"An emotional story of love found"

In this, her conclusion to the Holiday Fantasies series, Ms. Wilde has again proven her skill at writing powerfully emotional short stories full of passion that are guaranteed to entice readers.

Mara Quinn is running for her life. She has fled her abusive ex-boyfriend, barely, and has the bruises he gave her as a reminder of what she is trying to escape. Right now, all she needs is a place to lay low, recover from her injuries, and plan her next move. J. T. Dalton is a vacationing FBI Agent, overseeing his partner's small vacation resort on the lake. When Mara arrives, he knows there is something bothering her, and sees all the signs that she is trying to hide. He decides to help her out, hoping to uncover her secret to be better able to protect her. Neither one expected, or wanted, the all-consuming attraction they feel immediately, nor were they prepared for the effects of that passion on their hearts.

Wow! As always, Ms. Wilde delivers a short, hot, sensual story that will leave readers begging for more. Mara is a wounded woman, physically and emotionally. The scars from her relationship are not easily lost and therefore her initial distrust of J.T. is completely understandable. He is the ultimate alpha male, ready to do whatever it takes to protect "his" woman. When they meet, the sexual awareness between them is positively combustible, and one knows when they finally give in to it, that it will sear them to their very souls.

One thing about this story that this reviewer loves is Ms. Wilde's ability to take such a sensitive subject as abused women, who may feel all is lost, and turn it into a touching story with new hope and tender, yet passionate love. One gets the feeling Ms. Wilde has done her homework to be able to so realistically portray what women in these situations think and feel.

Though this is the last story in this particular Tempting Fate series, fans will be delighted to know a new collection is already in the works and being written. This reviewer is one fan who is eagerly awaiting more stories from the talented Kay Wilde.

© Kelley A. Hartsell, June 2004. All rights reserved.

Reviewed by Kelley Hartsell
Courtesy Love Romances
Posted August 15, 2004

Summary

Mara Quinn grew up determined that she would never end up like her mother, choosing a career guaranteed to reaffirm those convictions on a daily basis. In doing so, she'd allowed her old fears to become a trap, an emotional prison of her own making.

Never in a million years would Mara have believed that she, who counseled women in abusive realtionships for a living, would find herself in the same situation and forced to run for her life.

She had been so careful, covering her tracks and setting up a false trail. Even being a cop, she didn't think there was any way Ross would be able to find her.

When she least expected it, when she was too vulnerable to resist, J.T. Dalton had efforlessly stormed the walls she'd so carefully built around herself, making her want more than the sterile emotionless existence she'd set herself up to live. Was it possible for a woman to love a man and still retain her sense of self, her independence? Did she have the courage to find out?