Absolutely, Positively

Absolutely, Positively by Jayne Ann Krentz, 1996 Pocket Books

     In Seattle's Pike's Place Market is the Abberwick Tea & Spice shop, owned by Molly Abberwick. Molly is more than simply an entrepreneur--her inventor father left her the foundations of a fortune to set up the Abberwick Foundation. He meant the foundation to support inventors who cannot find funding elsewhere. To help decide which project proposals are worth her father's legacy, Molly hires an expert in the history of science.
     Doctor Harry Stratton Trevelyan is the expert in an esoteric field and takes a liking to his new consulting client. But Harry's proposal for a short-lived affair is thwarted when Molly is in danger and he discovers a strange connection to her. Citing his failed relationships and the strange darkness which threatens to consume him, Harry is leery of a long-term relationship.
     When the danger to Molly is over and the darkness in Harry's past are resolved will they have that extra something that will keep the relationship going?
     Absolutely, Positively is an intriguing mix of Jayne Ann Krentz's paranormal and mystery. With an adult audience in mind, Molly and Harry work to resolve the problems they face and build on the connection they find.

All Night Long

All Night Long by Jayne Ann Krentz, 2005 G.P. Putnam's Sons

     Irene Stenson has been fighting the demons of her parents' murders for seventeen years when an old friend surfaces from the darkness. Pamela Webb was her best friend that summer, and the reason she wasn't home the night her world fell apart. After seventeen years of silence Irene is stunned when Pamela's e-mail arrives and they arrange to meet.
     But before the women can talk about the past Pamela dies of an apparent overdose. Irene doesn't think her once friend was suicidal and looks into the mystery.
     The investigation drives her closer to the enigmatic innkeeper managing to the lodge Irene stays at during her visit. Luke Danner is an ex-marine, ex-scholar and overall fascination with his own troubles.
     As the mystery behind Pamela's death heats so does the liaison between Luke and Irene. Through several encounters with Pamela's father, a U.S. Senator, and drawing back to Irene's parents' murders the small town's secrets are coming to light.
     All Night Long is an adult novel with more mature elements including gruesome murder, drug abuse, psychological trauma, and child abuse. The story is aimed at mature readers leading them into the darkness before the characters can come out with the truth.

Affair

Affair by Amanda Quick, Bantam Books 1997

     Charlotte Arkendale and Baxter St. Ives have one thing in common, their search for a murderer. Charlotte is a resourceful woman, on the shelf in Regency England at twenty five years old and in business looking into the background of potential suitors for women. One of her recent clients is murdered and Charlotte believes it must have been one of the suitors she recently rejected.
     Baxter St. Ives is the bastard son of an earl, a gentleman with a passion for chemistry and a logical investigator. When his aunt asks him to look into her friend's murder the path points to Charlotte. He engages himself as her man-of-affairs and bodyguard, but it quickly becomes clear Charlotte is not the murderer.
     As the pair continues their investigation they discover a passion neither expected. They become lovers as well as partners.When their quarry attempts to break the connection between Charlotte and St. Ives they begin to think their murderer is not a rejected suitor, but something much more dangerous.
     To allow Charlotte to move in society and to provide a plausible reason for the significant amount of time she spends with St. Ives, the pair announce their engagement. The only people aware of the engagement's fraudulence are those aware of the murder investigation: Charlotte's sister and housekeeper, and St. Ives's aunt. So when they are attacked and their relationship is challenged, the motive seems to be completely separate from their investigation.
     When a villain from their separate pasts reappears with a plan to upset the status quo and destroy them both in the process, Charlotte and St. Ives realize that their feelings are more powerful than either thought at first. They manage to find the murderer and the story is wrapped up leaving few questions and several hopes for Charlotte and St. Ives's joint future.
     Affair is a romance novel, more appropriate for more mature readers and generally aimed at women. There are explicit scenes, however the general story arc has merit aside from the romantic fantasy.