Saturday, October 3, 2015

Claimed - Tracy Wolff (HD #2395 - Sept 2015)

Series: Diamond Tycoons (Book 1)

Diamond tycoon Marc Durand knows not to trust his ex-fiancĂ©e, Isabella Moreno. Years ago, her father stole Durand gems…and she lied for him. Marc hasn't forgiven her, but he can't forget her either. So when his company comes under fire, he demands her help. She owes him. And until he uncovers the truth, he wants his enemy by his side -- and in his bed…

Very good book with incredible heat and deep emotion. Marc and Isabella had known each other six years before and had been in love. But there were things about Isabella that Marc hadn't known - like that her father was an international jewel thief, and that Isa was also a thief. Marc meant more to Isa than stealing, so she refused to steal from him the way her father wanted her to. But when her father did it anyway, Isa was torn between love for Marc and loyalty to her father. And when Marc found out, he threw her out on the street before trying to salvage his business.

Now Isa has a new name and a new life, teaching about jewels. She's never forgotten Marc, or that she at least partially deserved the hatred and scorn he showed her. When he shows up at the gem institute where she teaches, both of them are stunned to see each other. Marc hasn't forgotten her either, nor the guilt he felt about the way he treated her, though he still believed her responsible for what he went through. One thing that hasn't changed is the passion that flares to life between them. Marc wants one more night with her, hoping for closure, and that he can then move on with his life. But taking that night only makes him want her more, and he says some pretty cruel things in order to protect himself. Then Marc finds out that a newspaper reporter is about to do a story on the business based on false information, a story that will destroy his company.

Now Marc has to go to Isa and grovel, asking for her help. Isa is one of the few people in the world that can verify the truth about the way he runs his company. Isa is wary of helping him because of the way he treated her, but she feels guilty about her actions from six years ago and figures this is a way to make amends. The problem is that she is still so attracted to him that she risks losing her heart to him all over again. 

I loved seeing them work together to document the truth, and felt like they were finally getting past their turbulent history. But when something happens that brings that past roaring back, Isa discovers that Marc hasn't really left it behind after all. I felt that he deserved every bit of misery he had after the way he treated her. Though he eventually admits his mistake, I think she should have made him work a little harder for her forgiveness. The book ends with a bit of a cliffhanger, as the mystery has not yet been solved. I'm looking forward to the next book and seeing how it all turns out.

No comments:

Post a Comment