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Too Hot to Handle #3
Making Magic
Making Magic by Karen Van Der Zee released on Jan 25, 1995 is available now for purchase.
192 pages, Paperback
First published November 5, 1993
31 people want to read
About the author
Karen van der Zee
93 books41 followersI always wanted to write, ever since I was a child growing up in Holland. I was a dreamer, reading books and making up my own stories. I had notebooks full of stories which I illustrated with crayon drawings. My brothers burned the notebooks in the attic one day, fortunately not burning down the house. They don’t remember this now, but I do!
I also always wanted to travel. Holland is very flat and I wanted to see mountains and coconut palms and tropical beaches and deserts. I wanted to meet interesting people and learn about different cultures and see how people lived their daily lives. And then I wanted to write adventurous stories set in these exotic places
I got lucky and fell in love with a globetrotting American. I met him in Amsterdam, he asked me to marry him in Rome, and we tied the knot in a ten-minute ceremony in Kenya, East Africa, where he was a Peace Corps Volunteer. Some wedding that was! Not the stuff of romantic dreams, but really good for a laugh.
After Kenya we lived in the States for a while, then four years in Ghana, West Africa where not only our first daughter was born, but my first Mills & Boon romance as well. It took me a year to write, which is three months longer than it takes to have a baby. It was set in Ghana, and I called it SWEET NOT ALWAYS, a slogan found on a big colorfully decorated truck that transported people, goods, and live chickens.
I continued writing romances and loved the creativity of it, although it was, and is, never easy. Later we also lived in Indonesia, Ramallah (Palestine), then another three years in Ghana, and most recently six years in Armenia, which lies east of Turkey and north of Iran. Along the way we acquired a couple more kids, so now we have three.
I’ve written over thirty books now, many set in exotic locations such as Bali, Thailand, Malaysia, Java, Kenya and Ghana, as well as Holland and the US. Writing as Mona van Wieren, I received a RITA for a Silhouette Romance entitled RHAPSODY IN BLOOM.
I love the challenge of living in a foreign country where the food is different, the people interesting and life gives me endless inspiration for my writing. So, I’ll just keep going for a while.
I also always wanted to travel. Holland is very flat and I wanted to see mountains and coconut palms and tropical beaches and deserts. I wanted to meet interesting people and learn about different cultures and see how people lived their daily lives. And then I wanted to write adventurous stories set in these exotic places
I got lucky and fell in love with a globetrotting American. I met him in Amsterdam, he asked me to marry him in Rome, and we tied the knot in a ten-minute ceremony in Kenya, East Africa, where he was a Peace Corps Volunteer. Some wedding that was! Not the stuff of romantic dreams, but really good for a laugh.
After Kenya we lived in the States for a while, then four years in Ghana, West Africa where not only our first daughter was born, but my first Mills & Boon romance as well. It took me a year to write, which is three months longer than it takes to have a baby. It was set in Ghana, and I called it SWEET NOT ALWAYS, a slogan found on a big colorfully decorated truck that transported people, goods, and live chickens.
I continued writing romances and loved the creativity of it, although it was, and is, never easy. Later we also lived in Indonesia, Ramallah (Palestine), then another three years in Ghana, and most recently six years in Armenia, which lies east of Turkey and north of Iran. Along the way we acquired a couple more kids, so now we have three.
I’ve written over thirty books now, many set in exotic locations such as Bali, Thailand, Malaysia, Java, Kenya and Ghana, as well as Holland and the US. Writing as Mona van Wieren, I received a RITA for a Silhouette Romance entitled RHAPSODY IN BLOOM.
I love the challenge of living in a foreign country where the food is different, the people interesting and life gives me endless inspiration for my writing. So, I’ll just keep going for a while.
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Displaying 1 - 4 of 4 reviews
July 4, 2018
Re Making Magic - this was a very odd book, even for Karen van der Zee. It also probably doesn't quite fit as the third book of the Too Hot To Handle Series. KvdZ does have an H who is a donkey's rear, but her H's are more lightweight bullies compared to the other books in this series.
The h is a little problematic too. She is a 26 yr old broke socialite who is reduced to a limited amount of money in her bank account and ownership of a lovely villa on KvdZ's Caribbean Island of St. Barlow.
(St. B's is also featured in KvdZ's HPs prior to this. It isn't a miniseries exactly, but very interconnected by the books Kept Woman, The Imperfect Bride, Something in Return and Passionate Adventure. The other characters all make appearances in the various books. Interestingly, they don't all get along either.)
The h isn't totally impoverished, but she is going to have to find a way to make to a living. Her damage baggage is that she was married to a philandering gambler for six years until he died. We are meant to feel sympathy for her I think, as KvdZ points out that she was pushed into marriage with the guy at 19 because the h's father wanted a business deal.
Normally, that wouldn't be a problem, but in this case the h just refused to divorce the guy and for no good reason. She would rather think of herself as a victim, tho I doubt KvdZ meant to give that impression. Anyways, dead hubby slime slurper gambled away the h's money, cheated on her and was never home and now the h has trauma and has to figure out an new life.
Enter the H, who is renting a St. B's villa next to the h and pretty obnoxiously using her as inspiration for the female lead of his next big blockbuster novel. The h finds some of his manuscript pages on the beach they share and gets very angry when she recognizes herself.
The H doesn't care, he just starts pumping her for personal information, which the h gives to him for some reason like she is too polite to tell him off. The H also doesn't explain who he is exactly, (he is very famous,) so the h accuses him of being paparazzi and he doesn't exactly deny it and she STILL lets him run amok through her life.
Eventually the H manages to get the h to rent him some rooms in her villa. She needs the money and she also wants to start a hydroponic herb farm to go with Sacha's, (the h from Passionate Adventure), goat cheese export business.
Then the h has to put up with the H's semi-abusive roofie kisses and manhandling, (tho she does get a lurve force mojo tingle,) and his definitely intrusive questions about her life. There are also the DEFINITELY abusive phone calls from the H's multiple women that the h is forced to deal with.
These women call night and day and the H gets semi violent when his writing is interrupted, so the women get more verbally abusive as well and the h bears the brunt of both. It turns out that the woman are all the H's half sisters and his grandmother, but really they were pretty disgusting and any sensible person would have kicked the H out and got on with her hydroponics.
As it happens, the h's father recently died almost broke too, so the h's brother has to sell the family house properties to save the business from bankruptcy. The h has to go to New York to figure out what to do with the family furniture and goods and the H decides to follow her, supposedly because he is interested in her as a person, but more likely for his character research.
Once there the h's supposed BFF, who is a celebrity chaser galore, demands that the h invite the H to a party the woman is supposedly giving for the h, after they see the H on TV being interviewed as a famous author.
(I found the BFF to be absolutely tacky as well and wondered why on earth the h was even friends with her. It was insinuated that the BFF was using the h as gossip fodder for the jet set socialite set and equally clear that she was a status chaser. It made the h look even shallower than she already looked, cause really tiny spilt water bottle puddles have more depth that this girl did.)
Anyhows, the H shows up at the h's party and one of the female guests is the H's ex. We get OW indications right away and the h is jealous, but the OW weirdly keeps trying to get the h to socialize with her and tells the h she knew her dead husband very well. Then the H's green eyed monster shows up as another male guest gets very friendly with the h.
The H eventually drags the h off, he is NOT interested in the OW and hasn't been for a decade, but the OW likes to chase what she can't have. That doesn't really interest the H, he wants to explore the full effect of the Lurve Force Mojo with the h.
So he bullies her into going out with him and she eventually winds up having a huge Purple Passion Moment with him that makes her feel like she is making magic with the H. The H takes her to meet his female relatives and the h supposedly really likes them.
(I had to wonder about that, KvdZ glosses over the whole thing really quickly. Mainly I felt that this h, who has no backbone because she was too polite to not let her father push into an arranged marriage, too polite to dump the man who cheated on her and used up her money, and too polite to tell off people who either abused her or used her, was also being too polite to even acknowledge that the H and his family were opportunistic, using bullies. )
The kicker comes when the H goes off to do his writing again and the h opens the paper to see a big picture of the H with the OW and a headline indicating they are a couple. The h is hurt and wondering, but has been the object of tabloid lies herself, so she goes back to St. B's to talk to the H.
When she gets there she finds the OW has moved herself into her home. The h does nothing but offer the OW a drink. Then the H returns and he gets angry at the h for letting the woman in. The h explains she thought maybe the H had invited her, the H did not, so he kicks the OW off the island. The photo of the H and OW was from a publicity tour ten years earlier, the OW staged the whole front page tabloid thing.
Then the h decides she doesn't want a relationship with the H and after one more Purple Passion moment, tells the H they won't work out. The H leaves the island the next day and three weeks later, sends the h his manuscript. His dedication is {to the h, his inspiration and his love} and the h sends a telegraph telling him she isn't suing and she is having a party with no OW invited.
The H shows up the very next day, he and the h declare their love and the H will throw any H chasing OW off the island and we leave them making marriage plans for the fluffy cute HEA.
This book has some good moments, the h's inner thoughts are quite funny at times. That turns out to be a problem in believablity tho. KvdZ is going against her usual characterization instincts in a HUGE way with this H and h - the inner thoughts and motivations of this h are 180 degrees from what KvdZ actually has the h DO - and it creates a void/disconnect in the story because of it.
From the way this h thinks, she would never in a million years wind up in the situation she did. Yet KvdZ uses that philandered upon widow situation to create artificial baggage as a plot ploy for the story's dramatic tension. It doesn't work, because the drama scenes and the h just being herself scenes don't mesh.
The H doesn't work either, he is too generic and again, his stated motivations and his actions are exactly opposite each other. So instead of being intriguing and enigmatic, but worthy of being an H, he either comes across as a user or a Fly By Charlie and neither really lend authenticity to the romance.
Plus the h's continual lack of spine in her actions when her thoughts were so clearly otherwise was extremely frustrating to read. There was no reason for the h to act they way she did and it throws you out of the story.
KvdZ wants us to believe that this h is is too shy, fragile and way too polite to make a stand for herself, yet she gives this h her usual characterization of an h with a strong inner spirit and it just did not work for me.
So for me, this was not a great day at the HP office, but do give this one a go if you run into it. The OW is suitably horrible and there is enough funny moments to entertain anyone who doesn't mind an h who is presented as being so shallow that even a mud puddle would be out of her depth.
The h is a little problematic too. She is a 26 yr old broke socialite who is reduced to a limited amount of money in her bank account and ownership of a lovely villa on KvdZ's Caribbean Island of St. Barlow.
(St. B's is also featured in KvdZ's HPs prior to this. It isn't a miniseries exactly, but very interconnected by the books Kept Woman, The Imperfect Bride, Something in Return and Passionate Adventure. The other characters all make appearances in the various books. Interestingly, they don't all get along either.)
The h isn't totally impoverished, but she is going to have to find a way to make to a living. Her damage baggage is that she was married to a philandering gambler for six years until he died. We are meant to feel sympathy for her I think, as KvdZ points out that she was pushed into marriage with the guy at 19 because the h's father wanted a business deal.
Normally, that wouldn't be a problem, but in this case the h just refused to divorce the guy and for no good reason. She would rather think of herself as a victim, tho I doubt KvdZ meant to give that impression. Anyways, dead hubby slime slurper gambled away the h's money, cheated on her and was never home and now the h has trauma and has to figure out an new life.
Enter the H, who is renting a St. B's villa next to the h and pretty obnoxiously using her as inspiration for the female lead of his next big blockbuster novel. The h finds some of his manuscript pages on the beach they share and gets very angry when she recognizes herself.
The H doesn't care, he just starts pumping her for personal information, which the h gives to him for some reason like she is too polite to tell him off. The H also doesn't explain who he is exactly, (he is very famous,) so the h accuses him of being paparazzi and he doesn't exactly deny it and she STILL lets him run amok through her life.
Eventually the H manages to get the h to rent him some rooms in her villa. She needs the money and she also wants to start a hydroponic herb farm to go with Sacha's, (the h from Passionate Adventure), goat cheese export business.
Then the h has to put up with the H's semi-abusive roofie kisses and manhandling, (tho she does get a lurve force mojo tingle,) and his definitely intrusive questions about her life. There are also the DEFINITELY abusive phone calls from the H's multiple women that the h is forced to deal with.
These women call night and day and the H gets semi violent when his writing is interrupted, so the women get more verbally abusive as well and the h bears the brunt of both. It turns out that the woman are all the H's half sisters and his grandmother, but really they were pretty disgusting and any sensible person would have kicked the H out and got on with her hydroponics.
As it happens, the h's father recently died almost broke too, so the h's brother has to sell the family house properties to save the business from bankruptcy. The h has to go to New York to figure out what to do with the family furniture and goods and the H decides to follow her, supposedly because he is interested in her as a person, but more likely for his character research.
Once there the h's supposed BFF, who is a celebrity chaser galore, demands that the h invite the H to a party the woman is supposedly giving for the h, after they see the H on TV being interviewed as a famous author.
(I found the BFF to be absolutely tacky as well and wondered why on earth the h was even friends with her. It was insinuated that the BFF was using the h as gossip fodder for the jet set socialite set and equally clear that she was a status chaser. It made the h look even shallower than she already looked, cause really tiny spilt water bottle puddles have more depth that this girl did.)
Anyhows, the H shows up at the h's party and one of the female guests is the H's ex. We get OW indications right away and the h is jealous, but the OW weirdly keeps trying to get the h to socialize with her and tells the h she knew her dead husband very well. Then the H's green eyed monster shows up as another male guest gets very friendly with the h.
The H eventually drags the h off, he is NOT interested in the OW and hasn't been for a decade, but the OW likes to chase what she can't have. That doesn't really interest the H, he wants to explore the full effect of the Lurve Force Mojo with the h.
So he bullies her into going out with him and she eventually winds up having a huge Purple Passion Moment with him that makes her feel like she is making magic with the H. The H takes her to meet his female relatives and the h supposedly really likes them.
(I had to wonder about that, KvdZ glosses over the whole thing really quickly. Mainly I felt that this h, who has no backbone because she was too polite to not let her father push into an arranged marriage, too polite to dump the man who cheated on her and used up her money, and too polite to tell off people who either abused her or used her, was also being too polite to even acknowledge that the H and his family were opportunistic, using bullies. )
The kicker comes when the H goes off to do his writing again and the h opens the paper to see a big picture of the H with the OW and a headline indicating they are a couple. The h is hurt and wondering, but has been the object of tabloid lies herself, so she goes back to St. B's to talk to the H.
When she gets there she finds the OW has moved herself into her home. The h does nothing but offer the OW a drink. Then the H returns and he gets angry at the h for letting the woman in. The h explains she thought maybe the H had invited her, the H did not, so he kicks the OW off the island. The photo of the H and OW was from a publicity tour ten years earlier, the OW staged the whole front page tabloid thing.
Then the h decides she doesn't want a relationship with the H and after one more Purple Passion moment, tells the H they won't work out. The H leaves the island the next day and three weeks later, sends the h his manuscript. His dedication is {to the h, his inspiration and his love} and the h sends a telegraph telling him she isn't suing and she is having a party with no OW invited.
The H shows up the very next day, he and the h declare their love and the H will throw any H chasing OW off the island and we leave them making marriage plans for the fluffy cute HEA.
This book has some good moments, the h's inner thoughts are quite funny at times. That turns out to be a problem in believablity tho. KvdZ is going against her usual characterization instincts in a HUGE way with this H and h - the inner thoughts and motivations of this h are 180 degrees from what KvdZ actually has the h DO - and it creates a void/disconnect in the story because of it.
From the way this h thinks, she would never in a million years wind up in the situation she did. Yet KvdZ uses that philandered upon widow situation to create artificial baggage as a plot ploy for the story's dramatic tension. It doesn't work, because the drama scenes and the h just being herself scenes don't mesh.
The H doesn't work either, he is too generic and again, his stated motivations and his actions are exactly opposite each other. So instead of being intriguing and enigmatic, but worthy of being an H, he either comes across as a user or a Fly By Charlie and neither really lend authenticity to the romance.
Plus the h's continual lack of spine in her actions when her thoughts were so clearly otherwise was extremely frustrating to read. There was no reason for the h to act they way she did and it throws you out of the story.
KvdZ wants us to believe that this h is is too shy, fragile and way too polite to make a stand for herself, yet she gives this h her usual characterization of an h with a strong inner spirit and it just did not work for me.
So for me, this was not a great day at the HP office, but do give this one a go if you run into it. The OW is suitably horrible and there is enough funny moments to entertain anyone who doesn't mind an h who is presented as being so shallow that even a mud puddle would be out of her depth.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
June 8, 2020
Katrina, now a widow after her six year marriage to a wealthy, playboy philanderer, is living on their island home at St. Barlow and trying to figure out how she'll support herself in future. She was a sheltered socialite, and so has few marketable skills, but she's determined to make it so she's trying figure out what comes next. Meanwhile, Max Laurello is on the island writing a novel, and when Katrina finds pages of his manuscript describing her, she's livid and hies off to his villa to give him what for. Instead of a any sort of remorse, Max just asks her more, since she is know the inspiration for his character Isabel. Katrina initially is able to resist and evade - but before long, she's agreed to let Max live with her and to answer his telephone calls from his "harem of women." She's also succumbing to his seductive kisses left and right since no one has ever made her feel so wanted or desired. And yet, Katrina isn't ready to trust him with her heart just yet. Max is all kinds of wrong for her with the women chasing after him and her having been broken-hearted at her husband's infidelities. But she can't help loving him.
Hmmmmm. A good enough story to entertain. This was my first from this author so I had very few expectations going in. As it was, I liked the heroine well enough but was frustrated by her inability to keep or even truly express her mad. She'd get angry at the hero and completely forget why she was angry by the following page. More than that, I think by the end of the book she had forgotten how miserable it was living with him as his "secretary" while he's off writing his book. She didn't enjoy that at all but she's just signed up for a lifetime of it. No doubt about it, she read like a feisty heroine but she had some serious doormat tendencies (as evidenced by 6 years married to a cheating asshole). But fortunately, the hero wasn't so much of an asshole that these doormat tendencies were so bad. He was definitely a bit of a self-absorbed jerk at times, but he had moments of sensitivity and kindness...interspersed with anger (one of which actually made the heroine feel genuine fear when she interrupted his work). I also didn't love the fact that he strung the heroine along letting her believe all those women calling were lovers (instead of family), but I get that it was about her preconceived notions (nor did he know about her background at that point I think). I didn't hate the two of them as a couple and didn't greatly dislike either of them. He's a grump and she's a pleaser, but I didn't hate either of them or anything. I especially liked that he fell as hard as he did and was wholly dedicated to her - not even tempted by the OW (not even a flirtation).
The end left a little bit to be desired for me though. I like that there's plenty of angst with Katrina doubting her ability to be in a relationship and having more trust issues than you could shake a stick at - this of course causes a several week separation. She realizes that she can actually trust him (he is NOT her first husband) and she more or less invites him back to the island by telegram. Which felt kind of anticlimactic. Their reunion needed more emotional punch and more of her telling him that she trusts him (or is working on it) or something. It felt like they didn't deal with the issue so much. A good story overall, but it felt pretty tame for a series called "Too Hot to Handle"
Hmmmmm. A good enough story to entertain. This was my first from this author so I had very few expectations going in. As it was, I liked the heroine well enough but was frustrated by her inability to keep or even truly express her mad. She'd get angry at the hero and completely forget why she was angry by the following page. More than that, I think by the end of the book she had forgotten how miserable it was living with him as his "secretary" while he's off writing his book. She didn't enjoy that at all but she's just signed up for a lifetime of it. No doubt about it, she read like a feisty heroine but she had some serious doormat tendencies (as evidenced by 6 years married to a cheating asshole). But fortunately, the hero wasn't so much of an asshole that these doormat tendencies were so bad. He was definitely a bit of a self-absorbed jerk at times, but he had moments of sensitivity and kindness...interspersed with anger (one of which actually made the heroine feel genuine fear when she interrupted his work). I also didn't love the fact that he strung the heroine along letting her believe all those women calling were lovers (instead of family), but I get that it was about her preconceived notions (nor did he know about her background at that point I think). I didn't hate the two of them as a couple and didn't greatly dislike either of them. He's a grump and she's a pleaser, but I didn't hate either of them or anything. I especially liked that he fell as hard as he did and was wholly dedicated to her - not even tempted by the OW (not even a flirtation).
The end left a little bit to be desired for me though. I like that there's plenty of angst with Katrina doubting her ability to be in a relationship and having more trust issues than you could shake a stick at - this of course causes a several week separation. She realizes that she can actually trust him (he is NOT her first husband) and she more or less invites him back to the island by telegram. Which felt kind of anticlimactic. Their reunion needed more emotional punch and more of her telling him that she trusts him (or is working on it) or something. It felt like they didn't deal with the issue so much. A good story overall, but it felt pretty tame for a series called "Too Hot to Handle"
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
March 10, 2016
I don't know why the ratings are so low it was an amusing light-hearted read. Mainly because of the heroine Katrina. Katrina is from a super wealthy family so she hasn't had to work at all. She is intelligent and talented and the author shows this in the way she thinks and in her repartee with the hero Max.
Katrina has been living alone on her villa in an exclusive island. Having recently been widowed, from her playboy gambler husband, she needs time to reflect. Because of his gambling, she has also lost most of her fortune though she isn't quite destitute yet. Max has also rented a villa on the island to be alone and to concentrate on writing his novel. For the first weeks, they see, but mostly ignore each other, until one day Katrina comes across one of his papers, which has blown away, and as she reads it, realizes that he is using her as inspiration for one of his characters It infuriates her, making her feel exposed, so she goes to confront him at his villa. She threatens to sue him, and they shout at each other. However, this incident initiates their subsequent interaction. Max is obviously using her as inspiration and while she finally, tentatively approves she can't help wondering if all his reactions to her are merely a background to the character he is inventing or whether he is actually interested in her. When the lease on his villa is up, He asks to move into one of her spare rooms. They have a good friendly relationship but she is slowly getting annoyed by the number of women that call him. She is particularly sensitive to this since her husband was a prize philanderer. It Turns out that Max has 4 sisters plus his mom and grandmother whom he supports. When Katrina goes to New York to attend to personal business, Max follows her there. At a party together, they meet an ex of Max. Max explains that he was w her more than 8 years ago, it was a big mistake, and now she is just a nuisance. Katrina and Max' relationship progresses and they become lovers. Max goes back to the island ahead and Katrina is to follow a week later. While alone in New York she sees a tabloid picture of Max with his ex. She feels betrayed by this but decides to give him the benefit of the doubt and go back a day early. When she arrives at the villa, she finds the ex sitting in the veranda in her bikini. Max is nowhere. She acts friendly to the ex and when Max arrives he immediately asks why she invited the ex when she knows how annoyed he gets with her. She explains that she thought he did, since he did not, he dispatches the ex with all haste. However they still have a fight, and Katrina doesn't want a relationship with someone who is always surrounded by women. She was hurt too much by her husband. So they separate for a time until he sends her the manuscript of his new book and it is dedicated to her. (the dedication is so sweet, you'll have to read it). She realizes that she has to trust him. He comes back and they have their happy ever after.
Katrina is a delightful heroine, even if she doesn't work, she loves children, cooks like a dream, she is a voracious reader, she likes old romantic movies and she constantly makes lists. She is very intelligent and always has a witty remark for Max. He is totally captivated by her. Towards the end, since she has lost "her fortune", she is starting a new business with Sasha who is a heroine in another of KVDZ books.
Katrina has been living alone on her villa in an exclusive island. Having recently been widowed, from her playboy gambler husband, she needs time to reflect. Because of his gambling, she has also lost most of her fortune though she isn't quite destitute yet. Max has also rented a villa on the island to be alone and to concentrate on writing his novel. For the first weeks, they see, but mostly ignore each other, until one day Katrina comes across one of his papers, which has blown away, and as she reads it, realizes that he is using her as inspiration for one of his characters It infuriates her, making her feel exposed, so she goes to confront him at his villa. She threatens to sue him, and they shout at each other. However, this incident initiates their subsequent interaction. Max is obviously using her as inspiration and while she finally, tentatively approves she can't help wondering if all his reactions to her are merely a background to the character he is inventing or whether he is actually interested in her. When the lease on his villa is up, He asks to move into one of her spare rooms. They have a good friendly relationship but she is slowly getting annoyed by the number of women that call him. She is particularly sensitive to this since her husband was a prize philanderer. It Turns out that Max has 4 sisters plus his mom and grandmother whom he supports. When Katrina goes to New York to attend to personal business, Max follows her there. At a party together, they meet an ex of Max. Max explains that he was w her more than 8 years ago, it was a big mistake, and now she is just a nuisance. Katrina and Max' relationship progresses and they become lovers. Max goes back to the island ahead and Katrina is to follow a week later. While alone in New York she sees a tabloid picture of Max with his ex. She feels betrayed by this but decides to give him the benefit of the doubt and go back a day early. When she arrives at the villa, she finds the ex sitting in the veranda in her bikini. Max is nowhere. She acts friendly to the ex and when Max arrives he immediately asks why she invited the ex when she knows how annoyed he gets with her. She explains that she thought he did, since he did not, he dispatches the ex with all haste. However they still have a fight, and Katrina doesn't want a relationship with someone who is always surrounded by women. She was hurt too much by her husband. So they separate for a time until he sends her the manuscript of his new book and it is dedicated to her. (the dedication is so sweet, you'll have to read it). She realizes that she has to trust him. He comes back and they have their happy ever after.
Katrina is a delightful heroine, even if she doesn't work, she loves children, cooks like a dream, she is a voracious reader, she likes old romantic movies and she constantly makes lists. She is very intelligent and always has a witty remark for Max. He is totally captivated by her. Towards the end, since she has lost "her fortune", she is starting a new business with Sasha who is a heroine in another of KVDZ books.
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June 18, 2018Max Laurello had come to the Idyllic Caribbean island to escape the demands of women in his life and get on with his writing!
Conversely, Katrina had come to forget men -- in particular the memory of her disastrous marriage to the philandering Bastion. The last thing Max needed was another woman... the last thing Katrina needed was a womanizer like Max.
They each wanted solitude... but "chemistry" drew them together. And when they met on the tropical beach -- the sparks inevitably flew. The question was, could they prevent the power of paradise from casting its steamy magic?
Conversely, Katrina had come to forget men -- in particular the memory of her disastrous marriage to the philandering Bastion. The last thing Max needed was another woman... the last thing Katrina needed was a womanizer like Max.
They each wanted solitude... but "chemistry" drew them together. And when they met on the tropical beach -- the sparks inevitably flew. The question was, could they prevent the power of paradise from casting its steamy magic?
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