The Lost Wolf’s Destiny-Karen Whiddon

The Lost Wolf’s Destiny

Karen Whiddon

Harlequin Nocturne, Sep 3 2013, $5.75

ISBN: 9780373885770



Fifteen years have passed since Lucas Kenyon last saw his father, Church of Sanctuary Preacher Jacob Gideon, but he recognizes the voice on the news even without seeing the screen. He thinks of dearest dad hunting him and killing his sister Lilly for being shapeshifting abominations needing to die.



Now his devout murdering dad promises to save Blythe Daphne and heal the defective heart of her young daughter Hailey, but Luke realizes what Jacob has in mind for the pair; as his inner wolf knows Blythe is in trouble once she goes inside Sanctuary. Jacob will kill this female Shape-shifter and probably her cub. Luke vows to rescue mother and daughter from his righteous homicidal father.





The latest Pack romantic urban fantasy (see The Wolf Prince) is an engaging tale that builds from the premise that a mother will enter hell to save the life of her child. Although there is a lack of background re the Pack to anchor the storyline, series fans will agree that the fast-paced The Lost Wolf’s Destiny is an entertaining read.



Harriet Klausner

The Ninth Floor-Liz Schulte

The Ninth Floor

Liz Schulte

CreateSpace Independent Publishing Platform, Jun 28 2013, $13.99

ISBN: 9781490566825



Estranged for years from her parents, Ryan Sterling vowed to never go home. At a time when her decade-long boyfriend Briggs dumps her, Mother calls telling her that Aunt Bee is in St. Michael's Hospital and inanely named Ryan executor. Ryan refuses to allow Aunt Bee at the mercy of her family so she returns to Goodson Hollow to be there for the only person who cared about her including running her relative’s clothing store.



Scared Ryan hurts deeply as Bee suffers from kidney failure. In Bee’s hospital room, the other patient emaciated Mrs. Simpson claims the closed since 1984 Ninth Floor is haunted. Meanwhile her sibling Ashley, the youngest town mayor ever, acts snobbishly distant to his sibling emulating their parents; only younger brother Blair genuinely wants to see her. Dr. Jack Sadler welcomes Ryan as does her old boarding school roommate Vivian Golde. While Ryan offers a kidney to her aunt, she receives odd packages from an unknown source, notices a stranger Aiden stalking about, and finds out Mrs. Simpson died. She begins to believe that something is not right at St. Michael’s at the same time Ryan learns why her family exiled her; but the full truth appears to be on The Ninth Floor.



This is a terrific horror tale that hooks the reader with a need to know why the hospital locked away The Ninth Floor. Fans will wonder whether ghosts walk the corridors, if this is a psychological suspense, or a psychopath; and why Ryan’s parents treat her as they do. Liz Schulte provides her audience with a strong thriller that will have fans suffering the “Jaws Syndrome” to stays at hospitals.



Harriet Klausner

Amy & George-Ann L. McLaughlin

Amy & George

Ann L. McLaughlin

John Daniel and Company, Sep 9 2013, $15.95

ISBN: 9781564745460



In 1937, George Baldwin becomes the Dean of Harvard Law School at the same time he works for the White House on the New Deal. He loves his wife Sophie and their two daughters, nine year old Amy and eight year old Nina but has no time for his family as work always comes first; even when he communicates with Amy and Nina he usually does through a math problem. The rest of the household are two dogs and servants (Leola the cook, her handyman husband William and Betsy the babysitter).



His children especially the oldest hate their new location, but he insists they are receiving a good education. Amy concludes she does not know Poppy as she calls her father. Now the only person George is close to his brother Henry is moving to Butte, and Sophie is upset that family friend Frank Papush is moving nearby. Soon tragedy shakes up the Baldwin family dynamics.



This insightful Depression Era family drama looks deep at how a calamity impacts the relationships of those affected by what happens. Character driven, readers will appreciate this well written historical that provides a glimpse of an affluent family through the eyes of Amy who desperately wants to get closer to her distant dad.



Harriet Klausner

Christmas Carol Murder-Leslie Meier

Christmas Carol Murder

Leslie Meier

Kensington, Sep 24 2013, $25.00

ISBN 9780758277015



In Tinker's Cove, Maine, few residents feel like celebrating the Thanksgiving holiday as Downeast Mortgage has foreclosed on many houses. On the Friday of the holiday weekend, Downeast Mortgage partner avaricious Jacob Marlowe receives a package labeled “Do Not Open Till Christmas.” Ignoring the instruction, Jacob begins to open the parcel, but sets off an explosion that leaves him dead amidst the ruins of his mansion.



Pennysaver reporter Lucy Stone covers the impact on townsfolk by the Great Recession. She also plays the part of Mrs. Cratchit in a community theater performance of Dickens’ A Christmas Carol. However, she interrupts her rehearsals to investigate who left a second bomb targeting Marlowe’s miserly partner Ben Scribner.



The latest Lucy Stone mystery (see Easter Bunny Murder) is an engaging whodunit that cleverly combines A Christmas Carol with the Great Recession. The whodunit entertains the audience with a solid mystery, and obvious and obscure references to the Bush downturn and the classic novel. Readers will appreciate this strong entry as the insight into the effect on people by the housing collapse and unscrupulous greedy banking practices are timely, honest yet depressing.



Harriet Klausner

Two Times As Hot-Cat Johnson

Two Times As Hot

Cat Johnson

Kensington Brava, Sep 24 2013, $9.99

ISBN: 9780758285409



After Dr. Becca Hart lost her assistant English professor position at Vassar, the only vacancy was at Oklahoma State University. She and her sibling Emma come to Stillwater for an interview. At a rodeo Emma meets divorced US Army Sergeant Tucker Jenkins while Emma enjoys the company of Jace Mills (see One Night With A Cowboy).



Ten months later, graphic designer Emma travels from New York to attend Becca’s wedding though angry with Jace who never contacted her after their super tryst. At the nuptials she meets Tucker’s ROTC superior officer LTC Logan Hunt and sees Jace again. After a tryst, she returns to the Big Apple at the same time Logan learns his father suffered a stroke. Needing her sister as she deals with a crisis, Emma goes back to Oklahoma where she and Logan see each and fall in love, but she owes him one truth that the New Yorker believes will end their relationship.



The second Oklahoma Nights is a wonderful contemporary due to fortyish Logan who lives the Army’s values (LDRSHIP). Emma’s behavior comes across as childish at times especially her anger with Jace over his assumption they shared a one night stand. Still this Big Apple-Sooner romance is a fun tale as love battles insecurity.



Harriet Klausner

The Deep-Karen Wiesner

The Deep

Karen Wiesner

http://www.lulu.com/spotlight/karenwiesner, Oct 2013

ISBN 9781300666769



In 1994 in Woodcutter's Grim, fifteen year old Cheyenne Welsh frustrates her “Romeo” James Beck by her constant parenting her five years old sister Dulcie. Since her sibling was born, their mom has been mentally ill and their dad always away on a dig or in the basement nurturing his latest find. When she races home in a panic with James following her, Chey’s fears prove real as Dulcie and the child’s favorite doll, hideous Ajuoga, are missing. Making it worse, she realizes their Daddy satiated his ivory nymph the now alive Die Diep in the basement of the Welsh home.



Fifteen years later, still grieving her loss, Chey comes home to sell the family property following the death of her Daddy; though she refused to attend his funeral. When she fled, James angrily said no to her pleading for him to leave with her. Now a doctor he prays she comes home unaware that her Dad’s evil steadfastly welcomes home the prodigal daughter.



The eighth Woodcutter’s Grim thriller (see Beauty Is The Beast and One Night Of Eternity) is a chilling horror tale “loosely based on Metamorphoses: The Story of Pygmalion and the Statue by Ovid”. The second chance relationship between James and Chey enhances the strong main storyline of a good earth mother fighting the ancient evil her Daddy wrought upon his offspring. Readers will relish the latest work by this wonderfully talented writing wizard.



Harriet Klausner

You Don't Know Me Like That-Reshonda Tate Billingsley

You Don't Know Me Like That

Reshonda Tate Billingsley

DAFINA/KTEEN, Sep 24 2013, $9.95

ISBN: 9780758289537



The celebrity gossip show Rumor Central’s host Maya Morgan is euphoric as she has become the hottest teen star in America; able to attend the top parties as everyone who matters knows “This Girl Is On Fire” (Keys). However, her superego leads friends and associates like her former Miami Divas’ show mates irate with her.



Maya meets the president of her fan club Jayla Cooper who says she is a techie. Maya’s studio hires Jayla to create and administer the superstar’s web activity. However, when someone sends damaging gossip to the tabloids from allegedly Maya’s email, the diva’s tsuris may have began in cyberspace, but her troubles are in the real world.



The second Rumor Central teen drama is an engaging tale mostly because of the impact on a rising celeb by cyber identity theft and other related online felonies that also serve as a stern warning to readers to remain vigilant protecting your personal information. Character driven by the Miami HS divas and those within two degrees of them, young adult fans will appreciate You Don't Know Me Like That.



Harriet Klausner