Wicked Nights With a Lover (Avon)
Heroine is kidnapped by her estranged father's gambling-business partner in order to marry her to ensure that he inherits her father's business. As attracted as she is to him, heroine doesn't want to marry anybody so as to prevent her death prophecy from occurring. The fortune-teller already accurately predicted that her recovering patient would die within a week's time & that she would meet her 2 half-sisters soon. Avoiding her foretold marriage seemed like a good way to thwart her impending death by accident. But Hero's determination to marry her & their powerful mutual attraction weakens her resolve. Their marriage proves to be passionate yet fraught with underlying tension. Heroine becomes increasingly distraught at the shortness of her time with Hero while Hero fights his feelings for her. The emotional pull & poignant romance of this Jordan book made me finish this book in no time. The character started out with their own individual reasons for their r/s but it blossomed into a mutual & strong desire to be together. Hero in particular changed from being a self-interested & conniving rake to faithful & enthralled husband. I had tears in my eyes during her death scene & he was pleading for her life. Their steamy sexual chemistry & love scenes added to the strength of their romance. I liked how the repeated foreboding of heroine's prophesied death culminated in an unpredictable manner. I thought I knew how she was going to die but I liked Jordan's surprise.
Highly recommended.
