With Just One Kiss-Francis Ray

With Just One Kiss


Francis Ray

St. Martin’s, Feb 28 2012, $7.99

ISBN: 9780312536480



Fashion magazine writer Cicely St. John wrote a tepid blog entry re the New York bar owned by C.J. Callahan. He is outraged by what he believes is an insult at a time when he is already unhappy with having to take over his family’s software business taking him away from his beloved bar. C.J. wants to give Cicely a piece of his mind even if she is a close friend of Dianne, the wife of his BFF Alex Stewart (see A Seductive Kiss).



However, he also recalls how she felt in his arms when they danced at the Harington-Stewart wedding; she too has not forgotten that moment in which every cell tingled and her heart pounded. However, he is New York and she seems destined for Paris until each agrees to a truce that leads to their attraction exploding out into the open.



The latest tender Grayson Friends (see It Had To Be You) is an engaging entry starring two people who ignore their attraction for each other as both focuses on their career goals. Character driven, fans will enjoy the romance between the C & C as falling in love appears to be not strong enough to supersede their respective needs to succeed in business.



Harriet Klausner

Lessons In Loving A Laird- Michelle Marcos

Lessons In Loving A Laird


Michelle Marcos

St. Martin’s, Feb 28 2012, $7.99

ISBN: 9780312381790



After spending much of his life in London, Scottish Laird Conall MacEwan returns home to manage the estate he inherited. Part of what he has been paid by a renter is ownership of indentured servants, Shona and Willow Slayter. The twins and their mercenary brother Malcolm (see Secrets To Seducing A Scot) watched their family massacred two decades ago when their father was accused of desertion; they grew up without a clan.



Conall intelligently knows he knows nothing about estate management but also realizes Shona does. He pays her to work and Shona begins to turn around the estate from debt to profit. As he falls in love with his employee, she fears telling him how she feels about him. He enjoys her company and has come to respect and love her. She is afraid to reveal her feelings for him though she plans to seduce him into freeing her. However, his brother Stewart places Conall in a situation he loathes, to avoid a scandal Conal has to marry a lady his sibling ruined.



The latest Slayter children as adults regency romance is a terrific humorous tale of love conquers all. Shona with her fierceness, a wicked sense of humor and her business acumen brings freshness to the entertaining storyline; while Conall proves he is no chauvinist pig when it comes to economics. Fans will enjoy the education of Shona and Conall as each learns Lessons In Loving A Laird and a defrocked lady.



Harriet Klausner

Insatiable-Opal Carew

Insatiable


Opal Carew

St. Martin’s Griffin, Feb 14 2012, $14.99

ISBN: 9780312674618



Crystal and Brent are about to marry when the best man Evan, having spent a restless night overthinking what he should do, confronts the bride with his confession that he loves her. Stunned by his revelation, Crystal is further shocked when Brent vanishes just before the ceremony.



The marriage is off so Evan persuades Crystal to go on her honeymoon with him. They arrive at the tropical getaway only to their amazement Brent shows up too. He wants his fiancée back as he insists he loves her but hepanicked and fled. The two best friends compete for Crystal who knows she must choose one and leave the other behind or none when the two weeks in the tropics end; as the days of ecstasy pass, she considers keeping both of her lovers.



This is a heated erotic romance with plenty sex between W-M, M-M and F-F. While the heat is on, the story line is thin and none of the characters are full blooded except for the males’ lower heads. Still sub-genre fans will enjoy a sexual fantasy stay in the tropics.



Harriet Klausner

When Scot Loves A Lady-Katherine Ashe

When Scot Loves A Lady


Katherine Ashe

Avon, Feb 28 2012, $7.99

ISBN: 9780062031662



In 1813 London, Lambert Poole ruined Lady Katherine “Kitty” Savege. She pretends to still want him but instead she wants to learn his secrets. She attends a masquerade where she sees Lord Leam Blackwood back from overseas and is attracted to him; as he is to her. Kitty drops her plans to destroy Poole until the rat threatened her brother six months ago. She gives information to the Home Office about Poole’s illegal dealing. He flees to France to live in poverty.



In 1816 Leam informs Colin Gray he quit the Falcon Club as he plans to spend time with his son in Scotland. Gray asks him to perform a last mission to learn whether member Captain Jinan Seton also quit and to look into French activity in Scotland. Wyn Yale accompanies Leam. A blizzard strands Kitty and her friend Lady Emily Vale at an inn. Also stopping due to the weather are Leam and Yale. Leam and Kitty recognize each other and the attraction remains strong. David Cox comes to the inn to stay until the snow melts. He flirts with Kitty which make Leams jealous. Kitty and Leam play strip cards before making love. Later a sniper wings Kitty, but gets away; she demands the truth from Leam.



This entertaining Regency is a wonderful historical as the romance seems real while the suspense enhances the plot. The lead couple and the support cast are fully developed. Although I personally do not like local vernacular, but the use of the Scottish brogue adds authenticity to the engaging tale. Although the climax is a bit weak, sub-genre fans will enjoy this exciting nineteenth century romantic suspense.



Harriet Klausner

Secrets of an Accidental Duchess-Jennifer Haymore

Secrets of an Accidental Duchess


Jennifer Haymore

Forever, Feb 1 2012, $7.99

ISBN: 9780446573153



A Marquis used to easily bedding the women, Maxwell Buchanan is frozen in place for the first time in his thirty years of life when he sees the angel Olivia Donovan for the first time. Leonard Reece catches him staring at the beautiful fragile Olivia for ten minutes. Competitive with Maxwell, Leonard who failed to persuade Olivia into a tryst bets him he will not succeed either. Though he knows he should not accept the wager, Maxwell agrees on a hefty bet over his seduction of his angel.



The middle sister, Olivia knows her siblings, Jessica and Margaret (See Confessions of an Improper Bride), are overly protective of her ever since she suffered from malaria as a child in the West Indies. However, though she still looks frail, Max soon learns quickly that Olivia has a steel backbone, which amplifies his desire for her. As he falls in love with his angel, he fears for the safety of the three Donovan sisters especially his angel when they rescue an abused spouse that enrages a psychopath who targets them for their intrusion.



The second Donovan sisters’ historical romance is an exhilarating tale that grips the reader from the moment a spellbound Donovan can’t take his eyes off of her and never blinks until after the final confrontation. The storyline is fast-paced as the Marquis learns the mouse he has a tendre for is actually a lioness.



Harriet Klausner

With This Kiss-Bella Riley

With This Kiss


Bella Riley

Forever, Mar 1 2012, $7.99

ISBN: 9780446584227



In Emerald Lake, New York, innkeeper Rebecca Campbell hosts the wedding of her Lake Yarns’ friend Andi Powell to Mayor Nate Duncan (see Home Sweet Home). This happens to be a difficult time for Rebecca as she forced her fiancé Stu Murphy to end their engagement as she wants a love like Andi and Nate share rather than just a nice friendship. Since he is generational family and she decided to hide his secret, she is blamed by the townsfolk except for her Lake Yarns’ Knitting group for the end of their relationship.



Stu’s younger brother Sean returns home for his sibling’s wedding after being away for almost two decades following seeing something that broke his heart when he was fourteen. To his chagrin, Sean finds himself attracted to his sibling’s former fiancé. Rebecca feels the same way about him. Neither wants to make that first move as secrets keep them apart.



The second Emerald Lake contemporary romance is an engaging story of secrets estranging a family. Second chances surface but the Murphy family and Rebecca must dive into the opportunity; which means having confidence that your loved ones will keep you from drowning in a sea of distrust and encouraging you into swimming in a sea of love. Fans will appreciate this engaging family drama.



Harriet Klausner

Last Chance Beauty Queen-Hope Ramsey

Last Chance Beauty Queen


Hope Ramsey

Forever, Feb 1 2012, $7.99

ISBN: 9780446576086



English Baron Hugh DeBracy comes to America with a plan to build a textile machinery factory. U.S. Senator Rupert Warren wants the plant in his home state of South Carolina. He sends his aid former Watermelon Queen Caroline “Rocky” Rhodes to escort the aristocrat around the state; especially since Lord DeBracy considers her hometown of Last Chance as his last chance to avoid a marriage of money.



Hugh needs to purchase land, but the locals never sell to carpetbaggers. However, Ricky’s mom Ruby considers an exception as she knows her daughter could lose her job if the deal falls through and besides the pair are obviously attracted toe on another. However what clinches the deal for Ruby is his earthly behavior at the Watermelon Festival.



The third Last Chance contemporary romance (Welcome to Last Chance and Home At Last Chance) is a zany, jocular and over the top of Sassafras Mountain frolic. The lead couple is a nice pairing while the townsfolk are an amusing eccentric crowd. Timely with the textile industry having left the state, fans will enjoy riding the Rhodes to Last Chance.



Harriet Klausner