Michelle Reid’s A Question of Pride is one of those quintessential Harlequin romances that packs both sensuality and emotional punch into a short, intense tale. The story brings together Max Latham, a 34-year-old tycoon in the world of computer electronics, and Clea Maddon, his much younger secretary, who finds herself caught between her deepening love for him and his reluctance to commit. What starts as a straightforward boss-secretary dynamic soon evolves into a passionate but fraught relationship that neither can easily walk away from.

Max is every inch the powerful alpha hero, commanding, successful, and determined to keep his freedom at all costs. He thrives on control and discipline, both in business and in his personal life, but his attraction to Clea breaks all his carefully imposed rules. Clea, on the other hand, is just twenty when she first becomes his secretary, with a kind of innocence that does not quite prepare her for a man like Max. She loves him wholly, even when it hurts, and her devotion to him is tested time and again as she navigates the precarious territory of being both his lover and his employee.

The turning point comes when Clea realizes she is pregnant, and with it all the insecurities and fears about where she stands in Max’s life. She knows Max well enough to understand that his response will be driven by duty rather than love, and that terrifies her. Max’s struggle with his own emotions, his inability to acknowledge love, his fear of entrapment, his anger at being vulnerable, creates the heart of the conflict. Watching these two collide, retreat, and collide again makes for the kind of drama Michelle Reid is so good at delivering.

What I loved most about this story was the raw connection between Max and Clea. Their chemistry leaps off the page, with moments of tenderness woven seamlessly into scenes of near-explosive tension. Max, for all his high-handedness, is obsessed with Clea, and it is in those unguarded moments when he loses control that his true feelings shine through. Clea, though painfully young at times, has a core of strength that carries her through even when she doubts herself. I also enjoyed the secondary characters, Max’s mother, as well as James and Amy, who add warmth, humor, and grounding to the story.

Loved this sensual tale of two people who needed that push to clinch the deal. Max is the kind of alpha male that writers have forgotten to formulate and Clea the kind of heroine that goes so well with the type of hero that is Max. I did not dislike that fact, because this is quintessential Harlequin and I grew up loving the kind of angst that generates from this combination. As long as the hero redeems himself proper, I revel in these stories.

Recommended for: fans of vintage Harlequin romances, readers who enjoy boss-secretary tropes, and anyone looking for an intense, emotional May-December romance.

Final Verdict: A Question of Pride is exactly the kind of angsty and sensual Harlequin romance I live for; passionate, dramatic, and unforgettable.

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