Debra White Smith, Lone Star Intrigue

Lone Star Intrigue

Debra White Smith

Avon, Feb 1 2011, $9.99

ISBN: 9780062049445

Texas Heat. With her marriage ended, Charli Friedmont, accompanied by her little daughter Bonnie, returns home to Bullard, Texas where Sheriff Jack Mansfield arrests her for bank embezzlement of over a $100,000. Jack never forgot Charli who left his heart shattered when she left him to leave town with that no account Vinnie eleven years ago. His heart may be overruling his brain, but Jack plans to prove his Charli innocent of the crime at the risk of his law enforcement career. Charlie regrets what she did to Jack and decides he is better off without a single mother on her way to prison.

Texas Pursuit. Tanya O'Brien fell in love with the baby based on a photo. She adopted Coty in spite of his needing surgeries. On the plane home, Maurice Salazar claiming claustrophobia sits in in their row. She feels he is creepy. Later he stalks her, but the cops cannot help her until he assaults her. Afraid for Coty, Tanya moves. Maurice hires downtrodden private investigator Sonny Mansfield to find his former wife and their adopted infant. Sonny locates Tanya and Coty, but though he regrets the foolish mistakes he has made; he knows this is the biggest. He vows to keep the mom and her son safe from his predatory client.

These two Mansfield brothers' romantic suspense sagas are exciting thrillers that grip the audience from start to finish and a third sibling to follow. The second chance at love (Texas Heat) and the second chance at life (Texas Pursuit) contain strong lead males, engaging single moms with precious children, and vile villains. Although each omits a critical element (how the frame occurred and the abrupt ending), fans will appreciate both tales and look forward to Ryan's reckoning.

Harriet Klausner