Title: Sunset Promise, Book 2
Author: Irene Estep
Published in 2007 by Awe-Struck E-Books, Inc.
Genre: Suspense
ISBN: 978-1-587496-11-0
Related books: Promises, Promises, Book 1; Overprotected: Protect and Serve Series, Book 1, Connor’s Back: Protect and Serve Series, Book 2, Send Me No Roses: Protect and Serve Series, Book 3
Other Books by Irene: Silence Knight
A mistaken identity leads to a host of misconceptions; especially when both parties are attracted to one another. Jordan Wilkins and Kate Fraser know exactly how that feels as for days they thought each were someone else. As their heated passions grow stronger with each passing day, Jordan and Kate thought they would combust from the intensity. Will they ever find out who they really are, so they can submit to their lust?
Jordan needs a hair cut but getting it done in a woman’s salon makes him uneasy. His coworker, Carlton suggests taking his hair appointment with his fiancée, Louise; since business has him catching a quick flight out of town. Sitting at Louise’s station Jordan observes her rinsing a woman’s hair. Privately he thinks Carlton is fortunate to be marrying such a stunning woman. However, unknown to Jordan, Louise left to see Carlton depart at the airport leaving Kate to cover in her absence.
Hobbling around on sore feet, Kate was tired, and wearing a heavy costume didn’t help her mood. Her boss enjoys typecasting her staff in different time period outfits. Today, Kate wore a Dutch milkmaid outfit that showcases her full breasts. Glancing over at the man patiently waiting at Louise’s station, she secretly thinks he’s a fine-looking man. Well, her ex-husband taught Kate never to trust a good looking man; charming on the outside while mean on the inside, and seducing everything that was female. “Carlton” was Louise’s problem, and as she approaches him, Kate steels her lusty attraction.
Johnson Enterprises comes to the small town of Brantley Shores to build a mall; which has the business owners’ in an uproar. Jordan is sent by his father to get the project underway and to manage the locals. He never thought that managing the locals would include an adorable, sassy blonde that made him hard, and wanting. While getting a haircut Kate’s breast accidentally brushes up against Jordan, making him jump and causing her to cut a chunk out of his hair. Assured that she’ll fix it, Jordan is horrified when finding a very short, though neat, executive style; cut close around the ears and nape. He leaves the shop silently avowing revenge. However, he runs into Kate again, but this time in the company of another man; believing she’s cheating on Carlton. The longer he watches them from his table, the angrier he becomes. After finishing his meal, Jordan approaches Kate’s table asking if they could speak outside, privately. Accompanying him, Kate supposes her ex-husband hired Jordan to spy on her. An argument ensues that has Jordan raising his hand, to place on the wall beside Kate, and seeing her flinch tells him someone has beaten her. His anger recedes leaving behind a lust that he cannot control. Jordan kisses Kate. However, that’s only the beginning. The next morning the two run into each other on the beach as Jordan, literally, knocks Kate down into the foamy surf. Helping her up, Kate splashes him instigating a playful frolic at the water’s edge, and more kissing. Caught up in the passions, Kate calls him, “Carlton” bringing Jordan back to reality; leaving them both feeling guilty.
During lunch Kate meets up with Louise who announces her pending nuptials. Kate is astonished and desperately wants to discourage her from marrying Carlton, but keeps her thoughts to herself. While on her nightly stroll along the beach, Kate decides to confront “Carlton” but bumps into him when approaching his bungalow. Again, embraced in a kiss, Jordan calls her “Louise” destroying the moment. As Kate struggles out of his arms, an explosion engulfs Jordan’s home. The next morning Kate brings Jordan a change of clothes – since his burned with the house – and learns that the Fire Marshall suspicions someone purposely set the explosion. Within a matter of days Jordan barely escapes being blown up in his truck. He fears Kate is not safe in his company, so discourages her from having any more contact with him; leaving Jordan with a deep ache in his chest. When his brother, father, and friend, Lee Wade, arrive at Jordan’s home, do the events of the last few days make sense; they provide Jordan with a list of suspects and motives. But what role does his landlord, Lawrence Hagger play in all this? However, there’s someone else, unknown to everyone but Jordan, who has a stake in his being dead. Who is this person and why do they want Jordan gone so badly?
An attractive but smart story, Ms. Estep kept me captivated with suspense, murder, romance, with a lively cast; an entertaining combination. Kate’s turbulent past is real as she recalls those final moments as her ex-husband beats and then takes her harshly, only to recover a stronger more independent woman. However the fear still lingers when she tries to understand “the man”, Jordan; his pushing her away is construed as rejection, not his need to protect her. Jordan is an intelligent man who harbors secrets from growing up with an abusive mother who locked him in closets as a form of punishment. Jordan is an empathetic man, too, as he cares for a stray named, Puss; a trait fostered by his mother hatred for animals and having destroyed the only pet Jordan had as a child. The mistaken identities only makes for an amusing read as this suspenseful plot unfolds. An Awe-Struck E-Books publication, Sunset Promises is a continuation from “Promises, Promises”, and can be read in sequence or on its own. She slips in enough information from the previous book that connects the two stories, while maintaining the current flow. This series also branches off into The Protect and Serve serials where Lee Wade, who first appears in “Promises, Promises”, has his own story in “Overprotected: Protect and Serve Series, Book 1”. I look forward to reading more of Ms. Estep’s stories.
A dedicated reader,
Pamela Jenewein
