AN UNLIKELY MATCH

Author: Cynthia Thomason ISBN: 0373713126 11/2005 CONTEMPORARY Publisher: HARLEQUIN SUPEROMANCE

"Hogan. Jack Hogan" The cocky ex-Secret Service agent is determined to point out the security risks in this eccentric little beach town. Mayor Claire Betancourt's town. Claire is just as determined to protect Heron Point and its free-spiritied citizens - however quirky they may be - from his interference. No way are Jack's take-charge attitude and dangerous good looks going to sway her. But Claire gets a shocking reality check when her nine-year-old daughter is kidnapped and Jack is the only one who can save her. And he's suprised to discover that what started out as just a job has suddenly become very personal.

RRAH's THOUGHTS AND PONDERINGS:

AN UNLIKELY MATCH is a November release from Harlequin Superromance. Category romances tend not to stick around for very long, so make sure to pick it up while it's available. Thomason's novel is a charmingly told, cozy tale, with excellent descriptions and appealing characters.

Claire Betancourt is a former high-society wife from Miami who moved to the quirky small town of Heron Point after her husband died. She became the mayor of the town and lives there with her aunt and daughter. Their life is slow and idyllic until a Donald Trump-type celebrity billionaire buys a long-deserted inn in the town and sends his security expert, Jack Hogan, in to inspect and make changes to the way Heron Point is run. The billionaire's son was kidnapped long ago so he's very paranoid about security.

I liked that the romance between the mayor and the security expert developed slowly and naturally, with the first kiss coming in the middle of the book. It made sense for these guarded, slightly prickly but endearing characters. The heroine's daughter is a hoot, as are the unusual denizens of the town. Ironically, the danger in the novel comes from outside of the town and reflects back to Claire, Jack and the billionaire's pasts.

This looks like the beginning of a continuing series, so I'm sure we'll learn more about why the billionaire bought the inn, what bad things happened there, and maybe Claire's aunt will talk her boyfriend into marriage as we spend more time in Heron Point. Settle in for an engaging read!

Heather Hiestand