Moonshell Beach-JoAnn Ross

Moonshell Beach


JoAnn Ross

Signet, Jul 3 2012, $7.99

ISBN: 9780451237385



Captain JT Douchett’s last mission as a Marine is the hardest he ever faced as he went ahead without a weapon to visit homes of fallen comrades. Following this last heart-wrenching assignment in California, he heads home to Shelter Bay, Oregon where he does not want to go out on the boat with his father or brother that he loved to do before enlisting; instead he prefers to drink.



Famous Irish movie star Mary Joyce agrees to appear at the Shelter Bay film festival because of her fond childhood memories of the coastal town. Her bodyguard is a stoic sourpuss JT. They are attracted to one another, but his PTSD keeps him from acting on his feelings; as he knows love means watching someone else you care about die; but he never met anyone handle an outreach mission better than her with her selkie tales.



The latest Shelter Bay romance (see On Lavender Lane, One Summer and The Homecoming) is a wonderful contemporary starring a wounded warrior who knows he wants is to be left alone to not feel and a strong actress who goes after what she wants. Their tango, enhanced by the townsfolk, makes for a warm tale of love healing the soul.



Harriet Klausner

Melt Into You-Roni Loren

Melt Into You


Roni Loren

Heat, Jul 3 2012, $15.00

ISBN: 978-0425247716



Evangeline “Evan” Kennedy is engaged to Daniel who likes men. Daniel obtains membership for Evan at the exclusive fantasy Ranch. While Daniel is with a sex partner, Evan walks the beach only to have a starfish injure her leg. Jason “Jace” Austin helps her. She is shocked to learn her hero is Jace who she was attracted to in college; he felt the same way about her.



Jace and his roommate Andre persuade Evan to enjoy a ménage a trois with her as their sub though they agree no strings once they leave the Ranch. As the trio enjoys the trysts immensely, each knows the final climax will prove bitter sweet.



The second Loving on the Edge erotic romance (see Crash Into You) makes a strong case that an M/F/M can share in a loving adult relationship. The key to this engaging love fest is that the lead trio is each full blooded and not just in the engorged penises. Sub-genre fans will enjoy Roni Loren’s hot sizzler as one and one and one make for one heated contemporary.



Harriet Klausner

Lie To Me-Tori St. Claire

Lie To Me


Tori St. Claire

Heat, Jul 3 2012, $15.00

ISBN: 9780425253076



Two and a half years ago, Irina and Alexei Nikanova met in Russia where they shared an incredible night before he informs her that she was a gift in a business deal. She is euphoric to be able to leave Russia for Dubai even if that means being a sex slave to a Sheik.



The Black Opals sends Alexei into Dubai to retrieve Sasha Zablosky, whose father is internationally extremely influential. When he arranges a ménage a trois with Sheik Saaed to get to her, he was unprepared for Sasha to be Irina who he never forgot. Forced to kill Saaed when she recognizes Alexei, the pair flee with his partner Grigoriy as the enemy seems to always anticipate their moves. As they fall in love, he adheres to his mission to return her to her loving father.



The exciting second Black Opals erotic romantic suspense (see Stripped) is a fast-paced thriller that focuses on ménage a trois sex, political influence, human trafficking and terrorism; not always smoothly together. The lead pair is an intriguing coupling as Alexei’s hardened heart is superseded by his hardened lower head, which makes him miss obvious clues as to how the enemy seems to always find them. Fast-paced with a great late twist, readers will appreciate this tense second chance at love erotica if they stay alive long enough.



Harriet Klausner

Starlight-Carrie Lofty

Starlight


Carrie Lofty

Pocket, Jun 26 20212, $7.99

ISBN: 9781451616392



In 1880, ruthless businessman Sir William Christie dies. His four children (illegitimate Vivienne and her beloved half-siblings (Alexander and twins Gareth and Gwyneth)) come to New York for the reading of their bombastic late father's will. Executor Alain Delavoir informs Alex that his assignment to earn his inheritance requires him to make a profit after two years at Christie Textiles mill in Glasgow. Though he loathed his father, Alex a widower astronomer knows he must take on the million dollar challenge if he to keep custody of his frail infant Edmund from his vicious father-in-law Josiah Todd.



At the cotton mill, Alex and Polly Gowan, a union leader’s daughter, meet and argue over how to make the enterprise a success. He realizes he needs her to gain employee loyalty and she realizes she needs him to uncover the identity of a merciless saboteur, who has no qualms about hurting children. As they fall in love, their seemingly diverse objectives and their misunderstanding of their beloved’s respective goals leave them in peril of failure in all aspects of their lives.



The second Christies Victorian romance moves from South Africa to Scotland, but retains the twisting exciting action adventure of Flawless. Fast-paced from the moment the lead couple first argues until their last “confrontation”, fans will enjoy Carrie Lofty’s excellent late nineteenth century Starlight.



Harriet Klausner

The Way Back Home-Barbara Freethy

The Way Back Home


Barbara Freethy

Pocket, Jun 26 20212, $7.99

ISBN: 9781451636543



In River Rock, California, single mom Alicia Hayden tries to save Hayden River Adventures after the accident on the Smoky left her father using a cane and in total denial about the business or the townsfolk rage towards them as local Brian Farr died and she barely survived a drowning. Three weeks ago she buried her twin brother Rob a marine who died in combat one week before he was to come home. Their competitor Wild River Tours sees an opportunity to drown their rivals as Alicia worries about the future of her almost ten year old son Justin.



Former Marine Gabe Ryder, who was with Rob during that final fatal firefight, arrives in River Rock as he promised his Rob’s best friend to take care of the Hayden family. Though she knows she is being unreasonable and bitter, Alicia holds Gabe culpable for the death of her sibling. They have a past that he refuses to talk about as Gabe believes he is unworthy of the love of Alicia and the admiration of Justin. However, when the assaults on the business turns ugly and Justin and his BFF David vanish, the marine in him reacts as he never leaves a man (woman or child) behind.



This is an engaging romantic suspense that focuses on how customized grief is especially in a small-town where everyone not only knows one another but everybody is impacted by a tragedy. Character driven by a strong cast and by the river, fans will enjoy rafting with Barbara Freethy as our guide.



Harriet Klausner

At Last-Jill Shalvis

At Last


Jill Shalvis

Forever, Jun 26 2012, $7.99

ISBN: 9781455503742



Tired of bad decisions especially with men, Amy Michaels decides to follow her late grandma’s journal to Lucky Harbor, Washington where her ancestor found what she lost: hope. However, as always lately, even in Lucky Harbor as a waitress, nothing goes right as she becomes lost while hiking a trail in the woods. She calls her Chocaholic friend Mallory who sends forest ranger Matt Bowers to the rescue; the one man she avoids as she does not need another failed relationship.



Former Chicago SWAT, Matt enjoys his job as a ranger even if there is no Yogi to keep away from picnic baskets. He is attracted to Amy, but has no plans to act on his feelings as he emotionally cannot deal with a relationship after Chicago. As avoidance and abstinence fail, they fall in love, but neither trusts themselves to not be making another spectacular relationship mistake.



The latest Lucky Harbor contemporary (see Lucky In Love) is a warm tale starring two people who share in common love and relationship phobia. Filled with humor and pathos, fans will enjoy the middle “Chocaholic” romance (Forever And A day to follow) as love and laugher battle the protagonists’ respective pasts.



Harriet Klausner

Dark Crossings-Karen Harper, Marta Perry and Patricia Davids

Dark Crossings


Karen Harper, Marta Perry and Patricia Davids

Harlequin Anthology, July 3 2012, $7.99

ISBN: 9780373837663



The Covered Bridge by Karen Harper. Eight years ago Benjamin Kline left his Amish community in Homestead, Ohio after being shunned for an act of violence against someone hurting his sister. He returned home from Cincinnati where he is the prime suspect in a jewelry shop heist. His neighbor Abigail Baughman is attracted to him as she was as a teen though nothing can come of it as he remains an outsider. When she becomes the target of stalkers, he vows to protect the woman he loves even if that means never being allowed to return to the people.



Fallen in Plain Sight by Marta Perry. Englisher Richard Strickland’s housekeeper Sarah Weaver finds him dead. Chief Byler thinks he slipped down the stairs to his death, but Sarah thinks otherwise. She tells her childhood friend Jacob Nast why she believes her late employer was murdered but the people do not go to the cops so she tells the estate lawyer instead. When she becomes the target of stalkers, he vows to protect the woman he loves.



Outside the Circle by Patricia Davids. Widower Isaac Bowman, accompanied by his mute ten years old daughter Ruby, leaves Indiana to start over in Mount Hope, Ohio. Isaac prays the move helps his grieving child who has not spoken since her mom died three years ago. Ruby’s teacher Lena Troyer is kind to both. Deer poaching by trophy seekers leaves Lena in danger as she protests these acts of violence; Isaac vows to keep safe the woman who has brought back father and daughter to life.



These are three engaging Amish romantic suspense thrillers in which the three female protagonists are BFFs.



Harriet Klausner