Yours To Keep-Shannon Stacey

Yours To Keep


Shannon Stacey

Harlequin HQN, Feb 21 2012, $7.99

ISBN: 9780373776863



Worried about her granddaughter Emma Shaw’s single status, family matriarch Grandma Cat leaves her new Florida home to visit her in New Hampshire. Emma told her Grandma that she has a fiancé, but now needs to introduce her persistent relative to a flesh and blood male. Previously selecting now honorably discharged former soldier Sean Kowalski as her man based on her friend Lily mentioning him as her cousin-in-law, Emma visits him at his home; where she informs him she is his fake fiancée.



Though a bit surprised by her confession, he agrees to pretend to be her future mate living together while also working for her landscaping firm. However what started as pretend turns real when the kisses become increasingly passionate and needing.



Though the theme of a pretend spouse to fool a caring relative has been done a zillion times (see Brigit Asher’s The Pretend Wife), the latest Kowalski contemporary romance (see Exclusively Yours and Undeniably Yours) is a fun tale. Putting aside the ethics of deception, fans will enjoy this zany tale as his boisterous clan and her persistent diligent relative make it impossible for the couple to have a respite; love compounds the dilemma as Sir Walter Scott said: “Oh what a tangled web you weave when first you practice to deceive.”



Harriet Klausner

Redwood Bend-Robyn Carr

Redwood Bend


Robyn Carr

Mira, Feb 28 2012, $7.99

ISBN: 9780778313106



Single mom of five years old twins (Andy and Mitch) Katie Malone quits her job after a failed attempt at a romance with her boss who rejects her since he is gay. With her her sons, she drives from Vermont so that she and the boys can spend the summer with their only family, her brother Connor (see Hidden Summer) and the woman he loves whom she has not yet met.



When the Malone vehicle has a flat in the rain, chivalrous Dylan Childress, biking with his buddies on their way to Virgin River, stops to change it. They are attracted to one another, but he warns her that commitment-is not him. Both accept a summer romance, but love intrudes. When he fails to admit his feelings, she ends their tryst. Realizing his blunder, Dylan who adores her kids, knows they are the way back into her heart.



The latest Virgin River contemporary romance (see Moonlight Road and Paradise Valley) is an enjoyable tale though there is a sense of déjà vu as readers have traveled this road before. The lead couple is a wonderful duet, consisting of a single mom and an avowed bachelor with both understanding that the twins come first. Fans will enjoy this tender family drama as the second Malone finds love in Virgin River.



Harriet Klausner

I Want Candy-Susan Donovan

I Want Candy


Susan Donovan

St. Martin’s, Feb 28 2012, $7.99

ISBN: 9780312536220



Several years ago BFFs Cherise Newberry and Candace Carmichael left Bigler, North Carolina for Tampa. They had early success, but recently everything has fallen apart for both of them. Cheri went home (see Cheri On Top) and suggested to her realtor friend whose business collapsed with the market implosion to do likewise.



Candy returns to Bigler without a job, a prospect, or ironically a place to live except illegally rooming with her mother at a luxurious retirement home. Widower Sheriff Turner stops her for a moving violation. Candy kisses him, but becomes upset when she sees he wears his wedding ring though his spouse died four years ago. Turner still grieves his wife’s death, but also knows the female who raised his pulse level to stratospheric levels in high school now turns his heart beat to tropospheric. However, someone else targets Candy too.



The second return to Bigler contemporary romance is a fun tale with an overall lighthearted feel to the storyline yet also provides a look at the impact of the housing depression. Breezy with eccentric lunatics running wild in the streets; I Love Candy is a sort of modern day Carolina King Of Hearts. Readers will enjoy Candy’s coming home.



Harriet Klausner

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