For His Pleasure

Rock hits her stride in this compelling, high-energy sequel to At His Service. Arianna Perconti refused to participate in a sham marriage arranged by her domineering big brother, Leo, and intended to better the family’s business prospects. She left her fiancé at the altar and ran into the arms of hotelier Jason Stone, her secret lover and Leo’s fiercest rival. During their year-long affair, Jason and Arianna “lived in the moment,” enjoyed “mind-blowing sex,” and denied their growing love. Now Arianna’s desperate to prove she’s “a grown woman, an independent thinker”; she attempts to manage her charity for kids with cancer without Leo’s help, while Jason’s determination to escape his past as a con-man escort to wealthy, lonely women leads him to address a threat from loan sharks with assistance only from his shifty brother, Deacon. When Arianna and Jason’s plans both backfire, creating a public scandal and endangering Arianna’s life, Leo proves an invaluable ally. A fast-paced plot, appealing lovers awakening to their true feelings, unnerving antagonists, and entertaining sex scenes make this an absorbing, satisfying romance. Agent: Deirdre Knight, Knight Agency. (Dec.)