"Outstanding. I couldn't turn the pages fast enough. I wish I had written this wonderful book." —Fern Michaels
Just weeks after inheriting Rosebank, a once-magnificent plantation on the banks of Bayou Teche, David Patin died in a mysterious fire that destroyed his popular New Orleans restaurant. In the aftermath, his daughter Vivian and wife Charlotte are shocked to discover that the family finances are as run-down as their only remaining asset—Rosebank.
With her degree in hotel management and her mother's restaurant expertise, Vivian Patin decides to restore the family fortunes by turning the lushly overgrown and decaying Rosebank into a resort hotel with all the sultry charm of old Louisiana. But Vivian's dream becomes a nightmare when she finds the family's lawyer dead on the sprawling grounds of the estate—with a rose on his chest and a brilliant lipstick mark on his cheek. Suddenly Vivian begins to wonder if someone is targeting Rosebank and the Patin family . . . and if her father's death was, in fact, an accident.
Dissatisfied with the local police investigation, Vivian approaches Spike Devol, deputy sheriff of a nearly town, who has a reputation for being smart, honest and tough. She asks him to help her find the truth. But the instant attraction between them leaves Spike reluctant to get involved--until he discovers that Vivian could be the next victim. When another shocking murder occurs at Rosebank, it's clear that the stakes have never been higher—and that now it's up to Spike and Vivian to catch a killer . . . before he kills again.
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Reviews:
"Vivian Patin is struggling to open a hotel and restaurant at Rosebank, the property her family inherited from her uncle. Her father’s recent death has left Vivian and her mother reeling. To top it off, they have discovered that their finances are virtually nonexistent. A call from their attorney gives them hope—he hints at a windfall coming their way. But then the attorney is found murdered at Rosebank. As local police begin an inept investigation, Vivian turns to Deputy Sheriff Spike Devol for help. Together these two must join forces to save Vivian’s family—and any chance for a shared future. Cameron masterfully takes readers to a truly enticing place with this suspenseful tale. Her vivid storytelling makes each scene come alive and will draw you in from the first page." —Debbie Richardson, Romantic Times
"After her father dies in a fire that destroyed her parents' New Orleans restaurant, Vivian and her mother, Charlotte, decide to turn Rosebank, the plantation he recently inherited, into a hotel and restaurant, but their renovation plans are threatened when Vivian discovers the body of their family lawyer on the grounds. Convinced that the local authorities see her as a convenient suspect for the murder, Vivian talks Spike Devol, the deputy sheriff from a nearby parish, into being both her private investigator and bodyguard. Already romantically interested in the lovely Vivian, Spike doesn't need much persuading to look into the murder, but when the body of another victim turns up, it seems obvious that someone doesn't want Vivian around Rosebank and will do anything to get rid of her.
New York Times best-selling Cameron returns to the wonderfully atmospheric Louisiana setting of French Quarter(1998), and borrows a few secondary characters, for her latest sexy-gritty, compellingly readable tale of romantic suspense, which has all the twisted villains, dangerous secrets, colorful characters, and vividly detailed sensuality her readers find irresistible." —John Charles, Booklist
Great storytelling
"Not long after his brother Guy died, New Orleans restaurateur David Patin dies in a fire at his establishment Chez Charlotte. Besides grieving their loss, his wife and daughter Vivian are shocked to learn how in debt they are. They move to Guy’s former estate Rosebank, which they inherited planning to convert the property into an exclusive resort.
Their lawyer Louis Martin drives out to give them some good news that Guy left with his inheritance. However, someone kills the attorney just before local Sheriff Spike Devol arrives for dinner. Bullying Detective Bonine leads the investigation in which he suspects the Patin women killed Louis since Vivian inadvertently destroyed the crime scene. As Bonine pressures the two women, Vivian and Spike fall in love, but first he must uncover the identity of a killer and resolves to discover what Guy left them to keep them solvent.
Fans of police procedural romances will enjoy this delightful thriller. The story line is loaded with action as the audience will appreciate the lead couple and their efforts to do the right thing. Except for the police detective the secondary cast adds depth to the plot. KISS THEM GOODBYE is a strong Bayou suspense tale, a novel that lives up to Stella Cameron’s reputation as a great author." —Harriet Klausner
First Time in Paperback!
Publisher: MIRA Books
Pub. Date: October 2004
ISBN: 0778320839
