Long and Short Reviews

Ellie's Delight by Lea Winter
The Wild Rose Press, Champagne Rose
Contemporary
Full Length, Hot
Review by Jasmine

Tall, dark and magnetic, Sterling Blalock lives every man’s dream. The CEO of Black Bean Foods is calculating and cunning in his element, but his rationality goes out the window when he rents a room, as Stuart Black, from a fiery brunette rancher named Ellie Burton. He’s never met a woman that could melt his heart with her cooking, or one who makes him forget his bank account by straddling a horse with those long, sexy legs. He’s determined to close this deal, and take Ellie home as the ultimate dividend...

There’s something strange but seductive about Ellie Burton’s temporary tenant, Stuart Black. He knows too much about finances for a penniless graduate student, and he’s a little too eager to offer his uncle’s help in rescuing Ellie’s failing farm. Still, she can’t help but yield when he flashes those steel gray eyes, and his sensuous lips fuel fantasies for days. She’s never felt this way about a man, but then, Stuart isn’t just any man...

Ellie and Sterling share a secret. Though they’ve just met, Black Bean Foods is at the core of Ellie’s potential demise. Can Sterling Blalock take a wrong and make it right, winning the woman of his dreams?

♥ ♥ ♥

Eleanor “Ellie” Burton needs money fast. Her alternatives are either to sell her farm or marry Darryl Owens, one of her childhood friend who is hankering after her farm. So she listens to her uncle’s advice and agrees to board vacationers at her home. But just as a trial run, her uncle agrees to find somebody to rent from her for a month and soon Stuart Black shows up on her doorstep.

Sterling Blalock a.k.a Stuart Black goes to Michigan under the assumed name to get back to his roots and enjoy a vacation without any interruptions. A business tycoon, he is looking forward to month away from New York and work. What he does not bargain on is meeting Ellie. Even though he wants to help her out of her predicament, she is not the kind of woman to accept any man’s help. So he tries to help her as secretly as possible. But his actions start to backfire and secrets are revealed that show a history between Ellie and Sterling’s family that is not so pleasant. Will their relationship survive the revelations?

Ellie’s Delight is a fun, sweet story. It was interesting to read it since I knew many of the places mentioned in the story. Ms. Winter has authored and exceptionally well-written story that is sure to capture many hearts. Her characters are alive and breathing. Sterling/Stuart was sometimes a bit too boyish, I thought. And I was confused by Darryl’s intentions regarding Ellie and her farm: did he love her or not? But other than that it was a very good story. I would recommend it to anyone!

Comments:

Date: Fri, Aug 22, 2008 at 12:24 PM

Your Name: Lea Winter
Your Comment: Thank you so much for the wonderful review. As a writer living in Michigan I like to put my stories in familiar surroundings and hope the readers will recognize some of the settings, as you did. I\\\'m glad you enjoyed the book and I hope your readers will do the same.
Best always,
Lea