Summer in Eclipse Bay

Jayne Ann Krentz

A few weeks earlier Nick Harte had met Octavia Brightwell at his sister's art show at Octavia's gallery. He was immediately attracted and started asking her out for a date. Octavia refused - six times. Now Nick is getting quite frustrated. His six-year-old son Carson worries that Nick will interfere with Carson's friendship with Miss Brightwell.

But Nick tries again, asking Octavia a seventh time. She finally agrees, knowing that she is now entering a dangerous emotional area for herself. She knew at the showing that Nick could affect her deeply is if she wasn't careful. Nick has a reputation around the small town of Eclipse Bay. He hasn't had any serious relationships since his wife died. He had only had casual relationships, never staying the night and never committing. Octavia decides to take the risk and agrees to dinner with Nick.

Octavia and her art gallery have become a part of Eclipse Bay in the short time she had been there. But she is planning on leaving by the end of the summer. She had come to Eclipse Bay to right a long time wrong. It had resolved itself before she could intervene. Before she left she was going to finish her commitments to the town. One of these was the Children's Art Show. Carson was one of the children who submits a picture for the show, proud of the drawing of his favorite dog.

Unexpectedly, Nick and Octavia are shown a painting that is worth a few hundred thousand dollars. She takes it to her gallery for safe keeping until she can get another opinion to verify hers. The painting is stolen from her gallery. Nick and Octavia are fighting their feelings yet he agrees to do detective work, pretending to be a private investigator for Octavia's sake.

This is the final novel in the Eclipse Bay series. Like the others, it is charming with an unexpected twist to solve the mystery of the painting. We learn more of the story of Rafe and Hannah and Gabe and Lillian as the two couples have settled in their new lives. Octavia and Nick have their moments of romantic denseness, but they are human and believable. Carson is a fun addition and gives the roundness to Nick the father and lover. This is a good beach read, or a good way to spend a few hours on a gray, chilly afternoon.

Notice: Strong sexual content

Eclipse Bay
Dawn in Eclipse Bay
Summer in Eclipse Bay