Most Popular Books by Jayne Ann Krentz

Honor Mayfield was about to walk into a trap. She thought that her chance meeting with Conn Landry was a fortunate stroke of luck. In fact, he had cleverly set her up a long time ago.

The author of Smoke in Mirrors and Soft Focus presents a sexy, irresistible story of two people searching for secrets—and finding each other… Cady Briggs is useful to Mack Easton. Her expertise in art and antiques helps his low-profile company, Lost and Found, find missing treasures for high-paying clients. But Cady knows that being useful to a client is one thing—and being used is another. So no matter how alluring she finds Mack, she plans to keep business and pleasure entirely separate. But then a sudden tragedy puts Cady in charge of Chatelaine’s, her family’s prestigious art and antiques gallery. Suddenly the roles are reversed, as strange developments at Chatelaine’s lead Cady to ask for help from none other than Mack Easton. And instead of tracking down missing masterpieces together, they’ll be hunting for a killer…

A self-made millionaire. A sassy entrepreneur. Their corporate merger might just set the night on fire in this electrifying thriller from perennial bestseller Jayne Ann Krentz. Olivia Chantry may leave her desk in disarray, but she’s a business dynamo—and the success of her Seattle-based company, Light Fantastic, keeps her from dwelling on her crumbled marriage. When Olivia inherits 49 percent of Glow, Inc., her uncle’s high-tech lighting firm, she butts heads with the interloper who bagged the other 51 percent: Jasper Sloan, a venture capitalist known as an orderly man with all his ducks in a row. Right from the start, the so-called partners nearly crash and burn—and can barely contain the sexual energy crackling between them. But when they discover a blackmailer uncovering secrets inside Glow, Olivia and Jasper’s steamy joint venture faces the acid test of truth…and a need for absolute trust. For when extortion turns to murder, a union of their minds—and hearts—might be their only chance to stay alive. “Equal parts romance and suspense” (Publishers Weekly), Flash is yet another exhilarating and steamy thriller from the “queen of the genre” (Kirkus Reviews).

Pru leaves her live-in lover when he refuses to marry her, but her unexpected pregnancy brings happiness, and inadvertently heals a major family rift.

Desdemona Wainwright thinks Sam Stark looks much too calm for a man who has just been left at the altar. But she was hired to cater his wedding, not to save it. She marches into Stark''s den to demand the much-needed payment for the canceled reception -- and discovers opposites do attract! Head of a multimillion-dollar company, Sam decides Desdemona would make the perfect no-strings-attached, stand-in wife, little dreaming how she will drive him crazy with desire. But when someone breaks into Sam''s secret computer files, sinister intrigue swirls around this unlikely pair. Now they must discover the real appeal of unstoppable passion and unbreakable faith...in TRUST ME, the wonderful new love story from Jayne Ann Krentz!

Molly Abberwick, trustee of her late father''s foundation, is furious with her new consultant, scientist-philosopher Dr. Harry Stratton Trevelyan. Harry is brilliant, sexy, and absolutely impossible -- and his outrageous suggestion of a scientifically inspired affair with her is positively the last straw....Besides, Molly''s got a much more serious problem; she''s become the target of a stalker whose sinister pranks are swiftly escalating into violence. Only Harry, of all people, seems to comprehend the true nature of the threats against his alluring boss. As a dangerous predator closes in on Molly, the enigmatic Dr. Harry seizes the day to reveal himself in a totally unexpected light....

Annie Lyncroft knew her scheme was outrageous. She''d come to the elegant penthouse to meet Oliver Rain, the richest and possibly the most dangerous man in the Pacific Northwest. Annie needed this sensual, secretive corporate maverick for what she was about to propose. Marriage! With her brother Danny missing after a mysterious plane crash, Annie is struggling to protect his hot electronics company from the sharks who think he''s not coming back. But fanciful, ethical Annie -- who usually runs a bizarre bric-a-brac shop knows Danny''s alive, and she''s determined to keep his company safe by putting his biggest investor at the helm. When Oliver actually says yes to the marriage of convenience, Annie dreamily envisions a few platonic weeks of helping him become a sensitive New Age guy. Oliver has a different plan; his cold, gorgeous eyes have been watching Annie, and he sees his chance to seduce the beautiful schemer. Love is the wild card destined to teach these two strong-willed opposites a lesson: icy control might run the business world, but all hell is about to break loose in the passionate territory of the heart.

Charity Truitt and Elias Winter, two of the Pacific Northwest’s most powerful corporate figures, are both facing crises of career and the heart. Fate has brought them together in Washington’s tiny Whispering Waters Cove, each eager to downsize and simplify. They’re both determined to avoid mergers of any kind—but when they meet, the attraction is nothing short of blue-chip. And they definitely have at least one thing in common: A martial arts master, Elias is a novice at relationships; a formidable former CEO, Charity is starting in the mail room when it comes to love. But when the town is rocked by two shocking murders, Charity and Elias realize that they must join forces to catch a killer. Because behind the town’s sleepy façade run currents fed by treacherous secrets and Deep Waters.

Zoe Luce is a successful interior designer in the Arizona town of Whispering Springs who''s developed an unusual career specialty-helping recently divorced clients redesign their homes, to help them forget the past and start anew. But Zoe knows that some things can''t be covered up with a coat of paint. And when she senses that one of her clients may be hiding a dark secret, she enlists P.I. Ethan Truax to find the truth. Working together, they solve the mystery . . . and barely escape with their lives. But Ethan''s exquisite detection skills are starting to backfire on Zoe: she never wanted to let him find out about her former life; she never wanted to reveal her powerful, inexplicable gift for sensing the history hidden within a house''s walls; she never wanted him to know that "Zoe Luce" doesn''t really exist. She never wanted to fall in love with him. Now, no matter how much she resists, Ethan may be her only hope-because the people she''s been running from have found her. And just when Zoe dares to dream of a normal life and a future with the man she loves, her own past starts to shadow her every step-and threatens to take her back into a nightmare.

Between The Lines by Jayne Ann Krentz released on Aug 25, 1986 is available now for purchase.

A hard-edged businessman and a beautiful art expert make a tantalizing mind-body connection at a new age resort until a killer threatens their piece of paradise in this “fun-filled and sensational tale by the incomparable Jayne Ann Krentz” (RT Book Reviews). Alexa Chambers has a flair for style, an eye for art, and a reputation in tatters after blowing the whistle on an employer who was selling fakes to wealthy clients. Now she runs a shop in her Arizona hometown, but she’s determined to rebuild her career even if it means taking risks. She begins secretly consults on an exquisite art collection being installed at the new Avalon Resorts. Her scheme might just work—if she can steer clear of the resort’s owner, the enigmatic and possibly dangerous J. L. Trask. Alexa was a scared teenager the last time she saw Trask, the man who accused her stepfather of murder. Insisting his dad’s fatal car crash had been no accident, Trask vowed one day he’d come back to Avalon for revenge. Now, twelve years later, their meeting is inevitable. Their attraction is immediate. And their chances of bliss are infinitesimal. Trask wants to piece together the past with Alexa’s help and get closer to this dazzling deco diva. Alexa wants to protect her family and figure out Trask’s real motivations. But when a killer emerges from the shadows, they have no choice but to team up to solve a deadly crime from long ago. As they trade sizzling sparks and snappy repartee, their trail leads to a trendy spa called the Dimensions Institute, whose flaky denizens and strange atmosphere suggest there is more hidden there than meets the eye. They don’t need a crystal ball to see that their survival—and relationship—depends on more than tantric breathing or a heavenly passion. They need a little help from a higher power: a true and trustworthy love.

Undercover and on the hunt for a killer, two gifted psychics take passion to a whole new level in this electrifying New York Times bestselling Arcane Society novel. Luther Malone is an ex-cop who walks with a cane. Grace Renquist is a librarian who can read auras. Their only common link is the Arcane Society, the secretive paranormal organization that has teamed them up to find a killer. But even before they reach their hotel in Maui—where they’ll be posing as honeymooners—Grace and Luther feel the electric charge between them. Problem is, they need to remain vigilant day and night, because operatives for the underground group Nightshade are pouring into the luxury resort like there’s a convention. And these criminals aren’t just high-level sensitives: They’ve enhanced their talents with a potent—and unpredictable—drug. And as Grace knows all too well, if you don’t control your powers, your powers will control you....

"New standalone romantic suspense from Jayne Ann Krentz"--

Katy Randall married Garrett Coltrane because she loves him, but her fears blossom as she discovers that he''s hoping their marriage will cause people to forget his past.

It takes a heavenly creature to change a rebel with a cause into a... Family Man A decade of working for the high-powered Gilchrist family empire has made sassy Katy Wade determined to open her own business. But there''s one last problem she must solve before she can leave. The Gilchrists need an heir apparent to save their mysteriously floundering fortunes, and there''s only one man for the job: Luke Gilchrist. All his life the Gilchrists have made Luke pay for his father''s scandal, and now he''s a renegade who''s sworn he''ll never go home -- except to get even. Katy must persuade Luke to use his business expertise to rescue his family, but one look in his sexy green eyes, and she knows why they affectionately call him "the Bastard." Meanwhile, Luke''s decided he wants her even more than he wants revenge. He agrees to play savior, but only with Katy at his side. It''s a strategy sure to make this red-haired angel madder than hell, but she''s the only one who can turn this devilish rogue into a family man. Now he must trust Katy with his secrets -- and she must believe in his love. Jayne Ann Krentz pens a wicked, wonderful tale filled with the joy of two hearts finding a place to call home!

From New York Times bestselling author Jayne Ann Krentz comes an electrifying novel of passion, murder, and small-town scandal. Investigative reporter Irene Stenson hasn’t been to her hometown of Dunsely, California, since the gruesome night she found both her parents dead on the kitchen floor. Now, seventeen years later, Irene has received a shocking new lead about their deaths—and is determined to discover the truth of what happened on that long-ago night. Staying at a local lodge, she finds herself confiding in handsome Luke Danner—an ex-marine who’s as used to barking orders as Irene is to ignoring them. But Luke sees the terror beneath her confident exterior—and can’t help but want to protect her. He is also driven by passions of his own, and as they’re drawn together into the heart of danger, they will risk far more than either of them expected.

With her hallmark blend of sparkling style and wit, intricate suspense, and steamy passion, Jayne Ann Krentz is truly one of a kind. One of today''s premier storytellers, she has more than twenty-three million copies of her novels in print. Now the phenomenal New York Times bestselling author spins her latest scintillating tale: a story of two people bound together by that most binding of ties--a business contract. Elizabeth Cabot is all business. She knows how to maximize her investments and cut her losses--in both her career and her personal life. So when she discovers that Jack Fairfax has deceived her, she''s determined to end their relationship. Putting a stop to their budding romance is easy. But breaking up their business deal will be more difficult. Despite all her efforts, she has no luck disentangling herself from Jack''s client company, Excalibur. But the situation becomes even more strained when a new obstacle emerges: a lethal act of sabotage that could put both of them out of business for good. Elizabeth is no fool. If she can help Jack save Excalibur, she''ll recoup her substantial investment plus millions in profit. Putting her emotions aside, she insists on helping him search for the scientist who''s disappeared with a valuable new crystal that could revolutionize the high-tech industry. She''ll go in, solve the problem--and get out. The trail leads Elizabeth and Jack to a fringe film festival, but their goal is as elusive as the shadowy black-and-white images from classic noir films. Life starts to imitate art, and double-dealing seems to be the name of the game. For these business adversaries turned reluctant partners, keeping an eye on each other--and the lid on a sizzling attraction--seems the only insurance against further treachery. But with millions at stake, trust can turn to betrayal in the blink of an eye.

A suspicious death. A ghost in a mirror. The New York Times bestselling Dark Legacy novel from the author known for crafting stories of burning passion and chilling suspense... The death of her friend and mentor, Evelyn Ballinger, brings psychic counselor Gwen Frazier back to the small town of Wilby, Oregon, and brings back memories she would rather forget. Two years ago, a killer stalked the members of one of Ballinger’s research studies—including Gwen, who survived while two others didn’t. Now, she’s sure that Ballinger’s death is related. Sent by a friend to help Gwen, psychic investigator Judson Coppersmith arrives in Wilby barely in control of his own talent and his own life, and haunted by urgent dreams. His attraction to Gwen is primal, but there are secrets he must keep to protect himself from surrendering to her completely, even as their investigation draws them into dreamscapes, into decades of deception and into the paranormal fires of a desire too strong to resist...

A con artist and seductress, Meredith Spooner lived fast—and died young. But her final scam—embezzling more than a million dollars from a college endowment fund—is coming back to haunt Leonora Hutton. The tainted money is stashed away in an offshore account for Leonora. And while she wants nothing to do with the cash, she discovers two other items in the safe-deposit box: a book about Mirror House—the place where Meredith engineered her final deception and a set of newspaper stories about an unsolved murder that occurred there thirty years ago. Now Leonora has an offer for Thomas Walker, another victim of Meredith’s scams and seductions. She’ll hand over the money—if he helps her figure out what’s going on. Meredith had described Thomas as “a man you can trust.” But in a funhouse-mirror world of illusion and distortion, Leonora may be out of her league…

Midwestern librarian Letitia Thornquist didn''t have the right stuff to run Thornquist Gear, Inc. That was the bottom-line opinion of Joel Blackstone, the seasoned CEO who had built the small Seattle sporting goods store into an industry giant. But Letty''s rich Uncle Charlie willed her the company, and now she was bubbling with enthusiasm to have Joel, a perfect mentor, show her the ropes. Teaching her the business was all Joel grudgingly planned to do...until the sensuous curves under Letty''s navy suit and the unabashed desire in her wide, innocent eyes left him longing for a personal kind of merger. Soon his sizzling kisses convinced her that she wasn''t in Kansas anymore. But no matter how skilled Joel was in the art of love, Letty knew she was at risk in his arms. Behind his tough facade she sensed a world of hurt that cried out for her warmth and understanding. She realized the "L" word might never be spoken if trust didn''t make them perfect partners 9 to 5...and in the loving after-hours of midnight to dawn. In a witty, classical duel of romance and ambition, Jayne Ann Krentz deftly portrays two fiery opposites caught by an irresistible attraction...in a deliciously spicy tale of life at the top and love in the depths of the heart.

Love’s passionate snags get the smooth touch in this sparkling masterpiece from Jayne Ann Krentz! She put her art on the line—and her heart in his hands... Eugenia Swift is a young woman of singular sensibilities, and a connoisseur of beauty. As director of the Leabrook Glass Museum, she’s been asked to travel to Frog Cove Island—an artistic haven near Seattle—to catalog an important collection of art glass. But thanks to unsavory rumors surrounding the collector’s death, the museum insists that Eugenia take along Cyrus Chandler Colfax—a rough-hewn private investigator whose taste in glass runs to ice-cold bottles filled with beer. When Colfax declares they must pose as a couple, Eugenia protests in a manner as loud as his Hawaiian shirts. But now their very lives depend on the most artful collaboration they can imagine. For a killer is lurking among Frog Cove’s chic galleries, and if anyone sees through their marital masquerade, their own secret agendas—as well as their plans for survival—may be smashed to smithereens!

Serenity Makepeace knows a lot about whole-grain bread, but she doesn''t know beans about business. She''s expanding her natural foods emporium to sell local handicrafts by mail -- which she hopes will benefit her offbeat artist community in Witt''s End, Washington. But she needs a crack financial adviser to make her dream a reality -- so she charms her way into the office of Caleb Ventress, a handsome wolf in conservative clothing. An expert in the art of the deal, Caleb isn''t sure what to make of the unconventional Serenity -- but there''s no doubt he''s attracted. A pass from a paragon of conformity -- even one as handsome as Caleb -- is more than free-spirited Serenity bargained for. But when a lethal blackmailer threatens her plans and perhaps her life, she puts her whole trust in the man who seems her complete opposite -- and the net result might be true love.

Chance Of A Lifetime by Jayne Ann Krentz released on May 25, 1994 is available now for purchase.

A red-hot, suspenseful novel about a free-spirited dream researcher-and the gorgeous man who brings her dreams to life.

It''s been thirteen years since Lucy was in Summer River. The last time she visited her aunt Sara, as a teenager, she was sent home after being dragged out of a party by the boy she had a crush on - Mason Fletcher. Returning after her aunt''s death, Lucy is learning there was more to the story. A lot has changed, but when Mason and Lucy make a shocking discovery inside Sara''s house, his quietly fierce instincts kick into gear. But this time, she insists on playing a role in her own rescue.

New York Times bestselling author Jayne Ann Krentz returns with the first novel of the Lost Night Files, an exciting new romantic suspense trilogy about a night that changed three women forever—but that none of them can remember. Seven months ago, Pallas Llewellyn, Talia March, and Amelia Rivers were strangers, until their fateful stay at the Lucent Springs Hotel. An earthquake and a fire partially destroyed the hotel, but the women have no memory of their time there. Now close friends, the three women co-host a podcast called the Lost Night Files, where they investigate cold cases and hope to connect with others who may have had a similar experience to theirs—an experience that has somehow enhanced the psychic abilities already present in each woman. After receiving a tip for their podcast, Pallas travels to the small college town of Carnelian, California, to explore an abandoned asylum. Shaken by the dark energy she feels in the building, she is rushing out when she’s stopped by a dark figure—who turns out to be the women''s mysterious tipster. Ambrose Drake is certain he’s a witness to a murder, but without a body, everyone thinks he’s having delusions caused by extreme sleep deprivation. But Ambrose is positive something terrible happened at the Carnelian Sleep Institute the night he was there. Unable to find proof on his own, he approaches Pallas for help, only for her to realize that Ambrose, too, has a lost night that he can’t remember—one that may be connected to Pallas. Pallas and Ambrose conduct their investigation using the podcast as a cover, and while the townsfolk are eager to share what they know, it turns out there are others who are not so happy about their questions—and someone is willing to kill to keep the truth from coming out.

Lonely and reluctant psychic Raine Tallentyre is targeted for recruitment into the secret Arcane Society by fellow psychic Zack Jones, an effort that is complicated by Raine''s painful memories of how the organization shattered her family through an act of

What happens when Mr. Right is all wrong? GRAND PASSION Cleopatra Robbins has imagined the moment when she''ll meet the man of her dreams. But when Max Fortune strides into the Robbins'' Nest Inn, a devastating sensation sweeps through her. She knows it''s him. And he''s all wrong! Head of the giant Curzon Hotel chain, a cynical man with a passion for rare works of art, Max is looking for five priceless paintings left to him by his mentor, Jason Curzon. With one long look at Cleo Robbins, Max knows he''s gazing on a masterpieceŠand for the first time in his life, the solitary and powerful executive is overcome with the strangest desire for that wonderful institution called home. But despite their mutual attraction, Max suspects Cleo of hiding something -- and by the time he realizes her secrets have nothing to do with the lost treasures, it may be too late to save her from the danger rising out of her past. Jayne Ann Krentz expertly blends rich sensuality, dangerous twists, and electrifying suspense in GRAND PASSION!

Available for the first time as a standalone eBook novella, #1 New York Times bestselling author Jayne Ann Krentz''s Connecting Rooms. Amy Comfort is a real estate agent on Misplaced Island, a quaint, remote town located off the coast of Washington. When she sells an old Victorian manse to the sultry, sexy Owen Sweet, a private investigator relocating from Seattle, sparks fly from the get-go, though both Amy and Owen decidedly ignore their natural chemistry. Until, that is, Amy enlists Owen''s help in looking into her aunt Bernice''s fiance Arthur Crabshaw, who Amy suspects is not what he seems. To keep their cover intact, Amy and Owen pretend to be a lovestruck, newly engaged couple, as they travel to Villantry, Washington, to investigate Arthur. When the mystery surrounding Arthur begins to spin out of control, Amy and Owen must trust in each other to stay alive. But, when the lines between their make-believe courtship and reality begin to blur, will the faux-couple end up with something aside from what they had set out to find? From a bestselling anthology comes the story of two people looking for answers, who happen upon something they never knew was missing...each other.

The New York Times bestselling author Jayne Ann Krentz is at the top of her game with Truth or Dare.

The New York Times bestselling author presents the story of a curse that spans generations, and the love that can heal it. . . . More than three centuries ago, Nicholas Winters irrevocably altered his genetic makeup in an obsessionfueled competition with alchemist and Arcane Society founder Sylvester Jones. Driven to control their psychic abilities, each man''s decision has reverberated throughout the family line, rewarding some with powers beyond their wildest dreams, and cursing others to a life filled with madness and hallucinations. Jack Winters, descendant of Nicholas, has been experiencing nightmares and blackouts--just the beginning, he believes, of the manifestation of the Winters family curse. The legend says that he must find the Burning Lamp or risk turning into a monster. But he can''t do it alone; he needs the help of a woman with the gift to read the lamp''s dreamlight. Jack is convinced that private investigator Chloe Harper is that woman. Her talents for finding objects and accessing dream energy are what will save him, but their sudden and powerful sexual pull threatens to overwhelm them both. Danger surrounds them, and it doesn''t take long for Chloe to pick up the trail of the missing lamp. And as they draw closer to the lamp, the raw power that dwells within it threatens to sweep them into a hurricane of psychic force.

In order to save her brother''s company, Hannah Jessett, while dealing with an inheritance from a famous relative that thrusts her into the spotlight, confronts wealthy entrepreneur Gideon Cage, only to find herself attracted to this infuriating man who won''t take no for an answer.

Man With A Past by Jayne Ann Krentz released on Nov 24, 2000 is available now for purchase.

Margaret Lark knew all about cowboys in pinstriped suits: they were the heroes in her books. She''d never admit to fantasizing about that type of man -- much less acknowledge that she''d walked out on one. And Rafe Cassidy -- with all the powerful grit of a true cowboy -- is fantasy material. He''s just not her fantasy anymore! But Rafe is shooting for a different ending to their story. One year after their explosive breakup Rare once again stakes his claim on her heart. As ruthless and determined as a gunslinger, he''s not above blackmail to get her out to his Arizona ranch . . . for the final showdown.

"Successful author Amy Slater had a life in need of mending. And Jed Glaze proved to be the right man for the job after the pair hit it off as fabulously good friends. Then one day Jed shows up with a mysterious injury of his own--and suddenly dark, confounding, yet utterly irresistible Jed becomes a lot more than "just a friend". Now it''s a time for not only mutual healing and delightfully sensuous nights but for sharing secrets that could prove a little dangerous for them both. On a jaunt to a Pacific island paradise, Amy and Jed will unearth the key to the unsolved murder that has haunted Amy''s nights--and discover how surprisingly and exquisitely fated two seemingly mismatched hearts can be." -- From Goodreads.

Rebecca Wade wasn''t the kind of woman who''d sell out easily. And she wasn''t about to let Kyle Stockbridge get his hands on the land she''d just inherited. The fact that the land in question was the object of a centuries-old feud made her all the more determined, especially when Kyle "almost" had her believing that he loved her.

No one does romantic suspense better than Jayne Ann Krentz. Now, the New York Times bestselling author of Untouchable and Promise Not to Tell delivers a novel that twists and turns into a read that will leave you breathless. Madeline and Daphne were once as close as sisters—until a secret tore them apart. Now, it might take them to their graves.... Nearly two decades after her childhood—and her friendship with Daphne—were destroyed in one traumatic night, a dying man’s last words convey a warning to Madeline: the secrets she believed buried forever have been discovered. Unable to trust anyone else, Madeline reaches out to Daphne and to the only man she can count on to help: Jack Rayner, a security expert with a profoundly intimate understanding of warped and dangerous minds. Along with his high-tech genius of a brother, the four of them will form an uneasy alliance against a killer who will stop at nothing to hide the truth....

Love burned them once -- now they''re twice as hot! Silver Linings Successful but shy, Seattle art dealer Mattie Sharpe fell hard for handsome, outspoken, professional adventurer Hugh Abbott. When he broke her heart and returned to his South Sea island home, Mattie vowed she''d only meet him again over her -- or better, his -- dead body. When they do meet again, it''s over someone else''s dead body -- and now they''re running for their lives through a tropical paradise. Hugh''s talking fast to make up for his mistake. Mattie''s not listening...until his gentle touch ignites a white-hot fusion, and she gives in. But Hugh''s past is catching up with them, and Mattie must stake her very survival on the man she loves -- the only man who ever let her down! If there is a silver lining to a broken heart, Mattie''s about to discover it -- when love storms back into her life and sweeps her off her feet! Passion is an adventure -- and seduction an art -- in Silver Linings, from beloved New York Times bestselling author Jayne Ann Krentz!

Even a heaven-sent love can be hot as hell... Sweet Fortune Everyone thought Jessie Benedict''s impending marriage to Sam Hatchard was a great arrangement -- everyone, that is, but Jessie herself. Was she the only one who could see that Hatchard, her powerful father''s protégé, had a scheming ulterior motive in marrying her? He was more than just a chip off the old workaholic''s block -- he was positively lusting after Jessie''s inheritance to build his own business empire! Free-spirited Jessie has plans for her own career as a detective -- starting with the rescue of a teenage girl from a dangerous cult. But when a break-in and an intimidating act of vandalism strike close to home, her investigation pairs her with the compellingly masculine entrepreneur. Hatch does make her heart beat deliciously fast, but she''s not taking orders from any man. Imagine her surprise when he turns out to be not only a friend and ally, but a strong, tender lover who, in the end, knows how to seal a deal -- with her resounding "I do!"