Desperate Measures

by Barbara DeLeo

A wife he needs. The woman he desires.

Cy Hathaway needs a wife, fast, to win custody of his son, Jonty. He returns home to discover the childhood sweetheart he once left behind has become a vibrant, beautiful woman. Even though wanting to sweep her off her feet wasn’t part of the plan…

For Ellie, Cy’s sudden reappearance awakens a flood of memories—and resentments for the way he’d abandoned her all those years ago. But she has a life now, a career. She can’t simply drop everything and get hitched, even if the sight of him still makes her heart race.

But after Ellie meets his little boy, she can’t refuse. Certain she has a grip on her old feelings for Cy, she agrees to marry her first love until he gains custody. But when did helping out a friend become something with the capacity to hijack her heart?

Desperate Measures is Book Two in Barbara DeLeo's Breaking Through series.

225 pages, Kindle Edition

Published October 6, 2021

About the author

Barbara DeLeo’s first book, co-written with her best friend, was a story about beauty queens in space. She was eleven, and the sole, handwritten copy was lost years ago, much to everyone’s relief. It’s some small miracle that she kept the faith and is now living her dream of writing sparkling contemporary romance with unforgettable characters.

After completing degrees in Psychology and English then travelling the world, Barbara married her winemaker hero and had two sets of twins.

Barbara still loves telling stories about finding love in all the wrong places, with not a beauty queen or spaceship in sight.

Visit Barbara on Facebook! http://www.facebook.com/BarbaraDeLeoA...

Reviews

[Margaret Hejmanowski · Rating 5 out of 5]

Great love story. Love Barbara Deleo stories, always has interesting characters with a love twist plot.

[Susan Roncevich · Rating 5 out of 5]

Ellie Jacobs lives in Rata Cove New Zealand and is a Landscape Architect. Cy Hathaway, who once was a close friend of Ellie’s in New Zealand but now lives in Colorado, is now back to visit in New Zealand with a 6 year old son. Cy had broken Ellie’s heart years ago when she proclaimed that she loved him and then he took off.

In this second installment of the Breaking Through series by Barbara DeLeo we get to read about Ellie’s love story. Her two friends, Kirin and Gwen, who she met at an online life coaching course, are each other’s confidants. They help Ellie sort through her choices in this story. We all need good friends like these women.

Cy’s son, Jonty, is dealing with the trauma of losing his mother to a drug overdose a year ago. He has Selective Mutism due to the trauma of that loss and is unable to speak. Now his grandparents want custody of Jonty and Cy needs a temporary wife to take back to the States for a year to convince the courts to let him have custody. He remembers Ellie from 8 years ago and he feels she has the qualities to fit that role if he can talk her into the arrangement that would entail just being friends but live as if they were a happily married couple.

So, Barbara takes us on this emotional journey of Cy trying to convince Ellie of this temporary arrangement. Can they fight off the attraction that is reigniting between the two of them. I enjoyed this love story that has many twists and turns. If you are a fan of second chance love stories that have elements of drama, forgiveness, family, friends and a heartwarming HEA love story, you will enjoy this book!

[Priscilla Oliveira · Rating 5 out of 5]

Oh this book is a roller coaster of emotions. I confess that I shed tears. Ellie and Cy have been friends since childhood and were together for a short time, but a tragic event separated the two, in addition to Cy's history of always running away when things get tough. Years later Cy is the father of a boy who has gone through a massive trauma and the only way to have his custody guaranteed is to convince Ellie to marry him. But nothing is so simple. In this book Barbara managed to explore every feeling of the characters, I could feel the pain, passion, and doubts of each one. Simply gorgeous. I wanted a bonus epilogue to see them in 5, 10 years with Jonty teenager and the couple with three more kids!

[Wanda Compton · Rating 5 out of 5]

Single dad needs a wife

Cy left Ellie ten years ago at a very bad time in her life and failed to make contact. I didn't believe he had the nerve to show up and ask her to agree to a fake marriage. When we met his son and learned the situation with getting custody I began to understand. I found their story to be moving. They had changed but I think their love remained the same. When I learned about Cy's son Jonty and all he had been through I knew Ellie wouldn't be able to resist.

Well written with characters that came alive on t pages. Sensitive subjects were handled well. I enjoyed reading it. Barbara seldom is an author I have read and enjoyed before.

[Quinn Fforde · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is a very emotional family drama. Cy and Ellie were childhood friends for years, then lovers, then conspirators. It was too much for Cy to handle, and he left. Ellie dealt with things in her own way and missed him for years. Now he's back with a little boy who has suffered his own trauma. Cy can only think of one person who can help him, Ellie. The problem is that, although Cy and Ellie still love each other, love is only complicating the situation. Who will run this time, and who will stay? A very compelling read.

[Jolene · Rating 4 out of 5]

Desperate Measures by Barbara DeLeo. I liked the Christmas and New Year holiday celebrations on Rata Cove New Zealand. Former childhood sweethearts Ellie and Cy agree to a pretend marriage based on desperation, unresolved guilt and abandonment issues from their past. Added to the mix are his son, Jonty's mutism resulting from his mom's death. Way too mushy for no romance fans. Wonder if the happy family feelings are true or a brief soap bubble moment?

[Elsie Weihrauch · Rating 5 out of 5]

I really liked Cy and Ellie's story. They were best friends when they were kids but then on the night they became more than friends, Ellie said the words I love you and Cy left town the next day breaking her heart. There is so much more to the story that you will need to read to find out but I will say that
Cy's son has issues that Ellie is able to help with. I would hope that if any one decides to read this story that they will enjoy it as much as I did.

[Lisa · Rating 5 out of 5]

Great story about childhood best friends. Cy walked away after Ellie said she loved him. Now years later he is back and needs her help to keep his son. Watch the love unfold as these two stop at nothing to protect a little boy who has stole both thier hearts.

[Cheri Lynn Griffith · Rating 5 out of 5]

If you love second chance romances, then this is your book. The characters were wonderful and sucked you in. Definite page turner. Lovely story!

[Dee Riley · Rating 5 out of 5]

Two old friends meet again after almost a decade apart. Ellie still loves CU. An they make it happen? I have enjoyed reading this book.