The most poisonous mother in existence drops a (surprise!) niece in Ella's lap, leaving her to track down the father.  Naturally (naturally!) her search starts with millionaire playboy Jack Travis, who takes a strangely possessive stance towards her, despite her unconventional (and narratively unacceptable) reluctance to marry.  I raged and raged, and the pages turned and turned.  Dammit.


Smooth Talking Stranger
Lisa Kleypas (USA, 2009)
***
Finished Jan 8.