The Loner

by Rhonda Nelson and Rhonda Russell

Lucas "Huck" Finn is thrilled to join elite Ranger Security-- until he learns his new assignment is to babysit heiress Sapphira Stravos, a doggy-toting debutante who's driving everyone crazy. Still, he can't help but feel there's more to Sapphira than meets the eye. And what's meeting the eye is damn hard to resist.... Thanks to a few stupid threatening letters, Sapphira Stravos is having her style cramped, big-time How is she going to look after...

• Format: Mass Market Paperback
• Language: English
• ISBN: 0373794045
• ISBN13: 9780373794041
• Release Date: May 2008
• Publisher: Harlequin Blaze
• Length: 224 Pages
• Weight: 0.25 lbs.
• Dimensions: 0.6" x 4.2" x 6.6"

Customer Reviews

Better than expected

3.5 stars. When I first started this book, I didn't think that I would like it. The heroine's secret and reasoning left me frowning at the pages, plus I was just told how good a Ranger Huck was, I never really saw it. For me the premise came off contrived and I never got why Sapphira was afraid of her father nor how Huck was looking for a father of whom he had no name. I mean-what name was on his birth certificate? Still, the love story between the characters was captivating because the author clearly is talented. The love/sex scenes were hot, but again the over all plot left me wanting.

I've Found a New Fav!

For oh-so-long finding a contemporary romance writer was a daunting task. Many of my past favs have left me wanting, so it was by sheer luck that I stumbled on Rhonda Nelson via Harlequin's website and their promotion of The Loner. Of course when I wanted to get it, the book wasn't even available and I wound up discovering Rhonda Nelson via another book (but that's a totally different review - Feeling the Heat). By the time The Loner fell into my hands, I was both optimistic and a little afraid that the book wouldn't live up to my expectations. But it did! Lucas "Huck" Finn blew apart his life with one fouled up parachute landing that blows out his knee, and winds up working for Nelson's previously introduced (and hot!) ex-Rangers turned private security/bodyguards. The fit is fabulous, but Lucas' first gig -- protecting the high society, pampered, spoiled, mini-dog toting heiress Sapphira Stravos isn't exactly the kind of assignment a guy like Lucas had in mind. But there's more to Sapphira than meets the eye. She's smart, funny, sassy, and is leading a secret double-life that Daddy can't find out about. The whole mystery stalker/threatening note writer element is light throughout the plot, but Lucas and Sapphira's relationship is always center stage. The book is full of laughs and lust, and you like both of the characters. The attraction and sexual tension is established instantly and keeps sizzling through each and every page. The only slight negative I'd mention is that Nelson has a tendency to summarize moments (like Lucas finally talking to his mother about who his father is or the conversations when Lucas finds out what Sapphira is *really* doing with her time) and then just kind of fold it into narrative as a sidemention. It doesn't detract from the reader's enjoyment of the story, but in this one, I was left thinking, "Man, I'd have liked to see that conversation..." Nelson delivers solid characters, hot heroes, spunky heroines, and definitely sexy sex in The Loner, and she will be one author I'll definitely keep my eyes open for at the bookstore... in fact, I'll be looking this August (2008) for The Hell-Raiser!

A Great Read!

Rhonda's books never disappoint, and this one was no exception. The hero was completely yummy, and the heroine had a sense of humor that was, at times, laugh-out-loud funny. It was a very fun read.