Wonders Never Cease

Wonders Never Cease by Debra SalonenBen Jacobs is a police officer who is trying to create a canine unit in the small town of Bullion, California (near the town of Merced). His dog Czar is his best friend and partner, and is trained to protect and defend anyone that Ben asks him to. So, Ben is shocked when Czar takes an instant liking to reporter Jill Martin. Jill is on assignment and is supposed to interview the pair in regards to this new canine unit. She is asked to put on a protective suit during this interview, and braces herself to be mauled by this huge dog. It's love at first sight, and Jill totally enjoys the romp she has with the canine!The article is printed in the local newspaper, but Jill finds that her words have been altered without her permission. The article makes herself look like she finds this new canine unit a horrible thing, when in fact she felt this was a wonderful idea and should be supported by the mayor and the city. Jill begins to wonder if the article was tampered with for a reason.An ex husband is in the picture, and Jill is not afraid to voice her opinions about Peter. From mounting evidence that she has been collecting, she believes that he and his new wife Clarice are part of a bad business deal that is going to create a new community at the expense of the families that will be moving there. Jill has found evidence of tainted water running underground, and knows that Peter and his business partners are aware of this.As Jill continues her secret investigation of the project, things begin to happen. Ben does not think at first that Jill's life is in danger, but when an apparent burglary attempt nearly costs her life and Czars, Ben knows that there is something terribly wrong, and does his best to find out. WONDERS NEVER CEASE is part of the Harlequin Super Romance line of books, and I was very surprised to find how much I enjoyed reading it. The story was well developed and the characters were a lot more developed than they would be in a "Harlequin Romance" or "Harlequin Presents" novel. The book did take an unusual twist, which I will not reveal here, but it certainly caught me by surprise! The book read like a shorter version of a Mary Clark Higgins book, part romance and part "who-done-it". I highly recommend this book for the romance reader that is looking for something a little bit more in-depth than a plain old fashioned Harlequin Romance.

This book was wonderful reading! The writing ranged hitting all major feelings: sadness, wonder, funny, happy, sensual, erotic. It was a fantastic book. I highly recommend it!

Ben Jacobs brings twelve years of experience with the Santa Ignacio Police force and a remarkable partner when he accepts the offer to come to the smaller Bullion, California force. At ten, Czar has reached the typical age of retirement, but retirement usually brings a quick death to canines deprived of their beloved jobs. Consequently, the move buys Ben a few more years to work with Czar. His accustomed control meets its challenge in reporter Jill Martin, however. Her lively spunkiness and irreverence leaves him intrigued, even when those in positions of power warn him away from the rebellious reporter.Jill never backs away from a story even if the mayor and others accuse of her being on a vendetta rather than chasing facts. Her ex-husband and his wife, her former best friend, work for Land Barons, a huge corporation intent upon bringing Bullion a new housing development. Friends tease Jill about her lacking social life when she is more impressed by the dog than the man. Indeed, the instant affinity between her and Czar astonishes Ben. Jill cannot help wishing that Ben could be as approachable as his dog. Then danger brings about extraordinary events that transform her perspective of both man and beast.Author Debra Salonen constructs a usual and intriguing plot and then pulls it off with aplomb in WONDERS NEVER CEASE. A canine perspective lends this tale an stunning element that separates WONDERS NEVER CEASE from the stereotypical fair of series romance. So be prepared to suspend disbelief as Salonen takes the reader beyond the ordinary romance providing humor and intrigue in equal doses. Characterizations are equally intriguing. Jill's cynicism regarding her ex-husband and former friend provides comic relief as she gives as well as she takes. Ben's dislike of things that do not make sense, and his need to solve puzzles makes him not only a terrific cop, but a wonderful hero as he disregards other's opinions and forms his own regarding Jill. As the author reminds us, "wonders never cease when you have a little faith," as she so deftly proves. WONDERS NEVER CEASE earns the Winner of the WordWeaving Award for Excellence.