River Road (Callahan Brothers Trilogy) [Mass Market Paperback]

I gave the first book in this trilogy (BLUE BAYOU) 2 stars because it is shallow. Well, so is RIVER ROAD; but at least it was sort of fun to see how long it would take Julia to get to Finn. There's just something about a stoic FBI agent. This is a very familiar plot, and the author failed to go anywhere with it. Why do I get the feeling that the third installment will not be enough to save this trilogy from the discard pile?

FBI Agent Finn Callahan has had a rough few weeks. He's been suspended after roughing up a murderer he'd spent years tracking down, while said murderer was trying to escape a mental institution. He thinks he's getting the raw end of the deal, but accepts his suspension and takes off to his home town of Blue Bayou, to hang out, visit with his brother-the town mayor-and curse about how boring fishing is. He feels cornered but obligated when his brother informs him that he needs him to act as personal bodyguard to visiting TV royalty, Julia Summers. Finn, having done bodyguard duty before, is prepared for a spoiled starlet who is imagining the danger against her. It doesn't take him long to realize, though, that not only is Julia truly in danger, but that this true to life `Bond' girl is what his every dream is made of.

Finn and Julia quickly light sparks off one another. It takes Julia all of about a minute to realize that Finn is a Special Agent-after all, with parents who are still free agers from way back, how could she not spot a Fed?-and start drawing lines in the sand. Full of sassy wit and bantering, and sultry love scenes, Miss Ross has penned an absolute winner here. She's filled the story not only with the wonderful love story between Finn and Julia, but with enough interesting and quirky secondary characters to guarantee a chuckle or two, that you definitely don't want to miss this one. I have to admit I haven't read Blue Bayou yet, which was the prequel to this one, about Finn's brother Jack-but you better believe I ran out and got it as soon as I finished up with this one. Ms. Ross has an incredible talent that's too good to be missed!