Lead Me Home-Vicki Lewis Thompson

Lead Me Home


Vicki Lewis Thompson

Harlequin Blaze, Jun 19 2012, $5.25

ISBN: 9780373796977



In Jackson Hole, Wyoming, Last Chance Ranch hires horse-whisperer Matthew Treadway to train problem horse Houdini. Jeb Branford meets Matthew at the airport and suggests they stop at a restaurant for tasty food as the meals of the temporary cook Aurelia Imogene Smith are so awful everyone is on a diet. He says no one eats escargot on a ranch though Matthew would beg to differ.



When Matthew and Aurelia meet, the attraction stuns both of them. He agrees to talk to her about her menu. As they unite to create ranch friendly repasts, they also enjoy a tryst. Though they fall in love, she knows he will leave soon.



The latest Sons of Chance ranch romance (see Cowboys Like Us) is a fun lighthearted affair starring two temps, the cook (part of the job description is falling in love) and trainer, fall in love. Readers will wonder what Aurelia will come up with next while Matthew is a magician when it comes to horses but a failure when it comes to his woman.



Harriet Klausner

The CEO’s Unexpected Proposal-Karen Rose Smith

The CEO’s Unexpected Proposal


Karen Rose Smith

Harlequin Special Edition, Jun 19 2012, $5.25

ISBN: 9780373656837



In Miners Bluff, Arizona, music therapist Mikala Conti and construction CEO Dawson Barrett meet at their fifteenth year high school reunion. She still considers him her hero when he rescued her from a bad prom scenario. Dawson was apparently her unrequited crush before he abruptly vanished.



The widower is coming home to live in order to help his troubled ten year old son Luke who tried to run away to stay with his school sponsored Internet buddy in Kentucky. He hires her to work with Luke who was in the car when his mom Kelly died in a crash while driving on ice. As the adults fall in love, both know disturbed Luke comes first, but neither can resist their attraction a first degree effect may end their second chance relationship.



The third Reunion Brides (see His Daughter … Their Child and Once Upon a Groom) contemporary romance is a fabulous family drama made poignant by Luke though most readers will guess what is causing his depression beyond grief. The cast is strong as everyone rallies around troubled Luke and the spotlight on music therapy (an occupation my sister-in-law does) enhances Karen Rose Smith’s engaging character driven tale.



Harriet Klausner

There's a Head on the Beach-Colin Cotterill

There's a Head on the Beach


Colin Cotterill

Minotaur, Jun 19 2012, $24.99

ISBN: 9780312564544



Thirtyish Jimm Juree remains reeling from her mother’s decision to sell the family home and business without warning. The matriarch moved the extended family from the north to the south to Chumphon Province off of the Gulf of Siam leaving Jimm heartbroken as she was on the verge of having the Chiang Mai Daily Mail naming her as the second female senior crime reporter in Thailand (see (see Killed at the Whim of a Hat).



In her new rural home, Jimm finds a head on the beach. The Southern Rescue Mission Foundation sends two thugs to insure Jimm understands she saw nothing. Though she lost her journalism position, Jimm like any good reporter does not accept threats; instead of running away from the crime, she investigates the head on the beach.



The second Jimm Juree Thai mystery is a wonderful jocular whodunit in which mangled phonetic lyrics from pop songs and eccentric family dynamics are merged effortlessly with an insightful look at a major rights issue. The storyline is fast-paced from the onset as readers will enjoy watching the “Dancing Queen” (ABBA) do her investigative gig.



Harriet Klausner

Hideout-Kathleen George

Hideout


Kathleen George

Minotaur, Jun 19 2012, $15.99

ISBN: 9781250007490



In Pittsburgh, stoned Ryan Rutter decides to scare a female pedestrian walking in a park. He steers his truck towards her planning to just miss her; but he miscalculates and hits her. He and his passenger his younger brother Jack flee the crime scene. They head to a remote Sugar Lake cabin that their family rented when they were kids from Tom Jensen who tossed them out of it due to the vandalism.



Pittsburgh night duty police detective Colleen Greer leads the hit and run homicide investigation. The victim is Allegany General cafeteria staff Joanna Navarro. Colleen’s boss Commander Richard Christie joins her as she makes inquiries; also on the case are PPD Artie Dolan and John Potocki.



While Jack obtains handyman work from elderly neighbor Addie Ward, Ryan plots a robbery. When Tom arrives at his cabin, Ryan takes away his rifle and threatens to kill him and likewise Addie too. As law enforcement from the greater Pittsburgh area compete to capture the siblings, Ryan plans to blow away the two witnesses who can identify them.



This is a strong Pittsburgh police procedural (see The odds); as Jack steals the show from the cops and his psychopathic older brother with his obsessed need to protect Ryan, reversing their childhood. Fast-paced from the moment readers meet the brothers when Ryan’s friend is rushed to the hospital to save his life from an overdose, fans will relish this psychological thriller as Jack knows right from wrong but defending Jack supersedes his moral barometer, which is constantly tested.



Harriet Klausner

This Is Not a Test-Courtney Summers

This Is Not a Test


Courtney Summers

St. Martin's Griffin, Jun 19 2012, $9.99

ISBN: 9780312656744



When her older sister Lily fled from their physically abusive father, she left her younger sibling Cortege High School junior Sloane as his only victim. With mom buried, six months since Lily betrayed her when she abandoned her, Sloane increasingly considers suicide.



Her “To be or not to be” contemplation ends when the world ends. Sloane and five other teens (Harrison, Grace, Rhys, Cary and Trace) are trapped inside the high school prison while outside zombies over run the town. The sextet easily converts the building into a fortress knowing that for now they have plenty of food and water. As they struggle to survive in an oasis surrounded by hell, power fights occur while Sloane thinks of what she will say to lily when they next meet.



This is an intriguing young adult zombie thriller that focuses on staying alive rather than on the nightmare outside the school; ergo the action is limited while how the characters behave during the crisis is the prime storyline. The six protagonists have different personalities though we meet them through Sloane’s melancholic filter or in-fighting; Harrison showcases her lens as the readers learn almost nothing about him compared to the others except in Sloane’s mind he is a weeping non. Dark with a sort of On the beach (by Nevil Shute) mentality, fans who enjoy a psychological thriller will want to read this fascinating zombie apocalypse now.



Harriet Klausner

Survivors (Morningstar Strain)-Z.A. Recht

Survivors (Morningstar Strain)


Z.A. Recht

Permuted Press/Gallery, Jun 19 2012, $15.00

ISBN: 9781451628821



First seen in Africa, global authorities tried to contain the spread of The Morningstar Strain by quarantining the continent only. The international leaders chose politics over world safety as they ignored US Army Medical Research Institute of Infectious Diseases expert Anna DeMilio’s suggestion to isolate victims wherever the disease surfaced (see Plague of the Dead). Now billions are infected.



The pandemic is global with the strain turning people into raging zombies. Mankind’s only hope to avoid extinction rests with Anna who has retreated from the growing menace thanks to special agent Mason who rescued her from agent Sawyer and his Reunited States of America military rogue handlers. Sawyer’s orders are to bring the virologist to the Chairman who believes she has the antidote for the disease that is transmitted by bites. Special Forces General Sherman and his unit escort Anna and Mason to a top secret bio-hazard lab in the Omaha area so that the virologist can work on the cure. General Shannon’s friend Commander Harris tries to find them as one of his solders was bitten twice by zombies and proves to be immune to the virus. Sawyer and his army continue their search for DeMilio with no regard to collateral damage.



The third and final Morningstar Strain zombie thriller (see Thunder and Ashes) is an exciting apocalyptic tale as the disease appears to be winning partly because of avarice power mongers with no regard for anyone else. That frailty adds to the creepiness as Z.A Recht emphasizes the Survivors rather than the zombies (who are more in the background) as he makes his key cast seem real while humanity’s existence seems at its end.



Harriet Klausner

Five Miles South of Peculiar-Angela Hunt

Five Miles South of Peculiar


Angela Hunt

Howard, Jun 5 2012, $14.99

ISBN: 9781439182048



On Jul 3, 1968 Charles Caldwell dies at his estate Sycamores near Peculiar, Florida. Avaricious Jackson County officials know that on Jul 3 2018, Sycamores will become county property.



Charles had three grandchildren. Carlene left their home town to become a Broadway star; her career ended when she lost her singing voice due to medical negligence so she has come home. Her twin sister, Darlene, remained behind to manage Sycamores and raise a family there while being jealous of her sibling who she does not want to come home. Their younger sister Magnolia raises her dogs Lucy and Ricky, and works her fabulous garden on a plot on Sycamores.



Though there is too much happenchance moving the tender family drama forward, readers will enjoy this warm southern tale. The viewpoint rotates the third person lead amidst the siblings so that the audience knows how each feels about life, alleged wrongs (MLB should adopt the scoring system), family and Sycamores. As the older sisters turn fifty, fans will wonder whether Charles granddaughters will forgive one another and themselves over supposed transgressions or will grudges keep them apart.



Harriet Klausner