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Summary: Trust proves to be the foundation of a solid relationship
Review: In this second story of Sherryl Woods's sub-series, The Delacourts of Texas, Jeb Delacourt is hot on the heels of Brianna O'Ryan, brilliant geologist and industrial spy...or so he thinks. When three deals go sour at Delacourt Oil and his own father, a cutthroat businessman, shrugs at the loss, Jeb becomes determined to figure out why Brianna is betraying the company she apparently has every reason to be loyal to. Brianna does have a secret and it has nothing to do with industrial espionage. Against her better judgement, she finds herself charmed by Jeb Delacourt though she suspects he has an ulterior motive in beginning a relationship with her. It would have been simple to let their story be consumed with constant misunderstandings and petty feelings due to the bitter nature of these circumstances which are seemingly beyond their control. Instead, Woods strongly emphasizes the lack of trust to be what hinders them by strong arguments on the part of both characters. The author also spends a great deal of narrative time establishing first their friendship and then their growing love for each other. Because of this, when Jeb lowers the ax, the reader feels the extent to which it has become personal between the two of them. While Jeb is misguided, and overly enthusiastic, about his desire to become an investigator, Brianna is smart and savvy in her approach to discovering the leak. In the end, the truth may not surprise you but the depth of the role it plays in bringing Jeb and Brianna together just might.
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