Susan Mallery The Marcelli Bride

The Marcelli Bride

Susan Mallery

Pocket, May 2006, $6.99

ISBN: 0743499573

The four kidnappers wearing Halloween masks abduct the president's daughter Darcy Jensen from a private bathroom in a store. When they reach their van, their leader looks at Darcy in disgust and informs his thugs they snatched the wrong one as no one cares what happens to this loser. They unceremoniously leave her behind in the parking lot as they re-plot how to grab Darcy's glamorous popular sister Lauren. For their safety, the two siblings are sent to separate safehouses.

After a harrowing overseas ops scenario, Lieutenant Commander Joe Larson and his men are happy to be alive and back in the States. The celebration leads to boat races into a training area that consequently led to the destruction of the admiral's personal pride and joy ship. Joe is punished by being assigned to protectg Darcy at the Marcelli Vineyards. Joe is stunned with this task as he only recently learned that he is a Marcelli. Amidst the vineyards and a family trying to bring him into their loving fold, Joe and Darcy fall in love, but first he must keep her safe.

This is a terrific Marcelli saga tale (see THE SPARKLING ONE and THE SASSY ONE) as humor and suspense make for a fun tale. The story line is filled with action from the moment that the kidnappers throw away Darcy as a "used tissue" and never slows down until the final confrontation between Joe and POTUS in the hospital. Susan Mallery provides a fin blending of the First daughter meets the Marcelli clan in a compelling thriller.

Harriet Klausner