Beyond The Moon-Michele Hauf

Beyond The Moon

Michele Hauf

Harlequin Nocturne, Sep 1 2014, $5.75

ISBN: 9780373009282

In 1870s Clichy, France, fifteen year old Verity Van Velde the witch witnesses as her mother Amandine, betrayed by her witch hunter lover, screaming in pain while a mob rejoices her burning at the stakes.  A century and a half later residing in Paris, Verity still distrusts males. 

Also in Paris, the Order of the Stake sends top knight Rook to end the murderous spree of the Zmaj tribe and their leader Slater; who recently turned rogue with many marked kills that have brought unwanted attention to the secretive vampires.   When four vampires attack Verity, Rook intercedes and rescues her.  As they work together to end the killing spree, the vampire knight and the witch fall in love; but she distrusts all males after watching her mom’s horrifying death and he fears that undesirable feeling after what happened centuries ago.

The second In The Company of Vampires romantic urban fantasy is a thrilling Parisian tale that provides readers with a unique glimpse of the City of Lights.  The protagonists are a nice pairing of cross paranormal species who share in common love and doubts, which make their relationship somewhat similar to the stars of the equally engaging The Vampire Hunter. 

Harriet Klausner

Heroes Are My Weakness-Susan Elizabeth Phillips

Heroes Are My Weakness

Susan Elizabeth Phillips

Morrow, Aug 26 2014, $26.99

ISBN 9780062106070

Princess Crumpet the puppet “asks” why not Miami Beach as ailing financially broke thirtyish ventriloquist Annie Hewitt drives in wintry weather heading to a Maine barrier island where her late mom Mariah’s Moonraker Cottage is and allegedly her legacy can be found.  Fearing her return to a place she fled over a decade ago, Annie resolutely completes the journey.

Annie heads to Harp House on the hill above Moonraker seeking Will Shaw for the key to the cottage.  Instead Widower Theo Harp tells her Shaw left a month ago, he lives there for now working on his next horror novel and demands she leave and never return.  The next day Annie meets the other residents of Harp House, the owner’s housekeeper Widow Jaycie Mills struggling with a broken leg and caring for her traumatized mute four years old daughter.  Jaycie saved Annie’s life eighteen years ago from what horrible “Lord” Theo did to her.  As Annie and her puppets help Livia, the puppeteer begins to rethink back to what really happened when terrible Theo tormented her even as someone will do anything to drive her off the island.

This is a great gothic that combines the classic elements but within a modern day New England albeit somewhat isolated island atmosphere.  Theo is the brooding flawed antihero and Annie the “innocent” damsel in distress; while Harp House turns out to be the “moody” mansion.  Susan Elizabeth Phillips writes a tremendous contemporary.

Harriet Klausner

Shattered Secrets-Karen Harper

Shattered Secrets

Karen Harper

Mira, Aug 26 2014, $7.99

ISBN 9780778316473

When Tess Lockwood was a young child growing up in Cold Creek, Ohio, someone snatched her.  For eight months she remained kidnapped before eventually returning to her family.  Though she recalls nothing of her abduction time, the horror kept Tess away from her hometown for almost two decades.

Recently Tess inherited her family home with the death of her mom.  Reluctantly Tess returns to Cold Creek with a plan to leave the Buckeye State for that state to the north (paraphrasing Woody Hayes) Michigan as soon as she sells the property.  Filled with guilt because he was watching her when she was taken, Sheriff Gabe McCord hopes Tess can remember details of her horror so that he can end the string of kidnappings that torments him and haunted his late father the previous sheriff.  As Tess begins to recover buried memories, someone wants her dead.  Meanwhile, a child’s abduction forces Gabe and Tess to ignore their growing attraction to focus on the rescue.

Shattered Secrets is an enjoyable romantic suspense starring a fascinating heroine suffering from PTSD though the horror occurred almost two decades ago.  During the memory recovery phase, the storyline is leisurely-paced; but accelerates into a frantic hyperspeed second half leading to the audience anxiously awaiting a final conflict between Tess and her nightmare. 

Harriet Klausner

The Homecoming-Robyn Carr

The Homecoming

Robyn Carr

Mira, Aug 26 2014, $7.99

ISBN 9780778316442

Seth Sileski left Thunder Point, Oregon on a football scholarship before joining the NFL.  His professional career ended with a severe injury.  Thus the thirtyish Seth came home to the coastal community after being away except for frequent visits to see his parents since he was eighteen.  Recently Seth was placed in charge of the Sheriff’s Department Thunder Point substation.

However, not everyone welcomes back Seth.  Thunder Point High School guidance counselor Iris McKinley refuses to speak to him though they were once childhood BFFs.  When she finally reveals to him what he did to her while intoxicated, Seth is horrified as he does not recall having sex with the then virgin Iris before breaking her heart.  Knowing he done her wrong (with homage by moi to Mae West and Cary Grant), Seth tries to persuade his reluctant beloved Iris to let him make it up to her for the rest of their lives.

The sixth Thunder Point Oregonian romance (see The Promise and The Chance) is a warm second chance contemporary.  The lead duet is a likable pair especially the wary Iris while the townsfolk add local character to a charming leisurely-paced novel.

Harriet Klausner

Madame Picasso-Anne Girard

Madame Picasso

Anne Girard

Mira, Aug 26 2014, $14.99

ISBN 9780778316350

In 1911, Eva Gouel rejects her family’s demand she marry Monsieur Fix.  Instead she flees for Paris where her only friend is Polish speaking Louis Vollard who changed her name to Marcelle Humbert.  To her elation, one of her goals is met when Madam Leutard hires her as a seamstress at the Moulin Rouge.  There she sees a powerful man sitting at the front of the dance hall but surprisingly no woman with him. 

Last night, after a fight with his beloved intoxicated mistress and primary model, Fernande Olivier the artist, Pablo Picasso went to the Moulin Rouge alone.  The next day, Louis and Marcelle visit the Petit Palais to see an exhibition.  Also there is the solitary man from the evening before, an up and coming Spaniard artist Pablo Picasso.  Eva becomes his insecure muse; but his Montmartre crowd prefers feisty artsy Fernande who they consider as one of them to the upstart outsider.  That same year Eva came to Paris, someone stole the Mona Lisa with Picasso considered a suspect.  A few short years later, as war explodes across Europe, Eva suffers from tuberculosis.

This is an excellent biographical fiction that brings to life mostly Paris when the City of Lights was the world’s cultural center during the years leading up to and the beginning of WWI.  Character driven by the triangular relationship between Picasso, Gouel and Olivier, subgenre fans will relish this vivid art historical.

Harriet Klausner

The Maiden Of Ireland-Susan Wiggs

The Maiden Of Ireland

Susan Wiggs

Mira, Aug 26 2014, $7.99

ISBN 9780778316466

In 1658, weeping women attend the execution of Father John the heretic.  The condemned man muses that for six years John Wesley Hawkins worked undercover as Father John to remove the usurper Lord Protector Oliver Cromwell from ruling the land and restore the rightful king to the throne, but failed.  As he is about to hang, he says his last words: “…God save Charles Stuart…”.  At the very last moment with the rope tearing into his throat, Cromwell saves his life and that of his daughter but demands in remittance John uncover the identity of the Fianna Irish rebellion or else he and his family will die. 

Wesley travels to Connemara, Ireland where Caitlin MacBride, daughter of the local chieftain, notices him walking near her home Castle Clonmuir.  His shameful scheme is simply seduce Caitlin into revealing who the Fianna chief is.  What Wesley failed to anticipate was falling in love with his target.

This “revised” version of 1993 The Mist And The Magic (don’t know how much was refreshed) is an enjoyable brisk Cromwellian romance with a unique locale; instead of the usual London, Ireland shines during the era when Parliament and the Lord Protector ruled the kingdom.  Leisurely-paced, this is an entertaining seventeenth century historical even with the lead relationship being typical of the subgenre. 

Harriet Klausner

Ultimate Sins-Lora Leigh St. Martin’s,

Ultimate Sins

Lora Leigh

St. Martin’s, Aug 26 2014, $7.99

ISBN: 9780312389109

After being away from his Colorado hometown for years Crowe Callahan returns to deal with the Corbin County attorney Wayne “Slasher” Sorenson, a diabolical serial killing rapist.  Crowe also realizes he will have to see the only woman he ever loved, Wayne’s daughter Amelia.

Wayne loathes Crowe and his Callahan kin especially the cousins Logan (see Deadly Sins and Rafer (see Midnight Sins) who he feels stole something that belongs to him.  He has an added incentive to detest Crowe when his daughter committed the Ultimate Sins, choosing to betray him by allying with his enemy.  Fearing for his beloved Amelia, Crowe expects her father to attempt to commit filicide so he risks his life to keep her safe.

The latest Callahan Sins (see Secret Sins) is an edgy over the top of the Rocky Mountains romantic suspense in which newbies will be lost and returnees need a scorecard to keep track of the Cecil B. DeMille size cast.  For Sins fans only, at times the heated sexual interludes that melt the mountaintop snow intrude on the anticipated showdown between father and lover.

Harriet Klausner