She's Got It Bad-Sarah Mayberry

She's Got It Bad
Sarah Mayberry
Harlequin Blaze, Apr 2009, $4.99
ISBN: 0373794681

In 1997 in Melbourne, Australia when Zoe Ford was fifteen years old, seventeen year old Liam Masters moved into her family home following the death of his mother. Zoe fell in love almost instantly with the new border, but though attracted to her, Liam knew this was not right at this time. Instead, he left the Ford home as soon as he could so as not to betray his guardians or his friend her brother Tom.

A dozen years later, Liam is a self made millionaire who creates customized motorcycles. He obtains a nude painting of Zoe and decides to find her as he still wants her. When they meet up, he is shocked that the cute sweet teen who could turn him hard with a look is long gone replaced by a tattoo artist; apparently she fell apart after Liam left her hot and bothered. They remain attracted to one another, but will that prove strong enough in their late twenties when it failed when they were teens as her goal is to make him need it worse than she did then and does now.

This is an exciting contemporary Australian romance starring two refreshing lead characters and a strong support cast that brings the locale alive. Zoe steals the show as a unique female star with her prickly yet caring personality. Liam knows he did the right thing twelve years ago although it was the hardest (pun intended) choice he ever made, but still regrets leaving her as he never foresaw the consequences on her. Readers will appreciate this brisk second chance at love.

Harriet Klausner