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

JoAnn Ross (Author)

Book Description

Series: Callahan Brothers Trilogy | Publication Date: September 1, 2002

JoAnn Ross, one of the most passionate voices in contemporary romantic fiction, returns to the moss-draped splendor of Blue Bayou in a powerful novel of love and suspense, filled with characters you will never forget.

Julia Summers is in Blue Bayou, Louisiana, wrapping up her role on the sizzling soap opera River Road before jetting off to play the part of her dreams. But when she receives an all-too-real threat, her director saddles her with a no-nonsense FBI agent as protection. Free-spirited Julia figures she'll just use her feminine wiles to keep the handsome bodyguard out of her way.

Finn Callahan has no interest in baby-sitting a spoiled starlet, but he owes his brother, Blue Bayou's mayor, a favor. When danger closes in on Julia, Finn realizes that what he feels for her is much more than physical attraction. Now he'll willingly lay his life on the line for the woman who has shown him how beautiful life can be when it's filled with laughter and love.

Editorial Reviews

From Publishers Weekly

A sparkling combination of Southern charm and sexy pyrotechnics, the second book in JoAnn Ross's Callahan Brothers trilogy (following Blue Bayou) jazzes up a familiar formula. Having spent the last few years chasing down a serial killer, FBI agent Finn Callahan is less than thrilled when he's forced to take a leave of absence, but his return to his hometown of Blue Bayou, La., couldn't have been more timely. The cast of River Road, a popular prime-time soap, has descended upon the town and begun filming at a nearby mansion, and the show's gorgeous star, Julia Summers, is in need of a bodyguard. The romance between the by-the-book agent and strong-willed actress crackles, and their verbal sparring keeps the narrative moving at an energetic clip. Readers who have read the first book in this trilogy will be heartily entertained; those who haven't will rush out to buy it after savoring this delightful entry.
Copyright 2002 Reed Business Information, Inc.

From Booklist

In the skillful and satisfying sequel to Blue Bayou [BKL Ap 1 01], Finn, after being temporarily suspended from the FBI for beating a serial killer, goes home, where his brother (and Blue Bayou mayor) Nate inveigles him into bodyguard duty for a soap opera actress, Julia Summers. The series is being filmed in the family's historic house, and the star is receiving threatening letters. To say that the two protagonists are oil and water is a vast understatement. Julia is the outgoing, beautiful daughter of two former hippies turned successful artists, whereas Finn, strong, handsome, and silent, is the stoical older brother who kept the Callahans together after their father was killed. At first he has a hard time distinguishing Julia from her character in the soap; then he has trouble fighting their mutual growing attraction. The inevitable happens, but not before a stalker takes a shot, and Julia almost walks out of Finn's life for good. With its emotional depth, Ross' tale will appeal to Nora Roberts fans. Mary K. Chelton
Copyright © American Library Association. All rights reserved

See all Editorial Reviews

Product Details

• Mass Market Paperback: 400 pages
• Publisher: Pocket (September 1, 2002)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0743436830
• ISBN-13: 978-0743436830
• Product Dimensions: 6.6 x 4 x 1.2 inches
• Shipping Weight: 5.6 ounces
• Average Customer Review: 4.2 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (15 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #309,476 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

More About the Author

I wrote my first story -- a tragic romance about two star-crossed Mallard ducks -- as a second grade writing assignment. The paper earned a gold star. And I kept writing.

I've since written around a hundred novels and have been published in twenty-six countries. Two of my titles have been excerpted in Cosmopolitan magazine and my books have also been published by the Doubleday, Rhapsody, Mystery Guild, and Literary Guild bookclubs. As a New York Times, U.S. Today, and Publishers Weekly bestseller, I'm also a member of the Romance Writers of America's Honor Roll of best-selling authors.

I'm currently writing my Shelter Bay series, set on the magnificent Oregon coast where, when I was eighteen-years-old, my high school sweetheart bought me a bag of taffy, then proposed. The smartest thing I ever did was say yes!

My husband and I live in our beloved Pacific Northwest, with three rescued dogs who pretty much rule the house. (And, in case you're wondering, that taffy store is still there! )

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

7 of 7 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Once again, another winner!, September 3, 2002

By 

"booksrme2" (Cary, NC USA) - See all my reviews

This review is from: River Road (Callahan Brothers Trilogy) (Mass Market Paperback)

Following Blue Bayou, JoAnn Ross pens another winner. This time the story revolves around Finn Callahan, (got to love that name for a romantic male lead!), and his hot/cold relationship with actress Julia Summers. The plot involves a potential life threatening stalker whose making Julia's life and Finn's part-time job, (while on a four week leave from the FBI), of protecting her a challenge. Throw into the pot Julia's eccentric hippie parents, (really humorous), Finn's handsome brothers, (very macho), and a cast of minor characters sure to please and you have yourself a most entertaining novel. It's a definite one night read and I'm looking forward to reading the third in the series about the youngest Callahan brother. Go out and buy this book, you won't be disappointed.

14 of 18 people found the following review helpful:

2.0 out of 5 stars Barely okay., March 27, 2003

By A Customer

This review is from: River Road (Callahan Brothers Trilogy) (Mass Market Paperback)

2.5 stars.

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?

4 of 4 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars My first JoAnn Ross....and sent me shopping for more!, September 29, 2002

By 

M. Bradley "Mimmi" (Bluegrass State) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: River Road (Callahan Brothers Trilogy) (Mass Market Paperback)

Julia Summers has dreamed her whole life of being the next `Bond' girl. She's worked on achieving her goal by acting on the super popular soap opera, River Road, for years. And finally she's landed her a part as the next `Bond' girl, as Carma Sutra. All she has to do is finish out her last two weeks of filming for River Road, and then it's on to greener pastures. When it's sprung on her that the last two weeks will be filmed on location, in Blue Bayou Louisiana, she groans, but is determined to be good and true to her character and the show that has made her success possible. She never dreams that before she can even get started filming, let alone to Blue Bayou, that she'll pick up an overzealous fan-who the brass are afraid could wind up to be none other than a stalker.

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!