I received this book for free from the library in exchange for an honest review. This does not affect my opinion of the book or the content of my review.
Source: the library
Enticed by His Forgotten Lover
by
Maya Banks
contemporary romance in Paperback edition that was published by Harlequin on September 6, 2011 and has 186 pages.
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Other books by this author which I have reviewed include Sweet Surrender, Colters' Woman, Sweet Persuasion, Sweet Seduction, In Bed with a Highlander, Darkest Hour, Seduction of a Highland Lass, Colters' Lady, No Place to Run, Men Out of Uniform, Red-Hot Summer, Never Love a Highlander, Brazen, Sweet Temptation, Whispers in the Dark, "Colters' Wife", Colters' Promise, Echoes at Dawn, Undone By Her Tender Touch, Four Play, Cherished, The Tycoon's Pregnant Mistress, Never Seduce a Scot, Highlander Most Wanted, "Softly at Sunrise", Shades of Gray, Rush, Fever, Forged in Steele, Burn, Colters' Daughter, Colters' Gift, Be With Me, When Day Breaks, After the Storm, Taking It All, Keep Me Safe, Darkest Before Dawn, Sweet Possession, Sweet Addiction
First in the Pregnancy & Passion contemporary romance series and revolving around four men, friends and business partners. The couple focus is on Rafael de Luca and Bryony Morgan.
My Take
This was better than I expected. It is a typical Harlequin romance and with a beautiful message in it about not staying the same jerky person you were. Well, okay, it really could be generalized into one can change the type of person one is, if one chose.
Okay, I’m not buying that Rafael is so quickly concerned about Bryony’s pregnancy nor that he accepts her statement as easily as he does. I would have expected there to be more doubt. His friends certainly had their doubts, strong ones. It made their final reaction much less believable.
The Cinderella moment wasn’t believable either, that or I’m way beyond impressed that Ramon could find her that quickly based on a pair of shoes.
The amnesia Rafe experiences gives Banks a lot of leeway on how she develops the conflict between Rafe and Bryony, as Banks doesn’t have to work too hard to portray two different Rafes. It also provides a reason for that shocking discovery at the end. Ooh, boy.
I suspect that Banks padded this out quite a bit. She has Rafe going on and on about the amnesia, how he feels about Bryony, and about their child. I wish she’d spent some of those words drawing more of a picture of the island and the laidback lifestyle of its inhabitants. Get more guilt going over Rafe and friends’ plans for the development.
Oh, man, Mawmaw is a treat. She talks Bryony through her decision and that woman is wise. She’s such a sweet, laidback character, much like the island is said to be.
I do like that Rafe refuses to consider Bryony raising his child, their child, on her own. That he has learned from his parents about at least one not-to-do.
There are a few clichés in here; the trope in which the innocent overhear a horrible truth was the worst one. Yep, it merited an eyeroll. Banks has some foreshadowing going on, setting us up for Devon and Ryan’s stories.
The Story
Wealthy hotelier Rafael de Luca romances Bryony into selling her beachfront property with undying love. And it’s a pregnant Bryony who comes to New York demanding answers. Answers Rafael can’t give her as he doesn’t remember anything from that month.
It’s an answer Rafe himself wants, for he hates not remembering, and the obvious solution is to return to the island. Return to Bryony.
The Characters
Bryony Morgan fell in love and sold family land on Moon Island. Mawmaw (Laura) is her diabetic grandmother. Silas Taylor is the island sheriff in love with Mawmaw. Gladys is a friend of Mawmaw’s. Rupert is the mayor. Stella Jones is the sales clerk in the clothing store.
Rafael de Luca and his partners own Tricorp Investment Opportunities and want to develop Moon Island. His partners include Devon Carter, Ryan Beardsley, and Cameron Hollingsworth. Ramon is the head of security. Tamara is the receptionist.
Quenton Ramsey III and his wife, Marcy, are investors. Kelly is Ryan’s ex-fiancée.
The Cover and Title
The cover looks as if the story is an historical, but it truly is a contemporary romance. It’s Rafael in an open white shirt and undone red tie in a lover’s pose with Byrony in a short satin robe, her long black curly hair falling down her back, her arms around him, as he caresses her pregnant tummy.
The title is definitely about Rafael as he’s Enticed by His Forgotten Lover.
