He guarded his privacy behind the walls of his chateau. Until a brunette chasing a con artist crashes into his life. Love is an illusion... or so it seems to Madeleine. Broken down on the side of the road, spending yet another hard-earned holiday sorting out her mother's chaotic love life, is proof enough. Not least because this time the creep has stolen her mother's money and disappeared without a trace in France. But Madeleine can't deny the sparks of desire when a reclusive tycoon offers her shelter at his family chateau. Until a growing undercurrent of secrecy makes her doubt the enigmatic Frenchman. Tragedy shaped Jean-Luc Delacroix's life long ago. It's made him overprotective of his sister and wary of strangers. However, despite everything, he's reluctant to let Madeleine go, especially when he discovers she's chasing a dangerous conman. As the trail for her mother's money heats up, Jean-Luc must convince Madeleine that happily ever after exists, even when his own family is testament it doesn't. Or risk losing forever the one woman that can save him from his past mistakes. Set in the beautiful French countryside, Gathering Storm is a standalone, suspenseful romance featuring a sinfully sexy hero, dark family secrets, and a heart-racing conclusion.