Diamond Bay by Linda Howard
My rating: 5 of 5 stars
One of My Old Time Favorites
FINAL DECISION: This old time romantic suspense book is one of my favorites. I love the strong dominant hero who is completely undone by the determined and independent heroine.
THE STORY: Rachel Jones, a widow and former investigative reporter, finds a man washed up on her beach. Rachel came home after her job caused the death of her husband. She now runs two souvenir shops and writes. She the stranger washes up on her beach, her instincts tell her to keep it quiet. Instead she cares for him herself. Kell Sabin is the chief of a shadowy group of U.S. agents. An attempt on his life has left him weak and vulnerable and in the Rachel’s hands. Danger surrounds the two as they grow closer even as Kell knows that they have no future because he must be alone to do his work.
OPINION: This book was one of the first romantic suspense books I ever read. I loved that this story had suspense but focused on the romance. It is limited because of the length of the novel and its origin as a category romance. The characters are more complex than a normal category romance and the story is exciting and the relationship complicated. Kell is determined to be alone because of the possible pain his life presents, but he cannot hold out against the determined love of a strong woman. I also loved that Rachel loves Kell and so she accepts him totally even if that means that he will leave her. No whining from Rachel even as her life is turned upside down. The book is part of the serious alpha male hero trend in the 1980s but Rachel is no naive innocent. She is strong and a partner.
WORTH MENTIONING: This book was first published as a category romance in the late 1980s.
CONNECTED BOOKS: DIAMOND BAY is the second book in the Rescues series. It has overlapping characters with the first book in the series MIDNIGHT RAINBOW. DIAMOND BAY can be read as a standalone but is more enjoyable as a companion to MIDNIGHT RAINBOW.
STAR RATING: I give this book 5 stars.