Eclipse Bay

Hannah Harte returns to Eclipse Bay eight years after saving Rafe Madison from impending imprisonment. She comes back to the small community when Rafe refuses to discuss selling his half of Dreamscape, Isabel Harte's legacy to them both. While they attempt to agree on a business partnership as well as a co-existing personal relationship, they must find out what went on that night eight years ago before the truth threatens to destroy them.In expressing my opinion of this book to a friend, I couldn't really put my finger on what made this particular Krentz title so great whereas her others have simply been good. It came to my mind however as I recommended it to her. Eclipse Bay is set away from the city and requires, due to a somewhat small community, a different tone, if not style. I enjoyed the atmosphere of Eclipse Bay in terms of location as well. It seemed so refreshing compared to Krentz's Seattle setting. While I enjoy the city, there is something very personal about Eclipse Bay and Krentz illustrates this by taking us through it narratively and describing the origin of certain landmarks. These personal touches brought the place to life for me in a way the impersonal Seattle settings didn't. In addition to that, there is a scene in the novel which involves practically the entire town and comically illustrates the negative side to small town existence. Then there is Winston, Hannah's loyal and protective dog who adds another dimension of humor to the novel.Krentz has written a story that is fresh in tone though her characters remain true to what her readers have come to associate with her writing. Rafe and Hannah are strongly drawn characters despite the characteristics Krentz uses to associate them with their respective families. And Krentz does a magnificent job of creating a story about Rafe and Hannah instead of falling back, or focusing, on the feud between the Hartes and the Madisons. Eclipse Bay is a terrific start to what I hope will be a great trilogy.

If you want a book you can kick back with that has snappy dialogue, great one liners, romance, and a little mystery, this is the book for you. It is so nice to see Ms. Krentz go back to the style of writing that made her so popular. I sincerely wish this had been in hardback with all three stories because I hate having to wait for the next two books to come out.The Hartes and Madisons have hated each other for generations. Eight years earlier, Hannah Harte had provided an alibi for bad boy (and oh what a bad boy he is) Rafe Madison. Rafe's main goal in life at that time was to not end up in jail. Fast foward eight years and the two have jointly inherited a house from Hannah's aunt. Each refuses to deal with the other so they both end up back in Eclipse Bay.I loved this book. This is the type of story Ms. Krentz is a pro at writing. For many of you who have read all her books, this will faintly remind you of Family Man complete with a dog who has his own personality. There will be many readers who will probably say this book is the same formula Ms. Krentz has used for years. But hey, if it works this well, keep on using it!

In ECLIPSE BAY, Oregon, the Hartes and the Madisons go out of their respective way to ignore one another. That changes the night that Hannah Harte and Rafe Madison meet after dumping their dates. They walk and talk at the beach before Rafe escorts Hannah home. However, the next morning the police question Hannah as to Rafe's whereabouts the night before because his date died after falling off a cliff. Hannah provides him with an alibi before Rafe vanishes into parts unknown, leaving Hannah to contend with her damaged reputation.Eight years later, Hannah and Rafe are brought back together. Her deceased aunt, believing they are star-crossed lovers, leaves each of them with a half share in a mansion, Dreamscape. Hannah tries to buy Rafe out so she can open up an inn, but he wants to use the house to open up a bar and restaurant. As both of them try to persuade the other to sell, an attraction between them begins to flourish. Even as they nurture it, an unknown stalker wants to insure neither one knows what really happened to Rafe's date that night.ECLIPSE BAY is the quintessential Krentz romance novel filled with quirky charcaters who share humor and witty repartee. Readers will admire the flawed hero and the feisty heroine. The absorbing subplot will leave the audience breathless until the last page of this one-sitting tale is finished.Harriet Klausner

This book is the first in a trilogy set in Eclipse Bay, Oregon. It is about family relations in two feuding families--the logical Hartes and the passionate Madisons--with romance and suspense thrown in. I loved the characters of Hannah and her requirements for Mr. Right and Rafe and his youthful goal of staying out of jail. In some ways, I was reminded of Krentz' previous book 'Hidden Talents' (also wonderful and I highly recommend it), especially Blade in Talents and Arizona Snow in Eclipse Bay, plus Rafe's relationship with his grandfather. Eclipse Bay is great all on its own, however, and I can't wait for the next book in the trilogy. I read this book practically in one sitting (on a plane) and I could not put it down. If you haven't read anything else by Krentz yet, get this book and take the plunge. I've also enjoyed all her other books, as well as those she writes under the Jayne Castle and Amanda Quick pseudonymns.

I did not care for JAK's last couple of hardbacks, but Eclipse Bay has restored my faith in JAK. This paperback is all new-Not a reprint and is the first of a trilogy. The hero, Rafe, is a dashing bad boy type whose career goal at 24 was to 'stay out of jail'. The heroine, Hannah, has career goals planned out years in advance. After years of not seeing each other, the two return to Eclipse Bay to deal with a mutual inheritence. Their families have been fueding for many years, but Rafe and Hannah must deal with the mansion her matchmaking great-aunt left the two of them. I found this story a great deal of fun-JAK is back in her usual witty style and these characters are much more clearly drawn than her last hardback-Rafe, while wonderfully romantic, is distinct in his own way and not the usual conservative type. Hannah is also well drawn and there's a cast of interesting minor characters, too-especially wonderful was Hannah's very proper Schnauzer, Winston. There is an interesting suspense sub-plot, which I enjoyed-I couldn't guess who 'did it'. If you have worried about buying new JAK books-buy this one with confidence. The story and characters are great and so is the price. I look forward to the next two books in the trilogy. It's nice to have the JAK I liked so much back in good form.