Spooky Little Girl-Laurie Notaro

Spooky Little Girl

Laurie Notaro

Villard, Apr 2010, $14.00

ISBN: 9780345510976

Lucy Fisher was looking forward to her vacation in Hawaii, hocking her life to be able to go.  The dream vacation was a disappointment.  When she comes home, she finds her possessions all over the lawn as her fiancé Martin tossed them randomly out the door.  Bad comes in three as Lucy learns when her boss accuses her of trying to steal money and drugs before firing her.  A stunned Lucy moves in with her sister Alice.

On her way to the unemployment office, Lucy learns what bad luck really is when a bus runs her over.  Now she is a student at Ghost School where if she completes her assignment she will move into the State of after-death.  Lucy diligently applies herself as she wants to go back to earth not so much as to haunt her former fiancé, but to learn why he kicked her to the curb and why no one, not even her sister or the bus driver attended her funeral.  Only Tulip seems to miss her.

This clever paranormal chick lit is a fun tale though the serio-comic story line never turns as profound as it could have been; opting more for a winking jocularity that in some ways will remind readers of the movie Over her Dead Body.  The beleaguered heroine is likable so that fans will root for her as grandma has made living in the State of the dead precarious for both of them and Lucy knows you only get one chance at it.

Harriet Klausner

Dragon Sou- Jaida Jones and Danielle Bennett

Dragon Soul

Jaida Jones and Danielle Bennett

Spectra (Bantam), Jun 8 2010, $26.00

ISBN: 9780553807691

The war (see Havemercy) is at least for now over as the two sides agree to a truce.  However, neither the Volstov nor the Ke-Han trust one another.  Both know it would not take much for hostilities to reignite as the magic weaving Volstov and the dark sorcery of Ke-Han remain diligently wary and weary.

Thom believes the tentative peace is a good time to bond with his despondent brother Rook.  However, the grieving Rook, the most volatile yet successful warrior in the recent combat, has no interest in this or anything else. He still struggles with his Havemercy and the other great dragons dead; their bodies spread in small pieces across Ke-Han.  Still he agrees to travel with Thom but the siblings are stunned to learn someone is paying good money to buy the remains of the fallen dragons.  They soon realize that the beasts may be dead, but their magic lingers; in the wrong hands a new war could explode and there are several operatives seeking the means scattered all over Ke-Han.

Although somewhat different in tone than the great military fantasy Havemercy as that tale told the cost of a war on anyone within the sphere; this time the quest is less militarily epic for the most part but could turn rather quickly.  The siblings are a terrific lead as Rook is a fierce warrior in aguish over the death of his equally feral dragon while Thom is a scholar who prefers to ride a book rather than a beast.  Together, these opposites make for a strong saga as they follow the Marines’ credo of no one left behind in their search for the soul of Havemercy before enemies or allies possess the heart of the brave dragoness warrior.

Harriet Klausner

The Office of Shadow Matt Sturges

The Office of Shadow

Matt Sturges

PYR, Jun 22 2010, $16.00

ISBN 9781616142025

Womanizer Silverdun shocks anyone who knows him when he becomes a priest.  However, being a man of the cloth proves tedious as all he hears is whining confessions.  When the Seelie leadership asks him to serve as a lead espionage field agent of the newly approved (by Queen Tatiana) top secret department Office of Shadow who will perform functions that go against the kingdom’s value system like using psyops techniques including blackmail, extortion, and abduction to cause unrest amongst the enemy or stealing Unseelie secrets; he agrees.

However, he is put off by his new employer’s demand he receive training in combat skills; mundane and magical.  Ennui settles in until he is teamed up with soldier-magic academic researcher Ironfoot, and deadly almost out of control Sela the empath on a dangerous impossible mission.  Their mission is to learn the origin of Einswrath, the weapon of mass destruction that Queen Mab and her Unseelie forces apparently are deploying in what will lead to a second battle in  the Seelie-Unseelie war (see Midwinter).

This is a typical espionage thriller and a typical quest fantasy, but brilliantly combined into an atypical espionage fantasy.  The Office of Shadow has selected the right person to lead the charge while his teammates bring diverse but needed skills to the table.  Fast-paced and filled with plenty of action , yet clearly character driven by the band of three and their cohorts, readers will relish the second Seelie-Unseelie dispute as both sides approve anything goes tactics.

Harriet Klausner

Get What You Give-Stephanie Perry Moore

Get What You Give

Stephanie Perry Moore

Kensington Dafina, May 1 2010, $9.95

ISBN: 9780758234469

Like her older sister Hayden, Hailey Grant matriculates at Western Smith College.  However, unlike big sister, Hailey has doubts about pledging with Beta Gamma Pi as the sorority rejects her best friend Teddi Spencer.

When Teddi runs for Student Government Association President against Covin Randall, Hailey has a problem as she is attracted to the hunk, but feels a loyalty to her BFF.  Enflaming the strained friendship is Hailey’s belief that Covin is better suited for the council leadership position than her roommate is although she is Teddi’s campaign manager.  When a fire breaks out in their dorm, Hailey risks her life to save orphaned Teddi’s family memorabilia.  Her courage impresses Covin who starts to date the sophomore.

Get What You Give is a fine Beta Gamma Pi entry as the heroine learns the meaning of relationship and friendship, leading and independence vs. sheepishly going along, and faith that God is there when you need him.  Targeting young teens, Stephanie Perry Moore provides a strong entry as Hailey learns to adhere to her values not drift from them.

Harriet Klausner

Do You Take This Cop?-Beth Andrews

Do You Take This Cop?

Beth Andrews:

Harlequin SuperRomance, May 2010, $5.50

ISBN: 9780373716340

In South Carolina when she realizes that her spouse is a pedophile, a stunned despondent Lynne Addison flees along with her nine years old son to keep her offspring safe from his predatory father.  She changes her name to Faith Lewis and that of her son to Austin; knowing her spouse has the law on his side.

Faith stops in Kingsville, Maine.  There she meets police officer Nick Coletti, who she likes.  However, she hesitates telling Nick that she is on the run because he is law enforcement and the cops are looking for her.  Still she hopes he is on her side if Armageddon comes to Kingsville as she will not give up Austin to his dad.  However, Faith falls in love with Nick, which is not in her cards.  Finally, her spouse’s private investigator arrives in town asking questions about the single mom and her son.

This is an interesting romantic suspense that loses an opportunity by failing to dig deeply into the consequences of what Lynne illegally did.  Instead the story line chooses a simpler path by focusing on a second chance at love rather than Lynne’s flight with her tweener son.  Still fans will enjoy Beth Andrews’ well written contemporary due to Lynne now Faith coming across as real with her fearing shadows everywhere starting with making her child come to work with her rather than being left home alone.

Harriet Klausner

An Honorable Man-Darlene Gardner

An Honorable Man

Darlene Gardner

Harlequin SuperRomance, May 2010, $5.50

ISBN: 9780373716364

Almost two decades ago, Alison Blaine fell to her death while in Indigo Springs in the Pocono Mountains.  Everyone assumed her death was a tragic accident, which is what her then twelve year old son Ben Nash was told and accepted.

Now a Pittsburgh Gazette investigative reporter Ben Nash has no reason to think otherwise about his late mom’s tragic death nineteen years ago until an e-mail arrives strongly implying that Dr. Ryan Whitmore should have been investigated but was not; the tone implies a homicide occurred and not an accident as he believes.  Ben has no reason why anyone would kill his mom or why someone would send an email with Blaine in the address at this time or as a sick joke.  Unable to ignore the implications, Ben goes to Indigo Springs to learn the truth.  When he meets the late doctor’s daughter Dr. Sierra Whitmore, his attraction to her makes him reconsider whether he needs the truth at the cost of their growing relationship.  She feels the same way as he does, but also wants to also protect her deceased dad’s reputation.

The key to this complicated investigative romance is the lead couple’s needs involving their respective parents.  Ben obsesses with knowing what happened to his mom while Sierra fixates on protecting her father’s reputation.  Each comes across as real with genuine desires, which makes for a fabulous contemporary drama as both characters and readers become consumed with knowing what happened nineteen years ago.

Harriet Klausner

Until He Met Rachel-Debra Salonen

Until He Met Rachel

Debra Salonen

Harlequin SuperRomance, May 2010, $5.50

ISBN: 9780373716333

When her marriage ended, accountant Rachel Grey took only the Porsche and left Trevor in Denver while relocating to Sentinel Pass in the Black Hills.  There she plans to run a web-design business.

When Rachel meets local artist Rufus Miller, she hopes to persuade him to let her design a website for him.  Rufus refuses at first, but she remains persistent until he reluctantly agrees because he is attracted to her and her energy.  As she works with him on his website, Rachel realizes Rufus’ hesitancy is caused by his past that he prefers to conceal; as he is the famous underwear model R.J. Milne. He wants his work taken seriously and not because he posed.

This is an enjoyable contemporary romance starring two likable lead protagonists who seem so contrary fans will assume they have no chance as an entry.  He is a hermit with good reasons for withdrawing form society while she is an extrovert with good reasons for bringing him back into society.  Readers will enjoy the Spotlight on Sentinel Pass as Debra Salonen writes delightful tale of opposites-attract.

Harriet Klausner

Still The One-Robin Wells

Still The One

Robin Wells

Forever, May 1 2010, $6.99

ISBN: 9780446555982

In Chartreuse, Louisiana Kate Charmaine and Zack Ferguson spent the greatest and worst summer of their lives together.  They were in love, but he was unable to commit to her.  She became pregnant and depressingly gave up her child for adoption.

Seventeen years later, Zack returns to town accompanied by pregnant teenager Gracie, who is the daughter Kate gave up for adoption.  Her adoptive parents are dead and her guardian demands she remain with Zack with the stipulation he shares custody with Kate.  Stunned by the turn of events, Kate, a widow since her spouse died in Iraq two years ago, is euphoric to meet her biological daughter, looks forward to being a relatively young grandma, but has doubts about Zack who hurt her the first time around.

The return to Chartreuse (see Between the Sheets) is worth the time as Robin Wells provides a poignant often amusing family drama.  The lead triangle is solid as each is fully developed with flaws and problems.  Readers will enjoy the second chance contemporary while rooting for a finish from the Bard: “All’s well that ends well”.

Harriet Klausner

The Maverick-Jan Hudson

The Maverick

Jan Hudson

Harlequin American, May 2010, $4.99

ISBN: 9780373753116

In Austin, Texas Cassidy Outlaw enjoys jogging especially when hunk Griffin “Tight Buns” Mitchell is right in front of her wearing hip hugging shorts.  In her mind he has the perfect butt and other well carved body parts that she can see while her imagination fills in the rest. The view gets too close when he abruptly stops and she crashes into him skinning her knee.

However, when she learns he is a lawyer, she immediately decides she wants nothing to do with him.  Having been nuked by an attorney she planned to marry, Cass has outlawed the legal profession when it comes to personal relationships.  Yet she cannot stop admiring and thinking of him.  They begin dating, but he conceals his reason for going out with her is to buy property from her, but now that he is falling in love he questions his method.

The seventh Texas Outlaws contemporary romance is a fun tale starring a twin (Cass’ sister Sunny’s tale was the previous entry The Twin) and Tight Buns.  The family members, who have led previous dramas, rally around kicking Griff to the Oklahoma border except for her daddy the senator.   Griff knows he behaved unscrupulously so has quite a trek to regain the trust of the woman he betrayed.  Although the resolution seems too easy, fans of the Texas Outlaws will enjoy the romance of the second twin.

Harriet Klausner

Dream Daddy-Daly Thompson

Dream Daddy

Daly Thompson

Harlequin American, May 2010, $4.99

ISBN: 9780373753123

In Serenity Valley, Ian Foster and the human race are barely on talking terms.  In fact his preference is not to speak with anyone except the sheep on the ranch and to a lesser degree his brother Daniel.  However, he has no choice but to discuss with an accountant his business books as he has an IRS audit scheduled.

He hires Tansy Appletree to clean up, organize and prepare his records.  She is attracted to the misanthrope because she believes his gruff exterior hides a vulnerable heart.  He grumpily considers her Miss Sunshine though he conceals he likes her energy and enthusiasm.  When she asks him to participate in a winter carnival she is helping organize, he wants to say yes but tells her no; an answer she refuses to accept as she sees how nurturing he is with Daniel’s foster child.

The immovable object meets the irresistible force as the accountant and the rancher collide head on in a terrific contemporary romance with the IRS serving as matchmaker.  The battle lines are drawn with Ian’s heart being the front as readers will enjoy this fun gender war.

Harriet Klausner