The Care And Taming Of A Rogue-Suzanne Enoch

The Care And Taming Of A Rogue

Suzanne Enoch

Avon, Nov 2009, $6.99

ISBN: 9780061456763

Explorer Sir Bennett Wolfe returns home to find out a horrific truth awaiting him.  Five months ago his friend on the expedition Captain David Langley had stabbed him with a spear in his gut; after assuming Bennett was dead, the scoundrel stole his journals.  He has since become wealthy with the money he made on his publication.

Lady Phillipa “Flip” Eddison is a fan of the Langley books and their expeditions and would relish going on a trek with him.  However, when she meets Bennett, she finds she believes his assertion that he wrote the journals.  She offers to help him prove his case even as they fall in love.  When her beloved is threatened, Flip does whatever it takes including risking her life and reputation to keep him safe.

Although Sir Bennett is not quite the scoundrel or rogue of the Notorious Gentlemen in Suzanne Enoch’s recent super Regencies, Sir Bennett is a terrific lead character with a thirst for vengeance while the heroine flips his life upside down.  She proves more than his equal as Flip demonstrates a propensity in The Care And Taming Of A Rogue.  With a villain willing to kill to remain rich, famous and popular fans will enjoy Sir Bennett’s attempts to prove he is the hero and author of the journals and deserving of Flip’s adulation, esteem and love just like she has earned his.

Harriet Klausner

Seduce Me By Christmas-Deborah Raleigh

Seduce Me By Christmas

Deborah Raleigh

Zebra, Oct 2009, $6.99

ISBN: 9780821780466

His father the Earl embarrassed by his mistake sent his transgression his illegitimate offspring Raoul Charlebois to Dunnington; there the lad made friends with Fredrick (see Bedding the Baron) and Ian (see Seducing the Viscount).  As a young adult, Raul has been a rake, but with his two best friends happily married, he now feels the time is right to investigate his unknown past starting with why his father paid 20,000 pounds to conceal him.

The December weather is typically cold and icy as he rides a horse to Cheshire for the first time in a dozen years.  However, his steed Hercules becomes unnerved by a sudden darting little boy who apparently is knocked senseless.  Raoul takes Jimmy and Master Willie to their guardian Miss Sarah Jefferson who resides in the gamekeeper’s cottage on his father’s estate.  Raoul and Sarah are attracted to one another, but as they fall in love and he uncovers information about his heritage, he cannot move past the hurts of his childhood; Sarah prays for a Christmas miracle.

The third Dunnington historical romance stars two memorable lead characters and a strong support cast including the heroes of the previous novels (not read by me) who make for a fabulous Christmas tale.  The mystery of the past enhances the present as Sarah loves Raoul, but knows he cannot fully return her regard until he lets go of his demons that co-share his heart with her.  Deborah Raleigh provides a winning finish to her saga with this super stand alone that also wraps up the mystery of the late Mr. Dunnington’s legacy.

Harriet Klausner

Stained Glass-Ralph McInerny

Stained Glass

Ralph McInerny

Minotaur, Oct 13 2009, $24.99

ISBN: 9780312582647

The Archdiocese decides to close down several parishes whose congregation has diminished.  Among them is St. Hilary’s of Fox River, Illinois.  The priest Father Dowling understands the economics behind the decision, but worries for his flock.  The St. Hilary’s members and Father Dowling hope (and pray) they can save their church and begin an effort to do so, the “Save St. Hilary’s movement.

A nude female body is found hanging from the cross strut of a garage door.  The police believe a ritual perhaps satanic homicide occurred.  As the cops, reporters Tetzel and Rebecca and Father Dowling investigate they find a link to the divided Devere family.  The nonagenarian matriarch Jane has used trust fund money to hire an author to write a book on Menotti’s church art to include a stained glass window provided to St. Hilary’s by her family; other Devere kin are outraged by her generosity, which apparently surfaces with more murders occurring.

This is the best Father Dowling mystery in several years as the amateur sleuth struggles with the impact of the economy most likely closing his church and the homicides that seem tied to the one of the deadly sins, avarice.  The story line is intelligent although Father Dowling follows his usual method to solving felonies, but the back stories of the impact of the economy and the changing demographics of Fox River provide a terrific fresh look at St. Hilary’s and the church surviving in a modern world.

Harriet Klausner

Lucky Break-Carly Phillips

Lucky Break

Carly Phillips

Harlequin HQN, Oct 2009, $7.99

ISBN: 9780373774012

In Stewart, Massachusetts with the deaths of the evil Perkins family and the incarceration of the few survivors, the witch powers they claimed proved false.  However, although they apparently won the feud, the Corwin family, especially the older generation, believes anyone with a touch of Perkins blood is cursed with evil in their DNA.

Lauren Perkins comes home to prepare the family mansion for sale.  Although she had nothing to do with the malevolence of her kin, everyone especially the Corwin brood assumes she is tainted.  Only, Jason Corwin who never forgot the greatest summer of his life thinks otherwise.  He wants to court Lauren, but his family is divided based on age between for and against.  However, when the repairs to her house fall apart, Jason and Lauren revert back to what their families always have done: feuding.

The third Corwin Curse tale (see LUCKY CHARM and LUCK STREAK) is a fascinating finish to a fine trilogy as Lauren only wants to sell her family house and get out of Stewart while Jason only wants Lauren.  Although the premise is a bit thin, Lauren is the jewel who can run away from love or embrace it and break the Corwin Curse.

Harriet Klausner

The Haunting of America-William J. Birnes and Joel Martin

The Haunting of America

William J. Birnes and Joel Martin

Forge, Sep 15 2009, $25.99

ISBN: 9780765313812

The authors take a close look at alleged haunting in America going from colonial times to 9/11.  There is a myriad of claims over the three plus centuries as the writers describe what allegedly occurred with the emphasis on the paranormal aspects of an event.  William J. Birnes and Joel Martin evaluate the possibility as to whether black magic was actually practiced just prior to the Salem witch trials and  a couple of George Washington tales especially several sightings at Gettysburg and other battle sights.  Other presidents also receive focus like Jackson who testified at the Bell Witch incident and Lincoln who supposedly dreamed of his assassination.  Filled with charming fakes like Margaret “the big toe” Fix and hypnotic charmers like Franz Mesmer, THE HAUNTING OF AMERICA is a fascinating look at the alleged paranormal history of the country.  The book includes Houdini, Doyle, Edison and Rhine as the para intertwines with the normal whether it is the Ford Theater, Valley Forge, the White House or even the early evolutionary leap of ultra adaptive Cro-Magnan and even more adaptive Homo sapiens, perhaps seeded from an ET visit.  This is a fun account to read; just leave behind the skepticism as the entertaining tome lacks any.

Harriet Klausner

Intertwined-Gena Showalter

Intertwined

Gena Showalter

Harlequin Teen, Sep 2009, $15.99

ISBN: 9780373210022

In present day Crossroads, Oklahoma, sixteen years old Aden Stone has heard voices in his head ever since he was a small child.  The medical community labels him schizophrenic; his parents gave up on him when he was three years old placing him in a mental institution.  Recently, he was relocated to the D and M Ranch, a halfway house for troubled teens.

Although no one else does, Aden understands his four voices are lost souls.  Eve time travels; Julian raises the dead; Elijah predicts the future; and Caleb possesses other beings.  Elijah informs Aden he will not live much longer; just when he meets Mary Ann Gray, who can silence the voices; the teen he thinks he fell in love with her because of his dreams of normalcy.  He meets two other teenagers with uncanny skills as they find themselves struggling with vampires, demons, werewolves and fairies.

This is a wonderful young adult fantasy as the teen male lead makes the thriller work; as he has spent his life being misunderstood and locked away as a nut case.  He understands that he is not schizophrenic and does not have multiple personality disorder; instead his brain carries four INTERTWINED lost souls although he has no idea why him.  Thus when he meets Mary Ann who silences the bickering voices that give him headaches, he relishes the quiet normal time that ha always desired.  However that mental serenity UNRAVELED with the start of war against the paranormal in which he is the human point.  Fans will relish Aden’s escapades with his three new allies and look forward to more unraveling of his mind in future Intertwined adventures.

Harriet Klausner

Man with the Iron Heart-Harry Turtledove

Man with the Iron Heart

Harry Turtledove

Del Rey, Jul 28 2009, $18.00

ISBN: 9780345504357

In 1942 Reinhard Heydrich, the evil designer of the Holocaust, was assassinated in Czechoslovakia by a partisan who hated the Nazis. However, on an alternate earth, Heydrich survived the attempt on his life and received permission from Himmler to create a guerilla army to harass the allies into leaving Germany so the Reich can rebuild. During the next three years, he dropped out of sight and ammo vanished as Heydrich formed the German Freedom Front secretly.

On VE Day, just like Heydrich predicted, the government signed the declaration ending the war in defeat. However, hostilities were not over as Heydrich and his Freedom Front force began their campaign; their efforts killed thousands of occupying allied soldiers. When Mrs. Diana McGuire receives a call that her son died after VE Day, she started a movement that grew rapidly to bring the men home.  German POWs are on trial in in Nuremburg charged with war crimes, but the courthouse is destroyed. The trials move to Frankfort, but a suicide bomber ignites a radium bomb making the city uninhabitable. They turn to the Russian occupation next, but the guerillas succeed in disrupting the trials.  Germans do not consider the war lost and the allies fear the Nazis like a Phoenix will return to power to continue the fight.

What happened in Iraq and Viet Nam is transposed to late 1940s Germany in THE MAN WITH THE IRON HAND. The German people help the Freedom Front because they seek the removal of foreign occupiers from their soil. The treaty is a piece of paper that proves worthless while the allies ponder a surge of more troops and for how long or withdrawal. Heydrich is sinister and brilliant as he will do anything to force the occupation army to leave.  This alternative historical showcases Harry Turtledove at his thought provoking best as the question is how long does a surge (by definition temporary) remain in place and what happens afterward if conditions fall back?

Harriet Klausner

Storm Watch-Jill Shalvis

Storm Watch

Jill Shalvis

Harlequin Blaze, Aug 2009, $4.99

ISBN: 9780373794911

After being deployed during hurricanes like Katrina and Rita and a nasty flood in the Midwest that took out his best friend Matt, National Guardsman Jason Mauer returns to his home in Santa Rey on the mild central California coast.  He plans to rest from the difficult rescue mission and enjoy his rare time home renovating with his brother Dustin their place of business.

Another devastating storm leaves ER nurse Lizzy Mann barely reaching an evacuation area while unable to reach her pregnant sister Cece.  She tries to reach Dustin for help, but the cell phone failed though Jason did hear a woman whispering for help.  Jason soon realizes it was Lizzy who he knows from high school and thought she was a hot babe back then, but now she is even hotter; he offers to help, but she says no.  However, with the horrific weather so bad, Lizzy knows Cece’s needs come first.

This is a tense romantic thriller starring two fascinating heroes.  Lizzy’s constant rejections of  Jason’s offers of help will drive readers dizzy as she makes no sense since he is a professional rescue expert just what she needs at this moment even if she remembers him as Mr. Ass the bane of her high school existence.  Still fans will enjoy this taut tale as Mr. Ass and Miss Prissy fall in love.

Harriet Klausner

Bait-Nick Brownlee

Bait

Nick Brownlee

Minotaur, Jul 7 2009, $25.95

ISBN: 9780312550219

In Mombassa, Kenya former Scotland Yard Flying Squad police detective Jake Moore co-owns a minor sport fishing outfit, Britannia Fishing Tours Ltd.  Jake and his partner British expatriate Harry Philliskirk owe an Arab oil provider $17,000 for diesel fuel at a time that their business is in trouble due to the “Ernies” tourists. They are frightened by unrest and a teetering economy back home andare not coming to catch big fish in Kenya.

Harry gets involved in transporting hash while Jake works with another boat owner Dennis Bentley.  Murders occur over seemingly minor inncidents leading to honest Coast Province Detective Inspector Daniel Jouma to investigate at a time others are in country causing further hostilities between the ethnic groups.  Over his head, Daniel asks Jake for help.

This is an entertaining Kenyan police procedural private investigative thriller that provides the audience some insight into the country although much of what the reader sees is unpleasant viciousness that enhances the investigation as the clues lead to the nastier underbelly of society.   The story line is fast-paced and the two cops top rate.  Although Nick Brownlee skates around the major issues confronting the country, fans will enjoy the aptly named BAIT.

Harriet Klausner

Sweet Persuasion-Maya Banks

Sweet Persuasion

Maya Banks

Berkley, Jun 2009, $15.00

ISBN: 9780425227701

For five years, Serena James has filled other people’s cravings while ignoring her dreams.  Running Fantasy Incorporated has been a full time job so she placed her desires on hold and fulfilled her clients’ fantasies.

Now she feels it is her turn to get her itch whipped.  She knows whom she wants to dominate her, Damon Roche owner of an exclusive BDSM.  Damon is euphoric with a chance to dominate Serena.  However he also knows his lovely submissive is thinking short term; he plans on long term domination and tender caring of the woman he loves.

The latest “Sweet” BDSM romance (see SWEET SURRENDER) is a superb contemporary starring two fully developed lead characters whose ardent DS relationship ignites the pages.  Serena is the more fascinating of the pair; as she has kept her submissive libido in check while running a fantasy business.  Damon is typical of the erotic sub-genre as a strong dominant who controls his partner but makes sure she feels secure under his watch.  Is it just me but do these dominants behave like some of the modern alpha werewolves who find their lifemates?  Readers will relish Maya Banks’ exciting erotic romance.

Harriet Klausner