Of all the speakeasies in town he walked into hers…
Guilt drives New York cop Patrick McCormick, who promises
to reunite schoolteacher Lisa Walters with her long-lost father. Only, Lisa
also runs an underground speakeasy! Tough yet innocent, Lisa might be the only
one who can help Patrick overcome his past, but she's on the wrong side of the
law. Patrick must remember he's there to fulfill a promise, not fall in love…
Good book with romance, family drama, and some unexpected
suspense at the end. I loved the Prohibition-era setting and the author's deft
use of language, description, and real-life events to set the scene.
New York cop Patrick, aka "Mick," is haunted by
his father's death. Those feelings drive him to leave New York for Missouri to
reunite a dying friend with his daughter. However, instead of the schoolteacher
he expected to find, Lisa is the owner/operator of an underground speakeasy. Complicating
matters, Lisa doesn't believe that her father is alive, forcing Mick to take
desperate measures to ensure her cooperation.
Lisa's life has been difficult. Her beloved father died
during the war, leaving her mother to fall prey to a cruel man. When her mother
suffered a stroke, Lisa gave up her teaching plans to care for her. To protect
her property from Duane's depredations, Lisa took over the speakeasy. A smart
and loyal young woman, Lisa found innovative ways to help her town weather its
economic downturn. Mick raised her suspicions as soon as he entered her
speakeasy because she knew a cop when she saw one.
I enjoyed seeing the relationship develop between Mick
and Lisa. They got off to a rough start because Lisa didn't believe him and
Mick threatened to bust her speakeasy if she didn't come with him. Because she
runs a speakeasy and he's a cop, they are just about as opposite as they can
be. But during the three-day train journey from Missouri to New York, each of
them begins to gain a new perspective about the other. Lisa sees Mick's human
side and understands a little of his need to help Tony reconnect with her. At
the same time, Mick gets a look at the possible ramifications of Lisa's
departure. I liked seeing Mick's growing respect for Lisa's abilities.
Matters are complicated by the growing attraction between
Mick and Lisa. There are significant obstacles between them. First is the whole
cop vs. speakeasy situation. Lisa needs to return to Missouri to protect her
interests from her stepfather's interference, and Mick's life and work are in
Rochester. Second, neither Lisa nor Mick has marriage in their long-term plans.
Mick has a failed relationship in his past that makes it hard to trust women.
Lisa saw the effects of both of her mother's marriages and wants nothing to do
with it. However, the more time they spent together, the more each of them
longed for a way to be together. Issues with her stepfather put Lisa in danger,
and saving her helps Mick see what's essential in his life. I loved the ending
and how both Mick and Lisa overcame the obstacles that kept them apart.
Both Mick and Lisa suffered from family drama. Mick's was
mainly internal, stemming from his early reluctance to follow in his father's
footsteps. Mick wanted to be a police officer, and this caused many arguments
between himself and his dad. Mick said some things he regretted during their
last fight, but his father's death prevented him from making amends. Those
regrets motivate Mick to help Tony. Lisa's drama is front and center in the book.
She has to face the hurt and anger she feels at what she sees at his desertion of
his family. As she learns the truth, that pain and anger turn to her mother,
and she deals with her feelings of betrayal. I ached for her and how her world
turned upside down. The final blow came with the revelation of Duane's methods
of insinuating himself into her mother's life. I loved Mick's support of Lisa as she worked
through everything and his protectiveness when it was needed. It was great to
see Duane get his just desserts.
I loved the epilogue and seeing Lisa so happy. There was
a nice lead-in to the next book about Mick's brother, Connor. I can't wait to
read it.
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