Far from Perfect — Portia Da Costa

Enduring passion, turbulent emotions, and an engagement of convenience...

At age twenty, Anna Felgate rid herself of her unwanted virginity with the one man she adored -- Nick Lisitano, long-time family friend and legendary lover. But that one taste of passion branded her soul for all time -- and still casts a long shadow, four celibate years later.

Their single night of matchless lovemaking left Nick racked with remorse for taking advantage of Anna's innocence. Thanks to his parents' stormy marriage, he's sworn off commitment, but believes Anna deserves deep, enduring love, not a temporary liaison.

In the intervening years, they've managed to keep a cordial distance, but when a crisis in Nick's family brings them together again, Anna is shocked by Nick's daring plan to cheer up his dangerously ill father -- a temporary façade of an engagement. Against her better judgment, she agrees to it, fully aware of the emotional minefield yawning before her.

As if destiny has been waiting for them to touch once again, their volcanic mutual attraction reignites, threatening to burn the terms of their pragmatic bargain to ashes. Each begins to wonder privately if their passion can become permanent -- or whether it will crumble under the weight of past sins and present secrets...