A Great Catch [Paperback]

Michelle Jerott (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: September 1, 2000

The Man Who Got Away...

Lucas Hall once made Tessa Jardine feel 200% female-and 100% foolish after he walked out of her life without a word. Now, the tall, heart-catchingly handsome former Coast Guard hero is back. But a painful tragedy stands between them, and no matter how determined Lucas is to regain her trust, Tessa's equally determined to resist him. If only she could forget the passion she'd found in his arms...

...Is Back

Tessa once set Lucas's world on fire, and he's willing to do anything to regain her love. Working tegether has created a tension too powerful to ignore, and reignited the desire that's too powerful to resist. And with each passing day, and each burning kiss, Lucas is determined to make Tessa believe in their future together-and to make her see him again as one great catch.

Editorial Reviews

Review

"Buy it! Read it! You will fall in love!" -- -- Judith Ivory

From the Author

Dear Readers,

If you're looking for something a little different to read, you might want to try my latest book, "A Great Catch." Although the setting and situation may be unusual, the story itself is a classic "reunion theme" romance. There's just something about a reunited lovers story that has always appealed to me. Maybe it's because the characters must struggle to overcome a difficult past history and find the strength to love and trust again, or maybe it's the inherent optimism of being given a second chance to get it right. All I know is that I enjoy watching the hero and heroine clash as they work through this new--and sometimes unnerving intimacy--toward reconciliation, friendship, trust, and love.

The inspiration for this book began with my fascination about a modern maritime community smack in the middle of America's heartland, and watching these huge ships on Lake Superior and Lake Michigan. When I came up with the idea of basing my next book on a ship, however, I had no idea what I was getting myself into. I knew nothing about ships, and so I spent most of the summer of 1999 learning as much as possible about Great Lakes Shipping. All research should be so much fun!

My first stop was on the passenger ferry SS BADGER, the last steam-fired passenger ship on the Great Lakes. I was lucky enough to be able to spend several hours in the pilothouse talking with the captain and his crew. My next stop was the US Coast Guard Air Station Traverse City, in Traverse City, Michigan, where the air-based search and rescue support is located. I talked with both a pilot and rescue swimmer, and even had a chance to crawl around inside the rescue helicopter. From Traverse City (which is where the Great Lakes Maritime Academy is also located), I headed down to Muskegon to see the "Milwaukee Clipper," which is one of the ships that inspired the "Taliesen," my fictional ship in "A Great Catch."

I do hope you'll enjoy Lucas and Tessa's story!

Best wishes,

Michelle Jerott

See all Editorial Reviews

Product Details

• Paperback: 384 pages
• Publisher: Avon (September 1, 2000)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0380813165
• ISBN-13: 978-0380813162
• Product Dimensions: 6.6 x 4.2 x 1.2 inches
• Shipping Weight: 5.6 ounces
• Average Customer Review: 4.4 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (14 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #1,853,053 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

More About the Author

Discover books, learn about writers, read author blogs, and more.

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

9 of 9 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Fantastic, September 9, 2000

By 

Harriet Klausner - See all my reviews
(#1 Hall OF FAME REVIEWER)    (TOP 1000 REVIEWER)    (REAL NAME)   

This review is from: A Great Catch (Paperback)

Two years ago, Tessa Jardine and Coast Guard officer Lucas Hall were lovers. However, during a rescue attempt that went bad, Tessa's brother and three other individuals died in the subsequent explosion. Though acquitted of any wrongful doing, Lucas lost Tessa who blamed him for her sibling's death due to what she believed was his mishandling of a hatch.

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

11 of 12 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars A one-sitting read!, September 3, 2000

By 

Gail Russo (CT & Adelaide, Australia) - See all my reviews

This review is from: A Great Catch (Paperback)

If you have read Michelle Jerott's previous two books you really don't need to read what I want to say about her newest offering. You already know that she writes romances with heroes and heroines who are just that bit different from the usual, stories full of warmth, touches of humor and hot, hot, hot and sexy! "A Great Catch" won't disappoint you. For those of you who have never read her books...well what a treat is in store for you! It's a rare and wonderful thing to discover an author who writes books like this and I envy you reading her for the first time. In Tessa and Lucas you will find two ex lovers reunited despite themselves. Tessa is fighting the sizzling attraction for all she is worth. After all he never explained his sudden termination of their romance 10 years earlier and his involvement in the death of her brother has made any reconciliation impossible. Or has it? Lucas is that most wonderful and rare romance hero: an alpha male with sensitivity. Suffering with his own demons since the accident that killed Tessa's brother, Lucas decides that since he can't resist the woman he'll break down her defences and win her back. The ensuing clashes and clinches will keep you entertained enough to read the book in one sitting - I know I did! And I'll bet you will all be out in the kitchen measuring the height of those counters too....you'll know what I mean when you read the book <g>!

10 of 11 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars A wonderful, sizzling new contemporary by Michelle Jerott!, September 7, 2000

By 

Barbara Deane - See all my reviews

This review is from: A Great Catch (Paperback)

A Great Catch by Michelle Jerott Review by Barb Deane, Barb's All Romance Book Store

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.