A Heartwarming Mystery with Steam! #newrelease2026 #newromanticsuspense

​Cleo knew something was mysterious about her father's life, especially after she learned that he'd wanted nothing to do with her. But when someone comes poking into the past, she takes a second look at her father and discovers more than the lies she knew.

Author Jennifer Raines is known for her heartwarming steamy romantic stories filled with Australian couples and settings. FINDING CLEO isn't her first foray into romantic suspense but she nails it with the twists and turns throughout the story as Cleo finds out the truth about her mysterious father. 

Fans of fast paced sweeping suspense stories will fall in love with the strong female lead in FINDING CLEO. Available now in ebook and print, FINDING CLEO will belong on your reading shelf with the likes  of Stephanie Evanovich and Sue Grafton. 

BUY LINKS-
AMAZON- https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0G2TKL8SC
KOBO- https://www.kobo.com/us/en/ebook/finding-cleo
BN- https://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/finding-cleo-jennifer-raines/1148770939
APPLE- https://books.apple.com/us/book/finding-cleo-a-sensual-romantic-suspense/id6755448447
 
Blurb:
Australian Cleo Montford has spent the last two years working as a guide and interpreter in Helsinki, cocooned from the lies and betrayals of her past, then Australian author Jack Spencer wants to hire her. Not for sightseeing, but to research the story her internationally awarded journalist father was investigating when he was accidentally killed. Cleo’s tempted. Is she brave enough to look the past in the eye and set herself free, or will she keep hiding?
 
Cleo was a confident adolescent who adored her father, until her mother explains after his death that he’d never loved Cleo. Cleo sees lies everywhere, but it’s time to take her life back. She accepts Jack’s job offer. She doesn’t expect to find his mix of intelligence, stubbornness and charm so compelling, doesn’t expect him to understand her dilemma hearing people talk about her father, doesn’t expect to want to touch him—all the time.
 
Battling writer’s block, Jack latches onto the old story of the long unsolved assassination of a Scandinavian PM as the basis for a thriller. Finding Hugo Montford’s daughter in Helsinki strikes him as a good omen. That’s before he discovers she has secrets making her doubt herself. She’s smart, loyal, gorgeous, everything he’s looking for in a woman, if only he can convince her to take a chance on him.
 
When people unhappy with the direction of his research threaten Cleo, Jack calls a halt. Sensing there’s more to learn about her father, Cleo pushes to continue. Can Cleo and Jack agree on next steps, or will Cleo remain shackled to her past?
 
Sometimes you have to let go of what’s killing you, even if it’s killing you to let go.
 
Fans of sensual romances with strong characters showing emotional depth plus some international intrigue will enjoy the twists and turns before Cleo and Jack find their happy ending. This best-selling author is known for her characters, clever dialogue and unique stories that will introduce you to new worlds.
 
Excerpt 
“You’ve gone to a lot of trouble to try and hire me.”

He stalled, a frown forming between his eyes. Cleo’s gut told her to get out now.

“I need a plausible reason in the next thirty seconds, or I’ll walk.”

She’d learned the seductiveness of secrets at her father’s knee. Jack’s mesmerising eyes, deep as an ocean, were on her now, and the secrets they promised had already teased her at unexpected times in the last week.

She’d be a fool to trust a man with secrets.

“Because you’re Hugo Montford’s daughter.”

Halfway to her feet, her legs refused to hold her, and she sat down again with a thump.

Damn you! Damn you! Damn you!

She’d been unconsciously fumbling toward this awareness since his arrival in Angelika’s office. The news he was a writer should have cemented it. His persistence was akin to the slyest reporters and journalists who’d hounded her family after her father’s death, comparable to Paul Jacob’s pre-planned accidental meeting with her.

This time she wasn’t grief-stricken and without defences.

“You are Hugo Montford’s daughter, aren’t you?” he prodded further at her silence.

My only claim to fame—I’m the daughter of a famous, dead, investigative journalist.

“Why is that relevant?”

We both know it isn’t bloody relevant unless you want to use me.

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ABOUT THE AUTHOR:
Australian Jennifer Raines writes sensuous contemporary romances set mainly, but not exclusively, in Australia – think Malta, Finland, New Zealand or ? A dreamer and an optimist, her stories are a delicious cocktail of passion, mutual respect and loyalty because she still believes in happily-ever-afters.
 
Jennifer fell in love with romance as a teenager. Starting with historical romance. Everything in the school library and then a personal treasured collection of Georgette Heyer, hard copies and paperbacks. Historical (regency) romance remains her comfort food when the world gets too much. Think Grace Burrowes and others.
 
Jennifer is a member of Romance Writers of New Zealand, winning the Pacific Hearts competition twice, including in 2019 with Grace Under Fire, the sequel to Taylor’s Law. Taylor’s Law placed second in the 2023 RWNZ Koru Awards for Best First Book. In 2025 Jennifer placed second in the Romance Writers of New Zealand (RWNZ) Koru Awards for Best Long Romance, and third for the Overall Award for Excellence with Masquerade—Choosing Family Book 1.
 
Jennifer’s also a member of Romance Writers of Australia. Three times a finalist in the Emerald competition, including in 2017 (Lela’s Choice under its working name Common Cause), 2018 (Taylor’s Law) and 2022 (Quinn, by design). She’s also a member of Romance Writers of America and has been a finalist in multiple chapter competitions. Jennifer values competitions for the constructive, honest, not always comfortable feedback they provide.
 
Jennifer loves those days when words flow and the joy of writing makes the hard slog worthwhile. She’s always made up stories about strangers in the street, in a café or strolling through an airport terminal; finding inspiration in snippets of conversations, news items and the sheer puzzle of human interactions.
 
Jennifer lives in inner-city Sydney, Australia, with the requisite number of partners (1) and animals (2). Her desk overlooks a park which nourishes her soul when she raises her head from her keyboard. She gets some of her best ideas walking—anywhere—or while doing physical activity. Yes, Virginia, housework does have a purpose. While Jennifer adores historical romance, she chose to write contemporary because she thought (wrongly) it needed less research while she was holding down a full-time job. Jennifer writes a monthly blog posted on her website at https://jenniferrainesauthor.com or you’ll find her at https://www.facebook.com/jenniferrainesauthor or https://www.instagram.com/romanceauthorjen/
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