London, England and Scotland - 1856

Jane is in grave danger. It’s the only line the message contained and the only words that could make Hugh MacCarrick rush to London. He’s loved Jane Weyland since his youth and even though they shared a special bond at one time, he always knew she was too beautiful, too vibrant, and way too good for a lowly Scotsman lacking wealth and social status. What’s more, he and his two brothers are under a curse, making it impossible for them to wed and have families. So instead, Hugh began working for Jane’s father and in the ten years since he last saw Jane, he has become wealthy and one of England’s deadliest assassins.

Jane’s father has now ensured that Hugh will come to London. Weyland knows that Hugh will give his life to protect Jane from Davis Gray, an English agent turned rogue who is bent on revenge. Gray seeks to destroy both Weyland and Hugh by killing Jane. But Hugh will never let that happen, and Weyland believes the best way for Hugh to protect Jane is to marry her and take her away to a secret hiding place while other agents hunt down Gray. Hugh reluctantly agrees, but to a marriage in name only. He would never put Jane in more jeopardy because of his family’s curse, and although he is now a rich man, Hugh is not the husband for Jane. She deserves a man who can fit into society, not a brooding loner without social graces. After the threat to Jane has passed, they will terminate the marriage. However, the only thing more difficult than being separated from the woman he loves is being near her, and Hugh wonders how he will find a way to walk away from her as he did ten years ago.

Hugh MacCarrick spoiled Jane for other men years ago. From the moment she saw him as an adolescent she knew he was the right man for her. Each year when the MacCarrick brothers would arrive at their summer home, which bordered her family’s country estate, the two spent all their time together. They were inseparable and as Jane grew older, she worked diligently each summer to tempt Hugh. And while he never acted on her blatant invitations, Jane fully expected to marry him Instead, he left when she was sixteen and never came back. So why after ten years and countless tears, when Jane has finally decided to move on with her life and marry the Earl of Whiting, has Hugh MacCarrick come back into her life? And how can she marry him? She can hardly believe her usually indulgent father is practically forcing her to do it. Jane knows that when there is no more danger Hugh will abandon her again and this time she will never be able to mend her broken heart.

I had forgotten just how good a storyteller Kresley Cole is until I began reading IF YOU DESIRE, the second book in a trilogy about three Scottish brothers. They are cursed men, doomed never to know the happiness of a wife and family. So instead they live in the shadows of society, helping to protect England and its inhabitants by secretly performing the unsavory and unspeakable tasks that would horrify most people.

IF YOU DESIRE centers on Hugh MacCarrick, a deadly assassin with a conscience and a huge capacity to love. It’s these dichotomies that make him such a fascinating character. At odds with his dangerous persona, which is well earned, is his deep love for Jane. No matter how hard he tries to hide his feelings for her, they shine through. I loved the way he loved Jane, and the lengths he would go to for her, not only to protect her but to please her as well. And yet Hugh never comes across as weak or a pushover for Jane. On the contrary, if you like super masculine heroes, Hugh’s your man. He’s a dark, brooding character who is incredibly sexy and alluring. And pairing Jane with Hugh makes for another dynamic dichotomy. On the surface, they appear complete opposites in personalities and interests. Jane is often an impetuous whirlwind of gaiety, flitting from social event to social event with her large group of female cousins. However, like Hugh, she has substance, fortitude, vulnerabilities, and is also capable of great emotion. The sexual tension between these two strong characters is keenly felt by the reader, as is the sheer intensity of their relationship. But with all the inner and outer conflicts these two are facing, it’s no wonder. Suspense, action, and high drama are wrapped around the sizzling romance in IF YOU DESIRE, making it a highly entertaining read. I could not put the book down and I was sorry to see it end and say goodbye to these memorable, well-drawn characters. It also left me with the compulsion to immediately read the first book in the trilogy, IF YOU DARE (reissued in paperback March 2007), about Hugh’s brother Courtland, and make a mental note to read the last book, IF YOU DECEIVE (May 2007), about Ethan, the eldest brother, as soon as it comes out next month. It is for these many reasons I am awarding IF YOU DESIRE RRT’s highest honor, a Perfect 10.

Sandra Brill