Customer Reviews

One Night In Texas (Harlequin Temptation)

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It's just another job. Derek Stone will break into a secure apartment, discover the safe's combination, remove the blackmail material, and vanish. His government will be happy and he'll move on to the next project--because there's always a next project. Another job to keep his mind off of the emptiness that is his life. Of course, that's the way he wants it.

Derek has the routine down for his job and doesn't expect to be interupted, but he's cany enough to notice the slight movement in the closet. But the last person he expects to find there is Alyssa Ballard--the women he'd spent a wonderful week with six month's earlier.

He'd been irresistable, her dream man. For an entire week, they'd made love, talked, visited the sights. And then he'd vanished, a brief note his only good-bye. Six months later, Alyssa has recovered, mostly. She's moved to Dallas, done well in her job, and even dates--a little. Except no man can compare to the week she spent with Derek. The only problem is, everything Derek told her was a lie, even his name. When he breaks into the complex she manages, Alyssa suspects Derek lied because he's a thief, but she overhears enough to learn better--or worse. Derek is a spy, fighting for his country for the money.

Author Jane Sullivan (Jane Graves) writes a great tortured hero. Derek has denied his dreams and looked at family from the outside. He's certain that whatever might be there, it isn't for him. A subplot involving a wedding where Derek is supposed to be the best man--but keeps dragging the groom away for one last emergency job--adds humor and lets Derek see the side of relationships and love that he's always denied.

Sullivan mixes a good dose of steamy sensuality into the recipe. All in all, it's powerful stuff. Derek is a great character, the action sequences propel the story forward, Alyssa comes off as spunky and a good match for Derek. Bottom line, ONE NIGHT IN TEXAS is a winner.

Jane Sullivan/Jane Graves is a double-RITA finalist for the two Harlequin Temptations she published in 2004. I wouldn't be surprised to see ONE NIGHT IN TEXAS being nominated next year.

One Night In Texas by Jane Sullivan
Harlequin Temptation # 1022 - May 2005
24 Hours: The Wedding theme

2006 RITA Nominee for Best Short Contemporary

Six months ago in Seattle, Alyssa had the fling of a life time and still she tingles when she remembers Derek. When Derek left suddenly, she was disappointed and then hurt when she found out he'd lied about his name. Now transferred to the Dallas hotel of the chain she works for, she goes to the penthouse to fix a little problem the maid left behind. Hearing someone coming, she glances and is shocked to find a man in a ski mask, so she hides in the closet. The burglar removes items from the safe and then talks to someone over a microphone. Alyssa's in shock, that voice, that scar on his forearm, that ring ... that's Derek. Suddenly Derek has to explain that he's a government operative retrieving blackmail evidence on several congressmen; evidence strong enough to sway their votes on delicate legislation soon to be presented for vote. The next 24 hours are hectic with Alyssa and Derek rarely apart. Alyssa finds herself helping Derek in his undercover work. Their attraction is just as explosive now as it was six months before. Only now Alyssa sees the man Derek's been hiding, the one that's never ever had anyone tell him that he was loved. This explains his need for a job that takes him away for months at a time and into dangerous situations.

I really liked this one. The 24 hour theme is a tremendous challenge, and Ms. Sullivan pulls it off wonderfully. The story is packed with intrigue, heat and with some very touching moments. Derek's never known love, not as a child or as a man. So when Alyssa introduces him to love and life as she sees it, he's scared. Great story!

There's alot in this story that makes it stand out. The plot is exciting; that race to get the blackmailer and the secondary race to not miss Derek's friend's wedding really work well. Ms. Sullivan uses Alyssa's very intense daydream of meeting Derek to establish their passionate connection. The whirlwind events when they meet again keeps the intensity of Alyssa's day dream going. Ms. Sullivan does an excellent job of allowing us inside these two. I can certainly see why this book is a RITA Nominee.