Veena’s review of Back in Her Husband’s Bed by Andrea Laurence
Contemporary Romance published by Harlequin Desire 01 Feb 14
She’s a professional poker player, while he owns the casino where she’s participating in the upcoming world series poker tournament. He wants to use her help to expose the cheaters who are ruining the reputation of this tournament and win the right to host it for next ten years running. Sounds like a marriage made in heaven – except it’s already ended in a divorce. This is a nice meaty story with mystery and suspense thrown into the romantic mix.
The Baracas women don’t do relationships, as is evidenced by Annie’s mother, who has two daughters by different fathers and neither father played a role in their daughters’ lives. When Annie met Nate, she was swept off her feet and in a moment of madness she married him. In the cold, hard reality of the morning after, she ran. Thank god she had the sense to keep the marriage secret, and if only he would grant her a divorce, then she could just pull the carpet over her mistake and her memories.
Nate comes from a family of casino owners. He’s focused on building up his casino, and getting the rights to host the poker tournament is a great feather in his cap. Now if only he can be the one to expose the cheating that’s ruining the reputation of the tournament. He’s got just the right secret weapon to get him what he needs, and if he can have his cake and eat it too, why not.
Poor Nate, using a woman, especially an estranged wife, whom he still loves? It’s not going to be easy. Pretty soon he’s swept away into the romance and the sex and the emerging relationship. It’s bound to come to a crashing halt. It appears that the bad guys have their eyes on Annie as well.
Can they expose the bad guys and find a way to bridge their needs and desires to forge a lasting relationship?
Grade: B
Summary:
She can finally have the one thing she wants. All she has to do is play the happy wife…and not fall in love with her husband.
It’s been three years since Annie Baracas left her husband, Vegas casino owner Nathan Reed, and he still hasn’t signed the divorce papers. So when Nate finally offers to set her free, Annie will agree to any terms. Even if that means temporarily resuming her role as his wife to help him catch a thief. But what starts as a public display quickly turns very private. And Annie can’t help wondering what it might be like to stay in Nate’s bed…for as long as they both shall live.
Read an excerpt.
