Christopher Delgado and Emily Kirkland have successful careers, Emily is a well-known TV journalist and Chris is a State Senator about to embark on the most significant endeavor of his life, running for Governor of New Mexico. Both come from very wealthy and very well known families. They have been best friends since they were little kids but now they are falling in love. The course of true love never runs smooth and Chris and Emily are no exception to the rule. Each has significant issues that must be resolved before they, as a couple, can achieve lasting love and happiness.

When Chris Delgado was three years old he was abducted by his biological father, a spy for the US Government, and carried off to Mexico. Chris’s stepfather also a covert agent skilled in performing rescue missions arranged to bring Chris home but the rescue was foiled when rogue Federales captured Chris and held him until they could nab his father. Chris never knew the real story behind the brief separation from his family. He assumed that his father was no good and only wanted to cause trouble in his life. Now as one of the gubernatorial candidates, his opponent plans to leak to the press that Chris has ties to a less than upstanding, terminally ill Mexican citizen. Before the campaign is fully underway, Chris persuades Emily to fly to Mexico with him to question his dying father.

Learning the true story behind his father’s absence from his life all these years devastates Chris. He is willing to do whatever he can to make his dad’s last few weeks pleasant. His father’s dying wish is that he lives to see his son marry the wonderful Emily Kirkland. Neither Chris nor Emily was prepared for this revelation. How can they marry and protect the integrity of Chris’s campaign? Emily is scheduled to join Chris’s opponent, William Savoy on the campaign trail upon her return from Mexico. They bow to Alejandro Delgado’s wishes and marry secretly, agreeing that they will tell their respective families and the world when the election is over.

Upon their return to New Mexico they learn Savoy’s campaign is in full swing and he has planned a press conference to announce the dirt he has dug up on Chris. As the reporter covering Savoy, Emily must stand by and watch him attempt to destroy her husband. Wanting to hold firm to the commitments she and Chris made in Mexico, Emily must make some major career decisions. Will these decisions destroy them, or will Chris and Emily be able to hold on to the love that they so deeply cherish?

PRIVATE PASSIONS by Rochelle Alers is the final book in the "Daughters and Sisters" trilogy that reacquaints us with the Cole, Kirkland and Sterling families. For those of us readers that have followed this series since it’s inception, PRIVATE PASSIONS gives us an opportunity to get an update on couples we fell in love with in earlier books. As usual Ms. Alers has continued to provide the right mixture of sensual romance and suspense to keep us on edge until the very last page of the book. For those of you that have never read a multicultural romance, start with PRIVATE PASSIONS. I guarantee you will develop a liking for Ms. Alers stories and haunt your UBS for copies of her earlier books.