The Heir's Scandalous Affair

Courtesy of CK2S Kwips and Kritiques Upon diagnosis of her husband's fatal illness, Samantha Hardcastle made a promise to help him track down his missing heirs. Even the death of Tarrant six months ago did not stop her from keeping her promise so now she is in New Orleans trying to find Louis DeLac. Louis has ignored every attempt she's made, including showing up on his doorstep and Samantha is at a loss. Overwhelmed by loneliness and sorrow, she gives in to emotion and engages in a one night stand with a stranger. Louis DeLac is not at all upset over never having known his father and has no interest in finding out who it is now. So imagine his surprise the unknown woman he spent one incredible night with shows up at his door and turns out to be his late father's trophy widow! In spite of the inherent scandal over engaging in an affair with Samantha, Louis is unable to resist her allure, and makes it his personal mission to show her she can still have a happy love-filled life... with him. I have to admit, I was more than a little nervous about how Jennifer Lewis would pull off The Heir's Scandalous Affair. Samantha truly loved Tarrant and she was the driving force behind tracking down Tarrant's lost heirs. So I wondered how in the world a romance would work with her as the heroine and one of Tarrant's children as the hero. Well Jennifer did a fantastic job with the story! I can easily say this is my favorite story in The Hardcastle Progeny trilogy. This was a much more poignant romance than the preceding two books in The Hardcastle Progeny miniseries because of who Sam is. She's dealing with all of the overwhelming emotions of losing her husband so recently, Tarrant's two sons having found love, and struggling to build a relationship with his daughter Fiona, and just plain feeling lonely. Her heartache is realistic and very touching. She needs someone to help her get through the emotional crisis and Louis is the perfect person to do so. Louis has a gentle side, though we are given the impression he doesn't often let that show, and this makes their love story very powerful. We are left with the feeling that no matter what happens to these two reluctant lovebirds, or how much scandal the press throws at them, they will pull through with flying colors and be all the stronger for it. We also see a different side of Fiona through Sam's eyes, which added even more to the story. Previously we were given the impression Fiona was a wee bit spoiled, and not responsible enough for the job of running Hardcastle Enterprises. We also were wondering if she was jealous of her new found siblings and begrudged them their roles in the family and the business. In The Heir's Scandalous Affair, we see Fiona as a warmer individual who has come to accept Sam at last, and the rest of the family members. I hope Jennifer will get the chance to write Fiona's story in the not too distant future, so we can see how she has grown and changed as an individual. I am sorry

Widowed for the past six months Samantha Hardcastle is visiting New Orleans in search of the last of her deceased husband's estranged sons. She's been the model `trophy wife' and has continued with her rituals since her husband's passing but she still feels out of sorts and not quite herself. Every day just seems to sap the energy right out of her and she's not quite sure what to do to rectify the problem. In an attempt to boost her spirits Sam decides to buy herself a pair of shoes but gets lost on her way back to the hotel. Since she forgot to eat that morning she's lightheaded and dizzy and uses a nearby brick wall to steady herself. That's where a man finds her and drags her into the bar. Fortunately he's kind and makes sure she eats and doesn't pass out outside his bar. She enjoys talking with the man and they end up dancing and much more before the evening's over. By morning Sam's come to regret the encounter. It was the most enjoyable and freeing experience of her life, but the simple fact is she doesn't even know his name and every instinct she possesses tells her that she's betrayed her deceased husband. She sneaks out before the man wakes up and goes back to her hotel room wondering what she'll do now and what possessed her to behave as she did. Louis Dulac is a successful entrepreneur with several five star restaurants all over the world. His mother's lifestyle as a free spirited singer has made it so easy for him to be comfortable in his own skin and accept whatever life has to throw at him. He's definitely not going to be cramped by other people's expectations! His mother always told him that he was born "of the chance meeting between a double bass and a saxophone" so he's accepted that he'll never know the true identity of his father? Thanks to Sam's search for Tarrant's sons, Louis is stunned and pleased to find the beauty that he'd spent the prior evening pleasuring is at his front door. Sam, however, is horrified! How is it possible that the one time in her life that she acts on impulse rather than according to `training' that she winds up sleeping with a man who could potentially be her stepson? The attraction between them is undeniable but Sam is determined to do everything in her power to avoid giving in to her feelings - and falling into bed with Louis again. Louis agrees to take a DNA test if Sam will have supper with him. She intends to keep their relationship on a plutonic level and he's equally determined to see that she break all her own self imposed rules and be the woman she truly wants to be. Jennifer Lewis finals out her HARDCASTLE LEGACY series with a story that's sure to cement a place in your heart for every single one of the characters. Samantha's always taken such care with her appearance and seemed so well put together that I was really surprised when the reality about her life comes to light. Louis's easygoing acceptance of life's little twists and turns counterbalances Sam perfect