The Pursuit of Pleasure-Elizabeth Essex

The Pursuit of Pleasure

Elizabeth Essex

Kensington Brava, Dec 1 2010, $14.00

ISBN: 9780758251541

In 1794 in Dartmouth, England Lizzie Paxton drolly chatting to another woman says being a widow would be ideal for the freedom granted to a woman however she also insists the first step to achieve this independent status will never happen to her as she will never marry.  Her long time friend Captain James Marlowe overhears her feelings about marriage and astutely concludes her need for independence and his goal is to avoid a marriage entanglement fit nicely together.  He offers her a marriage of convenience; she accepts.

Although he knows he should not, James seduces delectable Lizzie.  Soon after that passionate tryst, he leaves.  A few days later, she learns her wish is true that she has become a widow.  However, the Ton assume Lizzie killed her new husband; placing her spouse in an untenable spot between his loyalty to his beloved wife and his loyalty to his beloved England.

The Pursuit of Pleasure is a wonderful late Georgian romance due to the strong likable lead characters.  Lizzie is terrific as an intelligent witty individual while James is a dashing hero.  Readers will enjoy this engaging historical as patriotic James is trapped in a nasty situation as duty and love war inside his soul.

Harriet Klausner

Deadly Identity-Lindsay McKenna

Deadly Identity

Lindsay McKenna

Harlequin HQN, Dec 1 2010, $7.99

ISBN: 9780373774746

In Miami spousal abuser Dirk Payson, a Mexican cartel drug runner in the States, beat his pregnant wife Susan until she lost the baby.  Five years of marital hell ends for the twenty-three years old victim when she testifies against Dirk in court before being placed in the Witness Protection Program.

Five years later, Dirk escapes prison; FBI Agent Brenda Wilkins informs his former wife called Susan Johnson she must leave New York City immediately.  Her new identity is Rachael Carson and her home is Jackson Hole, Wyoming.

In her new home, Rachel helps Sheriff Cade Garner care for little Jenny by hiring on as the motherless child’s nanny.  Cade senses something is not right about Rachel; little things a non law enforcement official would not notice.  As he falls in love with the nanny, he prays she would tell him the truth as he swears her will keep her safe from whoever haunts her.  However, he also fears confronting her as knows if he does she will bolt like the scared rabbit she is.

Mindful of the Roberts-Bergen film Sleeping With The Enemy, Deadly Identity is an engaging exciting romantic suspense even with the reader anticipating a confrontation in picaresque Jackson Hole.  The story line is fast-paced with likable lead protagonists, a wonderful little girl and a vile villain.  Although nothing new is added to the theme, fans will relish this exhilarating thriller even while knowing what to expect when High Noon comes to Wyoming.

Harriet Klausner

Vicious Grace-M.L.N. Hanover

Vicious Grace

M.L.N. Hanover

Pocket, Nov 30 2010, $7.99

ISBN: 9781439176290

Jayne Heller feels good about her life as finally it seems to be coming together.  Still she muses about her “inheritance” as she would prefer to pass on fighting demons that thrive on humans and other paranormal adversaries like the cretins that killed her Uncle Eric and thrust her into his insane world last year.  However, the reasons she feels optimistic are that she has friends and a lover; both of which she rarely could claim in the past.  Even her belief in her self -worth has never been higher than now due ironically to kicking supernatural butt.

At the same time there is no respite in her new world.  While recording dreams of patients at Chicago’s Grace Memorial Hospital, the researchers notice the strange nightmare shared by several subjects.  Jayne and her comrades investigate but soon realize something apparently evil is awakening from underneath the hospital.  However, Jayne biggest threat may be from those she calls friends and lover, and even perhaps her deceased Uncle Eric.

The Third Black Sun’s Daughter urban fantasy (see Darker Angels) is an engaging entry as the paranormal Chicago setting feels real and fans will recall how far Jayne has come from her first encounter with Unclean Spirits.  However that insightful opening leads to the story line starting slow and not accelerating until about half way into the thriller.  Still readers will enjoy the latest escapades of it happened to Jayne.

Harriet Klausner

The Transformation of Things-Jillian Cantor

The Transformation of Things

Jillian Cantor

Avon, Nov 2 2010, $13.99

ISBN 9780061962202

In Deerfield, Pennsylvania Jennifer Levenworth is at the salon getting her hair done when her husband is on the TV news.  His appearance on the air is not unexpected as Will is the local district attorney, but the reason is a shocker.  The reporter states Will has been charged with accepting bribes.

Stunned, Jennifer races home to be with Will.  He has resigned and plea bargained to avoid prison.  Jennifer finds her life has transformed back to what it was before they moved to the burbs and joined the country club set.  Returning to Philadelphia, she hopes to regain the job she gave up and reconcile with her former BFF working mom Kat who she dumped when she fled the city.  However, Jennifer struggles with returning to her former lifestyle and her marriage is at best shaky as her spouse is psychotically mute.  Her father refuses to talk to her as if she is an embarrassment and her sister is busy raising a horde.  Then there are the dreams when she sleeps to keep her further off balance.

This is a terrific character study that focuses on a woman who has fallen into humiliation as she deals the fallout with loved ones from her husband’s felonious activity.  The story line is obviously character driven as Jennifer finds her life shattered but also cannot feel for or even understand her disgraced spouse as she holds him culpable when he needs emotional support.  Ironically she comprehends her father’s reaction but not Will’s withdrawal.  Although the twisting end seems as far out of place as Pennsylvania is from Florida because it does not fit with what has gone on before, fans will enjoy The Transformation of Things especially lifestyles.

Harriet Klausner

The Sheriff’s Christmas Surprise-Maria Ferrarella

The Sheriff’s Christmas Surprise

Maria Ferrarella

Harlequin American Romance, Nov 9 2010, $4.99

ISBN: 9780373753338

On the Friday after Thanksgiving, Forever, Texas Sheriff Enrique “Rick” Santiago walks out of his home only to see a baby boy strapped in a baby seat on his doorstep.  At the same time he is stunned by the toddler, almost thirty attorney Olivia Blayne feels almost ninety as she searches for her runaway sister Tina as she wants to bring home her sibling and her three months old nephew Bobby.  Rick and Olivia meet and she explains confusingly what happened; but he points out her sister is an adult who may have been brainwashed by Don Norman to come with him, but it sounded like no law was broken.

She learns Tina was critically injured from a car accident and her nephew was dumped in Forever.  Olivia goes to Forever to find the sheriff is caring for her relative.  As she spends time with the sheriff and Bobby, Olivia falls in love, but she is a hot shot Dallas lawyer and not a Forever type of woman.  Rick plans to persuade her otherwise.

Although the giftwrapping with ribbons ending seems a stretch, readers will enjoy the warmhearted Sheriff’s Christmas Surprise due to a fully developed powerful cast as the lead couple is strong but so are the townsfolk.  Readers will appreciate spending the holidays in Texas as Rick and Olivia fall in love, but he is forever while she is Dallas.

Harriet Klausner

Miracle Baby-Laura Bradford

Miracle Baby

Laura Bradford

Harlequin American Romance, Nov 9 2010, $4.99

ISBN: 9780373753369

In Michigan Maggie Monroe and Rory O’Brien have dealt with the numbing loss of a loved one.  However, they have reacted differently.  Whereas he has moved on through the phases of grief, she remains in the early stasis frozen with grief and unable to move on.

Working together to renovate her Uncle Doug’s century old inn, Rory the carpenter knows Maggie and his faith are his prime reasons for moving on as he loves her.  He acts slowly knowing if he rushes their relationship she will flee. He hopes to receive the gift of a second chance at love relationship with Maggie for Christmas because she is a keeper and he hopes he is her keeper too.

This is an uplifting hopeful holiday romance starring two fascinating lead characters who both know how it feels when a love one dies.  Maggie is a real person as she can count seemingly to the nanosecond how much time has passed since her beloved Jack and Natalie died.  Rory grieves too for his loss, but has gotten on with his life though his carpentry work.  Readers will fully relish this second chance at love due to the super stars.

Harriet Klausner

Christmas Eve at Friday Harbor-Lisa Kleypas

Christmas Eve at Friday Harbor

Lisa Kleypas

St. Martin’s, Oct 26 2010, $16.99

ISBN 9780312605865

On San Juan Island businessman Mark Nolan has no time to grieve the death of his sister in a car accident as he is the guardian of his niece Holly.  Used to taking no prisoners at the Seattle office, Mark is scared to death with how to deal with a frightened six year old child.  Although he has the support of his sibling Sam while their other brother is overwhelmed with his own issues, adding to Mark’s fear is that Holly is so traumatized she has become psychologically mute.

Mark takes Holly to the Friday Harbor Magic Mirror toy store hoping the child will find something she likes.  Widow Maggie Collins uses a “magic” conch shell to talk with Holly.  The child says her first words since her mother’s death through the shell.  The business mogul is shocked at how a stranger and his niece connected when he has known Holly all her life but failed.  He soon realizes that Maggie may be his “One” although he feels unprepared for a permanent relationship; he even has a girlfriend.  Besides his doubts he knows he must go slowly until she is ready to take a second chance on love as her late spouse died only a few years ago from cancer.  Meanwhile the little girl has one wish for Christmas.

This is an entertaining sweet contemporary romance that is fun to read though the audience knows from the moment the key cast is set, the story line is set.  The lead adult couple’s doubts re love is not deeply explored yet Lisa Kleypas shows her writing skills as she provides an engaging tale with the child’s plight providing seriousness to what would have been a sugary Christmas Eve at Friday Harbor.

Harriet Klausner

Rebel-Zoe Archer

Rebel

Zoe Archer

Zebra, Nov 2 2010, $6.99

ISBN: 9781420106817 

 

When Nathan Lesperance was a child, the Canadian government took him away from his tribe.  By 1875, the adult Nathan has become an attorney practicing in Vancouver, but feels outside of both the Anglo and tribal worlds.  Likewise both societies treat him like a leper.

Several years later his law firm chooses Nathan to travel to the wild Northwest Territory because of his heritage as the assumption is he will feel right at home unlike the all white rest of the staff.  His task is to pick up the belongings of the recently deceased Douglas Prescott.  On the trek the malevolent Heirs of Albrion kidnap him, but he escapes.  Former Blade of the Rose Astrid Bramfield finds him wandering lost near dead.  Whereas the heirs want to use magical objects to dominate the world; the Blade wants to prevent magical abuse.  With her Blade late husband as her partner, Astrid studied the Primal Source, but the Heirs killed her spouse and stole the artifact.  Now the Heirs stalk the pair to obtain her knowledge and his untapped magic, Astrid and Nathan trek to the expected safety of an alleged tribe of shapeshifters.

The latest Blade of the Rose historical romantic fantasy (see Warrior and Scoundrel) is another super thriller as the suspense never slows down while the romance simmers nice and slow as each has a history filled with doubts that desire is not enough.  Fast-paced once Nathan goes north fully understanding why him and never takes a respite as Zoe Archer hits a bulls-eye with this winner.

Harriet Klausner

The Wolven-Deborah LeBlanc

The Wolven

Deborah LeBlanc

Silhouette Nocturne, Dec 1 2010, $5.25

ISBN: 9780373618484

In New Orleans, a serial killer is targeting werewolves.  The victims are always left dead in their wolf body with claws and fangs removed as if the predator collected souvenirs.  The Keeper of the local Wolven populace shopkeeper Shauna MacDonald is sworn to protect the packs so she investigates the murders.  She teams up with alpha pack leader Danyon Stone, who has had several of his members killed.

The pair concludes the predator is murdering werewolves to obtain their claws and fangs not as memorabilia or ritual items.  Instead once extracted, the body parts are grounded into a fine powder that enables the user to gain immense physical prowess to rival that of a genuine shifting werewolf without changing from their human form.  As the duet work on the case, they realize they want more as each knows this their mate.

The key to this strong New Orleans urban romantic fantasy is the smooth interweaving of recent real events with the paranormal happenings.  The story line is fast-paced as the lead couple investigate the homicides, which continual unabated, and fall in love; though for the most part their romance takes a back seat to stopping a diabolical killer.

Harriet Klausner

Alaskan Wolf-Linda O. Johnston

Alaskan Wolf

Linda O. Johnston

Silhouette Nocturne, Dec 1 2010, $5.25

ISBN: 9780373618491

In Alaska Alpha Force Lieutenant Patrick Worley serves as an undercover dogsled driver at the remote Great Glacier Dog Ranch.  His current cover assignment is escorting naturalist magazine writer Mariah Garver to an isolated area where she plans to research the wildlife of a glacier for an article she is writing.  Besides obviously keeping the civilian safe, the shapeshifting wolf’s security task is to investigate the strange happenings occurring to the glaciers.

Besides her prime subject, Mariah wants to know more about the glacial mystery too.  She accidentally uncovers her guide’s secret.  They team up when they learn am industrialist is destroying the glaciers to expedite extraction of minerals from the ocean floor.  The pair plans to prevent an ecological disaster from happening.

This is an enjoyable glacial romantic fantasy starring two likable strong protagonists and intriguing environmental vs. development scenario.  He finds his desire for his client distracting him from his mission; while she finds him desirable.  Although the remote glacial background is glossed over so lacks the deep starkness of the region, Linda O Johnston provides a fast-paced paranormal romantic thriller.

Harriet Klausner