SPANISH BILLIONAIRE, INNOCENT WIFE

Author: Kate Walker ISBN: 9780373127344 6/2008 CONTEMPORARY Publisher: HARLEQUIN

He's determined she'll pay his price—with passion! Raul Esteban has always wanted Alannah. She is purity and passion combined! But she rejected him, and now the proud Spanish aristocrat is determined that she will pay for her mistake—with her body! Raul mistakenly believes Alannah is no longer a naive girl—until one night of passion proves he has taken her virginity! Now Raul will do whatever it takes to keep her at his mercy...

RRAH's THOUGHTS AND PONDERINGS:

When I opened SPANISH BILLIONAIRE, INNOCENT WIFE by Kate Walker I expected a fast, breezy read. I mistakenly thought it would be one of those read-and-forget books, designed to entertain for a few hours without leaving a lasting impression. Too, perhaps because of its slimness, I didn't expect anything too thought-provoking.
 
Boy, was I wrong. Kate Walker packs a lot into a small space. Every word moves the reader deeper into the characters' world and by the end of the first page I was hooked.
 
This begins with Alannah waiting for Raul, the man she hasn't seen for two years but who she knows she must, under the oppressive weight of loss and sadness, see. He isn't happy to see her; besides being consumed by grief, he's still angry with her. He'd proposed to Alannah once and her refusal still pains him. When Alannah confesses one secret, it leads to the exposure of another and yet another. The two have a history that plays heavily on the events they are currently dealing with. The real question, the one that I hoped I knew the answer to but was never sure of, is whether or not they'll have a chance at a future. There are times when it seems unlikely; others when it seems inevitable.
 
As I said, this is a case of not being able to judge a book by its cover. SPANISH BILLIONAIRE, INNOCENT WIFE by Kate Walker is a soul-searching romance. It is highly entertaining, and was very much enjoyed by this reader.

Kay James