The D.P. McHenry Website Xlibris Category:  Romance Publisher: Xlibris ISBN-10:  1401088120 Type: Fiction Pages: 287 Copyright: Jan 1 2003 Can life imitate art? Kate Margaux is beginning to think so. ‘Knights in Shining Armor Sometimes Play Guitars’ is the story about Kate Margaux’s struggles with her new-found notoriety after her romance novel is published. Kate is a hard working business manager trapped in a stale relationship, who writes the story of her alter ego, the professional businesswoman Johanna. While on holiday at a quaint Cape Cod cottage Johanna meets Ian, a gorgeous Rock Star (and the man of Kate’s fantasies). In Part One, follow Johanna and Ian as they fall in love and struggle against difficult circumstances to make their love work. Then watch what happens when Kate’s novel unfolds in real life in Part Two. Kate’s book becomes a best seller. She’s sought out by Simon Hardwicke, the dashing Rock Singer of her dreams, after he reads Kate’s novel. Is it love… or lawsuit? “Romance for today's thinking woman." - Octavia Randolph, author of Ceridwen of Kilton Ian undressed and put on a pair of muslin drawstring pants. He reclined on the bed with a book, but all he could do was stare at the wall, knowing she was on the other side. His mind wouldn’t be still. He tried working on the words to the song he was writing, but it was no use. He paced the semi-dark room. The breeze from the window felt soothing on his back. Ian decided to go outside and let the night sounds calm him. He slipped outside as quietly as the creaky old cottage would let him, and walked down to the dock. He saw the water ripple as his footfall gently shook the wooden structure. Even with a breeze the pond was quite still. Ian sat at the end of the dock, hugging one knee as the other leg lay bent in front of him. He watched the moon and listened to a whip-poor-whil. He closed his eyes and felt the soft breeze. He tried to put the day into some kind of perspective so he could understand it and maybe come to terms with it. He’d met a woman who made his heart race, who was beautiful, though, traditionally not his type. He thought to himself, she is her own person, not an extension of someone else or looking to become one. She is intelligent, funny, talented, kind, and seems to be genuine. She is too good to be true. What’s the catch? Most men would call her a tease. I put her into an unexpected situation and pressed the issue. She isn’t a tease, just cautious. Does she have any of those traits that have driven me mad when I’ve experienced them in other women? Is she moody? Is she possessive? Only time will tell. I want time with her to find out. I just want to be near her. Oh, God, I think I’m falling in love with her. He rested his head on his knee. Ian felt the sway of the wooden dock and saw the water shiver before he heard the quiet footsteps. He rose and turned around to see Johanna slowly walking toward him. His heart leapt. He watched her face in the moonlight, she looked unsure. The next move was hers, and he would not force her to make it. If she turned and fled he would have to understand. Ian stood with his hands clenched at his sides. He dared not move. Johanna felt his gaze. She was barely breathing. He looked so beautiful and so strong. His clenched fists made his muscles taut. When she reached him he said nothing. She searched his face for his feelings. His wide, square jaw was clenched, and his brow was still furrowed, but his blue eyes implored her to touch him. She understood his silence. He was giving her the choice, but it had to be her choice, with no influence from him. Standing very close, she reached out her hand and caressed his cheek. He closed his eyes and exhaled. Johanna kissed Ian’s shoulder and neck. She whispered into his ear, “Make love to me.” Ian crushed her to his chest. “Are you certain?” he asked, desperately. “Yes,” she whispered breathlessly. Ian kissed her, and felt the penned up emotion he had earlier been trying to harness flow through him. He wanted to be gentle and tender with this beautiful creature, and at the same time he wanted to rip the garment from her back and take her swiftly and savagely. He had waited and she had come to him, she was his now. Johanna felt his hunger. It aroused her and scared her at the same time.

Knights in Shining Armor Sometimes Play Guitars
This charming two-part romance tells the tales of Johanna and Kate, two strong, passionate heroines sure to win the hearts of readers. The highly believable plot and fast-moving dialog are a joy to read, and the plot twists are just right.
Johanna is a beautiful, intelligent business woman who travels to a remote cabin on her own, using some much-needed vacation time to sort out her feelings about her longtime boyfriend, Geoff. Imagine her surprise when she finds the other side of her duplex rented to her idol, rock star Ian McInnes. She has had a crush on this man since she was eleven years old! Ian is intrigued by her naturalness and her beautiful curvy figure, and as the pair spend more time together, becomes smitten. Although deeply confused about her relationship with Geoff, Johanna can't resist Ian, and soon falls in love with him. When Geoff shows up at the cabin and gets into a violent argument with Ian, Johanna flees into the woods to escape. The incredible pressure to choose between the two makes her frantic. In the dark, she trips and hits her head, and is rushed to the hospital. Geoff urges Ian to leave, not to make a scene in front of Johanna's parents, and he agrees - only to realize, too late, that he doesn't know how to contact her at home!

Just as it seems the tale is winding up, McHenry introduces Kate. Turns out that Johanna and Ian are characters in a novel she wrote, which is being released soon. Kate is drumming up all the publicity she can through book signings and television appearances. One interviewer asks her if the character of Ian is based on a certain well-known rock star, Simon Hardwicke. Kate denies it, but her blush gives her away, leaving one viewer in particular - Simon Hardwicke himself - intrigued. He buys a copy of the book, and enjoys it so much that he decides to arrange a meeting with Kate. He stops by a store where she is signing copies of the novel, and a dinner date leads to a spontaneous night together. Real life is more complicated than a romance novel, however. Simon is in the middle of an acrimonious divorce, and Kate is in a serious relationship. Chances are they would never have seen each other again, except that a photographer hired by Simon's bitter wife catches them on film, and when the picture hit the tabloids, everything is turned upside down! The thrilling conclusion of their tale is a real page-turner!

McHenry's prose is so believable I kept thinking, "Yeah, that could happen," which is after all, the essential element in any novel - to make readers suspend disbelief and enter the lives of the characters fully. This book certainly succeeds in that! The sex scenes are spicy without being overly explicit and best of all, also highly believable. I highly recommend this book!

Overall rating: 4 hearts
Sensuality rating: Very sensual

Reviewer: April Chase, The Romance Studio
May 26, 2003