"It's gripping, intense and fast paced from start to finish..."

I didn't expect to actually read this book in one sitting. I picked it up to just glance through it really quickly and the next thing I knew, I was totally engrossed in it's charm.

Reporter Jamie Evans has only been on the job for three years, but already she's won awards and ranked among the best of them. She's been studying, or rather, researching the Susie Biddle missing persons case since she came on the job. Naturally, when one of her sources reveals to her that new evidence has been found, Jamie jumps at the chance to cover the story. Susie Biddle is no longer a missing person. Her body has just been discovered on the Hart Ranch and as far as the authorities are concerned, Susie's husband is the number one suspect.

With her cameraman in tow, Jamie makes it over to the Hart Ranch, Nathan Biddle's ancestral home where he's been living for the past three years, out of the public eye since the day his wife disappeared. Coming face to face with the recluse is not a part of the plan, but if the opportunity presents itself, Jamie certainly isn't going to walk away. His reaction to her questions makes Jamie realize that he hasn't been informed about the latest development by the authorities, nor does he seem to be aware of their suspicions.

The incriminating evidence seems to be piling up against Nathan at an alarming rate. Could Nathan really have brutally murdered his own wife? Or is the real killer right under their noses? Despite all the doubts, Jamie slowly recognizes a truth that's been staring her in the face since she came face to face with him - that Nathan Biddle is a man she could very quickly and very easily fall in love with.

Nathan Biddle gave up his life as an oil and gas executive three years ago when his pregnant wife suddenly disappeared. Living as a recluse on his Osage ancestral ranch, Nathan has totally dropped out of the public eye. Who could really blame him, considering the hell the media put him thought when Susie disappeared? So when Susie's remains are found on the ranch and Nathan finds himself the number one suspect, his first instinct is to remain out of the public eye. However, contact with Jamie and the natural course of events unfolding in the murder case convince him the only way to flush the real killer out of the shadows is to come out into the open. For only when he confronts the past, can Nathan be free to think of the future he wants - with Jamie.

Okay, in case you haven't already figured it out, I loved THE MAN FROM OKLAHOMA.

It's gripping, intense and fast paced from start to finish. Ms. Graham has crafted a beautiful romance with all the essential ingredients that help make a book unforgettable - strong but vulnerable characters, powerful emotions, tantalizing dialogue and vivid descriptions. Throw in heaps of smoldering attraction, a healthy dollop of suspense, murder, eerie intrigue and an interesting blend of Native American symbolism and visions and you will have a pretty good idea what makes THE MAN FROM OKLAHOMA so special.

Superromances always bring us exciting stories full of the unexpected so you're always surprised by the turn of events. They also bring us stories that define powerful and deep emotions, touching close to the heart and leaving a lasting impression. Darlene Graham's THE MAN FROM OKLAHOMA is an exemplary example of this definition. This one truly belongs on the Keeper Shelf.

***HEART BEAT AWARD***

Reviewed by Leena Hyat
Courtesy Heart Rate Reviews
Posted June 20, 2001

Summary

She'd trusted her instincts... but could she really trust her heart? Nathan Biddle's pregnant wife disappeared three years ago. Now her body has been discovered, and Nathan is the prime suspect. Reporter Jamie Evans is covering the story. The more she learns about Nathan, the more she knows this handsome Osage man is innocent. As Jamie and Nathan work together to reveal old lies and betrayals, they discover unexpected truths about themselves...and each other.