MEANT FOR YOU

In this third installment of the Connor Family series, a detective and a nonprofit director take a chance on love.

Paige Lamonica is happy to return to Los Angeles. The development director for Three Emeralds, a nonprofit group dedicated to human growth, she recently spent three years in Paris. While she enjoyed the opportunity to work in another country, she missed her family and LA. She has two major projects on the horizon: selling her grandmother’s inn and securing funding for an education center for the homeless. While Paige celebrates her homecoming with friends at the vacant inn, a concerned neighbor who suspects a break-in calls the police. Detective William Connor, relieved the call is a false alarm, is instantly smitten with Paige. He soon embarks on a campaign to win her affections, including helping her select an alarm system for the inn and inviting her to his sister Lori’s wedding. Paige is deeply attracted to the ruggedly sexy and warmhearted Will, but she is wary of pursing a relationship because of the dangers of police work. As their connection deepens, Paige and Will discover the rewards of building an intimate relationship and wonder if they have found true love. The latest entry in Hagen’s (Wild with You, 2018, etc.) series sparkles with sharp storytelling, appealing characters, and passionate romance laced with wit and warmth. Like the previous installments, the chapters alternate between the two protagonists’ first-person perspectives. This approach is particularly successful when it explores Paige’s hesitation about pursuing a romance with Will. Her father served in the Army, and she was always worried about his safety. For this reason, she is concerned about repeating the same pattern with Will since he faces perils as a detective. Paige and Will’s attraction develops quickly, but Hagen effectively keeps the romance at a slow burn punctuated by scenes that showcase the author’s talent for lively dialogue and erotic heat. Family is the emotional center of the series, and Will’s and Paige’s extended clans are prominently featured.

A sweet and tender contemporary romance that should please genre fans.