Wild Man Creek-Robyn Carr

Wild Man Creek

Robyn Carr

Mira, Jan 25 2011, $7.99

ISBN: 9780778329312

The helicopter crash left Colin Riordan severely injured.  While his body heals, he paints wildlife scenes to help his mind mend too.  Seeking inspiration he wanders onto property rented by public relations expert Jillian Matlock, who is also healing but her pain is from a broken heart and a probable second order effect of a broken career.  To heal, she is working a garden.

Jillian and Colin are attracted to each other and agree to a tryst while they heal in Virgin River.  Once either returns to their previous world, the affair is over.  However, as they spend time together each learns the answer to How To Mend a Broken Heart (Bee Gees) is love that could let them live again if they take a chance.

The latest Virgin River romance focuses on love as a major healer, a theme used in previous series tales like Whispering Rock.  The entertaining straight forward story line contains two likable leads needing emotional and mental recovery from recent trauma.  The census aside, seemingly the fastest growing area in the country, Wild Man Creek is a fine tale that Robyn Carr’s Virgin River readers will enjoy.

Harriet Klausner

Against The Fire-Kat Martin

Against The Fire

Kat Martin

Mira, Jan 25 2011, $7.99

ISBN: 9780778329305

In Texas Gabriel Raines is a successful businessman who knows he has made enemies.  However, he is unsure what has triggered a serial arsonist targeting his new real estate development firm.  He feels relief when he and his friend separately pick out seventeen year old Angel Ramirez from a line-up as being near the arson scene; the teen has a record for setting a fire.  The police arrest Ramirez for the crime while Gabe assumes his life will go back to normal.

He will quickly learn how wrong he was when it comes to normal.  Architect Mattie Baker knows Angel from her volunteer work at the Family Recovery Center for abuse victims.  She rejects the notion the teen is the arsonist.  Instead she challenges Gabe who reluctantly agrees to investigate the fires with her.  As they begin to fall in love, which she ignores as she wants no man in her life, evidence begins to mount that Angel is innocent but the unknown guilty person remains elusive as does the motive.

The second Raines of Wind Canyon (see Against the Wind) is a terrific entry as another of the no account siblings proves his worth.  Dedicated Mattie is Gabe’s equal as she lights his fire.  Together they make a dynamic team inside a fast-paced thriller; as Kat Martin is two for two with her no account Raines boys’ trilogy.

Harriet Klausner

Blood Stains-Sharon Sala

Blood Stains

Sharon Sala

Mira, Jan 18 2011, $7.99

ISBN 9780778329411

In Montana, the three Shade sisters bury their rancher dad Andrew.  Their late dad’s lawyer gives them a video to watch.  Andrew explains that he loved his three daughters but that none of the trio is his offspring and they are not sisters by blood.

The deceased rancher informs Maria he adopted her when she was four years old after she witnessed her prostitute mother’s murder; Maria heads to Tulsa in search of justice for her mom.  In Oklahoma, Maria meets detective Bodie Scott, who agrees to help her solve the two decade old homicide.  Neither is aware that the killer knows Maria is in town and preparing to have the daughter join her mother.

Although once the three Shade siblings learn the truth about their respective ancestry, the linear story line focuses on Maria’s attempts to uncover who killed her mom.  She and Bodie make a wonderful pairing as they fall in love while investigating the cold case homicide.  Though there are no twists or stunners in this entertaining romantic suspense, fans will look forward to the next Searchers seeking her Blood Ties.

Harriet Klausner

To Serve a King-Donna Russo Morin

To Serve a King

Donna Russo Morin

Kensington, Feb 25 2011, $15.00

ISBN 9780758246813

In the sixteenth century, King Francis I of France killed the parents of Genevieve Gravois.  Her acrimonious aunt raised the orphan with one thought: how to hate the monarch across the Channel.  She loathes the French ruler, which fuels her thirst for vengeance by training in male activities like using a bow. 

King Henry VIII of England believes the girl is a perfect tool to assassinate a rival across the Channel.  He encourages her to be the best agent and she swears her loyalty to her liege.  Believing the time is right, he sends his top trained spy to France to preferably kill his royal rival or if that is not possible to provide valuable information to the English ruler.  However, instead of an amoral despot, Genevieve, who obtains a position as maid of honor to the royal mistress Anne de Pisseleau, finds the French king honest, fair and pushing the renaissance across a court filled with art and artists. The king feels the Renaissance movement will be good for all of Ftamce. The English spy feels a dilemma as the king she pledged loyalty to turns out to be an immoral beast while the king she vowed to murder is a benign ruler.

This is a fascinating look at a rarely seen Tudor rival, King Francis (Francois) of France who pushes the Renaissance to enlighten France.  The glimpse at his court is refreshing as sixteenth century focus is normally on the Tudor monarchs (see Robin Maxwell’s Mademoiselle Boleyn). However, Genevieve’s conflict between royals is not on a par with the French court background; as the King of France comes across as a heroic enlightened ruler while the King of England comes across as a villainous avarice despot.

Harriet Klausner

Once Upon A Scandal-Delilah Marvelle

Once Upon A Scandal

Delilah Marvelle

Harlequin HQN, Jan 18 2011, $7.99

ISBN: 9780373775453

In 1824, teenagers Viscount Jonathan Pierce Thatcher and Lady Victoria Jane Emerson were in love.  Both wanted to marry, but were too young.  He proposed anyway but he left for Venice before she could say yes.  Over the next few years they exchanged letters when abruptly he stopped sending them though she continued for a while longer until heartbroken she also stopped.

In 1829 Victoria Jane needs a husband to protect her and help her take care of her father who is going mad.  Three men are chosen to court Victoria Jane, including Jonathan who has just come back to England after years away.  He realizes he hurt her so badly that her heart has turned to stone.  He tries to reach her, but she rejects his attempts; so Jonathan turns to seducing his beloved’s mind, body and soul.  However, Jonathan realizes even if he succeeds at that he still has to overcome his neglect.

The latest marvelous Regency Scandal (see Prelude to a Scandal) is a super second chance at love tale starring two protagonists in love as teens and still in love five years later.  Jonathan is a romantic at heart so when he stops corresponding he hurts his beloved even more because Victoria Jane knows he is.  This makes his effort to re-win her that much more complicated as he already owns her heart, but not her trust.

Harriet Klausner

His, Unexpectedly-Susan Fox

His, Unexpectedly

Susan Fox

Kensington Brava, Jan 25 2011, $14.00

ISBN: 9780758259295

Jenna Fallon is driving to her sister’s wedding on the coastal California highway to Vancouver.  When her car breaks down she needs a ride.  She stops at a diner where she meets Dr. Mark Chambers.  They have a lot in common when it comes to their families, but not with each other.  He wants to save the planet and works out of his camper to do so one tiny spot at a time; she prefers being a carefree wanderer with no responsibilities.  He agrees to drive her north.

Jenna enjoys teasing the straight laced scientist as she takes no one or anything seriously.  He knows she ridicules his adherence to rules attitude, but laughs at her throwback hippie lifestyle.  While she teaches him to stop and look around beyond the data he collects, but she fails to see the one majestic tree in the forest.  He knows they have more in common than she realizes, but also believes she has to come to that conclusion too if they are to be more than a series of one night stands.

The latest Fallon sister contemporary romance (see Love, Unexpectedly) is a charming tale of two seemingly total opposites falling in love.  Although the story line contains numerous environmental warnings, even industrialists will enjoy the road show as love may not be enough for this couple, especially with Jenna, to remain together once the drive ends.

Harriet Klausner

Save The Date-Jenny B. Jones

Save The Date

Jenny B. Jones

Thomas Nelson, Jan 5 2011, $14.99

ISBN: 9781595545398

Lucy Wiltshire thought her boyfriend Matt Campbell was going to propose.  However, instead he ended their relationship by taking a job in Dallas.  He blames her insisting she has no time for anyone except her clients at her shelter.  Stunned she says Saving Grace is a not for profit residential home.

Two years later, even more dedicated to Saving Grace, Lucy struggles with the recession as her prime benefactor Sinclair Hotels will reduce their funding by forty percent.  That cut will close her residential home.  She will be at the annual gala where she hopes to speak with former NFL quarterback Alex Sinclair who runs the hotel chain.  Lucy knew him at college where he treated her and other size tens like her with scorn as the big man on campus could have anyone.  She prays for a miracle before the dinner.  Although they have disdain for one another, he makes a proposition.  She pretends to be his fiancée as he runs for Congress and he will provide her the money.  Reluctantly she agrees as Saving Grace comes before saving her integrity and ultimately her heart.

Save the Date is an engaging contemporary inspirational romance with plenty of jocularity and social issues to enhance the changing relationship between the lead couple.  The engagement of convenience story line is character driven, but not just by the lead protagonists; as support cast like Marinell and Jose adds depth to a string tale.

Harriet Klausner

Icebreaker-Deirdre Martin

Icebreaker

Deirdre Martin

Berkley, Feb 1 2011, $7.99

ISBN: 9780425239797

The daughter of the Wild Hart pub owners, Sinead O’Brien is the only female partner at her law firm.  Her parents worry about their offspring who is all work and no play as they dub her ethic as “workalholism”; she insists she is dedicated to her clients.

The New York Blades hire Sinead to defend defenseman Adam Perry who has been charged with a count of assault due to a hit during a game.  Her first reaction to her client is that he played hockey without a helmet.  She soon realizes he is as dedicated in his field as she is in hers.  As an attraction grows between them, she breaks her rule about no dating the clients, but insists they conceal their relationship.  Losing sight of his goal the Stanley Cup, Adam wants more than a secret tryst as he wants her skating at his side

The latest Blades hockey romance (see Body Check, Fair Play and Chasing Stanley, etc.) is a delightful entry starring two workaholics falling in love.  Adam is the one in this relationship who wants it in the open as he believes they have a future together.  However, Sinead hip checks their romance as she prefers to hide what they are doing rather than face a game misconduct for scoring assisted by her client.  Sports romance fans will enjoy Deidre Martin’s latest run for the Cup.

Harriet Klausner

Tales from the Treasure Trove Volume VII-Carrie S. Masek, Jane Toombs, Janet Lane Walters, Karen Wiesner

Tales from the Treasure Trove Volume VII

Carrie S. Masek, Jane Toombs, Janet Lane Walters, Karen Wiesner

Whiskey Press, Feb 2011, $18.95

ISBN: 9781603133944

“Topaz and the Lucky Seven” by Carrie S. Masek.  Zaida the Seven has always kept safe Princess Alma.  However, she falls in love with Tarik the bodyguard to one of Alma’s suitors Prince Dale.  When almost everyone succumbs to food poisoning, Zaida must decide who gets the lone antidote. A great tale..

“The Turquoise Gown” by Jane Toombs.  Obese with poor skin, Theodora expects to remain single.  Her stepmother promises her that a magical gown will lead to true love.  Theodora visits her Great Aunt, who catches typhoid.  This leaves Theodora running the estate, which brings confidence and much more to her. Delightful..

“The Amber Tower” by Janet Lane Walters.  The witch enchants Prince Rafel before bringing him to Lamau.  He learns his only escape from the amber tower is to marry one of the kingdom’s two princesses.  Pragmatic, honest but reticent Jalese competes with beautiful, flirting but treacherous Cyna for the imprisoned prince.  Magical.

“Moonlight Becomes You” Karen Wiesner.  Lance Shaussegeny rejects his mate Heather who gives birth to their son.  She struggles to regain her health while their baby becomes ill too. To save their child’s life, Heather believes she must travel to Woodcutter’s Grim where the strange world of the Shaussegeny clan darkly differs from what she has experienced. A wonderful story..

These are very imaginative refreshing romantic fantasies.  Well written and entertaining in spite of the novella format limiting somewhat the impact of the setting, readers will enjoy finding true love in the Jewel of the Quill realms.

Harriet Klausner

Reaper’s Justice-Sarah McCarty

Reaper’s Justice

Sarah McCarty

Berkley, Feb 1 2011, $15.00

ISBN: 9780425236680

The Civil War may be over but the unit of werewolf soldiers Shadow Reapers trained to kill and survive has not been able to simply embrace the peace.  Reaper Law tries to control these half beasts, but that allows plenty of room for the code of the wolf. 

One of the soldiers Isaiah Jones knows he is an unwanted half-breed who is not wolf or man.  His sole link to humanity is Adelaide Cameron who his inner wolf desires too.  However, Isaiah knows he can never have her as that is taboo but stays near his beloved to keep her safe.

Thus when she is abducted his wolf howls in rage while his human side claims vengeance if she has even the slightest injury.  Meanwhile the renegades who kidnapped Adelaide plans to sell her pretty sassy tail.  She heeds her cousin Cole’s advice to pay attention in order to gather information to give to her family when they find her.  Isaiah catches up only to realize one of the bandits is Billings another Reaper, who shockingly helps Adelaide escape.  When Isaiah finally catches up to Adelaide, he tries to escort her home.  The wolf senses her attraction to him, wants her and will not be denied.  However, danger remains from the Council as he broke the Reaper Law with their forbidden love.

This is an exciting post Civil War werewolf romance.  The star-crossed protagonists supported by a strong cast including Blade the Reaper who is a friend assigned to hunt them down.  Known for her modern day Wrangler paranormal romances Sarah McCarty moves back in time with the same quality as her tales of Caleb and Jared with a strong 1860s Americana werewolf romance.

Harriet Klausner