"Series-type romance with great erotic content"

Phaedra has been chosen by her family to approach the corporate shark Rand Scott-Thomas and get him -- somehow -- to call off the attack that was slowly but surely destroying their company. At the fateful party, before she searches out her quarry, she agrees to a dance with a dashing one-eyed pirate of a man, not knowing that it is Rand himself! Their sexual chemistry is instantaneous and inflammatory -- even once the truth is revealed and Rand tells her that he'll call off the dogs. His condition that she has to live with him, and be his, is something she must agree to, for her family. Then she begins to fall in love...

FAMILY AND PROMISES was best described as an uneven book, at least at first. It started to sound like the predictable Harlequin Present-ish plot (with more sex) but the terminology used was very jarring in that context. The first time Phaedra described her rear end, calling it ass, was very disorienting. After a bit, though, the characters' sexual encounters became fun and interesting, though the plot remained one that you could find written by any big Presents author. This is not to say that the book wasn't enjoyable -- the heroine was spunky and the hero was breathtaking. Their relationship evolved nicely and the entire story was very well done. Though the book was short, any reader of erotic romance fiction would enjoy the fun style and the emotional fulfillment of FAMILY AND PROMISES.

Rated by Ellora's Cave: Hard R.

Reviewed by Ann Leveille
Courtesy Sensual Romance
Posted August 3, 2002

Summary

Phaedra Aster has a mission to accomplish. She's been charged by her aunt and uncle to get corporate raider Rand Scott-Thomas to stop the takeover of their family business. She accomplishes her mission, but in a totally unexpected way...she's blackmailed into becoming Rand's mistress. Rand Thomas knew he was taking unfair advantage of the situation, but then Phaedra didn't know who he was when he approached her for a dance at the hospital fundraiser. And after a blazing hot encounter in a deserted hall, he will ruthlessly use her candid comments about her mission against her...anything to keep her in his bed.