If He’s Sinful-Hannah Howell

If He’s Sinful

Hannah Howell

Zebra, Dec 2009, $6.99

ISBN:  9781420104615

 

In 1788 an unknown adversary abducts Lady Penelope Wherlocke and sells her to a brothel.  Meanwhile friends of Lord Ashton Radmoore arrange a final tryst at a brothel before he marries.  He is stunned to find a drugged Penelope, who allegedly can see ghosts, waiting in the room for him.  She recognizes him as stepsister’s boyfriend.

 

However before he can act, a horde invades the room as the Wherlocke friends and family rush to rescue Penelope.   Unable to move on and forget the woman, Ashton investigates the kidnapping and sex sale pondering who could harm a caring innocent woman nurturing ten boys As he falls in love, he wonders how to end his engagement and persuade Penelope she is his beloved when he mocks her paranormal gift as a sham.

 

The second Wherelockes Georgian paranormal romance (see If he’s Wicked)  is an enjoyable fairy tale with several major subplots and a horde of strong support characters, but anchored by the Cinderella lead female.  The story line is fast-paced from the opening kidnapping and never slows down as readers wonder whether Ashton will prove to be Prince Charming or If He’s Wild using the beleaguer heroine for a last fling.

 

Harriet Klausner

Temptation-Leda Swann

Temptation

Leda Swann

Avon, Nov 10 2009, $13.99

ISBN: 9780061672408

From the Boer War front, Beatrice Clemens receives a letter from her brother Teddy telling her how lonely the soldiers are.  She and her friends like roommate Lenora decide to write letters to some of Teddy’s comrades in arms.  A nurse, Beatrice sends notes to Captain Percival Carterton, which over time grow ardent and heated.

 

When Percival arrives in London he looks up his pen pal angel and informs her he fell in love with her from her letters.  Beatrice is stunned by his confession as she has a beau that she soon will be engaged to and does not reciprocate the officer’s regard.  Instead of retreating, Percival mounts a campaign of seduction to win the heart of the woman he loves.

 

The latest Clemens clan saga is a delightful late Victorian erotic romance starring two likable protagonists.  Part of the fun in this fine tale is comparing communication back during the Boer War with today’s instant social networks that soldiers deployed in Afghanistan and Iraq can join.   Filled with heated sex, fans of the saga will be held Captive by Leda Swann’s enjoyable historical.

Harriet Klausner

Knight Of Pleasure-Margaret Mallory

Knight Of Pleasure

Margaret Mallory

Forever, Dec 2009, $6.99

ISBN: 9780446553384

 

In 1417 Lady Isobel Hume does not grieve the death of her spouse as she did not want to marry him when she was just thirteen and dreamed of the Knights of the Round Table; after they exchanged vows her older spouse did nothing to rectify her opinion over the next eight years until he died.  However, instead of liberating her, his death leaves her at the mercy of men as the deed to his estate goes to a man she despises.  She turns to King Henry who arranges a marriage to a French aristocrat.

 

Undercover operative Sir Stephen Carleton works in France allegedly to neutralize arguments before they turn ugly.  He has been named Isobel’s guardian until she marries.  To both their chagrin, Isobel and Stephen are attracted to one another.  However, both remain loyal to their monarch and ignore their feelings until they rescue two children, and she learns her fiancé Lord Roche is a traitor.

 

This is a terrific fifteenth century romance filled with intrigue and two strong lead characters.  Isobel and Stephen know the price is their respective heads if they betray their monarch, but love is a difficult emotion to ignore.  Although “eliminating” the fiancé with sedition eases their perilous plight, fans will enjoy Margaret Mallory’s marvelous medieval romance.

 

Harriet Klausner

Desiring The Highlander-Michele Sinclair

Desiring The Highlander

Michele Sinclair

Zebra, Dec 2009, $6.99

ISBN: 978-1420108545

 

As a child in Scotland Cole McTiernay watched the English kill his best friend Rob and almost him too.  He grows up into a strong man, but loathes everything English.  In the northern Highlands, the ravaged nomadic people ask him to become their laird.  However, he has doubts he can bring the passion and serenity a leader must provide to inspire people.

 

In 1311 his brother Conor believes Cole would do a great job as he has shown he can lead his men into battle, but his sibling also realizes his younger brother needs to let go of his hate.  Thus he sends him to Durchent Hall in England to retrieve a package from Baron Ainsley Cordell.  He is outraged to learn the parcel is Ellenor Howell, whose brother-in- law plans to marry her off to the highest bidder.  Still Cole escorts Ellenor back to the Highlands; on their trek north, she melts his frozen heart as they fall in love.

 

Filled with rage, anger, and a need to conceal any warm emotions, Cole makes the tale as he slowly transforms from hulking to warm and caring due to Ellenor.  The story line is fast-paced from the first insult tossed by Cole at Ainsley and then the “parcel”; however, the “parcel” bites back.  Fans will enjoy the third of seven brothers keeling in matrimony finding seven brides (see To Wed a Highlander and The Highlander’s Bride) as Michelle Sinclair provides an intelligent medieval Scottish romance.

 

Harriet Klausner

Mistress By Mistake-Susan Gee Heino

Mistress By Mistake

Susan Gee Heino

Berkley, Dec 2009, $7.99

ISBN: 9780425231517

 

In 1816 heiress Evaline Pinchley looks forward to her birthday coming soon when she reaches the age where she will control her money; she has no plans to marry some wastrel after her wealth.  Lord Dashford is tired of matchmakinging moms trying to get their daughters married to him because of his money; he decides to let everyone believe he is broke.

 

Evaline’s Aunt Bella drags her to a party at the Dashford estate.  She gets drunk in his garden to celebrate her liberation birthday.  He sneaks out to his garden for a respite from the horde of marriage mommas.  The pair accidentally meets in the garden.  The next morning she awakens in his bed.  However, when his former fiancé arrives proclaiming he is hers; Evaline acquiesces but decides to taste another night in his bed.

 

This is an amusing Regency romance starring two individuals who deny love and marriage but cannot resist the sexual lure of the other.  The story line is fast-paced as the lead couple with a strong support cast (her family and his two best friends) make for an amusing tale of I’m Not in Love only in lust.  Susan Gee Heino provides sub-genre fans with a wonderful historical.

 

Harriet Klausner

 

The Legacy-Diane Amos.

The Legacy

Diane Amos.

Five Star, Nov 2009, $25.95

ISBN 9781594148156

In 1887, Bostonian businessman Jeremiah T. Dalton leaves the east coast for Lowdown, Texas to say his good bye to his dying father Noah.  Father and son were estranged for years.  Jeremiah’s ranch foreman, Abigail “Abby” Wilcox loathes the easterner for not having time for his kind father until he is on his deathbed.

The will is a bit of a surprise to both Jeremiah and Abby though reflecting on his father, the Bostonian knows it figures.  Jeremiah must reside on Dalton Ranch for six months and learn ranching from Abby if he is to inherit.  If he fails the test, his dad’s estate will be divided between Abby, Pedro the cook, Uncle Mort, and Whip the ranch hand.  Jeremiah considers returning home to his fiancée Evelyn DuBlois and forfeiting the estate, but his attraction to the foreman and her precocious daughter Calreissa has him considering a try at ranching.  He is stunned when Brahmin Evelyn arrives in Texas.

This is an entertaining late nineteenth century Americana romantic suspense as someone wants Jeremiah dead.  The story line is fast-paced from the moment the city slicker arrives in aptly named Lowdown and never slows down as he confronts the ghosts of his past.  Although the support cast is stereotyped from Hollywood westerns, fans will enjoy the romance between the slick easterner and his foreman.

Harriet Klausner

Sexual Secrets-Melissa MacNeal

Sexual Secrets

Melissa MacNeal

Kensington Aphrodisia, Nov 2009, $13.95

ISBN: 9780758234490

 

In 1898 wealthy Englishman Rutledge Bentley finds the identical twin beauties Colette and Camille on the streets of Paris.  He brings them home with him to London where he marries Camille and his son Heath weds Colette.

 

Colette finds Heath quite the lover yet leaves her unfulfilled while Camille is left wanting by her much older spouse.  As they did on the streets of Paris, Camille persuades her twin to switch places so each can taste some alternate lovemaking accompanied by the adrenalin rush of the swap.  Now Camille and Colette know how to make and keep father and son coming.  However, the siblings are caught with their respective garments down by a stranger who seems to intimately know both of them as he can tell them apart with one look or kiss.

 

Sexual Secrets is an intriguing late Victorian erotic romance that has double the fun, but also is a double edged blade as the family swapping is fascinating but never quite gels into a cohesive plot beyond the sexcapades.  Older fans will keep thinking of the 1973 Yankees with the wife swapping of pitchers Mike Kekich and Fritz Peterson.  Still this is an interesting premise that will have the audience wondering whom will end up in whose bed.

 

Harriet Klausner

Alaskan Renegade-Kate Bridges

Alaskan Renegade

Kate Bridges

Harlequin, Nov 1 2009, $5.99

ISBN: 9780373295685

 

In 1899 Victoria Windhaven provides nursing services to injured miners and others in the Skagway vicinity of the District of Alaska.  Her work requires her trekking into some dangerous wilderness so a bodyguard is assigned to escort her.

 

Her current protector is Brant MacQuaid who jilted Victoria’s sister at the altar in St. Louis.  He has been hired as her bodyguard and that of her associate medical student Cooper Sullivan as they tend to injured miners on Glitter Mountain.  Victoria remains outraged with him and wishes someone else would escort her.  He can feel the anger she emits at him, but refuses to allow anyone else replace him even the rival Philadelphian medical student as he needs her as his cover to capture a nasty felon besides being in love with her although keeping her safe comes first before the criminal and his desire.

 

This is another great Kate Bridges Alaskan Territory late nineteenth century police procedural romance.  Fans will feel they are on Glitter Mountain assisting Kate and Cooper with the injured and observing the Mountie Brant as he gets his man (and more important his woman).  Cooper is a strong likable support character who offers Victoria every quality trait she wants in a husband while Brant provides everything she detests in a spouse.  Their spirited rivalry make for a fun historical.

 

Harriet Klausner

Alaskan Renegade=Kate Bridges

Alaskan Renegade

Kate Bridges

Harlequin, Nov 1 2009, $5.99

ISBN: 9780373295685

 

In 1899 Victoria Windhaven provides nursing services to injured miners and others in the Skagway vicinity of the District of Alaska.  Her work requires her trekking into some dangerous wilderness so a bodyguard is assigned to escort her.

 

Her current protector is Brant MacQuaid who jilted Victoria’s sister at the altar in St. Louis.  He has been hired as her bodyguard and that of her associate medical student Cooper Sullivan as they tend to injured miners on Glitter Mountain.  Victoria remains outraged with him and wishes someone else would escort her.  He can feel the anger she emits at him, but refuses to allow anyone else replace him even the rival Philadelphian medical student as he needs her as his cover to capture a nasty felon besides being in love with her although keeping her safe comes first before the criminal and his desire.

 

This is another great Kate Bridges Alaskan Territory late nineteenth century police procedural romance.  Fans will feel they are on Glitter Mountain assisting Kate and Cooper with the injured and observing the Mountie Brant as he gets his man (and more important his woman).  Cooper is a strong likable support character who offers Victoria every quality trait she wants in a husband while Brant provides everything she detests in a spouse.  Their spirited rivalry make for a fun historical.

 

Harriet Klausner

 

Lady Blue-Helen A. Rosburg

Lady Blue

Helen A. Rosburg

Medallion, Nov 1 2009, $7.95

ISBN: 9781605420639

 

After living on a cattle ranch in America eighteen year old Harmony Simmons arrives in London following the death of her parent.  She moves in with her grumpy older sister Agatha who loathes her energetic sibling’s lust for life.

 

The two sisters ride a coach that is robbed.  Soon afterward Lord Farmington Anthony Allen arrives with a ring he insists he found.  Harmony recognizes him when she stares into his eyes, but says nothing about his vocation.  He thanks her by kidnapping her.  Soon afterward he liberates her, but his efforts to court her as Lord Anthony is nearly impossible because Warden Agatha watches her younger sister like a hawk and distrusts the aristocrat who conceals something seemingly sinister.

 

This an enjoyable historical romance starring an intrepid caring heroine, a mysterious aristocratic highwayman besotted with her from their first ignominious meeting but unaware she knows his eyes anywhere from that first encounter, and her ogre older sister.  The story line is fast-paced, filled with a whimsical mirth as Helen A. Rosburg tantalizes the audience and “Lady Blue” with her romantic felon while Agatha seethes and plots to rid them of Anthony Allen, lord or not.

Harriet Klausner