The Secret Wife (Harlequin Superromance No. 1274)

WoW! To find out that you are wife #2 with out there being a divorce. What a shock for Maggie McGuire who showed up in Arkansas to find her husband Eric. Eric, who doesn't believe that David could be his son, had left Maggie [pictures had been taken of them with their child] in Arizona. When she lands in McGuireville she runs into J.D. McGuire who puts her up at a motel. She is still determined to find Eric. And runs into his dead body. Now she is under suspecion of murder. The police won't let her leave the city. The McGuire lawyer ends up providing a motive. She is introduced to Nancy McGuire, Eric's legal wife. [Nancy's story follow in HOME FOR CHRISTMAS] Hate to say it but I just am not into unnatural bald guys. J.D. has some issues to work through but with Maggie and David staying at his place he is made to face them. Really an excellent story except for the PMS [just not necessary]. Will definitely recommend --m

Traveling across the country with her infant, a dead broke Maggie McGuire arrives in McGuireville, Arkansas, seeking her deadbeat runaway husband Eric to help at least financially with their child. She crashes a family reunion gala demanding to see Eric; the half brother of her missing spouse James David "J.D." used to cleaning up his siblings females messes, intercedes. J.D. informs a stunned Maggie that Eric is married to his high school sweetheart Nancy and has been for quite a while. J.D. insures Maggie and his nephew are cared for while she rests up and decides what to do next. However, she soon has no choice as someone murders Eric and the police suspect her as the culprit. As she and J.D. work together to uncover who killed Eric, they fall in love, but soon he will have to choose between his family and his beloved. This is a terrific romantic amateur sleuth tale starring two likable lead protagonists and an immature support character who even after his death causes problems for his extended families. The story line centers on the growing love between Maggie and J.D. who is quite good with his nephew while also providing an interesting who-done-it as a solid subplot. A final twist involving who done it makes sense but will rock readers as the author lives up to her surname weaving a fine tale. Harriet Klausner