I've been thoroughly enjoying the "Pregnancy and Passion" series and the third book doesn't disappoint.

Ashley's has been waiting for the right man and the right moment, and she believes "it didn't get any more perfect than Devon Carter right here, right now." But what Ashley doesn't know is that her seduction has been carefully planned by Devon, as part of a business merger with her father. When she learns the truth after their wedding, Devon tries to convince her to be "sensible" and "grown up" about the situation, leaving Ashley believing that not only has he been using her, he doesn't think much of her, either.

Rather than lose the man she loves and face further humiliation. Ashley decides to see if she can save her marriage by changing herself into the wife Devon wants... no matter what the cost.

Banks is very good at taking a familiar, dramatic, category romance set-up and then fleshing it out emotionally so it doesn't feel stale and dated. Ashley's journey from naive optimism to disillusionment to discovering her own value is deliciously angsty, but also plausible and authentic. There's learning and growth for both characters, though I would have liked to have seen a little more from Devon's point of view. I also found his doting hero role overdone: things like adjusting her scarf and cap for her so she won't be cold make him a little too queasily fatherly. But his suffering over the pain he's caused Ashley and his efforts to make it up to her help make this a delightfully cathartic read.

(reviewed from e-arc via netGalley)