MacKenzie Taylor's first single title, My One And Only has it all: love, chemistry, suspense, and a great cast. Despite a slight petering out at the end, this is definitely an exciting debut.
Abigail Lee has worked for Harrison Montgomery for ten years, ever since he took her in off the street and gave her a job, within days of her parents' murder. Thanks to him, she didn't have to put her younger sister Rachel into a foster home, and his family has since become her own. But the company is falling apart and her decision to ask Harrison's estranged, illegitimate son Ethan Maddux - who also happens to be a world-famous specialist in saving crumbling corporations - for help is not exactly popular with her boss or his son. Convincing the two of them to work together is her only goal. Well, that and surviving the intense relationship she and Ethan now share.
Ethan has his own reasons for hating the father who never acknowledged him, and whom he still blames for his mother's death. He finds himself enthralled by his father's employee - and rumored lover - and can't seem to find the strength to mind. But when a break-in threatens Abby and brings to the fore her parents' mysterious murder, he won't let a simple thing like family discord stand between him and protecting her - and finding out the truth.
The characters are terrific, although the hero and heroine are occasionally upstaged by Rachel, the teenaged gourmet, and by Deirdre, Ethan's inimitable aunt. Abby is a strong, intelligent heroine with a lot of guts. Ethan is your basic tortured hero. He gets a little generic in his "tortured" characterization, but as a whole is definitely not a paint-by-numbers character. Even Harrison has his moments, and several minor characters, particularly the war vets, nearly steal the show on occasion. Overall, the characters were a fun and intriguing bunch.
The plot was very fast-paced and entertaining, shifting about halfway through from simple (well, not that simple, actually) love story to love story and intriguing mystery combined. The end, as I mention, sort of runs out of steam, but up until that point My One and Only was totally involving. Perhaps the ending is merely a growing pain, a result of this being Ms. Taylor's first release. However, as a whole, this book marks her as an author to watch.
Sensuality: Warm
Publication Date: 2002
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