MARRIED TO THE MAVERICK MILLIONAIRE – Joss Wood
From Mavericks to Married , Book 3
Harlequin Desire #2490
ISBN: 978-0-373-73503-7
December 2016
Contemporary Series Romance

Vancouver, Canada – Present Day

Heiress Callahan “Cal” Carter and billionaire hockey star Quinn Rayne have been best friends since they were neighbors years ago. Quinn and his partners are in the process of buying the Mavericks pro hockey team, but are having issues getting approval from the owner. Namely, the owner objects to Quinn's bachelor lifestyle and has threatened to sell to another potential buyer. While discussing the problem with his partners (and best friends), Mac and Kade, Cal interjects with a suggestion that she and Quinn marry for convenience's sake. Quinn is stunned. Why would he marry her and risk losing the friendship of the best person in his life?

Cal has her own reasons for wanting to marry Quinn. Her abusive late husband left her two hundred million dollars in his will, with the caveat that she only inherits if she is still single five years after his death. She doesn't want the money from a man she grew to abhor, and the five-year anniversary date is nearly here. She doesn't tell Quinn why she wants them to marry, because she still feels uncomfortable talking about the mistake she made marrying an abuser. Both Quinn and Cal vow that their marriage would be platonic, but soon that all changes as they become attracted to each other. Despite their promises, the desire can't be denied, and they're unable to fight the passion that flares to life.

Best friends to lovers always make for a good romance, and MARRIED TO THE MAVERICK MILLIONAIRE doesn't disappoint. While most people wouldn't give up two hundred million dollars, Cal feels as if it is “dirty” money because of her marriage that turned sour. She doesn't want to explain the reasons to Quinn, who thinks she's just being a good friend by offering to sacrifice her singlehood in order to help him. Both feel they can maintain their friendship, but living under the same roof (albeit on a yacht in the Vancouver harbor) shouldn't change things. Quinn is now looking at Cal's body in ways he's never done before. She's always known he's sexy, but living with him has her libido cranking up to high. Both are soon in lust with each other, yet can't take the next step for fear of how it will change their friendship.

Quinn started out feeling a bit constricted by the “rules” put on him by the current owner of the Mavericks, but it doesn't take him long before he's fighting an inner battle with himself over desire for Cal. He doesn't want to ruin their friendship, which is admirable; however, she knows him like no other woman and is perfect for him. Why can't he see that? As for Cal, she wants it all: love, marriage, and children. But what if Quinn can't give her love…or children? It is an uphill battle in MARRIED TO THE MAVERICK MILLIONAIRE before Quinn and Cal can resolve these issues.

The final tale in the From Mavericks to Married series, MARRIED TO THE MAVERICK MILLIONAIRE can be read as a standalone, though the characters from the prior books do make numerous appearances. Quinn and Cal are stubborn and won't admit they're in love at first, but once they do, it's an even harder battle to find their happily-ever-after. An intriguing and sexy romance, MARRIED TO THE MAVERICK MILLIONAIRE is a tale I highly recommend.

Patti Fischer