LynneC’s review of Caught in the Billionaire’s Embrace by Elizabeth Bevarly
Contemporary Romance published by Harlequin Desire 5 Jul 11
I read Harlequin Desires and Presents because they’re short, snappy reads and they deliver lots of romance. However, every now and again you come across a real gem, and I’m happy to say this book is a prime example. It concentrates on the central romance, but the external plot moves seamlessly with it to enhance the characters’ needs and expectations.
This book doesn’t work because of the external plot, it’s entirely the fairytale story it channels and the characters. I understand that some of the details about the WITSEC program are wrong, but I don’t really care because from the outset Bevarly sets this up as a Cinderella story. So suspend your disbelief and enjoy.
Della is celebrating her 30th birthday alone. She has hired a beautiful designer outfit complete with jewellery from an upmarket hire shop and she goes to a restaurant, then the opera to watch “La Boheme,” and then to an exclusive club for a drink afterwards. She is being kept virtual prisoner by a man called Geoffrey, and she escapes for a night out. She’d always promised herself this night.
Marcus is a financier, but it’s by inheritance rather than conviction. A prince of the financial world. Tonight he’s saying goodbye to an old friend, and he goes to the restaurant, then the opera, then to his club, and he sees the same woman at each one, even has a brief conversation with her at the opera. Yes, the coincidences stretch belief a little, but go with it. It’s a lovely conceit, as is the way he finally says goodbye to his friend and hello to Della.
They connect. After an interlude on the balcony of the club, they go to the hotel next door and spend the weekend together, caught by the snow, which provides a recurrent motif through the story.
Marcus is a philanderer, but it’s because he’s bored, he doesn’t care. All his life he’s rebelled but finally is conforming to the role the family has set for him. Meeting Della turns all his expectations upside down. I love the connection between these two, as well as the leisurely pace of the story, despite its brief length. Most of the story is taken up by their weekend together, and although they fall for each other fast, and don’t really realise what’s occurring, you can see it happening. All too often stories concentrate on the external plot, which pushes the characters into each other’s arms and forces confrontations that then turn into love. Not this one. Della and Marcus have time to fall for each other and realize this is what they want.
Bear in mind that this has very strong fairytale elements, specifically Cinderella. Della in her borrowed finery and Marcus as the prince of the financial world are clear parallels to the classic story, and Bevarly’s voice in this one encourages the comparison.
Della is compelled to do something, having started on a road that she has to see to its conclusion. Marcus has little chance of making this affair permanent, but after hunting her down, he discovers that he has to make a momentous decision about his future. He makes the right one.|
While this is not a realistic tale, I don’t think it was meant to be, and if you read it as a modern fairytale, it’s a beautiful gem of a read. And, despite their faults, Della and Marcus are sympathetic characters you can root for.
Grade: A
Summary:
Enchanted. Not something billionaire Marcus Fallon has ever felt. Yet when he lays eyes on Della Hannan, a mysterious beauty, he knows she’s meant to be his. Hadn’t chance thrown them together again and again? Who is he not to take an opportunity when it’s offered?
But one night is not enough for Marcus. Only after he asks Della for more does she explain she has no plans to stay. And the infamous bachelor finds himself with the tables turned—the one woman he wants has no intention of being caught in this billionaire’s embrace.
Read an excerpt.
