Book Review: Rough Diamond by Kathryn Ledson

This is a terrific first novel by Kathryn Ledson that women everywhere are going to find hard not to love.

ROUGH DIAMOND has all the ingredients for an irresistibly entertaining read…a likeable heroine who helps save Melbourne and Sydney from terror attacks whilst caring for her demanding cat, shopping for clothes and shoes as well as emotionally ridding herself of her troublesome ex-husband! All this takes place under the auspices of the delectable Jack Jones, a hero who is perfectly charming, admirably successful, dashingly good-looking with impeccable manners and an unselfishly noble purpose in life….a wonderful combination of Mr Darcy and James Bond with Bruce Wayne’s lifestyle!

The heroine, Erica Jewell, is loved by loyal and long-suffering friends, who assist without reservation in her increasingly complicated life. She is invited to join “The Team” after finding one of them outside her house, injured with a bullet wound that cannot be drawn to the attention of the authorities.

Forced by the burden of huge debts incurred by her ex-husband and a large mortgage, Erica takes on the lucrative role assigned to her. This new double-life brings excitement, danger and tests her resourcefulness to the full. Erica and Jack fight their smouldering attraction for each other, both reluctant to commit emotionally after having been painfully burnt in their respective previous relationships.

Jack Jones is destined to be one of the memorable heroes of Australian fiction. He is unselfish, caring and unspoilt by his luxurious lifestyle – he is fussy about material comforts and having the best of everything money can buy, but is completely without snobbery where people are concerned. Their undercover work for “The Team” takes Erica to a completely different world for her, of expensive dressing-up and exclusive parties.

The Melbourne Cup and the Sydney Opera House also feature in their operational fields and, joy and bliss, Erica finds herself tasked to buy whatever she wants to wear on a company credit card with an unbelievably large limit! The downside is that her life is at risk at every turn, but that seems to be a small price to pay with Jack Jones at her side…

A very enjoyable read that will lead to a ravenous hunger for the next forthcoming Erica Jewell and Jack Jones adventure, “Emerald Isle”. Kathryn Ledson is indeed a real, rare and, despite this being her first novel, rather polished, diamond.

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