All A Man Can Be (Trouble in Eden)

Rating:
Summary: More trouble in Eden -- Highly recommended
Review: From first glance, Mark DeLucca knows that his new boss, Nicole Reed, is high maintenance. A bartender, Mark thinks of her as a Chardonnay kind of lady and does not expect her to fit at the Blue Moon. Mark would have bought the bar himself if he could have secured the financing, so creating high brow ambiance and serving exotic sandwiches certainly does not please him. But word of a child he did not know he fathered six years ago forces Mark to reexamine his priorities. This certainly does not look like the time for a career change.

With seed money secured from a romance and career gone wrong, Nicole buys the Blue Moon bar hoping to start over. With a history of unhealthy relationships, Nicole brings a wealth of textbook knowledge but a lack of trust in her own instincts where Mark is concerned. Mark fits the classic and dangerous bad boy image, yet Nicole cannot resist his unexpected appeal. Especially when a miscommunication brings her to his door and a charming six-year-old opens it. Mark needs Nicole's help if he wants to keep his job and gain custody of his son. But that leaves Nicole questioning his motives as well as her own.

Author Virginia Kanta's gift for powerful characterization sparkles in ALL A MAN CAN BE. As this troubled hero and heroine come together, their differences seem impossible to bridge until a delightful six-year-old shakes their world. Both Nicole and Mark display vulnerabilities and strengths that make them sympathetic and believable. Indeed, ALL A MAN CAN BE skillfully combines emotional depth and heart-stopping sexual tension in marvelous read. ALL A MAN CAN BE comes highly recommended.

Rating:
Summary: What a terrific hero!
Review: Virginia Kantra has created a troubled, puzzling hero--and keeps him well-motivated at all times. Hs reactions were often suprirsing but never out of character.

Nicole is a great character--the perfect woman for Mark, but it would have been dificult to convince me of that at the beginning. Fortunately, the novel is in the skilled hands of Virginia Kantra who brings it all together just in time.