It was marrying season in Sloane's Cove, and Lilah Austin was the woman who every man wanted! Except Tyler Westlake -- he'd returned to amass another mountain of money, period... not to halt the man parade after sweet Lilah. Yet she turned to Tyler for refuge from her matchmaking brothers, and chivalry soon had him pretending Lilah was his ladylove. But faking it felt so real -- he had to have Lilah for himself! Now how could the notorious playboy convince this love-wary woman that he wasn't merely posing as the perfect lover -- it was the role he was destined to play in her life!
A former teacher, Myrna Mackenzie has always been a daydreamer and began putting those daydreams to use when she sold her first book in 1993.
Her work has won the Holt Medallion for outstanding fiction and the Booksellers Best Award, she's been nominated for the Romantic Times Reviewer's Choice Awards 4 times and been a finalist in the Orange Rose, the Reader's Choice and WisRWA's Write Touch. Sold worldwide, her books have been translated into many languages.
Her success has, of course, been largely due to many faithful readers. So, to all of you out there who have bought books, written letters and e-mails and continued to share in the stories she loves to write, thank you, and may you have much happiness and joy in reading and in life!
3½ Stars ~ This is the second book in Ms Mackenzie's Sloan's Cove Twins duet, and it was equally as lovely as the first one.
With Lilah's twin sister happily married, her four brothers wanted the last Austin sibling holdout to find a mate and share in the wedded bliss. Every single man that the Austin brothers know has been given a glowing report of Lilah's many attributes. In the space of two weeks, she's had three proposals; all of which she's promptly turned down. It's during one such proposal that former Sloan's Cove resident, Tyler comes to her rescue. Tyler's always had a soft spot for the pretty girl who loved to stare at his mother's estate from the other side of the fence. Little did he know that that pretty girl had the biggest crush on him.
Learning that Lilah is the resident Sloan's Cove history buff, he enlists her knowledge to help him convert his mother's home into a restaurant with a strong local theme. In exchange, he'll take on the role of eager suitor to get her brothers to back off. Of course, the more time they spend together the more it becomes obvious that this isn't a game. Tyler's vowed to stay clear of commitment after witnessing his own parents go through multiple marriages. Trying to be the hero is a tough job, but Tyler is determined to make his role all about Lilah; build up her self-esteem and show her that she deserves a man who'll always put her first.
Lilah's brothers want her settled. Ambushed by totally inappropriate local men, Lilah asks returned rich boy (and childhood crush) to be her pretend boyfriend. He agrees in return for her help researching the history of his mother's home, which he's transforming into a restaurant. This is a great story, tender and sweet and emotional. I really liked Tyler, who came off as very caring of Lilah, looking out for her best interests above his own. Loved the final scene when he sees her in a different light. Will read this one again.