Ruthless Awakening

Diaz Penvarnon figured Rhianna Carlow for a calculating seductress, a woman who could shatter the happiness surrounding the upcoming nuptials in a single moment of indiscretion. So, Diaz spirited her away aboard his yacht, certain he'd averted a family disaster. Unfortunately, life aboard ship threw them into close proximity with each other and the more Diaz knew about Rhianna, the more appealing she became. What a rude awakening he had when he discovered she was an innocent! If Rhianna was hardly the accomplished vixen he'd assumed her to be, what else in her past might be in doubt? Those who lived in Penvarnon House have also left a legacy for their descendants, too, the mystery and romance of this Ruthless Awakening.

A romance, a very intense romance with so many twists and turns it will have your head spinning. Ruthless doesn't even begin to description Ruthless Awakening by Sara Craven. Rhianna Carlow, Britain's star actress on a TV series has known nothing but sorrow and pain in her life as a young girl. When her mother passed away, she was sent to a spinster Aunt Kezia, a cruel and heartless woman who took her in but at every chance reminded her what a slut and home wrecker her mother was and gave her nothing but verbal abuse every chance she could, along with the woman she worked for Moria Seymour. The only joy in her life was Moria's daughter Carrie and her best friend who is about to marry her childhood friend Simon. But Rhianna knows that Simon can hurt Carrie so even though she doesn't want to attend the wedding, she returns home to attend the wedding at Penvarnon House, the house really owned by Carrie's cousin Diaz Penvarnon. The dark, handsome, rich Diaz who from the first time she saw him, unsettles her. Diaz Penvarnon was the Spanish alpha at his best. He's moody, dark and mysterious and he's very attracted to Rhianna but harbours guilt and feelings because he believes his father and Rhianna's mother were lovers until her death. Each time he returns to the family manor, he is reminded of those feelings and fights them at every step. It isn't until he kidnaps her and takes her to his yacht to keep her from spoiling his cousins's wedding that's when things get out of control. Ruthless Awakening is a beautiful love story, with so many secrets, emotions, transgressions with a superb ending that was absolutely such a surprise it only made the story more enchanting.

I have been disappointed with 99% of the Harlequin Presents I have read for the last 5-6 years. the titles put me off--too much dithering around--too much "feeling the heat of his body!"--not enough characterization--and stupid incidents. I hate stupidity! Then, here comes this book by Sara Craven, who has been a favorite of mine since Strange Adventure (a long time ago). A good story, a hint of mystery, a bit of suspicion, and a happy ending! I liked Rhianna, and Ms. Craven did a good job of presenting all that went into making her character. The flashbacks were a bit tedious, I would have liked to have had them all in one or two chapters at the beginning of the book. I also liked Diaz and Carrie. The love scenes were well written, not too steamy. Diaz was a considerate man and lover. I am so happy to finally find a Harlequin I like! It gives me hope for the future of the genre. I had just about given up.