Seduce Me At Sunrise
Lisa Kleypas
St. Martin's, Oct 2008, $7.99
ISBN: 0312949812
In 1836 the English attack a Gypsy camp. The youngster Kev Merripen tried to fight, but was knocked in the head by the butt of a rifle and stabbed in the back by a bayonet. His tribe fled leaving him behind to die. A hated Gadjo the Hathaway patriarch saves his life though Kev’s disdain would have someone think otherwise. Filled with gypsy superstitions, Kev is raised in the home of a rationalist. However, his host’s daughter Winifred softens his hostile outlook. Kev loves Win who is sent to France to recover from an illness.
A dozen years later she comes home only to find her childhood friend angry and nasty towards her and seemingly everyone else. He tries to drive her away even as she only shows him kindness. Win knows she loves her gypsy and considers seduction to win his heart. However, she begins to give up on him leaving room for other suitors as Kev struggles between his desire for Win and his belief that a Gadjo and Romany cannot unite even in love.
Lisa Kleypas’ latest Victorian romance (see MINE TILL MIDNIGHT and THE DEVIL IN WINTER) is an engaging tale starring a wonderful extremely tolerant female and a somewhat self defeating hero. Kev is the posterboy for the self fulfilling prophecy as he assumes the worst of others so takes no chances on his heart. Readers will appreciate the determined Win trying to persuade the obstinate Kev they belong together although his stubbornness can become a trifle frustrating.
Harriet Klausner
Friday, September 5, 2008
Promises Reveal-Sarah McCarty
Promises Reveal
Sarah McCarty
Berkley, Oct 2008, $7.99
ISBN: 9780425224199
Reverend Brad Swanson thought he would be caught one day for his criminal activities like robbing banks, but never this way. Posing as a preacher, he is in hiding from the law and his former gang whom he recently betrayed to save some lives as the robber has a code of ethics especially when it comes to women and children.
However, his troubles with the McKinnely clan are ironically not of his making. Instead the suffragette daughter Evie Washington finds the Reverend to be kind and supportive of her women’s liberation ideals. She paints a portrait without a face of a naked hunk; whom she admits is Brad. Everyone assumes he took her so shotguns point at him as he says I do to a woman who he never planned to marry. As they make love and fall in love, his past comes home to roost.
Few writers can match the skill of Sarah McCarty' when it comes to providing her audience with an intelligent exhilarating western romance starring two likable protagonists. The fast-paced story line hooks the audience when Evie’s imagination runs wild and never slows down as Brad encourages Evie to be all she can be. Fans will enjoy this delightful nineteenth century historical as the criminal preacher and the feminist libber find love.
Harriet Klausner
Sarah McCarty
Berkley, Oct 2008, $7.99
ISBN: 9780425224199
Reverend Brad Swanson thought he would be caught one day for his criminal activities like robbing banks, but never this way. Posing as a preacher, he is in hiding from the law and his former gang whom he recently betrayed to save some lives as the robber has a code of ethics especially when it comes to women and children.
However, his troubles with the McKinnely clan are ironically not of his making. Instead the suffragette daughter Evie Washington finds the Reverend to be kind and supportive of her women’s liberation ideals. She paints a portrait without a face of a naked hunk; whom she admits is Brad. Everyone assumes he took her so shotguns point at him as he says I do to a woman who he never planned to marry. As they make love and fall in love, his past comes home to roost.
Few writers can match the skill of Sarah McCarty' when it comes to providing her audience with an intelligent exhilarating western romance starring two likable protagonists. The fast-paced story line hooks the audience when Evie’s imagination runs wild and never slows down as Brad encourages Evie to be all she can be. Fans will enjoy this delightful nineteenth century historical as the criminal preacher and the feminist libber find love.
Harriet Klausner
Knight’s Fork-Rowena Cherry
Knight’s Fork
Rowena Cherry
Love Spell, Oct 2008, $6.99
ISBN: 0505527405
Volnoth Queen Consort Electra loves her mate Viz-lgerd, but knows they are checked when it comes to siring a child. She chooses Rhett as the sperm pawn for her offspring. However, she is unaware of two key facts about the pawn she has chosen. First he is the son of Volnoth’s greatest enemy Ala’Asrer-Djalet, who is better known as the Saurian Dragon of the Djinn family; second he adheres to his vow of chastity.
Electra and Rhett are surprised by finding themselves attracted to one another. However, her brother Prince Tarrant-Arragon assumes they are having an affair. He insures they are trapped together on their way to earth. As they fall in love, his amoral father and her outraged family insist something must be done to the assumed lovers.
The latest chess futuristic romance (see FORCED MATE and INSUFFICIENT MATING MATERIAL) is once again a strange but well written and fascinating tale. The story line is character driven as Electra tries to checkmate her reluctant knight. Fans will enjoy the latest sci fi romance from the creative Rowena Cherry as she has aliens falling intoa taboo love which makes make for an intriguing albeit weird but entertaining saga.
Harriet Klausner
Rowena Cherry
Love Spell, Oct 2008, $6.99
ISBN: 0505527405
Volnoth Queen Consort Electra loves her mate Viz-lgerd, but knows they are checked when it comes to siring a child. She chooses Rhett as the sperm pawn for her offspring. However, she is unaware of two key facts about the pawn she has chosen. First he is the son of Volnoth’s greatest enemy Ala’Asrer-Djalet, who is better known as the Saurian Dragon of the Djinn family; second he adheres to his vow of chastity.
Electra and Rhett are surprised by finding themselves attracted to one another. However, her brother Prince Tarrant-Arragon assumes they are having an affair. He insures they are trapped together on their way to earth. As they fall in love, his amoral father and her outraged family insist something must be done to the assumed lovers.
The latest chess futuristic romance (see FORCED MATE and INSUFFICIENT MATING MATERIAL) is once again a strange but well written and fascinating tale. The story line is character driven as Electra tries to checkmate her reluctant knight. Fans will enjoy the latest sci fi romance from the creative Rowena Cherry as she has aliens falling intoa taboo love which makes make for an intriguing albeit weird but entertaining saga.
Harriet Klausner
Mysteria Lane-MaryJanice Davidson, Susan Grant, Gena Showalter and P.C. Cast
Mysteria Lane
MaryJanice Davidson, Susan Grant, Gena Showalter and P.C. Cast
Berkley, Oct 2008, $7.99
ISBN: 9780425222942
"Disdaining Trouble" by MaryJanice Davidson . Thad Wilson spent his first twelve years in Mysteria, Colorado, but moved away as his father re-enlisted with the air force. Fifteen years later he is back in town avoiding the troublesome teenage Desdaine triplets (Derisive, Scornful and Withering). An incident with a mailman leads to Withering falling down a wishing well as her frustrated mother wishes she would grow up. Five seconds later a Lizard Man leaves the well followed by a beautiful warrior woman who turns out to be an adult Withering who says she spent a decade trying to come home.
"The Nanny From Hell" by Susan Grant. Luther assigns Demon Shay to destroy the child of former demon Damon and his human wife Harmony; he also warns her to stay away from the Mysteria wishing well. Shay obtains a job as the child’s nanny, but the well turns her human while demon hunter Quel comes to kill her.
"A Tawdry Affair" by Gena Showalter . Witch Glory Tawdry loves Falcon, but he does not apparently reciprocate. Outraged by her unrequited love and in possession of a magical pen, she begins to scribe her sexual fantasies with and vengeance on the hunk who rejected her.
"It's in His Kiss" by P.C. Cast. The new teacher in town, Summer is a vegetarian. At a Romeo and Juliet art exhibit she meets Colin the vampire who wants to change her diet.
The return to MYSTERIA (by the same writing quartet) is filled with four amusing lighthearted paranormal romances.
Harriet Klausner
MaryJanice Davidson, Susan Grant, Gena Showalter and P.C. Cast
Berkley, Oct 2008, $7.99
ISBN: 9780425222942
"Disdaining Trouble" by MaryJanice Davidson . Thad Wilson spent his first twelve years in Mysteria, Colorado, but moved away as his father re-enlisted with the air force. Fifteen years later he is back in town avoiding the troublesome teenage Desdaine triplets (Derisive, Scornful and Withering). An incident with a mailman leads to Withering falling down a wishing well as her frustrated mother wishes she would grow up. Five seconds later a Lizard Man leaves the well followed by a beautiful warrior woman who turns out to be an adult Withering who says she spent a decade trying to come home.
"The Nanny From Hell" by Susan Grant. Luther assigns Demon Shay to destroy the child of former demon Damon and his human wife Harmony; he also warns her to stay away from the Mysteria wishing well. Shay obtains a job as the child’s nanny, but the well turns her human while demon hunter Quel comes to kill her.
"A Tawdry Affair" by Gena Showalter . Witch Glory Tawdry loves Falcon, but he does not apparently reciprocate. Outraged by her unrequited love and in possession of a magical pen, she begins to scribe her sexual fantasies with and vengeance on the hunk who rejected her.
"It's in His Kiss" by P.C. Cast. The new teacher in town, Summer is a vegetarian. At a Romeo and Juliet art exhibit she meets Colin the vampire who wants to change her diet.
The return to MYSTERIA (by the same writing quartet) is filled with four amusing lighthearted paranormal romances.
Harriet Klausner
Thursday, September 4, 2008
The Debs-Susan McBride
The Debs
Susan McBride
Delacorte, Aug 2008, $8.99
ISBN: 9780385735193
In Houston four teenage upper crust girls await word that they have been invited to join the selectively elitist Glass Slipper Club. Each has reasons to expect to be chosen, but also has some nagging doubts.
Aura Delacroix Bell is a beautiful big woman who attracts hunks like the U of T super-stud in spite of being a size 14. However, she has one scandalous secret that if revealed will keep her out of the club.
Anyone who meets brilliant sarcastic Michelle “Mac” Mackenzie will conclude she does not fit the club’s typical debutante, but vies for membership out of respect for her late mom’s wish for her and to keep her stepmother Honey off her back.
Environmentalist Ginger Fore prefers wearing her grandmother’s gown rather than buy something outrageously expensive, but her entrance might be blocked by the University of Houston tree hugger she met at a Go-Green event that could lead to a jailhouse rock not a deb ball.
Former child beauty queen Jo-Lynn Bidwill believes her mission in life is to keep the “debu-trash” out of the club; that means destroying Laura Bell.
This young adult satirical look at high society is fun to read as author Susan McBride gives the audience a tour of superficiality of debutante society through her fearsome foursome. The key is that each of the candidates seems real as teens first with issues that even with all their wealth to somewhat cover personal problems, they still exist. This is an amusing yet poignant look at teenage upper crust society through for fully developed young women struggling with personal issues that money can’t help.
Harriet Klausner
Susan McBride
Delacorte, Aug 2008, $8.99
ISBN: 9780385735193
In Houston four teenage upper crust girls await word that they have been invited to join the selectively elitist Glass Slipper Club. Each has reasons to expect to be chosen, but also has some nagging doubts.
Aura Delacroix Bell is a beautiful big woman who attracts hunks like the U of T super-stud in spite of being a size 14. However, she has one scandalous secret that if revealed will keep her out of the club.
Anyone who meets brilliant sarcastic Michelle “Mac” Mackenzie will conclude she does not fit the club’s typical debutante, but vies for membership out of respect for her late mom’s wish for her and to keep her stepmother Honey off her back.
Environmentalist Ginger Fore prefers wearing her grandmother’s gown rather than buy something outrageously expensive, but her entrance might be blocked by the University of Houston tree hugger she met at a Go-Green event that could lead to a jailhouse rock not a deb ball.
Former child beauty queen Jo-Lynn Bidwill believes her mission in life is to keep the “debu-trash” out of the club; that means destroying Laura Bell.
This young adult satirical look at high society is fun to read as author Susan McBride gives the audience a tour of superficiality of debutante society through her fearsome foursome. The key is that each of the candidates seems real as teens first with issues that even with all their wealth to somewhat cover personal problems, they still exist. This is an amusing yet poignant look at teenage upper crust society through for fully developed young women struggling with personal issues that money can’t help.
Harriet Klausner
Just the Sexiest Man Alive-Julie James
Just the Sexiest Man Alive
Julie James
Berkley, Oct 2008, $7.99
ISBN: 9780425224205
Chicago based attorney Taylor Donovan is the coolest under fire lawyer known on the planet; whether it is penis harassment or penal coding she never loses it; to her they are the same and for that matter she never loses a case. The only people who can get inside to Taylor is her beloved parents, who sacrificed so much for her to be come a lawyer; she vows to never let them down.
Her firm Gray & Dallas sent her to Los Angeles to litigate a sexual harassment case. Her temporary L.A. boss Sam Blakely asks her to do him a favor as the best litigator in the firm. He wants her to train People magazine's "Sexiest Man Alive" Jason Andrews for his role as a lawyer in a film. Sam also warns her not to go starry eyed over the hunk; she learned from childhood that “There’s no crying in baseball” (A League of their Own) or in life. When they meet Jason turns on the charm, but strikes out as Taylor rejects his seductive endeavors. The more she refuses him, the more he wants her. As each begins to fall in love, two buried gentler souls surface.
This engaging mixing of Hollywood and litigation is a fun enjoyable contemporary romance. The lead couple is a strong casting of individuals who at first seem so different yet as the audience get to know both of them, they share much the same attitude on life. Although the plot is somewhat limited fans will relish this superb relationship drama starring a pair of “drop-outs”.
Harriet Klausner
Julie James
Berkley, Oct 2008, $7.99
ISBN: 9780425224205
Chicago based attorney Taylor Donovan is the coolest under fire lawyer known on the planet; whether it is penis harassment or penal coding she never loses it; to her they are the same and for that matter she never loses a case. The only people who can get inside to Taylor is her beloved parents, who sacrificed so much for her to be come a lawyer; she vows to never let them down.
Her firm Gray & Dallas sent her to Los Angeles to litigate a sexual harassment case. Her temporary L.A. boss Sam Blakely asks her to do him a favor as the best litigator in the firm. He wants her to train People magazine's "Sexiest Man Alive" Jason Andrews for his role as a lawyer in a film. Sam also warns her not to go starry eyed over the hunk; she learned from childhood that “There’s no crying in baseball” (A League of their Own) or in life. When they meet Jason turns on the charm, but strikes out as Taylor rejects his seductive endeavors. The more she refuses him, the more he wants her. As each begins to fall in love, two buried gentler souls surface.
This engaging mixing of Hollywood and litigation is a fun enjoyable contemporary romance. The lead couple is a strong casting of individuals who at first seem so different yet as the audience get to know both of them, they share much the same attitude on life. Although the plot is somewhat limited fans will relish this superb relationship drama starring a pair of “drop-outs”.
Harriet Klausner
Aftershock-Sharon Sala, Janis Reams Hudson and Debra Cowan
Aftershock
Sharon Sala, Janis Reams Hudson and Debra Cowan
Silhouette Nocturne, Oct 2008, $5.25
ISBN: 9780373617968
“Penance” by Sharon Sala. Nicole Masters recovers from a shot to the head. Besides feeling lucky to be alive, she sees visions of a child kidnapped. Willing to do penance for surviving near death, she and Detective Dominic Tucci try to save the kid’s life.
“After the Lightning” by Janis Reams Hudson. After surviving a direct hit from a lightning bolt, Hailey Cameron begins to hear a female voice in her head. Former police detective Aaron Trent easily accepts Hailey’s new skill as normal having seen some weird stuff as a cop. They team up to break up a child-smuggling ring led by the voice, a comatose mother fearing for her kidnapped child.
“Seeing Red” by Debra Cowan. Having clinically died in the fire, firefighter Cass Holister is thankful to be alive. However, her return to the living includes the unique gift of seeing a fire before the blaze occurs. She joins with fire investigator Ben Wyrick to end the arsons although he is the man she loved and left, and she knows the arsonist too personally.
These three paranormal romantic suspense novellas are tense, exciting and filled with lead characters who make the respective near death experiences and the related AFTERSHOCK “gifts” seem real; an enjoyable anthology.
Harriet Klausner
Sharon Sala, Janis Reams Hudson and Debra Cowan
Silhouette Nocturne, Oct 2008, $5.25
ISBN: 9780373617968
“Penance” by Sharon Sala. Nicole Masters recovers from a shot to the head. Besides feeling lucky to be alive, she sees visions of a child kidnapped. Willing to do penance for surviving near death, she and Detective Dominic Tucci try to save the kid’s life.
“After the Lightning” by Janis Reams Hudson. After surviving a direct hit from a lightning bolt, Hailey Cameron begins to hear a female voice in her head. Former police detective Aaron Trent easily accepts Hailey’s new skill as normal having seen some weird stuff as a cop. They team up to break up a child-smuggling ring led by the voice, a comatose mother fearing for her kidnapped child.
“Seeing Red” by Debra Cowan. Having clinically died in the fire, firefighter Cass Holister is thankful to be alive. However, her return to the living includes the unique gift of seeing a fire before the blaze occurs. She joins with fire investigator Ben Wyrick to end the arsons although he is the man she loved and left, and she knows the arsonist too personally.
These three paranormal romantic suspense novellas are tense, exciting and filled with lead characters who make the respective near death experiences and the related AFTERSHOCK “gifts” seem real; an enjoyable anthology.
Harriet Klausner
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