The handsome Simon
Blackwell has lived for years with the emotional and physical scars of
losing his wife and son in a horrific fire. He broods for years
surviving in unhappiness and pain, working to push those close to him
away so that he can forget, while at other times overcome with memories
and how he was unable to save them. When the beautiful and vivacious
Lady Annabel McBride attempts to save the son of her friend Caro from
running out in the street and being run over by a horse, she meets the
enraged Simon who believes Annabel to be the reckless mother of the
young boy. The grateful Caro invites the handsome hero over for dinner
and it there that Simon and Annabel meet once again. As the weeks go by
they keep meeting at society events and sparks of what is thought to be
mutual dislike and mistrust turn into flames of desire. One evening in
a moonlit garden they are caught in a passionate embrace. The
compromised Annabel soon finds herself walking down the aisle,
beginning a marriage with Simon of desire, longing and pain. The last
thing Simon wants to do is hurt Annabel, but what can there be but hurt
when he announces on their wedding night that he wants a marriage of
convenience with no children and will arrange for a divorce within a
year? Annabel attempts to resign herself to a marriage of convenience,
but it is Simon that finds it most difficult, as his true secret is the
intense passion that he has for Annabel. No matter how much he tries to
avoid Annabel and his desire, he cannot, and they come together for
several nights of intense passion. Will Simon be able to overcome his
emotional scars so that he can forget the past and give into his
intense desire and love for Annabel? Will Annabel's growing love be
strong enough for both of them in order to have a true, lasting
marriage? The Secret Passion of Simon Blackwell is an intense sexually
charged story that delights while pulling at the heartstrings. Samantha
James once again has written a well-developed story with characters
that struggle with life's disappointments and find true love and
happiness.
Publisher: Avon
(April 2007)
Reviewed
by Beverly,
Beverly Romance Books
