LONDON CALLING

In Gordon’s novel, a marriage of convenience leads to an unexpected connection.

Jasmine Ross, holder of multiple degrees, is happily rootless and eager for her next adventure (“I have training in self-defense, martial arts, tactical skills, and kickboxing. I can handle myself”). Over the years, her globe-trotting has taken her from India to sub-Saharan Africa. Her current gig is in London, where she is filling in for a historian who specializes in Black British history. She has no intention of remaining in London—until the night she rescues a teenage orphan named Amara from a violent attack. Amara’s brilliance and resilience reminds Jasmine of herself at Amara’s age; however, her assignment is coming to an end, and she needs to extend her visa for six months in order to stay until Amara leaves for university. A solution emerges in the form of a marriage of convenience to the dashing Aaron Adler, president of Saola Technology and a close friend of Jasmine’s sister, June. Aaron is under media scrutiny after a scandal involving a competitor named Bridgette Bromley; a short-term marriage would resolve both Aaron’s and Jasmine’s dilemmas. As Aaron and Jasmine settle into their roles as spouses and guardians of Amara, a deep and passionate connection sparks between them. Gordon’s novel is an engaging and briskly paced contemporary romance centered around dynamic and finely drawn protagonists. The chapters alternate between Aaron’s and Jasmine’s perspectives, offering insights into their thoughts and feelings as their marriage of convenience evolves into a genuine partnership (the sex scenes crackle with passion and emotional intensity). The supporting characters are similarly well-developed, particularly Amara, an intelligent young woman who finds stability and a promising future after Jasmine becomes her guardian. That said, the narrative moves so fast that some subplots, particularly Jasmine’s interactions with a predatory man named Bane Roth, are introduced and resolved too quickly.

A slick and satisfying romance with plenty of heart and heat.