Not Even If You Begged by Francis Ray

(This is a repost of the review I wrote for BBW Reviews http://www.bbwreviewers.com/)

The voluptuous Traci Evans has an iron gate around her heart. Multiple wounds inflicted by her cheating deceased husband and her nasty mother have almost destroyed Traci’s faith in love, her trust in people in general. Despite all this, her attraction to the sexy Ryan Gilmore, her best friend and neighbor’s son, will not be denied. Traci is not Ryan’s type or at least he did not think so until he met her. Still Traci’s lush curves, generous breast, childbearing hips combined with a heart of gold makes Ryan want to know Traci inside and out.

The slim and trim, 59 years old, Maureen Gilmore loved her husband dearly. Now 4 years a widow she is missing the intimacy and the bond she had with her husband. Can the sexy police officer, Simon Dunlap, fill the growing void in her heart despite the fact that he is almost 10 years her junior. Will Maureen let her feelings for Simon overcome doubts and fears due to the age difference?

Francis Ray has done it again. Not Even If You Begged is a page-turner from beginning to end. The characters in this book come to life so naturally you almost forget your reading fiction. I felt Traci and Maureen’s pain as they dealt with their personal struggles. I wanted them to find the love they both deserved with the hot men Francis Ray created to take my breath away. I fell just a little bit in love with both Simon and Ryan for they had qualities most single women look for when they imagine their life mate. The story itself flowed effortlessly. Francis Ray combined the budding romances with sub-plots that gave this story an essence of realness and gave you insight into the characters you can only see when they interact with people outside of their budding relationships. I closed the book wanting to read more but still satisfied with what I was given.

No Choice But Seduction by Johanna Lindsey

In this the 9th installment of Lindsey's Malory Family series we meet Katey Tyler, a sweet American girl with an active imagination who grew up as one of few children in a dying town. After her mother's death she learns that she is now quite wealth and decides to leave her sleepy little town to see the world. At an inn, a sleepy Katey hears a strange noise and is compelled to investigate. What she finds is a little girl who has been kidnapped from her family. In saving the little girls life Katey is swept into the adventure of a lifetime that brings her into the wings of the Malory family and changes her life forever.

Boyd Anderson is staying at his sister Georgina's (James Malory's wife) home while they are away in the Caribbean. When Sir Anthony's daughter is kidnapped and the ransom note is sent to the wrong Malory home Boyd steps in joins the search for Judith. Little does he know that in the midst of a kidnapping he will encounter the woman who has dominated his dreams since his shipped brought her to England months ago.

I enjoyed Boyd and Katey's story more than I thought I would. I did not hold high hopes because I found the previous Malory Novel lacking. It wasn't until I read No Choice But Seduction that I understood what I missed in the previous novel. I need more Malory's. I fell in love with the Malory clan when I read Anthony and Roslynn's story. It made me crave more so I rushed out and found the 2 other novels that were already out at the time. I love their flare for life, their loyalty, and their hi jinks. Though I like the Anderson clan they are not the Malorys. No Choice but Seduction gives you a good dose of Malory clam thrown in with the Andersons and it was enough to keep me wanting more. I honestly can't wait to see whose story Lindsey chooses next though I will predict it will be another Anderson brother there is still one unmarried brother left.

My actual rating for this would be a 3.5. There were a few moments where the story just seemed to drag. She tends to explain a characters behavior instead of letting the characters explain their own behaviour. I would have preferred more character interaction and less narration.