The Tycoon's Takeover
Grade : C

I admit it - I picked up this book in the hope that I would be able to read it without stretching a single brain cell. Personal life was tough enough, and I wanted a fast, effortless read with a quick and happy ending. The Tycoon's Takeover fulfilled these expectations, but it certainly didn't exceed them. Fast and simple is what I wanted, and fast and simple is what I got.

The Claibornes and Farradays have been partners in a London department store for years, but for the last thirty years they have barely spoken. A peculiar partnership agreement gives the oldest male a controlling share, and the families have both taken turns at the helm. When India Claiborne's father has a heart attack and is forced to retire, she is eager to take charge, and surprised to find that Jordan Farraday, a venture capitalist, intends to challenge her. Jordan sees the change in power as his due; thirty years before, his mother was ousted from her position when her father died, and as he sees it, turnabout is fair play.

India offers Jordan the opportunity to "shadow" her for a month so he can see how she runs the company. Her true motive is to get him to see how terrific she is at her job so he will leave well enough alone. Jordan's motives are a bit more sly; he's seen India's picture, and he is hoping to convince her to surrender to him, both in the bedroom and the boardroom.

Let's face it: the "I Tarzan, you Jane" attitude really has no place in the corporate world of today, but then few tycoons are known for their itty bitty egos. Jordan's plan to seduce and conquer is off-putting at first, but the good thing is that this is a short book, so he can only maintain the attitude for so long. Fortunately Jordan is pretty civilized for an alpha male. He doesn't snort and growl at people, he appears to have decent table manners, and he doesn't humiliate India in public. He's also drop dead gorgeous, which certainly makes his appeal understandable. If there's not a whole lot of depth to him, that's to be expected; the book is only 187 pages long.

India is a little more interesting, and her character is well-drawn for the short space of the book. What I found particularly intriguing about her was the way her corporate attitude clashed with Jordan's. They both had different ways of looking at business practices and ethics, and both were in keeping with their past jobs and experience. Her love for her business and her desire to hold onto it was very believable, and author Fielding sneaks in some fun details about the store into the book.

The key weakness of this book is tied to its length; the switch from adversaries to lovers is so abrupt that it's somewhat hard to credit. India and Jordan are completely opposed in their goals - until suddenly they aren't. There just isn't much time for intricate plot development and painstaking characterization, so it's all pretty much shorthand.

Linda Hurst, my Pandora's Box co-columnist, calls series romances "popcorn books," and it's a label I find quite useful. If you go into this one expecting a filling meal, you are likely to leave a little unsatisfied. As a light, quick snack, however, it's not that bad. I went into this book expecting an "okay" read, and that's what I got. Whether it's worth someone else's time is another matter.

Reviewed by Blythe Smith
Grade : C
Book Type: Series Romance

Sensuality: Subtle

Review Date : August 8, 2002

Publication Date: 2002/07

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Blythe Smith

I've been at AAR since dinosaurs roamed the Internet. I've been a Reviewer, Reviews Editor, Managing Editor, Publisher, and Blogger. Oh, and Advertising Corodinator. Right now I'm taking a step back to concentrate on kids, new husband, and new job in law...but I'll still keep my toe in the romance waters.
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