Kassiah

4 stars.

This review also appears on Steamy Guys After Dark.

Yours to Keep featured lovable characters, authentic dialogue and storyline, and sizzling hot chemistry. Author Serena Bell tackled a plot that I've personally never read, and I loved it.

Spanish tutor Ana Traveres is an illegal immigrant who lives in constant fear of being sent back to the Dominican Republic. When the gorgeous Dr. Ethan Hansen overhears his son's principal getting more than overly familiar with Ana, he comes to her rescue, and asks for her to tutor his son. She finally agrees, even though she's been trying to stay out of the limelight as much as possible. Throughout it all, we learn about Ethan and how he's been dealing with being a single parent since his wife died eight years ago and Ana's dealing with US immigration troubles and trust issues because of her previous boyfriend. Eventually, of course, Ana gives in to her resistance to Ethan and sparks fly.

"We're going on a date."

"I don't want to go on a date. I want you to kiss me like that for hours. And you can do other stuff at the same time if you want, but I don't want you to stop kissing me."

And my rob, when they're in the car and he says, "I want to feel how hot you are." *fans self* It's hot.

I really loved these characters. Ethan was pretty swoony, and Ana was definitely a character that I was rooting for. I loved Ethan's son, Theo, too. I didn't like Ana's brother, and while I understand the reason for the education on illegal immigrants living in the United States, I wasn't necessarily crazy about a political agenda being pushed on me. Also, some of the descriptions went on and on a bit too much. As far as the romance and story and other characters go, though, I loved it.

Even though we knew where this story was headed, I thought it got there in an original way and I was surprised by how much I enjoyed reading this. This was the first thing that I read by Bell, but I will definitely be checking out everything else she ever writes. You should, too.