The Burning Point by Mary Jo Putney

Kate Corsi always dreamed of working for her family's world-famous explosive demolition business--a wish her old-fashioned father denied her until the day he died. According to his will, Kate will receive a fortune, while her ex-husband, Donovan, will inherit the family business--but only if they agree to live under the same roof for one year.

Forced into a tentative alliance, Kate and Donovan must discover the truth about her father's death--and confront the past that almost destroyed them both. And as they face all their shattered dreams, their wrenching secrets and bitter resentments, they find themselves sliding perilously toward the burning point where passion catches fire once more...


I've read some reviews about how good MJP's books were. Her historicals, I mean. But y'all know why I'm staying far, far away from those. So when I found this book, I didn't hesitate about buying it. And especially because it said that this was her first contemp--that added more to my curiosity.

Unfortunately, it was a bad choice. Oh, I'm sure a lot of people really liked it. But MJP's writing style dust didn't do it for me. The story seemed to drag on and I had to really work it to get through the first few chapters. I couldn't even believe that I've read everything until somewhere in the middle, before I began skimming through the pages. Then...I just skipped right over to the ending.

But I have to say that what MJP did by headlining domestic violence was a really brave thing to do in the romance genre. Between one of the lead characters and an antagonist, maybe. But between the two leading characters, daring. Maybe I plowed on through the story because my curiosity got the better of me and I really wanted to know how they were going to work things out.

But personally, I don't think I could ever work things out in that situation.

It is fair to say that the plot did not turn me off from the book. Although now, I can't see even see myself picking up another MJP in the near future. Not even her historicals.

Final verdict: 5/10. So-so but won points for originality.