Wolf in Tiger's Stripes
Victoria Gordon
Five Star, Jan 2010, $25.95
ISBN 9781594148446
Environmental journalist Judith Theresa Bryan is excited about her latest assignment in Tasmania except she must work with traitorous Derek Innes, who has stolen stories from her and others. Allegedly Australian stockman Bevan Keene claims to have spotted the extremely rare Tasmanian tiger; a species most people believe is extinct.
Bevan and two of his friends Roberta Jardine and Ted Norton lead an expedition that includes Judith, Derek and others into the remote Tarkien Wilderness. However, his hardest two missions are keeping the environmentalists and the others from killing one another and keeping his wanker from constantly saluting Judith.
Wolf in Tiger’s Stripes is a fun Tasmanian safari romance starring two likable lead characters, an odious twit, enemy combatants re the environment and the legendary tiger. The support cast is strong and not just because kick butt Roberta could make a horde of Tasmanian Devils submit as each has differing personalities. The story line with a terrific final twist is fast-paced from the onset when Judith admits to herself that the macho man turns her on and never slows down as the audience roots for “Tiger Dundee” (no crocodiles in sight) and the reporter to make it and almost as much for Derek to trip over his ego.
Harriet Klausner
Tuesday, December 8, 2009
Monday, December 7, 2009
Kayla's Daddy-Laura Bradford
Kayla's Daddy
Laura Bradford
Harlequin American, Jan 12 2010, $4.99
ISBN: 9780373752935
The letter was delivered to single mom Phoebe Jennings, but was addressed to someone else on the other side of Cedarville, Ohio. She decides to deliver the note personally to architect Tate Williams though the postmark makes the letter four decades old.
Accompanied by her baby daughter Kayla, Phoebe is shocked to find Tate is her age as she assumed he would be much older due to the dated postmark. He explains he grew up in her house and the letter is probably addressed to his estranged dad. Phoebe and Tate are attracted to one another while he also finds Kayla precocious and charming. As the adults fall in love, Phoebe vows to reconcile Tate and his father who have been estranged for years.
Kayla’s Daddy is en enjoyable contemporary romance starring two likable lead characters and a strong support cast. The story line is fast-paced from the moment Phoebe and Kayla deliver the forty year old postmarked letter to the “Cookie Monster”. Fans will enjoy Laura Bradford’s entreating Buckeye tale as Phoebe gives Tate more than just her love, she gives him special loving titles.
Harriet Klausner
Laura Bradford
Harlequin American, Jan 12 2010, $4.99
ISBN: 9780373752935
The letter was delivered to single mom Phoebe Jennings, but was addressed to someone else on the other side of Cedarville, Ohio. She decides to deliver the note personally to architect Tate Williams though the postmark makes the letter four decades old.
Accompanied by her baby daughter Kayla, Phoebe is shocked to find Tate is her age as she assumed he would be much older due to the dated postmark. He explains he grew up in her house and the letter is probably addressed to his estranged dad. Phoebe and Tate are attracted to one another while he also finds Kayla precocious and charming. As the adults fall in love, Phoebe vows to reconcile Tate and his father who have been estranged for years.
Kayla’s Daddy is en enjoyable contemporary romance starring two likable lead characters and a strong support cast. The story line is fast-paced from the moment Phoebe and Kayla deliver the forty year old postmarked letter to the “Cookie Monster”. Fans will enjoy Laura Bradford’s entreating Buckeye tale as Phoebe gives Tate more than just her love, she gives him special loving titles.
Harriet Klausner
Baby Makes Six-Shelley Galloway
Baby Makes Six
Shelley Galloway
Harlequin American, Jan 12 2010, $4.99
ISBN: 9780373752959
In Florida Eddie and Shawn Wagner fell in love, get married, and had three darling precocious daughters (five years old Kit, four years old Mary and three years old Elsie). Their idyll life together collapses when Shawn miscarries. They divorce, but both love their little children so he is around a lot to see them.
The pair may no longer be married, but they remain attracted to one another. When they fall into a night of lust neither expected for Shawn to become pregnant again. However, she is not sure how to tell him as he has someone else Jayne and she knows her last pregnancy destroyed their marriage. Everything comes to a head when he is shot in the line of duty.
This is an entertaining second chance at love family drama. The key to the reflective tale is the cause of the break-up as neither move on past mourning the death of their unborn and are unable to help one another with their grief. Time heals all wounds aided by three precocious (perhaps too much) girls, a pregnancy and a bullet. Character driven including Jayne being a great person, fans will appreciate the charming yet intense Baby Makes Six.
Harriet Klausner
Shelley Galloway
Harlequin American, Jan 12 2010, $4.99
ISBN: 9780373752959
In Florida Eddie and Shawn Wagner fell in love, get married, and had three darling precocious daughters (five years old Kit, four years old Mary and three years old Elsie). Their idyll life together collapses when Shawn miscarries. They divorce, but both love their little children so he is around a lot to see them.
The pair may no longer be married, but they remain attracted to one another. When they fall into a night of lust neither expected for Shawn to become pregnant again. However, she is not sure how to tell him as he has someone else Jayne and she knows her last pregnancy destroyed their marriage. Everything comes to a head when he is shot in the line of duty.
This is an entertaining second chance at love family drama. The key to the reflective tale is the cause of the break-up as neither move on past mourning the death of their unborn and are unable to help one another with their grief. Time heals all wounds aided by three precocious (perhaps too much) girls, a pregnancy and a bullet. Character driven including Jayne being a great person, fans will appreciate the charming yet intense Baby Makes Six.
Harriet Klausner
Blazing Bedtime Stories, Volume III-Tori Carrington and Tawny Weber:
Blazing Bedtime Stories, Volume III
Tori Carrington and Tawny Weber:
Harlequin Blaze, Jan 2010, $4.99
ISBN: 9780373795178
"The Body That Launched a Thousand Ships" by Tori Carrington. Greek-American Elena Anastasios accepts the marriage proposal of Greek magnate Manolis Philippidis, a close friend of her late father. Encouraged by her widowed mom, she and her family live in luxury like royalty rather than in a water-stained Seattle apartment. All seems perfect until she meets Ari Metaxas.
"You Have to Kiss a Lot of Frogs" by Tawny Weber. Magazine writer Sebastian Lane is cursed with impotency when he investigates the sexual proclivities of the members of a witch's club. He will remain impotent until he puts a woman's needs before his own and his delicate condition will haunt him. The daughter of his boss Jordan Oliver is assumed to be an idle rich female who struggles to get anyone to accept she is intelligent and wants to do something with her life. They meet at her father's cabin where he has that chance the witches demanded of him, but will he accept Jordan’s needs sincerely or revert to form?
These are two heated novellas in which a lead protagonist in each tale confronts morality issues. Although the format limits development of key characters including lovers, fans will enjoy Tori Carrington’s Elena and Tawny Weber’s Sebastian having to choose between what each knows is the morally correct answer vs. the expedient response.
Harriet Klausner
Tori Carrington and Tawny Weber:
Harlequin Blaze, Jan 2010, $4.99
ISBN: 9780373795178
"The Body That Launched a Thousand Ships" by Tori Carrington. Greek-American Elena Anastasios accepts the marriage proposal of Greek magnate Manolis Philippidis, a close friend of her late father. Encouraged by her widowed mom, she and her family live in luxury like royalty rather than in a water-stained Seattle apartment. All seems perfect until she meets Ari Metaxas.
"You Have to Kiss a Lot of Frogs" by Tawny Weber. Magazine writer Sebastian Lane is cursed with impotency when he investigates the sexual proclivities of the members of a witch's club. He will remain impotent until he puts a woman's needs before his own and his delicate condition will haunt him. The daughter of his boss Jordan Oliver is assumed to be an idle rich female who struggles to get anyone to accept she is intelligent and wants to do something with her life. They meet at her father's cabin where he has that chance the witches demanded of him, but will he accept Jordan’s needs sincerely or revert to form?
These are two heated novellas in which a lead protagonist in each tale confronts morality issues. Although the format limits development of key characters including lovers, fans will enjoy Tori Carrington’s Elena and Tawny Weber’s Sebastian having to choose between what each knows is the morally correct answer vs. the expedient response.
Harriet Klausner
Lessons From A Scarlet Lady-Emma Wildes
Lessons From A Scarlet Lady
Emma Wildes
Signet, Jan 2010, $6.99
ISBN: 9780451228796
The envy of the female members of the Tom due to spousal catch Brianna Northfield wants more out of her marriage to the Duke of Rolthven. She wants passion, but Rolthven is too busy for her and besides he expects prim and proper behavior even in the boudoir. Brianna turns to Lady Rothburg's Advice guidebook for courtesans to seduce her mate.
Her spouse Colton thinks his shy new wife is perfect. However, suddenly she becomes a seductress enchanting him. Soon he makes love to his delightful wife in places he would never imagine having sex. As the vixen wins his body, she hopes to win his heart too, but if anyone learned of the source, the scandal could lead to her rusticating alone.
Adhering to the advice of a courtesan is not new (see Claudia Dain’s The Courtesan's Secret), but Emma Wilkes refreshes the concept by having an innocent wife apply the instructions to her marriage in order to win more than just the body of her spouse; she uses An Indecent Proposal to gain his heart too. Brianna and Colton are wonderful as they seem do it everywhere since he cannot resist the lure of his suddenly seductress spouse. Lighthearted fans will relish this fun Regency romance starring a woman whose sexologist guru is a guide written by a courtesan.
Harriet Klausner
Emma Wildes
Signet, Jan 2010, $6.99
ISBN: 9780451228796
The envy of the female members of the Tom due to spousal catch Brianna Northfield wants more out of her marriage to the Duke of Rolthven. She wants passion, but Rolthven is too busy for her and besides he expects prim and proper behavior even in the boudoir. Brianna turns to Lady Rothburg's Advice guidebook for courtesans to seduce her mate.
Her spouse Colton thinks his shy new wife is perfect. However, suddenly she becomes a seductress enchanting him. Soon he makes love to his delightful wife in places he would never imagine having sex. As the vixen wins his body, she hopes to win his heart too, but if anyone learned of the source, the scandal could lead to her rusticating alone.
Adhering to the advice of a courtesan is not new (see Claudia Dain’s The Courtesan's Secret), but Emma Wilkes refreshes the concept by having an innocent wife apply the instructions to her marriage in order to win more than just the body of her spouse; she uses An Indecent Proposal to gain his heart too. Brianna and Colton are wonderful as they seem do it everywhere since he cannot resist the lure of his suddenly seductress spouse. Lighthearted fans will relish this fun Regency romance starring a woman whose sexologist guru is a guide written by a courtesan.
Harriet Klausner
My Zombie Valentine-Katie MacAlister, Angie Fox, Marianne Mancusi and Lisa Cach
My Zombie Valentine
Katie MacAlister, Angie Fox, Marianne Mancusi and Lisa Cach
Leisure, Jan 2010, $7.99
ISBN: 9780843963601
"Gentlemen Prefer Voodoo” by Angie Fox. Voodoo practitioner Amie Baptiste concocts a love spell to bring her soulmate to her. However she would ask for her money back if some other voodoo queen sent whom the magic brought forth to her.
"Bring Out Your Dead” by Katie MacAlister. Zombie life coach and English instructor to the undead Ysabelle Raleigh meets Sebastian, a vampire who claims she is his long lost beloved. She scoffs at his insistence though she thinks he is kind of cute. He must persuade her that he is serious and not just handing out a line for a quick bite in between battling despondent zombies and a teenage vampire. This entry was published as part of the Just One Sip anthology.
"Zombiewood Confidential” by Marianne Mancusi. Unaware that art imitates life even in horror movies; makeup artist Scarlett Patterson accepts a job on a B horror flick in order to work with actor Mason Marks. She quickly learns real life contains its share of horror.
"Every Part of You" by Lisa Cach. Angelica Sequiera visits the plastic surgeon for a minor fix but ends up on a date with Tom Haggerty.
These four lighthearted paranormal romances are fun fantasies starring heroines who are unsure whether to run from or towards their beloved.
Harriet Klausner
Katie MacAlister, Angie Fox, Marianne Mancusi and Lisa Cach
Leisure, Jan 2010, $7.99
ISBN: 9780843963601
"Gentlemen Prefer Voodoo” by Angie Fox. Voodoo practitioner Amie Baptiste concocts a love spell to bring her soulmate to her. However she would ask for her money back if some other voodoo queen sent whom the magic brought forth to her.
"Bring Out Your Dead” by Katie MacAlister. Zombie life coach and English instructor to the undead Ysabelle Raleigh meets Sebastian, a vampire who claims she is his long lost beloved. She scoffs at his insistence though she thinks he is kind of cute. He must persuade her that he is serious and not just handing out a line for a quick bite in between battling despondent zombies and a teenage vampire. This entry was published as part of the Just One Sip anthology.
"Zombiewood Confidential” by Marianne Mancusi. Unaware that art imitates life even in horror movies; makeup artist Scarlett Patterson accepts a job on a B horror flick in order to work with actor Mason Marks. She quickly learns real life contains its share of horror.
"Every Part of You" by Lisa Cach. Angelica Sequiera visits the plastic surgeon for a minor fix but ends up on a date with Tom Haggerty.
These four lighthearted paranormal romances are fun fantasies starring heroines who are unsure whether to run from or towards their beloved.
Harriet Klausner
Sunday, December 6, 2009
Becoming Lucy-Martha Rogers
Becoming Lucy
Martha Rogers
Realms, Jan 2010, $10.99
www.strangbookgroup.com/index.php/books-by-imprint/realms-books
ISBN: 9781599799124
In 1896 Boston, following the tragedy that took her parents, Lucinda Bishop buries her beloved mama and papa on the same day. Her maternal Aunt “Mellie” Amelia and Uncle Ben Haynes offer her a home on their Oklahoma Territory ranch though the seventeen years old heiress would prefer to remain in Boston. Her paternal Uncle Randolph is outraged when the kindhearted attorney Mr. Sutton explains he inherited only 10K as the bulk of the estate went to his niece in trust until she turns eighteen. Lucinda remains behind to close the estate before heading west.
Ranch hand Jake Starnes expects a little orphaned girl based on his employer Mellie’s description. Instead when he meets her in Barton Creek to take her to the ranch, he sees a Boston beauty. He vows not to want her as he believes he is unworthy of her love as an incident in his past hangs over him though he feels a kinship to her having lost his parents when he was fifteen. As they fall in love, while someone stalks Lucinda, he realizes he must confront his demon now knowing that God and Lucinda are in his heart.
The first Winds Across the Prairie tale is an interesting western inspirational romance starring a wonderful lead female who comes west as Lucinda but quickly becomes Lucy the rancher and a hero who finds love when he finds Jesus. The support cast consists of warm friendly welcoming Sooners and a couple of nasty Easterners. Although the tale is not for everyone as the Christian messages are heavily stated, fans will enjoy Lucinda’s story of moving on from grief to happiness and love with the Lord to guide her.
Harriet Klausner
Martha Rogers
Realms, Jan 2010, $10.99
www.strangbookgroup.com/index.php/books-by-imprint/realms-books
ISBN: 9781599799124
In 1896 Boston, following the tragedy that took her parents, Lucinda Bishop buries her beloved mama and papa on the same day. Her maternal Aunt “Mellie” Amelia and Uncle Ben Haynes offer her a home on their Oklahoma Territory ranch though the seventeen years old heiress would prefer to remain in Boston. Her paternal Uncle Randolph is outraged when the kindhearted attorney Mr. Sutton explains he inherited only 10K as the bulk of the estate went to his niece in trust until she turns eighteen. Lucinda remains behind to close the estate before heading west.
Ranch hand Jake Starnes expects a little orphaned girl based on his employer Mellie’s description. Instead when he meets her in Barton Creek to take her to the ranch, he sees a Boston beauty. He vows not to want her as he believes he is unworthy of her love as an incident in his past hangs over him though he feels a kinship to her having lost his parents when he was fifteen. As they fall in love, while someone stalks Lucinda, he realizes he must confront his demon now knowing that God and Lucinda are in his heart.
The first Winds Across the Prairie tale is an interesting western inspirational romance starring a wonderful lead female who comes west as Lucinda but quickly becomes Lucy the rancher and a hero who finds love when he finds Jesus. The support cast consists of warm friendly welcoming Sooners and a couple of nasty Easterners. Although the tale is not for everyone as the Christian messages are heavily stated, fans will enjoy Lucinda’s story of moving on from grief to happiness and love with the Lord to guide her.
Harriet Klausner
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