Leah Vale MacDougal Meets His Match

MacDougal Meets His Match

Leah Vale

Harlequin American, Jan 2004, $4.75, 250 pp.

ISBN: 0373750064

Wealthy Brendan MacDougal feels empathy when he meets sad Dr. Rose Doeber at Chicago General's Pediatric Ward while she cries over a three year old male patient. The child's father resides in Folsom and Rose wants to adopt the lad so he would not go through what she did as a child, but his dad sees Dylan as a cash cow. Shocking even himself since he mistrusts all women as he believes they want access to his money and his lofty position, Brendan needs to help her.

He wants to use little Dylan as a poster child co-starring with his famous racing car driver to advertise the pediatric wing. Rose fears that Dylan's dad will react by interpreting publicity to mean more money. She wants the child safe. The playboy plans to seduce the doctor into agreement, but suddenly, Brendan finds he needs Rose like he has never needed any other woman. He suffers a disease of the heart with the only cure a lifetime with Rose.

MCDOUGAL MEETS HIS MATCH is a fine contemporary romance starring a charming lead duet and supported by strong secondary characters especially Dylan. Fans' hearts will go out to the intrepid child who copes with whatever grenades life tosses at him. Readers will also appreciate the changing relationship between Brendan and Rose, as both start off wary, but gradually change into needing the other. A subplot involving who Rose really is adds tension, but also takes away from the prime theme that the medical romance audience will find provides the perfect remedy to warm the heart on a cold January night.

Harriet Klausner