The Naked Viscount
Sally Mackenzie
Zebra, Jun 1 2010, $6.99
ISBN: 9781420102543
In London for her eighth season, Lady Jane Parker-Roth is assumed to be on the shelf. When she enters her rented townhouse from the estate of the late Clarence Widmore, she sees an intruder. Rather than flight, Jane chooses fight, swinging a candlestick at the man holding her. She misses him but knocks over a statue of Pan as Viscount Edmund Smyth kisses her.
Edmund has broken into the townhouse rented by Jane and her mom in search of a paper that could cause some nasty problems if revealed. They stop fighting the moment the statue smashed as each sees the unusual partial caricature. Jane insists on joining him on his quest to locate other statues of Pans to complete the drawing. As they search for clues, they begin to fall in love; but remain unaware that their findings lead them closer to identifying the head of the hellfire club, which means brutal deaths.
The latest “Naked” historical romance (see … Baron, Duke, Earl, Gentleman, etc.) is another wild fun nineteenth century romp that in spite of the obvious time and place feels like a 1930s screwball comedy. Fast-paced and filled with action, readers will relish the escapades and sassy flirtatious yet witty dialogue between the lead couple as Jane joins Edmund on what was his adventure, but now is their quest. Sally Mackenzie continues to lay bare some of the more intelligent amusing historicals on the market today.
Harriet Klausner
Wednesday, May 5, 2010
Desire Me-Robyn DeHart
Desire Me
Robyn DeHart
Forever, Jun 1 2010, $6.99
ISBN: 9780446541978
In 1873 in Cornwall, young teen Maxwell Barrett found a map of Atlantis that over the next fifteen years he obtains enough substantive proof to affirm his belief the map is authentic. He obsesses over actually finding the lost continent to prove to the Solomon club members he belongs.
Atlantis guardian Sabine Tobias needs the map possessed by Maxwell to decipher a prophecy. She makes a bet with Max with the stake being the artifact but she loses. Max is fascinated by her, which she plans to take advantage of even if that means seducing him. She needs the map as they need to decipher the prophecy as lives are being lost including Britain’s generals. Queen Victoria is in jeopardy and next will be the Empire and then could be the world.
The second Legend Hunters Victorian fantasy romantic suspense (see Seduce Me) is an enjoyable frolic as the treasure hunters find the greatest treasure in life is the women they cherish. Fast-paced and filled with non-stop action that would have Indiana Jones needing a respite, readers will want to join Max and Sabine as they team up in love and in decoding the map’s riddle before a diabolical killer leaves both of them dead and the Empire in ruins.
Harriet Klausner
Robyn DeHart
Forever, Jun 1 2010, $6.99
ISBN: 9780446541978
In 1873 in Cornwall, young teen Maxwell Barrett found a map of Atlantis that over the next fifteen years he obtains enough substantive proof to affirm his belief the map is authentic. He obsesses over actually finding the lost continent to prove to the Solomon club members he belongs.
Atlantis guardian Sabine Tobias needs the map possessed by Maxwell to decipher a prophecy. She makes a bet with Max with the stake being the artifact but she loses. Max is fascinated by her, which she plans to take advantage of even if that means seducing him. She needs the map as they need to decipher the prophecy as lives are being lost including Britain’s generals. Queen Victoria is in jeopardy and next will be the Empire and then could be the world.
The second Legend Hunters Victorian fantasy romantic suspense (see Seduce Me) is an enjoyable frolic as the treasure hunters find the greatest treasure in life is the women they cherish. Fast-paced and filled with non-stop action that would have Indiana Jones needing a respite, readers will want to join Max and Sabine as they team up in love and in decoding the map’s riddle before a diabolical killer leaves both of them dead and the Empire in ruins.
Harriet Klausner
Tuesday, May 4, 2010
Anna Finch and the Hired Gun-Kathleen Y’Barbo
Anna Finch and the Hired Gun
Kathleen Y’Barbo
WaterBrook, Jun 15 2010, $13.99
ISBN: 9780307444813
In 1885 Colorado Anna Finch’s wealthy father believes the only roles for women are family positions as a wife, mother, and daughter, etc. Thus he plans to find a husband for his feisty daughter who he loves dearly.
Anna Finch loves her father, but wants more than a family role as she loves observing people and relishes being a reporter. She is euphoric when she has a chance to interview the legendary Wyatt Earp and Doc Holliday. Her dad, worried about her safety, hires Pinkerton agent, Jeb Sanders, to insure Anna is safe. Jeb is outraged with the assignment of babysitting the spoiled heiress. He reconsiders her skills as an investigative journalist when she leads him to his wife’s killer, but does not stop there; she digs deeper to uncover what really happened before Jeb kills the man he believes murdered his spouse.
The latest Kathleen Y’Barbo lighthearted yet suspense filled western romance (see Confidential Life Of Eugenia Cooper) is a great fun tale as neither Anna nor Jeb is happy with the arrangement, but as they fall in love they begin to appreciate the assets the other brings to the relationship. Fast-paced yet character driven, fans will enjoy Anna Finch and the Hired Gun summed up with the opening quote from Doc Holliday: “We had a little misunderstanding, but it didn’t amount to much” because the lead couple earn mutual respect, fall in love and team up to try to solve who murdered his wife.
Harriet Klausner
Kathleen Y’Barbo
WaterBrook, Jun 15 2010, $13.99
ISBN: 9780307444813
In 1885 Colorado Anna Finch’s wealthy father believes the only roles for women are family positions as a wife, mother, and daughter, etc. Thus he plans to find a husband for his feisty daughter who he loves dearly.
Anna Finch loves her father, but wants more than a family role as she loves observing people and relishes being a reporter. She is euphoric when she has a chance to interview the legendary Wyatt Earp and Doc Holliday. Her dad, worried about her safety, hires Pinkerton agent, Jeb Sanders, to insure Anna is safe. Jeb is outraged with the assignment of babysitting the spoiled heiress. He reconsiders her skills as an investigative journalist when she leads him to his wife’s killer, but does not stop there; she digs deeper to uncover what really happened before Jeb kills the man he believes murdered his spouse.
The latest Kathleen Y’Barbo lighthearted yet suspense filled western romance (see Confidential Life Of Eugenia Cooper) is a great fun tale as neither Anna nor Jeb is happy with the arrangement, but as they fall in love they begin to appreciate the assets the other brings to the relationship. Fast-paced yet character driven, fans will enjoy Anna Finch and the Hired Gun summed up with the opening quote from Doc Holliday: “We had a little misunderstanding, but it didn’t amount to much” because the lead couple earn mutual respect, fall in love and team up to try to solve who murdered his wife.
Harriet Klausner
Monday, May 3, 2010
Shut Up and Kiss Me-Christie Craig
Shut Up and Kiss Me
Christie Craig
Love Spell, Jun 2010, $7.99
ISBN 9780505527998
Precious, Texas Mayor Johnson hires photojournalist Shala Winters to do a local shoot to bring more tourists to the city. However, the relatively easy job proves quite difficult to Shala. One might think dealing with eluding thieves and vandals would be her biggest concern; or perhaps a stalking potential killer. None of the above is as big a troublemaker as is police chief Sky Gomez, who orders her not to photograph Native American rituals. He knows the economy could destroy his Precious, but also fears his beloved small-town will become a tourist attraction that will turn it into crap.
Sky’s foster-father has visions of the cop with Shala. He insists they are soulmates, but Sky rejects the old man’s dreams as malarkey although he is attracted to her. Shala has her own issues as relationships die; being a divorced orphan. She distrusts men preferring her independence although she is attracted to Sky and respects his foster-father’s noble intentions.
This is an amusing small-town Texas romance starring two combatants and a host of eccentric locals. Fast-paced and filled with jocularity, fans will enjoy the lighthearted romantic romp although the plot loses a profound opportunity with the lack of deep insight into the race relationship issues of a town in which 65% of the residents are Native-American Hispanic and Caucasians are a minority.
Harriet Klausner
Christie Craig
Love Spell, Jun 2010, $7.99
ISBN 9780505527998
Precious, Texas Mayor Johnson hires photojournalist Shala Winters to do a local shoot to bring more tourists to the city. However, the relatively easy job proves quite difficult to Shala. One might think dealing with eluding thieves and vandals would be her biggest concern; or perhaps a stalking potential killer. None of the above is as big a troublemaker as is police chief Sky Gomez, who orders her not to photograph Native American rituals. He knows the economy could destroy his Precious, but also fears his beloved small-town will become a tourist attraction that will turn it into crap.
Sky’s foster-father has visions of the cop with Shala. He insists they are soulmates, but Sky rejects the old man’s dreams as malarkey although he is attracted to her. Shala has her own issues as relationships die; being a divorced orphan. She distrusts men preferring her independence although she is attracted to Sky and respects his foster-father’s noble intentions.
This is an amusing small-town Texas romance starring two combatants and a host of eccentric locals. Fast-paced and filled with jocularity, fans will enjoy the lighthearted romantic romp although the plot loses a profound opportunity with the lack of deep insight into the race relationship issues of a town in which 65% of the residents are Native-American Hispanic and Caucasians are a minority.
Harriet Klausner
To Surrender To A Rogue-Cara Elliott
To Surrender To A Rogue
Cara Elliott
Forever, Jun 2010,
ISBN: 9780446541312
A proud member of The Circle of Sins female scientific forum, classical archeologist expert Lady Alessandra della Giamatti arrives in Bath as part of an excavation team digging at a recently discovered Roman ruin. Also on the team as a sketch artist is military hero Lord James “Black Jack” Pierson. They have a history that turned ugly when he tied her eight years old daughter Isabella to a tree to prevent her from doing something dangerously stupid; only to have Isabella accuse him in foul language of impropriety.
However, when a blackmailer from her home in Italy threatens Isabella, Alessandra turns to James for help. Although he loathes her snobbish ways, he lusts for her body, so he agrees even though he has doubts she is being fully honest with him. She distrusts him too and both mistrusts themselves as their respective bodies want the other. Soon they realize that lust is turning into something more endearing and enduring, but their lives and that of her daughter and their country are in jeopardy from nasty killers.
The latest The Circle of Sins tale (see To Sin With a Stranger) is an exhilarating historical romance starring two seemingly opposites in temperament and outlook as each is a product of their recent past. Fast-paced from the opening tree incident and never slowing down, the adventures escalate until England is at risk as does the romance. Although the prime villain never seems quite up to the par of bringing down the Empire, sub-genre readers will enjoy Cara Elliott’s super nineteenth century romantic intrigue.
Harriet Klausner
Cara Elliott
Forever, Jun 2010,
ISBN: 9780446541312
A proud member of The Circle of Sins female scientific forum, classical archeologist expert Lady Alessandra della Giamatti arrives in Bath as part of an excavation team digging at a recently discovered Roman ruin. Also on the team as a sketch artist is military hero Lord James “Black Jack” Pierson. They have a history that turned ugly when he tied her eight years old daughter Isabella to a tree to prevent her from doing something dangerously stupid; only to have Isabella accuse him in foul language of impropriety.
However, when a blackmailer from her home in Italy threatens Isabella, Alessandra turns to James for help. Although he loathes her snobbish ways, he lusts for her body, so he agrees even though he has doubts she is being fully honest with him. She distrusts him too and both mistrusts themselves as their respective bodies want the other. Soon they realize that lust is turning into something more endearing and enduring, but their lives and that of her daughter and their country are in jeopardy from nasty killers.
The latest The Circle of Sins tale (see To Sin With a Stranger) is an exhilarating historical romance starring two seemingly opposites in temperament and outlook as each is a product of their recent past. Fast-paced from the opening tree incident and never slowing down, the adventures escalate until England is at risk as does the romance. Although the prime villain never seems quite up to the par of bringing down the Empire, sub-genre readers will enjoy Cara Elliott’s super nineteenth century romantic intrigue.
Harriet Klausner
Saturday, May 1, 2010
Guardian-Lindsay McKenna
Guardian
Lindsay McKenna
Silhouette Nocturne, Jun 2010, $5.25
ISBN: 9780373618361
In 1308 Templar Knight Nicholas de Beaufort and his cohorts prayed to the Cathay God not for themselves, but for those who were burning them at the stake. French King Phillip used his army on the Albigensian Crusade killling a million people. However though his body died in the inferno, his spirit and that of his peers survive at the Village of the Clouds. They remain warriors for the Taqe forces of light on the eternal battle against the Tupay forces of the dark.
In the present Mary Anderson has been assigned to find the last two missing spheres to a magical necklace that will bring peace and harmony to mankind. Although he prefers not to return to earth as a mortal, Nicholas understands he must as his task is to protect Mary from the evil Tupay Dark Lord Victor Carancho Guerra and advising her on her efforts to find “Saturn” in her Scottish trek. As they fall in love, Mary and Nicholas seek the final two emeralds with help from her late grandfather, a warrior owned by Victor.
The sixth Warriors for the Light romantic urban fantasy is a wonderful finish to an engaging mythos. The story line is loaded with action yet insures the lead couple is fully developed as they struggle with their quest, a powerful insidious enemy, and love. Fans of the series will enjoy the end of this arc and marvel at Lindsay McKenna setting up the next spin in her saga. Lindsay McKenna can only write books that are sublime.
Harriet Klausner
Lindsay McKenna
Silhouette Nocturne, Jun 2010, $5.25
ISBN: 9780373618361
In 1308 Templar Knight Nicholas de Beaufort and his cohorts prayed to the Cathay God not for themselves, but for those who were burning them at the stake. French King Phillip used his army on the Albigensian Crusade killling a million people. However though his body died in the inferno, his spirit and that of his peers survive at the Village of the Clouds. They remain warriors for the Taqe forces of light on the eternal battle against the Tupay forces of the dark.
In the present Mary Anderson has been assigned to find the last two missing spheres to a magical necklace that will bring peace and harmony to mankind. Although he prefers not to return to earth as a mortal, Nicholas understands he must as his task is to protect Mary from the evil Tupay Dark Lord Victor Carancho Guerra and advising her on her efforts to find “Saturn” in her Scottish trek. As they fall in love, Mary and Nicholas seek the final two emeralds with help from her late grandfather, a warrior owned by Victor.
The sixth Warriors for the Light romantic urban fantasy is a wonderful finish to an engaging mythos. The story line is loaded with action yet insures the lead couple is fully developed as they struggle with their quest, a powerful insidious enemy, and love. Fans of the series will enjoy the end of this arc and marvel at Lindsay McKenna setting up the next spin in her saga. Lindsay McKenna can only write books that are sublime.
Harriet Klausner
Angel Slayer-Michelle Hauf
Angel Slayer
Michelle Hauf
Silhouette Nocturne, Jun 2010, $5.25
ISBN: 9780373618378
Working at an art gallery near Chelsea Park where her first showing is being held, artist Eden Campbell muses that she paints angels from her nocturnal dreams, but wisely tells no one her source as she prefers avoiding padded rooms. However, a fallen angel Zaqiel knows who she is and why she dreams of angels.
Zaqiel stalks her looking for the moment to abduct and rape her. As a Muse, she will birth his offspring, a nephilim who will cause the apocalypse now. Demon Asher Manning has been sent from Beneath to kill Zaqiel and as a temporary second order effectively protect Eden. However, he desires her and she falls in love with him; but demons cannot love in return.
Set in the same realm as the Wicked Games and Bewitching the Dark sagas, the first Of Angels & Demons urban fantasy romance is a terrific paranormal due to a strong cast who insures the otherworldly species seem real. Eden is a wonderful female in peril character, but Asher owns the story line as he knows demons’ first sin is falling in love. Fans of Michelle Hauf will enjoy her expansion of her Old Testament Book of Enoch mythos as the Angel Slayer is a great paranormal romance.
Harriet Klausner
Michelle Hauf
Silhouette Nocturne, Jun 2010, $5.25
ISBN: 9780373618378
Working at an art gallery near Chelsea Park where her first showing is being held, artist Eden Campbell muses that she paints angels from her nocturnal dreams, but wisely tells no one her source as she prefers avoiding padded rooms. However, a fallen angel Zaqiel knows who she is and why she dreams of angels.
Zaqiel stalks her looking for the moment to abduct and rape her. As a Muse, she will birth his offspring, a nephilim who will cause the apocalypse now. Demon Asher Manning has been sent from Beneath to kill Zaqiel and as a temporary second order effectively protect Eden. However, he desires her and she falls in love with him; but demons cannot love in return.
Set in the same realm as the Wicked Games and Bewitching the Dark sagas, the first Of Angels & Demons urban fantasy romance is a terrific paranormal due to a strong cast who insures the otherworldly species seem real. Eden is a wonderful female in peril character, but Asher owns the story line as he knows demons’ first sin is falling in love. Fans of Michelle Hauf will enjoy her expansion of her Old Testament Book of Enoch mythos as the Angel Slayer is a great paranormal romance.
Harriet Klausner
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