Virgin for Sale

No, the title of this blog entry isn't a reference to my resolution (heh!), it's actually the title of a January Harlequin Presents by Susan Stephens. I bought it because it's the first in a new series, Uncut, which proclaims "even more passion for your reading pleasure." There was more sex than I've read in many Presents titles, but I was too frustrated by the hero to enjoy reading it: 2 out of 5.

Constantine Zagorakis has left poverty behind to become a billionaire known for his ruthless tactics. . . .

Lisa Bond has defied her past, too; now she's independent and successful.

Their deal: One week on Constantine's private island to talk business--and he'll show her the pleasure of being with a real man. . . . But when the week is over, and their working deal sealed, both may pay a price on which they hadn't bargained. . . .

Constantine (Tino) is an alpha run amuk. I don't pick up a Presents thinking I'm going to read about a softer, gentler man, but geez. He plans to buy her company, while Lisa only wants to sell part of it, enough for a much-needed cash infusion. Otherwise, her company is likely to go under. Stated like that, it sounds like an interesting conflict.

But Tino is terribly high-handed. It's his way or the highway in business and in his personal life. The business is understandable, I guess, but I was frustrated by the way he kept thinking that Lisa was such a controlled woman and she needed someone to tame her. This, even though he knew about her background from day one--Lisa came to live with her father after leaving a fanatical commune. Does Tino really have to "tame" her to make a point?

And that brings up another thing. I thought there was so much here that was underexplored: Lisa's past and Tino's troubled past are mentioned but not delved into. This could have been a source of so much richness and character development but it just didn't happen until the very end of the book.

There are a couple of good moments that happen toward the end of the book. I was touched by the thing with the flowers (trying to be cryptic here), for instance, and I was starting to believe the scenes at the end are pretty good.

The title of this book is a misnomer. Lisa is a virgin, but she's not for sale. And about the Uncut aspect--as I said, it's racier than other Presents I have read, but it's not racy like a Brava, for instance. Though there was some spanking, which I hadn't read in a Harlequin before.

In any case, Stephens is clearly a good writer; I just wish Tino had been a bit less bulldozer-ish. I'm ready to read about a sweet beta hero. Have any suggestions?