The Secrets of Her Past-Emilie Rose

The Secrets of Her Past
Emilie Rose
Harlequin SuperRomance, Mar 4 2014, $6.75
ISBN: 9780373608331

While undergoing lung cancer treatment, Danny Drake orders his son Adam to bring Madison home to run his veterinary practice while he fights the disease. Adam argues with his dad that his late brother Andrew’s widow was selfish and didn’t want the baby she lost along with her husband during an ice storm in which she drove too fast six years ago.

Danny travels to Quincey, North Carolina to take Madison “no longer a Drake” Monroe the seven hours to Norcross, but she refuses. Angry with her while misunderstanding her no, he says his late sibling was right to call her a cold selfish SOB; while she hides the truth from his family so that they can retain their paragon image of Andrew. Still feeling she owes her veterinary mentor to hear it from her lips, Maddy drives to tell her ex-father-in-law. Danny’s wife Helen angrily pleads with her to help as she did not want to lose another Drake male. Reluctantly Maddy agrees but on her terms. As Maddy keeps two practices afloat, Adam reassesses his ex-in-law due to her dedication to her patients and their owners, and his father. Soon two revelations hammer his soul and heart: that his brother lied to him and that he loves his late sibling’s widow.

This is a warm second chance at family drama starring a wonderful cast. Though the late Andrew comes across as a selfish lazy loser with no redeeming qualities when he lived, readers will enjoy this compassionate healing storyline.

Harriet Klausner

Shadowmaster-Susan Krinard

Shadowmaster
Susan Krinard
Harlequin Nocturne, Mar 4 2014, $5.75
ISBN: 9780373885916

In the San Francisco enclave, Aegis Director of Operations Chen assigns half-dhampir agent Phoenix Stryker to uncover the identity of Draken and prevent this killer from assassinating a senator. Chen chose Stryker for this dangerous mission because she believes this lethal Opiri assassin is most likely heterosexual and thus unable to resist the call of dhampir blood.

Getting inside his camp, Stryker meets Draken, but instead of being a deadly monster as her superior described, she finds a caring person who wants to end the ugly exiling of criminals to Erebus where they are used for sustenance or slaves by the Opiri. He also has a personal agenda to avenge the destruction of his loved ones. However, Draken revises his goals to include keeping the newcomer he cherishes safe.

The latest Nightsiders romantic fantasy (see Nightmaster and Daysider) is an action-packed thriller that nicely blends desire with peril. Though the overarching drums of war fails to move forward much, readers will relish this taut twisting storyline as the lead couple has some complex decisions to make in which each choice seems overwhelmingly lethal to them.

Harriet Klausner

Running With Wolves-Cynthia Cooke

Running With Wolves
Cynthia Cooke
Harlequin Nocturne, Mar 4 2014, $5.75
ISBN: 9780373885923

In the Cascades, the Colony’s wolf shifters’ leader Malcom assigns loyal member Jason Stratton to find and escort to the pack a former chief’s daughter to bring peace and consolidate the alpha’s power as his mate. Jason locates a confused Shay Mallory, who has recently dealt with weird happenings and still misses her late father who protected her while warning her to beware of strangers.

Feeling treasonous due to his attraction to Shay, Jason explains to her she must mate with a shifter; but she rejects the notion of being bound with a man she never met. As he escorts Shay and her companion Buddy to the enclave, enemies attack them several times. To save her life, Jason mates with Shay so she can shift though he expects once he gets her to safety, Malcom will kill him.

The keys to why Running With Wolves is a strong romantic fantasy are Cynthia Cooke’s supernatural world populated with the paranormal seems genuine and the hero is a caring passionate person preferring to make love not war. Action-packed, readers will enjoy joining the protagonists on their dangerous road show to love.

Harriet Klausner

Remembering That Night-Stephanie Doyle

Remembering That Night
Stephanie Doyle
Harlequin SuperRomance, Mar 4 2014, $6.75
ISBN: 9780373608348

He no longer practices psychology after what happened to a patient he feels he failed; Greg Chalmers uses his uncanny ability to detect when someone lies to win at poker as he knows a bluff. His talent has banned him from all the casinos in Vegas and AC with the Grande Casino being the last place he can play. However, security chief Victor Lario hammers Greg after accusing him of cheating.

Brigantine PD Sheriff Danielson asks Greg to help them with a case involving a woman covered in blood who claims to have no memory as to who she is and what happened. Though total mental loss is rare, Greg cannot tell for sure if she is telling the truth; but unless she is a sociopath or delusional he leans towards her suffering from amnesia. Greg offers to help her recover. Meanwhile someone murdered Grande Casino owner, mob chieftain A.C. D’Amato; which leads to Jane Doe being identified as the victim’s former ward Eliza Dunning, who worked for her guardian as a CPA. As Greg and Eliza team up to restore her lost memories, they fall in love while he and the cops try to keep her safe from a killer seeking to eliminate the lone witness.

Though amnesia has been used a lot in crime novels, Remembering That Night is an exhilarating romantic mystery due to Greg’s gambling addiction and unique skill that he fears is failing him for the first time in his life as he knows he reacts to Eliza with his wrong head. Readers will enjoy this engaging suspense.

Harriet Klausner

Deadly Hunter-Rachel Lee

Deadly Hunter
Rachel Lee
Harlequin Romantic Suspense, Mar 4 2014, $5.50
ISBN: 9780373278626

In Conard County, Wyoming chemistry teacher Allison McMann clumsily trips while meeting her reticent new next door neighbor retired special ops soldier Jerrod Marquette. Though he prefers to be left alone, Jerrold insures Allison is okay. Jerrod has enough on his plate as he mentally struggles to adapt to being a civilian while debating his future including an offer from the CIA.

Recently a toxin has killed many livestock in the area. As the local chemistry teacher, residents ask Allison to find the source of the deadly poison; thus she methodically collects samples. Attracted to Allison, Jerrod fears the intrepid teacher is heading into trouble with her inquiry. He insists on accompanying her and as they fall in love his hypothesis proves right when someone wants her dead.

This Conard County: The Next Generation (see Reuniting with the Rancher) is an exciting romantic suspense starring two wary wounded warriors. The entertaining taut mystery that turns into a cat and mouse perilous escapade enhances a delightful contemporary.

Harriet Klausner

The Returning Hero-Soraya Lane

The Returning Hero
Soraya Lane
Harlequin Romance, Mar 4 2014, $5.99
ISBN: 9780373742806

Australian SAS soldier Sam Matheson died due to an explosive device; his BFFs Brett Palmer and Logan Murdoch (male lead of next month’s Her Soldier Protector) made it home but suffer from injuries including PTSD after the death of their comrade in arms. Six months since her husband’s death, in Sydney Sam’s widow Jamie struggles with her spouse’s retired detection dog Bear whom she believes her late mate loved more than he did her. Meanwhile Brett knows he used his severe leg burn as an excuse not to see Jamie as he struggles with his unrequited love he has for her.

Finally using courage like he never thought he had, Brett visits Jamie to offer her any support she needs. Happy to see him, Jamie asks Brett to stay in her home and help her with Bear’s adaption to civilian life without his beloved handler. As she falls in love with Brett, both feel guilt for betraying Sam.

The Returning Hero is a warm Australian military romance that focuses on the lead couple, the ghost of a man they both cherish and the K9. Although the premise is not new, readers will enjoy Soraya Lane’s well written fine tribute to the soldiers and their family members who sacrifice so much.

Harriet Klausner

The Real Thing-Brenda Jackson

The Real Thing
Brenda Jackson
Harlequin Desire, Mar 4 2014, $5.25
ISBN: 9780373733002

Having a problem with her residency at Denver Memorial due to respected surgeon Dr. Casey Belvedere refusal to take her no as an answer to his advances, Trinity Matthews asks Adrian Westmoreland for help. She met Adrian and his family at the wedding of his cousin Riley (see One Winter’s Night). He agrees to act as her boyfriend.

As the couple pretends to be an entry, each finds increasingly a desire to make their sham relationship real. However, once she completes her residency, Trinity plans to return home to Bunnell, Florida to join her family’s medical practice. Although Adrian desperately wants her to stay with him as he believes what they have is The Real Thing; he knows reluctantly that he needs to encourage her to do what she wants.

The Real Thing is an entertaining contemporary romance starring two likable lead characters. The latest Westmoreland tale is fun as Brenda Jackson provides a warm, somewhat predicable storyline.

Harriet Klausner

For His Eyes Only-Liz Fielding

For His Eyes Only
Liz Fielding
Harlequin Kiss, Mar 1 2014, $5.99
ISBN: 9780373178940

In London, Morgan and Black Senior Partner Miles Morgan angrily shows hardworking realtor Natasha Gordon her ad to sell Hadley Chase. It seems that someone altered it horribly in the Country Chronicle. Miles orders Tasha to check into a rehab clinic while she consider her future. She refuses insisting she did not do this sabotage.

Hadley Chase owner Darius Hadley offers the unemployed Tash a chance to regain her devastated reputation by allowing her to sell his family’s estate if she poses naked for a sculpture he wants to create. Though distrusting males, a desperate Tash reluctantly accepts the sculptor’s amoral deal. As the nude model and the artist work together they fall in love. However, his parental trauma and her overwhelming family’s sucking away all oxygen leave both reluctant to create a loving relationship.

Aptly titled For His Eyes Only is the bonding between the protagonists in this entertaining romance with a touch of a mystery re the ad. The support cast enhances the plot while the likable lead couple and their relationship provide the audience with a wonderful contemporary.

Harriet Klausner

Waking Up Pregnant-Mira Lyn Kelly

Waking Up Pregnant
Mira Lyn Kelly
Harlequin Kiss, Mar 1 2014, $5.99
ISBN: 9780373178933

In Las Vegas, Jeff Norton and Darcy Penn shared a wonderful one night stand in his hotel room. While he went to the bathroom, she left unaware that to his horror the bag he used broke. Several months later in Los Angeles, Darcy informs a not shocked Jeff she is pregnant.

After puking in his office garbage can, Darcy explains she suffers from an extreme case of morning sickness. Jeff persuades Darcy to reside with his mother; pretending to be his pregnant girlfriend. As they fall in love, her childhood traumas leading to a fierce independence stand in the way of a permanent family with Jeff and their unborn child.

The latest Waking Up romance (see Waking Up Married with male lead Connor who is a buddy in this tale) is an engaging tale driven by Darcy; as the observant child becomes the loner adult. Fast-paced, fans will appreciate Mira Lyn Kelly’s fun contemporary as the protagonists turn into friends without benefits in love.

Harriet Klausner

The Texas Wildcatter’s Baby-Cathy Gillen Thacker

The Texas Wildcatter’s Baby
Cathy Gillen Thacker
Harlequin American Romance, Mar 4 2014, $5.50
ISBN: 9780373755103

In Summit, Texas, land use rivals, geological engineer Ginger Rollins and die-hard environmentalist Rand McCabe, have a one nighter following a heated town hall meeting. Six weeks later Ginger informs Rand she is carrying his baby; he stuns her as he believes the child is his without a second thought. She further explains to him that if they are unmarried under Texas law, the newborn has no legal father. Ginger suggests a marriage of convenience, which she explains will lead to a divorce in nine months but ensure their baby legally has a sire. Rand accepts her proposal but conceals from Ginger that in his mind and heart this is a permanent arrangement as he knows their desire is more than just sexual attraction.

As the couple fall in love, conflict intrudes into their happy nest. Their jobs keep them at a constant state of strife, and family demand this pair and the baby Ginger carries to make it as a trio with an option on more children.

The fourth McCabe Homecoming (see The Texas Lawman’s Woman, The Texas Christmas Gift and The Long, Hot Texas Summer) is an engaging contemporary romance as two stubborn environmental adversaries fall in love. Although the path to permanency takes the obvious path, readers will appreciate this delightful Texas tale.

Harriet Klausner