Beverly Clarke

Genesis Press

1-58571-063-6

February 2002

(3+) Jeanette Cogdell

Contemporary Romance

PLOT SYNOPSIS: 

REVIEW: 

Alexander Price received a letter from the Quinneth Falls City Council requesting he consider their town as the site for his new factory.  Upon seeing the address, the painful memories of eight years ago returned to plague him.  He thought he was over the hurt of Valerie Baker’s deceit.  He decides to use this request as a means to exact his revenge on Valerie.  He wants to make her pay for the misery she has caused him.

Widowed a year, Valerie Bishop spends most of her time working, trying to save her husband’s failing chemical company.  She is stunned to learn that Alex is considering her hometown for his new factory knowing that she lived there. She is even more fearful that he would learn that he has a seven year-old son.  After what his father did to her, blackmailing her out of his son’s life, she can’t risk them finding out her secret.  

Armed with the memory of the cancelled million dollar check made out to Valerie, Alex ignores his engagement to a woman his father approves of, to move to Quinneth Falls and oversee the building of the factory.  He seeks out ways to involve himself in Valerie’s life just to torment and harass her.  He seductively entices her and then rejects her.  He refuses to let her forget what she has done to him, to them.

Valerie is at her wits end trying to keep her distance from Alex, a man she wants to hate, but still loves.  In a turn of events, Alex performs an act that will put Valerie forever at his bidding.

CHERISH THE FLAME is a very easy and enjoyable read.  Once you begin reading the story, you don’t want to put it down.  I couldn’t wait to learn how Alex would find out he had a son and what form of retribution he would enact on Valerie. 

There are several subplots that don’t detract from the main story, but surprise you with their conclusion.

This is the third book I’ve read by Ms. Clark with a mystery/hidden child.  A deviation from this storyline might prove to be interesting; however, I did enjoy this story even though the numerous self-deliberations were a bit distracting.

jeanette@romanceincolor.net (18th February 2002)