THE BUSINESS OF STRANGERS

Author: Kylie Brant ISBN: 037327436X 5/2005 CONTEMPORARY Publisher: HARLEQUIN/Silhouette

Ria Kingsley is a woman without a past. Six years ago she washed ashore a wartorn tropical country with no memory and two bullet holes in her back. Since then she's been dodging assassins and trying to discover the secret of her earlier life. Jake Tarrance is a man without a future. He's got a price on his head and a bullseye on his back. He can ill-afford to be distracted by a woman, even after the one explosive night they spend together. But when a stranger offers Jake a contract to kill Ria, he's irrevocably drawn into her life. And a woman who trusts no one has to accept help from the one man who might pose the greatest risk of all to her...

RRAH's THOUGHTS AND PONDERINGS:

If you have a weakness for bad boys, come meet Jake Tarrance. Kylie Brant's THE BUSINESS OF STRANGERS hero is the baddest of the bad boys. A crime lord, Tarrance is none too charming. He is, however, ruthless, dangerous....

And charismatic.

He also oozes testosterone. Oh man...this hero is pretty devastating to female senses. At least this female's senses.

The attraction between Tarrance and THE BUSINESS OF STRANGERS' heroine, Sheriff Ria Kingsley, is immediate, explosive and sizzling. Jake recognizes—despite their worlds apart careers—Ria as a kindred spirit. The criminal and the cop might be on the opposite ends of the law, but these two characters are a perfect match.

This kick butt heroine can take care of herself. The stand-off with Jake in Ria's living room is one of the more memorable scenes in a story filled with exciting scenes.

The suspense/mystery in this Silhouette Intimate Moments is well-written as well. As Jake and Ria race to piece together her missing past, the action is brutally fast and furious. Dodging bullets and assassins is all in a day's work for the more-than-capable Ria. Dealing with sexy Tarrance, however, maybe more than this commitment-shy cop can handle.

With a killer romantic couple, loads of riveting action and some steamy love scenes, THE BUSINESS OF STRANGERS moves like greased lightning to an explosive climax.

Ms. Brant's story clicked on all cylinders for me. I can't recommmend THE BUSINESS OF STRANGERS highly enough. The romantic duo and the thriller are top notch.

Debbie Jett