Raised by her grandparents after the tragic death of her parents in a car accident, beautiful bookstore owner Gabrielle McPherson's heart was broken when the man she thought she had married turned out to be a cruel stranger. Divorced and back home in Stockland, Tennessee, Gabrielle was waiting for Mr Right to sweep her off her feet, but she confessed to best friend Bonnie-Jean Roscoe that the last thing she wanted was to play second fiddle to a man's job, and fear for his life every time he went to it.

Loner Lance Cavanaugh moved to Stockland to get away from the pressures of city life in Memphis-but he was really running from the memory of Olivia Taggart, his former fiancée, who died in a fire some years before. Lance had never forgiven himself for being unable to save her, punishing himself for her death.

When Lance walked into Gabrielle's bookstore, sparks flew between them-sparks that Lance didn't want to feel. Neither could get the other's image out of their head, but their next meeting was far from orthodox.

When Gabrielle fell asleep in the bath, after day-dreaming about the handsome stranger that had visited her store that day, she awoke to find herself trapped in the bathroom with the house on fire. She was literally swept off her feet and rescued by that same handsome stranger-fire fighter Lance Cavanaugh.

Smitten, Lance found himself offering to let her stay with him until her house was habitable again. He regretted asking her to stay, because of the strength of his attraction to her, and tried to distance himself from her. Despite his resistance to his feelings for her, Gabrielle was determined to catch him, but she would have to get past his guilt and show him that he was worth loving.

Mr. Right In Turn-Outs is a sweet, sexy story of two people who think they know what they want-and then discover that they really want the exact opposite. Right from the beginning of the story the characters are introduced and clearly defined, revealing their personalities, attitudes, and pasts that haunt them, building well-rounded and appealing characters.

One thing that is particularly good to see is the strong female protagonist found in Gabrielle, who knows what she wants but isn't afraid to change her mind, and is strongly sexual. The man, for a change, is the bashful and reluctant lover, which challenges romantic stereotypes and creates a more enjoyable story.

Mr. Right In Turn-Outs is an engaging and romantic story about letting go of the past and embracing the future-a future that is standing right in front of you.

Reviewed By: Melinda Stanners
© June 2004