Daphne Clair - Cherie Claire
Clair, Daphne - SUMMER SEDUCTION
(Harlequin Presents; Book Club Only - 8/99) (4+)
It appears that Blythe Summerfield has new neighbors. Hearing organ music, she gathers up some of her dried sunflowers and biscuits and decides to welcome them to the New Zealand shore. She is met by a tall, dark-haired handsome man with a cool, taciturn disposition. He is Jas Tratherne, a single man and a correspondent mathematics professor, whose behavior is very mysterious and capricious. In spite of his unfriendly response,
Blythe endeavors to be the helpful neighbor, picking up his mail and giving him a lift when his car breaks down. In return, Jas helps Blythe deliver flowers to her customers, and they eventually become friends. Although Blythe realizes Jas finds her attractive, he is constantly warning her off, however. He doesn't want to get involved with any woman because of his late wife. Did he love her so much that he can't think about become involved with another woman, or is there more to his past than he can reveal?
SUMMER SEDUCTION, formerly published in 1998 as a Mills & Boon Presents, is a fast-paced, engaging romance. The hero and heroine are vividly depicted, and although the story is told from the heroine's point of view, Daphne Clair describes Jas so thoroughly that I felt I knew him very well. These two people are total opposites: Blythe is sunny and optimistic, whereas Jas is a cautious man with a tortured soul. I highly recommend this book to anyone who likes to read an old-fashioned romance with the emphasis on the growth of a loving relationship, despite misunderstandings and past heartbreak. ~Sharon Laird for Bookbug on the Web
Clair, Daphne - WIFE TO A STRANGER (Mills & Boon - 1998) (3)
Injured in a train derailment, Capri Massey awakens with
no memory of the accident...or her life prior to it. She
is amazed that she recognizes the man in her hospital room
as her husband Rolfe Massey; however, she only knows Rolfe's
face—she remembers nothing else about him.
At the suggestion of the doctors, she agrees to return with Rolfe to their home in New Zealand. Hoping familiar surroundings will bring back her memory, Capri settles in to reacquaint herself with her life. It soon becomes apparent that her marriage was less than happy; but how could that be when just the sight of Rolfe fills her with a desire she can barely control?—a desire strong enough to make her want to sleep with a man she hardly knows.
Rolfe is also trying to adjust to a wife who displays a warm, gentle side that never surfaced during their two years of marriage. This new and fascinating Capri has him dreading the day her memory returns, should that time ever come. If so, would she revert back to the callous, self-centered woman she once was? Would she be willing to rebuild a dying marriage?
In WIFE TO A STRANGER, Daphne Clair manages to take a well-used amnesia storyline, add a hint of mystery and a great deal of sensual romance, to make it a late-night page turner. ~Olivia Holton for Bookbug on the Web
Claire, Cherie - CAJUN DREAM, A (Zebra - 7/99) (4)
Setting: 1848 Louisiana
Is this a marriage of convenience story...or one of love at
first sight? You won't know the answer until you've finished
reading it. Amanda Rose Richardson lived in New Orleans until
her French mother decided to go to Europe to pursue her career
as an opera singer, leaving behind a devastated young girl and
a brokenhearted husband. James Richardson sold his belongings,
fired his French servants—forbidding anyone to speak or mention French ever again—and moved to Franklin, Louisiana, where he became active in politics and eventually became a judge.
James is extremely strict with his daughter, tolerating no disobedience. By the time this sheltered girl turns twenty-one, with no offers of marriage, she expects to be an old maid. Because Amanda has never been kissed, she and her girlfriend plan to meet with a rogue who has a reputation with the ladies. But Amanda will get much more than she bargained for on this particular buggy ride.
Rene Comeaux, a charming young Cajun who owns and operates a racetrack, has been stopping by Amanda's home every morning just for a greeting and a few words with this blonde angel. His occupation and the fact that he speaks Acadian French are two factors against him when he asks Judge Richardson for permission to court his daughter. Not only is he refused, Amanda's father does not even tell her about the prospective suitor. If the judge had known what would happen in the future, he might have reconsidered his response.
Our hero is a "knight in shining armor," displaying a great deal of patience, gentleness, and understanding towards the naive and sheltered Amanda. But he has a temper that is quick to ignite, and the love of his life can trigger his emotions in an instant. The romance moves slowly, developing from friendship into love, and while there is sensual tension throughout, consummation does not happen until late in the story. In her debut novel, Cherie Claire enlightens readers with the history and culture of the Acadians, while she skillfuilly brings her characters and the surroundings to life. Her plotting creates many vibrant secondary figures with interesting tales of their own. A CAJUN DREAM is an exciting and entertaining read, and I do not hesitate to recommend it for your reading pleasure. ~Carol Carter for Bookbug on the Web
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