Tremors by Debra Webb, Harlequin, Code Red, February 2005

Tremors is another installment of the Code Red series and focuses on an earthquake. Lisa Malloy is a veternarian who owns her own business, which was how she was caught in the parking garage that was on the verge of collapsing due to the earthquake. Fire captain Joe Ripani, who happens to be Lisa's ex-boyfriend, refuses to give up on the rescue mission. Even if it means he'll die.

Lisa Malloy is in love with Joe Ripani, but he's a love-them-and-leave-them guy and she's looking for the long haul. She finds herself pregnant and about to enter into a marriage of convenience with her partner when Joe asks her to marry him instead. Lisa believes he's asking her to give the baby his name not because he wants to be with her. While she accepts his proposal she has to deal with living her life with a man she loves but doesn't return that love.

Joe Ripani never gave love or a committment of any sort much thought until he was on the verge of losing the one woman he couldn't just leave and forget about. He overhears the doctor telling Lisa she's pregnant and waits for her to tell him, not realizing that there's another man waiting in the wings willing to give Joe's son his name.

The couple are married at the firehouse and find themselves adjusting to not just married life but having to admit their feelings. Accepting their feelings isn't that easy either. It's clear the two have feelings for one another from the beginning, it's enjoyable watching them come to grips with those feelings. The series of blunders and events that come in between are believable given all that happens in Courage Bay. Tremors is an enjoyable read.

©Susan Falk and phantomroses.com