It was one of those days when I couldn’t find a book on my shelves interesting enough to spend a few hours with. I checked with a friend who knows me well enough to know I like stories that are a little unusual and she recommended I try Annmarie McKenna's Blackmailed. I knew in the first few pages that I had found the book I was looking for.

Blackmailed introduces us to Brianna Wyatt, a young woman put in a very unusual position by her power-hungry father. Brianna's father is interested in having an heir for the family fortune and he has decided he's waited long enough for his daughter to take a mate. Since she hasn't found one so far, he takes matters into his own hands and finds one for her.

Brianna is taken against her will to the home of Cole Masters, one of the richest men in St. Louis, for a business meeting of the strangest kind. Brianna's father has struck a bargain with Cole to provide him with an heir to the Wyatt fortune and to keep her in his home until she becomes pregnant. Despite her intense sexual attraction to Cole, it's impossible for Brianna to believe she's been sold to the highest bidder. What kind of man would strike such a deal with her father? Certainly no man she wanted to have a child with. But what can she do, trapped in Cole's house like a sex-slave?

Cole Masters had a hard time explaining his newest business offer to his best friend Tyler Cannon. Really, how do you explain that a very rich man wants you to be a sperm donor to his only legitimate daughter in exchange for a large sum of money? And what was wrong with the girl that she couldn’t find a man on her own. Was she ugly or stupid, or even worse, frigid?

But when Cole set eyes on Brianna, the reason for the deal didn't matter. All he could think of was taking her to his room, tying up those slim little wrists and using her to his heart's content. Perhaps this wasn't going to be such a tough job after all. Brianna had a sensuality that he couldn't wait to try out, baby or no baby. He couldn’t wait for Tyler to meet her and join them in the bedroom. Little Brianna was going to have to learn that with Cole came Tyler since both men believed three in a bed is always more fun.

Ms. McKenna has written a slightly off-beat lightly BDSM novel with plenty of surprises. Though the story line of Blackmailed appealed to me, I could not fully enjoy the book because of a lack of depth in the characters. Without being able to put myself in Brianna's place, the hot bedroom action she found with Cole and Tyler failed to be as exciting as it could have been.

For readers who like two-on-one action, light BDSM and a fast read, Blackmailed will suit your tastes perfectly. I'd suggest it as a beach read or a before bedtime diversion when you have nothing better to do – just don’t expect to be blown away by it. 
 
Reviewed By Sabine Maurier
© January 2008