Stephanie Boyle The Contestant

The Contestant

Stephanie Boyle

Silhouette Bombshell,

ISBN: 0373513666

A former Olympics diver who won a silver medal at Sydney has a will to win in all competitions because the win was done with a broken hand. Talia Mooney knows why she is in the middle of the Pacific Ocean. Her father owes $50K to Rocco, a loan shark known for breaking bones of late payees. Talia looks over her rivals and thinks she has an excellent chance of winning the million dollar winner take all prize though she acknowledges her prime competitor on the Ultimate Endurance reality TV survival show is the in shape former cop Reuben Serrano, who makes no pretension that this is a team sport as he plans to go alone.

However, a storm strands the contestants and crew on the isolated island. Not long afterward, someone decides to change the rules of the game by killing off opponents. Talia wonders if she can trust anyone as any of the other marooned folks could be the killer although she is most wary of Reuben as she fears her judgment of him due a strong attraction. Perhaps being an ex-cop, he is even more suspicious of his competition although his libido screams for teaming with Talia.

THE CONTESTANT is a fabulous romantic thriller starring two real individuals with flaws that make each hesitant to fall in love. The exciting story line is mindful of Ten Little Indians (especially the Hugh O'Brien movie) with the TV reality show twist modernizing the plot. Fans of action-packed pot boilers will enjoy this strong romantic suspense.

Harriet Klausner