by Michelle Douglas
Two hearts and a dog in the desolate
Australian landscape
The Loner's Guarded Heart
by Michelle Douglas is a romance packed full of humor, romance,
tenderness and a bit of suspense added to the mix. As part of the Heart
to Heart sub-brand of the Harlequin Romance line, The Loner's Guarded
Heart provides an emotional read, from smiles to tears, where the focus
narrows more on the hero and heroine (and the hero's dog), especially
in this desolate setting in the Australian wild lands. Forced together
by the setting, The Loner's Guarded
Heart is a story of the ongoing discovery of love inside the
heart.
Josie Peterson wanted to get away from it all after caring for her sick
dying father, but did her brothers really have to pick this desolate
end of the world place for a retreat? Wildlife of all sorts and
nothing, and I mean nothing, of the finer things of life....except one
fine addition, Kent Black, her only neighbor and landlord. The last
thing Kent really wants is interference in his cherished solitude,
especially a needy woman. He may think that but with each encounter,
her shining personality and quirkiness melts his heart. When two hearts
come together and danger draws them even nearer, love isn't far behind.
What a romance! The Loner's Guarded
Heart has a fantastic heroine and hero who capture the reader's
heart from their first encounter. Josie's energy and even her
difficulties in this new environment are fun, humorous and heart-moving
all in one. Kent is sexy, a bit tough as he defends his solitude, but
from the very beginning his goodness shines through that tough
exterior. Molly the dog is a real heart-stealer! If you love romance
and dogs, The Loner's Guarded Heart
is a must read.
Michelle Douglas uses plot structure of her romance to draw the reader
in from the first pages, but also to allow the reader to discover the
process of falling in love between Josie and Kent. From the first
encounter as the hero rescues Josie from the wildness of the the
Australian landscape, the chemistry between them sizzles as their
bodies touch. Michelle Douglas creates the perfect balance between
current day action while also allowing the reader to capture enough
glimpses of each character's past history to see the inherent goodness
in both. As their romance develops, the reader catches more and more
glimpses of their pasts. Michelle Douglas holds back just enough to
maintain the suspense while also revealing enough hints to peak the
reader's curiosity. More importantly, this balance makes The Loner's Guarded Heart a story
not just of physical attraction, but a story of two hearts discovering
one another and falling in love as they share more and more of
themselves and their vulnerabilities with one another. The Loner's Guarded Heart mixes
humor and emotion to bring readers a non-stop great romance read.
Publisher: Harlequin
Romance (April 2008)
Heart to Heart
