Yours for the Taking

Just Read-Yours for the Taking

I love a fun, romantic comedy, so I am trilled to have discovered Robin Kaye. Ben needs to get married in order to inherit the ranch where he grew up. Gina accepts his proposal as a business proposal, because she'll get the financial security she's always dreamed of out of the very generous prenup. They both agree this is strictly business and platonic. He'll be in Idaho most of the time. She'll stay in their newly purchased NY mansion. However, Ben's crafty grandfather may throw a wrench in to their plan, and just perhaps these two who don't do long term relationships will find something more. There are minor characters in this book whose stories are told in Romeo, Romeo, Too Hot to Handle and Breakfast in Bed. Still to come the stories of Ben's cousins in Idaho. I can't wait.

3 out of 3 people found this review helpful.

Likeable Romance with an Unlikeable Heroine

This is the first book I've read of Robin Kaye's Domestic Gods series. By some accounts it's her best, other's her worst. I can't really be the judge of that since it's my first, but here are some of my thoughts after reading Yours for the Taking.

Ben is a cowboy at heart, but also a Manhattan metrosexual who enjoys women...lots of women, just without any complications. His grandfather, a wily though manipulative loving relative, has given Ben a short period of time to marry, otherwise his grandfather is going to sell Ben's childhood ranch in Idaho where he holds cherished memories of his mother and father who died when he was younger. He's a driven, but caring person who is determined to have the ranch, pretty much at any cost....to the tune of many millions of dollars. Just as long as the woman he marries knows that it is a marriage of convenience only...no emotional strings attached.

Gina is a survivor who grew up feeling responsible for the care and nurturing of her siblings. She's a fighter, who has learned the hard way to only rely on herself. Consequently, she is at times abrasive, off-putting and needs to have control of her own destiny so that she won't ever have to be reliant on someone else for her wellbeing again. She came from nothing, but through hard work and diligence she's made a good life for herself and her sister. So when she's offered a chance to marry a man she knows only through mutual acquaintances, for which she will be paid a substantial amount of money, she thinks not of what it will gain her, but how she can in return help those she loves the most.

I didn't really know what to expect from this modern day take on a marriage of convenience. I was somewhat skeptical about what would motivate two people who barely know each other in a contemporary romance to marry, but the circumstances that the author places each character in makes it believable that they would both benefit from the arrangement.

Ben is a very likeable hero, and despite his need for a wife that he has no emotional entanglements with he quickly falls in lust and love with Gina...but for the life of me I couldn't really tell you why. Because you see, Gina isn't really a likeable person...at least that is the way she comes across. She's hard and because of her situation growing up she trusts and relies on no one. She has a hard time asking anyone for help, and isolates herself and her feelings to protect herself from further hurt and disappointment. She's always looking for people to fail her, so in the end she gets exactly what she looks for because if you look hard enough you can always find fault.

I never really liked Gina as a person and felt that her character never progressed from someone who needs no one, to someone who needs the man she loves in her life. I never really got why Ben loved Gina, but I certainly understood why Gina could fall in love with Ben. As a result their love story seemed very one sided and that was a big disappointment.

Despite my feelings about Gina as a character I did enjoy my first Robin Kaye book. I loved Ben. I loved the cast of supporting characters, the interaction and dialogue between the characters, and the overall plot and writing style. I just wish that Gina's character would have evolved more from beginning to end because that would have made this 3 star read a definite 4+ star read.

Ratings:

Overall: 3.25 stars
Sensuality Level: 3.25

1 out of 1 people found this review helpful.

Good book

Not a fan of Gina's charactor

I REALLY REALLY dont like Gina!

I have read the other 3 books in this series and now this one. Ben is a hero I can get behind. Gina I didn't like when I first met her in book one and I don't like her now. I don't understand why she has friends and what made Ben fall for her. I'm glad I got this book just so I could finish the series but unhappy that there was no reason for me to root for Ben and Gina to be together.

Married for Money...

Yours for the Taking by Robin Kaye Book 4 in The Domestic Gods Series Gina Reyez had a tough life. Her mom was a whore and her dad was a drug addict. She began taking care of her sister at a young age. Even now that Tina was married, Gina still wanted to protect and take care of her little sister. And she held another weight on her shoulders, something that happened when she was six and yet she blames herself. She wants to make enough money to buy a home for herself, help her sister, and solve the mystery of her childhood, where she failed. When Ben Walsh made her a business proposition, she could not refuse it. She never wanted to get married but he offered her enough money to solve all her problems. And it would be in name only and maybe for a year or three. Problem was that she thought Ben was something he was not, by the time the truth is out...the marriage was legal. Ben Walsh was a happy bachelor. He was rich and handsome and had no problems finding ladies to entertain. Then Grandpa Joe stepped in. Either Ben was to marry or Gramps would sell the ranch that had belonged to his deceased parents. All his happy memories of when his folks were alive were at the ranch, so marriage it is. He had met Gina a few times and thought she might fit the bill. She was not his type, short and dark hair rather than tall and blonde but for a temporary marriage she would do. Problem was...Ben did not expect to admire his beautiful wife so much. Grandpa Joe steps in to help his grandson and causes more problems than solutions. And the cousins don't help Ben out much either. I had read book 5 first, Wild Thing, and this book puts many pieces together but I would suggest reading this series in order as each book has a piece to help connect you to the next one. **Contains language and sexual situatons.

Mediocre

I read the first three books and I loved Gina's character in Romeo Romeo but as the heroine, she was annoying, selfish and spoiled. I only finished the book because I liked Ben and his cousins. I can't wait to read about them. Only for them that I give this book 3 stars

Really more of a 2 1/2 star read....

By far the best book in this series was the first one. The three that follow just don't have the umph that that one did. I had thought that book four would be better--it started out fairly strong and was enjoyable, until the big relationship crisis occurs between Gina and Ben about 2/3 of the way through--then it all just got overblown and silly. The ending was a little better, but not much.

Okay

Fairly decent to start, then started getting contrite and predictible. Didn't love the heroine.

Nice Story.

Liked the characters but it did not show how or why everyone grew to like this girl. Not believable that he would fall for her.

check it out

Loved this book

Absolutely divine

Hilarious

Fun Book

This book had laughs, sadness, and suspence which makes a great read. Once I started it, never put it down til the end!

Awesome book!

Couldn't put it down! Will definitely read more by this author.

Mediocre

This+wasnt+as+good+as+previous+books+in+series+but+still+a+fun+read.

Great+

I+loved+it+%21%21%21

Great Read!

This is a well written light romantic novel. The story is cute and the romance is fun. I haven't read any of the other books in the series, but you can read this book stand alone and not feel like you've missed something. My only disappointment is the unresolved issue of Raphael at the end of the novel. I only hope one of her future books resolves that. Overall, this was a great, light read that I would recommend to anyone.

Must read!!!

What a great series!!! I love how everything is tied together in this book! Can't wait to read Trapper, Hunter, Fisher, and Karma's stories!!! Robin Kaye is an excellent author that I keep on my favorites list!! Truly enjoyed every book in the series.

A fun and sexy read

Yours For The Taking by Robin Kaye is a funny and sexy story that will warm your soul.

Ben Walsh is in a major bind; his beloved ranch will be sold if he doesn't come up with a wife like yesterday. His grandfather has forced Ben's hand in getting him married and settled. Ben has never had a problem with finding a willing woman but a wife is a whole other matter. After striking out with a female friend he makes a business deal with Gina Reyez. Ben is convinced he can have a temporary marriage to satisfy his grandfather then go on his merry way. But Gina gets under his skin and into his heart like no other woman he knows.

Gina Reyez has always depended on herself and had total control of her life. Ben's deal seems perfect for her, she can take care of her sister and give herself some financial security. Plus Ben isn't interested in her so that makes her body and heart perfectly safe.
She figures that she can keep Ben under control and just go about her daily life like nothing has changed.

Neither had planned on an interfering Grandfather deciding to work his ways on these two stubborn newlyweds. Tricked into spending time at Ben's ranch has Gina, this hardened New Yorker thinking that the peace and quiet is good for her. Spending 24/7 with Ben has her realizing her initial thoughts about Ben are way off the mark. Their sexual chemistry is off the charts and has them both thinking this temporary marriage could be the real thing. Only if they let their hearts overrule their minds.

Yours For The Taking is delightfully sexy and funny. You want these two stubborn characters to realize what is right in front of their eyes. Their journey is sexy, funny and also deeply moving. I enjoyed this whole series and am looking forward to reading more from this author.

Delicious Domestic Gods!

This is the 4th book in Robin Kaye's Domestic Gods Series, but can certainly be read as a stand-alone.

Gina Reyez had a rough childhood - a prostitute mother and drug-addicted father. She knows what it's like to live on the streets and has learned the hard way not to depend on anyone but herself. She lives with her younger sister, Tina, and Tina's husband Sam.

Ben Walsh is a successful businessman; he lost his parents in an accident when he was young and his grandfather is threatening to sell his parent's land if he doesn't marry soon.

Ben wants that land more than anything, and offers Gina a business deal - marry him and he'll pay her a monthly allowance, buy her a house, and settle more money on her when they divorce - after he gets the land from his grandfather. Gina realizes that with the money she'll make from Ben, she can buy herself a house free and clear that the bank will not be able to take away. She'll also be able to buy a house for her sister, and search for her brother, who she hasn't seen since he was a baby. Since she believes Ben is gay, she agrees to do it.

My thoughts: I've enjoyed Ms. Kaye's other Domestic Gods books, and Yours for the Taking was as sexy and entertaining as her previous books. It had a different feel to it, but still I liked it. Gina is a city girl - never been in a plane, doesn't know how to drive, doesn't trust anyone. Ben is more laid back - he loves being outdoors and commutes between Idaho and New York. It was fun to read these two butting heads, and Gina as a fish out of water in the Idaho wilderness was probably exactly how I'd behave :) The romance was sweet and the passion was hot!