The Exile of Sara Stevenson
Darci Hannah
Ballantine, Jul 27 2010, $15.00
ISBN: 9780345520548
In 1814, lighthouse designer Robert Stevenson sends his pregnant nineteen year old daughter Sara to reside at the isolated Cape Wrath Lighthouse in Scotland. Sara waits patiently in exile for her lover Thomas Crichton the sailor to come for her and for the birth of their child. Reticent lighthouse keeper Willy Campbell is upset with her arrival as he prefers solitude.
To pass time, bibliophile Sara corresponds with an Oxford antiquarian. Sara becomes upset when she finds out her parents plan to take her baby away from her. Desperate she sends a pleading letter to her pen pal to rescue her and her baby from her parents. He wants to assist her, but has a major problem to overcome that might prove impossible to surmount.
The Exile of Sara Stevenson is an enjoyable Regency romance with a wonderful twist as the letters between the pen pals have quite a distance to travel. The cast is solid throughout as the audience obtains a taste of life at a remote lighthouse during the early nineteenth century. Although Sara’s problems never fully come across as threatening, readers will enjoy this intriguing look at love crossing impossible to penetrate barriers.
Harriet Klausner
Sunday, July 11, 2010
Ghost Night-Heather Graham
Ghost Night
Heather Graham
Mira, Jul 27 2010, $7.99
ISBN: 9780778328155
On Haunt Island near Bimini, writer Vanessa Loren is part of a crew filming a low-budget horror movie. As they complete the final wrap, someone gruesomely murders two actors Georgia Dare and Travis Glenn. Their heads are decapitated and posed in a frightening manner in the sand. The case is unsolved. For the next two years, Vanessa remains frightened and unable to sleep as she suffers nightmares from the grisly scene she saw on the Bahamas’ island beach.
Filmmaker Sean O’Hara hires Vanessa to work on a documentary he is filming in the area where the cold case homicides that haunt her occurred. Hoping to get closure, she agrees. Sean can see ghosts and Vanessa fall in love, but a deranged killer stalks them anxiously waiting for a rerun of what happened two years ago.
The second Bone Island paranormal romantic suspense (see Ghost Shadow) is a delightful thriller due to the ghosts feeling genuine. The lead couple is a wonderful duet whose hope for a Hollywood ending is in trouble from a slasher (everyone knows what happens in a slasher flick). Ghost Night is tense entertainment as a killer looks forward to adding a pair in love to the count of victims.
Harriet Klausner
Heather Graham
Mira, Jul 27 2010, $7.99
ISBN: 9780778328155
On Haunt Island near Bimini, writer Vanessa Loren is part of a crew filming a low-budget horror movie. As they complete the final wrap, someone gruesomely murders two actors Georgia Dare and Travis Glenn. Their heads are decapitated and posed in a frightening manner in the sand. The case is unsolved. For the next two years, Vanessa remains frightened and unable to sleep as she suffers nightmares from the grisly scene she saw on the Bahamas’ island beach.
Filmmaker Sean O’Hara hires Vanessa to work on a documentary he is filming in the area where the cold case homicides that haunt her occurred. Hoping to get closure, she agrees. Sean can see ghosts and Vanessa fall in love, but a deranged killer stalks them anxiously waiting for a rerun of what happened two years ago.
The second Bone Island paranormal romantic suspense (see Ghost Shadow) is a delightful thriller due to the ghosts feeling genuine. The lead couple is a wonderful duet whose hope for a Hollywood ending is in trouble from a slasher (everyone knows what happens in a slasher flick). Ghost Night is tense entertainment as a killer looks forward to adding a pair in love to the count of victims.
Harriet Klausner
Shadows At Midnight-Elizabeth Jennings
Shadows At Midnight
Elizabeth Jennings
Berkley, Aug 3 2010, $7.99
ISBN: I9780425235997
Marine Daniel Weston is attracted to Defense Intelligence Agency analyst Claire Day since he first saw her at the American Embassy in Laka, Africa where both are assigned. He does not act on his attraction. A too well planned attack and bombing of the embassy leaves several occupants dead and Claire in a three month coma with situational amnesia as she has no lucid memory of the devastating incident.
A year after the assault that blew away her DIA career, Claire suffers from nightmares with the only glimmer being a brown-haired man trying to protect her. When she sees her dream hero who she believes may have saved her life on TV, she flies to Washington to meet him and see if he can help her regain her memory of the attack. Dan is stunned with euphoria as he thought Claire died in the bombing. Realizing his woman is not quite what she was, he vows to assistt her with her recall and to keep her safe this time, but someone wants to insure her memory stays buried even in a grave.
This is a strong romantic suspense thriller that grips the audience from the onset and only tightens the hold especially when the lead couple reunites. Fast-paced throughout, mesmerized fans will root for Claire and Dan to not just make it but make it alive. As Paradise Lost can become Paradise Regained but more likely dead.
Harriet Klausner
Elizabeth Jennings
Berkley, Aug 3 2010, $7.99
ISBN: I9780425235997
Marine Daniel Weston is attracted to Defense Intelligence Agency analyst Claire Day since he first saw her at the American Embassy in Laka, Africa where both are assigned. He does not act on his attraction. A too well planned attack and bombing of the embassy leaves several occupants dead and Claire in a three month coma with situational amnesia as she has no lucid memory of the devastating incident.
A year after the assault that blew away her DIA career, Claire suffers from nightmares with the only glimmer being a brown-haired man trying to protect her. When she sees her dream hero who she believes may have saved her life on TV, she flies to Washington to meet him and see if he can help her regain her memory of the attack. Dan is stunned with euphoria as he thought Claire died in the bombing. Realizing his woman is not quite what she was, he vows to assistt her with her recall and to keep her safe this time, but someone wants to insure her memory stays buried even in a grave.
This is a strong romantic suspense thriller that grips the audience from the onset and only tightens the hold especially when the lead couple reunites. Fast-paced throughout, mesmerized fans will root for Claire and Dan to not just make it but make it alive. As Paradise Lost can become Paradise Regained but more likely dead.
Harriet Klausner
Into the Crossfire-Lisa Marie Rice
Into the Crossfire
Lisa Marie Rice
Avon, Jul 27 2010, $13.99
ISBN: 9780061808265
In San Diego former Navy SEAL Sam Reston of Reston Security is an uncover private sleuth infiltrating the Bucinski gang looking to identify who was smuggling merchandise to the recent tune of $10M from his client. He knows how dangerous the assignment is so he avoids relationships. However, just over two weeks ago his wet dream moved next door and staying away is impossible, but he must for her safety and to keep his mind on the deadly mission.
Unable to resist, in order to get a date with Nicole Pearce, Sam gets Mayor Villarreal to vouch for his character, which His Honor does except warning her about playing poker with the shark. She should say no as she is just starting a new business and worried about her ailing father, but accepts. Neither expected love and his need to keep her safe as they uncover a terrorist plot.
This exciting and enthralling romantic suspense is a fast-paced entertaining thriller that seems any moment as if it will go over the top of the Sierras, but never quite does; a testimony to Lisa Marie Rice’s skills. Sam is terrific from the onset as he counts time from how long he first saw her while Nicole proves his perfect mate making his wet dreams of her arid compared with the real thing. The smuggling and terrorism plots add tension, but the charming relationship between the lead couple as each falls in love at the same time Into the Crossfire makes this a fun tale.
Harriet Klausner
Lisa Marie Rice
Avon, Jul 27 2010, $13.99
ISBN: 9780061808265
In San Diego former Navy SEAL Sam Reston of Reston Security is an uncover private sleuth infiltrating the Bucinski gang looking to identify who was smuggling merchandise to the recent tune of $10M from his client. He knows how dangerous the assignment is so he avoids relationships. However, just over two weeks ago his wet dream moved next door and staying away is impossible, but he must for her safety and to keep his mind on the deadly mission.
Unable to resist, in order to get a date with Nicole Pearce, Sam gets Mayor Villarreal to vouch for his character, which His Honor does except warning her about playing poker with the shark. She should say no as she is just starting a new business and worried about her ailing father, but accepts. Neither expected love and his need to keep her safe as they uncover a terrorist plot.
This exciting and enthralling romantic suspense is a fast-paced entertaining thriller that seems any moment as if it will go over the top of the Sierras, but never quite does; a testimony to Lisa Marie Rice’s skills. Sam is terrific from the onset as he counts time from how long he first saw her while Nicole proves his perfect mate making his wet dreams of her arid compared with the real thing. The smuggling and terrorism plots add tension, but the charming relationship between the lead couple as each falls in love at the same time Into the Crossfire makes this a fun tale.
Harriet Klausner
Monday, July 5, 2010
The Vigilante's Bride-Yvonne Harris
The Vigilante's Bride
Yvonne Harris
Bethany House, Aug 2010, $14.99
ISBN: 9780764208041
In late December 1884 at the Aldersgate Home for Girls, director Elvira Beecham informs outraged orphan Emily McCarthy she will marry Montana rancher Bartholomew Axel on Christmas Day; he had advertised for a bride in the Tribune. In Montana, Luke Sullivan learns from a cattle rustler about to be hung that his father was cheated by Bart Axel out of his ranch and mulls over what to do about it though two decades have passed and his enemy is wealthy and influential.
When Luke learns from Bart’s frightened banker Phineas Martin that a delivery by coach to Axel is occurring, he decides to steal back his money. Instead he abducts Bart’s fiancée who is on the coach and admits she has never even seen a picture of her intended. Though not sure whether he rescued her or not fiery Emily is attracted to her kidnapper and him to her. He knows how powerful Bart is, but not how obsessed he is to claim his bride as the abduction is an insult. While he depends on a gun, she believes God will turn what seems ugly into something beautiful especially after the Crow minding their business become involved in a White man’s dispute with the treasure being Emily.
This is an entertaining inspirational Americana romance starring a likable firebrand city slicker and the rancher who kidnaps her. While the villain is too proof odious with no redeeming quality, fans will root for The Vigilante’s Bride as she turns to God for spiritual support, and to herself and her beloved for earthy daring do while trying to get her man who feels like a late nineteenth century Big Sky Job.
Harriet Klausner
Yvonne Harris
Bethany House, Aug 2010, $14.99
ISBN: 9780764208041
In late December 1884 at the Aldersgate Home for Girls, director Elvira Beecham informs outraged orphan Emily McCarthy she will marry Montana rancher Bartholomew Axel on Christmas Day; he had advertised for a bride in the Tribune. In Montana, Luke Sullivan learns from a cattle rustler about to be hung that his father was cheated by Bart Axel out of his ranch and mulls over what to do about it though two decades have passed and his enemy is wealthy and influential.
When Luke learns from Bart’s frightened banker Phineas Martin that a delivery by coach to Axel is occurring, he decides to steal back his money. Instead he abducts Bart’s fiancée who is on the coach and admits she has never even seen a picture of her intended. Though not sure whether he rescued her or not fiery Emily is attracted to her kidnapper and him to her. He knows how powerful Bart is, but not how obsessed he is to claim his bride as the abduction is an insult. While he depends on a gun, she believes God will turn what seems ugly into something beautiful especially after the Crow minding their business become involved in a White man’s dispute with the treasure being Emily.
This is an entertaining inspirational Americana romance starring a likable firebrand city slicker and the rancher who kidnaps her. While the villain is too proof odious with no redeeming quality, fans will root for The Vigilante’s Bride as she turns to God for spiritual support, and to herself and her beloved for earthy daring do while trying to get her man who feels like a late nineteenth century Big Sky Job.
Harriet Klausner
Libertine’s Kiss-Judith James
Libertine’s Kiss
Judith James
Harlequin HQN, Aug 1 2010, $7.99
ISBN: 9780373775057
They were friends and neighbors as children, but their avaricious fathers insured each had an unhappy life. William de Veres was exiled to school and Elizabeth Walters “sold” to the highest bidder. William joined the military to escape his father’s gluttony while Elizabeth got married to an abuser. Years later he became a hero; he deployed his new fame status into being a rake while she remained a victim.
Years pass with both remaining unhappy. When they meet for the first time as adults, neither appears to recognize the other. Two more years pass before Elizabeth asks King Charles for a favor as she has fled her marriage; William as a friend to the recently restored monarch and as his bard helps her get a royal appointment. They begin to fall in love all over again, but she has issues with her beloved for his work for the King that was part of the destruction of her family.
This is an entertaining restoration romance that occurs just after Charles returns from exile to sit on the throne. The rich historical background enhances the reading experience as at times the romance lingers in the background. Fast-paced with a strong cast and filled with intrigue as betrayal is a way of life at court, historical romance readers will relish this exiting late seventeenth century tale.
Harriet Klausner
Judith James
Harlequin HQN, Aug 1 2010, $7.99
ISBN: 9780373775057
They were friends and neighbors as children, but their avaricious fathers insured each had an unhappy life. William de Veres was exiled to school and Elizabeth Walters “sold” to the highest bidder. William joined the military to escape his father’s gluttony while Elizabeth got married to an abuser. Years later he became a hero; he deployed his new fame status into being a rake while she remained a victim.
Years pass with both remaining unhappy. When they meet for the first time as adults, neither appears to recognize the other. Two more years pass before Elizabeth asks King Charles for a favor as she has fled her marriage; William as a friend to the recently restored monarch and as his bard helps her get a royal appointment. They begin to fall in love all over again, but she has issues with her beloved for his work for the King that was part of the destruction of her family.
This is an entertaining restoration romance that occurs just after Charles returns from exile to sit on the throne. The rich historical background enhances the reading experience as at times the romance lingers in the background. Fast-paced with a strong cast and filled with intrigue as betrayal is a way of life at court, historical romance readers will relish this exiting late seventeenth century tale.
Harriet Klausner
Kiss Me If You Can-Carly Phillips
Kiss Me If You Can
Carly Phillips
Harlequin HQN, Jul 27 2010, $7.99
ISBN: 9780373774548
In Manhattan Sam “Coop” Cooper always reports the crimes news not stars in the story. That is until he stops for lunch at a dirty dog stand in Midtown while he works a story on apartment burglaries in the Upper West Side. He notices something odd in nearby Vintage Jewelers and knocked out a thief using a hot dog medal lid cover.
Watching the store along with her teenage daughter for her dad who is in Florida, grateful Anna Burnett forces Coop to take a ring as a thank you. TV news catches the aftermath of the heroics and soon the city votes him most eligible male on The Bachelor Blogs. Lexie Davis sees the ring on the news and realizes it matches a necklace that her grandma wears. She meets Coop who thinks she is another bimbo to disturb him, but she wants the ring not him. They soon pair up investigating the history of the matching jewelry starting with a cold case 1950s theft that seems to implicate granny even as they fall in love
This is a terrific romantic comedy starring two likable individuals, the Big Apple and Granny the maybe jewel thief. The story line is fast-paced as Carly Phillips paints a fun tale winking at the enthralled audience with this madcap novel. Fans should set aside time as once you begin this Manhattan maniacal mayhem you will need to finish it in one delightful sitting.
Harriet Klausner
Carly Phillips
Harlequin HQN, Jul 27 2010, $7.99
ISBN: 9780373774548
In Manhattan Sam “Coop” Cooper always reports the crimes news not stars in the story. That is until he stops for lunch at a dirty dog stand in Midtown while he works a story on apartment burglaries in the Upper West Side. He notices something odd in nearby Vintage Jewelers and knocked out a thief using a hot dog medal lid cover.
Watching the store along with her teenage daughter for her dad who is in Florida, grateful Anna Burnett forces Coop to take a ring as a thank you. TV news catches the aftermath of the heroics and soon the city votes him most eligible male on The Bachelor Blogs. Lexie Davis sees the ring on the news and realizes it matches a necklace that her grandma wears. She meets Coop who thinks she is another bimbo to disturb him, but she wants the ring not him. They soon pair up investigating the history of the matching jewelry starting with a cold case 1950s theft that seems to implicate granny even as they fall in love
This is a terrific romantic comedy starring two likable individuals, the Big Apple and Granny the maybe jewel thief. The story line is fast-paced as Carly Phillips paints a fun tale winking at the enthralled audience with this madcap novel. Fans should set aside time as once you begin this Manhattan maniacal mayhem you will need to finish it in one delightful sitting.
Harriet Klausner
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