If You Desire, the second installment in the MacCarrick brothers trilogy follows Hugh and his longtime beloved Jane, as they get themselves into a marriage of convenience orchestrated by Jane’s father, so she will be safe under Hugh’s protection, because there’s a madman on the loose trying to harm her. The catch in these lovebirds story is that, they have known each other for over a decade, and have been madly in love all that time, but Hugh always thought he didn’t deserve her, so he disappeared from her life - kept businesses with her father while avoiding her at all costs, but now he agrees to marry her to keep her safe, all the while telling himself he shall never touch her. Obviously this ingenious plan doesn’t stand a chance, because the minute he lays eyes on her, he’s utterly lost. Of course Jane is still hurt that he vanished from her life all those years ago and as payback, she’s determined to make his life a living hell. Can my fellow readers imagine how? *wink*
I didn’t enjoy this one as much as I enjoyed (loved!) the third one in the series (yes, I read the third book first), and to be honest I never expected to, because the third book is that good. It made me laugh and cry and wish it would never be over, which didn't happen with this one, and I believe this was mostly the heroine's fault. Even though I think Jane had every right to be bitter and mean to Hugh, after a while it was annoying. And it’s crazy to admit, but she just...wasn’t Maddy. Dear Maddy: the main reason why I loved If You Deceive, and I can't help but think everyone else comes up short in comparison with her. Go Maddy! :D