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

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

 

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

 

Dating Outside Your DNA-Karen Kelley

Dating Outside Your DNA

Karen Kelley

Kensington Brava, Dec 2009, $14.00

ISBN 9780758225764

 

While recuperating from an on the job leg injury that keeps him from galactic field work, special agent Roan Hendrix trains tyro operatives.   He detests having to work with Nerakians, but the stipulation for his return to space is mentoring half-Nerakian Lyraka.  Deciding field work is more important than his detesting the aliens, he agrees.

 

Lyraka hates humans so prefers not to be trained by one of them.  However, if she wants field work she will accept Roan as her instructor which she does as becoming an operative means more to her than her destesting his species.

 

Both are stunned when their animosity turns to attraction.  However Lyraka fears her Nerakian sex drive will injure the soft himan she wants so decides to keep her libido in check, which drives Roan crazy with desire.  Sadist Prince Banyon of Rovertia sees Lyraka as an opportunity to avenge the scar on his face that her mom etched on him when she said no.  He abducts Lyraka leading to Roan and his unit giving chase to rescue her.

 

This is a faster than the speed of light scicne fiction roamnce starring two beloved enemies and a nasty villain.  The story line is straightforward with a projectory that is obvious, but no one will care as Roan returns to active duty to rescue the half human he loves.  With a gender sexual twist as the female heroine fears her Nerakian sex drive will physiclaly overpower her loved one, fans will enjoy being lost in space in the Kelley uivorse (see CLOSE ENCOUNTERS OF A SEXY KIND and The Bad Boys Guide To The Galaxy).

 

Harriet Klausner

Forever Waiting-DeVa Gantt

Forever Waiting

DeVa Gantt

Avon, Nov 24 2009, $13.99

ISBN: 9780061578267

 

In 1837 Virginia, Governess Charmaine Ryan fears the Duvoisin family empire will soon collapse.  The aging patriarch widower Frederick struggles to keep the plantation and shipping empire afloat, but increasingly believes his efforts are futile as it seems too little too late.  His son John left insisting he will never step on the Duvoisin Plantation again.  His illegitimate son Paul wants to be the head of the shipping empire, but Frederick has doubts that is enflamed by his second wife Agatha who wants everything with no rivalry from his sons.  Meanwhile Paul also insists he loves Charmaine while John comes home reluctantly. Although unsure how she feels about the two offspring, Charmaine will not allow the shrew to destroy her beloved Duvoisin clan as she promised Frederick’s first wife Colette that she will tale care of the men.

 

The final tale in the Colette’s Prayer Duvoisin family saga (see Decision and Destiny: Colette’s Legacy and A Silent Ocean Away: Colette’s Dominion) is a fine sweeping nineteenth century Americana.  The story line focuses deeply on the interrelation extended family dynamics of the Duvoisin brood using flashbacks to inform newcomers how the clan reached that point of implosion.  Although the finish is too emoting  and melodramatic, fans of the saga will relish the heavyweight championship battle between Charmaine and Agatha with the stakes being the souls of the Duvoisin family.

 

Harriet Klausner

Grace After Midnight-Felicia Pearson and David Ritz

Grace After Midnight

Felicia Pearson and David Ritz

Grand Central, Nov 13 2009, $13.99

ISBN: 9780446195195

In Baltimore, Felicia Pearson was born to a drug addict.  Although the infant mortality rate is high for that class of baby, she survived overcoming illness.  She was raised by foster parents who cared about her, but she could not accept their loving kindness.  Instead she turned to the streets where she worked the crack trade under the tutelage of “Uncle” and “Father”.  At fifteen she killed a woman in self defense but spent several years behind bars.  At the same time Uncle is killed street style and father goes to jail for life.  Not wanting to emulate them any longer, upon parole Felicia accepts work on an assembly-line but her criminal past kept her from going straight.  The Wire saved her in a Hollywood only happy ending as Felicia Pearson keeps the hope alive fueled by the regrets of the harm she had caused.

 

This autobiography pulls no punches as Felicia Pearson tells her past with an open eyed honesty; not often seen in memoirs.  Using street vernacular, Ms. Pearson leaves nothing to the imagination as she explains her street life childhood in spite of a loving foster mom and Pop.  Profound and profane made even deeper by the street vernacular, Ms. Pearson has in deed come a long way from working the corners to Hollywood, but has not lost who she is.  Grace After Midnight is inspiring for it’s in your face from the heart honesty.

 

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

The Lost-J.D. Robb, Patricia Gaffney, Mary Blayney and Ruth Ryan Langan

The Lost

J.D. Robb, Patricia Gaffney, Mary Blayney and Ruth Ryan Langan

Jove, Nov 24 2009, $7.99

ISBN: 9780515147186

 

“Missing in Death” by J.D. Robb”.  A tourist disappears from a ferry in which she did not leap from but is no longer on board; neither are a dead person and a killer.  NYPD Lieutenant Eve Dallas leads the investigation.

 

“The Dog Days of Laurie Summer” by Patricia Gaffney.  The accident left the mom in a coma, but now the workaholic awakens; but her world is similar yet not quite what her memory recalls as she sees things from the view of a dog.

 

“Lost in Paradise” by Mary Blayney.  The nurse arrives at an island fortress giving hope to the man locked inside by an ancient curse that she is the key to his freedom.

 

“Legacy” by Ruth Ryan Langan. The grieving woman travels to the castle in Ireland where she uncovers a family secret buried on the estate.

 

Though four radically different scenarios, readers will not feel lost with this fantasy-science fiction quartet as each author hits a home run.

 

Harriet Klausner

 

A Storm Of Passion-Terri Brisbin

A Storm Of Passion

Terri Brisbin

Kensington Brava, Nov 24 2009, $14.00

ISBN: 9780758235169

 

The seer sent killers to murder her and her family.  The only survivor of the massacre, Moira swore vengeance and six years later her quest takes her to the camp of the Lord of the Isles Diarmid.  His Counselor guiding the lord, Connor has visions that disturb him as he sees himself jailed in a luxurious prison yet also spending nights with an unknown beautiful female.

 

Moira plans to sleep with the seer before killing him.  However, the night proves incredible and she fumbles her attempt to kill the seer.  Instead only wounded Connor enslaves Moira.  Over time she learns the secret price her capturer pays for visions and begins to feel for Connor, but is it enough to overcome her loathing in order to forgive him and help him.

 

This is a super paranormal romance that grips the audience the moment Connor sees the beautiful Moira for the first time and makes a bad assumption that his liege sent her.  The story line is fast-paced as she uses him but fails to kill him so she becomes his prisoner instead.  As their relationship changes the key remains constant throughout the exhilarating story line: readers and the hero wonder whether Moira can leave her hatred behind for her love of him.

 

Harriet Klausner