The Outlaw's Claim - Brenda Jackson (HD #2905 - Nov 2022)

Series: Westmoreland Legacy: The Outlaws (Book 5)
 
From friends to lovers to…
having a baby?
 
Maverick Outlaw is a man who knows his own mind—and he knew from the beginning that a fling with longtime friend Sapphire Bordella would be more than just sizzling, mind-blowing sex. That is, until Phire says they should go back to being just friends—and then announces that she’s pregnant with Maverick’s child and her father expects her to marry someone else! Maverick may not be ready to give his heart, but nothing will stop him from claiming what’s his…
 
Good friends with benefits story. Maverick and Phire met when he was on a business trip to Paris. Their attraction was immediate and intense, and they had a successful arrangement for two years. Neither one was interested in anything serious. Maverick enjoys his freedom too much to settle down, and Phire was burned by love and doesn't want to risk her heart again.
 
Then Phire told Maverick she wanted to end their arrangement. She said she was ready to look for love and settle down. In truth, she had fallen in love with Maverick and needed to get out while she still could. I liked that Maverick respected her wishes but wanted to shake him for not recognizing his feelings. Instead, he spent the following months missing her.
 
When Maverick gets a call from Phire asking to meet with him, he drops everything to do so. He's stunned to hear that her father has forced her to return to Texas from Paris and is trying to force her to marry the man of his choice. Simon uses a ruthless method of blackmail to ensure Phire's cooperation. Phire informs Maverick that she will not be able to talk to him any longer, but they indulge in one more passionate night together. They believe that is the end until Phire ends up pregnant.
 
Once Maverick learns of Phire's pregnancy, he becomes determined to claim Phire for himself. Phire resists because she loves him and believes he does not return her love. Maverick frequently frustrated me with his oblivious attitude and focus on the baby when he should have been concentrating on Phire. I understood her resistance to his marriage demands - she wanted to be desired for herself, not the baby she carried. I was happy when he finally had that "aha" moment. Unfortunately, he and Phire make their problems last longer by not talking about their feelings. The week they spent together on his cousins' ranch was wonderful and heartbreaking because of it.
 
Phire's father, Simon, is a piece of work. Controlling and abusive, he uses Phire's love for her aunt against her. I could feel Phire's fear for her aunt's welfare every time Simon made one of his threats. His choice of groom intrigued me as Jaxon appeared to be too nice a man to go along with Simon's plans. As the book continued, Simon became more desperate to force her hand. He finally went too far, and I loved seeing what happened to him. I especially enjoyed the intricate plan hatched by Maverick and the others.
 
The question of Outlaw patriarch Bart's vehement opposition to admitting their connection to the Westmorelands has run through the series. None of the family could understand why he refused to acknowledge something so obviously true. A stunning revelation from an unexpected source puts an end to the mystery. I laughed out loud at the significant effect this had on Maverick.
 
I loved the ending and seeing Maverick and Phire finally get the future they wanted. The ending was terrific, with a couple of teasers for future books. I can't wait to see what is in store for the Outlaw sister, Charm.

What Happens on Vacation... - Brenda Jackson (HD #2863 - Apr 2022)

Series: Westmoreland Legacy: The Outlaws (Book 4)

What happens in Napa Valley stays in Napa Valley…
Right?
 
For Alaskan senator Jessup Outlaw, a Napa Valley vacation starts out as innocent R and R—until he meets Paige Novak. Their chemistry is explosive! And the temptation to have the Hollywood star for himself proves irresistible… but the spotlight’s trained on her every move. Is the timing finally right for Jess’s personal desires to come ahead of his career? Or will their vacation romance crash into reality with the return of a familiar face from Paige’s past?
 
Another Westmoreland/Outlaw bites the dust though he doesn't fight it. Senator Jess Outlaw is ready for a break from his Senate duties, so he heads to California to stay at his cousin's winery. There he reconnects with Paige Novak, another cousin's sister-in-law. Paige, a Hollywood actress, is between films and also avoiding the fallout from her breakup with a fellow actor.
 
Paige and Jess have known each other for six years. When they met, Paige developed quite a crush on Jess and hoped to draw his attention. Jess was equally interested in Paige but was deep in his campaign for senator. He decided to bury his feelings and concentrate on his career plans. He soon regretted his decision. Whenever they met after that, one or the other was tied up in a project, or most recently, Paige was in a relationship. When Jess finds out she's free; he figures it's finally his time.
 
Paige is more than a little frustrated. She broke things off with her boyfriend, Kemp, when she found out he was sleeping with another actress. Kemp acts like this is just a blip in their relationship, and they'll be back together shortly. Besides the utter disrespect he'd shown her, she had already planned to end things with him. His actions had simply sped up the process. Paige plans to ignore the fuss for as long as possible, but then her sister brings up her place as a role model.
 
When Jess and Paige meet again, the sparks are undeniable. Jess wants nothing more than to make his move on Paige but believes her to be hurting from her breakup. Meanwhile, Paige remembers Jess's apparent disinterest at previous meetings and thinks she is alone in her attraction. When Jess learns of her predicament, he offers himself as proof she's moved on. Though a little wary, Paige can't deny herself a chance to spend time with Jess.
 
I loved watching the development of their relationship. Foremost is Jess's desire to show Paige how he feels. I loved the protectiveness that led him to make the offer in the first place. He makes his opinion of Kemp quite clear, and his respect and admiration for Paige are evident. Jess's statement to the reporters is nothing but the truth though Paige doesn't realize it and thinks he's playing a part. I enjoyed Jess's plans for their time together - have fun, experience new things, and be together. It doesn't take long for the sparks between them to burst into flame. The chemistry between them is explosive, and they enjoy every minute.
 
I loved seeing them get to know each other, sharing conversations about things large and small. I especially liked seeing them talk about the things most important to them. I liked the fun they had together, from hot-air ballooning to bike riding. It was easy to see their feelings for each other grow deeper though neither took that first step to express them. Then trouble arrived in the form of Paige's ex. I wanted to shake Jess for being an idiot and allowing his past to influence what he should have known. Thank goodness for younger brothers who keep their wits about them. Meanwhile, Paige sets Kemp straight in a scene that had me laughing out loud as I read it. Jess had his work cut out for him to make things right with Paige, but he succeeded beautifully in an emotional scene.
 
The epilogue was well done, addressing questions about what comes next for Jess and Paige. I also enjoyed seeing a few other family members and catching up on their lives. Seeing the children of the older members grown-up gives me hope for Westmorelands: The Next Generation.