Lust, Loathing and a Little Lip Gloss-Kyra Davis

Lust, Loathing and a Little Lip Gloss

Kyra Davis

Mira, Jun 2009, $13.95

ISBN: 9780778327363

 

A decade has passed since mystery writer Sophie Katz saw her slimy former spouse Scott Colvin.  However to her shock, she runs into him at an open house in the Marina District where a $1.4-million fixer-upper is up for sale.  Her initial reaction is someone spiked her frap.  Her second thought comes when Scott offers his ex a sweetheart deal; which she knows means he is hiding something from her because Scott Colvin means trouble for anyone who ventures within a kilometer of his sphere.

 

The Victorian house is owned by Oscar Crammer, who insists his place is haunted and is willing to let it go for practically nothing.  Scott takes Sophie to the mansion where they find the house haunted by the corpse of Oscar.  The late owner’s son Kane also believes the house is haunted and agrees to honor his father’s price quote on the stipulation that Sophie join the San Francisco Specter Society to help him contact his father’s ghost.  Amateur sleuth Sophie and her private investigator boyfriend Anatoly Darinsky, hired by the victim’s estranged wife to prove she did not kill him, think the house is haunted by humans and set out to prove the bumps in the night are mortal as is the killler

 

This is an amusing lighthearted investigative murder mystery that will hook the audience on two levels.  First spunky Sophie is super as she takes San Francisco while providing her first person perspective which includes plenty of in your face comments.  Second is the cleverly designed séance-homicide that turns out to be a locked room murder.  Kyra Davis writes a terrific whodunit starring an amateur sleuth filled with lust for her boyfriend, loathing for her ex, and needing a little lip gloss for her boyfriend.

 

Harriet Klausner

Red Hot Lies-Laura Caldwell

Red Hot Lies

Laura Caldwell

Mira, Jun 2009, $7.99

ISBN: 9780778326502

 

In Chicago, Pickett Enterprises top entertainment lawyer twenty-nine year old Isabel “Izzy” McNeil is doing great at the job due to her spunky optimistic approach and more so because client Forester Pickett likes her so he gives her his thriving business.  However, unlike her professional life, normally energetic Izzy is losing it as her marriage to Sam Hollings is coming soon.

 

The same day that Pickett dies from a heart attack, Sam vanishes with thirty million dollars in stock in a Panamanian real estate venture.  The police want to question Sam, as the last person to be known to have been with Pickett before he died.  Her relationships with both men make Izzy a prime suspect in the missing bonds and in Pickett’s death.  As the FBI searches for Sam and they and the CPD stake out Izzy, she begins an investigation into her fiancé’s wherebouts scooting on her Vespa on the mean streets of Chicago. 

 

Izzy tells much of the exciting story line as she bikes along the Windy City seeking clues to the whereabouts of her missing fiancé and to solve who committed the murder.  However as she “joy” rides through the city, enough law enforcement types to fill Wrigley and thugs to fill U.S. Cellular Field (or is that the New Comiskey Park) follow her.  Fans will enjoy this entertaining amateur sleuth as somehow everything converges on Iz who could use a day off; just not in jail.

 

Harriet Klausner

Cry Mercy-Toni Andrews

Cry Mercy

Toni Andrews

Mira, Jun 2009, $7.99

ISBN: 9780778326489

 

In the Balboa Peninsular of California hypnotherapist Mercy Hollings has the mental ability to “press” people into doing what she wants them to do using her mind to coax a person.  She has always struggled to control her ability because she knows it is not ethical to intrude even when you want to.  Her friend Sukey has been helping her look back on her life while moving near the ocean has provided her with some solace.

 

Mercy wants to know why her adoptive parents eventually abandoned her.  At the same time she wants to help former gangbanger chief Tino who wants to become a realtor.  Tino also needs Mercy to help get his younger brother out of the gang lifestyle, but not all the punks are normal members as some come from the dark places where souls dare not go.

 

CRY MERCY is as always with this saga a fun but odd paranormal Mercy Hollings thriller (see BEG FOR MERCY and ANGEL OF MERCY).  The story line is fast-paced but owned by the heroine who rips skin with her sarcastic retorts.  Fans will enjoy the latest antics of Mercy as Toni Andrews provides an amusing refreshing beach fantasy.

 

Harriet Klausner

 

Orcs: Bad Blood-Stan Nicholls

Orcs: Bad Blood

Stan Nicholls

Orbit, Apr 2009, $14.99

ISBN: 0316033693

 

On the planet Maras-Dantia, the Wolverine band of Orc soldiers unwillingly served the cruel evil Queen Jennesta; she demanded they find five instrumentalities.  When they are put together, they form a portal that opens up into other worlds.  The orcs use it to go to their homeworld Ceragan, a clean place populated by Orcs only. The leader of the wolverine band Stryke and others are weary of the constant deadly battles and see this realm as a haven.

 

They choose to remain here and stop fighting in order to live out the remainder of their lives rusticating in harmony and peace.  Seraphim the human arrives informing them of a depressing tale of atrocities as orcs are in decline and humans are hunting them like they are dumb beasts on Acurial.  The wolverines learn that Jennesta still lives and is coming after them to take the instrumentalities that will make her queen of all worlds.  Stryke and the wolverines know they must go to Acurial to end the genocide and prevent the queen from achieving her objective. Jennesta remains in a position of power so has much to toss at her former minions whom she calls traitors.  Still Stryke and the Wolverines are willing to fight to the death to prevent her from making an already horrific situation worse.

 

ORCS: BAD BLOOD makes a case that the species is not evil brutal thugs but are intelligent rational beings who battle to the extreme rather than surrender (think of the Highlander warriors in pre Culloden Scotland).  They do not believe in slaughter, massacres or genocide, but will bravely fight against overwhelming odds.  In fact they look forward to a quiet life and death in bed on their new world, but feel duty calls so they travel Acurial world to free the orcs though they assume a trap awaits them.  There is plenty of action though little is settled even as Stryke and his wolverines prove the orcs are so different than the prejudicial Tolkien standard.

 

Harriet Klausner

Lucky Streak-Carly Phillips

Lucky Streak

Carly Phillips

Harlequin HQN, Jun 2009, $7.99

ISBN: 9780373773756

In Las Vegas Amber Rose has lived the life of a con-artist and card counter in high-stakes poker games as a way to bring in necessary income to pay for the care of her Alzheimer’s-stricken father. Now she plans to go straight though she fears her partner Marshall Banks will go ballistic, but does not care as she wants out.

When Banks turns nasty, Boston cop Mike Corwin, in town for a wedding, rescues Amber. She joins him and his party, giving them a special tour of Sin City from an insider’s perspective. The day ends in ecstasy when Mike wins the $100,000 jackpot and marries Amber. In the morning, he finds his wife and his money missing. Sad but wiser, Mike returns home. Amber returns to his hotel to explain why, but he has left town. Amber follows love to Boston, but Mike rejects her pleading as he sees cons as thieves as the end never justifies the means. However, when Marshall and some cohorts come after Amber, Mike begins to reconsider what life was like before he met Amber and what it will be like if he kicks her to the curb.

The second Corwin contemporary curse romance (see LUCKY CHARM) stars two fabulous lead protagonists whose recent work places them on opposite sides of the law. The story line is fast-paced from the moment Mike and Amber meet and never slows down in Vegas or Boston. Although the ancient curse plays a lesser role in Mike’s saga, fans will appreciate Amber opening Mike’s eyes as she colors his world with love if he accepts her as his heart’s artist.

Harriet Klausner

Heartless-Diana Palmer

Heartless

Diana Palmer

Harlequin HQN, Jun 2009, $24.95

ISBN: 9780373773787

When she was a teen Gracie March was attracted to her older stepbrother Jason Pendleton, but she hid her feelings though not her hero worship of him. Jason also was somewhat attracted to her, but felt it was inappropriate so he blocked his feelings. He ultimately left with plans to make it on his own. However, when her mom died, he arranged for Gracie to be cared for.

Jason comes home for the first time in years as he owns Comanche Wells Ranch. He and Grace share a passionate kiss and he realizes he loves her. However, she rejects him as she fears her secret shame will drive the only man she ever loved away so thinking convoluted she leaves first. Jason becomes engaged on the rebound; unaware his fiancée plans to rid his hanger-on family members starting with Gracie who is thinking of leaving Comanche Wells anyway. A couple of abductions led by the “General” leave Gracie and Jason reconsidering the past, present, and mostly the future.

The latest Texas contemporary romance (see FEARLESS) is an engaging tale starring a lead female used to being care for by family and an older experienced champion used to getting his way. His plan is to take care of his stepsister and ignore their attraction, but that proves futile. As Gracie becomes independent, Jason knows he must give her the chance to fail though his gut is killing him. Although the suspense seems more a detractor even if it forces Gracie to act, readers will enjoy the omega female trying to become at least a beta as Diana Palmer provides an entertaining ranch romance.

Harriet Klausner

Freudian Slip-Erica Orloff

Freudian Slip

Erica Orloff

Harlequin HQN, Jun 2009, $7.99

ISBN: 9780373774227

Hot and steamy New York has book editor Katie Darby taking a taxi instead of the subway. She and her cabby discuss God’s sense of humor even as his radio is blasting the raunchy show of Julian Shaw. When she arrives at her boyfriend’s apartment she finds him with her best friend. Crying she leaves in the same cab that brought her over only to find someone busted in and robbed her apartment and her dog is missing. All this occurs right before the anniversary of her father’s death and now she is hearing voices in her head demanding she do things she never would even think of doing.

Julian Shaw loves being a “pervert” and enjoys making a living from a life of depravity and decadence. However, he has made numerous enemies especially from the moral right and from family members of his “guests”; one of these zealots shoots him. Julian falls into a coma, but in his comatose state, voices demand he assist Katie find a better life; the stakes are his soul. He figures how hard this can be until he tries and falls in love with her; now if it means his eternal soul so be it because kissable Katie is his for the rest of his albeit seemingly short life.

This superb romantic fantasy is filled with whimsical love as matchmaking seems to come from beyond. Katie and Julian are opposites and in fact she makes it clear to her taxi driver what she thinks of the city’s top rated pervert. Fans who relish something refreshingly different will enjoy the aptly titled FREUDIAN SLIP as the antihero finds his soul and heart when he decides to become the champion of love instead of depravity.

Harriet Klausner

Lip Service-Susan Mallory

Lip Service

Susan Mallory

Harlequin HQN, Jun 2009, $7.99

ISBN: 9780373773725

She obeyed her tyrannical father once and married his choice of a mate instead of her beloved Mitch Cassidy who left town joining the Navy SEALs. Skye Titan regretted her decision. When her spouse died, she vowed never again as she raises their daughter. Yet her father Jed demands she marry again for business purposes TJ Boone who is more interested in her sister Izzy.

A veteran with war related injuries Mitch has come home. He still loves Skye, but has not forgotten her betrayal when she acquiesced to her dad. Jed is pressuring her again, but she holds him off hoping for a second chance with Mitch even as she worries about how he and her daughter will relate. Finally, there is another new man in her life, an angry half-brother who wants to destroy the Titan clan.

The second Titan family romance (see UNDER HER SKIN) is an engaging second chance at love romance, but first Skye must find courage to accept her failure to stand up to her father and Mitch must find his lost heart to learn to forgive. Neither seems to have that particular trait in their arsenal as Mitch remains angry while Skye struggles with disobedience especially with her beloved family in trouble. Fans will enjoy Susan Mallory’s engaging character driven contemporary.

Harriet Klausner

The Confessions of a Duchess-Nicola Cornick

The Confessions of a Duchess

Nicola Cornick

Harlequin HQN, Jun 2009, $7.99

ISBN: 9780373773770

In 1809 in the village of Fortune’s Folly, Sir Montague Fortune is outraged when former housemaid Miss Alice Lister rejected him as the rumored wealthy heiress realized her suitor groom is an unprincipled person. Irate by the affront of an aristocrat like him by a working class nothing, Sir Montague decides to punish all unmarried females when he applies the medieval Dames Tax; either a woman is married or she pays half her fortune to the squire; in this case him.

The outraged single females decide to take counteraction with this sexist stance led by the Dowager Duchess Laura Cole as the village is flooded by impoverish wastrels who see the village as a marriage mart. Meanwhile the Home Secretary sends Dexter Anstruther to Fortune’s Folly to investigate a homicide and for him to find a wealthy wife. However, Dexter is stunned to find Laura resides there; the greatest night of his life was with her four years ago but she dumped him in the morning after. As they fall in love and become lovers, she again rejects his proposal fearing her secret will send her beloved away; though he struggles on his personal front, he follows murder clues while she leads a Lysistrata like insurgency.

THE CONFESSIONS OF A DUCHESS is an intelligent Regency romance starring a strong secondary cast and two likable lead protagonists. The story line is fast-paced and amusing as the women revolt against their penuriousness (with his money) spendthrift (with their money) squire. Although the Regency era is not fully anchored, fans of historical romance will relish the Lysistrata insurgents dealing with an invasion of slimy piss poor males.

Harriet Klausner

Edge of Desire-Rhyannon Byrd

Edge of Desire

Rhyannon Byrd

Harlequin HQN, Jun 2009, $7.99

ISBN: 9780373774234

Sheriff Riley Buchanan left his home in Henning, Colorado to come the Pacific as he fears what he is becoming due to the Merrick blood flowing through him. In Purity, Washington, he knows his gut insists he needs a woman, any female; but his heart and head only wants Hope Summer whom he lost years ago. Ironically what he needs is on her land.

Watchman Kellen Scott has accompanied Riley to the Northwest to ostensibly keep an eye on the sheriff who is losing control. They believe the third marker is interred on Hope’s property. Riley had wanted to come and go without intruding on Hope, but he has failed as she will know about his darkening nature and loathe him. However, Hope is also concealing her inner nature and hiding from her ruthless former spouse obsessed with destroying his ex wife and her kind.

The third Primal Instinct tale (see EDGE OF DANGER and EDGE OF HUNGER) ends the current trilogy with an excellent urban fantasy second chance romantic suspense. The story line is action-packed from the opening moment when Riley reaches Purity and never slows down while the overall theme takes a few wonderful spins. However, as in the previous two entries, the edgy characters make for a great finish and perhaps set up some more Primal Instinct Edge of novels.

Harriet Klausner