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The Sinclair Brothers ~ Book Two ~ Benjamin’s Story

Sixteen years ago Benjamin Sinclair went to Medicine Gore, Maine to protest the building of a hydroelectric dam. While there he dated Kelly Sands, and when it was time for him to leave he asked her to go to New York with him, but she more or less told him to get lost. During one of the protests the dam was blown up and Kelly’s father was killed. The townspeople blamed the protest group, citing Ben as the ringleader.

Ben gets an anonymous letter telling him he has a fifteen-year-old son named Michael who lives in Medicine Gore. Ben hires a private investigator to find out if this is true, and learns that it is. Also, Kelly disappeared ten years ago and her younger sister, Emma, has raised Michael. The two of them own and run Medicine Creek Camps, a hunting/sports lodge. Ben books a reservation under the name of Tom Jenkins and with a beard and longer hair doesn’t think anyone will recognize him. Wrong! Both Emma and Michael know exactly who he is, but keep quiet about it. Ben’s clothes are brand new and from LL Bean, and it is obvious he is no hunter. Ben is met by a welcoming party of loggers who believe him to be a tree hugger, and they beat the stuffing out of him. Emma rescues Ben and gets him medical attention, then proceeds to take care of him. She knows that Michael needs a male presence in his life, but dang she doesn’t want to give the child of her heart up. Matter of fact Emma is angry that Ben just walked away and she, wrongly, assumed Kelly didn’t know how to get in touch with him. Emma had a huge crush on Ben, but she thinks she is over that now. Ha-ha-ha!

During his recovery period Ben learns a lot about Emma. She was only nineteen when she became responsible for her nephew, and she had plans to go to college and get away from her home town. Emma has done an excellent job with Michael, and he is a wonderful, well-grounded young man – he is also a genius and will finish high school at fifteen and enter college next fall. Ben admires Emma for so many things, and that admiration turns into a sizzling desire for her.

TEMPT ME IF YOU CAN is Janet Chapman at her very best. The characters are likeable and believable, and the villain is truly vile. Along with Michael, there is a love-sick moose and a guard dog that help steal the story. It as been a long two-year wait for Benjamin’s story, but it is truly one of the best romance stories – with a hint of mystery – you'll read this year.




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