Starting With June-Emilie Rose

Starting With June

Emilie Rose

Harlequin SuperRomance, Dec 1 2014, $6.75

ISBN: 9780373608874

At Quantico, due to his depth perception failing him U.S. Marine Sam Rivers receives the depressing news of a medical discharge ending his military career.  On his mind is thirty one and washed up.  Waiting in the parking lot for him is his buddy and former marine sniper peer Roth Sterling (see A Better Man) who needs his help.  Four months ago, Chief of Police Roth arrested and fired his dirty senior deputy, but believes there are more corrupt cops on his Quincey, North Carolina force.  He hires Sam to go undercover to recon which cops are breaking the law.

Sam teams up with police officer June Jones, but conceals from his partner why he came to Quincey.  Attracted to each other, he refuses to acknowledge his heart though he wants June.  Instead Sam remains steadfast to his goal to leave the “armpit of the world” and return to active duty once he completes the mission and gets his perception back; only his perception has changed.  June assumes the men she loves, like her hypercritical father and her denying partner, find something lacking in her.   

The third Quincey contemporary is an engaging police force romance in which Sam’s attitude and his assignment seem to doom their relationship.  Sam and Roth appear too similar in personality although one can argue they fit the profile of a successful military sniper.  With a nod to Rookie Blue (hopefully this coupling finds a way to stay together rather than hop around), readers will appreciate this tale.

Harriet Klausner