Book ~ "Beacon of Love" (2013) Allie Boniface

From Goodreads ~ Welcome to Lindsey Point, Connecticut: suspicious of outsiders, loyal to tradition, and absolutely devoted to its local legends.

Enter Sophie Smithwaite, travel show host, in town to film an episode about Lindsey Point’s haunted lighthouse. But digging into the story of a tragic murder-suicide and love gone wrong reveals startling connections to Sophie’s own past. When a gorgeous local handyman fills in behind the camera, Sophie’s life gets complicated by more than just her family history.

Part-time paramedic, handyman, seasonal Santa... Lucas Oakes does it all--except get attached. He’s still reeling from the death of his best friend ten years ago and the more recent infidelity of his ex-fiancee. Yet despite Sophie’s big-city nosiness and her insistence on chasing long-dead ghosts, he’s drawn to her.

But mixing with an outsider means questioning people and traditions Lucas has always defended. When a series of attacks seem to be connected to Sophie’s investigation, both Sophie and Lucas must decide if they are willing to risk everything to uncover the town’s secrets...and their own.

CONTENT WARNING: Contains one barb-slinging travel show host, one hunky handyman who knows exactly how to use his tools and a small town brimming with secrets ...

Sophie is the host of a travel show that goes around to communities showcasing something of interest. She and her crew go to Lindsey Point to focus on the lighthouse. Fifty years ago, there was a murder/suicide ... Petey, the lighthouse keeper, had discovered that his wife, Miranda, was having an affair and killed her and then committed suicide. They say that her ghost is haunting the lighthouse. Sophie is from New York and isn’t used to small-town ways ... everyone knows everyone and their business.

Lucas was born and raised in Lindsey Point. Besides being a handyman, he is also an EMS and former cameraman. When a fella in Sophie’s crew gets sick, Lucas fills in. The attraction between Sophie and Lucas happens instantly and they start hanging out together. But there are a few things at could keep them apart ... the appearance of Shannon (Lucas’ ex-fiancee who wants him back), the tragedy ten years ago when members of the community were killed in a plane crash including Lucas’ best friend, Sarah (Shannon’s sister), and the rumor that Sophie is the granddaughter of Petey and Miranda.

This is the second book I’ve read by the author and I liked it. Not just a romance (Lucas and Sophie do get together in about four days), it also had the mystery of a hidden treasure and was Sophie actually Petey and Miranda’s granddaughter?

“Wise ass.” Sophie backed into the street before he could grab her. “I’ll see you later!” she called. “I think Lon said something about meeting tomorrow morning and--hey!” She squawked off the last word as Lucas lifted her off the ground and onto his shoulder.

As if she was a bag of flour.

Or a damsel in distress.

Or his damn cavewoman.

About a hundred thoughts raced through her mind, and it took all she had to keep them from coming out in biting words.

“Why do you have to be so stubborn?” he asked as he carried her back to his truck, parked in front of the bar. He wasn’t panting, not out of breath in the least, as if she weighed close to nothing. “If anything happened to you, Lon would kill me.” With one hand he opened the passenger side door. Only then did he lower her to a seat inside the truck. His hands slid down her arms and settled her hips into place.

Oh yum. All her scathing thoughts of thirty seconds earlier vanished. She shifted on the leather. There was room for him on this side of the cab, she was almost positive. If not, she’d make room. In about two seconds.

I liked the writing style ... it was easy to read. I liked Sophie and Lucas ... they had a good contrast. She was born and raised in the city and is a celebrity and he is a small-town guy who went away to university but came back home afterwards. Sophie has no one in the world (her mother has dementia and lives in a home) and Lucas has never lost a family member. I liked that they lived in the here and now and didn’t worry about making it work for the future.

I found that I still had a question at the end, though ... did Petey really kill Miranda and then commit suicide? They both ended up dead but I found the explanation of this was glossed over ... yes, there was a struggle but I didn’t think it was of the magnitude that warranted their deaths. Or did someone else kill them?

As a head’s up, the language and some activity is for mature readers.

Book ~ "The Promise of Paradise" (2013) Allie Boniface

From Goodreads ~ Ashton Kirk, youngest daughter of a prestigious senator, fiancee of a hotshot attorney and fresh Harvard graduate, is headed for a promising law career when scandal breaks apart her family. To escape, she rents an apartment in the sleepy town of Paradise, NH, where no one knows who she is.

Ashton hopes for solitude, but all bets are off when Eddie West, the town’s most eligible bachelor, moves in downstairs. Eddie likes his women and his cars shiny, sleek, and fast, and when he meets his new housemate, he wastes no time getting friendly. While he's looking for a no-strings romance, though, he gets more than he bargained for in Ash, who sees through his bravado to the pain of a loss too fresh to mention.

Can two people from different worlds find common ground, a place to fall in love and build a future? Is it possible to find your soul mate in the place you least expect?

Ash's father, a vice-president hopeful, recently allegedly got caught in a car with coke, a hooker and breathalyser reading saying he was drunk.  Plus her boyfriend of three years broke up with her to be with someone else.  Ash needs to get away and have some space so runs to Paradise, NH.  She sublets the apartment on the top floor of a house and gets a job as a server in a jazz bar.

Eddie is a mechanic who is running away from his own demons.  He was in an accident three years ago that killed his younger brother.  He moves into the bottom apartment of the house the same day as Ash.

Near the curb, engine still running and rock music bellowing from the speakers, idled a red pickup truck. White and yellow flames danced along both sides. Bending over the tailgate was a broad, bare, definitely male back. Yow. No wonder Jen looked like she was about to start drooling. Even one floor up, Ash could trace the outline of nearly every muscle in his arms and back. A bright red and yellow king cobra tattoo curled around his left triceps. Wavy brown hair fell across the sides of his face. His jeans, faded in all the right places, sat low on his hips. Ash squinted harder and ran one hand over her hair.

Oh God. They still make men who look like that?

“Turn around, please,” Jen commanded under her breath. As if he’d heard her, he straightened up, biceps flexing as he hauled two large boxes from the back of the truck and turned up into the sidewalk. Her sidewalk. He looked up, and Ash’s heart dove into her stomach. A neatly trimmed goatee underscored a crooked nose. He flashed a smile and winked.

“Hey,” he called up. “You live here?”

Jen nodded and jabbed a thumb in Ash’s direction. “She does.”

“I’m Eddie West. Movin’ in today.” It was hard to hear him over the noise of the truck’s humming engine and the music. Ash watched his mouth move instead.

“Need any help?” Jen asked.

Eddie shook his head. “Nah. I’ve just got a couple of boxes to bring in. The rest is coming tomorrow. But thanks.” He continued up the sidewalk.

Jen cupped her hands around her mouth and yelled down. “Come up later, if you want.”

Ash elbowed her. “What are you doing?”

Eddie backpedaled and nodded, grinning wider. As he disappeared from their view, the heavy front door creaked open and, after a few seconds, thudded shut behind him.

Jen straightened up. “See? I told you he’d be good-looking.” She rolled her eyes. “He’s beyond good-looking, Ash.” She fell back against the railing, hands to heart in a dramatic pantomime. “He’s perfect.”

Sparks fly between Ash and Eddie right away.  But Ash is hiding a secret from everyone in the town, including Eddie ... who she really is.  How will Eddie react when he finds out who she really is and that she has been keeping this from him?

I liked this book and the writing style ... it's a quick read.  I liked Ash and Eddie ... though attracted, they start out by hanging out together, sharing supper and some beer and watching baseball on TV.  Eddie finds and adopts a kitty and names him Tiny ... gotta love a guy who love kitties!  Paradise sounds like a nice small town to live in.

I'd recommend it if you are looking for a cute romance.  As a head's up, the language is mature at times.