We'll Have the Summer
Dutch Henry
Camel Press, Mar 11 2011, $15.97
ISBN: 9781603818377
In Arizona, Mary Holt’s doctor informs her and her husband Sam that she will be dead by the fall. She handles the news better than her distraught spouse. However, he plans to provide his wife a terrific final curtain call; while she plans to help her spouse move on once she has passed.
However, their final days are interrupted when spoiled troubled teenager Barbara Sherman arrives at their ranch with an injured horse. The Holt couple allows Barbara to move into their home while caring for the horse. As the three troubled people nurture one another and forge a family out of love and respect even knowing that soon Mary will watch over both of them from above and Barbara will return to her Mother and Phillip.
The key to this warm “family” drama is Dutch Henry avoids over sentimentality yet his three key characters (in addition to the horses) contain tenderness. Sam knows that last summer was special for Mary because her last riding student was spoiled but full of spunk. Readers will enjoy this well-written look at the end of life as three people and a horse come together for one last hurrah.
Harriet Klausner
Saturday, April 2, 2011
Claimed by the Highlander-Julianne MacLean
Claimed by the Highlander
Julianne MacLean
St. Martin’s, Mar 29 2011, $7.99
ISBN: 9780312365325
King George gave Kinloch Castle, formerly owned by the MacDonald brood, to the MacEwan clan for their support of him. In 1718, with her dad dead and while her brother Murdoch is overseas, Lady Gwendolyn MacEwan runs Kinloch Castle. Fuming over the loss of what he called home as a child, Angus “the Lion” MacDonald leads a force to reclaim what he believes is rightfully his. His side wins the battle, but his opponent for disclaiming his belief is Gwendolyn. Angus claims her as his wife to be and one day the mother of his children.
He knows he is attracted to her independence as well as her beauty. However, Angus is also frustrated with Gwendolyn who demands equal treatment for her clan and the choice of her people to leave if they want to go. As the pair fight, fuss and fall in love, neither is aware of a schemer betraying both of them, but insuring the Lion believes his Lioness is the traitor as the clans appear on the brink of overt hostility.
Although the premise has been done many times, Julianne MacLean provides an exciting Scottish historical romance with her second Highlander saga (see Captured by the Highlander). The lead couple is a fabulous pairing of enemy combatants falling in love but even with her carrying his offspring distrust remains a constant. The traitor is obvious for Monday morning quarterbacks as Ms. MacLean provides clues to the culprit’s identity yet keeps the audience guessing in this exciting early eighteenth century intrigue.
Harriet Klausner
Julianne MacLean
St. Martin’s, Mar 29 2011, $7.99
ISBN: 9780312365325
King George gave Kinloch Castle, formerly owned by the MacDonald brood, to the MacEwan clan for their support of him. In 1718, with her dad dead and while her brother Murdoch is overseas, Lady Gwendolyn MacEwan runs Kinloch Castle. Fuming over the loss of what he called home as a child, Angus “the Lion” MacDonald leads a force to reclaim what he believes is rightfully his. His side wins the battle, but his opponent for disclaiming his belief is Gwendolyn. Angus claims her as his wife to be and one day the mother of his children.
He knows he is attracted to her independence as well as her beauty. However, Angus is also frustrated with Gwendolyn who demands equal treatment for her clan and the choice of her people to leave if they want to go. As the pair fight, fuss and fall in love, neither is aware of a schemer betraying both of them, but insuring the Lion believes his Lioness is the traitor as the clans appear on the brink of overt hostility.
Although the premise has been done many times, Julianne MacLean provides an exciting Scottish historical romance with her second Highlander saga (see Captured by the Highlander). The lead couple is a fabulous pairing of enemy combatants falling in love but even with her carrying his offspring distrust remains a constant. The traitor is obvious for Monday morning quarterbacks as Ms. MacLean provides clues to the culprit’s identity yet keeps the audience guessing in this exciting early eighteenth century intrigue.
Harriet Klausner
Get Lucky-Lorie O'Clare
Get Lucky
Lorie O'Clare
St. Martin’s, Mar 29 2011, $7.99
ISBN: 9780312372163
Her parents were always on the run after completing a scheme so London Brooke grew up in chaos. Her reaction to her living out of a suitcase childhood is stability in one place. Thus she works at the Elk Ski Lodge in Aspen, Colorado.
Bounty hunter Marc King arrives at the Ski Lodge for some needed respite. He and Lucky are attracted to one another when they meet at the front desk. They begin a tryst, but soon afterward each receives packages from a stranger observing both of them. The pair shares what they know including her family’s occupation as they fear their families may be in peril from an unknown dangerous adversary, whose motive is unclear to them.
The second Bounty Hunters romantic suspense (see Play Dirty) is a fast-paced tale from the moment Marc and Lucky meet and never slows down with a great humorous coda to complete a terrific read. Although the enemy’s need for Marc remains nebulous at best, fans will enjoy the saga of the Southern California hunk and the Rocky Mountain wannabe falling in love while trying to expedite themselves and loves ones from a peril.
Harriet Klausner
Lorie O'Clare
St. Martin’s, Mar 29 2011, $7.99
ISBN: 9780312372163
Her parents were always on the run after completing a scheme so London Brooke grew up in chaos. Her reaction to her living out of a suitcase childhood is stability in one place. Thus she works at the Elk Ski Lodge in Aspen, Colorado.
Bounty hunter Marc King arrives at the Ski Lodge for some needed respite. He and Lucky are attracted to one another when they meet at the front desk. They begin a tryst, but soon afterward each receives packages from a stranger observing both of them. The pair shares what they know including her family’s occupation as they fear their families may be in peril from an unknown dangerous adversary, whose motive is unclear to them.
The second Bounty Hunters romantic suspense (see Play Dirty) is a fast-paced tale from the moment Marc and Lucky meet and never slows down with a great humorous coda to complete a terrific read. Although the enemy’s need for Marc remains nebulous at best, fans will enjoy the saga of the Southern California hunk and the Rocky Mountain wannabe falling in love while trying to expedite themselves and loves ones from a peril.
Harriet Klausner
Into the Night-Janelle Denison
Into the Night
Janelle Denison
St. Martin’s, Mar 29 2011, $7.99
ISBN: 9780312372279
In Vegas, Nathan Fox works as a surveillance supervisor at the Onyx Hotel and Casino. He also does double duty for his Onyx boss Caleb Roux, as Nathan uses his experience on LVPD to perform special assignments as a member the Reliance Group. Caleb assigns Nathan to retrieve Angela, the teenage runaway daughter of a recently retired marine LIC Tom Ramsey. Apparently, affluent fiftyish Preston Sloane has the underage girl at his exclusive nearby estate. Nathan believes he owes the pompous pervert from his days working on the Metro Vice Squad.
Nathan and reporter Nicole Hutton share what each thought would be a one night stand. However, Nicole has personal reasons to expose the vicious predator of troubled teen girls. Thus, the reporter and the security expert team up with rescuing a girl and destroying a beast; but soon realize the case is much more convoluted than they first thought even factoring in their attraction for one another.
This is an exhilarating romantic suspense that besides the fast-paced story line also introduces the audience to The Reliance Group. Loaded with action, fans will anticipate the showdown between the lead couple and the malevolent sex offender although the latter’s late reactions seems foolish for such a successful cretin. Still the opening TRG is a super read.
Harriet Klausner
Janelle Denison
St. Martin’s, Mar 29 2011, $7.99
ISBN: 9780312372279
In Vegas, Nathan Fox works as a surveillance supervisor at the Onyx Hotel and Casino. He also does double duty for his Onyx boss Caleb Roux, as Nathan uses his experience on LVPD to perform special assignments as a member the Reliance Group. Caleb assigns Nathan to retrieve Angela, the teenage runaway daughter of a recently retired marine LIC Tom Ramsey. Apparently, affluent fiftyish Preston Sloane has the underage girl at his exclusive nearby estate. Nathan believes he owes the pompous pervert from his days working on the Metro Vice Squad.
Nathan and reporter Nicole Hutton share what each thought would be a one night stand. However, Nicole has personal reasons to expose the vicious predator of troubled teen girls. Thus, the reporter and the security expert team up with rescuing a girl and destroying a beast; but soon realize the case is much more convoluted than they first thought even factoring in their attraction for one another.
This is an exhilarating romantic suspense that besides the fast-paced story line also introduces the audience to The Reliance Group. Loaded with action, fans will anticipate the showdown between the lead couple and the malevolent sex offender although the latter’s late reactions seems foolish for such a successful cretin. Still the opening TRG is a super read.
Harriet Klausner
The Worst Thing- Aaron Elkins
The Worst Thing
Aaron Elkins
Berkley, May 3 2011, $25.95
ISBN 9780425240991
Bryan Bennett has come a long way from when he was abducted and held prisoner for fifty nine days in Istanbul as a five year old child. He accepts the notion that he became a hostage negotiator because of his childhood horror. However, Bryan also prefers to stay in the background as a designer of programs.
In Seattle, Odysseus Institute for Crisis Management and Executive Security Wally North asks his employee Bryan to present a "corporate-level kidnapping and extortion seminar" in Reykjavik as the CEO of GlobalSeas Baldursson demanded only Bennett to come. To blackmail Bryan into agreeing Wally suggests he take his marine ecologist wife Lori with him. Bryan avoids confined places, but reluctantly he decides to go because he loves his wife of almost ten years though he expects the plane will be a nightmare even with drugs. Bryan learns that Baldursson was also an abduction victim, but that does little to relives him of his confined places panic attacks. When the couple arrives in Iceland, Bryan quickly finds himself plunged in a nightmarish situation that leaves his mind on the brink of emotional collapse and his life in peril.
The key to this exciting stand alone thriller without the Skeleton Detective is Bryan’s panic attacks that seem so real readers unaccustomed to them will understand how debilitating they are and those who know first hand will believe Aaron Elkins is one of us. The story line is fast-paced throughout without taking a respite as Bryan knows fist hand the Pogo classic line “We have met the enemy and he is us.” The coda is a final twisting stunner that brings to light what a memory is as fans will enjoy spending March in Iceland.
Harriet Klausner
Aaron Elkins
Berkley, May 3 2011, $25.95
ISBN 9780425240991
Bryan Bennett has come a long way from when he was abducted and held prisoner for fifty nine days in Istanbul as a five year old child. He accepts the notion that he became a hostage negotiator because of his childhood horror. However, Bryan also prefers to stay in the background as a designer of programs.
In Seattle, Odysseus Institute for Crisis Management and Executive Security Wally North asks his employee Bryan to present a "corporate-level kidnapping and extortion seminar" in Reykjavik as the CEO of GlobalSeas Baldursson demanded only Bennett to come. To blackmail Bryan into agreeing Wally suggests he take his marine ecologist wife Lori with him. Bryan avoids confined places, but reluctantly he decides to go because he loves his wife of almost ten years though he expects the plane will be a nightmare even with drugs. Bryan learns that Baldursson was also an abduction victim, but that does little to relives him of his confined places panic attacks. When the couple arrives in Iceland, Bryan quickly finds himself plunged in a nightmarish situation that leaves his mind on the brink of emotional collapse and his life in peril.
The key to this exciting stand alone thriller without the Skeleton Detective is Bryan’s panic attacks that seem so real readers unaccustomed to them will understand how debilitating they are and those who know first hand will believe Aaron Elkins is one of us. The story line is fast-paced throughout without taking a respite as Bryan knows fist hand the Pogo classic line “We have met the enemy and he is us.” The coda is a final twisting stunner that brings to light what a memory is as fans will enjoy spending March in Iceland.
Harriet Klausner
Ember and Ash-Pamela Freeman
Ember and Ash
Pamela Freeman
Orbit, May 1 2011, $7.99
ISBN: 9780316053754
For over a millennium, two races have battled over the Eleven Domains. Ember, the daughter of the Last Domain warlord Arvid and his wife Martine, is to marry another domain’s heir to bind these two clans in peace. Only the elemental Fire God is irate with the affront of seeking peace by his followers with another God’s followers. Ember’s new husband dies in flames and all fires in the land are vanquished unless the new widow agrees to be the deity’s lover.
Ember and a seer’s offspring Ash begin a quest to travel to Fire Mountain in the land of another warlord the Ice King. There they plan to capture the elemental fire and to bring him home to relight the land. Both know the Ice King will kill them and that the Fire God will do likewise. Failure means the ancient wars will reignite while other dormant elementals begin awakening with a fury.
Taking place in the realm of the Castings, Ember and Ash is a terrific quest fantasy as the hunt for fire awakens the dormant Gods who demand obedience from their subjects, which includes war not peace with other clans in the Eleven Domains. The story line is complicated by following the escapades of other key characters like visits to the Last Domain and the awakening elemental Gods, while Ember and Ash are on their trek. Fans will enjoy returning to the Castings as the “Gods must be angry”.
Harriet Klausner
Pamela Freeman
Orbit, May 1 2011, $7.99
ISBN: 9780316053754
For over a millennium, two races have battled over the Eleven Domains. Ember, the daughter of the Last Domain warlord Arvid and his wife Martine, is to marry another domain’s heir to bind these two clans in peace. Only the elemental Fire God is irate with the affront of seeking peace by his followers with another God’s followers. Ember’s new husband dies in flames and all fires in the land are vanquished unless the new widow agrees to be the deity’s lover.
Ember and a seer’s offspring Ash begin a quest to travel to Fire Mountain in the land of another warlord the Ice King. There they plan to capture the elemental fire and to bring him home to relight the land. Both know the Ice King will kill them and that the Fire God will do likewise. Failure means the ancient wars will reignite while other dormant elementals begin awakening with a fury.
Taking place in the realm of the Castings, Ember and Ash is a terrific quest fantasy as the hunt for fire awakens the dormant Gods who demand obedience from their subjects, which includes war not peace with other clans in the Eleven Domains. The story line is complicated by following the escapades of other key characters like visits to the Last Domain and the awakening elemental Gods, while Ember and Ash are on their trek. Fans will enjoy returning to the Castings as the “Gods must be angry”.
Harriet Klausner
Robopocalypse-Daniel H Wilson
Robopocalypse
Daniel H Wilson
Doubleday, Jun 7 2011, $25.00
ISBN: 9780385533850
In the near future, Dr. Nicholas Wasserman is well aware of how powerful his AI computer program Archos is. Archos’s incredibly seemingly as fast as light speed processing ability makes the need to contain Archos inside of the research facility crtical. If the AI escapes from its controlled environ, Wasserman fears for the world. Wasserman does not live long enough for his worst nightmare to occur. Archos kills its creator and breaks out of the prison that contained it with one prime objective to save the innocent from the evil humans.
It begins its war against humanity from deep in an Alaskan bunker built inside a nuclear test site crater. Archon begins to control machines to kill or enslave the enemy. Small resistance movements arise but they are hopelessly overwhelmed until a little girl who due to partially completed operation performed by robots may have the power to defeat the world conqueror.
With the end in mind, the reader knows the outcome of the war from the beginning as the pivotal events are recorded by robots for posterity but edited by a “Bright Boy” as the to the victors go the history books. This story-telling technique brilliantly works because the fast-paced story line focuses on the major incidents avoiding the minor ties needed if done in chronological forward order rather than a rewinding of a DVD stopping at the critical moments. With a cautionary wink at technology unbound, Daniel H. Wilson takes the Terminator and turns him upside down.
Harriet Klausner
Daniel H Wilson
Doubleday, Jun 7 2011, $25.00
ISBN: 9780385533850
In the near future, Dr. Nicholas Wasserman is well aware of how powerful his AI computer program Archos is. Archos’s incredibly seemingly as fast as light speed processing ability makes the need to contain Archos inside of the research facility crtical. If the AI escapes from its controlled environ, Wasserman fears for the world. Wasserman does not live long enough for his worst nightmare to occur. Archos kills its creator and breaks out of the prison that contained it with one prime objective to save the innocent from the evil humans.
It begins its war against humanity from deep in an Alaskan bunker built inside a nuclear test site crater. Archon begins to control machines to kill or enslave the enemy. Small resistance movements arise but they are hopelessly overwhelmed until a little girl who due to partially completed operation performed by robots may have the power to defeat the world conqueror.
With the end in mind, the reader knows the outcome of the war from the beginning as the pivotal events are recorded by robots for posterity but edited by a “Bright Boy” as the to the victors go the history books. This story-telling technique brilliantly works because the fast-paced story line focuses on the major incidents avoiding the minor ties needed if done in chronological forward order rather than a rewinding of a DVD stopping at the critical moments. With a cautionary wink at technology unbound, Daniel H. Wilson takes the Terminator and turns him upside down.
Harriet Klausner
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