Thief Of Shadows-Elizabeth Hoyt

Thief Of Shadows


Elizabeth Hoyt

Forever, Jun 26 2012, $7.99

ISBN: 9781455508327



In 1738 Baroness Isabel Beckinhall knows better than to volunteer as she stupidly did when coaxed by Lady Hero Reading. Thus she is in St. Giles on her way to meet aloof Winter Makepeace, manager of the Ladies’ Syndicate for the Benefit of the Home for Unfortunate Infants and Foundling Children. However, the coach stops to find a not so dead corpse in the road. Her servants pick up the unconscious body of the Ghost of St. Giles, protector of the weak, as a mob charges at them. Lady Isabel takes the Ghost to her home, but not before he steals a kiss. By the next morning like his name he is gone.



Lady Hero expects Lady Isabel to tutor Makepeace on the Ton’s charitable enterprises as he needs to raise money and awareness for his orphanage. His eyes look familiar to her, but she is unsure why. When they kiss she knows why. As they fall in love, both knows someone wants him dead before he identifies who is behind the abduction of little girls.



The fourth Maiden Lane Georgian romance (see Scandalous Desires, Wicked Intentions and Notorious Pleasures) is an engaging tale as a previous key player takes the male lead role. Action-packed from the rescue until the final confrontation, readers will enjoy this exciting romantic historical mystery.



Harriet Klausner

Summer Nights-Susan Mallery

Summer Nights


Susan Mallery

Harlequin HQN, Jun 26 2012, $7.99

ISBN: 9780373776870



Following an ugly divorce, horse whisperer Shane Stryker wants nothing to do with sexy sirens. If he marries again he will pick a rancher as his wife. As such, he moves his horses to temporarily stay at his mom’s spread in their hometown of Fool’s Gold, California while his stable is built.



When he meets the librarian Annabelle Weiss at a bar, though attracted to her Shane assumes she is wrong for him as a clone of his former wife. Annabelle likes Shane, but cannot understand his rejection of her. As she needs to learn to ride a horse for a fundraiser, Shane reconsiders his initial impression when he observes how good she is with his dangerous horse Khatar who adores Annabelle.



The second Stryker Sibling Fool's Gold contemporary romance (see Summer Days) is a wonderful tale in which the protagonists affirm W.C. Field’s lament to "never work with animals …" due to the matchmaking antics of Khatar and Priscilla the elephant. Fans will enjoy this lighthearted second chance at love tale as Susan Mallery continues to strike gold in California.



Harriet Klausner

Midnight Promises-Sherryl Woods

Midnight Promises


Sherryl Woods

Mira, Jun 26 2012, $7.99

ISBN: 9780778313489



Elliott Cruz married a divorcee over his family’s objection when he wed single mom Karen Ames and her children (six years old Daisy and four years old Mack). However, a few years into their marriage, the couple has communication issues as they have gone their separate ways; culminating with him opening a gym in Serenity that she learns about from her friend.



Fuming Karen confronts Elliott that he planned to use their “baby fund” savings to bankroll the gym. His excuse for not telling her is that he wanted everything in order before informing her of his investment. A neurotic when it comes to rainy day money as her first husband left her drowning in debt; Karen and Elliot compound their dispute with miscommunications. As their relationship continues to splinter, the battling duet learns perspective from Elliot’s beleaguered sister Adelia and her philandering husband Ernesto.



The latest The Sweet Magnolias contemporary romance is an engaging tale as the Fixx sang “one thing leads to another”; all seemingly making it worse. The cast is strong as bigger family crises put perspective on the inanity of that between Karen and Elliot, which affirms readers desire to Moe these two stooges.



Harriet Klausner

The Guy Most Likely to …-Leslie Kelly, Janelle Denison and Julie Leto

The Guy Most Likely to …


Leslie Kelly, Janelle Denison and Julie Leto

Harlequin Blaze, Jun 19 2012, $5.25

ISBN: 9780373796984



“Underneath It All” by Leslie Kelly. Chicago’s Winfield Academy class of 2002 celebrates the tenth anniversary reunion at Celebrations. Prom queen Lauren Desantos wonders whether the prom king, her boyfriend back at school, Seth Crowder will show up as he failed to back then when he and his family vanished. Seth has one goal in mind to make up for what he did to Lauren through no fault of his own.



“Can’t Get You Out of My Head” by Janelle Denison. Will Beckman hated high school as a computer geek scholarship student who felt like he left prison once he graduated. However, though he could not care one iota about the rich bullies he went to school with, he decides to go to the tenth reunion because of nice cheerleader Ali Seaver. When Will arrives, all the girls who shunned him back then thinks he is hot and his wealth enhances their acceptance of him that he rejects. He makes it clear he came to see Ali, owner of Paper Bliss Designs, as he hurt her in their senior year while her former boyfriend Tim Delgado remains the same barbaric bully he was as a teen.



“A Moment Like This” by Julie Leto. Scott "Rip" Ripley was the school’s bad boy; Erica Holt was the school good girl. They were attracted to one another but neither could make that first move. Now ten years later at the reunion, she plans to ride Rip.



These are three fun contemporary second chances at love romances as the adults do what their teen selves could not.



Harriet Klausner

Lead Me Home-Vicki Lewis Thompson

Lead Me Home


Vicki Lewis Thompson

Harlequin Blaze, Jun 19 2012, $5.25

ISBN: 9780373796977



In Jackson Hole, Wyoming, Last Chance Ranch hires horse-whisperer Matthew Treadway to train problem horse Houdini. Jeb Branford meets Matthew at the airport and suggests they stop at a restaurant for tasty food as the meals of the temporary cook Aurelia Imogene Smith are so awful everyone is on a diet. He says no one eats escargot on a ranch though Matthew would beg to differ.



When Matthew and Aurelia meet, the attraction stuns both of them. He agrees to talk to her about her menu. As they unite to create ranch friendly repasts, they also enjoy a tryst. Though they fall in love, she knows he will leave soon.



The latest Sons of Chance ranch romance (see Cowboys Like Us) is a fun lighthearted affair starring two temps, the cook (part of the job description is falling in love) and trainer, fall in love. Readers will wonder what Aurelia will come up with next while Matthew is a magician when it comes to horses but a failure when it comes to his woman.



Harriet Klausner

The CEO’s Unexpected Proposal-Karen Rose Smith

The CEO’s Unexpected Proposal


Karen Rose Smith

Harlequin Special Edition, Jun 19 2012, $5.25

ISBN: 9780373656837



In Miners Bluff, Arizona, music therapist Mikala Conti and construction CEO Dawson Barrett meet at their fifteenth year high school reunion. She still considers him her hero when he rescued her from a bad prom scenario. Dawson was apparently her unrequited crush before he abruptly vanished.



The widower is coming home to live in order to help his troubled ten year old son Luke who tried to run away to stay with his school sponsored Internet buddy in Kentucky. He hires her to work with Luke who was in the car when his mom Kelly died in a crash while driving on ice. As the adults fall in love, both know disturbed Luke comes first, but neither can resist their attraction a first degree effect may end their second chance relationship.



The third Reunion Brides (see His Daughter … Their Child and Once Upon a Groom) contemporary romance is a fabulous family drama made poignant by Luke though most readers will guess what is causing his depression beyond grief. The cast is strong as everyone rallies around troubled Luke and the spotlight on music therapy (an occupation my sister-in-law does) enhances Karen Rose Smith’s engaging character driven tale.



Harriet Klausner

Ravishing the Heiress-Sherry Thomas

Ravishing the Heiress


Sherry Thomas

Berkley, Jul 3 2012, $7.99

ISBN 9780425250877



In 1888, the wealthy sixteen year old daughter of the tin sardine king Millicent Graves and the new Earl of Fitzhugh marry as he desperately needs money to keep his destitute family from ruin and she obtains a noble title though his late thirty-something predecessor was had dad’s first choice. They share their first kiss but Millie persuades her nineteen years old husband to wait eight years before they consummate their vows as she hopes to win his heart, which belongs to Lady Isabelle Pelham; her rationale is she is only sixteen. He accepts her request.



They have lived together as best friends but the couple live separate lives until 1896 when the time to make their marriage real has arrived. Millie has loved Fitz since she first saw him, but believes his heart belongs to the widow Mrs. Isabelle Englewood, who has returned to London with two small children to claim him as hers. The offspring of a manufacturer knows she cannot compete with the lovely widow who is her mate’s peer, but though she knows he will fulfill their vow, she will do the right thing for him even though her heart will break.



This is a charming Victorian romance summed up nicely by Millie’s friend Venetia when she says “friendship is what gives love its wings.” Sub-genre readers will enjoy this tender tale of love as Millie and Fitz distrust their love is reciprocated so hide how they feel out of fear of losing their friendship. Sherry Thomas provides a wonderful historical.



Harriet Klausner