Zebra Bouquet (Paperback), ISBN 0-8217-6649-X
The Immigration and Naturalization Service, in the form of one agent with a personal agenda, wants Declan Walsh found and deported -- and the agent wants it done yesterday. Declan desperately needs a secure hiding place until he can finish his novel. His cousin presents a solution -- of sorts -- to the problem. Declan can hide out at a local bookseller's house. All he has to do is remodel the place.  

Educated, handsome and Irish, Declan lacks the training that would make him a creative genius master carpenter -- which the job requires. Almost sure he can handle the basics of remodeling (as long as he keeps the how-to books handy), Declan agrees to give the project a try. However, he agrees before he meets the owners, a trio of very unusual women, or sees the house, which should be pictured in Webster's Dictionary next to the word "unusual." Along about then Declan begins having second thoughts, thoughts that include one of the women, the one that's engaged. 

Bookstore owner Justine Farris, unlike her dizzy younger sister Willow or her Aunt Laverne, sees herself as the sensible one in the family. She makes the decisions and the money that supports them all. She doesn't want to hire Declan, she doesn't want to be attracted to him, and she knows she can't afford to remodel their house. But… 

I read all of Suzanne Barrett's books, so consider me a fan. She writes intelligent, well-plotted books that introduce diverse and interesting characters, well-researched backgrounds, and fleshes out the book with great subplots, fascinating information, and crisp, clean writing. But her previous books didn't prepare me for this one. Wild Irish Rogue sparkles like fine champagne. It bubbles with wit, charm, and laughter. Light, airy, and delightful, the book entertains, supplies a sizzling romance between two extremely likable major characters and delivers a few happy-ever-afters in unexpected places. 

Patricia White

Patricia White is the Sapphire Award-winning author of A Wizard Scorned. Her current book, the contemporary PS, I've Taken a Lover, is available from Lionhearted Books . The Wandering Troll, an electronic magazine, began serializing her novel Prophecy Be Damned in April 2000.

Click here to share your views.