Kara Lennox, Downtown Debutante

Downtown Debutante

Kara Lennox

Harlequin American, Sep 2005, $4.99, 248 pp.

ISBN: 0373750854

Stranded in Cottonwood, Texas, jewelry designer Brenna Thompson hates her former fianc Marvin Carter, who stole her gemstones, trust fund and checking account while also destroying her dreams. FBI Agents Heath Packer and Pete LaJolla believe that Brenna is somehow a partner of Marvin even after she explains that she and two other victims formed the Blond Posse to get the con artist.

However, upon interviewing Brenna, Heath begins to believe she is an injured party not a culprit though he worries that his attraction to her might be tainting his judgment and besides which he does not trust women in general as they always betray their men. Still in spite of his efforts he cannot resist seeing Brenna even as both separately chase after the vanished con man, who inadvertently has played matchmaker.

The second Blond Justice amateur sleuth romance (see HOMETOWN HONEY) is a wonderful tale starring two likable protagonists who do not trust one another. Brenna expects Heath and Pete to vanish like other Feds did as there are no murders only three dumb blondes fleeced. As Brenna and Heath fall in love, he knows his lies will come back to bite him while she remains doubtful that an agent would work her nonentity case.

Harriet Klausner