Gabriel Hawk's Lady

Gabriel Hawk was every mother's worst nightmare...and every daughter's secret fantasy. Unless that daughter was Rorie Dean! Unfortunately, the dark, brooding man with a heart of stone and a body that yelled sex was Rorie's only chance of finding her nephew...

Ms. Barton takes what could have been a standard Big-Studly-Man comes to the rescue of Innocent-God-Fearing-Maiden plot and breathes fantastic new life into it. I did not want to put this book down and it's earned a prime spot on my keeper shelf. Rorie, our (well padded) heroine, is smart, stubborn and determined to have her own way - even when she she doesn't quite understand all that's going on around her. Gabriel is equally intelligent and determined but he knows exactly what he's facing. He also knows it's not good. When I first started this book I was worried it was going to fall right into a typical slot. But within 40 pages I was entranced. These two lit sparks off each other and balanced it with a tenderness that kept me wanting more. Brava, Ms Barton. This is one great book.

This book only rivaled Monica Mclean's story Cinderella Bride which I recently read as well. Rorie Dean who has undergone the loss of her brother succeeds in overcoming her preconceived prejudices and fears to take a leap of faith to save her nephew Frankie and the man she loves Gabriel Hawk. Not an easy thing to do when the man is bent on destroying himself. This is truly a book not to put down!

I just finished it and I liked it so much I wanted it to last forever. This is another great book from Beverly Barton and a fabulous addition to The Protectors series.