Thrill Me - Susan Mallery

Thrill Me

Susan Mallery

Harlequin HQN, Jul 28 2015, $7.99

ISBN: 9780373788989

Ten years ago, Maya Farlow ended her engagement to Del Mitchell because of her relationship doubts and anxieties in spite of her love for him.  She left Fool’s Gold, California to attend college, breaking two hearts.

Mayor Marsha hires Maya to be the town’s communications chief.  Her biggest problem is controlling local cable superstars Eddie and Gladys until Madam Mayor assigns her to work with celebrity extreme sports guru Del on creating promotional videos based on the theme that Fool’s Gold is “The Destination for Romance”.  Working together, Maya and Del know they still love one another, but both remain reluctant to risk rejection.

Even as several key support characters act as expected (not surprising after twenty books), the final romance in the latest Fool’s Gold trilogy (see Kiss Me and Hold Me) is a delightful contemporary that also seems to act as a bridge to start a new series starring the hero’s siblings.  This is a wonderful second chance at love romance predominantly because Maya and Del have matured and changed since their failed first time.

Harriet Klausner

Texas Rebels: Falcon - Linda Warren

Texas Rebels: Falcon

Linda Warren

Harlequin American, Aug 1 2015, $5.50

ISBN: 9780373755783

Over seventeen years ago, Leah Rebel gave birth to a daughter Eden.  However, her husband Falcon noticed his wife was not the same.  Three months after their child was born, Leah leaves behind a note with no warm salutations explaining she needs time.  In the present single dad Falcon reflects on he waited long enough for his spouse to come home to her family and that he never could explain to Eden why her mom abandoned her and him. 

Thus Falcon is stunned when Leah arrives at the ranch with one request: to meet Eden, but also promises to disappear forever afterward.  Though he wants to loath her and resents her desertion, Falcon feels like a fool because he still loves her.  He also thinks Leah has been dishonest about why she left and where she has been since she vanished.  Even his argument that Eden needs her mom fails to sway her to stay in touch.  Falcon vows to learn what frightens his wife that she ran away once and looks ready to bolt again.

Though over the top, the second Texas Rebels ranch romance (see Egan) is a suspenseful, entertaining second chance at family.  The single dad and his teenage daughter are pleasing characters, but the enigmatic runaway makes for a fascinating drama.

Harriet Klausner

Seduced by the Moon - Linda Thomas-Sundstrom

Seduced by the Moon

Linda Thomas-Sundstrom

Harlequin Nocturne, Aug 1 2015, $5.75

ISBN: 9780373009510

Following the accidental death of her father, Skylar Donovan leaves Miami to clean out his Colorado mountain cabin.  Since sleeping in her late dad’s favorite vacation spot; for the last four nights Skylar dreams of werewolves but especially focused on one hunk.

Her “dream guy” Colorado Forest Ranger Gavin Harris arrives to warn her of recent animal killings and to suggest she stay in town.  Rejecting the official findings in her dad’s death, Skylar refuses to leave until she learns what happened to her father.  Gavin wishes she would heed his cautionary advice because this werewolf cannot be distracted by his desire for the Floridian while he hunts the beast who changed him before this predator harms others especially this female he already cherishes.

The third Linda Thomas-Sundstrom’s Wolf Moon paranormal romance (see Wolf Hunter and Wolf Born) stars two fabulous protagonists and a remarkably vile antagonist in a tense thriller.  The triangle consisting of love and death make for a magnificent Rocky Mountain contemporary romantic fantasy.

Harriet Klausner

Her Second-Chance Family - Holly Jacobs

Her Second-Chance Family

Holly Jacobs

Harlequin SuperRomance, Aug 1 2015, $6.75

ISBN: 9780373609239

In Western Pennsylvania, every Saturday for the past month, teenager Willow Jones arrives at the home of Sawyer Williams offering to mow his lawn as a means to balance her karma after the police caught her trying to steal items from his home.  Unlike the three previous visits, this time Sawyer accepts Willow’s offer though he distrusts her.  Sitting in the driver’s seat observing the interplay, Willow’s foster mom Audrey Smith feels good about the banker giving her ward a chance to make amends.

A “green” architect Audrey understands second, third and nineth chances; a decade ago she and her high school BFFs were in a car accident that left a mom dead and her friendships over.  Audrey became a foster mother to the victim’s son Clinton and his buddy Bea.  Willow joined their family soon after her arrest, but refuses to divulge her partners in the break-in.  As Audrey works her upbeat magic on everyone but herself; she and Sawyer fall in love.  However, a successful B&E theft has Sawyer doubting Willow at the cost of his relationship with Audrey.

Once again placing her family drama in the Erie, Pennsylvania area (see the Valley Ridge romances), Holly Jacobs authors an inspiring optimistic contemporary.  The three kids (especially Old Soul Willow) steal the show by grounding their Mary Poppins-Pollyanna paragon foster mom.  Character-driven, this bubbly drama makes an argument that love and forgiving instead of DNA defines a functional caring family.

Harriet Klausner

The Toy Taker - Luke Delaney

The Toy Taker

Luke Delaney

Harper, Jul 28 2015, $7.99

ISBN: 9780062219503

In London an unwanted visitor stealthily enters homes and abducts small children.  None of the victim’s family hear any noises or are there any signs of a stranger breaking into their abode.  The latest kidnapped child is four years old George Bridgeman who if not rescued soon will be dead.

With immense pressure on New Scotland Yard, the brass reassigns Detective Investigator Sean Corrigan and his team to the Special Investigation Unit with one case: end this ghost’s reign of terror.  Still somewhat recovering from his last harrowing inquiry (see The Keeper), Corrigan hates the armchair detectives watching and criticizing every move he and his subordinates make.  Adding to his trepidations of failure, Corrigan fears he lost his talent to get inside the head of a psychopath though he desperately tries before the next snatch occurs.

The third awesome DI Sean Corrigan British police procedural (see Cold Killing) is a tense whodunit as the adept (at abduction) adversary proves a worthy antagonist for the hero and his subordinates.  The cast (especially family members and the desk jockey top management) adds layers to this electrifying thriller; but this cat and mouse mystery belongs to the title character and the DI pursuing him or her.

Harriet Klausner

Killing Pretty - Richard Kadrey

Killing Pretty

Richard Kadrey

Harper Voyager, Jul 28 2015, $25.99

ISBN 9780062373106

At the video store where he works Nephilim James “Sandman Slim” Stark ironically prays for a purebred human case like following a cheating spouse after some of his more recent encounters with Old Gods and a fragment of a God, and a gig as Lucifer.  Many of the survivors of his inquiries want him dead after partaking in the immense pleasure of an eternity of torturing him.  Slim also struggles with the physically changed Candy who insists she is Chihiro.

His P.I. boss Julie Sola prefers using the Los Angeles-based private investigator’s special talent as a hybrid human-angel on special inquiries.  Someone with extraordinary skills dumps Death inside the body of a mortal before removing the human host’s heart; leaving the man and Death dead.  Now no one dies; so Sola assigns Stark to find and capture Death’s killer with a prayer that this culprit can return order (meaning death to the human masses) to the universe.

The seventh Sandman Slim irreverent amusing urban fantasy (see The Getaway God, Kill City Blues and Devil Said Bang) is a much less perilous affair (for Slim) than usual as this time the existence of the universe is not at stake though order on a Malthus level is.  Fast-paced as always, Stark and his allies (once again very loose definition as he believes the word team contains the letter I since he does not play well with others) hunt for a predator in this low-key entry.

Harriet Klausner

Pretty Baby - Mary Kubica

Pretty Baby

Mary Kubica

Mira, Jul 28 2015, $24.95

ISBN 9780778317708

In Chicago, Chris Wood and his tweener daughter Zoe know his wife, her mom Heidi is a fanatic when it comes to helping the impoverished and the illiterate; many who fall into both categories.  Chris and Zoe accept Heidi’s tirades as well as her working diligently at a not-for-profit though mostly they ignore her outbursts.

However, neither her husband nor her child expected Heidi to bring into their home, homeless teenager Willow Greer and her four-month old baby Ruby.  Ignoring her spouse and her daughter, Heidi obsesses on caring for Willow and Ruby.  Meanwhile, a concerned Chris looks into Willow’s past as he fears his wife may have brought a dangerous serpent to live with them.

With a superb cast that comes alive by rotating perspective between the three members of the Wood family and Willow, Pretty Baby is a profound psychological thriller that provides a captivating look at how differently (theory of relativity) each sees the newcomers and in turn Willow sees her benefactors.  Flashbacks to traumas enhance a taut twisting drama.

Harriet Klausner