July 11, 2016
Beatriz González y Serrano, the heroine in Donahue’s flimsy romance set in 1489 Andalucía, Spain, is dismayed when her greedy, abusive father promises her to an unattractive and equally greedy suitor. She seeks refuge in the castle of neighboring lord Tomás de Zayas, taking a new name and becoming a member of his staff. The sinfully sweet and naughty Tomás, who owns every scene he’s in, doesn’t care about social status. He wants Beatriz with a hunger he can’t ignore. Seeing her every day fuels his fire, and once he learns she desires him as well, he has her assigned to specific duties that will give them more alone time. He’s both taken by her beauty and smitten with her strength, and despite knowing she’s keeping secrets, he’s determined to make her his. Beatriz knows she’s promised to another, so when Tomás proposes, she has to come clean, but letting him go is far more emotionally difficult than she imagined. Her betrothed eventually seeks her out and vows to make her honor the agreement. The story is brimming with risqué retorts and searing sex scenes. The danger of the arranged marriage helps make up for the nonexistent character development and confusing ending. Agent: John Cappello, JP Literary.