Devon’s review of The Millionaire’s Makeover by Lilian Darcy
Contemporary Romance released 1 May 2008 by Silhouette Special Edition
What does the “Makeover” of the title refer to? The makeover of tech exec Ben Radford’s grounds by landscape architect Rowena Madison? The makeover of the timid Rowena into a passionate woman, instigated by Ben’s attentions? Ben’s makeover from ambitious businessman to tender lover? There are multiple possible meanings and none of them quite work for me. Similarly, I found the blurb somewhat misleading. This book differed from my expectations in a good way. The hero and heroine were category archetypes, but with significant differences and depth.
Rowena Madison is an uptight, shy woman who has never had a serious relationship. Seems like standard issue series heroine. But her issues are due to a severe anxiety disorder. As the book begins, Rowena has come a long, long way all on her own, through therapy and hard work. I really liked her independence and initiative, which shone through despite her almost crippling fears.
She blossoms with Ben, it’s true, but he only helps bring out what was already there. Rowena’s passionate, intelligent nature is shown through her love and expertise of her chosen field. She may not have had an intense relationship with a man yet, but she is a woman who has gone from being unable to leave her house alone, to someone who has built a successful business dealing face to face with clients.
Like Rowena, Ben seems like he’s going to be your basic driven businessman hero. But before the story starts, Ben has already sold the company that made him his millions. He is ready to start a new life, full of projects that mean something to him. He was a shy science and math geek, whose intelligence and ambition was honed into a money making machine by his super ambitious ex-wife. Ben wanted to switch gears, she didn’t, so she took off for “greener” pastures. The experience has left Ben jaded and bitter. But he can’t help but be intrigued by the odd woman he hires to restore his estate’s gardens.
The connection and chemistry between Rowena and Ben is there from their first encounter. They are both intelligent, witty and intense about the things that are important to them, which is shown through their various conversations. I thought they made a great pair, similar in some ways, so different in others. Confident Ben is exasperated by Rowena’s diffidence, which seems so strange for a smart, attractive woman. But he keys into something important early on: it’s Rowena’s passionate nature that makes her shut down. She feels things too much.
I felt that Ben’s “I have nothing to offer” nonsense to be a bit overdone. I feel like I complain about this ad nauseum, but I get irritated by characters who do everything but stand on their head for a woman, then all of a sudden it’s no, no, sex only. But I found it less annoying than in some other instances. I also found a last minute conflict to be a bit contrived, in order to make way for a neat ending. But overall, this was an appealing, character driven romance. I liked it.
Grade: B
Summary:
When successful millionaire businessman Ben Radford first met Rowena, he thought her frosty and uptight. But once Rowena started designing his garden, he was determined to discover why she’d put up such steely barriers—by taking them down, layer by layer….
Discovering the beautiful, sensual woman underneath was a revelation! It was just as he hoped; he would help her overcome the past and then he would move on. After all, his divorce had taught him that he couldn’t offer more than a temporary affair.
But Rowena had come along way from mousy wimp she’d once been. She decided that she could help Ben believe in love again: she’d give him the makeover of a lifetime!
Read an excerpt here.
