REVIEW: Yours For the Taking by Robin Kaye

Title: Yours For the Taking
Author: Robin Kaye
Format: ARC, 368 pages
Genre: Contemporary Romance
Source: Review copy from the publisher
Published: 1/1/2011 by Sourcebooks

He might be too good to be true...

Ben Walsh shouldn't be single. Handsome and wealthy, Ben is equally at home in Idaho where he grew up and in Manhattan where he's now an art dealer. Suave and successful with impeccable taste, he normally has women beating down his door. But the one woman he wants can't be convinced that he's for real...

She isn't sure if she has time for fairy tales...

Gina Reyez has fought for every bit of her success, and it's about time for things to start going her way. So when Ben makes a proposal that will allow her to take care of her family the way she wants to, she agrees. Besides, a guy this perfect would never be interested in her...right? By the time Gina figures out that she's read Ben all wrong, the arrangements are made, the papers are signed...but what exactly are they getting themselves into?

Why I Read this Book: Just from reading the book blurb, I knew that things were not going to go according to plan and that things were going to get complicated. And I was looking forward to reading about it. Yours For the Taking is the 4th book in the Domestic Gods series but can definitely be read as a stand alone. I have not yet read any of the other books in this series and I had no problems following the story. More than anything, it makes me want to read the first 3 books in this series. Robin Kaye is a new-to-me author and I’m ready to read more of her books.

What I Liked: I liked Gina’s character. She’s smart, sassy, stubborn and she’s no fool. She definitely knows how to handle her own, despite her short stature. She’s only committing to this “business deal” with Ben for the money, which she plans to use to help out her family. She’s completely selfless and I loved her for that.

Yours For the Taking has some great steamy love scenes, the first one being my favorite. It was the most intense. Gina was so evil!! But it serves Ben right for lying. LOL

One part that I thought was hilarious happened while Ben and Gina were at the ranch. Gina overheard part of a phone conversation between Ben and Trapper, something about some “rules”. Gina put it together that the rules were for a a missed chance at a threesome involving Ben, Trapper and a lady from the bar some time ago. Ben finally gives in (at Gina’s threat to redial Trapper, knowing full well that Trapper would spill) and tells Gina the rules:

-No belittling
-No sword fighting
-No eye contact
-No friendly fire
-No small talk
-And rock paper scissors to see who gets first pick of…Use your imagination.

What I Didn’t Like: Ben’s character felt like two completely different characters in this book. The first Ben we meet is a metrosexual man (think Ryan Seacrest) with OCD. He’s a wealthy, successful business man who thinks everything can just simply be bought. The second Ben, the one we see after he went home with Gina in tow, was more likable. He’s close to his friends and family and quite the small town guy. It didn’t feel like there was continuity in the transition from the first Ben we meet to the second Ben; it seemed abrupt.

I could have done without the constant reminder of Gina being a short woman. There were a lot of references to her short stature. I like to picture myself in the heroine's shoes and this was difficult to do, being tall myself, with the constant reminder.

Rafael’s (Gina’s missing brother) story arc wasn’t complete. It was left wide open and felt inconclusive. This was really bugging me so I contacted the author. She explained to me that she is working on a new series, Domestic Gods Gone Wild, and that she plans to follow the search for Rafael throughout those books.

Overall Impression: Yours for the Taking was a cute, fun, fast read told in a 3rd person narrative. I gobbled this one up in a time span of 24 hours. I’m looking forward to reading the first 3 books in this series as well as the author’s new series. This book’s sweet romance with sizzling love scenes will appeal to fans of contemporary romance who like a little spice mixed in.

The Book Vixen’s Rating: