As promised for my March 14th post, today I’m reviewing Handsome Devil, book seven in the Quicksand series, a contemporary romance by USA Today bestselling author Delaney Diamond.
Title: Handsome Devil
Series: Quicksand, book #7
Author: Delaney Diamond
Genres: Adult, Contemporary Romance
Publication Date: February 29, 2024
Length: 224 pages
Publisher: Garden Avenue Press
They might both get what they want in this marriage of convenience—if they don’t kill each other first.
Blurb: Annabelle Buchanan waltzes into Dante Escarra’s office with a singular goal—to persuade him to accept her audacious one-year marriage proposal. Her objective? Taking control of her father’s real estate empire. But Dante is her ex-husband, and their past is littered with hurt and anger.
Dante never once contemplated reuniting with Annabelle, because she broke his heart and left him devastated years ago. But her offer is a tantalizing chance to add an iconic Houston building to his real estate portfolio—a prize he covets more than he’s willing to admit.
As they pursue their respective goals, the lines between business and heart blur. Can they make their marriage work the second time around, or will they both end up with broken hearts—again?
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****
The blurb got me. Plus, I love multicultural romances. The same for billionaires. And second chances. So I said a big “heck yes” to reading and reviewing Handsome Devil by Delaney Diamond.
I guess what got me is the fact they’ve been married before. Their first marriage took place at a very young age, when neither was mature enough to understand what marriage is, and the commitment and sacrifices that go with a life partnership. Now the two are grown up, and a little wiser. The thing is, they NEED each other.
When I learned of Annabelle’s reason for wanting the position of CEO for her father’s company, she won me over. Even though she’s a woman of privilege, she’s got a big heart of gold.
As for Dante, he carries a chip on his shoulder about his past. He grew up poor in Venezuela. To care for his family, he came to America to make something of himself and send money back home. But he hasn’t forgotten his roots. Not at all. Why he needs Annabelle’s help comes with a big reveal that I liked.
The two have red-hot chemistry in bed. But it wasn’t enough to sustain them during their first short-lived marriage. The same chemistry is present, but the big question is: is it enough to sustain their second marriage?
I liked the different social events they attended, and the focus on the duo and their families. It gave me great insight into the characters and what motivated them. The author kept it focused on the couple, which I liked because she showed readers how the two were reconnecting in a marriage of convenience.
The dialogue is true to the characters, and the same with their actions. The setting is wonderfully painted. I felt as if I was in Houston, taking in the same places and events that the characters were a part of.
My only quibble was the villain of the story. I felt he was only used to push them together, when he could have caused all kinds of mayhem.
With that quibble aside, it’s a great read, and one that I recommend. Do yourself a favour and get a copy.
Maggie Blackbird 