Ain’t Too Proud To Beg-Susan Donovan

Ain’t Too Proud To Beg

Susan Donovan

St. Martin’s, Nov 2009, $7.99

ISBN: 9780312366049

 

San Francisco Herald obit writer Josephine Sheehan would like a two legged hunk in her life; her only male being Genghis the Labradoodle.  However, her work is not exactly the best place to meet a man.  Although she promises her friends to give up men for dogs, she draws up a list of the attributes of her ideal man.

 

Soon afterward, she meets Celestial Pet Superstore owner Rick Rousseau who was working as a groomer at one of his fourteen shops.  She asks him out for coffee, but he agrees though he has sworn to have a life of celibacy as his comatose girlfriend Margot Cumming never recovered from their motorcycle accident that left him severely injured.  When the CEO and the reporter first meet, each hopes this is their eternal mate.  However, when Josephine writes the obit for his girlfriend who just died after seven years in a coma in Rhode island, she has doubts that she can deal with it or him anymore even as Margot’s raging father Bennett vowed vengeance once again.

 

This is a lighthearted contemporary wacky romance that feels like a throwback to the 1930s madcap comedies.  The lead couple is an entertaining pair struggling with issues especially him while the support cast is solid except for Teeny’s knees.  Fans will enjoy this fun dog-walking tale while wondering if Katherine Hepburn will play Josie (should have been a cat-walker) and Cary Grant as Rick.

 

Harriet Klausner

One Night With You-Francis Ray

One Night With You

Francis Ray

St. Martin’s, Nov 2009, $6.99

ISBN:  9780312365066

 

Thanks to a mutual friend Ruth Grayson, Raven LaBlanc arrives at Duncan McBride’s Montana ranch with an opportunity to look at the Native American cave drawings found on his spread.  Obsessive with achieving her goal of tenure in Santa Fe, Raven makes it clear she is in Big Sky Country to research the cave dwellings and no more.

 

However Duncan makes it even more clear that he will allow her to conduct her research, but needs the details like the location kept secret because he does not want a flood of academia and tourists; she is here as a favor to Ruth.  Raven and Duncan are stunned by their immediate attraction; neither welcomes it.  However, a developer with an attorney at the front has ideas for the land that ignore Duncan’s desire to keep his ranch as a ranch.

 

Although obviously intended for the Grayson extended family fans, readers will enjoy Ruth the matchmaker’s latest connection as she selects a bride for the oldest McBride brother just like she did his siblings (see One Night With You and Dreaming of You).  The story line is old fashioned contemporary fun as the archeologist and the rancher fall in love, but the cave paintings stand in their way.  Readers will enjoy the Grayson’s Friends tale as Ruth (and Francis Ray) scores a hat trick with the McBride siblings.

 

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

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

 

 

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

Divorced, Desperate And Deceived-Christie Craig

Divorced, Desperate And Deceived

Christie Craig

Love Spell, Nov 24 2009, $6.00

ISBN: 9780505527981

 

Divorcee Kathy Callahan has interest in one man though her friends are unaware whom she desperately wants to make it with.  Plumber Stan Bradley seems interested in her, but abruptly stopped showing his attraction as if she was a fungus.  With her son spending a month with his dad, Kathy decides to go for her hunk.

 

Stan has not lost interest, but instead fears he will hurt Kathy.  He believes a lasting relationship cannot occur for someone the FBI placed in witness protection program changing his name from Luke Hunter.  However, as Kathy starts her seduction, those wanting Luke dead have tracked him down.  Instead of being on the lam alone, he is on the run with the woman he loves even if this is his worst nightmare.

 

The third Divorced, Desperate and D tale (see … and Dating; and … and Delicious) is an amusing contemporary romance starring a strong cast; especially deep besides the DDD heroine are the guys and Goodwill (just keep your toes safe).  Fans will enjoy this fine amusing frolic as the determined delightful divorcee decides on the plumber with secrets.

 

Harriet Klausner

The Sweethearts’ Knitting Club-Lori Wilde

The Sweethearts’ Knitting Club

Lori Wilde

Avon, Nov 242009, $6.99

ISBN: 9780061808890

 

The members of the Sweethearts’ Knitting Club reside in Twilight, Texas.  All of the knitters married their high school sweetheart except for Flynn MacGregor who has been engaged to the town sheriff Beau Trainer but is not ready to marry him.  Her high school sweetheart Jesse Calloway spent a decade behind bars so she has no interest in following the knitting club crowd although she still loves him.

 

Just released from prison Jesse has come home to Twilight.  He wants his beloved Flynn at his side, but besides seeing the sheriff and the encouragement of everyone to stay with Beau, she is too busy taking care of everyone else.  She is more a prisoner than he was, but can he liberate his Flynn to marry him.

 

This is a sweet hearted contemporary romance that fans will enjoy as Flynn must decide between the bad boy who heats her blood and the prime sheriff who leaves her temperature at 98.6.  The story line is character driven with strong leads and super support.  Fans will enjoy a stop in Twilight, Texas home of second chance in love for former high school sweethearts.

 

Harriet Klausner

 

Seduction Island-Lorie O’Clare

Seduction Island

Lorie O’Clare

Kensington Aphrodisia, Nov 2009, $13.95

ISBN: 9780758234483

 

His grandfather wants his heir Jordan Anton to embrace his affluence, but the youngster wants nothing to do with the idle wealthy as he loves managing his Aunt Penelope’s Big Sky ranch.  To tempt him, his grandfather sends him to Seduction Island accompanied by Sicilian Princess Tory Alixandre so that he can taste what he is ignoring.

 

However, he feels like he has been sentenced to hard time in spite of the pristine sea and coral reef until Jordon meets and is attracted to event planner Amber Stone.  She reciprocates but conceals two damning secrets from him.  First her true social status and second her lack of experience.  As she falls in love she owes him the truth, but fears he will end their relationship; beside which he has the lovely Tory to occupy him on the island paradise that to Jordan is an island prison.

 

This is an interesting romantic triangle although none of the participants garner empathy from the reader.  Still fans will enjoy Jordan’s issues as he is expected to marry Tory who loathes being forced into a marriage, but he loves Amber who is on the island seeking a wealthy husband to bail out her bankrupt family.  Fans will enjoy untangling the convoluted webs of marital deception.

 

Harriet Klausner

 

Men on Fire-Susan Lyons, Rachelle Chase, Jodi Lynn Copeland

Men on Fire

Susan Lyons, Rachelle Chase, Jodi Lynn Copeland

Kensington Aphrodisia, Nov 2009, $12.95

ISBN: 9780758238016

 

“Too Hot to Handle” by Susan Lyons.  Jade Rousseau needs a fiancé to escort her to her company’s social events.  She may have found her man when she outbids her friends for firefighter Quinn O’Malley at a benefit event.

 

“The Firefighter Wears Prada” by Rachelle Chase.  Fashion designer Delta Ballantyne asks firefighter Evan Marshall to model her line of men’s underwear although she would not mind personally modeling him.

 

“Playing With Fire” by Jodi Lynn Copeland.  Firefighter Lincoln Gabriel has helped Erica Donelson ever since her husband, his best friend, dumped her, but now wants more than friendship from her.

 

Though resolutions are too quick, these are three enjoyable erotic romances starring women who know how to bring the heat from the firefighters in their professional and personal lives.

 

Harriet Klausner

It Happened One Night-Lisa Dale

It Happened One Night

Lisa Dale

Forever, Nov 2009, $6.99

ISBN: 9780446406901

 

Lana Biel dreams of seeing the world, but is devoted to helping her married sister Karin run their wildflower farm.  Karin dreams of having a family but so far has not conceived.  Lana ponders over living in Burlington and realizes she is not living her dream, but that of Karins’; she wants out without hurting her sibling but has no way to do so.

 

Lana becomes pregnant, but has doubts about raising a child especially as a single mom; besides she fears an infant will nuke her plans to leave Vermont.  She turns to her best Eli Ward for advice as she has already ruled out an abortion.  However, Eli has his own issue as he wants to tell Lana he loves her, but fears his revelation could result in the end of their friendship.

 

This is a fascinating Vermont contemporary extended family drama that is wildflower refreshed by the two sisters, who are realistic especially with their self indulgent whines (somewhat overdone with no cheese) making both of them not particularly likable.  They make the tale as ironically Eli is a likeable player, but seems underdeveloped. Not an easy read, It happened One Night is a deep look at what happens to people when dreams are not fulfilled and even when they are.

 

Harriet Klausner