A Royal Baby Surprise - Cat Schield

A Royal Baby Surprise

Cat Schield

Harlequin Desire, Aug 1 2015, $5.25

ISBN: 9780373734061

Though part of the Sherdana Royals, Nic Alessandro has lived in America for the past decade; as he pursues his dream of the private sector exploring space.  His excitement turns to horror when the rocket exploded leaving a Griffin Project teammate dead.  Blaming himself, Nic leaves the States, and his best friend and girlfriend Professor Brooke Davis behind.

Carrying their child, Brooke follows her beloved to a Greek isle where he stews in guilt before returning home and wearing the mantle of Prince Nic.  Although he wants her, he also warns her they can never be permanent as she is unacceptable to be a royal wife.  Taking a pregnant pause, Brooke wonders whether to conceal their unborn from Prince Nic even as he brings her to the Sherdana palace for a royal welcoming.

The second Sherdana Royals is a delightful contemporary as love and a baby on the way may not be enough to overcome tradition, especially when Nic’s mom the queen rejects the American (his sister and sister-in-law warmly welcome Brooke).  Though Brooke’s dilemma whether to tell or not to tell does not reach the angst level faced by Lady Olivia Darcy in the opening act (see Royal Heirs Required), A Royal Baby Surprise is a pleasant romance.

Harriet Klausner

The Color of Light - Emilie Richards

The Color of Light

Emilie Richards

Mira, Jul 28 2015, $24.95

ISBN 9780778318248

In Asheville, North Carolina, Charlotte Hale gave her fortune to four women with the stipulation they use her money to help women in need.  The beneficiaries created Goddesses Anonymous as they began assisting others.  One of the recipients, Church of the Covenant Minister Analiese Wagner might have married someone else who since died, but always loved forbidden Father Isaiah Colburn.

Analiese meets the homeless Fowler family of four from Ohio in need of shelter, food and medicine (especially for the diabetic mom).  She places them in the church parish house.  However, angry council members believe she needed their permission and give her two weeks to find a more suitable abode even as Christmas will soon arrive.  The reaction of her church leaders upset Analiese who cannot believe they would harm a family in need due to a power grab.  She wonders if she should forget pastoring and return to journalism even as the love of her life Father Isiah has returned to see her while at the crossroads between remaining a priest and becoming a loving husband.

The fourth Goddesses Anonymous drama (see Mountain Away, Somewhere Between Luck and Trust, No River Too Wide) is an interesting inspirational in which the Fowlers (particularly young teen Shiloh) steal the show; as they personalize the Depression (to them it is not a recession).  Reverend Ana feels overwhelmed, depressed and considers quitting, but still believes in the Lord and good deeds.  The Father Isaiah subplot augments the tale of the minister drowning under diverse pressure, but refusing to give up the good fight.

Harriet Klausner

Hired By The Brooding Billionaire - Kandy Shepherd

Hired By The Brooding Billionaire

Kandy Shepherd

Harlequin Romance, Aug 1 2015, $5.99

ISBN: 9780373743506

In Sydney, following complaints by his wealthy neighbors about his rundown estate, reclusive billionaire widower Declan Grant hires horticulturist Shelley Fairhill to fix his mansion’s neglected jungle that used to be a garden.  Declan makes it clear to his temporary gardener that once she finishes the job, she is to leave so he peacefully can return to mourning the deaths of his wife and baby as he has for the last two years.

Upbeat Shelley ignores her client’s insistence that he wants to be alone.  Her constant cheerfulness inspires his return to his vocation as he begins creating his first video game since his loved ones died.  As they slowly fall in love, panicking Declan allows a minor setback to end their relationship.

This tender second chance (at life and love) contemporary is a warm gradually percolating tale in which the romance cleverly mirrors the blossoming of the flowers in the garden.  The storyline is summed up fascinatingly by Declan who considers Shelley as an Australian Pollyanna princess in his newest fantasy game.

Harriet Klausner

A Wedding On Primrose Street - Sheila Roberts

A Wedding On Primrose Street

Sheila Roberts

Mira, Jul 28 2015, $7.99

ISBN: 9780778318156

In Icicle Falls, Washington wedding planner Anne Richardson believes the Primrose Haus is the ideal location for her daughter Laney’s upcoming nuptials.  However, there is one big obstacle for the mother of the bride to host the event there; Laney insists on Las Vegas.  Positive that her daughter would fall in love with Icicle Falls and Primrose Haus like she has and agree to the wedding she did not have; Anne convinces her stubborn offspring to spend a weekend with her in the picturesque Pacific Northwest town.  Laney acquiesces to a couple days just to shut up politely her obstinate mom.

Septuagenarian Primrose Haus owner Roberta Gilbert has adult children issues too.  Her depressed daughter Daphne wants a job working for her mom.  However, Roberta knows that serial divorced Daphne is not the paragon of a happily married person; whereas additionally the business requires calm and order instead of what the queen of chaos theory.

The latest Life in Icicle Falls' contemporary (see The Lodge On Holly Road, The Tea Shop On Lavender Lane and The Cottage On Juniper Ridge) is a fine family drama that looks deeply at the relationship between a mother and her adult daughter.  The leisurely-paced storyline is enhanced by the moms’ memories of their ties with their moms.  Series fans will want to attend A Wedding On Primrose Street.

Harriet Klausner

The Forgotten - Heather Graham

The Forgotten

Heather Graham

Mira, Jul 28 2015, $7.99

ISBN: 9780778317890

In South Florida, fortyish Maria Gomez mourns deeply the loss of her husband of twenty-five years Miguel.  Her family worries about her seemingly inability to connect with anyone or do anything.  However her kin never anticipated her murder even if Miguel was involved with the Barillo syndicate.

Brett Cody leads the investigation into the homicide of the grieving widow.  He focuses his inquiry on the mob since Miguel’s finger was found in a dolphin tank at Sea Life.  New Floridian and Sea Life employee Lara Mayhew (see The Silenced) assists Brett as her skill with dolphins may enable them to find other body parts in the nearby bay.  However when zombies attack those they loved when they were human (similar to The Strain), the FBI sends the Krewe to help on the case.

The latest Krewe of Hunters urban fantasy romantic police procedural (see The Betrayed, The Cursed and The Hexed) is a likable entry as Heather Graham adroitly deploys zombies and dolphins.  The cast except for the dolphins and the heroine (only for those who read her support role in The Silenced) are underdeveloped.  Still this is a refreshing entry since the leads are not Krewe, but deal with the paranormal and their love like seasoned hunters.

Harriet Klausner

Kiss Me - Susan Mallery

Kiss Me

Susan Mallery

Harlequin HQN, Jun 30 2015, $7.99

ISBN: 9780373780129

In Fool’s Gold, California Zane Nicholson raises his rebellious teenage half-brother Chase.  Unlike Zane who relishes his hermitic existence, Chase loathes life on his older sibling’s ranch.  Always seeking a ticket out of Hicksville, Chase finds a means to fund his robotics.  He sells a cattle drive reality “show” to fools.  Zane rages at his irresponsible younger brother as he is the sucker forced to keep safe paying customers, whose only knowledge of cattle come from eating. 

Flighty Phoebe Kitzke is suspended from work for crossing a professional line even if her motive and intentions were out of kindness.  Her BFF Maya persuades her to come with her to Fool’s Gold where her stepbrothers host a cattle drive spectacular.  Filled with ire, Zane has polar opposite reactions to Pollyanna Phoebe who holds chats with animals (including his cattle).  Her always rah-rah optimism drives him crazy, but not as much as his desire for her. 

The nineteenth Fool’s Gold contemporary (see Hold Me) is at its best during the cattle drive as two paragons of virtue (and psychological issues) fall in love.  The lead couple making a match of it in near record time seems doubtful; as per his siblings Zane keeps a standard of conduct unattainable by anyone except perhaps Mother Teresa; while Phoebe is all shoot from the heart with apparently no social awareness of crossing taboos.  Still Susan Mallory authors a delightful tale as armchair readers will relish this cattle drive romance.

Harriet Klausner

1636: The Cardinal Virtues - Eric Flint and Walter H Hunt

1636: The Cardinal Virtues

Eric Flint and Walter H Hunt

Baen, Jul 7 2015, $26.00

ISBN: 9781476780610

In the summer of 1635 in Paris, King Louis still waits for a child he and his French subjects can call heir, but in spite of two decades of an alliance marriage to the daughter of Spain's King Philip III, Queen Aña Maria Mauricia, no baby has been born.  The monarch in waiting remains his brother Gaston d’Orleans. 

Cardinal Richelieu deploys a scheme to allow him to maintain his position of power.  His efforts succeed in impregnating her royal highness.  To keep the Queen safe, Richelieu hides her from those Frenchmen like d’Orleans and foreign governments who prefer the current ruler goes to his grave without siring the next king.  As a civil war seems imminent in divided France, outside interests take sides.

The nineteenth Ring of Fire alternate history focuses on France, which has been a major but never prime locale in the long running saga.  The cast is solid though overwhelmingly abundant even with the Grantville crowd limited; while readers learn more about recurring characters like Richelieu and d’Orleans.  The storyline contains plenty of escapades and for the most part moves quickly forward; but never climaxes as The Cardinal Virtues is the appetizer for at least the next entry.

Harriet Klausner