His Every Need

Austin’s appealing contemporary manages to transcend its hoary premise of the rich businessman paying off a young woman’s debt in exchange for her becoming his mistress. Las Vegas mogul Trevor Blake is revealed to be a complicated man nursing a little boy’s hurts; Allison Campbell is desperate to continue in her role as family savior and caretaker following her mother’s death from cancer. Supposedly cold-hearted Trevor treats Allison gently once their contract is signed, and surprises her by taking her whole family under his wing. Meanwhile, Allison (who is no wilting flower) teaches Trevor how to deal with his own thorny family situation. Austin, clearly enjoying a change of pace from her more comedic Rose Strickland mystery series, infuses her characters with relatable problems and hot chemistry that will keep readers turning pages. Agent: Courtney Miller-Callihan, Sanford J. Greenburger Associates. (Aug.)