THE GOOD DAUGHTER Third book in the Deep in the Heart Series
Finalist in the 2004 Texas Gold Contest!!
ISBN 0-373-71142-5
Harlequin SuperRomance #1142 July 2003
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Excerpt | Purchase Now
 "In a book that's
character-driven, intense, sensual and fast-paced, Jean Brashear
does it again!" --Romantic Times Bookclub
Chloe St. Claire is the quintessential good girl, daughter of
privilege and society's darling, but inside her grows a gnawing
that asks "Is this all there is?" She took her current job as a
police psychologist to broaden her world past charity functions
and ladies' lunches. The job has strained relations with her
doting parents and the assistant district attorney and rising
political star her parents want her to marry.
But Chloe wants to make a difference in the world.
She gets more than she bargained for when she's assigned to the
case of Vince Coronado.
Vince is a legend on the force, but if he weren't so effective,
he'd have been busted off the force long ago. Abandoned at six by
a prostitute mother to a series of foster homes and finally on the
streets at thirteen, he was headed for jail until he was arrested
by a cop who cared. That cop saved him; now he's dead at the hands
of a prison gang leader, and Vince is determined to find justice.
Instead, Vince finds himself suspected of murder—and Chloe
holds the key to getting his job back.
An attraction as ill-timed as it is powerful raises the stakes
for them both. When evidence mounts that Vince has gone rogue,
will Chloe rebel against everyone to defend him or remain, as
she's always been, THE GOOD
DAUGHTER?
"This story got better and better as it
unfolded...A good read. -Delia Larkins,
TheBestReviews"
"Jean Brashear writes a fascinating story, a
book that is engrossing from beginning to end. She is definitely
an author to watch and appreciate and I will be looking forward to
the next book in this terrific series. --Marilyn Heyman,
TheBestReviews"
"For those of you who fell
in love with Superromance author Jean Brashear while reading the
first two books in her Deep In The Heart mini series, you ll be
excited beyond belief to know that Chloe s story, the last and
final installment in the series has finally been released. And let
me tell you, after reading The Good Daughter, I can honestly say
they saved the best and most exciting for last....
When I
hear the name Jean Brashear I immediately think overwhelmingly
soul-deep romances I ll never forget. I don t know why unless it s
the fact that she constantly writes characters like Chloe, a
vulnerable heroine, who constantly pulls at your heartstrings
until the breaking point, or Vince, a mouth-watering hero who has
readers alternating between wanting him as their own and wanting
to just hug him and soothe the abandoned little boy that still
lurks inside of him. Both seem to literally jump off the pages and
become real to readers as you and me. Like all of Ms. Brashear s
past couples, they cause readers to sigh whenever they are
together.
So the next time you visit your local bookstore
looking to find something exciting, emotional and romantic to
read, add a copy of Jean Brashear s The Good Daughter to your TBR
pile. You won t be disappointed, because once you start reading
you ll know exactly how Ms. Brashear came to be the award-winning
best-selling author she is today." --Diana
Tidlund, Writers Unlimited Reviewer
"Jean Brashear's The Good Daughter is the
third in her Deep
in the Heart series, and the characters in this installment
are as adeptly drawn, and as painfully real as those in the first
two books...Brashear's books cut deep. The emotion, the knowledge
both of the painful divide between haves and have nots, sometimes
as a result of the historical divide between the ethnic groups of
Texas, sometimes because of the human intangibles of opportunity,
perspective, perseverance or frailty, hit the reader in each of
the stories, and demand a reaction. In The
Good Daughter, the elements of suspense and a good police
story enrich the passionate encounters between a cool,
level-headed psychologist and a brash cop who understands honor as
few others do.
Few series have inspired me to run out and buy
(or pre-order) the other books in the series. Brashear's Healer made me
do that and The Good Daughter has me reading all the fine print
looking for the next in the series. Looking impatiently. ---RendezvousReviews
"Opposites attract as THE GOOD DAUGHTER brings
together a legendary cop accused of murder and the society girl
who can bring him down. Author Jean Brashear's powerful
storytelling ability dazzles as sizzling chemistry that lends hope
to the impossible in a tale that will touch reader's hearts.
Indeed, Brashear's understanding of the heart and the complexities
of family relationships lend THE GOOD DUAGHTER emotional depth and
gripping angst. Readers will find THE GOOD DAUGHTER to be an
outstanding read that belongs on the keeper shelf. THE GOOD
DAUGHTER earns the WordWeaving Award for Excellence."
--Wordweaving.com
"Jean Brashear concludes her wonderful Malone
sisters trilogy for Harlequin Superromance with another
outstanding read in THE GOOD DAUGHTER ...her "Deep In The Heart"
series for Harlequin Superromance just keeps getting better and
better with endearing characters and memorable plots set in her
home state of Texas that will remain deep in readers'
hearts!" -Patricia Rouse, Rouse's
Romance Readers Groups
"Ask Detective Coronado to come in, please, Wanda." After
replacing the receiver, she carefully folded her hands on the
desktop to still the sudden attack of nerves as the door opened.
Then there he was. Looking far too good.
His gaze locked on hers. Blue eyes spoke volumes in a voice she
couldn't afford to hear...but reverberated deep inside her.
Chloe couldn't tear her gaze away.
"Chloe—"
She stirred. Blinked. "Detective." She nodded carefully.
For a second, something in him seemed almost...vulnerable. An
answering softness rose in her; ruthlessly she quelled it.
He searched her face, and disappointment flickered. Then the
hard cop took over. He seated himself in front of her desk.
Chloe tried to remember what she'd thought they could talk
about. Opening the file in front of her, she grasped at a topic.
"About your family-"
"Don't—" His dark tone wounded her. "Just let me go, all right?
Cut me loose."
She gripped her fingers together until the knuckles went white.
"My terms were clear. I have a job to do."
He slapped both hands on his thighs, then rose to pace, jamming
his hands in the front pockets of his jeans. Jaw flexing, he faced
her windows, his powerful frame tense.
Chloe waited, trying to give him room. She'd been kidding
herself that this wouldn't be hard.
Suddenly, Vince whirled, strode across the room and pulled her
to her feet. Before she could react, his lips claimed hers.
Shock stilled her, then she tumbled in the onslaught of too
many sensations-his body hard against hers, the tantalizing taste
of his kiss. She grabbed his shirt for an anchor, wanting—
More.
When he felt her press closer, Vince groaned. "Chloe—" Against
every instinct he possessed, he knew he had to pull back. Now.
But he only wanted to get closer.
With great effort, Vince disentangled his mouth from hers,
placing a gentle kiss to the corner, then dragging himself away
from the pulse point of her neck.
"Fire me," he said, his voice hoarse.
"What?" Confusion swirled in her eyes.
"I can't be your client. You're driving me crazy."
Chloe stared at him, mourning his distance even as returning
reason told her it had to happen. Her fingers tingled with the
texture of his shirt, of his warm, muscled torso. Her body hummed
with the longings he elicited with little effort. She'd never felt
like this-never even imagined it.
If she'd ever doubted it, she was certain now that Roger's time
was at an end, but there could be nothing between her and Vince
until his troubles were over. If she cared about him at all, she
had to help him—and that meant not letting anyone know that he was
becoming important to her. If Roger found out, he'd crucify Vince
out of damaged pride, if nothing else.
Sobered by the realization that she could do Vince great harm,
she escaped toward her credenza and poured a glass of water for
her suddenly parched throat. Drawing upon reserves she'd never
realized she had, Chloe asked, in her mother's best hostess tone,
"Would you care for a glass of water?"
"No." Jaw tight, stance rigid, he looked at the trees. "Thank
you."
She desperately wanted to talk about what had just happened;
instead, Chloe retreated into a professional mode. "Tell me how
you're feeling about being on leave."
"Damn you." Immediately, she looked stricken, and Vince cursed
himself. His undercover experience made him as much actor as cop;
he could handle this. All he had to do was to forget about her as
Chloe. Pretend she was a target. A means to an end.
All he had to do was not remember tendrils of hair curling on
her neck. Forget her laughter, blank out her softness—
Hell.
"You know this is our last session," he said.
To his surprise, she didn't immediately refuse.
"I have a responsibility to the department, as well as to you,
to be sure you're fit for duty."
He stiffened. "Do you honestly doubt it?"
"At this moment, I doubt everything about my judgment."
The uncertainty in her eyes dampened his building fury. "What
would it take for you to trust yourself again?"
Her lips curved with wry amusement. "I have no idea."
Vince dropped his head. "I'm sorry, Doc. I never meant for this
to happen." He looked up, grin crooked, dimple winking. "You're
not my type, you know."
"Vince—"
"You don't have to tell me," he said, holding up a hand. "You
don't date mongrels."
Surprise slid over her features. "You're not a mongrel."
"Get real. You're a registered purebred, and I'm a mutt
straight from the alleys."
A flicker of humor united them for one brief instant.
Abruptly, Chloe sobered. "We can't have this discussion right
now. I have a report to turn in, and despite how I've botched
things so far, I can't live with myself if I release you before
I've made my best effort at completing the requirements to render
a sound opinion."
"Do you believe them, is that it? Newcombe and Barnes?"
She appeared startled. "No."
"Then what will it take for you to let me go?"
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