The Case Of The Purloined Painting-Carl Brookens

The Case Of The Purloined Painting

Carl Brookens

North Star Press of St. Cloud, Sep 1 2013, $14.95

www.northstarpress.com

ISBN: 9780878397082



Mr. Gehrz retains private detective Sean “NMI” Sean to locate Tiffany Market; who the client says he has not seen in two weeks. He leaves Sean with cash and a photo. Not long after that Ann/Anne hires Sean to inform the police that in a snowstorm she saw two men push another off a bridge, but fails to explain why she needs a cutout to talk to the cops. Three days later, The Star Tribune reports that the corpse of elderly Manfred Gottlieb was found in the ice covered Mississippi.



Prominent wheelchair bound lawyer Derrol Madison asks the sleuth to take on Manfred’s grand-nephew Aaron Gottlieb as a client, which the PI does. As the investigator makes little progress in spite of help from his girlfriend, his office neighbors and a close police friend, someone targets Sean for elimination; at the same time he theorizes his three cases as one that dates back to the end of WWII and stolen art.



The latest Sean Sean mystery (see The Case of the Deceiving Don and The Case of the Great Train Robbery) is a super investigative tale. The well-written investigations are clever as the hero struggles to put the pieces together for his three clients and the insight into stolen WWII art adds fascinating depth. The relationship between the six foot Catherine and the five foot two Sean enhances the entertaining storyline as each loves and respects the other, but also accept the physical obvious such as he cannot help her with her coat. The Case Of The Purloined Painting is another strong Twin City whodunit.



Harriet Klausner

The Stranger You Know-Andrea Kane

The Stranger You Know

Andrea Kane

Mira, Sep 24 2013, $24.95

ISBN: 978-0778315018



Forensics Instincts group profiler Casey Woods feels good that rapist/murderer Glen Fischer was sentenced to life in prison at Auburn State thanks to their efforts. However, her euphoria ends with a phone call from an apparent psychopath who brutally murders red haired young women and leaves them looking like a scene from a movie; eerily similar to Fischer’s M.O.; but also mindful of the rape-killing of her college roommate Holly.



The predator consistently calls Casey before he kills. She and her team believe this serial killer eventually plans to murder red-haired Casey with his victims left behind as his calling card that he will soon come for her. The FI members (ex-SEAL Marc Deveraux, technologist Ryan McKay, retired Fed Patrick Lynch and Hero the dog) vow to keep their leader safe; but the murderer seems to elude them in spite of another teammate Claire Hedgleigh’s psychic skills enabling her to “witness” the horrific butchering.



The third Forensic Instincts investigation (see The Girl Who Disappeared Twice, and The Line Between Here and Gone) is very personal as everyone believes Casey is the ultimate target of the clever culprit. The exciting cat and mouse twisting storyline grips the reader although the audience needs to write off the at times dumb behavior of the good guys as fearing for Casey. Fans will appreciate this chiller as each violent death takes the diabolical maniac closer to Casey.



Harriet Klausner

10 Shades of Seduction

10 Shades of Seduction

Tiffany Reisz, Portia Da Costa, Alegra Verde, Alison Tyler, Anne Calhoun, Lisa Renee Jones, Sarah McCarty and Saskia Walker

Mira, Sep 24 2013, $14.95

ISBN: 9780778317036



These 10 enjoyable erotic tales by 8 authors (two each by Portia Da Costa and Alison Tyler) are print copies of e-short stories (released between 2007 and 2012). All the entries are heated BDSM fun, but the best ones bring more to the respective relationships. In “Submit to Desire” by Tiffany Reisz, Charlotte is taken over the erotic Edge by Original Sinner mentor Kingsley. Willa and James find the “Second Time Around” (by Portia Da Costa) much darker and fulfilling. Also by Portia Da Costa, reversing office roles Miranda becomes A Very Personal Assistant to Patrick in the boudoir. Imogen the executive relishes being in control of all situations except when much younger Giles turns her into his submissive in Saskia Walker’s “Forbidden Ritual”.



Harriet Klausner

A Seaside Christmas-Sherryl Woods

A Seaside Christmas

Sherryl Woods

Mira, Sep 24 2013, $16.95

ISBN: 9780778315117



Songwriter Jenny Collins struggles to accept her mom married an O'Brien especially that they are now part of a humongous clan. When the tabloids headline her breakup with pop star Caleb Green, Jenny leaves Nashville and returns to Chesapeake Shores, Maryland for the holidays to escape the stalkers.



Caleb wants to use Jenny’s latest song, but needs her permission. He knows she is irate with him for cheating on her, but follows her to Chesapeake Shores. As he easily adapts to the zany O’Brien quadrillion, she feels like an outsider unused to extended family masses. However with their help, Caleb launches his real agenda, a comeback with Jenny.



The latest Chesapeake Shores tale (see A Chesapeake Shores Christmas and The Summer Garden) is a warm second chance holiday romance wrapped inside a family drama. The engaging storyline follows the anticipated path though enhanced by Jenny trying to connect with her stepfather and stepsister even as the horde makes it difficult for her (and at times readers) to do so. Series fans will enjoy A Seaside Christmas.



Harriet Klausner

Kissing Under the Mistletoe-Bella Andre

Kissing Under the Mistletoe

Bella Andre

Mira, Sep 24 2013, $16.95

ISBN 9780778316930



Four decades ago in San Francisco, Allen Walter, CEO of Walter Industries, tells Jack Sullivan that his pocket planner electronic gizmo is a great product but the firm needs a sure shot like pet rocks after losing a lot of money on other great products over the past year. Disappointed Jack knows he and his partners over the last ten years (Howie Miller and Larry Buelton) need a Christmas miracle as they have 24 hours to prove to Allen that Pocket Planner can sell.



The three partners head to Union Square to come up with an idea when internationally famous fashion model Mary Ferrer finishes her final shoot there before retiring. Jack and Mary cannot stop staring at each other. Whereas she decides to take one last chance on love, he feels fate has intervened as he not only found his Angel he found the means of proving pocket planner is a sexy gizmo.



Kissing Under the Mistletoe is a delightful prequel to the Sullivan family romances as readers meet the brilliant patriarch in person and not through the memories of his family as the series does. The entertaining storyline is very linear with no twists, but showcases the love that started it all.



Harriet Klausner

Sleigh Bells-Beth Albright

Sleigh Bells

Beth Albright

Mira, Sep 24 2013, $14.95

ISBN: 9780778315308



In Tuscaloosa, TV reporter Dallas Dubois is irate that Vivi is giving birth on a football game day, which has the Crimson Tide Voice making a bad choice by rushing to Druid City Hospital instead of calling the game. She hides her ire that she covers the baby rather than the play; but with a live mic she thought cleared Dallas proclaims she hates kids. On the plus side, Dallas knows she is in the running for the open WTAL news anchor chair even if she must prove she deserves the spot by covering mush stories.



Former Alabama quarterback Cal Hollingsworth ignored her back in school though she wanted him. He wrote her off as an Ice Queen, but now has second and third thoughts re Dallas. Cal courts her and Dallas wants him but has doubts about relationships as her past keeps her afraid of trusting anything but football.



The third Sassy Belles (see Wedding Belles and Sassy Belles) is an enjoyable Crimson Tide romance starring a damaged refreshing Steel Magnolia and the ex-football player who takes the offense by blitzing his beloved’s defenses. Although the horde of children initially driving Dallas crazy is overdone even as they are key to moving the plot into the fourth quarter, readers (once again except Auburn fans) will enjoy this amusing holiday tale.



Harriet Klausner

Teatime for the Firefly-Shona Patel

Teatime for the Firefly

Shona Patel

Mira, Sep 24 2013, $15.95

ISBN: 9780778315476



By 1943, seventeen years old Layla Roy knows like everyone else she is astrologically doomed having been born as a Manglik due to Mars being her predominate in the Hindu horoscope; which means no man will want a feral wife like her. Her bad luck started early with the deaths of her parents, but due to her modern day thinking grandfather Dadamoshai, who raised her to be an intellect and use her mind, she felt fortunate to attend his all-girls school in Assam.



In April three events seemingly unconnected merge. Russian Boris Ivanov breaks his leg; a baby crow falls out of the nest; and Layla and Manik Deb meet. He ends his arranged marriage and stays in contact with Layla while dangerously working as a tea planter; his family banishes him. When they marry, they clash with the caste system and much more.



Teatime for the Firefly is a fabulous historical that looks deep into 1940s social classes in India and especially the tea plantations. The cast brings alive the era while the lead couple with their opposite attitudes towards others keeps the wonderful storyline focused.



Harriet Klausner