The Cottage on Pelican Bay - Brenda Jackson (HQN - Sept 2024)

Series: Catalina Cove (Book 7)
 
Sometimes one hot night simply isn't enough.
 
Two years ago, Zara Miller found herself heartbroken and stranded in a New Orleans hotel bar with a sexy stranger named "Saint." One thing led to another and to a night of unforgettable pleasure. Though contact info wasn't exchanged -- no strings attached -- Zara hasn't been able to stop thinking about him or that one scorching night ever since. Now she's returned to her hometown of Catalina Cove only to discover that her brother's new hire is Evans "Saint" Toussaint, the one-night man she can't forget.
 
Though Saint, like Zara, grew up in Catalina Cove, they'd never crossed paths. Now all of a sudden they can't seem to avoid each other. Despite an enduring attraction, Zara and Saint decide to keep their spicy secret in the past. Everybody knows everybody's business in Catalina Cove, and they don't need everybody knowing theirs -- especially since they've both been burned in the past.
 
But when their intense desire becomes impossible to ignore, they escape to Zara's secluded cottage on Pelican Bay, where they're free to explore whether their casual connection might actually be the lasting love they've both been missing.
 
From one night stand to forever. The story opens two years earlier than the main story. Zara is stranded in New Orleans while she waits for a storm to pass before traveling to Catalina Cove, nursing a broken heart and swearing off men. But the sparks between herself and a sexy stranger at the bar are too much to resist, and she and "Saint" spend a passionate night together.
 
Fast forward two years and Zara is back in Catalina Cove to visit her brother and some friends. She is stunned when she walks into a gathering of friends and sees the man she hasn't been able to forget. Saint is equally shocked to discover that Zara is his boss's younger sister. The chemistry between them is still off the charts, and they can't stay away from each other. Neither is interested in a relationship. Zara is not ready to risk her heart again, and Saint is still recovering from his own disappointing love life. They are content to hook up whenever Zara visits the Cove.
 
I enjoyed watching the relationship between Zara and Saint develop. It starts as purely physical and casual, as they agree that emotions will play no part in their encounters. But over several months, they find themselves enjoying time spent together outside of the bedroom. When Zara comes for a more extended stay in the Cove, she and Saint begin spending much more time together. It is easy to see that they develop feelings for each other but are wary of confessing them. Their avoidance of talking about the future frequently frustrated me. Matters became more complicated when Saint's ex showed up looking to rekindle their relationship. I liked those scenes between Zara and Mia and Saint and Mia. I liked the ending, seeing them face and share their fears and look to the future with open hearts.
 
There was also the beginning of a secondary romance between two of the older characters. I loved Levi's patient pursuit of Margie as she became accustomed to the idea of falling in love again after her husband's death. I look forward to seeing more of them in later books, as well as some of the other new arrivals in Catalina Cove.