A Great Catch (Avon Light Contemporary Romances) [Paperback]

However, Tessa has no choice, but to work for Lucas, the new captain of a Port of Milwaukee based, century old, but renovated steamship. However, an unknown person has an agenda of their own with the owner, her shipping company, or perhaps the captain being the target of revenge. As they sail Lake Michigan, Tessa and Lucas struggle between their attraction and their demons, not yet aware that someone has deadly plans in store for the twosome.

A GREAT CATCH is a warm romantic suspense tale that provides readers with a strong story because of the baggage carried by the emotionally scarred lead characters. The story line is filled with action as Lucas plans to reel in his beloved who previously escaped him when fate interceded. This time he refuses to allow a tragedy to deter him from his greatest catch, Tessa. This novel works because the audience feels the pain suffered by Tessa and Lucas who still mourn what happened to her brother and their love. Michelle Jerott provides a fresh catch with this second chance at love novel.

Harriet Klausner

Michelle Jerott's third book, her latest Avon contemporary, is entitled A Great Catch. What a perfect title for this book - be sure not to miss this one!

A Great Catch is set in and around Milwaukee, Wisconsin but most of the action takes place on the Taliesen, a grand old steamer that has been reconditioned and newly christened as a cruise ship travelling Lake Michigan between Milwaukee, Chicago, and various ports in Michigan. Something about drama on the high seas, even when the "sea" is one of our great lakes, takes the overall level of intensity up a notch from the very first pages of this book. And of course, throw in great characters as well and you have a riveting story.

Tessa Jardine has been hired on as the First Mate of the Taliesen, the kind of job she has been dreaming of since her early academy days and throughout her career in shipping. Being a woman, and a young woman at that, has never been easy in her male world, but Tessa has learned to deal with the snide remarks and sexist jokes. What she didn't expect to deal with, however, is the fact that Lucas Hall is the Taliesen's captain. Not only was Lucas her first lover before leaving her high and dry, more than ten years ago, he is also the man responsible for the death of Tessa's younger brother Matt in one of Lake Michigan's greatest shipping disasters.

Lucas Hall has had a hell of a life. His work in the Coast Guard was not only challenging but, at times, overwhelming. Being the closest thing to a cop on water, he dealt with all of mankind's evils and inhumanities while keeping the various shores of our country safe. While visiting the Coast Guard station while on vaction, Lucas ends up commanding the rescue attempt on the McKee, which exploded and sank, plunging five men to their deaths on the bottom of Lake Michigan. When given the chance, he becomes the captain of the Taliesen to face his fears and continuing nightmares in an attempt to redeem himself and lay old ghosts to rest. However, having Tessa as his first mate, and the close quarters that come with life on board, does nothing for his peace of mind.

Michelle has created very realistic, believable characters who are both drawn together and pulled apart by life and circumstance. Their struggle to find a way through the pain and past the protocol of shipboard romance is well crafted and, often, heart wrenching. Carefully drawn suspense elements add to the sexual tension and on-going conflicts to create a sizzling page-turner. Truly, this is a book you should not miss - positively A Great Catch.