Sweet Return
Anna Jeffrey
Signet, Dec 2007, $6.99
ISBN: 9780451222718
In Hatlow, Texas Joanna Walsh owns a successful beauty salon business and an equally profitable making janitorial service. However, her latest business venture has proven to smell like rotten eggs. Her close friend of thirteen years cattle rancher Clova Cherry persuaded Joanna to join her in an organic egg enterprise as a means of saving her spread.
Clova has two sons; neither of which has helped her with the ranch. Lane is a drunk while Dalton is an internationally renowned photographer. When Lane ends up in an intensive care unit of Lubbock Memorial Hospital following a DUI accident, Dalton comes home from his Los Angeles base of operations to take his mom’s cattle to market. Instead of cows he finds chickens and a thirty something woman who makes him dream of settling in West Texas. He accuses the chicken farmer of abusing the kindness of his mom; she accuses the wandering son of abandoning his mom fifteen years ago leaving her to struggle to pay her debts. Obviously love is everywhere when these two enemies meet.
SWEET RETURN is a sweet contemporary Texas romance that sub-genre fans will enjoy reading as the lead couple is a workaholic pair who must find time in their busy regiment to battle, argue, and fall in love. Anna Jeffrey provides a warm fun tale.
Harriet Klausner
Thursday, November 1, 2007
Laird of the Mist-Paula Quinn
Laird of the Mist
Paula Quinn
Forever, Dec 2007, $6.99
ISBN: 978-0446617857
In the seventeenth century laird Callum MacGregor swears he will not become the latest homicidal statistic of the perfidious Campbells; over the past century members of the Campbell clan have assassinated every MacGregor laird. Instead Callum decides to lead a presumptive strike by attacking his enemy’s stronghold leaving no one behind to ultimately try to kill him.
During the assault, Callum breaks his second rule of taking no prisoners as he abducts angry Kate Campbell with plans to use her as a hostage and an expendable pawn. She plans to escape starting with seducing her clan’s enemy. As they fall in love, the Campbell clan is coming to liberate her with a retaliatory strike that includes leaving no one alive especially the Laird.
This entertaining Scottish historical romance focuses on a Romeo and Juliet with a love that neither of the feuding clans will blithely tolerate. With Callum stubborn when it comes to his belief that his enemy has murdered his predecessors and thus obviously distrustful, it is up to the courageous tolerant heroine to prevent a deadly battle and keep her beloved alive. Brave Kate steals the novel as she faces love, danger and treachery.
Harriet Klausner
Paula Quinn
Forever, Dec 2007, $6.99
ISBN: 978-0446617857
In the seventeenth century laird Callum MacGregor swears he will not become the latest homicidal statistic of the perfidious Campbells; over the past century members of the Campbell clan have assassinated every MacGregor laird. Instead Callum decides to lead a presumptive strike by attacking his enemy’s stronghold leaving no one behind to ultimately try to kill him.
During the assault, Callum breaks his second rule of taking no prisoners as he abducts angry Kate Campbell with plans to use her as a hostage and an expendable pawn. She plans to escape starting with seducing her clan’s enemy. As they fall in love, the Campbell clan is coming to liberate her with a retaliatory strike that includes leaving no one alive especially the Laird.
This entertaining Scottish historical romance focuses on a Romeo and Juliet with a love that neither of the feuding clans will blithely tolerate. With Callum stubborn when it comes to his belief that his enemy has murdered his predecessors and thus obviously distrustful, it is up to the courageous tolerant heroine to prevent a deadly battle and keep her beloved alive. Brave Kate steals the novel as she faces love, danger and treachery.
Harriet Klausner
One With the Shadows-Susan Squires
One With the Shadows
Susan Squires
St. Martin’s, Dec 2007, $6.99
ISBN: 9780312941031
In 1822 Kate Malone makes a living as a con artist and thief; she shams visions and reads tarot cards although she does not believe in either as she is skeptical of the paranormal. Still the aristocracy in all of Western Europe pretends sophistication when they are rubes she cons.
After Kate performs her act at a Rome upper crust gala, attendee Gian Urbano offers her money for the recent proceeds of her other more profitable occupation, thief. He wants a special humongous emerald she purloined and she agrees to sell it to him. However, someone wants that gem too, but that person does not offer money; that unknown but powerful female adversary tries to kill Kate in order to take the jewel from her. Only, Gian keeps her safe, but she begins to believe he is not human even as the mystifying stone communicates to her its desire to go home.
ONE WITH THE SHADOWS is a terrific paranormal late regency romantic suspense from the moment Gian exposes Kate’s ruse and never slows down until the final bite as she learns to be ONE WITH THE NIGHT; just like her protector is. Kate makes the tale fun to read as her past has left her scarred physically and emotionally with a need to become a hermit living in a remote cottage by herself. That is until Gian and the emerald make her reconsider her solo act as he brings out desires she thought long dead and it brings out a quest to do its bidding. Susan Squires provides an entertaining mystical historical thriller.
Harriet Klausner
Susan Squires
St. Martin’s, Dec 2007, $6.99
ISBN: 9780312941031
In 1822 Kate Malone makes a living as a con artist and thief; she shams visions and reads tarot cards although she does not believe in either as she is skeptical of the paranormal. Still the aristocracy in all of Western Europe pretends sophistication when they are rubes she cons.
After Kate performs her act at a Rome upper crust gala, attendee Gian Urbano offers her money for the recent proceeds of her other more profitable occupation, thief. He wants a special humongous emerald she purloined and she agrees to sell it to him. However, someone wants that gem too, but that person does not offer money; that unknown but powerful female adversary tries to kill Kate in order to take the jewel from her. Only, Gian keeps her safe, but she begins to believe he is not human even as the mystifying stone communicates to her its desire to go home.
ONE WITH THE SHADOWS is a terrific paranormal late regency romantic suspense from the moment Gian exposes Kate’s ruse and never slows down until the final bite as she learns to be ONE WITH THE NIGHT; just like her protector is. Kate makes the tale fun to read as her past has left her scarred physically and emotionally with a need to become a hermit living in a remote cottage by herself. That is until Gian and the emerald make her reconsider her solo act as he brings out desires she thought long dead and it brings out a quest to do its bidding. Susan Squires provides an entertaining mystical historical thriller.
Harriet Klausner
Kitty and the Silver Bullet-Carrie Vaughn
Kitty and the Silver Bullet
Carrie Vaughn
Grand Central, Jan 2008, $6.99
ISBN 9780446618755
Kitty the werewolf feels good about being a werewolf as her radio show is a success and she even has a boyfriend. More critical no one has recently tried to kill her (something she could not say through three previous books).
When her mom becomes ill, Kitty drops everything to return to her Denver home to help her. However, the Mile High City was not a safe haven for her when she lived there and had a graveyard radio show. Her former pack has not forgiven her for exposing them on the air and for leaving; no one walks out on a werewolf pack. Two vampire sects are in a cold war that is turning hot blooded with the threat of pulling in the entire paranormal population into a civil war. Kitty is caught in the middle when all she wants to do is nurse her mom back to heath.
The latest Kitty werewolf damsel in distress tale is a fun paranormal chick lit as Kitty proves you can come home to face the same trouble you left behind. Kitty being her natural made self gets caught in the middle of a cold war turning increasingly hostile amidst the divided vampires and her former pack who wants her to leave Colorado immediately. As Kitty dodges silver bullets while ripping out a few hairs in her amusing satirical way, you won’t find Cheney lose what is left of his hair to appear on her show.
Harriet Klausner
Carrie Vaughn
Grand Central, Jan 2008, $6.99
ISBN 9780446618755
Kitty the werewolf feels good about being a werewolf as her radio show is a success and she even has a boyfriend. More critical no one has recently tried to kill her (something she could not say through three previous books).
When her mom becomes ill, Kitty drops everything to return to her Denver home to help her. However, the Mile High City was not a safe haven for her when she lived there and had a graveyard radio show. Her former pack has not forgiven her for exposing them on the air and for leaving; no one walks out on a werewolf pack. Two vampire sects are in a cold war that is turning hot blooded with the threat of pulling in the entire paranormal population into a civil war. Kitty is caught in the middle when all she wants to do is nurse her mom back to heath.
The latest Kitty werewolf damsel in distress tale is a fun paranormal chick lit as Kitty proves you can come home to face the same trouble you left behind. Kitty being her natural made self gets caught in the middle of a cold war turning increasingly hostile amidst the divided vampires and her former pack who wants her to leave Colorado immediately. As Kitty dodges silver bullets while ripping out a few hairs in her amusing satirical way, you won’t find Cheney lose what is left of his hair to appear on her show.
Harriet Klausner
Lord of the Night-Robin T. Popp
Lord of the Night
Robin T. Popp
Forever, Dec 2007, $6.99
ISBN: 9780446617857
Prime vampire Erik Winslow and his peers the other Prime vampires agreed not to hunt humans. They can control their thirst because they were bitten a chupacabra. However, their offspring is another matter as the next generations of vampires are bloodthirsty murderers. Even his castle in Hocklsey, England is not a safe zone as witnessed the vampiric slayings of the Renaults.
Two decades later, Kacie Renault is a vampire slayer avenging the murders of her parents; Erik trained her. After Kacie kills Sedrick the vampire, who was Erik's friend, she decides she has had enough with blood and will become a bottom line accountant. However the Prime Vampires want her dead for murder. Erik finds himself obligated to keep his vow to keep Kacie and her sibling jess even as he begins to fall in love with his former student.
The fourth Night Slayer book (see OUT OF THE NIGHT, SEDUCED BY THE NIGHT, and TEMPED IN THE NIGHT) is a complex drama in which decisions are difficult to make. Erik is a terrific hero caught between the hard place and rock while Kacie is a feisty “takes no prisoners” woman. Fans of the saga will relish the latest entry wondering what the hero will do.
Harriet Klausner
Robin T. Popp
Forever, Dec 2007, $6.99
ISBN: 9780446617857
Prime vampire Erik Winslow and his peers the other Prime vampires agreed not to hunt humans. They can control their thirst because they were bitten a chupacabra. However, their offspring is another matter as the next generations of vampires are bloodthirsty murderers. Even his castle in Hocklsey, England is not a safe zone as witnessed the vampiric slayings of the Renaults.
Two decades later, Kacie Renault is a vampire slayer avenging the murders of her parents; Erik trained her. After Kacie kills Sedrick the vampire, who was Erik's friend, she decides she has had enough with blood and will become a bottom line accountant. However the Prime Vampires want her dead for murder. Erik finds himself obligated to keep his vow to keep Kacie and her sibling jess even as he begins to fall in love with his former student.
The fourth Night Slayer book (see OUT OF THE NIGHT, SEDUCED BY THE NIGHT, and TEMPED IN THE NIGHT) is a complex drama in which decisions are difficult to make. Erik is a terrific hero caught between the hard place and rock while Kacie is a feisty “takes no prisoners” woman. Fans of the saga will relish the latest entry wondering what the hero will do.
Harriet Klausner
Iron Kissed-Patricia Briggs
Iron Kissed
Patricia Briggs
Ace, Jan 2008, $7.99, 304 pp.
ISBN 978044105665
The werewolves have come out of the closet (at least the woods) to let the humans know they exist. The Grey Lords forced the fae to reveal themselves as well. Because they are so powerful, they live on reservations guarded by human security. Mercy Thomas, a walker (a shapeshifter who turns into a coyote) is asked by her friend and mentor Zee to come to the reservation to see if she can scent out the killer of various fae.
One scent is present at all the killings sites, the human guard O’Donnell. When Zee and his and Mercy’s friend find him, he is being torn apart by an unseen person. Zee asks Mercy to leave; the next thing she hears is Zee has been arrested for O’Donnell’s murder. He is not talking to the human authorities and doesn’t want Mercy to interfere but she won’t let her friend be tried for murder because the fae especially the Grey Lords think that will make the problem of human fearing the fae go away. She investigates on her own and gets caught in the trap that was set for the killer.
If Mercy didn’t have enough to worry about, the time is coming where she will have to choose Sam or Adam, the alpha of his pack as her mate. Sam was her friend who hurt her very badly and Adam is a domineering possessive werewolf who won’t let Mercy get away from him. The well plotted mystery contains plenty of suspects but nobody will guess who the killer is because the culprit hides in plain sight giving everyone, including the audience and Mercy, the impression of being a sweet and kind person. IRON KISSED is a wonderful urban fantasy combined with an exciting amateur sleuth mystery.
Harriet Klausner
Patricia Briggs
Ace, Jan 2008, $7.99, 304 pp.
ISBN 978044105665
The werewolves have come out of the closet (at least the woods) to let the humans know they exist. The Grey Lords forced the fae to reveal themselves as well. Because they are so powerful, they live on reservations guarded by human security. Mercy Thomas, a walker (a shapeshifter who turns into a coyote) is asked by her friend and mentor Zee to come to the reservation to see if she can scent out the killer of various fae.
One scent is present at all the killings sites, the human guard O’Donnell. When Zee and his and Mercy’s friend find him, he is being torn apart by an unseen person. Zee asks Mercy to leave; the next thing she hears is Zee has been arrested for O’Donnell’s murder. He is not talking to the human authorities and doesn’t want Mercy to interfere but she won’t let her friend be tried for murder because the fae especially the Grey Lords think that will make the problem of human fearing the fae go away. She investigates on her own and gets caught in the trap that was set for the killer.
If Mercy didn’t have enough to worry about, the time is coming where she will have to choose Sam or Adam, the alpha of his pack as her mate. Sam was her friend who hurt her very badly and Adam is a domineering possessive werewolf who won’t let Mercy get away from him. The well plotted mystery contains plenty of suspects but nobody will guess who the killer is because the culprit hides in plain sight giving everyone, including the audience and Mercy, the impression of being a sweet and kind person. IRON KISSED is a wonderful urban fantasy combined with an exciting amateur sleuth mystery.
Harriet Klausner
Wednesday, October 31, 2007
Naughty by Nature-Barbara Pierce
Naughty by Nature
Barbara Pierce
St. Martin's, Dec 2007, $6.99
ISBN: 9780312947965
In 1808 teenager Patience Farnlay met and fell in love with an actor. She ran off with him joining his traveling troupe. However, not long afterward she learns a lesson re the fickleness of love when he abandons her and his troupe. She takes over, but being inexperienced and young finds the other performers ignore her.
When Earl Fowler “Ram” Knowden meets Patience, he knows she is the perfect companion for his reclusive sister Meredith, whose visage was scarred in a fire. She accepts the position. As she tries to be a friend to Meredith, Patience falls in love with her employer; he reciprocates. However, she distrusts men and love while he has a bad experience with a woman to overcome too.
This is a fascinating regency romance mostly because of the uniqueness of the two prime females. Readers will sympathize with Meredith whose life in her opinion and much of the Ton went up in flames and like her peers believe she would have been better off dead. Patience is an interesting protagonist as she lives up to her name when it comes to Meredith, but become impatient when it comes to Ram, who is typical of the male of the sub-genre. Fans will appreciate this fine historical.
Harriet Klausner
Barbara Pierce
St. Martin's, Dec 2007, $6.99
ISBN: 9780312947965
In 1808 teenager Patience Farnlay met and fell in love with an actor. She ran off with him joining his traveling troupe. However, not long afterward she learns a lesson re the fickleness of love when he abandons her and his troupe. She takes over, but being inexperienced and young finds the other performers ignore her.
When Earl Fowler “Ram” Knowden meets Patience, he knows she is the perfect companion for his reclusive sister Meredith, whose visage was scarred in a fire. She accepts the position. As she tries to be a friend to Meredith, Patience falls in love with her employer; he reciprocates. However, she distrusts men and love while he has a bad experience with a woman to overcome too.
This is a fascinating regency romance mostly because of the uniqueness of the two prime females. Readers will sympathize with Meredith whose life in her opinion and much of the Ton went up in flames and like her peers believe she would have been better off dead. Patience is an interesting protagonist as she lives up to her name when it comes to Meredith, but become impatient when it comes to Ram, who is typical of the male of the sub-genre. Fans will appreciate this fine historical.
Harriet Klausner
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