A counselor for women in abusive relationships, Mara Quinn had a less than normal childhood and found herself in exactly the same situation for which she had often counselled women-a beaten woman on the run.

FBI agent J. T. Dalton was recovering from a work fiasco in West Virginia when Mara arrived at the lake. Although all of the cabins were booked out for the Fourth of July, J.T. took pity and rented his own to her. Mara soon relaxed in the beauty of her surroundings and the pleasure of J. T.'s company. The longer they spent together, the more they enjoyed being together, and romance quickly blossomed between them.

However, Mara's violent ex-boyfriend, Ross Newman, was a corrupt cop using all resources to hunt her down, and when he found her, both her and J.T.'s lives were placed in jeopardy. J.T.'s retired partner stepped in just in time, but in the aftermath the strength of Mara's feelings for J.T. built a wall between them. She had once vowed never to be like her mother-never to love someone so much that she lost her own will, so she walked away. J.T. loved her but let her go. But the protective walls built up from childhood had become a prison, and Mara struggled to hold those walls up.

A sensual story of love conquering long-established fears, Independence Day follows the growing relationship of J.T. and Mara, but it also highlights two serious issues in society today-domestic violence and police corruption. Although kept to the periphery, these issues are crucial catalysts in the story, and Wilde is brave to bring two long suppressed concerns into the light.

Independence Day succeeds in being the truly engaging story of two likeable characters, powerful attraction and luck, despite some predictability and too convenient moments (but we love it!). Wilde's writing style is descriptive, well paced and sometimes downright steamy!

Reviewed by: Melinda Stanners
© July 2004