Aftershocks by Nancy Warren, Code Red, March 2005

Mayor Patrick O'Shea and his administrative assistant, Briana Bliss, team up in this installment of Code Red, focusing still on the earthquake from Tremors. This one is probably my favorite, or a tie with The Trigger (a later installment that I read first of the series by accident). Romance and political intrigue, throw in some adorable kids and it moved me.

Briana Bliss was sent to Courage Bay to obtain a job as the mayor's administrative assistant. It isn't until later that we discover why the overqualified woman wanted the job. She is there to trick Mayor Patrick O'Shea into coming onto her. While stuck in an elevator for a night as the result of a power outage caused by an aftershock, the couple make love. Briana finds herself torn between taking the man she believe did wrong down and falling in love with the widower and his children.

Patrick O'Shea is a widower, a kind man who adores his children even if his job as mayor of Courage Bay takes up more of his time than he would like. He is not a womanizer and seems like a "what you see is what you get" politician. There was a scandal involving his opponent in the mayoral race he won, the opponent was caught in a compromising situation with a prostitute. But you get the impression as the book progresses that Patrick was not involved with such dirty play.

Patrick's kids play a role in the book as well, endearing Briana to them even as she tries to keep her distance and not fall in love with their father. We also get glimpses of the other O'Shea's we met in Spontaneous Combustion and Lightning Strikes (Heatwave anthology). What a wonderful family the O'Shea's are and all the authors who incorporated them into their books kept them consistent.

I really enjoyed Aftershocks, watching this couple fall in love and the problem that kept them from being together get resolved. Briana is no wilting flower. She's assertive and digs for the truth despite going against someone she loves. A well done book.

©Susan Falk and phantomroses.com