Revenge for Old Times’ Sake-Kris Neri

Revenge for Old Times’ Sake

Kris Neri

Cherokee McGhee, Mar 10 2010, $16.95

www.CherokeeMcGhee.com

ISBN: 9780979969454

Opposites attract is proven with free-spirited Tracy Eaton and her straight-laced husband Drew.  They are yin and yang balancing each other while fulfilling the needs of one another.  That is why  Tracy is shocked when she literally sees her husband fighting with his fellow attorney Ian Dragger in the garage of their office building.  Drew insists to Tracy they attend the party celebrating their getting Skippy Sullivan off of a variety of charges that the two lawyers worked on together.  At the gala, Skippy introduces Tracy and Drew to juror Riley who persuaded the other jurors that he was innocent.

The next day, they find Ian dead floating in the Eaton swimming pool.  The picture of the fight is in the tabloids.  Obviously Drew is the prime suspect.  Drew’s mother Charlotte calls his former fiancée attorney CeeCee Payne to defend her son.  Through her connections, Tracy learns that a hit is put on Drew.  With her mother, mother-in-law Charlotte and others allied with helping her, Tracy busts her Drew out of jail. She begins her own investigation so that the worst case scenario that her spouse is murdered doesn’t happen. This leads Tracy and Drew in danger from a killer who is watching their every move.

The third Tracy Eaton revenge mystery (see Dem Bones revenge and Revenge of the Gypsy Queen) is as always a tremendous amateur sleuth mystery as the heroine is a courageous free spirit acting like a bloodhound on the scent of suspects.  The scene in which a second corpse is found in the pool is humorous as the Tracy and Her mother and Charlotte struggle with what to do with the body.  It is scenes like this that make Kris Neri one of the best whodunit writers as she takes her story line serious, but includes plenty of humor that fits in nicely to the main storyline while entertaining the reader.  Fans will enjoy Revenge for Old Times Sakes as we, along with the heroine, wonder if that is CeeCee’s agenda with her erratic defense.

Harriet Klausner

The Devil’s Star-Jo Nesbo

The Devil’s Star

Jo Nesbo

Harper, Mar 10 2010, $25.99

ISBN: 9780061133978

Oslo police detective Harry Hole drowns his greatest professional and personal failures with alcohol.  He tried to persuade his superiors that Detective Tom Waaler killed Harry’s police partner Ellen Gjelten (see The Redbreast), but no one believed him; Harry also believes the dirty cop sells weapons on the streets.  On the personal front, he has been inept in connecting with his girlfriend and her son.

Ironically, Chief Inspector Bjarne Moller teams up Hole and Waaler on the murder investigation of Camilla Loen whose finger was removed and a devil’s star shaped diamond jammed under her eyelid.  Harry is assigned a missing person’s case that soon ties back to the Loen murder.  Those corpses are followed by similar bodies as Hole realizes a serial killer is on theloose.

The third Hole Norwegian police procedural is a great whodunit as the hero struggles to sober up in order to work the case ALONG side his Nemesis.  The story line is fast-paced from the onset and never slows down as Harry struggles in all aspects of his life except investigating a homicide.  Sub-genre fans will relish his latest caseload on and off the job.

Harriet Klausner

Black Hills-Dan Simmons

Black Hills

Dan Simmons

Little, Brown, Feb 24 2010, $25.99

ISBN: 9780316006989

In 1876 following the battle of Little Big Horn, ten years old Sioux warrior Paha Sapa collects coup from the dead.  However, on his last breath, the spirit of General George Custer leaves his dead body to enter that of Paha.

For the rest of his life, Paha heard Custer speaking to him inside his head.  He also gained the uncanny ability to know someone’s past and future by simply touching them.  For himself he has remained patient having seen what will occur to the sacred Black Hills in the 1930s.  Thus in 1936, the septuagenarian who worked on the monuments begins his final days of atonement and exorcism with plans to blow up Mt. Rushmore as FDR arrives on a visit.

This is a refreshing super paranormal historical thriller that grips the audience from the opening battle locale until the final confrontation inside and outside of the lead character’s head.  The story line is driven by Paha=Custer, but filled with plenty of action as events lead from Little Big Horn to Mt. Rushmore.  Dan Simmons effortlessly switches from Ancient Greek and Dickensian mythologies to an American legend with this superb incredibly creative tale.

Harriet Klausner

Venus Guy Trap-Shannon McKelden

Venus Guy Trap

Shannon McKelden

Forge, Feb 2 2010, $13.99

ISBN: 9780765323354

Venus “Aphrodite” Cronus may be the Goddess of Love and daughter of Zeus, but she is slaving on earth as a matchmaker.  In Bander, Oregon she finds a sigma in a bookstore window that is her target for a love life makeover. Her name is Haydee Miller, whose parents she matched over three decades ago.

Haydee has been going out lately with losers and fears she will fail at the next step on her list; getting married at thirty-three.  The list is sacred to her as it gave her comfort when her mom died when she was sixteen.  Any deviation has been disastrous.  She has six weeks plus to find her mate.

Venus introduces herself and for some unknown reason Haydee hires her and allows her to move into her home.  Venus insists she is the Goddess of Love.  Two days later Venus says Prince Charming is entering the store.  Haydee has a convulsion as anyone but Derek Reed is acceptable. He deserted her to become a world famous photographer.  Haydee tells Venus she stinks at matchmaking.  They met soon after her mom died and he blew a knee ending his football ambition; they became an entry until he left abruptly.  Haydee asks Derek why he is back.  He says he missed her.  Venus knows her mission is more than matching soulmates with a history; as she also needs to reconcile father and daughter while eluding men who want her and women jealous with Venus Envy.

The cast is extremely well drawn, Aphrodite owns the show as the matchmaker Goddess of Love insists the one man the lead female hates is her true love while she also deals with every male wanting her at a time she wants to go home.  The rotation of lead between Venus and Haydee provides a wider perspective to this fun lighthearted urban romantic fantasy.

Harriet Klausner

What Mother Never Told Me-Donna Hill

What Mother Never Told Me

Donna Hill

Kimani, Mar 1 2010, $14.95

ISBN: 9780373831432

Wanting to become a professional singer, Cora leaves her hometown Rudell, Mississippi for Chicago.  There she obtains work for an affluent Caucasian family.  However, their son rapes her so Cora fled for Rudell unaware she is pregnant.

In Rudell, she marries her childhood sweetheart David, but hell breaks out when their offspring is white.  That girl Emma learned to pass as white to gain acceptance.  In New York, she marries a Caucasian soldier, Michael who soon afterward is deployed overseas.  Emma gives birth to a baby with black features.  She sends her daughter Parris to Mississippi to be raised by her mom while fleeing for Europe.  However, as an adult, her dying grandma informs Parris that her mom lives so she travels with her Nick to France in search of her biological mother.

Though the saga of an African-American passing as white has been done many times, What Mother Never Told Me is a fascinating tale that focuses mostly on the third generation’s search once she knows her “white” mom is alive.  The cast is three dimensional as the three generations seem genuine especially their motives even if a reader disagrees with choices.  Well written, the character driven story line grips the audience as Emma seeks her mom and she hopes her dad too.

Harriet Klausner

The Irish Duke- Virginia Henley

The Irish Duke

Virginia Henley

Signet, Mar 2010, $15.00

ISBN: 9780451229205

As the Dowager matriarch of her family, in 1894, octogenarian widow Lady Louisa Jane Russell holds court as she always has while looking back over the decades of her life.  In 1819 Lady Louisa loves her position in society, which allows her to enjoy life to the fullest.  Irish nobleman James Hamilton went so far as to propose, but she ridiculed him for being Irish with a speech impediment; of course he was nine years old at the time and she was his age.

In spite of her putting him down, they become friends though he never has given up marrying his Lu.  Other men want her too, but though she adores them, she prefers her independent gaiety more so.  However, over a decade later, a family scandal leaves Lu with the choices of marrying her kindhearted Irish admirer, someone else, or face scornful disgraced exile.

Few if any writer can interweave historical information to enhance a story line as deftly as Virginia Henley can and does with the enjoyable The Irish Duke.  The story line is driven by the heroine who tells her great-granddaughters about her life with her late beloved Irish Duke who to his death insisted B is pronounced as a V.  Fans will relish Ms. Henley’s fine nineteenth century historical romance as the exhilarating plot with its strong lead protagonists brings the era to life.

Harriet Klausner

In Bed With The Duke-Christina Dodd

In Bed With The Duke

Christina Dodd

Signet, Mar 2010, $7.99

ISBN: 9780451229335

In 1849 in Moricadia Michael Durant seeks revenge so as the missing heir to the Duke of Nevitt, he chooses a different way than the aristocracy would expect to enact his goal of justice.  He becomes the grim Reaper riding at night while going after those who caused injustice.

Lady’s companion Emma Chegwidden is unfairly fired from her position.  She is in deep trouble until the Reaper rescues her.  However, though he knows he must walk away from her, Michael cannot as he wants her.  However, Michael especially gets involved with Emma when the malevolent Prince Sandre chooses her as his regardless of how she might feel.

This is an action-packed Victorian Era romance that takes place on the continent.  The story line is fast-paced throughout as the Reaper brings havoc to the Moricadian aristocracy.  Christina Dodd is at her best with this return to the Governess bride saga (See My Fair Temptress, My Favorite Bride and Lost in Your Arms) as no reader will ever think of roast pig the same way.

Harriet Klausner

Revenge Wears Rubies-Renee Bernard

Revenge Wears Rubies

Renee Bernard

Berkley, Mar 2010, $7.99

ISBN: 9780425233375

In 1857 he survived imprisonment in Bengal, India.  Now two tears later, Galen Hawke is in England still suffering nightmares only to find the fiancée of the late John, one of the other seven English prisoners, enjoying her first season rather than grieving his death.  He vows to teach Miss Haley Moreland, engaged to Herbert Trumble, a lesson she will never forget.

Haley is ignorant that her childhood friend John felt they were engaged; as he never asked and she never had to respond.  Her biggest issue is to keep her family from poverty, which means marrying wealth.  However, upon meeting Galen, she is attracted to him while he wants to seduce and ergo destroy her.  As he begins to reassess what he thought he knew about Haley, she ponders whether to marry for love or money that is if Galen even considers marrying her.

This terrific Victorian romance grips the audience with the opening nightmare as an enthralled audience watches how the vendetta of a Jaded Gentleman plays out.  Fast-paced throughout as her sly father observes, fans will appreciate Galen’s thirst for vengeance turn to admiration and love, but might prove too late.  With “Sapphires” to follow, sub-genre readers will enjoy the first of the Jaded Gentleman tales.

Harriet Klausner

Catch Of A Lifetime-Judi Fennell

Catch Of A Lifetime

Judi Fennell

Sourcebooks, Feb 1 2010, $6.99

ISBN: 9781402224287

Mermaid Angel Tritone wants to be an advisor to her brother Rod the High Councilman on the Mer Council.  However, he rejects her dreams of joining the ruling Council as he insists her safety is paramount.  Upset, she goes on a swim by herself to get her thoughts straight.

Breaking the truce between their species Hammerhead Harry the nasty shark attacks her, but Angel escapes by climbing onto Logan Hardington’s fishing boat.  She claims to be a “maritime biology” student, but the single father is flummoxed by her arrival as the beautiful young lady is stark naked.  He agrees to employ her as a babysitter since his son Michael likes her and he would do anything to make his child feel wanted by him as he only recently learned of his existence.  Michael vows to keep Angel’s secret that she is a mermaid from even his dad yet also believes she is the mermaid he wished for his birthday.  As they fall in love in between arguments with his offspring matchmaking them, the duo rescues Michael from horrible Harry, but also must battle an evil sea monster with oceanic-forming world domination plans.

The third Tritone sibling Mer urban-oceanic romantic fantasy (see Wild Blue Under and In Over Her Head) is a terrific tale of the tail as the female sister takes the lead with her mission to save the world.  The story line is fast-paced from the onset and never slows down for even ebb tide; as the unity of a father, a son and a mermaid who helps being the two males together while saving the earth makes for a fun Catch of a Lifetime.

Harriet Klausner.

Don’t Kill The Messenger-Eileen Rendahl

Don’t Kill The Messenger

Eileen Rendahl

Berkley, Mar 2010, $15.00

ISBN: 9780425232569

When Melina Markowitz was three years old she died.  However, that was not the end of her life as she returned as a Messenger who made deliveries between the paranormal.  She tries to stay away from her clients as her motto is to just pass on whatever.

However, in Sacramento her don’t get involved mantra is devastated when her package given to her by a vampiric physician is stolen from her.  Trying to retrieve it to finish her delivery, Melina heads to the Taoist temple where she was to hand over the envelope.  There her don’t get involved policy is bloodied when seemingly out of control Chinese vampires kill rival gangbangers while not caring if innocent civilians die.  Police Officer Ted Goodnight struggles with the deadly chaos and how Melina somehow is constantly caught in the center.

This is an amusing urban fantasy in which the sardonic cynic wonders why her and to her chagrin her support cast responds with why not.  Fans will enjoy this fun tale as the cop is attracted to the messenger who likes him, but fears any mortal involvement as breaking cover.  Don’t Kill the Messenger is a fun lighthearted formic even with blood flowing freely on the California streets.

Harriet Klausner