RUMOR HAS IT – Maureen Child
Texas Cattleman's Club: The Missing Mogul, Book 1
A Perfect 10
Harlequin Desire #2240
ISBN: 978-0-373-73253-1
July 2013
Series Romance

Royal, Texas – Present Day

Years ago, rumors swirled around Nathan Battle and his then pregnant girlfriend Amanda Altman and it led to their acrimonious breakup. Amanda lost the baby and left town, and now she's back in Royal to help her sister Pam run her diner. Nathan has heard all about Amanda being back in town, and knows he needs to face her, but to do so will only bring up ugly memories—and recall her betrayal. Yet, more rumors break out, wondering why he hasn't gone to see Amanda, so he finally does. Familiar desires heat up between them, and soon they're kissing. Will they pick up where they left off years ago?

Amanda had built a new life in Dallas, but at the urging of Pam, who is struggling to run the Royal Diner, she returns. She hears the whispers and knows that avoiding Nathan, as he's the small town's sheriff, would virtually be impossible. She's never forgiven him for thinking she'd lied to him, yet the moment they're alone she's in his arms kissing him. Can Nathan and Amanda get past the ugly gossip from before—and even now—to work on a future together? There's no denying the attraction burns as hot as before.

Gossip and innuendo can hurt and destroy relationships, and in RUMOR HAS IT, the whispers about Amanda's miscarriage certainly fed into her ugly breakup with Nathan years ago. He's now the sheriff, and the last thing he wants is to be talked about, but the moment Amanda arrives back in town, the town rumor mill is churning, mostly wondering if there are still feelings between the two. Both realize that they need to face the other, so when he shows up in the Royal Diner, they are cordial, especially with half the people in the diner watching them. Then, later, Nathan shows up on her doorstep to get a few things straight, but neither expects it to lead to some passionate kisses. Clearly things are not over between them…

Amanda hasn't forgotten Nathan, or his angry betrayal, so the last thing she wants is to fall for him again. Wait …she hasn't stopped loving him. Does she dare risk heartbreak again if he rejects her? As sheriff, Nathan doesn't want rumors to interfere with his job, but he's unable to stop the old feelings from rising again. Things between them are soon tenuous, with the sex being as good as it was before, yet rumors start up again. Can they ever get past the gossip and build a future together?

RUMOR HAS IT is book one of the Texas Cattleman's Club: The Missing Mogul series. It is not until late in the book that the “missing mogul” is revealed, but in the meantime, readers get to enjoy a darn good “reunited lovers” tale from Maureen Child that richly deserves one of RRT's coveted Perfect 10's. Nathan and Amanda have to deal with the past and the people who spread rumors about them, yet once alone, it's all about them—and the feelings that never totally died. Will they be able to brush away the gossip and forge a path to a happily-ever-after? Find out for yourself in this captivating tale.

Patti Fischer