Operation: Texas
Roxanne Rustand
Harlequin SuperRomance, Sep 2004, $5.50, 298 pp.
ISBN: 0373712278

In Saguero Springs, Texas, rancher Celia Remington informs the DEA that she thinks drug running is occurring on her property. Single mom Celia worries for the safety of her thirteen years old daughter. The DEA sends Special Agent Brady Coleman to determine whether trafficking is happening here and if find a way to stop it.

Celia expected a female agent and has doubts about having a man around as she does not trust the gender. Brady needs to do the right thing by Celia and her daughter because he takes personal blame for a recent failed mission. He persuades Celia to pretend he is a hired hand who used to be her boyfriend in college. As they work in proximity to put a halt to the drug runners, Celia and Brady fall in love. However, his job makes anything permanent difficult while she worries about the impact on her child and besides she once vowed never again to marry.

Though the story line runs along the typical undercover cop script, fans of police procedural romances starring a covert hunk with a feisty independent heroine will appreciate this fine suspense. Readers will appreciate the support cast especially townsfolk shaking their heads at Celia and Brady as their attraction makes his cover seem genuine. The latest "Special Agents" novel is a fine romantic suspense.

Harriet Klausner