Suspense/Intrigue
The Forbidden Bride
By Dottie
Apr 1, 2010 - 12:07:34 PM

Five years ago, Robin Daly, a police officer, had been standing in the church in her wedding gown, when her fiancé called it off.  Though she still doesn’t know why, she does know that Nate Houston is responsible for her wedding being called off.  After that experience, she has no plans to marry.  Though her two best friends have great marriages, she does not see it ever happening for her.  She has hated Nate ever since.

Six months ago, Nate Houston had relocated from Chicago, taking a job with the Oklahoma State fire Marshal’s office.  He had been married and even after he discovered that his wife was cheating on him, he tried to save his marriage, but it proved to be unsalvageable.  Due to his failed marriage, he never wants to marry again.  Years ago in Chicago, Nate had captured a serial arsonist who is now in jail.  In one of the arsonist’s fire scenes, a particularly big fire set at a nursing home, several people had died, including his father, a firefighter.

Nate had compiled information on recent fires, where dead bodies had been found.  The arsonist used the same method of operation as the arsonist he had put in jail.  He hoped the recent fires had been set by a copycat, otherwise, not only had he put the wrong man in jail, but it would end his career. Procedure in Presley dictated that if a dead body found at a fire scene proved to be homicide and arson, a police officer and a fire investigator worked the case together.  For these fires, Robin had been teamed with fire investigator Collier McClain, who happened to be Nate’s long time friend from college. 

Nate’s presence at the new fire scene wasn’t official, but he felt he had to share his information.  He saw McClain and Robin, a petite brunette talking, but it was the brunette that captured his attention. The last time he had seen Robin, he had been trying to make things work with his ex-wife so he had not noticed Robin’s beauty.  Robin was cold to him though his information snagged her interest.  The arsonist’s signature was unique in that he was able to be well out of the area before the fire ignited.  Nate’s boss, figuring the three recent fires had been set by an arsonist, whose methods were familiar to Nate, assigned Nate to be on the team with Robin and McClain. Being thrust into each other’s company on a daily basis, she began to see Nate in a different way, but she was having a hard time getting over the fact that he was the man responsible for her fiancé leaving her at the altar.  As for Nate, he could not understand why she was still mad since he was sure that her fiancé Kyle had explained everything, and he was having trouble keeping thoughts of her out of his head.  However, at the police station, when he saw Robin and Kyle together, he knew that Kyle had never explained the secret that Nate had discovered, which resulted in the marriage being called off.  What was the real reason the marriage was called off?  Did Nate arrest the wrong man?  Can Nate and Robin get beyond their past and discover a future together?

THE FORBIDDEN BRIDE is a delightfully witty and deliciously sexy contemporary romantic suspense novel.  I absolutely loved it!  At first, Robin cannot stand the sight of Nate, usually having her hand on her holster as she watches him.  Nate does not understand why she still holds a grudge against him, especially since he is sure that Kyle kept his promise and told her why he was calling off the marriage.  Though she wanted to ask Nate why it happened, she did not trust him to tell her.  When she discovers why the wedding was called off, she is devastated, but she finally understands that Nate was looking out for her.  A marriage with Kyle would have been a mistake.  Brimming with humor, mystery, steaming hot love scenes, a terrific plot and well-drawn characters, this book is a winner.  Be sure to get your own copy of THE FORBIDDEN BRIDE.  You won’t regret it!