Magnolia Moon

I loved the first two books in this trilogy. The only reason I rated this a four instead of a three was due to the updates on the characters from the first book. This book was somewhat choppy and I really didn't see what the attraction was between the two leads. It's just as well this was the last in the series.

Nate Callahan, Mayor of Blue Bayou, Louisiana, makes his living from remodeling homes. As he cleans away old files in the sheriff's office, Nate comes across a folder from thirty-one years ago that includes valuable stock. The owner was Linda Dale who apparently committed suicide. Linda's sister took her infant niece with her to Los Angeles. That niece, Linda's daughter, has quite an inheritance awaiting her if she can be found.Nate's brother locates LA Homicide Detective Regan Hart, who is shocked to learn that the woman she thought was her mother is her aunt. Regan comes to Blue Bayou to learn the truth about her biological mother and the rest of her roots, but the twists of reality make the DNA helix seem quite simple especially when some folks want the past kept quiet. Adding to her confusion is Regan and the mayor have fallen in love.Because of the twists on twists, readers will expect Rod Serling to explain that this is Bayou Country in the Twilight Zone. The story line is action packed whether it occurs on the West Coast or the Gulf Coast as readers see deep into psyche of the heroine and to a lesser degree Nate. JoAnn Ross will gain new readers with her magnificent MAGNOLIA MOON even if it takes one more spin than is necessary.Harriet Klausner

Regan Hart is a cynical Homicide Detective in L.A. She went into law enforcement because she believed she would be able to make a difference. She had incorrectly assumed that since she was going to be in Homicide, that she wouldn't have to deal with the victims so her emotions wouldn't be involved. After ten years, she's finally ready to admit that she was wrong. When Nate Callahan shows up in the Golden State, he not only makes her question her identity, he makes her take a good look at her life.Nate Callahan loves women. He's loved women since he was a teenager. He would never get involved with a woman that he couldn't be friends with after the relationship was over. All that changes when he first lays eyes on 'Dectective Cherie'. He's never met anyone like Regan and he felt like he was hit in the head by one of his 2x4's when he wasn't looking. Everything from her dry wit to her reluctance to get involved with him facsinates Blue Bayou's ladies man.But they have a murder to solve and an identity to uncover. JoAnn Ross takes the reader through trying to find out who you are to finding love and believing that it's true after a such a short amount of time. It is a heartwarming story and a fitting end to the end of Ross' Callahan trilogy.

Magnolia Moon, the last of the trilogy about the Callahan brothers, won't disappoint fans of JoAnn Ross. This book is about the youngest brother, Nate, who is probably the most sensitive of the three and the last to hold out against marriage. A confirmed bachelor, he enjoys women, but enjoys his bachelor status more. When he is not busy with the duties of being Mayor of Blue Bayou he keeps busy renovating old southern buildings. Enter into the picture Regan Hart, tough LA homicide cop looking for some answers to her heritage. Who's her mother, is there an unsolved murder in Blue Bayou indirectly related to her and watch her life take all kinds of twists and turns. Add to the formula a cast of Cajun parish people, a twelve year old runaway, and the return of lots of characters from the first two books, including Jack and Finn and their spouses, and you have a great reading novel.If you haven't read the first two books you won't be lost reading this one but it is still advisable to try to read Blue Bayou and River Road first. All three stories are fast paced and thoroughly enjoyable. The only downside is there are no more Callahan brothers for Ms. Ross to write about.