An Ocean Between, by Lynda Coker - Book Review

There are very few books that I can say that are my favorite as in 'of all time', compared to classics like Jane Eyre, Pride & Prejudice and Mansfield Park. This contemporary romance, is not like those books mentioned except for the fact that to me, this is 'timeless'. Victoria Ballard is a Financial Executive in NYC NY and really can't bother with men, as they are unnecessary to her. Happy with her career, she focuses on the four adorable orphans that she plans to adopt. Then comes the worst nightmare that she has ever had. She doesn't know, that her father, for his own particular reasons, has married her off to Prince Rashid Davar in a binding contract. Rashid has more than he can handle, when he meets her and she openly objects.

Victoria takes the situation in her own hands. He has to kidnap her, battle her, before he can really get her to love him. This book is so, so fantastic, I will read this one over again! You can understand where Prince Rashid is coming from. He's from the middle east, and the lifestyle is way different than that in America. You can see at times that he is not retaliating on purpose, but it is just his culture. He really wants her to love him. You can also understand Victoria's anger, because she's in the dark, so she fights him at every turn until she is finally exhausted and can't anymore. There is no denying that there are sparks between them, and she has to finally surrender. Another plus is, the consummation is 'announced', but no detail, which is why I totally love this book.

Anyway, Victoria has an emergency to deal with back home. She's afraid to trust him and tell him the truth, so when the Prince refuses to let her go, she totally says something to hurt him, heart and soul and he gets rid of her, but surprisingly does not divorce her. So that, and a very other important fact, and a plan created by Jessica, gives her the courage to go back to tell him that she loves him. How that happens, and the group responsible for his change of heart is a super great ending. I definitely recommend that you buy this one. There is a secondary romance with Prince Rashid's First Regent, Califar and Victoria's wild(to put it mildly) best friend Jessica. This is the next story that Lynda Coker is working on which I know is going to be just as good.