Love over Lattes

Hicks’s sizzling first Desert Monsoon contemporary romance is a touch predictable but wholly entertaining. Valentina de Cordoba has an emotional meltdown in a café when she finds out that her rental application has been rejected, jeopardizing her future with her young son, Max. Hunky Derek Cole, who’s been eavesdropping on Valentina’s conversation, impulsively offers to rent her the cottage on his estate. With no other options, Valentina reluctantly takes Derek up on his offer but wants to keep things strictly professional—something he has a hard time doing, though he and his wife are in the midst of a rough divorce. The acerbic wit of Derek’s housekeeper and the precociousness of Valentina’s son boost an otherwise stock plot with humor and heart, and Valentina and Derek’s great chemistry gives this story its sizzle. Each stolen glance is taut with sexual tension that continues to build until an utterly satisfying release. This irresistible romance is sure to satisfy. (BookLife)