Debra Mullins - Catherine Mulvany
Mullins, Debra - ONCE A MISTRESS (Avon - 1/99) (4)
When Diana Covington is accosted in her garden by Chilton, her father's business partner, a tall, dark and handsome stranger lurking in the foliage comes to her rescue. After the stranger disappears, Diana fantasizes that he is the dashing and dangerous pirate, El Moreno. Later that night, she is kidnapped from her bed by a vicious, sadistic pirate named Marcus, a partner of
Chilton's, who will do anything to gain Diana's hand in marriage and her inheritance—even if it means ruining her first.
The following day, El Moreno and his crew attack Marcus' ship, capture him, and rescue Diana. Much to her amazement, El Moreno turns out to be the stranger in the garden. In actuality, he is Alex Rawnsley, Earl of Rothstone, who has been secretly commissioned by the Jamaican authorities to capture Marcus, the man who murdered Alex's older brother.
While on the way to Jamaica, our hero claims Diana as his mistress in name only to protect her while on board. However, she is determined to become his real mistress and convince him to help her prove that her father is innocent of being in league with Marcus and Chilton. The sparks begin to fly between Alex and Diana; but Marcus' escape and Alex's secret identity cause misunderstandings and dangerous adventures that keep them apart. Can they overcome the evil and danger around them and find true happiness?
ONCE A MISTRESS is a sensual, action-packed romance that is sure to please those who love swashbuckling adventure. The two main characters' strong personalities dominate the story. Alex is a man with a mission, and everything else in his life must wait until this is accomplished. Because his first marriage ended tragically, he is wary of falling in love again. Diana is best described by Alex himself—she is courageous, spirited and determined. Their love story will thrill readers and keep them extremely warm on a cold winter's night. A wonderful read! ~Sharon Laird for Bookbug on the Web
Mulvany, Catherine - AQUAMARINE (Loveswept 893) (4)
Aquamarine—the color of Kirsten's eyes, and the color
of a large crystal gem that may have special powers. . .
Teague's fiancée, Kirsten, has been missing for seven years and is presumed to be dead. Her father, Jack Rainey, is dying of cancer and cannot rest easily until he knows the whereabouts of his beloved daughter. Teague spots a young woman at a carnival who has an uncanny resemblance to Kirsten. Is she real. . .or the ghost of his fiancée? Teague pursues the woman, and asks her to impersonate Kirsten in order to make Jack's last days more peaceful. She agrees, but when Shea arrives at the Rainey summer home, she encounters someone who knows she is an impostor. When she begins to have memories that are not her own, she becomes fearful. Experiencing a strange feeling of déja` vu, Shea is drawn further into a very deep, dark mystery. Does the crystal gem, which matches the color of Kirsten's eyes. . .as well as her own, have special powers? Does it hold the spirit of a ghost, perhaps?
Is Shea hiding a part of her past from Teague? What happened to Kirsten? Who knows that Shea is impersonating her, and how do they know this? Is the aquamarine gem the key to the mystery? This story is filled with suspense, intrigue, and unexpected twists and turns. Add some steamy romance to that mix and you have AQUAMARINE, an enjoyable book that keeps you turning the pages to find the answers! ~Carol Carter for Bookbug on the Web
Mulvany, Catherine - MAN SHY (Loveswept 880) (4+)
Mallory needs a man right away, and not just any man, he's got to be drop-dead-gorgeous and make her sister salivate. Why? Because said sister has stolen her longtime boyfriend and expects kind and understanding Mallory to not only attend the wedding, but to be her maid-of-honor! Mallory is painfully shy around men, but one of her friends introduces her to undercover cop, Brody Hunter. With his long hair, dangerous and stunning looks, he is perfect for the part. And Mallory is told that he's gay, so there is no need to feel insecure around him. Except she does, especially when he insists on going out on "dates" so they can get their act down before the big wedding. She soon wonders if her buddy has lied to her because Brody's acting is becoming quite convincing.
The author hooked me from the first page, creating such lovable characters that I didn't want to put the book down. The story starts out light, sexy and funny, then she adds an ongoing mystery/investigation plot that relies a bit too much on coincidence, but which made for some cute encounters. Despite the suspense thread, the author manages to keep the love story the main focus of the book, which is why it worked so perfectly for me. The characters appear to be your classic mismatch: the shy, frigid schoolteacher and the dark and dangerous cop, but it's quickly revealed that they both have much more depth (and much more in common) than at first glance. A genuine, believable friendship develops before they fall head-over-heels in love. This kind of story wins me over every time! The entire book was a real pleasure to read. ~Laurie S. (shallah@empire.net)
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