Hidden Fire-Jo Davis

Hidden Fire

Jo Davis

Signet, Dec 2009, $6.99

ISBN: 9780451228659

 

Station Five firefighter Julian Salvatore knows he is in love with beautiful attorney Grace McKenna, but she ignores his efforts to start dating even as he knows he is being a pest.  He just refuses to accept negatives from her.

 

However, Julian becomes concerned for Grace’s safety when he learns she represents the person who molested him as a child.  He voices his fears to her but she blows away his trepidations.  However, she reconsiders his warning when he is injured in a hit and run that seemed deliberate at a time someone is abducting and killing people.  As he heals, they team up to investigate who the culprit is as they each believe the driver is the deadly kidnapper.

 

The latest Firefighters of Station Five (see Under Fire) is a fast-paced romantic suspense thriller starring a hero with issues forged by his childhood molestation that comes back to haunt him as the client of his beloved and the lawyer he loves who has her own issues with doubt re commitment.  Julian’s issues with his cronies especially his Captain make him seem genuine as does Grace’s indecisiveness even as she overdoes the changing of her mind to the point of irritatingly sending the reader yelling at her to stay the course.  Although the villain is a caricature over the top of the station house, fans will enjoy the latest escapades of the Station Five firefighters.

 

Harriet Klausner

Hard To Hold-Stephanie Tyler

Hard To Hold

Stephanie Tyler

Dell, Nov 24 2009, $7.99

ISBN: 9780440244349

 

In the Congo, Navy SEAL Lieutenant Jake Hansen arrives to rescue Doctors Without Borders plastic surgeon Dr. Isabelle Markham from a ruthless mercenary Rage who kidnapped and raped her and left her for dead.  Jake finds her barely alive without a stitch of clothing.  He gets her out of Africa but a connection from the moment they met is evident.

 

When Rafe escapes captivity, Admiral Callahan assigns Jake to keep Izzy safe.  He has mixed feelings about the assignment because he told her some things about himself he told no one.  However, he would die to keep her safe, but feels bad that he has been ordered to conceal the truth about Rafe who is believed to be stalking Isabelle. When she learns the truth she leaves, but Rafe has been patient.

 

This is an exhilarating romantic military suspense thriller with the emphasis on the love story line over the dark SEAL operations.  The lead couple makes the tale fun as each fall in love with the other but share in common relationship issues to overcome.  The support cast that includes his SEAL mates (stars of future tales) and the man who took two of Naval officers into his home when they were teens (; the third is his son) add depth to the suspense and even more so the romance.  Fans of SEAL romances in which the thrills of the coupling supersede that of the enemy actions will want to read this enjoyable tale.

 

Harriet Klausner

Our Little Secret-Starr Ambrose

Our Little Secret

Starr Ambrose

Pocket, Nov 24 2009, $7.99

ISBN: 9781439102237

 

Twins Lauren and Meg Sutherland are total opposites as the former is reliable and the latter is impulsive.  However, even Lauren, used to her sibling’s reckless behavior, is stunned when her sister marries US Senator Creighton, a man twice her age.

 

Lauren plans to persuade her sibling and the politician to annul their marriage.  However, she becomes concerned when the newlyweds vanish without a trace.  The senator’s son Drew joins Lauren in a search for their missing relatives after mistakenly accusing her of being a gold-digger.  To her shock, Lauren is attracted to Drew, which is out of character for her as she is engaged to an ultra conservative who is compatible to her.  At the same time an unknown adversary stalks them and the newlyweds are planning to prevent by any means possible the bungling amateurs from unraveling a Washington run by blackmail of illicit trysts.

 

Our Little Secret is an enjoyable amateur sleuth romantic suspense in which the lead couple in their search for their relatives find themselves in a murkier deadly situation as a predator watches their every move.  The story line is a fast-paced frenzied frolic with the emphasis on the romance although Starr Ambrose takes a jab at a DC fueled by money interests.  Fans will appreciate this entertaining gambit as Drew and Lauren wonder how love can prove so dangerous.

 

Harriet Klausner

With Extreme Pleasure-Alison Kent

With Extreme Pleasure

Alison Kent

Kensington Brava, Dec 2009, $14.00

ISBN: 9780758217585

 

Makeup artist Cady Kowalski has been on the run for years ever since her brother was murdered, but her past has caught up with her.  Battered and bruised she climbs into the hummer of former model and ex convict Kingdom Trahan, who looks forward to leaving the Big Apple for his home in Vermilion Parish, Louisiana.  King reluctantly agrees to take Cady out of New York.

 

They stop at her apartment so she can take some stuff with her, but her roommate tries to kill her.  With King’s help and that of a Fed she eludes those trying to kill her. However, it is a long drive as King slowly learns the truth re Cady and what happened eight years ago when her brother died.

 

Cousin to Simon Baptiste of SG-5 (see No Limit), King is a terrific hero who cannot help but aid Cady though he keeps thinking of the unwanted paparazzi that constantly stalk his newly married cuz due to the man’s famous bride.  The story line is a fast-paced and exciting, but over the top of the Bayou and lacking in the hero’s criminal back story.  Still fans will be hooked the moment Cady climbs into King’s hummer as this action packed thriller lives up to its title.

 

Harriet Klausner

 

Cold River-Carla Neggers

Cold River

Carla Neggers

Mira, Nov 24 2009, $7.99

ISBN: 9780778326557

 

Eight months ago, Drew Cameron was murdered on Cameron Mountain in Vermont. Those who killed him also died; that is everyone except the person who hired the professional hit men.  Drew’s sons Sean and his brothers (see Cold Purist for Elijah’s tale) believe Hannah Shay, owner of Her Three Sisters Café in nearby Black Falls, Vermont, is the key to their finding out who the culprit really was.

 

However, Sean approaches Hannah asking for her assistance, but she refuses as she is afraid her friend Bowie O’Rourke is in the middle of the blood flowing down Cameron Mountain.  However, someone with less ethics when it comes to homicide awaits the right moment to learn what Hannah knows before killing her.  Sean vows to keep the obstinate Hannah safe as he believes she is in the crosshairs and besides he has loved her since high school.

 

The latest Black Falls “Cold” thriller is a strong romantic suspense that turns pristine Green Mountain state into a dark grim landscape.  Drew and Hannah are a delightful pairing as he knows somehow she is the center of danger, but she rejects his offers of protection out of loyalty.   Fans will relish Carla Neggers’ tense action-packed thriller that never slows down throughout the exhilarating story line.

 

Harriet Klausner

Shadows From the Past-Lindsay McKenna

Shadows From the Past

Lindsay McKenna

Harlequin HQN, Dec 1 2009, $7.99

ISBN: 9780373774074

 

Following the death of her mom in a Los Angeles earthquake, the baby Kamaria found alive in apartment rubble was adopted by Morgan and Laura Trayhern, who raised her as theirs with love in Montana.  Everything was terrific, but the photojournalist always wanted to know more about her roots especially her patriarchal side.  She has one clue as to who her biological father might be; three men in a photo with Morgan insisting Rudd Mason, owner of the Elkhorn Ranch in Wyoming, is her sire.

 

Kam learns Rudd is advertising for a caregiver to help his octogenarian mother, Iris.  She applies and is hired.  She easily becomes friends with the rancher and his mom, but his wife, Allison, and her younger half-siblings Zach and Regan loathe her.  Worse she is attracted to ranch hand Wes Sheridan even as someone wants to insure the family estate remains as is and murder is a viable option.

 

This is an exciting ranch romantic suspense starring a likeable heroine.  The story line is fast-paced from the moment Kam decides to uncover the identity of her biological dad with the help of her wonderful adopted father.  Although the villain is too easily discarded, fans will enjoy the last Trayhern next generation tale (see Dangerous Prey and heart of the Storm) and hopefully persuade Lindsay McKenna to provide a futuristic follow up involving Zach and Regan.

 

Harriet Klausner

 

Waking The Dead-Kylie Brant

Waking The Dead

Kylie Brant

Berkley, Nov 2009, $7.99

ISBN:  9780425231142

In Oregon’s Willamette Forest, nature guide Zach Sharper finds seven garbage bags in a remote part of the wilderness in a cave on Castle Rock where you would not expect any trash.  He takes a peek and finds each contains bones that he knows from his Ranger days are human remains although none contain a skull.  He calls the authorities.

Sheriff Marin Andrews asks Raiker Forensics for help in identifying the bodies.  They send former model turned forensic anthropologist Caitlin Fleming to investigate.  Sheriff Andrews hires Zach to guide and protect Caitlin into the wilderness.  He reluctantly escorts Caitlin deep into what seems to her the primeval forest to the cave on Castle Rock.  Every step they take the pair argues safety vs. catching one killer plus an apparent partner or accessory; either way a diabolically brilliant predator.

The latest Mindhunters romantic suspense thriller (see WAKING NIGHTMARE and WAKING EVIL) is a terrific entry as the investigation supersedes the romance; both want one another but know survival comes before seeing where their relationship goes.  Zach is a super guide who takes the heroine and readers to a remote part of Oregon while Cait is a fabulous forensic anthropologist due to a fascinating former career as a model.  Fans will enjoy climbing Willamette Forest with this couple.

Harriet Klausner

Lord of the Far Island-Victoria Holt

Lord of the Far Island

Victoria Holt

St. Martin’s Griffin, Nov 24 2009, $13.99

ISBN: 9780312384173

When she was five years old her mother died so Ellen Kellaway moved in with her wealthy adult third cousins William and Agatha Loring and their daughter Esmeralda.  Cousin Agatha never conceals for one moment she resents the poor relative living with her and cannot wait to toss Ellen out of the house.  That moment occurs when Ellen turns eighteen as Agatha informs her charity ends now.  She is directed to accept a position as governess to Cousin Agatha’s friend, the Honorable Mrs. Oman Lemming, which is as unappealing as remaining in the current household where she is unwanted.  Her handsome childhood friend Phillip Carrington proposes and Ellen accept.  A tragedy prevents their nuptials as apparently he commits suicide though Ellen cannot believe he was so filled with despair as to shoot himself.

Adapting once gain to her dismal fate, Ellen receives a letter from Jago Kellaway, who claims to be her guardian and the Lord of The Far Island, inviting her to meet her family at their ancestral home.   Without a look back, Ellen travels to Kellaways Island, off Cornwall.  Jago and Ellen are attracted to one another, but she believes he is concealing something sinister. She begins to fall in love with him as she begins to uncover his dark secrets that he hides from her.

This reprint of a 1975 gothic romance remains an exciting tale with a final spin that will stun the audience although a coda denouement helps explain what happened.  The story line is in two parts: London and the Far Island with the first hundred pages setting up the remaining two hundred plus pages.  The action is a bit slow until Ellen goes to Far Island when the story line switches gears.  Fans will enjoy Victoria Holt’s fine tale that holds up nicely three and a half decades after it was first released.

Harriet Klausner

Take Me For A Ride-Karen Kendall

Take Me For A Ride

Karen Kendall

Signet, Nov 2009, $6.99

ISBN: 9780451228468

In Manhattan ARTemis art recovery agent Eric McDougal is tracking down the stolen St. George necklace that allegedly was worn by Catherine the Great.  Eric knows art restorer Natalie Rosen is the thief.  Natalie borrowed the necklace worth $2 million no questions asked from her firm Luc Ricard Conservation and Restoration so her legally blind grandma Nonnie in Connecticut can validate what she believes, and if true once again touch and somewhat see the family heirloom stolen by Nazis decades ago.

Thus when Nonnie and her friend suddenly run away with the necklace for Russia, Natalie is stunned as she is left holding the legal bag.  Eric believes Natalieand they team up in pursuit of two senior citizens leading them on a tango to Moscow

From Russia With Love is the theme of the latest “Take Me” ARTemis romantic suspense thriller (see TAKE ME IF YOU CAN and TAKE MET TWO TIMES).  This fun tale takes readers on another rollicking ride this time chasing after the thieving grandma and her cohort.  The story line is fast-paced from the opening theft and never slows down as the recover and the restorer fall in love during the merry chase.

Harriet Klausner

A Great Kisser-Donna Kauffman

A Great Kisser

Donna Kauffman

Kensington Brava, Nov 1 2009, $14.00

ISBN: 9780758231314

Six months ago her mother married Mayor Arlen Thompson of Cedar Springs, a Colorado resort town.  Now Lauren Matthews leaves her job at Capitol Hill to meet her mom’s spouse, her stepfather.

The mayor’s personal assistant Ruby Jean demands (by crying) her brother Jake McKenna escort her boss’ stepdaughter around town.  Jake reluctantly agrees although he prefers fixing planes.  However as they soar in love, someone is doing things to drive her out of town.  Already disconcerted by her mother’s sudden marriage, Lauren wonders who and why.

Mindful of Matthew Broderick’s Out on a Limb, A GREAT KISSER is an enjoyable romantic suspense with the accent on the love subplot as the mystery never quite gels because the villain never quite seems felonious.  Jake is fun as the reluctant hero while Lauren is the outsider causing trouble for townsfolk with her need to know why the mayor married her mom because she doubts his sincerity as a spouse or a politician.  Fans preferring contemporary romances with a touch of suspense will enjoy Donna Kauffman’s Rocky Mountain tale.

Harriet Klausner