Flame Seeker-Kay Danella

Flame Seeker

Kay Danella

Heat, Dec 2009, $15.00

ISBN: 9780425230824

 

As the eldest daughter of her clan, Alithia is responsible for obtaining an ancient relic.  With the artifact her people will prosper in peace; without it they will falter.  On her trek to another reaml, she must have two husbands escort her.  All the men will compete in a contest chosen by Alithia.

 

The males are excited and expect to duel for the honor.  Instead of battling blades, Alithia chooses a different type of sword.  She selects her champions by who gives her the most pleasure.  Phelan and Taith are her mates for the journey with each wanting to be the only one standing by her side.  However, the perilous journey forges bonds that none of the three anticipated when they start on the quest.

 

This is an interesting erotic romantic fantasy starring a duty bound heroine who chooses the contest and its rules.  The two survivors continue the friendly rivalry for the hand (and other bodily parts) of Alithia.  Although the story line is thin as opposed to the hunks’ middle legs, fans of erotic romances with a touch of fantasy and lot more touches of the bodies of the lead triangle will want to read this heated tale.

 

Harriet Klausner

Garden Of The Moon-Elizabeth Sinclair

Garden Of The Moon

Elizabeth Sinclair

Medallion, Dec 1 2009, $7.95

ISBN: 9781933836980

 

Her mother believes her paranormal skill is an embarrassing curse; her father does not understand her skill, but cares what happens to his daughter.  Sara Wade sees ghosts.

 

Although their motives differ, her parents concur with Sara moving onto Harrogate, an estate she recently inherited from her late grandmother.  She wants to renovate the old house that she realizes she shares with two ghosts.  Jonathan Bradford claims she is his beloved Maddie Grayson who is in an old diary Sara found.  She believes Jonathan, who sends her back to his era to the year he died 1805.  The other spirit in her present wants Jonathan dead while Sara prays she can save the life of her beloved.

 

Garden of the Moon is an engaging reincarnation romance starring an intrepid heroine willing to risk her soul to go back to save that of her beloved, Jonathan who has waited two centuries for her return while sharing hell on earth with his enemy.  Although the moving back and forth between the present and the early nineteenth century feels jarring, fans will enjoy this fine paranormal romantic suspense due to the brave Maddie.

 

Harriet Klausner

Wild Instinct-Sarah McCarty

Wild Instinct

Sarah McCarty

Heat, Dec 2009, $15.00

ISBN: 9780425227619

 

“Garrett”.  The werewolf clan rejects Garrett due to his human blood.  However, they turn to him to rescue Sarah Anne, whose son is missing and daughter may prove to be the child prophesized as the bringer of doom.  Still he knows his mate when he meets her and will risk his life to keep her safe.

 

“Daire”.  The werewolf Daire saves Teri, but cannot save her unborn.  He knows his mate, but she believes his bond is not one of love but of protectiveness.  Daire has to persuade her it is both.

 

“Curran”.  He seeks Rachel, who has Sarah Anne’s son with her.  When Curran finds the pair he knows she is his mate, but she rejects his assertion and distrusts him to bring the duo to safety.

 

These three exciting interrelated werewolf romances contain fully developed characters who make for a strong thriller as the sex is hot but not over-gorging the action-packed story lines especially the relationship issues as the men know but the women doubt.  Sarah McCarty provides her audience with a superb collection.

 

Harriet Klausner

 

 

Mrs. Miracle-Debbie Macomber

Mrs. Miracle

Debbie Macomber

Avon, Dec 2005, $7.99

ISBN: 9780061083464

 

Widower Seth Webster struggles to raise his rambunctious six year old twin sons Judd and Jason who drive off housekeepers at an alarming rate even when they make an effort to behave.  He has never had time to grieve the loss of his beloved spouse as his personal life is in chaotic free-fall.  Just before Christmas, the latest housekeeper leaves.

 

A depressed Seth is at the end of his wits especially since there is no one else for the agency to send  when Mrs. Emily Merkle miraculously arrives asking for the position of nanny.  She brings a patient serene elan that encourages yet controls the two boys.  At the same time she also quietly coaxes her employer to move on and courageously ask travel agent Reba Maxwell to go out with him.  Reba has been destroyed by love, but a miracle occurs when she takes a chance on Seth.  Still they will need the power of an angel to overcome their issues.

 

This is a reprint of a terrific holiday romantic fantasy starring an angelic Mary Poppins character trying to bring a Christmas miracle to the extended Webster family (including his in-laws) and Reba.  Ironically whereas the support cast like the twins and the in-laws are spirited  protagonists with issues while the lead couple is each in a self made defense mechanism rut that requires several miraculous nudges to get them motivated in the game of life beyond caring for others.  Fans will enjoy this lighthearted wonderful life tale, which is being made into a movie, while humming the tune All I Need Is A Miracle Mike and the Mechanics).

 

Harriet Klausner

Remember How I Love You: Love Letters from an Extraordinary Marriage-Jerry Orbach and Elaine Orbach

Remember How I Love You: Love Letters from an Extraordinary Marriage

Jerry Orbach and Elaine Orbach

Touchstone, Nov 2009, $23.00

ISBN: 9781439149881

 

This is a combination memoir and poetry book as Elaine Orbach tells the audience about her marriage to the late actor Jerry Orbach, starting with how they met in the first half of the biography.  That section is interesting but nothing extraordinary.  The latter half of the book consists of short poems that for the most part are lighthearted ditties that the late actor scribbled on a cat calendar before a shooting.  His wife Elaine would read and enjoy them before tossing them into a tureen.  At his funeral several were read in loving memory and eventually led to the book.  Is this great literature?  No as some of the entries are inane, others poorly written and few complex beyond simple rhyming.  Yet the poems are inspiring and enjoyable.  Readers will who appreciated Law and Order will relish seeing another side of the actor; his love for his beloved Elaine as the couple reminds us how important it is to tell your loved ones you care while they still can appreciate the mental hugs.

 

Harriet Klausner

 

The Independence of Miss Mary Bennet-Colleen McCullough

The Independence of Miss Mary Bennet

Colleen McCullough

Pocket, Dec 2009, $7.99

ISBN: 9781439158791

 

Her sisters assume the bookworm spinster Mary Bennet will take care of their widow mom in her old age.  The siblings each have their own lives although dreams from two decades ago never played out the way each thought it would be.  Elizabeth and Mr. Darcy share an unhappy marriage.   Kitty the widow is lucky as her mate died just after they exchanged their vows.  Jane is pregnant or recovering form pregnancy with no time for anything else.  Lydia has become a drunk.

 

When her termagant mom dies, Mary feels relief as she can now live her life.  Her sisters and their husbands are outraged when she says goodbye as she travels in Northern England keeping a journal on the plight of the working poor.  However, the thirty-eight years old has never been anywhere alone so she runs into all sorts of trouble that she bravely faces like the Highwayman and the Prophet Father Dominus who abducts her into his cave.  Meanwhile Mr. Darcy has political ambitions so he hires nasty but loyal Ned Skinner to keep the sisters in line as scandal would destroy his plans.

 

Although it lacks the subtle humor of Jane Austen, this “sequel” to Pride and Prejducie is well written as it extrapolates where the characters could have gone two decades later.  That is the strength and weakness of the story line as it is interesting to see where Colleen McCullough takes the Bennet sisters and their extended families.  However, fans will find it difficult to accept what they become; for instance Mr. Darcy as an ambitious over the top of Big Ben villain or the bookworm becoming pretty, outgoing and touring the worst conditions she can find in the north.  Fans who cannot get enough Austen spins will enjoy the quadrillionth twist.

 

Harriet Klausner

Leiatra’s Rhapsody-RYCJ

Leiatra’s Rhapsody

RYCJ

OSAAT, 2008, $12.95

ISBN: 9780981825632

 

Leiatra Townsend grew up as the only child to affluent parents in whom her mom was judge, jury and executioner.  Blaine Keith had eleven siblings.  They met at college when she was a sophomore psych major and he a senior seeking as business degree.  A two year rocky courtship led to marriage.  Soon afterward she gave birth Alexis Blake followed rather quickly with twins Seth Gregory and Sedan Jordan.

 

Although Blaine has a strategic plan for his family, Leiatra opens up a counseling practice that is not one of her spouse’s objectives.  Over time Leiatra becomes intrigued by the sexual interactions between the genders and begins a study in which she is the lone female.  She has trysts with patients and other men that she hides from her family and the medical board for years.  Her world collapses when someone anonymously accuses her of unethical practices with the board and to her husband.  She must choose between her research and her family and career.

 

This is a fascinating look at a woman whose medical ethics is questionable though she rationalizes it to herself as field research.  The story line looks deep into why Leiatra seeks out sexual encounters though she knows if her work is revealed, her marriage will end, her children will be left with their father, and her license revoked.  Although the men she uses seem cookie cutter identical, fans will enjoy Leiatra’s Rhapsody as RYCJ will have the reader pondering where the acceptable boundaries of moral medical research are drawn.

 

Harriet Klausner

 

Red Hot Holidays-Shelby Reed, Shiloh Walker and Lacey Alexander

Red Hot Holidays

Shelby Reed, Shiloh Walker and Lacey Alexander

Ellora’s Cave (Pocket), Dec 1 2009, $14.00

ISBN: 9781439148709

 

Holiday Inn by Shelby Reed.  Jesse and Sheila grieve the death of their six years old son due to a drunken hit and run driver, and the end of their decade old marriage.  Anna is heading home to spend Christmas with her family.  On Christmas Eve, the freak snowstorm strands these two strangers on I-95 with suddenly no one else around except Santa.

 

His Christmas Cara by Shiloh Walker.  Everyone who meets Eben Marley knows he has no conscience.  However, he has a regret; what he did to Cara Winston following the greatest time of his life three years ago.  Now the holiday spirits give him a chance to make amends and regain his heart to hand to the woman he loves.

 

Unwrapped by Lacey Alexander.  Simon and Emily love one another, but he finds their sexual encounters a bit too lame as she reacts like a deer in the headlights as if they are doing something bad when they do anything but the vanilla missionary position.  Emily fears she is losing the love of her life so talks with her former U of Cincinnati dorm buddy Dawn who is a sex therapist.  Dawn teaches her first hand how to pleasure herself and her man.  Em plans to be more than just a sugarplum when she takes her man.

 

Although the matchmakers differ, fans will enjoy this erotic romantic collection.  The lead couples are developed sufficiently so that the audience knows their prime motivations and sexual desires with enough of a back story to turn each novella into a terrific red hot holiday treat.

 

Harriet Klausner

 

 

The Passport-Herta Muller

The Passport

Herta Muller

Serpent’s Tail, Nov 2009, $12.95

ISBN: 9781852421397

 

During the brutal reign of Ceausescu, Windisch wants out of his German village in Romania.  In fact he wants out of the country that feels everywhere in his mind as the end instead of a beginning or even a middle.  The coffin with the Widow Kroner’s name on it symbolizes how he feels as the box remains empty waiting for her to die.  Last year to gain a passport to go to West Berlin, he tried bribing the mayor with sacks of flour, but that only left him hungry.  The village miller has tried using his daughter and his bitter wife, but so far has been rejected for the passport he needs to go to the west.  Amalie with her crystal vase and Katharina who survived five Russian winters by selling her coat and more to make grass soup struggle in the village where women survive by sexual favors to the male elite.

 

This is a translation of a 1980s indictment of Ceausescu and the Communists who destroyed Romania economically and morally.  To survive under the reign even in a tiny remote village, one had to bribe the leaders with whatever one had to include a pretty daughter.  The cast makes the tale work while the stark grim brusque writing will stun the audience with its deep message that tyranny at any level destroys.

 

Harriet Klausner

Double The Heat-Lori Foster, Deirdre Martin, Elizabeth Bevarly and Christie Ridgway

Double The Heat

Lori Foster, Deirdre Martin, Elizabeth Bevarly and Christie Ridgway

Berkley, Dec 2009, $15.00

ISBN: 9780425230114

 

“Hart and Soul” by Lori Foster.  After switching places with his twin (see “Deuces Wild” in Double the Pleasure), Hart Winston avoids Lisa Vogle until he realizes how much he misses her; however, he is in for a surprise when he finally contacts her.

 

“Breaking the Ice” by Deirdre Martin.  In New York Lennie Buckley has no interest in men until she meets in a comedy of errors NHL player Sebastian Ivanov.

 

“Double Booked” by Elizabeth Bevarly.  Her friends allow Amanda Bingham to use their condo while she is on vacation; they also allow Max Callahan, whom she loathes, to use it too.

 

“Original Zin” by Christie Ridgway.  John Henry Hudson and Zin Friday meet when she is his chauffeur.  He wants her but she fears he will reject her if he gets to know her.

 

These are four entertaining contemporary romantic novellas starring fully developed characters.  Fans will especially enjoy the return of the other Winston twin and another Deirdre martin hockey tale.

 

Harriet Klausner