Joy and Anger

Veteran paperback romance writer Blake, whose first hardcover was Love and Smoke , mines cliches familiar to the genre in her newest romantic mystery, set in the Louisiana bayous and the Hollywood film world. Directing Swamp Kingdom , her first major film, Julie Bullard hires enigmatic Rey Tabary to serve as technical consultant. Impressed by his knowledge of the swamps and Cajun life, Julie is strongly attracted to Rey despite the fact that she is engaged to the film's producer, Allen Gravesend. After several deaths occur among the movie's crew, Allen brings in Julie's father, famous director Bull Bullard, to take over the production. Not only does Julie have a contentious relationship with Bull, but she suspects the movie has become a cover for the drug trade. Rey, a former agent for the Drug Enforcement Administration, becomes the only person who can save her film. Blake's fans will undoubtedly enjoy the sultry, atmospheric background for this unsurprising but competent tale. (July)