The Treasure Man

by Pamela Browning

When Chloe Timberlake agrees to look after the Frangipani Inn, her cousin's bed and breakfast, she expects to find the fabulous Florida inn of her youth --- not a derelict mansion that could collapse around her if she so much as slammed a door. Soon-to-be-live-in handyman Ben Derrick is also a shock. The golden boy of her teenage fantasies appears tarnished beyond repair.

Tragedy, as Chloe soon learns, hit Ben Derrick so hard that he spent years drowning in pain. Unable to work as a salvage diver, he gave up hope of ever finding a pot of gold. Unexpectedly, Chloe gives him a second chance. Maybe this time he'll be able to keep the treasure he's found.

Genres: Romance

256 pages, Mass Market Paperback

First published April 11, 2006

About the author

Pseudonym: Melanie Rowe

Pamela Browning is the award-winning author of books for adults and children. She has been published by Silhouette, Harlequin, Mills & Boon, and Berkley as well as by various international publishers, including Mondadori in Italy and Cora Verlag in Germany. Her books are sold in 90 countries and have been translated into 21 languages.

Many of Pamela Browning's books have been listed on bestseller lists, and they consistently win high ratings from reviewers. Her book The Mommy Wish won a 2005 Reviewer's Choice Award from Romantic Times magazine, and she has won the Georgia Romance Writers' Maggie as well as many first-place awards for her adult and juvenile novels in the annual National Federation of Press Women contest.

Reviews

[Paula]

Chloe leaves Texas for Florida to look after her cousin's beachside bed-and-breakfast which is currently shut down. Chloe spent summers there while growing up and has fond memories of the place. Once she arrives, she finds Ben Derrick there hoping for a room. Ben was Chloe's teenage crush during one of her past summer visits. Ben is a former salvage diver who is trying to get through some hard times and hopes to eventually get his job back at Sea Search. In the meantime, Chloe offers him a room in exchange for repairs around the place. The more time they spend together, they find themselves falling in love.

This was a good story with a nice romance, but could have used a bit more conflict since all seemed too easygoing at times. The scenery was beautiful, and I loved the beachside setting.