Trish Morey's books are garnering a reputation for being well-research and highly entertaining and she proves this to be the case yet again with her newest release, A VIRGIN FOR THE TAKING. Fraught with sensual tension and strong passion that scorches the senses, this book, with its deep characterization and an intriguing plot that flows smoothly, is a definite keeper. It is obvious the author thoroughly researched the pearl industry and the exoticness this adds to the theme of the story truly hooked me right in. For readers who love romances that always soar to new heights of excellence and totally captivate the mind, A VIRGIN FOR THE TAKING is not to be missed. Well done, Trish Morey!" ~ Leena Hyat, Senior Editor, The Best Reviews
A VIRGIN FOR THE TAKING by talented Trish Morey will delight and entertain with its passionate story of romance.~ Donna Zapf Cataromance
Zane Bastiani is the prodigal son who returns to Australia upon the death of his father. Ruby Clemenger is the jewelry designer who loved his father like her own. Each thinks the other is contemptible, and when his father leaves them equal ownership in the family pearl business, sparks begin to fly. A Virgin for the Taking (4) by Trish Morey is a classic love story between two people who begin at odds, only to discover they're made to be together. Zane and Ruby are well-developed characters, and Morey does a great job of showing them resolving their issues slowly as they fall deeply in love." ~ Romantic Times
Zane Bastiani stepped onto the tarmac of Broome International Airport and felt the late wet-season humidity close around him like a vice. He glanced skyward in irritation, to where the source of the melting heat shone so unforgivingly above.
He'd forgotten about the heat. Other things had slipped his mind too - like the sharp blue of the sky, the clear salt-tinged air and the sheer quality of the light. Nine years of dreary London weather and grey concrete architecture had disarmed him completely. He felt like a foreigner in his hometown.
Nine years.
Hard to believe it was so long since he'd left with just his name and the conviction to make it big time on his own. Not that he'd wasted a minute of it. Now, with a terrace house in Chelsea, a chalet in Klosters and the chairmanship of the most aggressive merchant bank in London, he was well on his way.
And for every one of those nine years he'd been waiting for his father to call and admit that he'd been wrong, but when the call had finally come it hadn't been from his father at all.
"Not critical," the doctor had assured him, "but Laurence asked to see you."
He'd asked to see Zane.
It might have taken a heart attack, but after all the bitterness between them all those years ago, any request had to be worth something.
So Zane had taken the first flight out of London to anywhere that might offer the fastest connection with this remote north-western Australian location. His platinum credit card had taken care of the details.
He shrugged the kinks out of his shoulders as he headed for the terminal, steeling himself for meeting his father once again. When Zane had been just a kid growing up, Laurence Bastiani had always seemed larger than life, always the big man with the big voice and the big ideas who'd never succumbed to as much as the common cold. It made sense that it would take something like a heart attack to stop him in his tracks. Even so, it was impossible to picture him now, lying ill in hospital. His father would hate it. He'd probably have checked himself out of there already.
Inside the arrivals terminal ceiling fans spun languidly overhead, stirring up barely more than a breeze as travel-weary passengers began to crowd around the luggage carousel.
His one hastily packed leather bag, its red Priority tag swinging, came through first. He reached down, hauling it from the carousel and towards the exit, making for the line of waiting taxis, increasingly aware the fine cotton of his shirt was already heavy with perspiration.
How long would it take to re-acclimatise to Broome's tropical temperatures given he'd been away so many years? Not that it really mattered, he thought dismissively as he curled himself into a taxi and snapped out a brisk, "Broome General," to the driver. He'd be back in London long before there was any chance of that happening.
Copyright © 2008 by Trish Morey. All rights reserved.
Cover art copyright © by Harlequin Enterprises Limited ® and ™ are trademarks of the publisher
A Virgin For The Taking
Shackled by pearls…
When Ruby Clemenger discovers she’s been left almost half of the Bastiani Pearl Corporation, she knows that her life is about to get complicated – especially with the added arrival of Zane Bastiani, the pearl master’s son.
Zane wants rid of Ruby as quickly as possible – he thinks she’s nothing more than his father’s mistress and he’s sure she can be easily bought – good-time girls usually can.
But Ruby’s price is high… even for a billionaire like Zane. Unable to pay her off with cash, Zane decides to seduce Ruby into submission. Clearly a woman ripe for the taking, Zane reckons he has nothing to lose – until he discovers Ruby is innocent… in every way…
Mills & Boon Modern Romance - Sept 2006
Harlequin Mills & Boon Sexy - Oct 2006
Harlequin Presents - Nov 2006
Harlequin Bianca - April 2007 - "Amor Y Perlas" (Love And Pearls)
