by Michelle Conder, author of His Last Chance at Redemption (Harlequin Presents, December 2012)
The first thing that came to me writing this book was the hero – a dangerously handsome and very damaged Russian oligarch who was completely disconnected from his emotions and the real world around him. Leo Aleksandrov had a traumatic childhood and as a result has made some pretty bad decisions in his life. Namely, rejecting the direct care of his young son who was born out of a targeted one-night-stand. Leo believes his son, Ty, is better off with the mother and only provides for the child monetarily.
But then Ty’s mother abandons him and Leo must step up. Which he does, but very reluctantly.
Enter our super strong and super caring heroine, Lexi Somers. Lexi runs the childcare centre Ty attends and is devoted to providing the best possible care to the children under her charge. Naturally she is completely shocked when Leo turns up to take his young son and has never even met him before.
This was such a fun scene to write. Here’s a sneak peek.
‘And you are?’ (Lexi) kept her voice polite, calling on her years of training at diffusing difficult situations in an attempt to lighten the tension in the room.
‘Here to collect Ty Weston.’ He looked down his nose at her and Lexi felt the first stirrings of irritation she usually had no trouble keeping in check.
‘Yes. You said that. But I’ll need a little more information before I can release him into your care.’ Even saying that last word felt like a misnomer given his icy demeanour.
He folded his arms across his chest and the room seemed to shrink. ‘What kind of information?’
‘Your name for one.’
She dropped into her cloth covered chair, despite her better judgment, but her feet were killing her and… because her knees felt too weak to hold her up anymore.
He didn’t answer. Just scanned the room like some sort of secret service operative and Lexi felt her pang of unease turn into a shiver of real dread. Should she be calling the police right now? Did the man have a gun thrust into the back of that expensive looking suit?
Lexi gave herself a mental head slap. It wasn’t like her to have such dramatic thoughts. Still… ‘I have to say you’re making me feel distinctly nervous.’
His eyes found hers again and a jolt of something other than fear shimmered through her. ‘I am Leo Aleksandrov.’ His tone told her she should recognise his name but she didn’t. Her life was far too busy to read gossip magazines.
‘I can tell that’s supposed to mean something to me, but I’m sorry it doesn’t.’
He shrugged. His first human movement. ‘That is of no consequence to me. Now please,’ he inclined his head in a show of politeness, ‘I am short on time.’
So, not having any experience with children – and believing himself to be a danger to his child – Leo manipulates Lexi into becoming Ty’s part-time nanny.
But
Lexi is no push over and manipulates Leo right back, doggedly demanding that he take them with him for a weekend on his super-sized yacht! There she sets out to unite father and son without losing her
heart to both of them in the process!
For me this is ultimately a novel about forgiveness and unconditional love and a hero who needs to reconnect with the most important thing of all – family! I love to read novels about tortured heroes who find redemption. What are some of your favourite story lines and why?
I’m on the verge of wanting to read this, but not so sure if I could fall in love, or buy a heroine falling in love, with a bloke who abandoned his own child.
Still, because of the above, the premise is intriguing so I might decide to live dangerously and give it a go
Hi Michelle, enjoyed reading this so much and always love your dialogue. Looking forward to reading your next.
Hi Lia,
Leo was an interesting hero to write in that respect! If you read the book let me know if you think he redeems himself. I think he does, but I’d love to know what you think!
Best,
Michelle
Hi Michelle,
I can’t wait to read this. I have it on the top of my festive season reading pile. xx