Breaking Free

Aunt Louisa Fairchild and her niece corporate lawyer Megan Stafford were estranged for a long time, but finally reconcile; both are pleased as their disagreement hurt the two relatives. However, Megan is stunned when local Aussie police officer Dylan Hastings arrests Louisa for the arson murder at Lochlain Racing (see DARCI'S PRIDE). Perhaps it is the accusation, but Louisa suffers a heart attack that hospitalizes her. Megan vows to prove her aunt is innocent. However complicating her emotional state is her attraction to the enemy, Dylan, who feels the same way of about the big city slicker as he too wants his adversary. This Australian romantic legal-police procedural thriller is an entertaining tale as the urban attorney and the country cop mutually detest their attraction because the other represents every trait they hate in a person; proving love works in mysterious ways. The story line is fascinating as the lead couple argues over whether her aunt is an arsonist killer or not. However, the romance never fully comes across as plausible since the lead couple abruptly and very late breaks free of their stereotypical depiction of their beloved. Harriet Klausner