After Darke

Cooper's Corner #2

by Heather MacAllister

When they witness a mob hit while on an awkward blind date, plumber Bonnie Cooper and columnist Jaron Darke are forced to go undercover at the Twin Oaks B and B, where they must pretend to be engaged, and soon, despite their differences, the unlikely couple find love and passion. Original.

Genres: Romance, Harlequin

256 pages, Mass Market Paperback

First published January 1, 2002

About the author

This author also writes as Heather Allison.

Heather MacAllister lives in Texas and is married to her high-school sweetheart. Following the instructions in How to Get a Teen-Age Boy, and What to Do with Him When You Get Him by Ellen Peck, one of her all-time favorite books, she expressed an interest in his hobby — ham radio. He challenged her — learn Morse code and get her license, and he’d take her to the senior prom. She did, and currently sports her call sign, WB5RMA, on her car license plate.

Heather became addicted to romance novels in college, yet still managed to graduate and become a music teacher. And then her sons were born. Within seven months, nine baby-sitters quit, so she took pity on the childcare industry, quit teaching, and began avoiding housework by writing during her sons’ nap time.

Heather has published over 40 books with Harlequin. Her award-winning romantic comedies have been translated into 25 languages and published in dozens of countries.

Before she was published, Heather won the Romance Writer's of America Golden Heart Award. Her published novels have been nominated for the RWA RITA award three times, and eHarlequin.com readers voted LONE STAR SANTA favorite Laugh-Out-Loud book of 2006. In addition to awards for best Harlequin Romance and best Harlequin Temptation, Romantic Times Book Reviews has twice nominated Heather for a Career Achievement Award in Series Love and Laughter.

When she's not writing, Heather spends her time collecting vintage jewelry, watching fireworks displays, and killing plants.

Reviews

[Pam · Rating 2 out of 5]

Harlequin romance. Blind date couple have to hide out from the mob after witnessing a hit. Surprise ending.

[Sheri Fredricks · Rating 3 out of 5]

I picked this book up from the rotating carousel in my local library. I admit, I liked the cover. The back cover excerpt looked good, so I brought it home. It sat for nearly 6 months, gathering dust on my "to read" bookshelf. Looking for something short to clear my mind of vampire and demon overload, the cover cracked open on Heather MacAllister's book.

It was a slow starter. At Chapter Two, I wondered why I was still trying to read the book. Forcing oneself to keep reading isn't what I had in mind. It wasn't until Chapter Four, page 55, that I really got interested. The story line picked up, the characters finally engaged me, and the action finally started.

I found the characters believable and their situation not too far fetched. I could have done less with the plumbing lessons, it didn't move the book forward for me.

Overall, while the first 54 pages dragged, the rest of the book was good reading. The tension build-up toward the ending didn't have the outcome I expected. Still, it wasn't disappointing.

[Jessica · Rating 4 out of 5]

I have really enjoyed this collection of books so far and happy that they are all connected in some way. I was excited about the ending of this story and surprised as well.

[Harlequin Books]

Miniseries: Cooper's Corner
Category: Contemporary Romance

[Patt · Rating 4 out of 5]

There's someone out there for everyone. You just have to look in the last place you think you'll find them. A cute little romance