Romance Reviews, December 2010
Dec 15, 2010THE MYSTERY CREEP Have you noticed how elements of mystery and suspense are everywhere, and not just in what is normally labeled mystery/suspense or romantic suspense? This has been going on for some time—all that genre blending (or blurring) that is making life difficult for those of us who like to put things into neat, little boxes—and it’s probably not going to change anytime soon. Whether via an old family secret, a hidden identity, or something far more dangerous, mystery has been infiltrating romances of all types. Still, while a few romances have remained untainted by the mystery/suspense creep, it is truly a rare romance (except for some carefully prescribed series) that is devoid of it entirely. For example, paranormals, urban fantasy, and most of the other “alternative realities” are almost always infused with suspense or a mystery of some kind—even if it isn’t the key element that attracts fans. Likewise, historicals often have a mystery component, usually involving spies, court intrigue, greedy relatives, or Jack the Ripper–type serial killers. Even today’s contemporaries feature a mystery or suspense element that, while not enough to encroach on the romantic suspense category, is a considerable part of the plot. Today’s readers love a puzzle, and they love to be safely scared—even in their romances.
A TOUCH (OR A TON) OF SUSPENSE
Burton, Mary. Merciless. Zebra: Kensington. Feb. 2011. c.416p. ISBN 9781420110203. pap. $6.99. Romantic Suspense
When a psychopathic killer with a penchant for freshly flayed human bones and a decade-long vendetta goes into action, he attracts the attention of Det. Malcolm Kier and, ultimately, attorney Angie Carlson—a woman who could easily end up being his final victim. VERDICT Gruesome, violent, and terrifying, this chilling thriller is an engrossing story that nicely links to Burton’s Senseless and ties up a few loose ends. The heroines in these two books are sisters, and their romantic leads are partners; since the stories follow each other, readers will want to read them in order. Burton (Dying Scream) lives in Virginia.
Feehan, Christine. Ruthless Game. Jove: Penguin Group (USA). (GhostWalker, Bk. 9). Jan. 2011. c.416p. ISBN 9780515149210. pap. $7.99. Paranormal
The last thing GhostWalker Kane Cannon needs is to be distracted by a woman from his past—especially while he’s on a mission. When he heads to Mexico to rescue a group of hostages, he finds Rose, a fellow GhostWalker who is pregnant with his child, hiding from the brilliant yet sadistic scientist who wants her baby at any cost. But Kane will do anything to protect his child, and soon the couple are racing through the desert, away from the thugs who are chasing them—and into a situation that promises to be even more deadly. VERDICT Dark, violent, and brimming with well-described action, this latest installment in Feehan’s ever popular “GhostWalker” series takes things even further when it ramps up the tension with the birth of a baby and raises the stakes to a whole new level. Feehan (Dark Slayer) lives in Northern California.
Kramer, Kieran. Dukes to the Left of Me, Princes to the Right. St. Martin’s. (Impossible Bachelors, Bk. 2). Dec. 2010. c.416p. ISBN 9780312374020. pap. $7.99. Historical
Secretly waiting for her schoolgirl crush, Prince Sergei, to come back into her life, the highly eligible Lady Poppy Smith-Barnes has successfully avoided marriage for three years by claiming an understanding with the mysterious, supposedly imaginary Duke of Drummond. Then Nicholas Staunton, the real Drummond, shows up at a ball, intent on carrying off the farce for reasons of his own, and Poppy ends up publicly engaged (thanks to the Prince Regent’s intervention), thoroughly kissed, absolutely furious, and totally determined not to marry this forceful, enigmatic man who has upended her life. Fate, of course, sees things quite differently. VERDICT Another sexy, aristocratic “Impossible Bachelor” bites the dust in this mischievous, page-singeing adventure that takes a superbly matched pair of strong-willed, sparring lovers, a diverse profusion of secondary characters, and an intricate, spy-laden plot, and serves it up with great flair and a lively sense of fun. Kramer (When Harry Met Molly) lives in South Carolina.
Krentz, Jayne Ann. In Too Deep. Putnam. (Arcane Society: Looking Glass Trilogy, Bk. 1). Jan. 2011. c.352p. ISBN 9780399157028. $25.95. Paranormal
Reclusive, brilliant Fallon Jones counts himself lucky that he has found an assistant like Isabella Valdez—organized, insightful, and totally accepting of his unnerving chaos-theory talent. But Isabella is not only a powerful talent in her own right, she is on the run from someone who wants her dead—and she has gone to ground in Scargill Cove, a tiny coastal town where no one asks questions. A macabre discovery in an old house gets things off to a chilling start as Isabella and Fallon are in a deadly web that stretches back to the malicious glass creations of Victorian inventor Millicent Bridewell, cleverly designed weapons that have lost none of their power over the years, as Fallon and Isabella quickly discover. VERDICT With vibrant wit and consummate flair, the creative, captivating Krentz has delivered another ingenious, suspenseful tale that unravels a mystery, pairs up another perfect couple, and successfully launches a new “Arcane Society” trilogy with well-placed hints of the delightful evils to come. Krentz (Fired Up) lives in Seattle.
Perry, Kate. Tempted by Fate. Forever: Grand Central. (Guardians of Destiny, Bk. 3). Dec. 2010. c.368p. ISBN 9780446564625. pap. $7.99. Paranormal
Guardian of the Book of Wood (one of the five ancient Scrolls of Destiny entrusted to chosen guardian families for safekeeping) from the time she was ten, after her mother was murdered as she listened, Willow Tarata has been on the hunt for the killer. Now, drawn to San Francisco by the unexpected murder of a scholar who was studying the scrolls, Willow hopes to find and take care of the “Bad Man” at last. Instead, she barely avoids being set up for murder, crosses paths with the far too perceptive—and way too attractive—homicide inspector Rick Ramirez, and ends up at the top of his suspect list. VERDICT Compelling, action-packed, and threaded through with relentless evil, smoldering sexuality, and dynamic magic, this story engages readers from the get-go and doesn’t let them come up for air until the end. Latest in Perry’s “Guardians of Destiny” series, this title is complete in itself, though readers will enjoy the earlier books, as well. Perry (Chosen by Desire) lives in San Francisco.
Perry, Marta. Murder in Plain Sight. HQN: Harlequin. (Amish Suspense, Bk. 1). Dec. 2010. c.384p. ISBN 9780373774722. pap. $7.99. Romantic Suspense
On the brink of unfair dismissal from her prestigious Philadelphia law firm, Jessica Langdon agrees to take on a strangely difficult case: defending an Amish teenager accused of murder. She has her hands full with the press and the ambitious district attorney out for blood, the Amish community wary of outsider’s law, her boss after her to wrap up a plea bargain, and the initially hostile son of the woman who hired her wreaking havoc with her emotions. When she becomes the target of increasingly dangerous threats, it is clear that there’s more at issue than one murder—and Jessica is likely to become the next victim. VERDICT Perry, with her deep knowledge of Amish culture, has crafted a dark, tangled, suspenseful tale that treats readers not only to a sweet romance and a seriously twisted but not totally unexpected villain but to welcome insight into the customs and beliefs of the Plain People. First of a trilogy and another solid addition to appropriate collections. Perry (Leah’s Choice) also writes inspirational romances focusing on the Amish; she divides her time between Pennsylvania and the South Carolina coast.
Quinn, Tara Taylor. The Fourth Victim. Mira: Harlequin. (Chapman Files, Bk. 4). Dec. 2010. c.336p. ISBN 9780778328353. pap. $7.99. Romantic Suspense
Psychologist and high-profile expert witness Kelly Chapman has vanished without a trace, and it’s up to FBI agent Clay Thatcher to find her. But the number of people who could have it in for Kelly is legion, and as Clay digs more deeply, his interest in the courageous woman grows. Now the search to find her before it’s too late becomes personal as well as professional. VERDICT Taking a major risk by putting her heroine out of action from the outset and developing the romance at a distance, Quinn has scored on all counts, creating a touching, nail-biting thriller that becomes progressively intense. Quinn (The Third Victim) now lives in Arizona. [In conjunction with this series and to support Strengthen Our Sisters, the first battered women’s shelter in the United States, Quinn has organized an online blog tour. See www.tarataylorquinn.com for details.]
Robb, J.D. & others. The Other Side. Jove: Penguin Group (USA). Dec. 2010. c.416p. ISBN 9780515148671. pap. $7.99. Paranormal
Once again Robb (aka Nora Roberts) heads up a list of top-notch writers in another exemplary anthology of romantic novellas—all with a paranormal slant and all providing intriguing views from the “other side.” No-nonsense Eve Dallas inadvertently takes in the spirit of a gypsy who wants her to find her missing granddaughter in Robb’s macabre “Possession in Death”; a bickering pair of aristocrats get a reality check when they are zapped into each other’s bodies as a magic coin grants their thoughtless wishes in Mary Blayney’s Regency gem, “The Other Side of the Coin”; a pragmatic woman who wants to stop the sale of her family home falls for the charlatan spirit investigator she hires to prove the house is haunted in Patricia Gaffney’s artful “The Dancing Ghost”; a couple killed in a car crash refuse to head for Heaven until they save their daughter from a disastrous marriage (and find her another man) in Ruth Ryan Langan’s satisfying “Almost Heaven”; and a woman estranged from her mother must help the ghosts of her mom and two aunts find what each has lost so they all can move on in Mary Kay McComas’s touching “Never Too Late To Love.” VERDICT Spine-tingling, funny, whimsical, or poignant, this superb anthology has something for everyone; a winner for paranormal/short story collections.
NO MYSTERY TO ME...
Goodman, Jo. Marry Me. Zebra: Kensington. Dec. 2010. c. 448p. ISBN 9781420101768. pap. $6.99. Historical
All of Reidsville, CO, knew that Ryan “Runt” Abbot, reclusive Judah Abbot’s youngest son, was fierce, ornery, and handy with a gun. What they didn’t know, until the new doctor, Cole Monroe, learned the truth and brought an ailing Runt back to town to stay with him and his sister, was that Runt wasn’t a boy at all but a woman named Rhyne. Physically and emotionally abused and unfamiliar with living as a woman, Rhyne is wary, unsure, and needs time to heal. But Cole has fallen in love, and he’s more than willing to wait. This novel marks Goodman’s second visit to Reidsville, and fans will enjoy becoming reacquainted with the townsfolk they met in Never Love a Lawman. VERDICT Dark and intense but graced with flashes of humor and a few unexpected twists, this powerful story doesn’t mince words, confronting cruelty, abuse, disease, and other serious issues with touching sensitivity and clear-headed pragmatism, while delivering an insightful, gently sensual love story. Goodman lives in West Virginia.
Phillips, Susan Elizabeth. Call Me Irresistible. Morrow. Jan. 2011. c.400p. ISBN 9780061351525. $25.99. Contemporary
It goes without saying that each of Phillips’s books is The One that fans have been waiting for, but in this case, it’s truer than ever. Uniting characters from a number of her past novels, Phillips serves up a funny, steamy, blood pressure–spiking heart-wringer. “Mr. Perfect” Ted Beaudine, genius inventor and adored mayor of tiny Wynette, TX, is paired with “Miz Screw Up” Meg Koranda, honest, proud, outspoken, and reckless. They work their way from loathing through lust to love—despite a pitiless town filled with people who will do anything to keep that from happening. From the minute Meg walks into town and her best friend, Lucy Jorik, walks out on her wedding to Ted, Meg’s been a pariah. While all ends well, Meg’s path to acceptance is rocky, to say the least—and in the hands of an exceptional writer like Phillips, readers feel every sharp stone. VERDICT Phillips has the ability to drill down into her characters’ motivations, while conveying their stories with sensitivity and laugh-out-loud humor. Consistently remarkable, she’s done it again; Irresistible is stunning. Phillips (What I Did for Love) lives in the Chicago area.
Quinn, Julia & others. The Lady Most Likely.... Avon. Jan. 2011. c.384p. ISBN 9780061247828. pap. $7.99. Historical
There’s nothing like being thrown from a horse and ending up in a temporary coma to start a bachelor nobleman thinking of the title’s succession, so when avid horse trainer Hugh Dunne, Earl of Briarly, gets tossed, he asks his happily married sister for help. The resulting house party, overflowing with marriageable misses and aristocratic swains, provides the ideal opportunity for Hugh to find the perfect wife. Yet imagine his surprise when he also discovers the love of his life. Three couples are highlighted in this engaging romance in which a trio of best-selling authors—Quinn, Eloisa James, and Connie Brockway—join their talents to produce separate but integrated parts of the same story, picking up where another leaves off in a compelling narrative that flows seamlessly from beginning to end. VERDICT Flirty, joyful, and just plain fun, this is a thoroughly delightful historical, as well as the successful result of a novel approach. From the pens of writers like these, what else would one expect?
Ridgway, Christie. Then He Kissed Me. Berkley Sensation: Penguin Group (USA). (Three Kisses, Bk. 2). Jan. 2011. c.304p. ISBN 9780425239179. pap. $7.99. CONTEMPORARY
When Stevie (Stephania) Baci’s ex-fiancé and his royal bride-to-be decide to have their wedding at Tanti Baci, the family winery and newly launched wedding destination, and she ends up in charge of the event, she doesn’t think things could get much worse. But when the bride’s notorious, fast-living brother, in town with the express purpose of keeping Stevie from sabotaging his little sister’s big day, averts a social disaster by announcing his engagement to a stunned Stevie, she realizes just how wrong she can be. VERDICT A sassy tomboy heroine with her own limousine company and a footloose playboy hero in search of a life set the pages aflame with their sexy antics and outspoken banter in this bubbly, easy-going sparkler that nails its Napa-in-January setting and touchingly continues the “Three Kisses” trilogy. Ridgway (Crush on You) lives in California.
LAST MINUTE CHEER
Davids, Patricia. An Amish Christmas. Love Inspired: Steeple Hill. (Brides of Amish Country, Bk. 3). Dec. 2010. c.224p. ISBN 9780373876372. pap. $5.50. Inspirational
Amish Karen Imhoff has no idea that her life is about to change when she and her family find a badly beaten stranger by the roadside and take him in while he recovers his health and his memory. The compelling Englisher has caught her heart, and as he heals and settles into the plain life of the community, Karen is torn, knowing that he must remember his past in order to be whole but fearing that once he does, he will be lost to her forever. VERDICT Sweet, emotionally rich, and infused with realistic details of Amish life, this cleverly plotted inspirational romance doles out bits and pieces of John Doe’s past with just the right amount of intrigue, producing a satisfying tale that is a worthy addition to the recent spate of Amish romances that are drawing attention. Davids (The Doctor’s Blessing) lives in Wichita, KS.
Leone, Sarita. The Christmas Bargain. Avalon. Dec. 2010. c.192p. ISBN 9780803477971. $23.95. Regency
Appalled that her beloved grandfather would add a codicil to his will stipulating that she marry the disreputable James Whitman, Duke of Willingham, by Christmas Eve unless she chooses someone else, Iris Newgate sets out to find a man she can love. But the Duke is determined to woo his future bride, and although circumstances are definitely against him, he is certain that Iris is the woman for him. Now he simply must convince her. Missing barons, suspicions of murder, and plenty of gossip add to the mix as Iris tries to separate fact from fiction and her true feelings from how she thinks she should feel. VERDICT Sweet, lighthearted, and charming, this traditional Regency, despite the title, has little Christmas flavor; it is, however, graced with appealing characters and a dollop of mystery and is a good choice for collections of classic Regencies. This is Leone’s first book for Avalon; she lives in upstate New York.
Smith, Karen Rose. Twins Under His Tree. Silhouette Special Edition. (Baby Experts, Bk. 6). Dec. 2010. c.224p. ISBN 9780373655694. pap. $4.99. Contemporary
Overwhelmed and exhausted after the birth of her twin daughters and still grieving over her husband’s death in Afghanistan, Dr. Lily Wescott knows she can count on the support of Mitch Cortega, her colleague and her late husband’s best friend. But when their friendship becomes something more, guilt, past hurts, emotional trauma, and old insecurities come to the fore, and Lily and Mitch must do some serious soul searching before they can acknowledge their feelings. VERDICT Overflowing with babies, family, and characters you’d like to count as friends, this touchingly sensual romance, lightly dusted with holiday charm, brings healing and love to a deserving pair who are finally ready to move on. Smith (From Doctor...to Daddy) is a best-selling author of more than 70 books; she lives in Hanover, PA.
SECOND TIME AROUND
Laurens, Stephanie. Reasons for Marriage. Severn House. Dec. 2010. 304p. ISBN 9780727869449. $28.95.Contemporary
Needing to marry but not wanting his current lifestyle altered, a worldly duke zeroes in on an intelligent, country-bred lady who has no intention of falling victim to his charms. With its lively banter, clever wit, and exquisitely depicted Regency setting, this classic charmer is a breath of fresh air and will appeal to fans of the traditional Regency and others who like their historicals simmering with sexual tension but light on explicit sex. One of Laurens’s early titles and sweeter than her current offerings, the first hardcover edition was originally published by Mills & Boon in 1995 and subsequently reissued in various collections. It is the first of the “Lester Trilogy.”
Stuart, Anne. Heart’s Ease. Severn House. Jan. 2011. c.256p. ISBN 9780727869531. $27.95. Contemporary
Falsely accused of and fired for altering critical lab results, a young researcher falls in love with a man who believes she’s guilty in this gripping, emotionally compelling story that is pure early Stuart. Still a winner, this was first published as a Harlequin American in 1983.
