves his respect as a businesswoman when
a crucial sale is close to reality, which would cement her
father's business. But her father has other plans... Joseph Hammond was the son of Meryl's father's old friend
and business partner, and had always looked up to Meryl's
father. He had also been a special friend of Meryl all
through their childhood friend. He has been working for her
father for a few years and his heart was set on becoming
president of the company. Just when it looked like his new
position was in the bag, he gets a surprise. Meryl is all
grown up, his childhood friend a child no more, and she had
plans for that position as well. What follows is something neither had anticipated. They
make a wager... whoever can seal the deal in California for
her father on the pending sale, would become the new
president of the Carrington railroad empire. But as they
are racing across the country, yet another surprise... they
find that their formally friendly feelings for each other
had grown into something more, something both were hesitant
about but eager to see where they would lead. Will they set
competition aside for the sake of their newly discovered
love? Or will the contest drive a wedge between them for
good? This was a good tale, but not quite as captivating as other
books in the American Heiress series. This reviewer was not
at all fond of Joseph in the beginning of the story. He
came across as a selfish man who cared for nothing but his
own success. Granted, the real motivation for his behavior
was explained in detail later on in the story, redeeming
him. But this reviewer could not get past her initial
opinion of him. Meryl was a delight, however, her whole
world being her family, her father, and his business. All
she wanted was to make him happy and prove to him she was
capable of running his empire. The story in itself was appealing though. The bulk of the
story was following Meryl and Joseph from New York to San
Francisco. Their journey was full of excitement and
adventure. The tricks Meryl and Joseph kept playing on each
other were often amusing, always keeping the reader waiting
to see what they would do next. The desire between Joseph and Meryl was always smoldering
under the surface, though they kept trying to deny their
mutual attraction. When they finally give in to their
passion, it consumes them both. Readers will enjoy this
tale, holding their breath as they wait to see who will win
the challenge. Also, one will love the fact that Meryl is a
strong woman, full of fire, and extremely intelligent. This
reviewer always loves to see a strong female lead who will
do whatever it takes to prove herself, all the while never
losing her feminity. This story is well worth the time to read, in spite of the
less then impressive Joseph in the beginning of the story. © Kelley A. Hartsell, November 2003. All rights reserved.
Reviewed by Kelley Hartsell
Posted November 30, 2003
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