Brenda Jackson (1) (1953–)

Good book. Hunter returned to Phoenix after she divorced her cheating husband. She's opened her own architectural firm and is focused on getting it up and running. While at a nightclub with her two best friends, she runs into playboy Tyson Steele who makes it clear that he wants her.

Hunter and Tyson have a history. He was as big a player in high school as he is now and had a reputation with the school's girls. When he zeroed in on Hunter, she held out for a relationship or nothing - and Tyson got nothing. He still remembers Hunter as the one who got away and is determined to remedy the situation.

I enjoyed watching the relationship develop between Tyson and Hunter. I will say that Tyson irritated me at the beginning. He is so arrogant and cocky about his appeal to women that he can't imagine anyone turning him down. He is honest about his intention to seduce her and get her out of his system before moving on to the next conquest. Hunter is not impressed. She's attracted to him but has no intention of getting involved with another man who avoids commitment. Yet, after a while, she considers giving in and using Tyson the way he plans to use her - just a fling.

I had to laugh to see Tyson the playboy hoist on his own petard. Instead of a "one and done" night to get Hunter out of his system, he can't stop thinking about her and wanting her. This freaks him out because it has never happened to him before. He knows he should walk away but proposes a weeklong fling instead. I cheered at Hunter's response. She has enjoyed her time with Tyson. His care and attention have gone a long way toward restoring her sense of self as a woman. Her ex blamed his cheating on her, claiming she wasn't enough for him, but her time with Tyson brings out her passionate side. She tells Tyson she'll go along with his plan but with certain conditions - they must do things outside the bedroom.

Tyson has never "dated" the women he slept with but found himself more than willing to indulge Hunter's demands. Watching him get into movie nights, dinner and dancing dates, and other ordinary pursuits was fun. He also loses all interest in chasing other women. He gets a lot of teasing from his brothers, even the married ones, and some knowing looks from his brother Eli. I loved Tyson's "aha" moment when he realized he was in love with Hunter.

Hunter knew she was risking heartbreak when she explained her conditions to Tyson, but she had to try. I loved seeing her confidence in herself grow, though there was still a part that kept her from believing Tyson could change. There was a bumpy spot where Hunter's jealousy got the better of her and created a bit of a misunderstanding between them. I ached for her as she thought Tyson was ready to break things off.

The ending was sweet with a side helping of spice. I loved how Tyson decided to show Hunter how he felt. It may have been a tad too subtle at first, but the more he talked, the more Hunter began to hope. Tyson's reputation made her wariness understandable, but that made the truth so much sweeter. The epilogue was great as the fourth Bad News Steele bit the dust, leaving only two more for their mother to focus on.… (more)