Lover's Charade
Publisher: Harlequin Mills & Boon
Published: October 9, 1992
Format: Paperback
Number of pages: 192
ISBN-13: 9780263777666
Subjects: Romance
Description: Aurora 'Rory' Blake is a singer - and manager - in her father's nightclub - and she's good at her job; both as a performer and manager.   

Every evening, she thrilled to the sound of the delighted audience's applause, having both men and women eating out of her hand.   Well, maybe not quite always; lately a very attractive man was seen sitting at the same table each evening - and she didn't know why he was there, as he made it clear he didn't like her style!

His attitude was really affecting Rory's confidence, something she didn't like one bit !   How dared this man have such an effect on her when she didn't even know who he was.

Her current role at the cub comes about when her father reluctantly hands over its running to her, after his health deteriorates and doctors tell him to slow down and hand over running of his favourite nightclub - or face dire consequences.

Rory gives up her rock-star status and lifestyle to take on her new role - and she hopes - prove herself worthy to her father, since their relationship has become very distant after the death of her mother; his way of coping with the loss is to shut Rory out from their previously close bond.

Enter 'mystery' man Adam Burns - another night club impresario, nicknamed the 'Midnight Raider' due to his penchant for taking over poorly performing nightclubs, intent on adding Rory's club to his already large stable of such establishments; except that Rory's nightclub is successful.  She's totally unaware of his identity and the reason he keeps returning to the club when he clearly doesn't enjoy her performances.

Adam in fact, has an axe to grind, holding Rory responsible for his sister Lisa's drug-related death.  Lisa had been a budding rock star, doing her best to emulate her idol Rory and on failing, turned to drugs.

Additionally, Adam thinks Rory may be involved with nefarious, underworld thugs and drug lords and has been helping police with a long, on-going case to nab some of the big shots in this drug ring - and - possibly, nab Rory too.

All in all, this is a very ridiculous set up and story with Rory, despite thinking of herself as a fierce 'lioness' (her start sign is Leo) and being quite adept at holding her own when physically attacked, courtesy of several courses in self-defense, acting like a pathetic kitten, not even a lion cub, whenever Adam puts the 'moves' on her - she gives in to him at every turn !