High Tide by Jude Deveraux (1999, Hardcover)

Synopsis
New York toy industry extraordinaire Fiona Burkenhalter battles against mechanical alligators, death threats, the drudge of the Florida Everglades, the law, and an uncontrollable desire for her fiery foe Ace Montgomery in this best-selling suspense romance. And you thought fighting the holiday shopping crowds was bad.

Key Details
Author:	Jude Deveraux
Language:	English
Publisher:	Pocket Books
Format:	Hardcover
ISBN-10:	0671014161
ISBN-13:	9780671014162

Size
Thickness:	0.8 in
Weight:	20 oz

Publisher's Note
In all of her wonderful New York Times bestsellers, Jude Deveraux crafts more than just a magnificent story: she creates positively unforgettable characters who live on long after the last page is turned. In this sizzling new novel, she features a hero from one of her best-loved families -- the dashing Montgomerys -- and entwines thrilling sensuality, warmhearted wit, and hotblooded suspense. A rising star at a Manhattan corporation, Fiona Burkenhalter is a New Yorker through and through, with a New Yorker's disdain for anywhere but the city's bustling streets. When her boss inexplicably sends her to handle a new account in the Florida Everglades, it may as well be another planet to city slicker Fiona. But this is no ordinary business meeting: Fiona is to join her client on a rustic fishing expedition, accompanied by a guide with the larger-than-life name of Ace Montgomery. More than a little steamed at this detour from the executive fast track, Fiona never imagined that she'd embarked on the wildest adventure of her life -- or that the rough-hewn, undeniably handsome Ace Montgomery from the Southern backwoods would become her closest ally. But hair-raising circumstances pull her deep into trouble from the moment she steps off the plane. Only in Florida could Fiona get arrested for smashing to smithereens a frighteningly lifelike mechanical alligator. And only in the heart of the swamplands could she get lost in a maze of intrigue and become the prime suspect for a shocking murder -- with Ace as her presumed accomplice. Suddenly, they discover that they have inherited the murder victim's vast fortune -- and they are now Florida's most wanted couple! Joining forces is a matter of survival for Ace and Fiona. Following a string of jumbled clues tied to childhood memories -- a fabulous yarn that Fiona's father once told her, a long-lost treasure map -- they desperately attempt to decipher their connection to the deadly inheritance. As they wade into the murky waters of past secrets, an irresistible chemistry flares -- and Fiona surrenders to the legendary Montgomery charm. Now, with their lives and hearts on the line, they turn up the heat in their desperate search for a killer. Take off on a wild ride with High Tide, and discover once more why Jude Deveraux -- and her marvelous Montgomerys -- have won the hearts of millions.

Rising toy company exec Fiona agrees to attend an unusual business jaunt in the Everglades, unaware that she will soon be accused of murder, but with the help of rough-hewn river guide Ace Montgomery, she will track down the real killer.