An Unlikely Match

Heron Point #1

by Cynthia Thomason

"Hogan. Jack Hogan."

The cocky ex-Secret Service agent is determined to point out the security risks in this eccentric little beach town. Mayor Claire Betancourt's town.

Claire is just as determined to protect Heron Point and its free-spirited citizens - however quirky they may be - from his interference. No way are Jack's take-charge attitude and dangerous good looks going to sway her.

But Claire gets a shocking reality check when her nine-year-old daughter is kidnapped and Jack is the only one who can save her. And he's surprised to discover that what started out as just a job has suddenly become very personal.

Genres: Romance

304 pages, Mass Market Paperback

First published November 1, 2005

About the author

I'm Cynthia Thomason, and I'm a romantic. To me, romance means love between people as well as finding romance in places, such as waterfalls, lighthouses, beaches, or wherever else your soul connects with the wider universe.. I have written 39 romance novels for Harlequin and Kensington. But I am currently proud to announce, BACKDROP DEAD, my FIRST COZY HISTORICAL MYSTERY, set on a showboat in 1898. I guess I'll add showboats to my list of romantic places.
I was raised in Ohio. I taught high school English, ran my own auction house, and wrote books. I have experienced a great love, but lost my husband a few years ago to cancer. But he's still around. I can feel him.
I have won the HOLT Medallion Award, the Golden Quill and Readers' Choice Awards and I've been nominated several times for the prestigious Maggie Award. I'm proud of those awards, but as the saying goes, "That and five dollars will get you in the door of Starbucks." I love to write about America's small towns, similar to the one where I grew up in Summit County, Ohio. I have one son, also a writer. My favorite place to spend an afternoon is the mountains of North Carolina, but I haven't been to Ireland yet. My motto as I grow older and wiser is "never stop learning." After several lessons, I am now playing the guitar and I love it.

Reviews

[Amy · Rating 1 out of 5]

Boring. I quit halfway through this book. Jack and Claire haven't so much as kissed. It took me over a week to get halfway through. Didn't hold my attention.
Jack comes to a sleepy beach town, located in Florida on the edge of the Gulf of Mexico. He plans to buy some property for a client of his. Claire, a shop-owner and the town mayor, is skeptical about his plans for the renovation of the old resort. She is a widow with a 9-year-old daughter, and her Aunt Pet is trying to play matchmaker with the new bachelor in town.

[Linda C · Rating 3 out of 5]

Archie Anderson, wealthy land developer has purchased a rundown resort on Heron Point and sent his head of security to evaluate it. Jack Hogan lets Mayor Claire Betancourt know that her town is full of holes that he plans to plug. It is a pretty laid back area with few security problems. As he investigates and points things out to Claire they develop an attraction as well. When Claire's step-son Carlos shows up causing problems, things become tense. A confrontation and kidnapping bring things to a head. Decent romance.

[Gail · Rating 3 out of 5]

I liked this. Sometimes the conflict between the two main characters got a little silly, I thought-- not the internal, romantic conflict--that worked well. But the mayor v. security expert conflict often made little sense. Still, it was a nice story.

Some of the Gulf Coast barrier island things felt off... I don't know that it's even possible to close off all but a few access points to one of the barrier islands. If it's small enough, maybe. The abandoned hotel property seemed decrepit in some off ways though... little mention of hurricane damage to the roof or windows or even walls, dust rather than sand piled up on the floor inside-- sand can get into Everything, even with nobody tracking it in. And everything gets moldy almost instantly. Stuff in our garage (2 blocks from the Gulf) had black mold spots on it within 6 months. I hate to imagine how moldy things would be after 40 years, especially with roof damage from a hurricane... Ick. And on a Gulf Coast barrier island, it's not a matter of If a hurricane will come, it's when. Florida got hit with 5 of them one season...

[Arthur · Rating 5 out of 5]

A brilliantly well written story fulfilling the expectations of two people living in a small place called Heron Point, somewhere along the Gulf of Mexico and as it, it is an island of Florida, what brings them together is their attraction for each other. They hadn’t known their attraction for each other until they met. But it grew and grew between them. A lively town of likeable people inhabit Heron Point, most of which are friends to the woman Mayor with her laid back rules of organization and responsibilities for her citizens. But once Jack meets Claire there is sparks between them. And all they can offer to each other is understanding and love.

[Jill Twigg · Rating 5 out of 5]

Any book that make me laugh out loud is definitely a five star in my book. Jack Hogan, an ex-Secret Service agent from Manhattan, comes to a destination to make sure his boss's property is secure. He comes into opposition when he encounters the town Mayor Claire Betancourt and explains why her town is in need of some extra security. You can imagine how well that went over. But not too much later, he's trying to figure how he fell in love with not only the Mayor of a small Florida town and her nine year old daughter, but the people of Heron's Point.

[Carolyn Mcavoy · Rating 4 out of 5]

Great story.

[Brittany · Rating 4 out of 5]

I really enjoyed this book! It is a very nice love story with great characters and a great plot! I look forward to reading the next book called An Unlikely Father!

[Daniela · Rating 5 out of 5]

I thoroughly enjoyed reading this book. I thought the story line was quite simple however it kept me interested to continue reading it. It was an easy read :)

[Nancy · Rating 4 out of 5]

Woman Mayor. FL resort town. High -end resale shop owner.