A Rancher of Her Own - Barbara White Daille

A Rancher of Her Own

Barbara White Daille

Harlequin American, Jul 1 2015, $5.50

ISBN: 9780373755776

International photographer Jane Garland returns home to the family ranch in Cowboy Creek, New Mexico to attend a wedding (see The Cowboy's Little Surprise).  Having successfully brought together the bride and groom, Jane’s Grandpa Jed decides she is his next matchmaking project.  Jed knows the odds are stacked against his going two for two especially when he selects his ranch manager single dad Pete Brannigan as Jane’s future husband.

Although attracted to Jane, Pete rejects his heart’s desire in order to protect his young children (Rachel and Eric) from being hurt by another career woman who he assumes behaves the same as their career before family mother.  Bucking the seemingly minimal probability of success, Jed orchestrates the match between two obstinate people who ignore their love for one another as each accepts the children come before their respective desire.

The second Hitching Post Hotel contemporary is an enjoyable ranch romance starring leads who expect their shaky relationship to fail before it can truly begin; as love is not enough.  Grandpa Jed and his young posse bring enchantment to the storyline; as he rejects the Pygmalion Effect proving he is more stubborn than the intended match.

Harriet Klausner

A Royal Amnesia Scandal - Jules Bennett

A Royal Amnesia Scandal

Jules Bennett

Harlequin Desire, Jul 1 2015, $5.25

ISBN: 97800373734016

As he counted down the days until he turned thirty-five, Ilha Beleza Prince Lucas Silva needed to marry to secure his place as heir to the throne.  He proposed to his girlfriend Alana who insisted she carried his baby.  However when he learned she lied, he ended their engagement and fled to a private island off the Portugal coast with only his personal assistant Kate Barton with him.

Although attracted to each other even before he dated the debutant who betrayed him, Luc adheres to the regal policy of hands off the staff; while Kate accepts the ethical tenet in spite of being in unrequited love with her employer.  When he suffers a head trauma that causes amnesia, Luc assumes Kate is his fiancée.  Instead of correcting the royal heir, Kate heeds the doctor’s admonition to pretend to be his future bride.  However, as Luc falls in love with Kate, she fears his reaction towards her and even her parents when his memories return.

Jules Bennett’s second royal romance (see What the Prince Wants) is an appealing contemporary starring a dedicated woman in love with her “never after” Prince Charming.  Although amnesia is used too frequently, readers will relish this pleasant tale.

Harriet Klausner

How To Seduce a Cavanaugh - Marie Ferrarella

How To Seduce a Cavanaugh

Marie Ferrarella

Harlequin Romantic Suspense, Jul 1 2015, $5.50

ISBN: 9780373279258

The recurring nightmare and the scar on his chest remind Kane Durant of his childhood trauma when his abusive dad shot and killed his mom and severely wounded him.  Thus the Aurora PD detective takes life extremely seriously at all times and prefers to live and work alone.  Upbeat Detective Kelly Cavanaugh sees joy in life though she’s hard-pressed to tease laconic Kane to say more than three words. 

Well aware they are total opposites; Chief of Detectives Brian Cavanaugh assigns his Grand-niece Kelly, whose partner just retired, as Kane’s seventh in a record setting short span over the loner’s objection.  Robbery Captain Collins assigns the new teammates to investigate a series of home invasions.  As the misanthrope and Pollyanna work together, she empathizes when she learns the truth re his tragedy; but neither is ready for an attraction between them.

The latest Cavanaugh Justice (see Cavanaugh Fortune) is a brisk, at times amusing, entry due to the fresh lead male and the changing attitude by his partner towards him after she learns what happened to him.  The case takes a back seat to the relationship metamorphous as the truth sets both free to fall in love.

Harriet Klausner

His Rebel Heart - Amber Leigh Williams

His Rebel Heart

Amber Leigh Williams

Harlequin SuperRomance, Jul 1 2015, $6.75

ISBN: 9780373609178

After being away for over seven years, James Bracken returns home to Fairhope, Alabama, a town in which he vowed never to come back.  His neighbor florist Adrian Carlton is irate and afraid of James being next door.  When he left town, James abandoned her and their unborn child.  When James meets Adrian’s child Kyle, he knows by the age and especially the blue eyes that he is the father and demands time with his son.  Instead she tells him to stay away from her and her son as he has no rights.

Filled with regret for what he did to Adrian and Kyle, and the lost opportunity to share a dream with his late dad, James opens up Bracken Mechanics.  When he learns that Adrian married abusive Radley, James struggles with not battering the SOB.  As James and Adrian realize they remain in love, Kyle comes first; but Radley has other plans for his ex.

Though the theme is not new and Radley the psychopath has no redeeming quality whatsoever, His Rebel Heart is an enjoyable second chance at family drama.  Readers will root for the mama bear protecting her cub at risk to herself and the remorseful rebel with a cause to come together.

Harriet Klausner

Waiting For The Cool Kind Of Crazy - M.D. Moore

Waiting For The Cool Kind Of Crazy

M.D. Moore

Black Rose Writing, Jan 29 2015, $17.95

www.blackrosewriting.com

ISBN: 9781612964706

The police tazes Harmon Burke; who thinks how pathetic that his last meal for defending his bipolar paranoid schizophrenic mother Cece before lockup is peanut butter.  Still he faces Washington State three-strikes you’re out law for battering the next door neighbors while Cece will return to Rainier Psychiatric Treatment Center.  Harmon explains to the cops that the neighbors used a bat while fighting with his mom.  Eddy the Port Defiance officer owes fortyish Harmon a favor from years ago.  He persuades the other party to drop their complaint; Eddy frees Harmon with a warning: no more get out of jail cards.

At his antiques restorer shop, Harmon waits for a potential renter of his vacant next door property when a fire inspector arrives.  Recognizing Reich as nasty classmate Shorty; Harmon quickly realizes he has not changed in stature or personality.  Shorty finds violations and includes a fine that will either close the shop or delay Harmon’s needed cancer treatment until it is too late.  He admonishes Harmon do right by Frank.  When the potential lessee arrives; thinking anyone but her Harmon knows why Frank sent his bulldog.

This is an intriguing drama that looks closely at a long time loser trying to do the “right thing”.  Bewildered Harmon is unsure what he can do for his mom except chasing KGB agents; and aware that helping his new renter angers his influential enemy who will destroy him and his family.  The perceptive look at the impact of mental illness on those closest to the person is astonishingly profound though the key support cast (except Cece) still feels underdeveloped.  This is a fabulous character study of a drowning man.

Harriet Klausner

Flame Tree Road - Shona Patel

Flame Tree Road

Shona Patel

Mira, Jun 30 2015, $14.95

ISBN: 9780778316657

In 1870s East Bengal, India young Biren Roy grieves the death of his father.  However, even more shocking to Biren is to observe the pariah treatment by previously loving family towards his mom for the crime of widowhood.  He vows to change this insane outcast custom.

Biren goes to England to study law and while there joins the women’s suffrage movement.  Eventually he returns to India with a goal to fight for women’s rights starting with education.  Though he feels he climbs Everest in winter and several times is ready to give up on what seems a helpless cause, his beloved Maya keeps him fighting for what each knows is right.

Occurring decades before his descendant’s 1940s Teatime for the Firefly drama, idealistic Biren’s battle to change the Caste System turns this into an excellent Victorian.  His efforts come at a high cost to him and Maya; as community and family ostracize them; but with his beloved’s encouraging him, Biren continues “To dream the impossible dream; … To right the unrightable wrong” (Man of La Mancha - "The Impossible Dream (The Quest)".

Harriet Klausner

The Hardest Fight - Amy Vastine

The Hardest Fight

Amy Vastine

Harlequin Heartwarming, Jul 1 2015, $6.50

ISBN: 9780373367313

Two months ago, Chicago cut out funding the Safe Haven women’s shelter.  This makes it extremely difficult to maintain the service and pay the mortgages on the facility in Logan Square and the office in Lincoln Park.  The City Board wants to convert the shelter into luxurious condos.

Prime Developer led by affluent Ms. Clayton sends a retinue to negotiate a deal.  Their lawyer is Dylan Hunt; while Open Arms Advocacy Center attorney Lucy Everhart represents Safe Haven.  They were an entry at law school as a couple. A healthy competiveness and idealistic advocacy brought them together.  However, five years ago Dylan ended his relationship with his Lulu and obviously turned traitor to their cause.  Each blames the other for breaking their respective heart, but deep down both craves a second chance that ironically both struggles to conceal.

This is an appealing second chance contemporary starring two fascinating protagonists although uncompromising Lucy foolishly can be a bull in a china shop when finessing the more powerful enemy is needed.  The romance of the oldest Everhart “Chicago Sisters” (see The Best-Laid Plans and The Better Man) to the man who left her two years after they graduated law school entertains the Heartwarming audience.

Harriet Klausner