cover image The Wife He Needs

The Wife He Needs

Brenda Jackson. Harlequin Desire, $5.25 mass market (224p) ISBN 978-1-335-20949-8

Jackson (Never Too Late) opens her Westmoreland Legacy: The Outlaws series with a high-flying romance. Ten years have passed since the death of Garth Outlaw’s first love, and though he wants a wife to be the mother of his children, he believes himself incapable of falling in love again. He signs up for a high-end dating agency and agrees to meet with one of the candidates for a two-week vacation in Spain to test their compatibility. Corporate pilot Regan Fairchild, a family friend who has pined for Garth since her teenage years, is tasked with flying him there. When Garth’s arranged date never appears, Regan offers to stay with him for the duration of his trip—and gives him a hands-on opportunity to explore whether he’s capable of love again. Their red-hot affair seems to be going well until an unexpected arrival dashes Regan’s fragile hopes. Jackson’s winning formula of heat and heart will draw readers in and though the happily-ever-after is expected, it’s satisfying nonetheless. This spin-off series is off to a strong start. (Dec.)