"Warm and realistic Oregon setting for a love story"

Miranda "Andie" Griffith is an intensive-care nurse at the hospital in the Oregon town where she's lived for eight years. She's tough but caring, devoted to the welfare of her patients but a pain in the ass to the hospital administration. Her best friend Nicole is a fellow nurse, and she is well-liked by her acquaintances. But basically Andie keeps to herself; her husband's death all those years ago--and the secret personal crisis that preceded it--make her inclined to solitude, with only her dog for company. And her privacy is important to allow her to pursue her growing career as a fiction author. So she is horrified when someone actually buys and moves into the old house on the property next to her secluded home. And that "someone" turns out to be a retired police detective who is very definitely interested in pushing himself into lovely Andie's life.

Andie first tries to throw Max Daniels out of her life. But he insists on being "neighborly" when a serious fall means she needs some care and assistance. Then strange things start to happen to Andie and Nicole, and they get that creepy feeling of being watched. The help of an experienced homicide investigator like Max might be very useful. And what's going on with the grouchy old man in intensive care who did NOT die? The man's nasty nephew would have inherited, if only those nurses hadn't put forth such effort to keep his uncle alive.

The suspense part of the story provides an underlying plot for the action and for bringing Andie and Max together, but is not a real mystery. The reader knows from the beginning who is doing what and why. This is basically a relationship story, as the hero and heroine learn about each other, learn to trust, and come to terms with the problems in both of their pasts. Andie's first marriage seemed wonderful from the outside, but hid a dark secret that she can't bring herself to share with Max. But until she does, will he be able to really understand her, or she be able to make a new commitment?

I thoroughly enjoyed this story. Andie is abrasive and assertive, but not obnoxious with it. Max is a wonderful hero--caring and determined and clever about making a spot for himself in Andie's life. The Oregon setting was completely realistic. It is always an extra bit of fun to read stories set where you live; I can find spots and people matching the author's description just by walking out my door.

Reviewed by Raelene Gorlinsky
Courtesy Sensual Romance
Posted August 29, 2003