 |
TASTE OF PASSION - Brenda Jackson St. Martin's Press June 2009 |
SYNOPSIS: Attorney Mackenzie "Mac" Standfield swears off love when her heart is shattered into a million pieces. But there's one man who has managed to tempt her beyond reason--rodeo star Luke Madaris.
CONTEMPORARY ROMANCE |4| Susan Plummer
REVIEW: Author, Brenda Jackson has been delivering superb Madaris Novels for years; Taste of Passion is no exception. Once again, a Madaris Novel delivers beautiful characters, a very interesting storyline, and a sweet and satisfying ending.
Civil attorney, Mackenzie “Mac” Stanfield and Rodeo star, Luke Madaris has always had a thing between them from the moment they first laid eyes on each other five years ago. Although their paths continually cross at Madaris family gatherings, they manage to evade each other and their increasing attraction. When Luke is injured in a freak Rodeo accident in Mac’s hometown, Oklahoma, he chooses to stay at her ranch while he recuperates. Mackenzie has her misgivings but it’s not because she doesn’t care, in fact, it’s because she cares way too much. As Luke’s health improves the simmering passion between them intensify and it isn’t long before polite conversations give way to passionate declarations. Yet, even as they share unimaginable passion, Mac knows it’s only a matter of time before Luke will leave and return to his life on the Rodeo circuit. She is determined to enjoy this temporary taste of passion. Yet when the time comes for Luke to leave, it remains to be seen if either of them will be satisfied with just a taste or will they want a whole lot more?
The story starts out with a bang and remains on this high note throughout the entire novel. There are no highs and lows in TASTE OF PASSION, only highs that keep getting better and better as the story develops.
As with many of Ms. Jackson novels, characters abound in TASTE OF PASSION but every character is brought to life, further enriching the story. Lucas is a unique character in that despite his rough and tumble career he is a man willing to make dinner and run his woman a bath. Can I meet him? Mac’s character is beautiful and intelligent which is a prerequisite for a Madaris mate. Readers will also get the treat of revisiting with past characters from other Madaris novels.
Luke and Mac’s story unfolds in Oklahoma which weaves well into the fabric of the story as the state is known for being a major part of the Rodeo circuit. There is an undercurrent of passion evident in every exchange between Luke and Mac from their very first encounter at the beginning of the novel. Dialogue is prominent in Ms. Jackson’s novels and really works in bringing the characters’ personalities to life. The Madaris clan is very three-dimensional; their stories frequently read like a screenplay.
Overall, I found TASTE OF PASSION a pure delight. The story delivers a bit of everything from the mysteries surrounding both Lucas and Mac, the humorous antics and the Madaris men and sweet and spicy interludes not just between Luke and Mac but other hot couples as well. TASTE OF PASSION is loaded with passionate moments but there’s much, much more. The story gives the reader a mystery to ponder, light hearted laughter and just a very interesting ending to what is quite an enjoyable novel.
reviewer@romanceincolor.com | 25th July 2009