She needs a husband…fast.
Could her former flame be perfect for the job?
To claim her inheritance, philanthropist Riley George
needs to tie the knot -- now! Desperate times call for desperate measures, so
she turns to Travis Holloway -- the celebrity chef catering her gala and her
ex-lover. Can she make him an offer he can't refuse without giving in to an
attraction she can't deny? If Travis can keep things strictly business, he'll
save his family's luxury resort. But it's never been about business with Riley,
only pleasure. And this agreement on paper is about to tempt them into
reckoning with the past…
Terrific second chance romance and conclusion to the
series. The book works fine as a standalone, but you get the full effect if you
read the other two first. Travis is the last of the three adopted brothers to
return home to Moonlight Ridge to help care for their father after a health
crisis and return the family resort to its former grandeur.
Travis and his brothers Mack and Grey were best friends
while growing up. That ended fifteen years earlier after a car crash that
changed their lives. Each brother blamed himself, but Travis was so severely
injured that he lost his football scholarship and dreams of an NFL career. It
took him two years to learn to walk again. All three left North Carolina to
branch out on their own, and as the years passed grew further apart. We get
Mack and Grey's versions of the accident in the previous books, see them come
to terms with it and find love.
Travis is happy for his brothers, but he doesn't believe
in love and happily-ever-after. After being abandoned by his mother, and the
devastating break-up with his high school girlfriend, he doesn't trust women.
He's quite happy with his bachelor lifestyle. He'll help with his dad, revamp
the resort's kitchen and menu, and then return to his celebrity cooking show,
restaurants, and cookbooks. He doesn't expect to see Riley again, much less get
roped into working with her.
I loved seeing Travis's former mentor and resort chef
strongarm Travis and Riley into working together. Henri was supposed to cater
Riley's upcoming charity fundraiser but has to pull out. He insists that Travis
take his place, claiming (accurately) that Travis's name will bring in more
donors. Travis counters by insisting the gala be held at Moonlight Ridge, and
he and Riley come to a working agreement. Neither one expected the feelings
that being around each other stirred up.
Riley has another problem she needs Travis's help with.
Two of the charities she works with have lost funding. To access her trust fund
from her grandfather to help them, his stipulations require that she be married
to a man "of independent means." Travis is shocked when Riley offers
to invest in the resort if he marries her for a year. Though he laughs himself
silly and then refuses, Riley doesn't give up. I loved watching her use every
means possible to get him to agree.
I liked watching the relationship between Travis and Riley
develop. They had known each other first as children when her parents came to
the resort on vacation. As they grew older, their friendship deepened into
more. But Riley's parents, especially her father, were snobs and didn't approve,
and their interference drove the two apart. Neither of them has forgotten those
feelings, but they don't want to risk their hearts again. However, it is
impossible to spend time together and not remember the good times, so they grow
close again. There are some sweet scenes between them, such as skipping stones
and cooking together.
I loved seeing the depth of caring that developed, though
neither one was willing to admit it. The scene where they had dinner with
Riley's parents was great. I loved seeing Riley stand up to them, and the
conversation between Travis and Mr. George was excellent. Though Travis is
still fighting his feelings, the proposal scene at the gala was incredible and
very romantic. I enjoyed seeing Mack and Grey try to get through to Travis since
his feelings for Riley were obvious, but he remained obstinate. His feelings
came through clearly with the surprise he had for her on their wedding day.
But an uninvited guest at the wedding threw Travis's
emotions into turmoil. I ached for him and the memories it stirred up, and I
liked how Riley tried to help. I hurt for her when she got caught in the middle
of a stunning revelation and how Travis turned on her. I loved how Jameson
straightened him out and the subsequent advice he received. The big moment at
the end was great, and the epilogue was a terrific wrap-up.
Two storylines went across all three books. One was the
developing relationship between Jameson and his nurse/former housekeeper. They
were sweet together, and I enjoyed seeing Giada keep him in line. The other,
more critical issue was the embezzlement that Mack discovered in the first book
and Grey investigated in the second one. I had my suspicions right from the
start and was happy to be proved right.
Could her former flame be perfect for the job?
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