Temptation-Karen Ann Hopkins

Temptation


Karen Ann Hopkins

Harlequin Teen, June 26 2012, $9.99

ISBN: 9780373210541



Following the death of her mom, her father relocated with his family from suburban Cincinnati to rural Meadowview, Ohio where he accepted the position of a hospital’s ER chief. Their Amish neighbors welcome the widower and his three children (Rose, Sam and Justin).



Sixteen year old Rose did not want to leave their home to rusticate. However, one of the welcoming committee is Noah. Rose and Noah are instantly attracted to one another. They try to forge a relationship, but he feels guilty as his Amish heritage disallows him to court an Englisher; he would be shunned unless she turns Amish.



This is a warm young adult romance starring two fully developed people whose love for one another is taboo. Rotating perspective between the lead couple, teen fans will understand how each feels about their love and its impact on their respective family though this reader wanted the unfiltered viewpoints (in small doses) of the two Dads and the siblings especially the “spy”. Still fans will enjoy the Temptation of forbidden love.



Harriet Klausner

The Wrangler-Lindsay McKenna

The Wrangler


Lindsay McKenna

Harlequin HQN, Jun 19 2012, $7.99

ISBN: 9780373776894



Former Air force lieutenant Val Hunter vowed to never return to the Bar H Ranch in Jackson Hole where her childhood memories of an abusive father and frightened mother make her puke. However, her ailing octogenarian grandmother Gus needs her to run the ranch while her broken femur heals; and Val would do anything for her loving relative even enter hell.



Wall Street investment banker Griff McPherson saw his career collapse with the meltdown. He comes home to Wyoming, a place he was exiled from when he was six years old. His brother Slade makes it clear he should go back to Manhattan because his twin failed to invest in the ranch when the money was needed (see The Last Cowboy). Griff gets work at Andy’s Horse Emporium where he meets Val seeking to hire a wrangler; he takes the job. As he and Val work the land, they fall in love while someone covets owning the Bar H using any means to achieve their odious objective.



The Wrangler is a fabulous Wyoming ranch romance starring two intriguing protagonists. She trusts no one except Gus and he needs to prove he belongs in a place he was sent away from years ago. The villain adds suspense, but this western romance belongs to the lead couple as love may not be enough to surmount the hurdles of their respective pasts.



Harriet Klausner

Temptation and Twilight-Charlotte Featherstone

Temptation and Twilight


Charlotte Featherstone

Harlequin HQN, June 19 2012, $7.99

ISBN: 9780373776627



A member of the secret Brethren Guardians, Marquis Iain Sinclair is known as an uncaring rake. However, few know that Iain has one exception; he loves Lady Elizabeth “Lizzy” York though he betrayed her.



Everyone feels sorry for Lizzy who has become blind. They also believe she is a proper behaved lady. Only one person knows differently and he betrayed their love just before she lost her sight. She hates him. When she finds a twelfth century journal about a man having a passionate love with “the Veiled Lady”, Lizzy asks Iain to help her identify who the woman is. Iain agrees as he wants a second chance with his beloved Beth. Neither expected danger to arise with their endeavor.



The third Brethren Guardians historical romance (see Pride and Passion, and Seduction and Scandal) is a hot second chance at love thriller. This tale is fast-paced from the moment Iain agrees to be his Beth’s “eyes” and never slowing down as working a several centuries-old mystery proves dangerous to the lead couple. Fans will relish this entertaining tale.



Harriet Klausner

Carolina Home-Virginia Kantra

Carolina Home


Virginia Kantra

Berkley, Jul 3 2012, $7.99

ISBN: 9780425250938



In Dare Island, North Carolina, since his teenage son Joshua returned to school, Matt Fletcher sails the Sea Lady II with his dad as mate as they take affluent people out fishing. Upper crust Philadelphian transplant Allison Carter informs Matt, as Joshua’s teacher, his son is an underachiever. Matt says he has no time now, but will talk to Josh later. He thinks Allison is like Josh’s mom a professor with little involvement in her son’s life.



Matt’s brother Luke is on compassionate military leave. With him is his ten years old daughter Taylor whose mother just died. Luke was unaware he had a child until now. He asks Matt to take care of her until he returns from Afghanistan.



Allison has a flat tire when Matt arrives. He takes her bicycle to the rental shop for repair. They next stop for a beer where they discus Joshua who has no college plans. Matt says he wants Josh to attend college, something he dropped out of to raise his son. They talk about family and she mentions she has not seen her big brother in years. They kiss as each feels the attraction, but he is one night stands with off islanders and she is no one nighter; besides family matters take precedent over love.



The vivid isolated barrier island location sets the tone of a tender family drama in which the lead couple’s families are extreme polar opposites in how they support their respective loved ones. Although the lead couple makes love while his traumatized niece and his son (her student) are nearby and the niece’s fears never explored (probably will when Luke’s return), readers will enjoy this warm romance.



Harriet Klausner

Brody-Emma Lang

Brody


Emma Lang

Kensington Brava, Jun 26 2012, $14.00

ISBN: 9780758269058



In 1836, Texas Ranger Brody Armstrong arrives at the Circle Eight Ranch to talk with the oldest owner, Matt Graham. Since Matt is away with his wife, the second oldest of eight siblings Olivia demands the Ranger tell her. Reluctantly he says he has a lead on what happened to her youngest sibling five year old Benjy. He explains he has locked away a drunk who worked for Jeb Stinson. The man mentioned a nearby shack where stolen goods were kept. Liv thinks back to when their neighbor the late Stinson killed the Graham parents and abducted their brother.



Brody leaves to follow the lead. He finds the shack and enters it only to have Olivia follow. He is angry and tells her to go home, but she refuses. They find the corpse of Jeb’s sister Margaret, but a calm Olivia finds an item belonging to Benjy. Brody leaves only to walk into a man with a shot gun and another man with a rifle. Olivia shoots and kills both of them saving Brody’s life. He agrees to her being his partner, but no sex as a distraction can prove deadly. The pair argues and has sex as they follow the trail to Mexico where they meet lethal bandito Rodrigo and the deadlier females in his life.



The second Circle of Eight Lone Star romance (see Matthew) is loaded with action while starring a female with a general officer’s personality and a guilt ridden ranger who can’t say no to her. Although their behavior on the trail places them in peril especially stopping for trysts at wrong moments for instance when they are prisoners, fans will enjoy this heated nineteenth century Texas romance.



Harriet Klausner

The Dark Knight-Elizabeth Elliott

The Dark Knight


Elizabeth Elliott

Bantam, Jun 26 2012, $7.99

ISBN 9780553575675



In 1293, King Edward assigns assassin Dante Chiavari to use any means necessary even murder to prevent the marriage between Avalene de Forshay and Faulke Segrave. Avalene’s aunt and other members of her foster family demand she wed Faulke who plans to use the last Welsh royal as a sacrificial lamb in order to ignite a rebellion against the crown.



Dante arrives at Coleway Castle claiming to be Sir Percival loyal knight pledged to Avalene’s late father. He is attracted to her but knows he is unworthy of this woman he considers heaven’s missing angel. She shocks him when she begs him, out of his “allegiance” to her sire, to kidnap her as she rejects her aunt’s manipulations to pawn her on vile Faulke. He agrees, but Faulke counters his measures at the same time Avalene learns the truth about her hero.





This is an engaging medieval romance starting with Edward’s strict order to void the nuptials any way Dante can. Filled with action, the truth sets no one free since now the heroine has one more person to distrust while the assassin reconsiders his liege’s instructions as marriage to almost anyone except Faulke is acceptable; by Edward so why not Dante; though he knows he has to keep her free and overcome her disdain of him . Fans will enjoy this wonderful historical as Elizabeth Elliott brings back the Chiavari family (see Betrothed).



Harriet Klausner

Can’t Buy Me Love-Molly O'Keefe

Can’t Buy Me Love


Molly O'Keefe

Bantam, Jun 26 2012, $7.99

ISBN: 9780440423072



Eighty-nine years old wheelchair bound Lyle Baker, owner of the Crooked Creek Ranch, asks his young friend Tara Jean Sweet to play the role p of his gold-digging fiancée in order for his children, hockey star Luc and Victoria to come home before he dies. She hates the ruse but agrees to Lyle’s death bed wish as he saved her life.



Luc prefers to tell his despicable dad to go marry his floozy. However, Victoria wants to see their father. So the siblings and her son Jacob head to Texas. When Lyle dies, his will demands that his offspring remain in Texas or they get nothing. As he and Tara Jean get to know one another, each realizes there is more to the other than bimbo and loather. Though they fall in love, each has a past to overcome if they are to have a future together,



This is a warm serio-comedic contemporary romance starring seemingly emotionally crippled protagonists (and sister) as first impressions are hard to surmount even when proven false. Though the theme of a sham gold-digger has been used before, fans will enjoy this engaging character driven tale as love appears not strong enough to overcome the demons that respectively hunt the lead couple.



Harriet Klausner