{Review} The Best Mistake by Linda Kage

The Best Mistake by Linda Kage

Publication Date: March 14, 2012

Publisher: The Wild Rose Press 

My Rating:

Synopsis: Deri "The Mistake" Crandall wants nothing more than the love and acceptance from a family. After her mother dies, she finally discovers who her father is—except he and his family aren't exactly everything she's dreamed of. Not about to let a little thing like that bother her, she strives her hardest to fit in. Though honest to a fault, she even lies to gain their affection. But who could have predicted the one man with whom she immediately clicks is the very millionaire her grandfather orders her to betray? Cole Harrety’s life is all about work and ignoring play, until a petite, curvy bundle of quirky woman literally tumbles into his lap. From the moment he loses a staring contest with her, he knows Deri is exactly what's been missing from his mundane life and no other woman will ever compete with her.With a web of deception already woven, can their new bond survive a shattered trust?SOURCE)

I received an email from Ms. Kage inquiring whether I'd be interested in reading and reviewing The Best Mistake. After reading the synopsis, I immediately said yes. I thought The Best Mistake sounded like something that would be right up my alley. I'm a big fan of romance novels in general (duh). And when there is either an unrequited or against all odds feel to it, even better!   The way Deri craves acceptance and love from her family just broke my heart. Everyone deserves a loving family and Deri is no exception. Sadly, after the loss of her mother, the only family she has left is an estranged father. And he happens to be the head of a major corporation that wants to steal information from Harrety International and it's powerful owner. They are manipulative and horrible. As if her father didn't put Deri through enough by making her prove she's his daughter, they also use her as a pawn in business dealings. So she can prove herself to them. As if she should have to do that with family anyway.   Deri only agrees to seek a job at Harrety because she knows if she doesn't do it, someone else will. She is an honest person and doesn't plan to steal or pass on any information she might get. There's no way she'll allow herself to get roped into doing something so cruel. Besides, she's working as an intern, stocking the supply closet with paper and distributing new ink cartridges for printers. How is she expected to get her hands on secret intel from the CEO, Mr. Harrety.   When Deri meets Cole by accident (literally) she knows there is something she can't resist. Cole was adorable and a gentleman, coming to Deri's aide when she's injured. The attraction between them is instant. I felt it from both sides, not just hers. It's not often I read a romance novel where the male is all swoony and distracted. At least, not openly. Cole goes out of his way to find out more about her, trying to track Deri down after he's escorted her home.   In the mean time, Mr. Harrety has hired a private investigator, who is trying to figure out who the company mole is. Little does he know at the time, it's Deri. But even then, things aren't what they seem and when Cole does his best to woo Deri, she can't take the guilt of keeping who she is from him. The night she decides to tell him, they see one of her family members in public. When she admits her relation to the man, Cole is numb. One thing leads to another and he does something that only hurts both of them.   My heart hurt for both Deri and Cole. It is so obvious how strongly they feel for one another but they've let secrecy get in their way. I admit, I was a little worried about what might happen.    But Cole does something amazing, by confronting Deri's family, with lawyers in tow. He knows in his heart that she is innocent and even though she might be related to those people-- she hasn't given them anything they were after.    There were cheers all around (from me at least) when Cole stood up for Deri. I so desperately wanted him to take her family down, with legal action, but he did something so much better. Deri won't ever have to worry about them trying to manipulate her again. And Cole won't have to worry about the safety of his company, for that matter.    Once Cole is rid of Deri's family he makes amends with her too. Finally those two can be together, without shadows of guilt, lies or doubt lurking behind them.   In conclusion, I'd have liked for the book to me a little longer, maybe a bit more detail here and there. But overall, I enjoyed it. It was a light, fast read and I'm happy to have been asked to review it.   A copy of the e-book The Best Mistake was supplied by the author, Linda Kage in exchange for my honest review.