"She got what she wanted, but is it enough?"

Shelly Ware's sister's illness has made Shelly realize that her ability to have children won't last forever. Doctor Kurt Silverman would be her choice of a father. However, still suffering the effects of a bitter divorce, he has sworn off marriage forever. Still, it's not marriage she's asking for when she tells him what she wants for her birthday. Nor can she truly say she's surprised when he turns her down. He has no plans on changing his mind until things take a downturn with his ex-wife and his visitation rights for his son. The one solution to his problem is the one he least wants -- a wife. Unless he could marry someone who understood his dedication to his job, someone who didn't love him, but was a good friend, someone like -- Shelly. Which is how it comes about that he proposes a mutual favor to her.

Though Shelly agrees to the arrangement, she is not completely content with it. For although being good buddies is great and important to a relationship, love is the magic ingredient, and is missing from theirs. At least on one side, it is. It's not until the point of no return has been passed that Shelly comes to realize that love is the most important ingredient of all. And Kurt begins to realize that what he feels for Shelly is very different that just friendship.

This is a modern marriage of convenience story that is admirably well written. The lack of misunderstandings between the hero and heroine made for a very enjoyable tale. The growth of their relationship was well done and the secondary characters rounded out the cast nicely. In fact, there are a couple of those I'd love to hear more about. This is just an all-around excellent romance.

Sensuality--R. Blunt and some crude language; fairly descriptive sex; oral sex. Monogamous relationship. Sexually explicit scenes: 4.

Reviewed by Flora Bell
Courtesy Sensual Romance
Posted April 26, 2003

Summary

Two good friends, two thorny problems. Kurt needs a wife to convince a judge he can provide a stable home for his son. Shelly wants a baby to love.

She's had a crush on him for years. He's never thought of her as anything more than his best buddy. So when she offers him a solution to both their problems, he's not sure. But knowing she wants him changes everything, and pretty soon he can't keep his mind or his hands off her...

Sexual Content: Hard R. Genre: contemporary.