On a moonless night, an unnamed man escapes gunmen by throwing himself off a boat into the inky Pacific Ocean.  He survives a night of exhaustion and hypothermia in the sea only to lose consciousness at dawn, when waves crashing ashore smash him against a rocky outcrop.Thus does a  stranger come to a small town on Australia's eastern coast in Bruce Cooke's romantic suspense novel -- a comatose stranger who awakens weeks later in a hospital ward with no memory of his identity or his past.

Renamed Rocky Smith by Penny Reynolds, the lovely nurse -- and widow -- who provides his medical care, he recovers from his injuries and finds himself becoming a welcome part of the small, economically depressed town  -- particularly by Penny, who offers him a place to stay.

Although not without his flaws, Rocky is a highly sympathetic character, a man whose goodness, geniality and charm transcend his amnesia. The reader never doubts that his growing love for Penny and her small daughter, Katie, is genuine and deep. Penny is well portrayed as a woman plagued by the loneliness of widowhood and irresistibly drawn to the handsome stranger who becomes an important part of her life.

Rocky proves to be a blessing to Harpoon Bay, as well, when he orchestrates the financing and start up of a retail enterprise to serve the townspeople and surrounding communities.

Cooke's prose is compelling and effortless to read, particularly the action scenes.  He effectively captures the color and atmosphere of his locations and settings and gives non-Australians an authentic and attractive glimpse into the life and culture of Oz. His secondary characters -- the  hospital matron Felicity, small-town police sergeant Brian Lanagan, Penny's father-in-law Tom Reynolds, among others -- are well-rounded and plausible, their stories sufficiently covered without overwhelming the primary plot.

The author skillfully entwines two plot lines -- the romance between Rocky and Penny, which is subject to the drama and ambivalence of amnesia -- an unknown past and an uncertain future -- and the discovery of Rocky's identity, a dangerous development that indicates possible connections to an organized crime syndicate, corrupt cops and a multi-millionaire tycoon, a past highly incompatible with his basic decency.

Rocky's search for answers puts his life, and Penny's, in jeopardy. This part of the story sometimes grew complex with new characters and settings as it raced toward conclusion. Although resolution was thorough and satisfying, the explanation for Rocky's emotionally induced amnesia was horrifying and heart wrenching.

Compliments to Bruce Cooke and Desert Breeze Publishing on a fine publication, including the beautiful cover.  Stranger in Harpoon Bay kept me reading eagerly and frequently returned to my thoughts for days after I finished.  I am pleased to recommend the novel to readers of romantic suspense and adventure.