365 books in 365 days Challenge ... book #226

The Lawman's Nanny Op - Carla Cassidy
Mills & Boon Intrigue 2-in-1
Harlequin UK, 2011
ISBN: 9780263885613





My rating




From the back cover:

"The kids at Portia Perez's day-care center are everything to her. She tried love once, but was badly bitten. Then in walks Deputy Caleb Grayson. Though Caleb hurt her once, she can't deny that seeing him still makes her ache for his touch.Caleb's heart skips a beat when Portia enters the sheriff's office. Suddenly, memories come rushing back. Portia didn't trust him then. Why should she now?
But someone's out to harm her and Caleb can't walk away. Nor can he deny the claim she still has on his heart. Will Portia's stalker extinguish any chance of a happy reunion between these old flames?"


Urghh, what an awful title!

The heroine Portia is very distressed when she finds slanderous posters about herself put up all over town, she has never done anything to hurt anyone. Her upset is made worse when she goes to the police, where she is informed by Deputy Caleb, the hero, that there is nothing that can be done. Caleb and Portia were once teenage sweethearts but their relationship had crumbled when Portia believed malicious gossip that Caleb had cheated. Although they live in the same town, they have avoided each other for the whole ten years since their break up. So it is naturally very difficult for both of them when the threat against Portia becomes very real and her life is in danger.
Caleb is having a tough time at the moment not only is he still struggling with his feelings after another bad break-up but also trying to deal with the suspected disappearance of his younger sister, plus being with Portia again reminds him of what he lost all those years ago. But it's clear that there is still passion between them and as the threats increase they get closer and closer.

This is an enjoyable book, with an interesting suspense plot and two well matched characters. There is a lot of simmering tension between them, and I really liked the whole unfinished business aspect of their relationship. Caleb is a brilliant hero; caring, brooding, and strong, however I feel that his issues from his recent heartbreak, while very sad, were brought up too late to have a big impact on the story. Portia is a little too insecure for my liking, I got a little frustrated with her character. The suspense element is interesting and really well executed, it certainly keeps you guessing.

There is the subplot of Caleb's sister and her disappearance/kidnapping, this is left unresolved as this book is part of the mini-series 'The Lawmen of Black Rock'. Caleb and Portia's story stands alone though.

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