Paradise

Two strong-willed characters maintain 11 years of unwarranted hostility based on a series of misunderstandings in this engaging romance, McNaught's ( Almost Heaven ) hardcover debut. Teenage socialite heiress Meredith Bancroft has a quick and disastrous secret marriage to unsuitably penniless Matt Farrell. Her domineering father tells each of them a series of damaging lies and speedily arranges a divorce. A decade later, Meredith, now vice-president of a department-store chain and engaged to a prominent banker, meets Matt again. The highly successful CEO of his own conglomerate, Matt has a well-deserved reputation as a ruthless corporate raider, and when he hears of Meredith's aggressive plans for her chain's expansion the two clash explosively. To complicate matters, Meredith discovers that they have never been divorced. Although marred by a melodramatic and contrived terrorist subplot, the ending is never in doubt. But by portraying her protagonists with verve and good humor, and adroitly mixing corporate maneuvers and passionate encounters, McNaught has produced a captivating tale. Major ad/promo; BOMC main selection. (July)