Chain of Love

As I am working my way through Anne Stuart's backlist, I am more and more amazed by her. Series titles are known for their quick plot lines and shallow, one dimensional characters. Not so with this author. With Stuart you are guaranteed an exciting, unexpected ride. People are never who they seem to be and plots turn on a dime and lead you in entirely new directions. She is brilliant. Another thing that I appreciate are her book titles. As you read each story (whether it be Heart's Ease, Museum Piece, Tangled Lies, or Chain of Love) all of these titles have meaning in the story....significant meaning. I love this attention to detail. In this story, Sin is not the typical Stuart "bad boy". He is actually a "light" and very considerate, sensitive type of hero. He is definitely not wimpy, but he is not bordering on "bad" like other Stuart heroes. I appreciate how she mixes things up, and that her heroes are never cookie cutter. Cathy is a battered woman, and Stuart carefully deals with this topic with sensitivity. I loved it.

Cathy Whiteheart was barely pulling out of the deep depression after an abusive relationship, so her sister drags her on board aa yacht for a day in the sun. What she did not count on was Sin - Sinclair McDonald the owner of the boat being handsome, and pure male. He is imposing, terrifying and so bloody attractive that he send conflicting emotions running wild in a woman that has been hiding for life.Sin is more than just sexy, he is funny and kind...something she is not used to in a man.These characters are warm, real and easy to love.

This is an OOP Harlequin American Romance #30 (1983). I just finished this book & really liked it. Since this is OOP from the back blurb "Cathy Whitehart was a battered woman on the run when she met Sinclair MacDonald. She had been trying to forget the past, to swear off men, and to avoid the kind of hurt that remains after the physical scars are gone.""On a pleasure trip to the Caribean, Sinclair turned Cathy's pain into an ache, a longing for the kind of real love she had always dreamed of. Sin MacDonald could never reveal the true reason for his interest in Cathy-he could only hope that his feelings for her would not get in the way of the secret he could never share."I liked that the characters actions were believable. When Sin realized what Cathy had been through he was very patient & understanding but he did not treat her with kid gloves (which would have gotten on my nerves). They still had fights and got over it. Don't want to give any spoilers but there is more to Sin than meets the eye. I recommend this book but not at a collector's price.