I liked this book for its warm and fuzzy moments (and believe me, I needed it after reading a few romance novels that left me in a bad mood), but this book was far from perfect.

Terese Bennett's stepfather, Steve, was in a car accident that killed Manuel Delgado's brother and nephew (Steve was drinking but the breaks failed). Manuel was going to press charges, but he decided to drop his plans if Terese would marry him and give him an heir. She did it because Steve was dying and she wanted him to live out the rest of his life in peace.

I was bothered by the fact that nobody in the book, from Manuel to his mother to his niece, seemed sad at all by their loss. After the first chapter, nobody really talked about it at all as if the deaths never happen. Obviously the accident was the catalyst that brought Manuel and Terese together, so it seemed when the job was done Manuel's brother and nephew were discarded and forgotten.

I felt uncomfortable that Manuel chose not the tell his family that Terese's stepfather was behind the accident. If they don't know, then no harm done, right? But I kept thinking if someone eventually finds out about it they're not going to be happy about that little omission. It just seemed better to tell them now than wait for someone to find out later on.

Also Manuel was very adamant about what Terese can do and what she cannot do: you listen to me and I will treat you well, but if you disobey me I will treat you badly. To be honest sometimes when I read stories like this I think about Stockholm syndrome, but the thing is I make a lot of allowances with romance novels—especially the older ones—because if I didn't then there wouldn't be many I'd enjoy. Just thought I'd let that out for anyone who were wondering. ( )