His for the Taking

by Julie Cohen

His mistress--for one night?When New York cabdriver Zoe Drake finds a dark, brooding man on her doorestep, she doesn't know what to think--does he want something, or has Christmas come early this year?

Nick Giroux is looking for his long-lost father--not a newfound woman! But as she helps him in his search, there's something about him that makes Zoe let down her ice-cool defenses. The simmering attraction is too much, and for one night only, she's his for the taking...

But after a night like that, can Nick ever let her go?

Genres: Romance, Category Romance, Contemporary Romance

ebook

First published February 1, 2007

About the author

Julie Cohen (also writing as Julie Mae Cohen) is an award-winning, bestselling author and a popular teacher of creative writing. She was born in Maine in the USA, and currently lives in the UK with her family and a terrier of dubious origin.

Reviews

[Kay · Rating 4 out of 5]

Zoe Drake is a New York City cab driver at night, an aerobics teacher by day, and she loves the independence that gives her. She’s never felt like she belonged with her beautiful sisters and mother; and even her father didn’t hide his disapproval. Zoe discovers a gorgeous brooding man outside her Aunt Xenia’s apartment door. Nick Giroux just barges into her life and her Aunt Xenia’s apartment; he’s on a mission to find his long lost father and he’s not leaving until someone answers his questions. To his disappointment Xenia has died and with her the clues she had to his father’s whereabouts. Nick’s convinced that his father had been staying with Xenia and he insists on staying in the apartment until he shows up. Of course, Zoe can’t let this stranger just stay; she has to move in too. And living under the same roof with Nick plays havoc with her libido.

I loved this book! Nick and Zoe are a great pair. All Zoe’s ever wanted was a place to call home and someone to belong to. All Nick’s wanted was to ask his father why he abandoned his family. It was delightful to read the wicked lusty thoughts that went through both Nick and Zoe’s minds as they fought their attraction. The scene where Nick has to help out during an aerobics class is just hilarious. This was originally released as a Modern Extra, and could easily have been published as a Blaze. The dialogue is witty and spirited, the chemistry is deliciously electric, and Nick and Zoe are a couple you can easily route for.

[Shelley · Rating 2 out of 5]

Eh. It was okay. I liked parts of it more than others - his tendency to not want her to grieve for her dead great-aunt (because he felt bad about her feeling sad) deeply pissed me off, enough that it colored my view of everything else he did. Like when he refused to leave her apartment, just flat out disagreeing with her request for him to leave and getting comfortable, for days. It reminded me of Natalie refusing to break up with Jeremy when he broke up with her on Sports Night, another thing that greatly frustrated me. So basically, I disliked the romantic lead, which is never a good sign in a romance novel. *g*

(The UK title and cover are far superior to the American ones, so I need to remember to order it with the next Who or Torchwood books...)

[Sheila · Rating 3 out of 5]

I kinda wish I'd read Shelley's review before I went and bought this, but I think I liked this a little better than you did, Shell. The sex scenes were pretty good (although, Mom, look away - I think the word "penis" in a sex scene is decidedly unsexy). I also liked the characters, but the ending was so pat I kind of wanted to bang my head on a wall.

[Cecelia]

not the greatest but still pretty good