CAFÉ AU LAIT

Author: Liane Spicer ISBN: 9780843960570 9/2008 CONTEMPORARY Publisher: DORCHESTER

Love in Unexpected Places Londoner Shari Zamore is at the end of her rope. Her carefully constructed world is falling down around her ears, and she’s so restless that she can barely bring herself to care. So the pretty professional runs away to her family’s home in Trinidad in search of rest, relaxation, and maybe even a little no-strings romance. What she finds there is a stubborn, sexy man determined to make her face all of the things she desperately wants to forget. Most visitors embrace the sultry spirit of his homeland. So why is Michael Chancery so intrigued by a woman whose icy attitude and arrogant demeanor seem designed to discourage any man who tries to get too close? Her plan is to love him, leave him, and then return to the life she left on hold. But Michael doesn’t give up easily, and he’ll use every tool in his sensual arsenal, every moment of each heated tropical night to convince Shari that her place is on the island…and that his heart belongs to her.

RRAH's THOUGHTS AND PONDERINGS:

Liane Spicer sets her contemporary romance, CAFÉ AU LAIT, on the islands of Trinidad and Tobago, where burned out high school geography teacher Shari Zamore has arrived from London to get her groove back. She has family in Trinidad, including her cousin Wanda, who works overtime to set her up with one of her co-workers, Gaston. She needn't have bothered. On the flight from England, Shari meets a man that she clicks with immediately. Michael Chancery (architect and builder) feels the connection too, but has been burned before and is returning home to Trinidad from a very vicious ambush with his ex-wife so he has all of his shields up. Will Shari be able to break through the defenses he's built up?

Spicer creates not only two very complex characters and a strong supporting cast, she also takes us on a nature tour of Trinidad and Tobago. It is a very refreshing trip, too. In the rose garden, I was overwhelmed by the attar of roses and in the dark, watching the leatherhead turtle lay eggs. I was astonished by the sacred splendor of this act. I could taste all of the fruits and immediately craved fresh pineapple, grapefruit juice, and oranges. Spicer's ability to take me to the place where I heard the cacophony of tropical birds and insects is amazing, and almost better than any of my nature recordings.

CAFÉ AU LAIT is a steamy, hot romance and the travel of true love does take many twists and turns—through swamps, around felled trees and over potholes, and in the end, all is right in their world. Shari is put off by a young woman who fancies herself attached to Michael and Michael is sidetracked by Gaston planting a big kiss on Shari, but their attraction is on a deep level. And while the sex is mind blowing, the connection they have felt from the beginning may actually be destiny.

I loved this book and anticipate getting a second serving of CAFÉ AU LAIT because of its brilliant flavor, rich aroma and the way it perked up my spirits. Readers will enjoy this delicious romance and especially the steamy, frothy love scenes.

Susan Barton