Marine biologist Julie Reagan is desperate to have a child – but not necessarily the man who ordinarily comes as part of the package. Her parents’ bad marriage turned her off from relationships from the start, and being shy meant that she busied herself with studies rather than making friends. The result? She is thirty-three and as sexually inexperienced as you can get. Her biological clock has started thumping, and her only course seems to be artificial insemination. When a personal ad for a man looking to have children but not marriage catches her attention, she responds before thinking, then begins to regret it almost immediately, especially once her best friend, Dana, starts pointing out the pitfalls. Will she come to regret her rash decision, or is Jordan McIntyre just what she is looking for? Could he be more than she ever expected? And what are the secrets he is hiding? One thing is for sure. When she visits his ranch, she'll need all her skills of observation, and a healthy dose of caution, to decide whether her destiny is Jordan and his home, or a single life…alone.

Jordan McIntyre cannot believe he let his best friend and foreman, Cam, talk him into placing that ad. Since his wife's suspicious death three years ago, the town stills talks, rumours still abound. Jordan prefers to stay on the ranch, with his loyal friends and employees. Three generations have made their living on the ranch, and Jordan wants his children to follow in his stead. So he needs an heir but he doesn't want marriage. He had enough of that institution. Yet he needs a woman around to help raise the children. He is a busy man, after all. Although he had plenty of responses and set up several interviews, only one response really caught his attention. Somehow, once he meets Julie, he knows she is the one he has been looking for, and stops at little to persuade her to at least visit the ranch, the plan being to bring her around to his way of thinking. He still has in mind the no commitment clause, but after coming to know Julie, will his plan change? Is she perfect not only for being the mother of his children, but also the owner of his heart?

Natural Persuasion is an excellent tale that has ensured I will continue to read more from Carol McPhee. Natural Persuasion contains many plot twists that engage the reader and keeps them guessing and enjoying right to the very end. This tale starts out as a woman longing for a child of her own, yet dashes of mystery, intrigue and stubbornness are added to the mix which come as a total surprise. Though at first glance the plot may seem something of a cliché – a woman longing for a baby – let me assure you, this is far from the case. Every character is strong and developed very well. Each character is also very different from the others, and several of them are keeping secrets of their own. The intricacy of the plot will amaze you, but it is the characters and the unexpected events that wind their way into the story that will grab your attention and keep it until you read the last word. Natural Persuasion is by and large a gentle, fairly traditional romance. The characters do make love a couple of times, but the act is described softly, in a manner befitting the tenderness of the act. Certainly, no abrasive or potentially offensive language is used. If you are a lover of romance, then I would certainly advise you to read this novel. Thoroughly enjoyable, engaging and excellently written, Natural Persuasion is sure to satisfy any romance lover and make an excellent addition to your shelf.

Reviewed by: Elizabeth