Sydney, Australia – The Present

An irresistible draw brought them together as lovers. Jessica knew Ryan Blackstone’s dictum: “No pets. No kids. No press. No diamond ring.” Because Ryan is her employer and because he is one of the richest men in Australia, she acquiesced to his demands including that no one could learn they were living together. She became his secret mistress. When Jessica discovered she was pregnant, she made plans to end the affair. Afraid of Ryan’s reactions and afraid he would behave like his detestable father, she didn’t tell him right away. She did plan to tell him before she left, but other events intervened. Howard Blackstone, Ryan’s father, died in a plane crash. The ripples from that disastrous trip spread troubles through his company, Blackstone Diamonds. It also wrought profound changes in his children and enraged his greatest rival, Matt Hammond, son of Howard’s greatest enemy...his brother-in-law. Matt’s wife also died in the crash with Howard, and everyone suspects she was having an affair with the old man. Even more reason for Matt to wreak vengeance on Howard’s remaining family.

Jessica is a smart girl who found herself ensnared by love and is now in an untenable position. Her pregnancy changed her outlook on life. While she loves her job and has always loved Ryan, her child’s welfare must come first. As for the hero…while you might not like Ryan at the story’s beginning, he improves upon acquaintance. The question is can he change enough?

This story gem is the second in the Diamond’s Down Under series. Each of six Australian authors writing the series tells the story of one of the children involved in a previous generation’s rivalry and quarrel. A priceless stolen necklace, a kidnapped child, and a wife’s suicide play into this dysfunctional family’s history. The twists and turns in PRIDE & A PREGNANCY SECRET are as numerous as the facets on a diamond. Human motivations are often shaped by emotions vulnerable from past injuries and tempered by today’s harsh realities, and this is certainly the case in this family. While each story stands alone, the family history and the motivations of each family member builds from the first volume, so be sure you read the first one. If the remaining books are as gripping as these have been, you’ll want to collect them all.

VOWS & A VENGEFUL GROOM, Diamonds Down Under, Book 1, was reviewed by Romance Reviews Today last month (posted January 10).

Robin Lee