Michelle Jerott
Jerott, Michelle - ABSOLUTE TROUBLE (Avon - 1998) (4+)
After he witnesses a murder, Julien Langlois is placed in protective custody. The police need his testimony to put the Red Dragon, a local drug czar, behind bars. Julien, a sexy exotic dancer, is to be safely hidden away on the houseboat of former
police officer Dulcie Quinn. Although Dulcie is reluctant to take him on, she agrees because the czar was responsible for having had her seriously injured, which forced her to retire from the police force. Nevertheless, after getting a good look at Julien, she knows this man is ABSOLUTE TROUBLE! He's all Cajun—tall, dark-eyed, with long dark hair...and a tough attitude. But there are secrets behind those sexy black eyes. Julien is tortured by the death of a younger brother who was in his care, and he's out for revenge. He agrees to five days of protective custody, after which he's on his own.
Julien and Dulcie discover they are kindred souls and fighting their feelings all the way, they fall in love. But once the five days are over, Dulcie knows she'll probably lose Julien to his drive for revenge; and Julien can't pledge his future to Dulcie because he may not have one. How can he choose between honor and love?
New author Michelle Jerott has written a passionate, well-crafted love story set in bawdy New Orleans and the steamy Louisiana bayous. The hero and heroine are wonderful together—he is the bourbon and she is the ice. When reading ABSOLUTE TROUBLE, be sure to wear your asbestos gloves and turn down the temperature in the room! I highly recommend this book. ~Sharon Laird for Bookbug on the Web
Jerott, Michelle - ALL NIGHT LONG (Avon - 1999) (4+)
While searching for her mother and her own past, photographer/writer Annie Beckett comes across some letters written to and by Army Lieutenant Lewis Hudson, who supposedly deserted during the Black Hawk War of 1832. She decides to take on his questionable disappearance as a personal crusade. According to the records, the lieutenant's last known location was Black Hawk's Hollow on the Magnussan farm in Warfield,
Wisconsin. Believing he was murdered and buried there, and wanting to discover the truth so she can publish his story,
Annie writes to the owner of the farm, Rik Magnussan, to gain permission to visit.
Rik reluctantly agrees to let Annie search and photograph the hollow, and he allows her to live in his farmhouse while she does her research. As soon as these two meet, however, sparks fly and the sexual tension begins to heat up. Rik wants Annie in the worst way, but he doesn't want an emotional commitment because his first marriage ended when his wife cheated on him with his best friend. Annie has no interest or need for a romantic entanglement either. As soon as she finishes her book, she will be leaving and going on to another job somewhere else in the world. So, since neither is looking for love and commitment, why does the idea of a fast, "no-strings-attached" love affair sound so dissatisfying?
In her second novel, Michelle Jerott has created two lead characters that spring to life on the pages of this marvelous, sensual romance. Rik is a strong man who has lived in the same house all his life—a man committed to the farm, his argumentative teenage daughter, and his beautiful Belgian draft horses. He is still very bitter about losing his wife to his best friend though, and no matter how hard he tries to convey his feelings to the women around him, he ends up saying the wrong words. Annie is the exact opposite; she is a published photojournalist who has traveled all over the world. Raised in foster homes, she is accustomed to never staying in the same place for very long. But, although their backgrounds are different, Annie and Rik both need to love and belong to someone.
The arguments, repartee, and teasing that goes on between these two people had me laughing out loud at times, but at other times, it brought tears to my eyes. My favorite moment in the book is when Rik accompanies his daughter, her friends, and Annie on a visit to a Victoria's Secret store. You can imagine that scene! In addition to the love and laughter, there is a mystery that needs to be solved as Annie gets the feeling that Lieutenant Hudson's disappearance 160 years ago may have been a military cover-up. I highly recommend ALL NIGHT LONG and I'm placing it on my "favorite books of 1999" list. This is what g-r-e-a-t romance is all about, and after you've turned the last page, you are left with a warm, cozy feeling all night long. Enjoy! ~Sharon Laird for Bookbug on the Web
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