Ring Around My Heart
Pat White
Love Spell, Sep 2004
ISBN: 0505526093

Wrestling promoter Cosmos Perini needs a hero like the Hulkster was in the 80s if his association is to remain competitive with anything goes, including XXX Steel's Outrageous Wrestling. In desperate straits, he hires single mom public relations specialist Alexandra Hayes to a three month contract to change arrogant Luke "Loverboy" Silver from a bad guy to a good guy over the violent objections of the big dude.

Alex wonders where she met Luke, who inadvertently called her Lexy, a childhood name. As she begins to unravel the secret that he denies exists, he remains obstinate to changing his image. She decides to dig deeper to learn why he refuses to change his image to that of a good guy. She remains unaware that he feels he deserves to be a baddy as he holds himself responsible for not preventing the death of his best friend. While Alex and Luke work closely together in spite of his resistance to changing his image and to her, they fall in love, but will he allow her to pin him permanently?

This is an entertaining sports romance that uses an intriguing environ, professional wrestling with its scripts and playbooks that is as amusing as the wild cast. Luke is a fabulous villain while Alex is a wonderful opponent who refuses to submit to his innuendos, sexual intimidations and other threats until she finally GOT A HOLD ON HIM and makes him say "aunt". Fans will enjoy this tale and hope for another on the mat romance perhaps with a big babe gladiator pinning her man.

Harriet Klausner