Review: HOT by Any Name!
Rating: 5 out of 5
Date: 04 4, 2013
When I call this story hot, I don't just mean the tropical island setting! The sparks fly between honeymoon resort owner Zoe Hughes and her estranged husband Rory, a high-powered businessman with an Ice Man reputation. When a travel magazine wants to feature the resort, and, more specifically, Zoe and her husband and their happily-ever-after life, she's forced to call Rory and ask him to come to Tonga and pose as her "loving" spouse. He agrees, in part because he needs to rehabilitate his professional reputation and he thinks the magazine coverage will help, and in part because he fully expects to collect his wife and bring her back home to L.A. where she belongs.  Rory's shocked to arrive at the resort and realize Zoe is happy there, doesn't miss L.A., and had serious issues with their marriage and her "widow to the business" status during their last few years together.The story is choke-on-your-drink funny, and fan-your-face sexy, and as feel-good as any of the ABBA songs Zoe loves, but nevertheless presents two people with real issues to resolve. Manning doesn't gloss over those. Sizzling chemistry, while always appreciated, isn't offered up as the solution to everything that's wrong with this relationship. She takes her characters--her hero in particular--on a journey to discover home is where the heart is, and hearts need tending.I loved Wife in Name Only and can't wait for the next story by this author! Are you listening, Mrs. Manning?!