Broken Bonds

Harper takes on the timely and controversial topic of fracking in her third Cold Creek contemporary romantic thriller (after Forbidden Ground). Idealistic social worker Charlene Lockwood is making home visits to vulnerable children in a remote area of the Appalachians when she sees businessman Matt Rowan nearly get run off the road. She pulls him out of his truck before it plunges off the cliff—and quickly falls for Matt, the general manager of the new luxury community of Lake Azure. Who would want Matt dead? Could it be the local cult, Hear Ye, which is headed up by a nefarious man named Bright Star Monson? Or could the villain be closer to home, possibly even Matt’s seemingly generous boss? As Char and Matt search for answers, they fall deeper in love and try to stay alive. The thrilling finish takes a twist that most readers won’t see coming. While intrigue is the main driver of the story, the able, well-researched plotting and sympathetic characters will keep romance readers along for the ride. Agent: Annelise Robey. (Jan.)