January/February, 2010 Affaire de Coeur Affaire de Coeur January/February, 2010 Reviews and Previews for Readers and Writers January/February, 2010 Features Julie Kenner – January Author of the Month 2 Bonnet Books 6 Interracial Romance — Dyanne Davis 8 Movies of Your Mind — Bennet Pomerantz 10 Fun & Games 12 Black History Month Quiz 31 Previews 32 Valentine’s Day Quiz 42 Departments and Columns Contemporary Romance Reviews 13 Historical Romance Reviews 20 Paranormal Romance Reviews 26 Steamy Romance Reviews 33 Mystery & Suspense Romance Reviews 35 Booty from the Other Genres 38 Audio Recordings 43

Publisher/Editor in Chief — Louise B. Snead Copy Editor — Lanelle Brent Copy Editor — Nancy Lepri Book Review Editor — Judith Hill Vice President of Advertising — Bonny Kirby Art Director — Adrian Powell ROM-CON — Barbara N. Keenan Audio Reviewer — Bennet Pomerantz Foreign Correspondent — Janine D. Snead Literary Reviewers Monique Bruner • Mildred Burkett • Emily Carty • Lauren Caulder • Marilyn Anita Dalrymple • Inez Daylong • Letettia Elsasser • Heather Nordahl Files • Sheila Griffin • Catherine Heller • Lani Roberts • Tiffany Viale • Dera Williams • Paul Zunino Affaire de Coeur is published bi-monthly at 3976 Oak Hill Road Oakland, California 94605-4931 Telephone: (510) 569-5675 FAX: (510) 632-8868 E-Mail address: [email protected] Affaire de Coeur , Inc. ISSN # 0739-3881. Material in this publication may not be reproduced in any form without written permission. All books and material reviewed by this publication have been read by the reviewer, and the opinions expressed are those of the reader. Release dates and prices are subject to possible change by the publisher without notice.

Subscription rates for the U.S.A. is $38.00 for 12 issues first class. Third Class subscription is $30.00. Canadian subscription is $65.00 for one year. Other foreign countries' rates are dependent upon the cost of mailing. Single copy price is $6.00. www. affairedecoeur.com January/February, 2010 Affaire de Coeur Julie Kenner

AdC’s Author of the Month

“We’re really excited to be doing Julie's terrific new urban fantasy trilogy three months in a row. It’s the first time Ace has published an author in this way. But we’ve seen how well it works on the Sensation list, and some of other sf/f imprints have had success with such scheduling, so we were looking for just the right books to give it a try ourselves. The Blood Lily Chronicles are, we think, the perfect choice. Though each stands alone, together they tell a compelling story of a young woman’s decent into darkness—and rise back to the light. It’s powerful material—and the impact is only increased when the reader doesn’t have to wait several months for “what comes next.” Meeting the deadlines for this program was challenging, but Julie more than rose to it. The Ace art direc- tor came thru with a set of striking covers. Our sale forces backed the project enthusiastically. Now, as the trilogy goes on sale, we all hope that Lily Carlyle will soon find a place among the memorable heroines of today’s hottest genre!” — Ginjer Buchanan, Ace Books

2 Affaire de Coeur January/February, 2010 AdC: Wow, a trilogy in three consecutive switched to film and considered writing even manage to write or plot a bit. months! Tell me how that came about. screenplays (clearly not paying attention Lunch. Got a phone call from Harlequin editor JK: I'm totally excited about that, because to that "steady paycheck" voice). I gradu- during lunch re: novella; called critique part- it fits the story so well. But the fact is, I ated very young, though, and was too ner with whom I wrote anthology to clarify think it was more a publishing decision chicken to move to LA, so I bummed point raised by editor. Kids get a school break than a story decision. More and more around doing some media related jobs, (straighten room, then play); I write. More publishers seem to be doing that lately. then took the LSAT because, hey, it school. (Today was history and grammar after As a reader, I think it’s awesome...except, seemed like the thing to do (for someone lunch for the oldest; reading for the young- of course, after book three you have to as Type A as I can be, looking back I de- est). Gymnastics class for the girls. Talked start waiting again, and I’m impatient! The tect a serious lack of focus!). I had a knack through story issues (hers and mine) in a idea is to build excitement and let readers for the law, loved the research and writing phone call at the gymnastics place. Worked have a chance to really get a feel for the component, and ended up clerking on the on answering these questions after the phone series. I hope readers are happy to spend Fifth Circuit Court of Appeals. That was a call! Dentist appointment for my oldest; an- three months with Lily! two-year gig, and I interviewed with LA swered more emails in the waiting room. Er- AdC: How did you get the inspiration for firms and ended up moving to California, rands. (Today bought tennis balls from Tar- this series? figuring I’d practice entertainment law, get and reams of paper from Office Depot.) JK: I actually can't answer that without which I did to a certain extent. Home. I wrote and the girls played outside spoilers, because something key in the But, I also got bit by the creative bug all (mostly tennis against the garage door) until first book (Tainted) was the kernel of my over again. I met a guy also interested in their dad came home. original idea. (I've been thrilled so far that writing, and he and I wrote two screen- Out to dinner with family. Oldest took history the reviewers are keeping tight-lipped!) plays, one that sucked, and the other, test (we didn't have time before gymnastics), It started, though, because I wanted to which got some interest in Hollywood, but then played with her sister. I finished up this write a story about an assassin. That idea was never optioned. blog entry, wrote pages of manuscript in buzzed around in my brain, and at some After I got married and moved to Or- progress, and reviewed notes for a talk I'm point it jelled as a paranormal story, with ange County, it was too hard to continue giving at the University tomorrow. Rest of the demons being the intended victims for my writing together in those early Internet evening: writing, with breaks to hang with tough chick heroine. Honestly, it was a days, so I started thinking about writing husband. Depending on the page count I need very amorphous process, unlike the inspi- novels again. I discovered category ro- to hit, bedtime can be anywhere from 12-2. ration for my demon-hunting soccer mom, mances and thought that with my insane (Probably on the later end tonight, since to- which was a Boom! moment. (I was try- lawyer schedule, I should focus on that, day was a heavy errand/out-of-the-house ing to think of a romance to pitch, and as the books have a shorter page count. I day.) thought of alpha male demon hunters; at wrote one, got decent feedback, and dis- And there you go. Tomorrow will be entirely the same time, I wanted to pitch chick lit, covered RWA. I was fortunate to sell my different! but not the typical 20-something, as I was second manuscript to Harlequin Tempta- AdC: You put out a lot of books, as well as a new mom. The ideas bumped up to- tion, along with my third, a full length par- have a family and pets. How do you manage gether, and paranormal mommy lit was anormal called The Cat's Fancy, both as all of it? born! the result of RWA contests. JK: Lots and lots of post-its and lists! Seri- AdC: You write across several genres of AdC: What is a typical day like in the life ously, I make a list the night before of the books. Tell me about that. of Julie Kenner? school schedule for the next day, and I have JK: Honestly, it's just my wacky imagina- JK: There really isn't a “typical” day, so an on-going spreadsheet of how many pages tion. I read across genres, so writing I'll just go with today: I want to get through in order to stay on track across them made sense. But you're right Wake up, hit snooze alarm six billion times. with various deadlines. When life is espe- – I've done a lot, from chick lit suspense Crawl out of bed. Drink coffee. Write. Kids cially crazy, I tend to stay up very late and to category romance to funny paranormal wake up. Feed kids and give them X work on weekends. Fortunately, I'm a night romance (with superheroes!) to urban fan- amount of time to play and wake up (usu- owl anyway! tasy, both dark and light. And YA, too! ally 30-45 minutes). Read emails. Upload As for page count tips, I put post-its on my AdC: Tell me how you got into writing. podcast. (Not an everyday thing, but I did wall representing X number of words (usually JK: I've wanted to be a writer for as long have to do it today, as I couldn't get it to 500 or 1000) and when I hit that number, I get as I can remember! I wrote short stories upload yesterday evening). Review yes- to rip off a post-it. So if my daily goal is 2000 and poetry as a kid, then did the school terday's writing and try to write at least words, then I'd have four post-its. It's sur- paper and worked on my college paper, one more page. Start school, usually math prisingly effective! but my love was really novels. Problem and Latin in the morning, and work on AdC: Are there secret time management tricks was I didn't have a road map to a job as school until lunch. we could all use? "novelist." Plus, I like eating and paying While the kids do book work, I'll run JK: Lists!! And smart phones. Honestly, my my rent, so a steady paycheck was ap- through emails on the iPhone or laptop and Blackberry and my iPhone (which replaced the pealing. I majored in journalism, but then empty/refill the dishwasher. Sometimes, I Blackberry) have been huge helps. I sound January/February, 2010 Affaire de Coeur 3 ney's office has the world shift beneath her feet when she is given a promotion and brought to "Division" to work as a pros- ecutor in the shadow world. And things only get more crazy for her when she learns that the first defendant she will be pros- ecuting is a man she'd had a one-night stand with--and that he's not only accused of murder, but is a vampire. The books are paranormal romantic sus- pense novels, and I'm having a blast writ- ing them. AdC: I understand you were an attorney. Do you still do that work or do you write full time? JK: I practiced in Los Angeles, Orange County, and Austin, Texas, but quit to write full time in 2004. AdC: What do you do in your spare time (if like a commercial, but it allows me to deal AdC: What books are coming out? Is there there is any)? with a lot of "computer stuff" – social net- anything exciting on the drawing board JK: LOL! I don't have a lot. I home school working, emails, even checking blogs I like we would like to see? my two girls (ages 8 and 6) and have a pretty with an RSS feed – while I'm not at the com- JK: In addition to Torn and Turned, coming hefty writing schedule, so there’s not a lot puter, so that when I do sit down in my of- in December and January, I also have Christ- of time to spare. Major spare time activity fice to write, I'm less distracted by email, mas and New Year's Blazes from Harlequin is reading. Just finished Atlas Shrugged etc. Honestly, that's my best tip. With two (Starstruck and Moonstruck, respectively). (Audiobook), and am re-reading Dragonfly kids, I'd have to say that my other major Then, in 2010, I'm launching a new series, in Amber! I’m also reading The Count of trick is juggling. :) The Shadow Keepers, under a new name: Monte Cristo and just read and Falling, AdC: Who are your favorite authors? Who J.K. Beck. Fly by debut author Skyler White. It’s com- inspires you? The first three books are When Blood Calls, ing in March, and it's awesome. I also JK: This is such a hard question because When Wicked Craves, and When Pleasure started the audiobook of Wicked, Lovely in there are just too many!!! My absolute Rules. I did an excerpt from Blood on my the car today (really liking it so far, and that favorite is J.D. Robb. I love the In Death podcast a few months ago says a lot as I'm generally so-so about books books. Beyond that, I read pretty much (www.kennercast.com), and if anyone with fairies). I also work in my yard (a bit), anything and everything, though not nearly would like a printed excerpt booklet, drop bike (a bit) and aspire to geocache, though as much as I wish I had time for. My favorite me a line at [email protected] with a I haven't started yet! book is A Wrinkle in Time, and my favorite mailing address and I'll send one along with AdC: Where do you live? Tell us about it. adult book is hard to say, but probably The a promo button! JK: I live in Georgetown, Texas, which is Pillars of The Earth. So many urban fan- The series, itself, is set in and around a par- just north of Austin. It's great! Still has tasy and paranormal romance authors in- anormal judicial system that mirrors our small town charm, but with urban ameni- spire me. The width and breadth of imagi- own familiar court system, but is designed ties, which I like (What can I say? I genu- nation in these genres (heck, across all fic- to apprehend, prosecute, adjudicate and inely loved it when I lived in LA. I'm a city tion) is astounding. detain those paranormal creatures who girl at heart). One of our favorite things is AdC: So how are things with our favorite break the Covenant, a series of laws first to go to the town square on the various demon-hunting soccer mom? Will there be formalized in the cuneiform writing of an- market days. It's great because we usually more books? And the movie? cient Sumaria, kept alive and updated to- bump into at least one or two people we JK: The book that just came out, Demon Ex day by a paranormal legislative body with know. Machina, not only wraps up (well, more or authority over all the creatures of the dark. AdC: What would you love to say to your less) a story thread, but also a contract. I That system stands as guardian over the avid readers? do have more plans for Kate, though, so meshing of the human world and the world JK: Thank you so much, and please don't folks should be sure to watch my website! of the shadows. The series is called The hesitate to contact me (email, Twitter, As for what's happening in Hollywood, Shadow Keepers. Facebook ... there are lots of ways!). It some- right now some things are brewing, so keep In the first book, an up and coming pros- times takes me a while to respond, what with your fingers crossed. ecutor for the Los Angeles District Attor- deadlines and life, but I love hearing from readers! 4 Affaire de Coeur January/February, 2010 January/February, 2010 Affaire de Coeur “Twenty-one-year-old Grace Byler longs to find her missing mother and to uncover the secret that drove her to leave them three weeks before. Grace suspects the reason has to do with her father and his reserved, uncommunicative ways. This conviction led Grace to break off her betrothal to her quiet, staid beau, and she is now resigned to remain single. But when the young Amishman she thought was courting her best friend takes a sudden interest in her, Grace is befuddled and wonders if he can be trusted. "Englisher" Heather Lang has come to Amish country to relive fond memories of her mother and to contemplate a grave medical progno- sis of her own. While in Bird-in-Hand, Heather meets Grace Byler and the two young women strike up a fast friendship, amazed by how well they click. Following the only clue they have, Grace and Heather travel to- gether in hopes of finding Grace's mother and bringing her home. Will they find what they're looking for...or something much more?” –The Missing by Beverly Lewis.

Such is the blurb on the back of one of the newest subgenre in the romance category known as “Bonnet Books” which has emerged and is enjoying a large and increasing popularity among readers looking for a more wholesome, G-rated form of romantic literature. These books can be categorized in the religious/inspirational genre in that they adhere to the same guidelines. How- ever, they originate in the Amish communities in the United States and usually involve an Amish character who falls in love with a non-Amish character, creating the mandatory conflict and the complications that come with that. This type of romance goes back to the older forms of romance in which the actual romance doesn’t involve explicit sex and rarely involves actual kissing. The romance is in the feelings and the actions that fol- low said feelings. Remember Witness, the 1980's movie that starred Harrison Ford, Kelly McGillis, and Danny Glover? She was a widowed Pennsylvania Amish woman who took her young son to Philadelphia. While in the restroom of the train station, the boy witnessed a murder, and Harrison Ford’s character, a police detective, had to Photo credit: Gadjoboy

6 Affaire de Coeur January/February, 2010 conduct an investigation, then protect him from a dirty Amish women, they acknowledge inaccuracies in the sto- cop. On the run, he and the Amish woman began to fall for ries, but love the Christian emphasis and philosophy. Other each other. Their love was never going to work unless one Amish seem to believe that they bring too much attention of them gave up everything they knew. Such is the crux of to their communities which are based upon plain, simple, the “Bonnet Books.” While Witness focused more on the Christian lives. In addition the Amish church has tradi- thriller aspect, the romance was tantalizing. It’s surprising tionally held with the belief that fiction is “distract- it took so long to develop this genre. ing and deceitful.” While the Amish will note that The Amish are mysterious in and of themselves be- there are many inaccuracies, they tend not to elabo- cause they are a private people who are self-sustaining with rate beyond suggesting that buggy accidents rarely limited contact with the outside world. What we do know about happen and that their day-to-day lives are private, them, we stretch to make a good story. Quite simply the Amish therefore the authors work on limited information. are a Christian religious denomination with very traditional edicts Despite these drawbacks, the books have a surpris- and practices. The Amish are known for simple living, plain dress ingly good following and sell well in dry goods and reluctance to adopt modern conveniences of any stores. sort. Amish church membership begins with baptism, It is interesting to note that many of the books usually between the ages of 16 and 25 and is a require- take place during “Rumspringa” translated as “run- ment of marriage. Once affiliated with the church, he or ning around,” which represents the years from age she may only marry within the faith. 16 that the Amish youth experience the outside world and The rules of the church or “Ordnung” must be ob- choose whether they wish to stay in the world or return to served by every member. These rules include most, if the Amish community and embrace the lifestyle and values. not all aspects of day-to-day living and include prohibi- This makes the general ages of the characters from teenag- tions or limitation on the use of power-line electricity, ers to the low 20’s. Yet, the readership tends to be in their telephones and automobiles, and even on clothing. 30’s and 40’s. This adds to the unusual nature of the popu- With its origin in Switzerland, Amish clothing is con- larity in that many mature women generally do not read the sidered to be an expression of humility, simplicity, and books set within teenage years, in fact many books set in non-conformity. They feel that wearing clothes that emphasize one's these years are categorized as Young Adult, where these are not. attractive qualities will not only create competition and sinful According to the librarian at the Tabernacle of Praise Pentecostal thoughts, but will also create division within the community. Church of God in McKinney, Texas, not only do readers love these Amish men and boys wear dark suits without lapels, the pants of books, they regularly stock them in their library. The plain and whole- which are held up by suspenders. Their hair style includes bangs, some way in which they are written appeals to them. These books topped with a straw or felt hat; they wear beards but no mustaches. are carried in the Christian book catalogs and are well stocked by Brown shoes are worn for work and black shoes for church. Amish many religions. She stated that they are constantly running a wait- girls usually wear solid color dresses with full skirts, covered by an ing list for these books and they are always checked out and clearly apron. A cape covers the bodice. Amish women do not cut their hair the most popular books that she stocks. nor do they wear jewelry. They favor a part in the middle and the hair Sales on these books are quite brisk with Beverly Lewis clearly the twisted into a a bun. A black bonnet is worn–hence, the “Bonnet leader with sales in excess of 13.5 million copies. Other authors have Books.” jumped on the bandwagon and are also doing well with this genre An important aspect of the Amish religion is that one's lifestyle including Cindy Woodsmall, Wanda E. Brunstetter and others with reflects the deepest convictions of one's faith. Amish church groups titles like The Secret, The Missing, A Cousin’s Prayer and countless seek to maintain a degree of separation from the non-Amish world others. The genre is now expanding to include Amish thrillers, sus- and their actual dating and marriage practices are considered holy pense and mysteries, and while it is too soon to gauge how these and very private. will do, based upon the romances they look really promising. Since these books are written by non-Amish authors for what was It does appear that this is a fully rolling new trend in modern to be non-Amish audiences, many inaccuracies appear in areas where romance reading and perhaps a return to more wholesome literature they cannot receive reliable Amish information. These books have, that does not include explicit sex, violence and the trappings of the nonetheless, gotten good and bad reviews within the Amish com- modern world. munities. While they do have a certain loyal following among many

Photo credit: Joe Schneid

January/February, 2010 Affaire de Coeur The telling of relationships between couples of dif- In the eyes of many, such relationships are still ta- ferent races has always been a sore spot in litera- boo. Some African-Americans see a willing union ture. From the Bible’s epic story of Samson and between different races as a betrayal. Some whites Delilah (who were from different races) to Shake- feel as if they are lowering their standards if they speare’s Othello, the Moor, and Desdemona, mixed participate in a true relationship with an African- couples have been star-crossed lovers, destined to American. In spite of that, we are now seeing a be apart forever. burgeoning of interracial books on the shelves. Over the centuries, the attitude towards interracial Affaire de Coeur polled authors and readers, both relationships was deeply associated with the insti- black and white, to get their take on why, all of a tution of slavery. Slaves had no choice when their sudden we’re seeing these books. Here are some of masters decided they would be lovers, and there the answers: were laws that established that the offspring of such a union would also be slaves. Once slavery ended, For a topic that has been taboo for such a long other countries seemed to have melded, but the time, why do you think the popularity of it is ris- United States has lagged. Aisa de Silva, a native ing? Brazilian, is confounded by some of the attitudes she has encountered toward mixed couples in this New York Times best-selling authors Caridad Pinero country. Brazil, with the second highest population and Gwynne Forster think it’s a reflection of the of blacks outside of Africa, prides itself on not fo- times. “I’m not sure if the issue is popularity or if cusing on the colors of people. it’s a question that the novels are merely display- Here in the United States, relationships among races ing the changing population in the United States. were well defined, both by social structure and law. Since we have more interracial and inter-ethnic re- Miscegenation laws were prevalent throughout the lationships, that reality is being reflected in our United States prohibiting the legal unions of spe- novels,” says Pinero. “Now, it’s commonplace— cific races–depending on the state, African-Ameri- but I live in a special part of New York City,” Gwynne cans, Filipinos, and/or Native Americans were for- Forster adds. bidden from marrying whites. The last of these laws AdC reviewer Dera notes, “Many of our was in Virginia, which was torn down in 1967. neighborhoods and schools are more integrated and Perhaps that is why writers left these relationships children who grow up together of different races alone, but not entirely. In the early days of romance, date each other.” there were “Indian” books, whereby the story line Here’s another thought from Pam, a reader, “Sadly, was as follows: the white woman was captured by many affluent black men look upon having a white the Indians; she adapted and eventually wove her woman as a status symbol. When in reality, if they way into the hearts of her captors and probably had no money or stardom, they (white women) took a stance against the white people in the end. wouldn’t look once, let alone twice.” In some cases, we saw the Indians as honorable Author Michele Cameron has a different take. “I and good, just different. In a few instances, the think that African American women are curious. Indian felt unworthy of the white woman, cursed Possibly with the seemingly amount of less avail- his heritage and his color and was ashamed of his able black men they wonder if there may be some- people. (Remember how Othello cursed his color?) thing better out there for them.” Kudos to Susan Johnson who, in her “Blaze” se- Do you think reader attitude has really changed ries, did more to elevate the image of the Indian about interracial romance or do you think they hero than any author of her time. think it’s inevitable so why complain about it? Still, there were no black/white books. Would read- Most agree that there has been a slight to moderate ers not accept them? Did people not want to read change in attitude. Cameron commented: “With the about them? Were such relationships still taboo? older generation, it’s still taboo. But I think with

Affaire de Coeur January/February, 2010 educated black women who are thrown together at work with pro- Answers varied on this one. One reader stated, “For the longest fessional men of other races, has changed their minds.” Author times, I felt IR was being shoved down our throats.” Some feel Dyanne Davis is more succinct: “I honestly don't know if ALL there is a push, especially with the book clubs. Some authors admit readers have changed their attitude about interracial romance. I they have been told to publish at least one a year. Pinero com- have readers who will not read anything I write that is interracial. ments, “I’ve written many novels where there are relationships Then again I have readers who will only read the interracial stories between Latinos and non-Latinos, as well as between Latinos from that I write.” different cultures. My publishers have always been supportive of such stories, so long as the novel was in keeping with the expecta- The general feeling is that African American women feel that tions of the readers in that genre. In a romance, the main thrust they have to take a back seat to Caucasian women as well as should be the romance and not the politics of race.” An author of other ethnic groups, and they resent. On the other hand African AA books, however, has experienced something different: “Pub- American women are the target audience for interracial romance. lishers are encouraging IR romance over black on black romance. Can you explain that? These are white publishers who want to go where the money is and Author Mary Wine had this to say about it: “That's the business right now IR is hot and in demand. This is wrong on so many model...I'm the writer and I write about women. A woman is not levels. For one, it is diminishing and demoralizing black love and defined by her skin but by the person she is, but I do think every making it small and insignificant. It is just another way to push us woman brings her own spice to the moment!” Dyanne Davis takes out of the publishing arena and diminish our existence.” issue with our question: “I believe it's a misconception that AA women are the target audience. That might be the case with tradi- Conflict and heroes and heroines—are they true to real life in the tional print publishers, but for e-publishers, from what I've been interracial romance? For example, in many instances, the AA hearing, women of all races are buying the books.” family of the hero or heroine is not going to go along with said hero or heroine being in a serious relationship with a Caucasian Old school African Americans often state that African American partner. Is this realistically portrayed, or is that AA family wel- women had no choice but to succumb to their Caucasian master, coming with open arms? overseer, etc. during and post slavery and when given a choice, they should not have relationships with Caucasian men. Com- I will give you this one. Yes, I attribute the decline in the number of ment on that please. books where both hero and heroine are African American to inter- racial romance. But I will go farther. A lot of readers who only read One author expounded upon our stab at historical foundation. “This interracial romances have now become writers and they write what master-slave relationship psychology persisted in the South long they love to read. Interracial. after emancipation. Well into the twentieth century, AA cooks and nannies were forced or inveigled into a clandestine relationship Conflict and heroines and heroines—are they true to real life in with the man in whose house they worked as a servant. If they the interracial romance? For example, in many instances, the were forced, they had no judicial recourse. They bore children for African American family of the hero or heroines is not going to go these men. This is reported in studies of the African American along with said hero or heroine being in a serious relationship family, particularly by E. Franklin Frazier (AA) in his voluminous with a Caucasian partner. Is this realistically portrayed, or is works on the “Negro” family and on race relations and, among that African American family welcoming with open arms? others, by John Dollard (Caucasian) in his famous 1937 study of Again, it’s a mixed bag in terms of answers. Several believe “Con- Caste and Class In A Southern Town. However, added simply by a flicts are not always true to life. Some IR I have read make carica- reader, “But the heart wants what it wants.” tures of the characters and go overboard with the stereotypes. Most I have read are not realistic in that they don’t tackle the real In the interracial books, who is more likely to be African Ameri- issues of interracial relationships; the face of the issues, talking can, the man or the woman? Why? about it, expressing opinions.” As far as acceptance, one writer Ninety per cent of the answers indicated that the woman was most says, “While most black families may not be thrilled about it, they likely to be AA. The reasons varied: (a) The reader would identify accept it. Maybe not with open arms.” Denise disagrees. “Come on with her better; (b) because the books are most likely written by AdC, we have always had open arms. We were not raised that way AA women; and (c) books are a contradiction to real life; the man around the kitchen table. We have always looked at people first, would most likely be AA, and the woman white. A dissenter stated, personality second, and then race; race last because when it gets “All the publishers have imprint, but it is hypocritical; it is always nasty, race is usually the common factor.” about a black woman/white man; rarely is it a black man and white woman. I know it isn’t just black and white, but readers seem to Make any other comments you like on real or fictitious interra- have an easier time when it is a mixed white/Asian or white/Latino cial romance. couple.” “In the old days, I too would think that an African American woman with a Caucasian man had given up on black men. Now, I think that Many African American authors have told AdC that they don’t the most important thing is to find a mate who has the same goals like the intrusion of interracial romance. Some have even gone as and that will lead to a long lasting relationship that is fulfilling.” far as to state that unless they writing an interracial romance as This was my favorite: “I am looking for the day when the race and opposed to an African American romance, they are not supported color of one’s mate does not make a difference in a real or fictitious by their publisher. Do you think there is a push? Why? Is there a romance.” decline in the number of books with the hero and heroine being African American? January/February, 2010 Affaire de Coeur 9 When I was in school as a young man, there was an old Sherlock Holmes, with each character having new escapades. adage that the teachers, no matter what the subject whether This is not a new thing to the publishing world or to audio from English to Social Studies to History, would try to drill productions. This trend is everywhere from new Hardy Boys into our little minds, “Everything old is new again!” When I and Nancy Drew to the works of Sue Grafton (The Alphabet was younger, those words did not seem to make sense to Murders series – available from Random House Audio), me. Jonathan Kellerman (Alex Delaware Mysteries from Random Nowadays, this expression makes more sense than House) or Diane Mott Davidson (Catering Mysteries from ever. Especially with the cinematic and literary returns of Harper Audio). such characters as James Bond, Zorro, Indiana Jones and As my teachers told me, everything old is new again!

The Lost Symbol audio (and the novel) seems slightly overkill. Some of the “red Written by Dan Brown herrings” are so bad that they smell fishy before the listener can Narrated by Paul Michael get involved and the brazen overkill that the law enforcement/ 17 hrs, 13 cds government agents play in this story makes them this side of the Unabridged recording Keystone Cops. Plus parts of the twist are so predictable; they hit 978-0739319175 you right between the eyes. Random House Audio But for those who seek a historical adventure thriller similar to National Treasure or the Indiana Jones films, this audio book is a If you enjoyed author Dan Brown’s two previous Robert Langdon good choice. This heavy-handed work is slight overkill, but still novels (Angels & Demons and The Da Vinci Code), you will love entertaining, and I can’t wait for Tom Hanks to do the film version this book. It is filled with those entertaining asides and historical of this book, which is fast tracked for next year. information that his main character, our favorite symbolist, seems to know so well. The amazing information, as well as history asides, The Professional (A Spenser Novel) are woven into this text, which sometimes feels too heavy handed. Written by Robert B. Parker I am in love with the narrative abilities of Paul Michael, which is Read by Joe Mantegna why the unabridged version of this novel is better than the abridged 5.5 hours, five cds one, even though the abridgement is by Random House, also. At Unabridged edition times, the unabridged version seems a little overly padded in my 978-0738343890 opinion, but Michael’s audio talents are such a treat, you can easily Random House overlook the author’s padding. It takes a long time to get to the solution, so is the puzzle that is Criminal Minds star Joe Mantegna has been doing the Spenser this audio worth it? I would say so, even though the end of the Audio book series for a number of years, hits his stride early in his 10 Affaire de Coeur January/February, 2010 narration of The Professional. Mantegna knows to let the text speak I, Alex Cross for itself and does great vocal shading of the characters. But, it is Written by James Patterson the way Parker can turn a phrase into something worth listening to Read by Tim Cain and Michael Cerveris that makes this audio. His Spenser novels (and audio books) are Five hours, four cds usually in the first person, and Mantegna makes the situation shine Abridged edition on audio. 978-1600247668 Spenser is never better than in this book. This modern day Sam Hachette Audio Spade has a blackmail case with four rich women and a gigolo. It gets complicated, as most Spenser novels do. This is not a locked A welcome gift to many mystery readers, including myself, is an room Agatha Christie novel; it is a modern day pulp novel. But just Alex Cross novel. With all the other books that James Patterson know this, any Spenser audio/novel is a throwback to classic D. does, he seems to write these novels himself. Cross, the hero of Hammett private eye tales with some modern day twists. You can Along Came a Spider and Kiss the Girls, can still intrigue and keep see the end of the book coming for half an hour before it epilogues the listener on an emotional roller coaster. on the CD. However, this one is worth its weight in audio gold. Tim Cain has taken the Cross narrating chores from narrator When I wrote this column, author Robert B. Parker had passed Peter Jay Fernandez and tends to give the Cross character a harder away at 77. I will miss all the Spenser, Jess Stone and Sunny Randall edge. Tony winner Michael Cerveris duets with Cain, but it seems novels that the world will never see. Ace Atkins, author of Devil's his role is limited. Cain milks the tough Cross out onto the cds. Garden, Wicked City, and several other novels said, "When Parker This case is a personal one. A family member of the Cross family brought out Spenser, it reinvigorated the genre. For me and is killed and suddenly this becomes a political football, as well as a countless others, we owe him for reinventing Chandler's work and mystery case. It twists and turns in ways you do not see coming. bringing it to the modern age. I wouldn't have a job now without And after listening to this audio, I exclaimed, “ I want another Robert Parker." Cross audio novel now!” You will be intrigued with this audio and the text.

Until next time, I will be under the headsets!!

January/February, 2010 Affaire de Coeur 11 The Power of Love Created by Louise B. Snead

Across 4. "When I fall in love, it will be ___" 6. Jean's love 7. "Nothing takes the taste out of peanut butter quite like ___ love. (Schultz) 8. ___ Love Hewitt, star of the Ghost Whisperer. 9. ___ in the name of love.

10. Love comforteth like ___. 1 2 3 14. Love is not ___, according to Bette Davis. 15. Italian love 4 5 6 17. Age does not ___ you from love—Jeanne Moreau. 7 21. Thoreau said, "There is no ___ to love." 25. Love ___, trust few. Do wrong to none--

Shakespeare 8 27. I loves you ___ (Gershwins) 28. ___ Loves Chachi – 80's TV show 29. Love means never having to say you're ___. 9 10 11 30. ___ Love, HBO comedy of man with multiple wives. 31. Let's ___ in love – Peaches and Herb

33. A ___ only a mother could love 12 13 14 34. Kitty Lester sang of Love ___ Straight from the Heart. 15 16 35. She's "Crazy in Love."

17 18 19 Down 1. Love is an ___ desire to be irresistibly desired

– Frost. 20 2. In the song "Here and Now" he promised to love faithfully. 21 22 23 24 25 3. Herbie was a love ___. 5. There is always some ___ in love according to Nietzsche. 26 27 11. This Frenchman described it as a grand thing 28 to be in love 29 12. Love ___ Style 70's TV show 13. Love is or it ___ – Toni Morrison. 16. Love ___ all. 18. How do I love ___? 30 19. Knights practiced this kind of love 20. She's "Alone in Love." 31 32 33 22. "I love you just the way ______." 23. According to Anka, they call it ___ love 24. Love is an act of endless ___ – Peter Ustinov. 34 26. Friendship is certainly the finest ___ for the 35 pangs of disappointed love – Austen. 30. Love believeth all things if found in the ___. 32. I love ___. 50's TV show. Answers on Page 25

12 Affaire de Coeur January/February, 2010 The Charmer Deadly Seduction Kate Hoffmann Cate Noble Harlequin Blaze #520, Mass Market Zebra Books, Mass Market 978-0373795246 978-1420101714 3333½ 3333½ Alex Stamos has earned a reputation as a love-'em-and-leave-'em Deadly Seduction opens with a bang and a mission gone wrong. bachelor that has gotten him in trouble with his family. Now he needs Abducted CIA operative Max Duncan has spent the past two years in to concentrate on establishing a graphic novel line for his family's Thailand suffering excruciating pain. His thoughts are controlled by publishing company. He drives to Door County, Wisconsin, to speak secret entities. When his friends stage a dangerous rescue, they bring to T.J. Marshall, who has written a wonderfully promising novel that Max back home and into another world of danger. he wants to publish. But he gets stuck in a snow bank, then loses his Dr. Erin Houston is called in to help Max, though she would rather be phone in the snow. Thankfully a Good Samaritan rescues him and solving the mystery surrounding her father's "suicide." But Erin may be takes him to her home. the only person who can help salvage Max's life and memories. Now on A devastating boating accident took the life of Tenley's twin brother the run from their enemies, Max and Erin must try to uncover the mystery when she was a teen, and that loss transformed her into a loner who surrounding the mind-control experts her father was trying to stop. lives in a cabin far from civilization with no computer or television and Fast-paced, non-stop action and edgy suspense make for a top- with only her pets to keep her company. She doesn't let anyone get notch thriller with a strong cast of well-developed and realistic too close, but somehow Alex gets past her defenses. Now Tenley has characters. Cate Noble is certainly a master storyteller, keeping the to figure out if she wants her life to change, and it would definitely tension at fever pitch to the very end. This is an author I truly enjoy. change if she tells Alex that she is T.J. Marshall. Lettetia Elsasser Kate Hoffmann launches a fun new series "Smooth Operators" with this great tale of a complex heroine and an interesting hero. I look Fall Into Me forward to the rest of the series. Heather Nordahl Files Pauline Trent Zebra, Mass Market 978-0821781421 3333 Sheriff Bobby Grainger lived in the small town of Lambert Falls, North Carolina, where he enjoyed spending time with his now-grown nieces, Carter Ann and Angie. They are two wonderful girls he had the good January/February, 2010 Affaire de Coeur 13 fortune of raising after his sister and her husband, the girls' parents, and it isn’t long before readers know that this unlikely pair is destined were killed. Life had been good when the girls came to him and his to be together. Julie's one-night-stand comes back to haunt her when beloved wife, Abby, until she contracted cancer and died shortly after. she moves with her five-year-old daughter to Saint Jo, Texas. Twenty years later and still missing Abby, Bobby had no complaints Griffin, a single dad, enrolls his five-year-old daughter in Julie's with his life until his favorite author came to town to write about the class, and he doesn’t remember her! Now the sparks fly, as Griffin history of Lambert Falls and Bobby's ancestors. Thrilled to finally be believes she is out to steal his ranch out from under him for her daughter. able to meet writer Howard Michaels, Bobby had a shock when he It is one thing after another until these two lovers realize how right learned the author was really a she, named Michaela Howard. And what they are together. a she! Michaela took Bobby's breath away at first sight, but after Strong and well-developed characters with a tight storyline are sure introducing themselves, sparks flew, only not the romantic type. Deeming to please fans of the Luckadeau clan books. Griffin and Julie have an Michaela an aggressive "Yankee," he realized her presence in his town, unmistakable chemistry, and the passion is red hot. Smart dialogue and penning its history, would cause him problems. Though he and unmistakable characters will leave readers wanting more. determined to keep his distance, for some unknown reason, he found Lettetia Elsasser himself pulled to her, and Michaela felt the attraction, also. Carter Ann and Angie also sensed something between them, and decided to try a Her Sexy Valentine little matchmaking. They were from two different worlds, and he convinced himself she Stephanie Bond would never be comfortable in his. He had no intention of leaving Lambert Harlequin Blaze #522, Mass Market Falls and decided they had no chance together, so he broke up with her. 978-0373795260 Heartbroken, she needed to return to New York to lick her wounds. 3333 Though they both loved each other with an intensity Bobby's Years ago, a devastating disappointment in love-hardened Carol bullheadedness determined he knew best. Snow and caused her to stop dating and withdraw from relationships. A continuation of Ms. Trent's 2009 novel Falling In Love, this book Now, with Valentine's Day approaching, she finally takes up the Red reunites some of the same characters, though this is a stand-alone tale Tote Book Club's idea--use the inspiration of erotic novels to seduce of North meeting South with both sides clashing. Humor and angst a man. Her target is Luke Chancellor, and her motive is revenge--Luke mesh, making this a delightful story. reminds her all too much of the man who broke her heart. Emily Carty Luke is a flirt who can make anyone like him, and Carol resents his very existence. At first she has difficulty letting go enough to flirt, but Getting Lucky soon she gets the hang of it. In fact, by the company Valentine's party, Carolyn Brown they have their wicked way with each other. Then she completes her Sourcebooks, Mass Market revenge. But after she makes her fateful move, a bump on the head 978-1402224362 knocks her out... which gives her an odd chance to keep reliving the 3333 day until she gets it right. Stephanie Bond combines a Valentine's Day version of A Christmas Getting Lucky is a delightful story of Griffin Luckadeau and his Carol with the movie Groundhog Day and gives it a scorching, erotic neighbor Julie Donovan. They are like oil and water in the beginning, Coming Undone Lauren Dane Heat, Trade Paperback 978-0-425-23270-5 33333 Brody Brown had just about the perfect who all loved the quiet, unassuming, gentle The only glitch in her life was the rather large life. Even though his parents had both been giant. biker who lived across the street from her. He killed when he was only seventeen, Brody When Elise and her daughter fled New York had never given her any reason to be afraid, had stepped up to the plate and successfully City for the peacefulness of Seattle, she had just his overwhelming size made her nervous. raised his two younger siblings, finished no clue that her life would become so perfect But, even with size and all his tattoos, he was school, and ended up owning his own tattoo in so short a time. Once a primary dancer with awfully pretty to look at! parlor. Now his brother was a major rock star the New York Ballet Theatre, her career was Reading Coming Undone was like taking a and his sister, once a singer herself, now ran abruptly ended when her junkie ex-husband breath of fresh air. There is no antagonism her own café and was happily living with her broke into her apartment and broke her leg in between the lovers; there are no hidden husband and boyfriend. Yes, it was two places. Elise had had to defend herself agendas. There’s plenty of fun, camaraderie, unorthodox, but it worked for them, so Brody and her baby and now his influential parents good family time and lots of happy thoughts. was cool with it, too. In fact, everything in his wanted custody of Irene. She had tried to But real life does rear its ugly head with the life was sort of unorthodox, but it worked for reason with them, but finally gave up and left problems of Elise’s in-laws. Yet Ms. Dane him and he figured that was all that counted. New York for her sanity. Now firmly settled in keeps the reader completely enthralled with Besides, who was going to argue with a big, Seattle in a lovely neighborhood, with even the depth of her characterizations, plus the bad biker dude with tats about how he lived lovelier neighbors, Elise opened her own ballet really hot sex scenes don’t hurt either. his life? Certainly no one in his neighborhood, studio and became almost an instant success. Heather Nordahl Files 14 Affaire de Coeur January/February, 2010 twist. Although the story gets repetitive, Carol's transformation is They complement each other perfectly, age notwithstanding, and the touching. sex will give you goose bumps! Kirby has a tendency to over think Heather Nordahl Files things at time, which can get tedious, but this is definitely one of those feel warm and fuzzy reads, while titillating your senses constantly. Here Comes Trouble Lani Roberts Donna Kauffman Brava, Trade Paperback His Final Seduction 978-0758231338 Lori Wilde 3333½ Harlequin Blaze #518, Mass Market 978-0373795222 "Wow! Did he have 'bad boy' written all over him, or what?" were 3333 the first thoughts in Kirby Farrell's head when she spotted Brett Hennessey riding up to the front door of her inn on his black Harley. Jorgie Gerard was timid in school, and she still tends to be shy Brett was dressed completely in black, from head to toe, including about going after what she wants. When she runs into her school black leather riding chaps that framed his butt perfectly. Kirby had no crush Quint Mason and sees that he's as hot as ever, she has difficulty idea who he was, but she fervently hoped he was a customer because, making conversation. It's even harder for her to believe that he seems among other things, if he were, he would be her first customer. Kirby to find her attractive. Then Jorgie's best friend changes plans, and had sunk every dime she had and that the bank would loan her into suddenly she'll be at a sexy resort in Venice alone. Thankfully she'll renovating and opening the Pennydash Inn, her very own intimate have Quint to keep her company. resort in the Vermont mountains. Now all she needed was snow and Quint works as an air marshal, but now he has an undercover job customers. But what she got was tall, blonde, gorgeous and young with Eros Airlines and Fantasy Resorts. While he dresses as Casanova Brett Hennessey riding up to her door sporting a huge wad of cash and teaches a class on his life and seduction techniques, he's looking and wanting to rent a room for an indefinite amount of time. for a saboteur. He thinks Jorgie is hot now that she's all grown up, but Brett was tired, dusty and seriously in need of a shower and a good, he signed a morality clause for this job, so he can't just go for it. But soft bed when he spotted the Pennydash Inn from the road. This was "Casanova" usually puts on a show with an actress who plays his exactly the kind of place he was looking for, as different from Las conquest, and she has quit. He convinces Jorgie to take her place. Vegas as it could possibly get. At the tender age of 30, Brett was, or Now things are really sizzling, but both of them have feelings more had been, the youngest and most talented and recognizable complicated than a vacation fling. professional poker player in the world. In his hometown of Las Vegas, Lori Wilde winds up her latest trilogy with this cute tale where a he was treated like a rock star. He brought in millions to the casinos timid and insecure heroine finds confidence and passion. A secondary and won millions in the process. He still loved the game and it had love story between her aggressively seductive best friend and his been good to him, which Brett, in turn, had made sure the people he burned-on-love friend adds to the tale. loved were take care of for life, but lately the thrill of the game had worn Heather Nordahl Files off. Plus, some very unsettling accidents had been happening around his loved ones after he had announced his retirement, so Brett decided Hitting the High Notes to just get away from it all. He got on his bike and started riding, Nan D. Arnold ending up in Vermont. He only meant to spend the night at the quaint, Champagne Books, Mass Market inviting inn, then continue on his journey of self-discovery, but after 978-1926681122 spotting Kirby, Brett decided he could soul search at the Pennydash 333 Inn just as effectively as on his bike. This contemporary older woman/younger man, beautifully written Middle-aged Maggie Duncan did something she never did before- love story is a delightful and sexy collaboration between two adults. -she went home with a man she had just met. But Maggie was lonely. Her Secret Fling Sarah Mayberry Harlequin Blaze #517, Mass Market 978-0373795215 33333 Olympic gold medalist Poppy Birmingham Poppy gets tipsy and inadvertently challenges has known little else but swimming. While Jake into a sizzling one-night stand that proves but Jake is unwilling to share any part of his she's happy to have a new job as a sports to her that sex can be everything books and soul. columnist for a newspaper, she's anxious that songs make it out to be. The morning after, Sarah Mayberry is an absolute master at she doesn't have what it takes to succeed. It Poppy is mortified by her actions and wants creating characters whose secrets and pains doesn't help that Jake Stevens, a writer she to avoid Jake, but an airline strike forces them make them real and nuanced. This excellent greatly admires, resents her for walking into a into the same rental car on a drive back to book features scorching love scenes, as well job most would have had to fight for. Their Melbourne, a full day away. Their attraction as emotionally wrenching moments, and relationship is strained until a fateful road trip. soon proves impossible to fight, but then readers will find this tale to be a complete The entire sports department travels across Poppy receives some devastating news. She's delight. Australia to cover a big match. After the match, unable to avoid sharing her personal agony, Heather Nordahl Files January/February,January/February. 2010 Affaire de Coeur 15 After going through an abusive marriage and killing her husband, she Manhunting longed for more in her life. When she met, tall, dark and handsome Stavros, he invited her to his place and she doesn't hesitate. Betina Krahn, Joanne Rock, Lori Borrill Pheromones flowed along with wine, and Maggie felt happy for the Harlequin Blaze #519, Mass Market first time in a long time--that is until someone broke in the front door 978-0373795239 and Stavros pushed her out the back. Forced to leave quickly without 3333 her purse, she found that the bicycle she had ridden there was nowhere Blaze's latest anthology features three friends who've been dateless in sight. With no money, keys, or cell phone, she shuddered and on Valentine's Day for some time. They decide to take action themselves wondered what was happening. She could always get another bike, in three very successful manhunts. but her purse not only held her license, credit cards and cell, but was Samantha Drexel's latest project will put rock star Nick Stack's voice also home to a locket which held a photo of her beloved and recently in audio Valentine's Day cards and his face on tons of promotional departed mother, an irreplaceable item to her. material. Unfortunately, Nick is trying to change his sound, and the Maggie goes to the police where she meets Detective Bruce Herring, last thing he wants is his old music out there again. His prima donna and sparks fly between them. Though she tries to explain what attitude infuriates Sam, and her fury stirs his conscience as well as his happened without sounding like a total fruitcake, he takes her story passion. Betina Krahn goes contemporary with "The Chase" with a grain of salt. Her best friend Brenda Baxter, who also happens to (3333), a tale with strong characterization and lots of sizzle. be the manager of her apartment complex and a bit eccentric, digs in Tori Halsey has had a thing for family friend Luke Owens for years, and won't let Maggie handle this alone. When a bogus cop instigates and she finally intends to do something about it. The photographer a meeting with Maggie that turns out suspicious, she decides it's uses some of her own sexy work to turn Luke on, but he's fighting their necessary to hide. Something strange is happening and she fears for burning attraction tooth and nail. Joanne Rock's "The Takedown" her safety. She soon learns that Stavros is the famous Italian opera (3333) is an entertaining take on a classic plot. singer, Lorenzo Pazzazzi, who defected from his country after his ego Kitty Clayborn's gift shop is failing, and she needs some guidance was bruised by a bad critique. Lorenzo finds himself besotted by to overhaul it. Sexy Josh Beekers owns the restaurant across the street, Maggie and determined to get her into bed, but it seems cupid is and he's flooded with business. She asks him for advice, but their pointing his arrow at Bruce, and Maggie finds herself fantasizing about mutual passion takes her by surprise. He says he's only fling material, him instead of the Italian singer. and she wants a forever man. So one day she'll end the affair and go Ms. Arnold has penned a flowery tale that entertains, though at after a permanent kind of guy, no matter how hard it is to do. Lori times it seems somewhat far-fetched, especially when Maggie had Borrill's "The Satisfaction" (3333½) is the hottest story of the endured horrendous abuse during her marriage, but is still eager and bunch, and the characters make it the sweetest, too. willing to embark on a one-night stand with an unknown. Heather Nordahl Files Emily Carty Legend of the White Wolf Midnight Resolutions Kathleen O'Reilly Terry Spear Harlequin Blaze #515, Mass Market Sourcebooks Casablanca, Mass Market 978-0373795192 978-1402219054 3333½ 333½ Faith O'Malley has been duped by her boyfriend. She thought Hilson Being laid off last year changed Ian Cumberland's life, and not for really cared about her, but he was really interested in her father's research the better. This New York native goes to Times Square to celebrate and now he has stolen it. Now Faith is on her way to a secluded resort New Year's, and there he meets a beautiful young woman, helps her in Maine to find Hilson and retrieve her father's research. Before Faith find her phone, kisses her... and then watches her leave him to meet her reaches the resort, she meets Detective Cameron McPherson when date. He's heartbroken and hopes there's some way that they can meet the she receives the wrong key to her hotel room. again. They reconnect via Craigslist, but Rose Hildebrande is a Cameron just happens to be on his way to the same resort as Faith. complicated girl. His partners went on a hunting trip and are past due returning, which Rose has one ambition in life and that is to marry a wealthy man and is not like them. Cameron and his partners and friends run a private be protected from the pain of poverty. Charm school and ruthless detective agency out of Seattle. Cameron immediately desires getting training have crafted her into a rather hard and cold person. She's to know Faith better and sharing some time with her. Things get angling for a possible future with a wealthy doctor, but Ian is cracking suspicious when Faith and Cameron's last stop before leaving town the shell she wears around her fragile soul. Every time she pushes him leads them to finding a dead body. They also find out that the owners away, she can't help but pull him close again. They hurt each other, but of the resort own a pack of arctic wolves that are not indigenous to the Ian learns that it'll take a lot of patience to dig to the heart of his Rose. area. This tale is more serious than many of Kathleen O'Reilly's novels, and Faith and Cameron are thrown together and forced to rely on one her excellently portrayed, but sometimes difficult, heroine has more layers another when they arrive to a seemingly deserted resort and have a than an onion. Her patient beta hero slowly peels back those layers in a number of mishaps along the way. Cameron was recently jilted by a page-turning, and sometimes heartbreaking, character study. girlfriend but, for whatever reason, does not seem to have a problem Heather Nordahl Files trusting Faith. As the mishaps they have become more serious, the question is, will they return from this trip alive? Tiffany Viale 16 Affaire de Coeur January/February, 2010 Moonstruck cheesy seventies stewardess costume catches his eye. They have a one-night stand that becomes a standing commitment: Julie Kenner They will meet on holidays and satisfy their fantasies. But Reese Harlequin Blaze #514, Mass Market becomes frustrated that Amanda resists honest conversation, instead 978-0373795185 turning everything she can to shallow flirtation. She's determined to 3333½ keep it light because if he falls in love, she's sure to break his heart. Claire Daniels is unhappy to be alone on New Year's Eve. She lets Leslie Kelly's latest is a wonderful read. Her brittle heroine and more her best friend talk her into coming to a dance club. There she meets a open hero are both wounded, and their adventure to healing has heart hot guy, and as the clock strikes twelve, she kisses him. She finds out as well as heat. that he's Ty Coleman, the immensely wealthy owner of several clubs. Heather Nordahl Files He's prime tabloid fodder and not the sort of man Claire expects to attract, but she still brings him back to her house. Sexy Ms. Takes Ty hates Dallas where he grew up dyslexic and misunderstood. He Jo Leigh never thought he'd come back, but a lucrative opportunity lands him Harlequin Blaze #516, Mass Market Paperback back in Dallas. He has to endure two more months before he can 978-0373795208 realize his dream of opening clubs in international locations, but Claire 3333½ fulfills dreams he never knew he had. Tabloid pictures of them together could threaten her career in law and might just end their romance Jo Leigh's latest title is an anthology of three tales centered around before it can truly begin. auditions for a Broadway show. This tale is a sequel to last month's Starstruck, but Julie Kenner's Bella Lacarie is on her way to what could be a star-making audition latest charming love story stands ably on its own. Strong characters on Broadway when her cab is hijacked. Her hijacker is a cop pursuing and a believable conflict enhance this excellent read. a suspect, but that doesn't mean she isn't in danger, and she and John Heather Nordahl Files Greco are taken hostage and brought to a basement in the Bronx. They must both figure out if they want to let this situation ruin their New Play with Me Year or if they can find a way to make the best of it. Interesting characters and hot sexual tension make this tale a winner. Leslie Kelly Dancer Willow Hill is about to step into a cab when a push from Harlequin Blaze #521, Mass Market behind knocks her to the pavement. Unfortunately, her injury will 978-0373795253 prevent her from auditioning for a role on Broadway. Fortunately, the 3333½ man involved in the accident is orthopedic surgeon Flynn Bradshaw. Reese Campbell has spent too long working and taking care of his He was on his way to a well-earned vacation, but now he's taking mother and siblings without any break for play. Amanda Bauer has Willow into his home to help her heal. But he resists her bountiful been burned by bad relationships and cold parents and has decided charms because he doesn't want to be like his womanizer father. This she's made to be a player like her uncle Frank. These people need each is an endearing and sweet tale. other, and they find each other on Halloween when the pilot and the Maggie Trent is in a cab on the way to a crucial audition when Colin businessman meet as she flies him from Pittsburgh to Chicago. Her Griffith calls her, telling her his reporter brother is missing in

Only Pleasure Lora Leigh St. Martin's - Griffin, Mass Market 978-0312368739 33333

Chase and Cameron Falladay are the her into a threesome, Chase had come calling. infamous Falladay twins who believed so Drew knew the rules, and this was especially strongly in sharing everything that they had repugnant to Chase because Drew was when she did get around him, the only thing formed a club of like-thinking men. Their married to Kia Rutherford. His Kia. The only she could think of was acting out all those names evoked images of consummate woman he had ever loved. fantasies she’d had of him since she became sensuality, innate gentlemanly behavior and Kia hoped the bruises on her face didn’t aware of what went on between men and romantic, sexual thrills never imagined. Their show after she opened her front door to find women. club had very strict rules; the woman must Chase Falladay standing there. She knew Only Pleasure is one hot book. Ms. Leigh always be willing and aware; no coercion and, who he was; everyone in town knew who he has embodied every woman's ideal man's under no circumstances, any form of abuse. was. But Kia also knew that Chase was the varied qualities into one tall, gorgeous hunk If you broke the rules, you paid for it, pure head of that horrible club her soon-to-be ex- named Chase Falladay. Ms. Leigh has created and simple. The women were not to be used, husband belonged to. She should have felt, a complex, wounded hero who will steal your they were to be treasured and loved while what? Fear? Repulsion? But Kia felt none of heart and soul with his deep compassion and experiencing new delights. When Drew those things. She never did around Chase. understanding. An excellent sequel but Stanton, a club member, hit his wife after What she felt was a sort of trepidation. She stands alone equally well. trying, unsuccessfully, to rape her then force knew she shouldn’t be around him because Lani Roberts January/February,January/February. 2010 Affaire de Coeur 17 Afghanistan. She sacrifices the audition to comfort Colin, whom she's but she also gives her excellent characters the tools and the fortitude had a huge crush on for years. As they wait for word, it gets harder and to find a way out. If it weren't for a couple of overly convenient plot harder for her to fight her feelings. Colin is battling, too, but neither of twists, this tale would be perfect. them realizes there's no reason to fight. This is the most complete tale Heather Nordahl Files in the book, and it features a captivating pair of lovers. Heather Nordahl Files Take Me if You Dare Candace Havens Shattered Harlequin Blaze #523, Mass Market Joan Johnston 978-0373795277 3333 Mira, Mass Market 978-0778328292 Jackson is an agent whose cover has been blown, and a burn notice 3333½ is out on him. He's on the run, but he's been told Mariska Stonegate can help him. Although she is the head of an investigative agency Kate Grayhawk Pendleton had decided that she would finally marry with a 100% rate of closed cases, she's clearly not as experienced as Jack McKinley once his divorce became final, but she recently got a she claims to be. He pretends to be a detective hired to assist her, and rude surprise: Her husband J.D., who was buried with honors after together they troll the seamier side of Bangkok in search of a missing supposedly dying in Afghanistan, faked his own death and wants man. money to stay hidden, or else he might take their eight-year-old twins. Mariska tries to keep her mind on business, but Jackson is hotter The thing is, the twins aren't J.D.'s--they are the result of a one-night than hot, and when he kisses her to keep their cover, there's real sizzle stand after Kate caught J.D. cheating yet again. Lucky and Chance's behind the show. After they find their man and send him home, she father is Wyatt Shaw, and he has just learned of his children's existence. toys with the idea of inviting him to Phuket Beach for her vacation, but Wyatt is the son of a notorious mobster, and many assume he is as after she takes the plunge, she's horrified to learn that he's using her. crooked as his father. He is furious that Kate kept the children from Candace Havens, best known for magical paranormal tales, pens a him, but he will take this opportunity to get to know his children and sexy thriller for her Blaze debut. While sometimes the tone is too light get Kate back into his bed. Meanwhile, Jack's divorce will not go for the deadly danger in the plot, the characters are fun, and readers through as quickly or smoothly as he expected. He slept with his wife will enjoy a taste of Thailand in the setting. once last year, but that one time resulted in pregnancy, so he has Heather Nordahl Files agreed to stay with Holly until the baby is born. Holly hopes she can find a way to get him back in that time, but devastating news concerning their six-year-old son could put all her plans in jeopardy. Joan Johnston's latest in her sprawling "Bitter Creek" saga is a marvelously addictive read that, like the last book (A Stranger's Game), proves that just when you think things can't get any worse, they do. Ms. Johnston sure knows how to pile on the trials and tribulations, Release Beth Kery Berkley Heat, Mass Market 978-0425232712 33333

Genevieve closed her eyes and tried not decided that the only place she would feel her up to make his point! to think about that night three years ago. safe was at the penthouse, but when she Release is one of the sexiest, most erotic But, of course, that was all she could think keyed in the security code and opened the love stories that I have read in a long time. about, even after having lost practically door, the first person she saw was Sean Ms. Kery has such a vivid, realistic style of everything she owned in the horrible fire. engaging in sex with a kneeling, bound writing that her graphic love scenes, Now she had no where to go except to the woman! including the bondage, can be a real turn- penthouse suite owned by her late husband Sean had no idea that Genny would show on, even if that is not your thing. She even and Sean Kennedy, his partner and the third up at the penthouse; otherwise he certainly makes being snowed in during a Chicago party in her husband’s little New Year’s Eve wouldn’t have had another woman up there. blizzard a thing of beauty and sensuality. surprise those three years ago. All three of But after three years of total silence from Genny’s constant reluctance and tendency them had been a little drunk and since Sean Genny, Sean figured he had lost her forever. to over think everything can become a little and Genny had been keeping their feelings But fate had decreed differently and now she tedious for my liking, but the author’s sizzling secret for a while, it had been relatively easy was here, he was here and they were snowed love scenes and surprising twist at the end to succumb to Max’s sultry, whispered in for the weekend in a world of their own more than makes up for it and makes this one suggestion that they have a ménage a trois. making. Sean was determined to make the of those books that you keep on your shelf It had been exhilarating, mind-numbingly most of the situation and vowed he would to read again and again. sexy and, oh, so wrong. Now Max was dead convince Genny of his innocence in all of Lani Roberts and someone was stalking Genny. She had Max’s manipulations, even if he had to tie 18 Affaire de Coeur January/February, 2010 Tempt Me Again when she grows up. Born into a wealthy family running a match- making business, she knows she doesn’t possess the quality to help Wendy Etherington her father run it—the quality being a psychic and able to read people Harlequin Blaze #524, Mass Market to make perfect matches. When her father literally gets caught with his 978-0373795284 pants down with another woman, he flees town to avoid bad publicity 3333 and orders Lucy to take over, determined she can handle the job. Lucy does have psychic ability, just not the same. When she shakes hands Andrea Hastings suffered through high school with a monster crush with someone, she is able to help them locate missing items. on Tyler Landry, but when she worked up the nerve to show her Her first client, Michael Lafferty, comes to her for help to get over feelings, he turned her down. Now the decorated military hero is back his ex-fiancée and move on. Unfortunately, Michael is still in love with on Palmer's Island to run for sheriff. She knows she can never be good his ex, who mysteriously took off many years ago after another woman enough for the island's golden boy, but maybe she can be good enough claimed Michael and made her life a living hell. When Lucy shakes for a fantasy fling. Michael's hand, she is besieged with the vision of a dead body wearing Tyler has come home in shame (at least in his own mind) because of his engagement ring. a mission's failure, which cost lives. He wants his family to be proud of Unnerved, Lucy seeks out Sean Donahue, a PI who works in the him, and continuing the legacy of the sheriff's post should do that. He office upstairs, and, at times, handles their cases. Upon meeting Sean, is delighted with the distraction of being seduced by a masked mystery Lucy feels an immediate attraction, though she has what she considers lady and is surprised when that lady turns out to be Andrea. But she "Cupid's Curse," meaning relationships do not work for her. She hires is throwing roadblocks in the way of a real relationship. Also, a string Sean and coerces him into going to the park where her vision showed of thefts has the island in an uproar, and the only real suspect is the body is buried. After finding the body, Lucy anonymously calls Andrea's ex-con brother. the cops, but a witness had spotted them and reported Sean's license Wendy Etherington pens her second Palmer's Island tale with this plate number. Lucy comes forward confessing her vision, knowing it fun and pleasant read that readers will enjoy. will bring more detrimental publicity to the family business. Heather Nordahl Files During this time, a little boy becomes lost causing Lucy to agonize over his disappearance. Learning he is wearing his father's sweatshirt, Through the Heart she meets with the dad and by "reading" him, sees his whereabouts. Kate Morgenroth Notifying the authorities of his location brings her more notoriety, and Plume, Trade paperback the press hounds her. Hiding out at the cottage she rents at her aunt's 978-0452295896 property on the coast gives her some comfort, and Sean often 3333 accompanies her there where things begin to sizzle. Meanwhile, more information becomes available regarding her client Michael, and Lucy, Timothy lives in New York. He is an investor who handles his knowing he’s innocent, attempts to prove it, almost at the cost of her life. family’s fortune. He is at a family dinner discussing the portfolio when Ms. Webber has penned a delightful story filled with romance, his mother sends him on a business trip to Kansas. mystery and a bit of the paranormal. Nora lives in Kansas. She quit school to take care of her dying Emily Carty mother and works in a coffee shop. Fate steps in when Timothy comes into the coffee shop. He sees Nora and immediately finds her Under the Influence interesting. He asks her out and she accepts. While they are at a restaurant, Nora’s ex-boyfriend approaches them. Nancy Warren Timothy gets upset and leaves for New York the next day. It seems Harlequin Blaze #452, Mass Market silly that both Nora and Timothy cannot get each other off their minds. 978-0373794560 They barely know each other, but Timothy has to go back. 3333 When Timothy goes back to Kansas, he is determined to take Nora back with him. She keeps telling him no because of her mother but Workaholic Natalie Fanshaw feels out of her element in laid-back hasn’t told Timothy her reason. Nora’s boss steps in and explains Orca Bay, California. Worse yet, she has no idea it's Valentine's Day everything to Timothy. Timothy then pays all Nora’s debts so she when she decides to go out to a bar. The bartender there is known may be available to go with him. around town as Hot Johnny, and he certainly is hot. He seems to be This story will keep the reader in suspense throughout. It has a the only other single person at the bar. When he asks her out, she surprise ending and is written in an unusual style that is refreshing. agrees to hang out with him the next day, but she draws the line at L. D. Yates sleeping with him because she's not wired for casual flings. Soon, she changes her mind, throwing herself into the fantasy of a Truly, Madly fling with a sexy stranger. Once they finally hook up, the sex is fantastic. But this Type A girl might be too different from easygoing Johnny, Heather Webber who is so different from the high-powered, busy men she's dated in St. Martin's Press, Mass Market the past. 978-0312946135 Nancy Warren's latest features a pairing of opposites, as well as a 3333 fiery, appealing secondary romance. Readers will find this to be an enjoyable tale. Lucy Valentine is at a crossroads in her life. Having worked at many Heather Nordahl Files jobs, the twenty-eight-year-old doesn’t know what she wants to be January/February. 2010 Affaire de Coeur 19 Audrey and the Maverick The Betrayal of the Blood Lily Elaine Levine Lauren Willig Zebra, Mass Market Dutton Historical, Trade Paperback 978-1420105520 978-0525951506 3333 333½

Audrey Sheridan was in a fix. Trying to survive with her brother Penelope had always been told that her unruly behavior would and a handful of orphans, Audrey could not go to the law for help. land her in trouble one day. After a hasty marriage to Freddy Stains, It was the law, the local sheriff, who wanted her to lure McCaid she's whisked off to India to allow the scandal to die down. As away from town and keep him occupied. Lady Fredrick Stains, Penelope lands in the treacherous waters of Julian McCaid had returned to build his sheep ranch and second spies and intrigue of the court of the Nizam of Hyderabad. There is home. On the first day that he returned to Defiance, the now grown only one person she can trust, Captain Reid. Audrey had robbed him, a lackey had started a bar fight with him, Alex Reid has better things to do than look after the pair of and he had threatened the sheriff. Involving the sheriff, he reported aristocrats fresh from London. But Penelope has a way of out- the theft. Not wanting to see Audrey in jail, they agreed that Audrey running, out-swimming and out-shooting every man in the camp. would work off the theft for a month. Not to mention her ability to flesh out the mysterious Marigold and Julian could not quite put his finger on it, but instinct told him his deadly plan. that he was being set up. He just was not sure how the pretty The Betrayal of the Blood Lily is the sixth book in the series. The woman was going to betray him. story begins with a modern day woman searching out the history This refreshing romance is a must for anyone who loves American of a family for her thesis, which quite honestly drew me away from Western romance. The author has a flair for putting her readers in the story. Aside from that, the setting of India and the unexpected the book and feeling as if they are right there next to the characters. romance between Alex and Penelope was enjoyable. The constant Lauren Calder twists and turns of the mystery sometimes confused me, leaving me to wonder if I was missing something from a previous book. Although I needed to read to the last page to see Alex and Penelope with their happily ever after, the true romance enthusiast would leave this book wanting more from it. Catherine Bybee

20 Affaire de Coeur January/February, 2010 Diablo—The Texans phenomenon occurring at the castle. Lord Bruce Creeghan was not fooled. However, he needed to Georgina Gentry know why this woman had come to Creeghan, and he couldn't Zebra, Mass Market allow her snooping to uncover his secret. As strange lights and 978-1420108507 voices shuttered through the castle, Martise began to understand 3333 why Mary was so afraid. Learning more about Martise, Bruce was Diablo, abused and scarred when he was younger, was known compelled to protect the fiery-haired seductress from the evil that as one of the deadliest gunfighters in the West. He was returning had been cast upon the castle. to Wyoming as a hired gun to hunt rustlers and nesters, but revenge Ms. Drake seduces her readers and captivates them in this fast- was in his heart and he would satisfy it. paced, intriguing, and passionate romance. Sunny Sorrenson's father owned a small ranch next to the largest Lauren Calder ranch owner in the area, Hurd Kruger, the rancher who had hired the gunmen. Kruger wanted to eliminate the new settlers and How to Seduce a Sinner become the largest rancher in the county. He would offer himself to Adrienne Basso Sunny and have her as his wife. Zebra, Mass Market Diablo had other plans for Kruger. He would take everything; 978-1420104332 including kidnapping the girl Kruger wanted to marry. He wanted a 3333½ showdown. Neither Diablo nor Sunny expected the plan to turn out the way it did. Sunny looked past the scars and saw the man. Miss Dorothea Ellingham was searching for a husband. He had Diablo is a very moving story of gut-wrenching revenge tabled but one final test that he must pass. He must kiss her thoroughly with tenderness, hope, and courage. As usual, Ms. Gentry never and passionately enough to make her swoon. lets her readers down. Carter Grayson, the Marquess of Atwood, swept Dorothea onto Lauren Calder the dance floor to avoid his father from presenting another one of his chosen prospective brides. A spark between the two had Emerald Embrace Grayson's interest peaked. However, he had to find a way to get by her bulldog of a brother-in-law. Neither believed that a good Shannon Drake marriage started with starry-eyed love, but passion could give a Medallion Press, Mass Market good healthy beginning to a companionable marriage. 978-1605420820 Ms. Basso keeps the passion going in this enticing romance. 3333½ She entangles the reader into the lives of her characters, creating Martise St. James needed to discover what happened to her an emotional tale that will hold the reader to the very end. friend Mary. Arriving at Creeghan under the pretense of being Lauren Calder Mary's sister, she came to investigate her death and the strange

In the Warrior's Bed Mary Wine Brava, Trade Paperback 978-0758234651 33333

Bronwyn McQuade had been told she her, was taking a horse for a ride on their his horse stopped on a hill and snorted was worthless almost from the time she was property and just getting away for a while. excitedly did Cullen come out of his born. Her father, Laird Erik McQuade, had Cullen McJames was the Laird McJames's musings to see a beautiful young woman only wanted sons, strong sons to bring land younger brother and a confirmed bachelor. astride a pretty mare riding in the field below and wealth into the McQuade holdings. A Since his brother Brodick was now happily him. Who was she? And wasn't she on girl had to be dowered, and that he was not married to his little English miss and had McQuade land? willing to do. After Bronwyn's mother died, his heir, the pressure for Cullen to marry This next offering of Mary Wine's warrior Bronwyn literally became a servant in her had eased up somewhat. But he knew it was series continues with the clan McJames and own house. Her one pride and joy was her only a matter of time and, politically, his all their struggles to be peaceful proficiency on the loom. She could weave marriage could be very useful to the landholders. The sexy Scots are all men who cloth as fine as silk, which brought coin McJames' clan. Brodick's marriage had take no guff from anyone, be they man or into the household, so her father didn't make secured their land's borders on the English woman, but when they love, they love her life too miserable. Besides, he was too side; perhaps Cullen could help stop the completely. In the Warrior's Bed is a sexy, busy illegally raiding his neighbor's lands, raids by their very stubborn neighbor, Erik weak-in-the-knees love story that will have so he just ignored her completely, except to McQuade. you sitting up reading all night with your make sure that no one came to court her. Cullen had all these thoughts racing legs crossed! The one solace in her lonely existence, through his mind as he rode his stallion, Lani Roberts besides the one brother who actually liked Argyle, across McJames land. Only when January/February, 2010 Affaire de Coeur 21 Lessons from a Scarlet Lady Pieces of Sky Emma Wildes Kaki Warner Signet Eclipse, Mass Market Berkley, Trade Paperback 978-0451228796 978-0425232149 3333 3333½ Lessons from a Scarlet Lady is a delightfully wicked romp through Jessica Thornton was with child. Under the pretense of being a Regency England. Brianna, the Duchess of Rothven, is quiet and widow, she traveled to the West to find her brother. When they demure, every inch the lady. But, underneath it all, she is a passion- finally made a stop, the man who had been pestering her on the ride ate woman who wants her husband's attention. followed her into the eatery. Thinking he had grabbed her wrist, The Duke of Rothven, Colton Northfield, has his many ducal she reacted by defending herself until she realized it was a different duties to attend to; he is far too busy to pay much attention to his man, Mr. Brady Wilkins, a rancher in the area and a new passenger young wife. He would be flabbergasted to learn she is reading who had just found out his enemy escaped from prison. Lady Rothburg's Advice, a volume of lessons by a notorious The stagecoach they had been traveling in crashed. After helping courtesan. Brianna has a plan to make her husband want her with the survivors, Brady housed them at the ranch while they recovered the dream of winning his love in the end. Now Colton wants his from their injuries and waited for another coach. The doctor had wife at all times and in the most unlikely places. How, he wonders, instructed Jessica to stay, fearing that if she did not, her unborn did she ever learn such seductive tricks? child may be harmed. Brady was attracted to the woman from the Emma Wildes pens a winner in Lessons from a Scarlet Lady, and onset, but knew that the English woman would never fit in at a fans are sure to rave over her romances. Incredibly well-plotted, cattle ranch in the untamed land. divinely passionate and fast-paced describe the Colton and Brianna Pieces of Sky is a tale written by an exceptionally gifted storyteller story. I plan to buy several copies for gifts. with a breathtakingly slow boil to passionate romance. This is one Lettetia Elsasser of the best westerns to hit the shelves, a sure winner. Lauren Calder Lessons in French Laura Kinsale Promise Me Tonight Sourcebooks Casablanca, Mass Market Sara Lindsey 978-1402237010 Signet, Mass Market 333½ 978-70451229373 333 Lady Callista Taillefaire has been jilted by three fiancés without ever making it to the altar. As a result of this and the fact that she Isabella Weston was six years old when she decided James Shef- has a very attractive younger sister, Callie does not think very field would be her husband. He just did not know it yet. James was highly of herself when it comes to men. One would think that Callie her brother's best friend and practically a part of the family. would not have a problem finding a husband with her sizable dowry, James Sheffield had always thought of Isabella as a little sister, but this did not stop three men from breaking off their engagement until she had her first season. When he first saw her as a young with her. At this point in her life, she has accepted that she will live woman, he was not sure how to take the exquisite creature he had out her life as a spinster and will hopefully be able to join her known since she was a small child. Isabella was not helping mat- sister's household when she marries. ters one bit. She was enticing him one moment and leading him to Callie's world is turned upside down when the love of her youth, unrealistic jealousy the next. James knew he would never marry Trevelyn, suddenly reappears in town after a decade. Trev had and seducing his best friend's sister would not go well. However, been her best friend and also her first love. He left town suddenly his grandfather had other plans, plans he had manipulated into his after her father found them together well on their way to taking will. Callie's maidenhood. Callie had resolved herself to her situation in Ms. Lindsey has written a good, steady-paced romance. Strong, life, but Trev is stirring up old feelings that she believed were long believable characters and a solid storyline keep the reader inter- dead. Things get more interesting when Callie's first fiancé returns ested with each turn of the page. to town, also wanting to make amends with her. Lauren Calder Kinsale takes us on a journey of intrigue as Callie tries to discover the motives of these two men and determine what both of them have truly been doing for the last decade because neither of them Ravishing in Red seems to be completely truthful. Who can Callie trust to help make Madeline Hunter the decision of how to proceed forward with her life? Jove, Mass Market Tiffany Viale 978-0515147644 3333 Discarded from society, Audrianna Kelmsleigh searches out the truth after her father is falsely accused of some crimes and chooses death by his own hand. Her query lands her in the arms of Lord

22 Affaire de Coeur January/February, 2010 Sebastian Summerhays, who is also searching for truth and justice. Sexy as Hell Audrianna vows to clear her father's name, but falling in love with the man destined to destroy it complicates her plans. Susan Johnson Madeline Hunter is an accomplished storyteller who always Berkeley Sensation, Mass Market delivers an enjoyable read. Ravishing in Red is the first of what 978-0425230206 will surly be a quartet destined for your keeper shelf. As a historical 3333½ heroine, Audrianna doesn't fall into the mold of pushover when Isolde Perceval, Countess of Wraxell, was single, wealthy and faced with the ton's scorn. This I truly enjoyed. This is a book for presently in the middle of trying to ruin her reputation. Even though all historical romance readers who like their love scenes on the she had inherited the title of Countess, along with lands and sweeter side. enormous wealth, in nineteenth century England, all she was Catherine Heller actually doing was holding the title and lands for the next male relative to inherit should she die childless. Scoundrel's Kiss Her cousin, Frederick Compton, decided he didn't want to wait Carrie Lofty for her to die and was determined to marry her instead. He was convinced that her wealth and property rightfully belonged to him Zebra, Mass Market now, especially since he owned a small fortune to the gaming dens. 978-1420104769 Once Isolde was caught in a compromising situation and the gossips 333 of the ton spread the word, Frederick would have to leave her The life of Ada of Keyworth has been reduced to how and when alone, she hoped. Her solicitor and witnesses were ready in the she is going to get her next dose of opium. Ada is well educated next room, and Isolde was naked in the bed, ready. She was just and fluent in multiple languages, but most of the time she walks beginning to wonder what had happened to the actor they had around in an opium haze. Luckily, she has had Jacob to look after hired for the job, when the most gorgeous man she had ever seen her, but he is away at the present time. The final straw is broken walked in the door. when Ada sells herself into slavery to obtain a dose of opium. Osmond, Baron of Lennox, was, as usual, in his cups when he Gavriel de Marqueda is a novice in the Order of Santiago. He is stumbled into the room of his latest assignation. The room was a currently in Toledo with his mentor, Pacheo, to begin his next as- little dark, but he didn't need light to shed his clothes nor get into signment. Pacheo has ordered him and another novice to pick a bed. He and Nell had been lovers for quite some time, so Oz didn't person who is being sold into slavery and save them. They will need to see her. Only after he was lying on top of her and the door have a month to turn this person's life around. Gavriel's heart stops burst open to a loud, "Aha!" did he realize that he was not on top when Ada walks up onto the platform and so do the greedy eyes of of the beautifully accommodating Nell, but a voluptuous golden- many of the other men in the room. Gavriel saves Ada from her fate haired angel that he had never seen before in his life. Oz had just as a slave, but at what expense to himself? Will Gavriel be able to recently returned to England, after losing the love of his life and withstand being in the constant company of such a beautiful woman his parents within months of each other in India where he was for a month when he has taken a vow of celibacy? raised from a child. He had been taught all the arts of seduction by Lofty takes us on a journey where betrayals and deception fol- a bevy of willing teachers and, combined with his enormous wealth, low Ada and Gavriel everywhere they go. It soon becomes difficult made him a favorite target for hopeful debutantes and their meddling to know whom to trust. Will Ada and Gavriel be able to trust each mothers. Had he just stepped into another marriage trap? other enough to make it out alive? Susan Johnson shines in her newest offering Sexy as Hell. From Tiffany Viale the beginning to the very end, Ms. Johnson keeps the reader in a constant state of sexual awareness with the sensual foreplay, witty

Seducing the Heiress Olivia Drake St Martin's, Mass Market 978-0312943455 33333

Colin Byrd, Viscount Radcliffe, was plans backfire and she steals his. Do not start this book right before you determined to find a rich wife and had made Portia Crompton knew whom she wanted go to bed; you will not go to sleep until you a decision on who his bride would be. But to marry, and these titled Englishmen were are finished reading this incredible love having been accused of being a murderer just temporary distractions until her story. Ms. Drake has penned a passionate has made it quite difficult. Focusing his intended sent for her to return to India. But romance, a page-turning love story the goals on the rich, untitled commoner Miss dreams of being Arun's wife quickly reader will refuse to put down until the very Portia Crompton, gave him a huge tumbled away when she learned of his last page. advantage to stave off his debtors. He death. There was one man who kept drawing Lauren Calder decided to follow the advice of a friend and her attention; only he was considered a rake try to steal her heart. To his dismay, his and a murderer. January/February, 2010 Affaire de Coeur 23 dialogue and sizzling sex scenes. Isolde is just as independent, Tempt the Devil wealthy and horny as her protagonist and believes in asking for what she wants. Our lovers are constantly butting heads and Anna Campbell sometimes their banter gets a little prolific, but the make-up sex is Avon, Mass Market worth wading through the abundance of words. 978-0061234934 Lani Roberts 3333½ Julian Southwood, Earl of Erith, is home in England to see if he Sinful Surrender can reconcile with his now adult children. When they were young, Beverley Kendall his beloved wife died, and he could not cope with the loss; so left Zebra, Mass Market the children with an aunt. Now he wants them to know he's ready 978-1420108699 to be a father (in hopes that it is not too late), but he wants a love 333 life, too. He chooses notorious, sultry Olivia Raines to be his mistress, hoping for an uncomplicated liaison. But the lovely Olivia Missy Armstrong had always known exactly who she was going is very complicated indeed. to marry, he just did not know it yet. Lord James Rutherford had Olivia hates men. When she was little more than a child, her made a promise to his best friend that he would not pursue Missy. brother sold her to pay off gambling debts. The man he sold her to But she would push herself at him endlessly, and he had to push was brutal and abusive, and he passed her on to another man, thus away his own personal attraction to her. starting her on her career as a courtesan. She has spent her life To hold true to his promise, James devised a new plan. since protecting her son from discovery, but she knows no one will Unfortunately, every time James tried to prove her wrong, he set ever touch her heart--except that as cold as Julian seems at first, himself up for failure. When a young debutante came to him claiming not only could he uncover her secrets, he is dangerously close to she was with his child, James had to offer marriage. Plans for melting both her body and her heart. offering marriage to Missy were dismissed reluctantly; he was being This third Anna Campbell novel is a sequel to her debut, Claiming forced to marry another. the Courtesan, but it easily stands alone. The emotional intensity Angry kissing scenes and head hopping were distracting to an is wonderful, and these complicated characters ably carry the tale. otherwise captivating story. Readers will find themselves drawn This author should be a fan favorite with anyone who wants a into this story and entangled into the lives of the characters. quality historical romance. Lauren Calder Heather Nordahl Files The Stranger's Secrets Beth Williamson Brava, Trade Paperback 978-0758234735 33333

Sarah Spalding was a casualty of the Civil But her injuries did require that she need he had witnessed when he was in the war. War just as if she had been a soldier like her help and she had that big old plantation When Whit arrives at the train, he is shown brother Micah. A Yankee had done house to herself, so Sarah opened her doors into the private compartment he had paid atrocious things to her; things that had left to the needy women and girls who had for and found the other two rather her crippled for life, requiring her to walk nowhere to go. The townspeople decided unpleasant occupants already seated. The with a cane and the missing of the little finger she was running a brothel, and Sarah was lady next to him obviously had some of her hand. Her brother had gone to fight outcast even more. When she received a walking problems, but that didn't bother him. and her mother, selfish, spoiled Southern letter from Colorado from a lady named But she was the most forthright, cussing, belle that she was, had left Sarah to fend for Eppie who said she and Micah were getting sarcastic woman he had ever met! herself while she prostituted herself for married and would Sarah come? Sarah The Stranger's Secrets is an outstanding whatever she could get. She had even immediately started packing. She would book that pulls you in from the first page. showed the Yankees where Sarah was hiding catch the next train West to start a new life Sarah Spalding is the sister left behind that during that awful raid on their house. But and, hopefully, put to rest her old scars and you read about in Micah's Redemption, but Sarah had survived it all. She had survived hatred of everything Yankee. The Stranger's Secrets can easily be read her brother coming home and finding their Whitman Kendrick was on his way to get alone. Ms. Williams has done an excellent mother in bed with his best friend. She had married. He had finally made up his mind job in dealing with the trials and tribulations survived the ugliness that followed and that was what he wanted, so after getting of the disabled without getting caught up Micah walking out on them, never to look out of the army, he was catching the next in the emotional mire. The two antagonists back. She had even survived her mother, train to Kansas City to meet his mail-order are absolutely explosive around each other, her disgrace too much to handle, hanging bride. He knew they were compatible from but you can tell from the start that they are herself from the upstairs banister. the letters they had shared and that was all what each other need. A wonderful story Sarah wrapped her survival around her he wanted, someone to work a small farm that I highly recommend. like armor and refused to let anyone in, with him and to love him. That way, he would Lani Roberts countering kindness with biting sarcasm. be able to put behind him the horrors that 24 Affaire de Coeur January/February, 2010 To Be Seduced Ann Stephens Zebra, Mass Market 978-1420108675 3333

Desperate for money, Lord Richard Harcourt devised the perfect plan: kidnap the very wealthy Bethany Dallison and stay the night with her. Even if she weren’t fully compromised, she would be forced into marriage with him to save her reputation. But in the carriage before he had the chance to ruin her in the eyes of society, she started negotiating her marriage with him. He readily agreed. Just before the vows, she insisted on pre-nuptials, tricking him into getting what she wanted. When he saw she had given herself I V B an evenly matched financial freedom, he was livid. She had de- FOREVER M AMOUR ceived him, leaving him with the understanding that she had half of R A N G the previously agreed terms. Richard's stubbornness and Bethany's feisty independence soon begin to clash. UNREQU I TED D Ms. Stephens is a talented author with a unique writing style S N R that brings romance to life. Rich in passion and intrigue, it is a JENNI FER E O captivating romantic adventure. S S S Lauren Calder STOP SUNSH I NE I U B G Viking in Love A L A ENOUGH Sandra Hill AMORE I C Avon, Mass Market E N O 978-00061673498 PROTECT N 3333 I H O Q Breanne of Stoneheim and her sisters, the daughters of King C E U U M Thorvald, had to find sanctuary after the murder of her sister Vana's A E REMEDY P F ALL husband, a murder they committed. After hiding his body in an N T R O U O R unfinished privy, they raced to Larkspur, a distant relative's home. B L S U PORG I E Caedmon was a widower, twice over, with ten children, three JOAN I E A P G A from his legitimate marriages. Fighting for the king, he returned L Y SORRY I H home to find it in utter disarray. It had not helped when he learned M E V that a group of princesses had descended upon his home and E taken over. He awakened the next day to the unruly keep in the BIG N commanding assured hands of Breanne and her sisters. FALL I FACE Batting heads, one resenting his lack of control over his keep, U B S the other resenting her bossiness, the two managed to come up C LETTERS with an agreement allowing the women sanctuary. BEYONCE Ms. Hill has given her readers a light-hearted romance that keeps a steady pace and a steady smile from the very beginning of the story. Lauren Calder

January/February, 2010 Affaire de Coeur 25 Blazing Bedtime Stories, Volume III Blonde with a Wand (Babes-on- Tori Carrington, Tawny Weber Brooms) Harlequin Blaze #513, Mass Market Vicki Lewis Thompson 978-0373795178 Signet, Mass Market 3333½ 978-0451228925 3333½ Blaze's latest "fairy tale" collection focuses on the real world rather than fantasyland, but it does not stint on talent. Anica runs into her new boyfriend's old girlfriend. The woman Elena Anastasios will be marrying a wealthy Greek tycoon informs Anica that Jasper tells every woman he meets that his tomorrow on the island of Santorini. She knows she loves Manolis, previous girlfriend broke his heart. Anica doesn't believe her and but she has her doubts that sex will be good through the years confronts Jasper. Not only does he admit that it's true, he doesn't because he is so many years her senior. Then she meets sexy Ari see anything wrong with it. Metaxas, and she feels an irresistible spark. Anica tells Jasper that she doesn't want to see him Ari can't stop thinking about Elena. But he and his brother are again. Thinking that he can charm away her anger, Jasper tries to negotiating a deal with Manolis that could bring their entire town to kiss her. Anica gets so angry that she whips out her wand and renewed prosperity. Breaking up the wedding would surely end the turns Jasper into a cat. Quickly, she grabs him and takes him to her deal, and there would be consequences for Elena as well. There is no house where she tries spell after spell, hoping to restore Jasper to clear paranormal element in Tori Carrington's "The Body That his manly physique. Nothing works. Wondering if her wand is on Launched a Thousand Ships" (3333½), but this tale illustrates the fritz, Anica tries a basic spell and nothing happens. Concerned, that "happily ever after" does not come easily. she tries another spell, then another…still nothing. Finally, she Jordan Olliver works for men's magazine Machismo. Her father calls her sister for help. owns the magazine, and because he wants her to toe the line and Exhausted, Jasper falls asleep. He awakens back in his human marry some suitable man instead of having a career, she has to fight form. He's overjoyed! Then he suddenly reverts back to being a for every inch of recognition. Sebastian Lane is the magazine's golden cat. There's got to be way for him to transform permanently. This boy. She has a crush on him, but he's never made a move on her... transformation continues happening nightly with Jasper and Anica until now. While doing a story on ritual sex, a witch curses him, and falling more and more in love every time. If they hope to find he hasn't been able to perform sexually ever since. Now they're stuck happiness, the couple must figure out a way for Jasper to remain a together in the lavish Olliver "cabin" in the woods. Can Sebastian man all the time. break the curse, and can Jordan further her career and get the guy? This is the beginning of a fun new series. In "You Have to Kiss a Lot of Frogs..." (3333½), Tawny Weber Sheila Griffin pens a fun short tale with solid characterization. Heather Nordahl Files 26 Affaire de Coeur January/February, 2010 Catch of a Lifetime Eternal Hunter Judi Fennell Cynthia Eden Sourcebooks Casablanca, Mass Market Brava, Trade Paperback 978-1402224287 978-0758234287 3333 3333½

Mermaid Angel Tritone is determined to get the position on the Erin Jerome was desperately trying to “fit in” and be “normal.” council for communications between humans and mermaids to help As the new Assistant District Attorney in Lillian, Louisiana, Erin better the world. Angel has been studying humans for many years figured she was on her way and her disturbing past was behind and has now decided the place to get started with making contact her. Then the killings started…again. She didn’t want to believe with humans is with the children. When Angel leaves the protection that her psycho stalker had actually followed her, but the evidence of Atlantis to travel up to the surface, she encounters a hammerhead was mounting. Now her only alternative was to hire Night Watch, shark, Harry, who forces her to jump into a boat to escape and the best bounty hunters in several states. Plus, they were especially results in her meeting Logan Hardington. effective against the Others, those beings that possessed Logan is still adjusting to the fact that he has a six-year-old son. supernatural powers, but were able to blend in with humans. And Michael, a child he never even knew existed, had just been left on Erin knew her stalker was Other. his doorstep by his mother, who said she was no longer able to The first time Erin saw Jude Donovan, he was bringing in The take care of him. Logan really does not know what to make of his Slasher, and was covered in blood – his own, it turned out. As Erin life when he next discovers a naked woman sleeping on his boat walked past him on the courtroom steps, Jude’s head suddenly one morning. snapped up and his nostrils flared. As a shifter, he had an Angel immediately senses that she can trust Logan, but the more uncommonly keen sense of smell, especially when smelling one of their relationship develops as land walkers, the more difficult it his own kind. But the smell that surrounded Erin was different, one becomes for Angel to bring up the subject of mermaids. Mermaids he couldn’t identify. What exactly was she? must return to the water at least once every two days to keep their Cynthia Eden’s latest offering on the world of the Other, is a tails. Everything falls apart when Logan discovers Angel in the sensual feast for the senses. The murders and hunting done by the water one night. Will there ever be able to be a relationship between shifters could have gotten a little on the gory side, but Ms. Eden mermaids and humans or are adult humans just too jaded to accept takes the reader through those passages with aplomb, without the fact that mermaids exist? losing the intrigue of trying to figure out which animal our hero will Tiffany Viale shift into. Jude Donovan is walking sex, whether in human or animal form, and this story is guaranteed to keep you reading through the night. Ecstasy Unveiled (A Demonica Novel) Lani Roberts Larissa Ione Forever, Mass Market Everlasting Kiss 978-0446556828 333½ Amanda Ashley Zebra, Mass Market Demons are just like people everywhere; some are good and 978-1420104431 some are bad. Lore is a good demon caught in a bad situation. He 3333 has been forced to become an assassin for one of the demon overlords. He is obligated to make one more kill. If he succeeds, From a family of hunters, Daisy O'Donnel doesn't understand then he and his sister Sin will finally be free. If he fails, they will be the attraction women have with vampires. For her, they are only tortured to death. His last target is Kynan Morgan. good for one thing, their blood. Idess is an angel. To earn her wings she must protect people While searching for the Blood Thief, Vampire Erik Delacourt who are important to the fate of the world. Kynan is one of those stumbles upon the sexy blonde and refuses to let her go. Their people. Lore makes an attempt on Kynan. Idess intervenes and is attraction sparks feelings Erik hasn't experienced in years. Daisy is shot. When she regains consciousness, she learns been assigned a bright spot of innocence that Erik will do anything to keep safe, a new person to guard--Lore. Great! Now her two charges are trying even lie to her. to kill each other! The longer Idess is around Lore, the more she Everlasting Kiss is not a typical vampire romance. Ms. Ashley's realizes that he is a wonderful man. Soon the two fall in love. But vampire world has found a use for the blood of vamps, thus turning they have a huge problem. If Lore kills Kynan, Idess will never be the tables slightly when Daisy hunts vampires by day to sell their allowed into heaven. If Lore doesn't kill Kynan, he and his sister blood on the Internet instead of destroying them. Erik and Daisy's will die. love and passion flash from their first meeting with a few expected Be warned, this story contains vulgar language, as well as graphic turns throughout the story. All in all, for a market flooded with sex scenes. This is the continuation of a series, but can be read vampire romances, Everlasting Kiss was well worth the time to alone and is a great book. devour. Sheila Griffin Catherine Bybee

January/February, 2010 Affaire de Coeur 27 Half Past Dead planning to incapacitate him and find what happened to her sister, Zoe Archer and Bianca D'Arc but a fight ensues and Julian begins to bleed pink blood. The moment Julian see Asia he knows that she is his soulmate. Brava, Trade Paperback He had planned to gain her trust before telling how his dimension 978-0758246974 needs women like her. He would win her love and take her home, 3333 but it didn't quite work out that way. Once Asia finds out that he isn't human, Julian has no choice. He "The Undying Heart." Cassandra Fielding crept in the shadows is required to either take her to his dimension or wipe her mind of the stonemason's yard, waiting for her prey to come out of the clean. But he did that, she wouldn't remember even the most basic tavern when she saw the stealthy glide of one of the undead. As an things, such as how to feed herself or walk. So Julian takes Asia to operative for the Blades of the Rose, Cassandra had been well his world, where she is immediately attacked. Julian longs to win schooled on the various things that roamed the night. But this Asia's love, but first he must find a way to keep her alive. thing was her brother's best friend and Cassandra's secret girlhood This is the beginning of an interesting new series. It has sexual crush, Sam Reed. But, Major Samuel Reed had been killed in combat tension, graphic sex and some vulgar language. It's a very good during the war in the Crimea. And they were both after the same book. person, Colonel Kenneth Broadwell, Sam's commanding officer and Sheila Griffin the man who turned him into the living dead. Zoe Archer does a superb job in conveying how deep emotions The Lost Enchantress can run when two people are in love, whether alive or not. Cassie Patricia Coughlin and Sam face down their mortal enemy, the Heirs of Albion, while protecting the Source and finding true love. A good adventure Berkley Sensation, Trade Paperback romance. 978-0425229828 "Simon Says" is a non-stop thriller from the very first page. Simon 3333 Blackwell, an ex-Marine special ops, had been pretty badly clawed by the creatures in the forest surrounding Quantico. A medical Eve Lockhart was busy leading her carefully constructed life. experiment had gone horribly wrong; it was now Simon's job to She has a career as a news reporter that she enjoys and keeps her eradicate the poor Marines who had been reanimated after their busy, so she doesn't have time to dwell on the past. Eve comes deaths and were now spreading the contagion to the innocents from a long line of females who possess magic, but they are not that lived near Quantico. Dr. Mariana Daniels was one of those witches; they are enchantresses. The first night that Eve tried to innocents, and Simon had been guarding her extra carefully. He use magic, the night ended horribly with a fire that killed her parents. had never gotten over her, after he had walked off without an After more of a decade of trying to avoid magic, magic has found explanation those three years ago. Did she still care about him? her. It all started one evening when Eve attended a charity auction. Could she care about him if she knew what he was? First she sees a man in the lobby that she is immediately drawn to Bianca D'Arc has penned a paranormal thriller that includes some in more than a normal way. Next she bids away all her savings on a of the sexiest love play that I've ever read. The big, bad, protective locket that she can't resist. She later finds out the locket is the lost warrior hero has a dark secret, but his sexy Navy doctor doesn't talisman of her family. care. Mari knows there's something different about Simon, but in Gabriel Hazard has been on a mission for many years to find and his line of work, change was to be expected. But could she handle obtain that locket, and that witch comes and snags it from him. a change as different as this? You'll be on the edge of your seat as Hazard is not about to let Eve get away with this so easily, though. Simon and Mari race to make the world a safer place. To Hazard's chagrin, the more time he spends around Eve the more It was hard for this reviewer to warm up to reading love stories he is inexplicably drawn to her. What Eve doesn't know is that about zombies, but both authors did an outstanding job on there are more people after this locket than Hazard who are much presenting the men in a compassionate, likeable manner that makes more deceitful. this a very pleasant read. This is a tale laced in magic. To have full access to this magic Lani Roberts though, one must embrace it and not fear it. Will Eve be able to get over her fears from the past to do what she must now to save Hunting Julian (The Gatherers) herself and her family? Tiffany Viale Jacquelyn Frank Kensington, Mass Market Naked Dragon 978-1420104257 Annette Blair 3333½ Berkley Sensation, Mass Market Julian is a Gatherer. He leaves his dimension periodically and 978-0425232002 comes to Earth. While he's here, his job is to find women who 3333½ possess energy potent enough to feed his world and convince them to come back with him. Kenya is one of those women. The fate of Bastian and his brothers now rests in his hands. Asia is Kenya's sister and a jujitsu master. She believes that Bastian is a dragon whose world is being destroyed. Their leader Julian is behind Kenya's disappearance. She goes to his hotel room has transformed Bastian into a man and sent him to Earth to fulfill 28 Affaire de Coeur January/February, 2010 his destiny and save his brothers. His quest is to find his heart and was able to give Catherine's description to a sketch artist before mate and to make her goals his own. The problem is Killian, keeper he died. For the first time ever, the werewolf community knows of dark magic, is trying to make sure Bastian fails at every turn. what their enemy looks like. The sketches are immediately circulated. Luckily, Bastian has retained some of his dragon magic to help him Ian is a vampire and Catherine's lover. He has wanted to turn her along the way. since they started dating, but she has steadfastly refused. Now McKenna Greylock is pressed for time. She has ninety days to that all of the European werewolves are actively hunting her, he is bring her family's Victorian mansion up to code and pay the back even more insistent. Catherine is still not sure. Solange is Catherine's taxes and mortgage on the property before it is auctioned off. niece. She's sixteen and in love for the first time. Unfortunately, the McKenna is trying to fulfill her grandmother's dream and turn the boy isn't what he appears. Luc is a werewolf. His father is the leader house into a bed and breakfast. The task is too big for McKenna to of the local pack. But Luc doesn't want anything to do with his accomplish alone; so she is seeking a handyman to help her get the father or the wolf pack. He just wants to live his life as a normal job done. Bastian is sent by the agency to fill the position, but human. McKenna is leery of him because of his overt sex appeal. The only Gervais is thrilled that his son is dating the niece of the famous relationship she has had lately was with a man who was just using Huntress. He finally has a way to get to Catherine and he is going her to try to get her property. to use it. Catherine will be the main attraction at his son's coming of Blair takes us on a magically laced journey where sometimes one age ceremony, as long as she lives that is. has to take a leap of faith and trust everything will come together This book is the continuation of a series. It can be read alone and and work out for the best in the end. But this can be a difficult task is a rather lackluster addition to the paranormal genre. to accomplish when the leap of faith involves your heart. Sheila Griffin Tiffany Viale Street Game—A Ghostwalker Novel The Reckoners Christine Feehan Doranna Durgin Jove, Mass Market Tor Books, Mass Market 978-0515147605 978-0765361646 3333½ 333½ Mack grew up on the street. He and a band of kids formed a Garrie is a ghost buster. She and her team have been at the job for family. When they were grown, they joined the military. Mack so long that it's become humdrum. Normally, Garrie doesn't accept volunteered himself and his group to have their innate psychic cases without vetting the client, but Trevarr tells her that she was abilities enhanced. He didn’t realize that Peter Whitney, the doctor recommended to him by one of her friends. She's so bored that she operating on them, was a madman. jumps at his plan. Jaimie is the only girl in the family. She was the first of the group Trevarr wants Garrie and her crew to come with him to the to realize that Whitney was up to no good. She knew that she was Winchester Mystery House. It sounds interesting, and if nothing going to find solid evidence before Mack would believe her. To comes of it, then at least she and her friend will get an all expense find that proof, she needed to get away from Mack and the boys. It paid trip to California. And the fact that he's a hottie is just a plus. almost killed her to leave, but she did. It has been two long years. Little does she know that before the trip is over she will have fallen Every day has been a struggle but she has survived and is close to in love. proving that Whitney is evil. The Winchester Mystery House was designed to lure spirits in, Mack and his men are tracking a shipment of weapons. Intel then route them in circles so that they can't escape. It worked like a sends them to a warehouse. Instead of weapons, they find Jaimie. charm and, until recently, the ghosts have been quite content. Mack finally believes that someone is trying to kill him and the Trevarr tells Garrie that something has riled up the ghosts and that family. As they work together to track down the villain, Mack and she's the only one who can calm them down. Garrie knows he's Jaimie rekindle their romance. hiding something, but she decides that it's probably not that This is a continuation of a series that can be read alone. It is full important. This assumption could cost Garrie her life. of action and steamy sexy, a really good book. This book has an interesting premise, but it's written in a very Sheila Griffin choppy manner that sometimes makes it hard to follow. Sheila Griffin The Taking Smolder Erin McCarthy Melina Morel Berkeley Sensation, Mass Market 978-0425230213 Signet, Mass Market 3333½ 978-0451228802 333½ Camille Comeaux died a tragic death months after losing the rest of her family to yellow fever in nineteenth century New Orleans. Catherine comes from a long line of werewolf hunters. Recently She had lived a life of privilege, but her life ends tragically. she was involved in the takedown of several wolves. One escaped Felix Leblanc's life had hit the bottom of the barrel, or so he January/February, 2010 Affaire de Coeur 29 thought, when he makes a deal with a demon in nineteenth century supernatural criminals (scrims), and when she's not working, she's New Orleans to improve his material means. Felix's life was one planning her wedding to super-hot Rome Masters, who also helps driven by greed. her control her powers. In present day New Orleans, heiress Regan Henry is leading a Then one day everything goes terribly wrong. Rome comes home miserable life with her husband Beau, who seems perfect to the from an assignment, wounded and unconscious, and when he wakes outside world. Her life changes when she gets a reading from a up he is missing all of his memories of Belle. The memories were very attractive voodoo doctor at a Christmas party, and the events stolen by a scrim known as Memory Man. Now she must fight for that transpire give her the courage to leave her husband. Regan is her man because his psychic ex-wife is taking this opportunity to the happiest she has been in years as she settles into her newly- get Rome back. Belle needs to be at her best because she is heading purchased house in the French Quarter. Before she even moves in, a mission to capture an ultimate baddie, code named Desert Gal. she finds a journal of a previous inhabitant of the house. What And Memory Man took Rome's memories of Belle for a reason: He Regan doesn't realize is that this house is the home of spirits with wants her for himself and plans to court her. unfinished business. Regan turns to the voodoo doctor she met While this second first-person tale of Belle and her superhero named Felix to help her with her spirit. Will Felix be able to protect cohorts (after Playing with Fire) is not as lighthearted as the first, Regan from what is after her? humor still abounds. This book is a sheer joy to read, and both McCarthy takes us on an intriguing journey through this world heroes and villains are vividly portrayed and sheer fun. and the next. Will Regan be able to figure out what her spirit wants Heather Nordahl Files before something unfortunate happens that leads to her demise? Tiffany Viale Venus Guy Trap Shannon McKelden A Tapestry of Spells-A Novel of the Tor Books, Trade Paperback Nine Kingdoms 978-0765323354 Lynn Kurland 3333 Berkley, Trade Paperback Venus, the Goddess of love, angered Zeus and was relegated to 978-0425232132 the mortal realm. She must remain earthbound until she is forgiven. 3333½ It has been over two thousand years, and there has been no sign of forgiveness. When Ruith was ten years old, his father Gair opened a well of Haydee was a teenager when she lost her parents. She lost her evil. The magic that spewed out was so deadly that it killed the rest mother to death and her father to his grief. She could barely get out of his family. Miraculously, Ruith survived. Vowing that he would of bed in the morning. Then she met a boy. Derek and Haydee never be like his father, Ruith buried his magic deep inside himself, developed a plan to help her get through each day. Haydee followed swearing never to use it again. Ruith wanted to be left alone. So as the plan to the letter until she and Derek fell in love. Then she he grew older, he cultivated a reputation of being a reclusive mage. gladly threw her plan out the window. It was wonderful, while it Sarah is the daughter of the local witch. Her mother died recently, lasted. But, one day, Derek left town and didn't look back. Now, and Sarah has been using her spells to heal the locals. Her brother years later, he has returned. He says that he's there for Haydee, but Daniel is no good. He tells Sarah that he plans to destroy the world. she doesn't trust him. Sarah sets off to the home of the closest mage to ask his help Haydee has been following the plan religiously. It tells her that stopping her brother. she must marry by her thirty-third birthday, a day that is fast Ruith is that mage. Sarah begs for his help. At first he refuses approaching, and there's no Prince Charming anywhere in sight. and sends her on her way. But something about Sarah won't leave Enter Venus. She specializes in True Love, and she knows who the him in peace. He catches up with her and joins her quest. As they perfect man for Haydee is--Derek. Haydee says she's not interested, track the man, Ruith discovers that Daniel is collecting Gair's old but Venus knows better. spells. With them, he really could destroy the world. They've got to This is a continuation of a series that can be read alone. While stop him before it's too late. not as funny as expected, the emotional scenes are written well This is the continuation of a series. It can be read alone. A very enough to bring tears. good book, but be warned, it does end with a cliffhanger. Sheila Griffin Sheila Griffin Twice as Hot What A Demon Wants Gena Showalter Kathy Love Brava, Trade Paperback HQN, Mass Market 978-0758231956 978-0373774371 3333½ 3333½ Ellina Kostova didn't want or need a bodyguard. But trying to Belle Jamison wasn't born with the ability to summon the elements. convince her brother Maksim, a powerful demon, that she was A mad scientist slipped the formula into her latte one day. Now she perfectly safe by herself was not working. Ellina hated to think that works for paranormal agency, PSI, to save the world from

30 Affaire de Coeur January/February, 2010 Maksim figured she was helpless because she was only half-demon. Wicked Enchantment That had been the bane of her existence all her life. She had two half-brothers, twin demons who loved making her life miserable by Anya Bast their teasing and pranks, and had just figured that they were causing Berkley Sensation, Mass Market all of the little coincidences that kept plaguing her. But when Maksim 978-0425232019 showed up with the most gorgeous man she had ever seen and he 3333 was a preternatural, like her, she thought that maybe having a bodyguard wouldn't be all that bad--until her demon half decided The fae have been limited to living within Piefferburg since the to show itself. Phaendir trapped them there. Aislinn Finvarra is a Seelie who has Jude Anthony knew the moment he met Ellina Kostova that he grown up living a life of privilege in the Rose Tower under the was in trouble. Normally, when he shook hands with a paranormal, Summer Queen. Aislinn has never felt completely at home in the the sensations he felt were creepy and slimy, but not with Ellina. Rose Tower, though, and has the sensation that her life is missing Her handshake gave him a tingling sensation that ran straight to something. his groin. And being half vampire/half werewolf, Jude definitely Gabriel Mac Braire is an Unseelie who has been a close subject knew that tingling sensation did not bode well for him and his of the Shadow King. Gabriel has just approached the Summer Queen future plans of working just a few more jobs, then going away and and asked if he may move to the Rose Tower because he is less reinventing himself. But after meeting Ellina's demon father and her than satisfied with his life under the Shadow King. Aislinn's life idiot, evil twin demon brothers and seeing their attitude about her changes when the Summer Queen not only gives Gabriel permission being half-demon and all, Jude vowed to never leave her side. He to spend a week in the Rose Tower to be sure he is confident with would make sure no one ever hurt her again. his decision, but asks Aislinn to be his personal guide. Aislinn is Ms. Love continues her demon saga with the wildly entertaining not happy about this request because Gabriel is an incubus which What A Demon Wants. Both our hero and heroine are "mutts," as means women are automatically attracted to him. What Aislinn and Jude calls himself, and it takes a while for them to trust each other. Gabriel both don't realize is that Gabriel will be key to Aislinn's But once their reservations are down, the sex is explosive and survival. Aislinn holds a book in her possession that multiple sizzling. The only frustrating thing is the lack of information on the powerful people are after and will do anything to get. This is the sexy bodyguard. The character is never fully explained and the Book of Bindings and has many powerful spells, as well as being reader is left wondering the how and why he is what he is. Hopefully, an important key to the fae being able to break free from Piefferburg. all questions will be answered in her next book. Bast takes us on a mystical journey amongst many powerful Lani Roberts people with magic that can do much harm. Aislinn is more powerful than she realizes, but will she be able to release and control that power before it is too late? Tiffany Viale

Black History Month Quiz

1. Black History Month was first celebrated when? 10. Who was the first African American elected to the US Sen- ate? 2. What was it first termed as? 11. What state did he represent and during what dates? 3. Who created this? 12. Who was the first African American elected to the House of 4. What is the name of the group formed to protect the civil Representatives and when? rights of African Americans? 13. Who was the first African American to win an Academy Award 5. What date was it formed and why? and when? 6. Who was the first African American to hold the Heavyweight 14. Who was the first African American to go into space and Champion Boxing Title and in what year? when? 7. Who was the first African American lawyer, and when did he 15. What was George Washington Carver noted for? pass the bar? 16. What was the African American population in 1870, and what 8. Who was the first African American appointed to the US was it in 2007? Supreme Court? 9. Who appointed him and what dates did he serve?

Enter online at www.affairedecoeur.com or send your entry to: Black History Contest: 3976 Oak Hill Road, Oakland, CA 94605.

January/February, 2010 Affaire de Coeur 31 Coming in March Coming in April Alexander, V. Desires of a Perfect Lady, Avon Beverly, J. The Secret Duke, Signet Allen, D. The Cost of Love, Five Star Dietz, D. Soap Bubbles, Five Star Bernard, R. Revenge Wears Rubies, Berkley Douglas, K. Sexy Beast VIII, Aphrodisia Chase, A. Most Eagerly Yours, Signet Fox, S. Love, Unexpectedly, Brava Clare, P. Naked Edge, Berkley Garlock, D. Stay A Little Longer, Grand Central Crusie, J. Wild Ride, St. Martin’s Haymore, J. A Touch of Scandal, Grand Central D’Arc, B. Once Bitten, Twice Dead, Brava Jackson, L. Without Mercy, Kensington Day, Z. Lessons from a Younger Lover, Dafina Johansen, I. Eight Days to Live, St. Martin's Dimon, H. Leave Me Breathless, Brava Kelley, K. The Jaguar Prince, Brava Forester, A. The Highlander’s Sword, Sourcebooks Kiernan, K. Between Friends, Berkley Fox, A. Warrior Ascended, Signet Lenox, K. Darker Than Night, Signet Henley, V. The Irish Duke, Signet Lindler, C. Starlight & Promises, Medallion Ivy, A. Beyond the Darkness, Zebra MacLean, S. Nine Rules to Break When James, J. Something About You, Berkley Romancing a Rake, HarperCollins James, S. Two+One=Ecstasy, St. Martin’s Malin, L. My Own Personal Soap Opera, Sourcebooks Knight, A. Master of Fire, Berkley Mazzuca. D. Lord of the Isles, Zebra LePore, J. Descent into Dust, Avon McDonald, L. The Battle Sylph, Dorchester Michaels, F. Deadly Deal, Zebra Mead, R. Succubus Shadows, Kensington O’Riley, K. Desire in His Eyes, Zebra Nelson, D. Family Value, Five Star Quinn, S. Taming the Moon, Brava Noble, K. The Summer of You, Berkley Ridley, E. Too Wicked to Kiss, Zebra O'Shea, P. In the Darkest Night, Tor Schoenecker, M. Moonglade, Five Star Putney, M. Never Less Than a Lady, Zebra Sparks, K. The Vampire and the Virgin, Avon Sargeant, P. Heated Rivalry, Dafina Thompson, V. Chick with a Charm, Signet Shalvis, J. Instant Temptation, Brava Trent, P. Fall Into Me, Zebra Templeton, J. Victor, Aphrodisia Wilkinson, L. Stolen Promise, Medallion Walker, K. How to Kill Your Husband, Genesis Press Wolf, P. Too Hot for a Rake, Zebra Other Genres Henry, M. Battle of the Network Zombies, Kensington Other Genres Lamberson, G. The Frenzy Way, Medallion Bickle, L. Embers, Pocket Lutz, L. The Spellmans Strike Again, Simon and Schuster Duarte, J. The House on Sugar Plum Lane, Kensington McGilvary, M. A Lost Wife’s Tale, Harper, Feather, J. All the Queen's Players, Pocket Norman, M. On Deadly Ground, Poisoned Pen Press Grimes, M. The Black Cat, Viking Rendahl, E. Don’t Kill the Messenger, Berkley Herron, R. How to Knit a Love Song, Avon Schweitzer, D. et.al. Full Moon City, Pocket Karp, L. The Ragtime Fool, Poisoned Pen Press Scottoline, L. Think Twice, St. Martin’s Lyle, D. Stress Fracture, Medallion Wilson, D. Dark Secrets of the Old Oak Tree, Medallion McEvoy, J. The Significant Seven, Poisoned Pen Press Yip, M. Petals from the Sky, Kensington Pilcher, R. The Long Way Home, St. Martin's Quinn, K. Mistress of Rome, Berkley Reed M. et.al Eight for Eternity, Poisoned Pen Press Roddy, D. A Catch in Time, Medallionn 32 Affaire de Coeur January/February, 2010 The Notebooks of sign the papers. Maybe then, the memory of the man whose presence once filled her life with passion and hope, can release Madame B – Ecstasy her once and for all. Jeremy P. Tarcher Reinier will be happy to sign the papers of divorce, but not Penguin, Mass Market until he's purged his body and mind of every favor Emiline can 978-1585427734 offer. He strikes a deal with Emiline to possess her as his own 333 personal sex slave for three days. Then they both can get on with their lives. But, in the end, which of them will be begging for The Notebooks of Madame B--Ecstasy is a collection of short more? stories told to Madame B over a period of time. These stories are I adore historical erotic romance. Secrets of Sin is set on a lush erotic, and in most cases, the subjects, though they may be tropical island, adding to the overall feel of the book. This is a famous, are not identified. story of two people attempting to overdose on the other to live Some of the stories make sense and are erotic; some of them are their lives in peace. Just when they think their only real attraction just gratuitous sex with not much of a story line. If you are new to is sexual, they go and find that their love is what glues them this type of genre, the behavior of some of the subjects will be together.Secrets of Sin is a true keeper. I'm holding my breath for appalling to you. That said, there are ten stories ranging from Connor's story. watching and fantasizing about the construction worker whose Catherine Bybee job a lady passes on the way to work in "Hard Hat" to auditioning for a job to bring in extra money to pay the bills in "Working Girl." The Notebooks of "Steaming" is every woman's dream about going to a massage parlor after a hard day's work, and the far-fetched "Car-Ma Sutra" Madame B – Desire addresses the emotions that arise from watching each other make Jeremy B. Tarcher love on the hood of a car. Penguin, Mass Market If you're looking for variety, this is it. Given the nature of human 978-1585427710 beings, it is possible that all of these stories actually took place. 3333 C'mon, broaden your horizons. This reviewer did. Mildred Burkett The Notebooks of Madame B are a series of small books consisting of the erotic journal writings of different women that Madame B has met in her life. Each book has its own subtitle; I read Desire. Secrets of Sin “Midas” – When Mark’s job keeps sending him out of town, he Chloe Harris takes matters into his own hands by having a certain part of his Kensington, Trade Paperback anatomy copied in solid gold. That way he can keep his wife company 978-0758238535 with hot phone sex, while still making sure he’s with her in spirit! 3333 “Hire Love” – When a high-powered businesswoman needs a discreet escort to a function, she calls “Adonis,” the specialized Emiline du Ronde-Barhydt wants a divorce. To obtain one, she male escort service that caters to just what she needs. needs to find her seafaring husband Reinier and convince him to “Sucker Punch” – The first time she saw him, she fell in love. Of

January/February, 2010 Affaire de Coeur 33 course, she was only fourteen and he was a champion boxer fifteen risky; unless you work in a department store with access to their years her senior. But love at first sight knows no age limits. Would it display window after work hours. Still risky, but oh so much fun! be as pure when she finally meets him in person years later? “El Ritmo de la Noche” – When a typical uptight, English miss “Always the Bridesmaid” – In this story, it is the bride that has a travels to sultry Spain for a carefree vacation, anything can and last fling before the wedding…with her bridesmaid. does happen. “The Mistress’s Apprentice” – She’s the cleaning lady to a very “Going, Going Gone” – Sometimes a person just has to let go. By specialized type of businesswoman. When she decides to try on day, Abigail is the powerful, smart, sexy woman who is in control. some of the items she cleans in her client’s basement, she discovers But at night, she likes…no needs…to be dominated. Abigail tells her a love for domination that she didn’t know she had in her. tale of putting herself up for sale at a BDSM slave auction. “The Hitcher” – One of Alice and Paul’s favorite shared fantasy This compilation of sexy encounters by various women is as varied was picking up a stranger and having sex with him. It was always in its eroticism and intensity as I’m sure the women, themselves, are. just a fantasy until that fateful day when they picked up the young Some stories are a real turn-on, while others not quite so much. Each hitchhiker on his way back to school. story is only a few pages long, but the content of these sexual “The Diagnosis” – Ever want to play doctor and nurse? Well, this adventures leaves little to the imagination for the reader. A really hot, lucky young lady had her dream come true during a costume party quick, fun read. when she showed up wearing her very naughty nurse costume! Lani Roberts “Window Shopping” – Sex in public – hard to pull off and extremely

34 Affaire de Coeur January/February, 2010 City of Dragons Dead Air Kelli Stanley Mary Kennedy Minotaur, Mass Market Obsidian, Mass Market 978-0312603601 978-0451228772 333 333

It is 1940 in San Francisco, and Chinatown is celebrating the Maggie Walsh is a clinical psychologist who gave up her Chinese New Year with a Rice Bowl Party. This is a three day-and– practice in New York to move to Cypress Grove, Florida, and is night carnival designed to raise money and support for China war hosting “On the Couch with Maggie Walsh,” a radio talk show. relief. Miranda Corbie is walking down a street in Chinatown when Maggie has Guru Sanjay on her show one day. The Guru is very a Japanese boy falls at her feet, fatally shot. Miranda is a private popular and has published many self-help books. He also holds investigator and begins to try to find out what happened to the self-help seminars. young man. As soon as her investigation begins, the police warn Maggie arrives home from the interview to discover her her away. It seems they want to cover it up and let it be swept roommate Lark is a huge fan of the Guru. Maggie gives Lark her under the rug. tickets to his seminar, and Lark leaves to run some errands. She is then contacted by a woman wanting her to find out what Maggie guesses correctly that Lark went to the hotel to try to happened to her husband who died in a local hotel, supposedly of get a glimpse of the Guru, but she is not concerned. All that a heart attack. The woman is convinced it is murder and pays changes the next day, first, when her producer calls to tell her Miranda handsomely to find her step-daughter, who could have the Guru is dead, and second, the police arrive to question her vital information about her father. As Miranda continues her and Lark. It seems Lark was the last person to see the Guru investigation, she begins to see a pattern that links the two cases. alive. It soon becomes apparent that the police are focusing on This also puts her in danger. A mysterious green car tries to run her Lark as their prime suspect. Maggie launches her own over on the same day that a man broke into her apartment leaving investigation in an effort to clear her friend’s name. her a business card. She is also roughed up by an angry cop. Things become intense when Maggie is attacked in her own Miranda is in a race against time trying to find two girls who may home and is also threatened later when she doesn’t back off the have the answers she is looking for before something happens to investigation. Will Maggie find the killer before Lark is indicted them. or before Maggie herself is harmed? Ms. Stanley does a wonderful job of painting a picture of this This is a well-told story. The characters all blend together era. The reader feels like he is transported back in time. The well and are easily discernable. This book is entertaining and characters are colorful and blend well with each other. will keep the reader guessing. L.D.Yates L.D Yates

January/February, 2010 Affaire de Coeur 35 Diary of a Confessions Queen If Books Could Kill Kathy Carmichael Kate Carlisle Medallion Press, Mass Market Obsidian, Mass Market 978-1605420950 978-0451228918 3333 333

Seven years ago Amy Crosby’s husband, Dan, just disappeared Brooklyn Wainwright is an expert in book restoration. She without a trace. He was at his chess club meet at the tavern, then goes to the Edinburgh Book Fair in Edinburgh, Scotland. When gone. He never showed up at home. Amy has finally decided to she arrives in Scotland, the first thing she does is have a couple begin the court proceedings to declare him deceased when she gets of pints in a pub. She then decides to go for a walk before a blackmail letter. It infers that Dan isn’t dead and tells her to bring taking a nap. $2000.00 in hush money to keep this information a secret. While walking, Brooklyn meets her ex-lover, Kyle, who Amy’s best friend Sue Ann tells her to contact the police. Amy is persuades her to join him for a drink at a local pub. He shows reluctant to involve them because they suspect her of being involved her a rare book from the eighteenth century and tells her the in Dan’s disappearance. She shows the letter to Brad, who is a outlandish tale of the book's history. It was reportedly written detective, and he begins an investigation. by a famous Scottish poet for an English princess with whom Next Amy’s house gets broken into. Jerome, who hopes to turn the poet had an affair, resulting in an illegitimate child. Kyle their friendship into something more, has the locks changed on her asks Brooklyn to authenticate the book and gives it to her. house. This doesn’t deter the thief, who breaks in again. Amy is not Later that evening, Brooklyn is on a ghost tour with her friend confident in the police’s interest in the case. She believes that they Helen when a dead body is found. The body is Kyle who has aren’t looking too hard for the culprit because they suspect her in been killed with Brooklyn's binding hammer, making her suspect Dan’s death. She and Sue Ann begin their own investigation. The number one. problem….they are unable to narrow their list down to a few suspects. Brooklyn tries to explain to the investigator about the book, After Amy’s crazy mother-in-law holds a séance that disturbs but he can't figure why someone would kill over a book, even everyone, and Jerome turns up dead, things really get interesting. one that would humiliate the royal family. She decides she is Ms. Carmichael writes a great, amusing story that keeps the reader going to have to figure this out herself or end up in jail. on his toes. The audience will have a hard time trying to figure out This is a fast-paced story that will keep the reader guessing whom committed the murders. right to the end. It has a good combination of humor and mystery, L. D. Yates with a hint of romance. L. D. Yates How to Host A Killer Party Penny Warner Inevitable Sentences Obsidian, Mass Market Tekla Dennison Miller 978-0451229304 Medallion Press, Mass Market 333 978-1934755013 333½ When Presley Parker lost her job as a college instructor, she fell back on her experience helping her mother plan parties and launched Celeste Brookstone has made Big Bay Point Lighthouse on a new career. She named her business Killer Parties. Presley was just Michigan's Lake Superior into a safe haven for women in memory of getting her business off the ground and had done some kids' parties her murdered daughter. The Lighthouse, which has stood for over a when the mayor's office called and asked her to plan a party at Alcatraz. century, is the perfect place to give them all a sturdy foundation and It was to be a surprise wedding for the mayor's fiancée, Ikea, complete Celeste a life mission in the wake of her daughter's death. The fact with a jailhouse theme. that the shelter is close to the prison where her daughter's murderer Presley questions how she got the job, but doesn't look a gift is serving a life sentence is something that Celeste dismisses as horse in the mouth. She is setting up for the wedding when she unimportant while she goes on with her life and her romance with learns her competition, Andi Sax, has been murdered and she is retired prison warden, Max Whitefeather. Then, the murderer, Chad wanted for questioning. Then Presley's world is really turned upside Wilbanks escapes with the help of his "girlfriend" Lizzie Chatfield down. Ikea bolts when she learns what the party is all about, and no and her friend Priscilla. Chad is on a mission to get revenge on one is able to find her. Everyone assumed she went back to town Celeste and heads to the Lighthouse during a huge winter storm, and continued partying. leaving Lizzie and Priscilla for dead. What he finds there is not what The next morning Presley is out skating around Treasure Island he expects, and the battle between him and Celeste could be the when she and a friend discover Ikea's body floating in the water. It death of both of them. is discovered that chocolates served at the Alcatraz event poisoned This was a suspenseful novel with some interesting twists and both women. Not only is Presley a suspect in the murders, she turns. A sequel to an earlier novel, this one does a very good job at seems to be the prime suspect. Will she be able to find the killer working as a stand-alone. While another novel in this series does before she is arrested, or worse, murdered? seem unlikely, the characters are interesting enough to carry on in This is a fast-paced and fun story. It is full of twists and will keep other types of stories. the reader guessing. Inez Daylong L.D. Yates 36 Affaire de Coeur January/February, 2010 Requiem in Vienna Olivia was thrown from the motorcycle when a black Mercedes ran them off the road. She suffered a head injury that left her J. Sydney Jones comatose. Anders was released from the hospital to discover Olivia Minotaur Books, Mass Market had been taken to a different hospital. He went there and was turned 978-0312383909 away by her father. 333 Anders next was told Olivia died but could not find any evidence to corroborate this. His search for the truth would take Anders on It is Vienna, Austria 1899. A fire curtain falls during an opera travels from Connecticut to Africa and put him, as well as his friend, rehearsal, narrowly missing composer and conductor Gusav Mahler. in grave danger. It does, however, hit and kill a young soprano. This is one in several Ms. Compton tells a great tale that keeps the reader interested accidents that have plagued the operatic scene. from beginning to end. Just when the reader thinks he knows it all, Several days later, a young woman approaches Karl Werthen, a there are twists he doesn't see coming. lawyer whose practice is mainly wills. She tells Werthen that she L.D. Yates believes the accident to be an attempt on Mahler's life. Werthen is skeptical, but agrees to look into the matter. After speaking to Mahler, Werthen is convinced all is well and the young lady just has an Sleeping with Anemone overactive imagination. He is about to tell her this when Mahler's Kate Collins podium collapses during another rehearsal. Werthen is now intrigued Obsidian, Mass Market and decides to investigate. 978-0451228901 His friend and criminologist Hans Gross join him. The two men 333 begin their investigation and soon discover there are more suspects than they thought possible. It seems Mahler is not a very popular Abby Knight is the owner of Bloomers Flower Shop. She is at a man. They are called to another seemingly unrelated murder scene home and garden show sponsored by Uniworld Food Corp. promoting and begin to interview neighbors and the ladies of the night who her shop and trying to get signatures on a petition. Unfortunately, work that area. In the process, they unknowingly get close to the the petition is against Uniworld. They are putting in a dairy and suspect trying to kill Mahler. using harmful bovine hormones on the cows. Abby needs 500 This is a well-written story. It keeps the reader interested and signatures to stop them. She garners the attention of Nils Raand, a guessing throughout the book. The author ties all the characters representative of Uniworld, who threatens her and forces her to together in a believable way that gives the book closure at the end. leave the show. L.D. Yates When her shop is vandalized and a brick thrown through the window, Abby goes on the offensive. She holds an interview on the Rescuing Olivia television and publicly blames Raand for the attacks. Abby agrees to stop her protests when her cousin and niece are kidnapped. The Julie Compton kidnappers obviously thought they were Abby and asked her cousin Minotaur, Mass Market to “give it up.” No one knows what that means and assumes they 978-0312378752 were talking about the protest, until a brooch is stolen from the shop. 3333 It is a copy of a brooch Abby had pinned to her beret during the television interview. Anders Erickson and Olivia Mayfield fell in love and lived together Every time Abby’s mother makes more copies of the brooch, they in Florida. They both had troubled pasts of which each new little. get stolen. Now Abby is not so sure Raand is behind the whole Their world was turned upside-down one day when they had an mess. The kidnappers turn up dead, and the police arrest Raand. accident on Anders' motorcycle. Abby, however, is now convinced Raand is not involved. She must The day of the accident, Anders had taken Olivia to a special solve this before her own family is harmed. spring in a secluded area and was prepared to propose to her. She This is a good, if somewhat predictable, story. The characters heard a noise that spooked her which ruined the mood. They decided blend well, and it has a good blend of humor and mystery. to leave. When they got back to the motorcycle, their helmets had L.D. Yates been stolen. They had no choice but to drive back without them.

January/February, 2010 Affaire de Coeur 37 The Boleyn Wife himself. Katherine gives him a child by the name of Mary, but has Brandy Purdy not given him the all-important male heir. Several years later, Anne Kensington Publishing Corp., Trade Paperback Boleyn comes to court and the king is immediately drawn to her. 978-0758238443 Anne will not give out her favors easily though, not even to the 3333 king, and thus starts a downward spiral where Henry begets and rids himself of wives as he sees fit. It was the sixteenth century and Henry VIII was king of England. This tale of the wives of Henry VIII is told from the perspective After his older brother passed away very shortly after marrying of Jane Parker. Jane is a plain, quiet lady-in-waiting for all of Henry's Katherine of Aragon, Henry became king and wed Katherine wives and also becomes the sister-in-law of Anne Boleyn. Jane

Beneath the Skin Adrian Phoenix Pocket, Mass Market 978-1439137291 33333

Dante Baptiste, also known as Dante to use. Because Dante is no ordinary mortal: Adrian Phoenix's world stands out as Prejean, and his love Heather Wallace are on He is a True Blood vampire (which many unique. This combination of vampires, dark the run. Dante is a product of a government people know), and also half fallen angel angels, government experiments and project called Bad Seed, whose purpose was (which very few people know). He has departmental backstabbing can make your to create sociopaths. As he grew up, he knew powers not seen for centuries, and all of head spin with a plethora of characters, and nothing but torture and abuse, both from the Gehenna seeks him to restore and rule their readers will want to follow from the scientists in charge of the program and from dying land. Former FBI agent Heather has all beginning--this is Book 3--as this tale opens a series of bottom-of-the-barrel foster she can do to help keep him sane with the in the middle of the action. But this violent, parents. As a result, he is very nearly mad, help of his friend Von, who helps him deal wrenching tale is something special. Readers and recent events have forced forgotten with the pain and ever-increasing seizures. have seen tortured heroes before, but young, memories to the surface of his mind, which On the road from Oregon to New Orleans, almost androgynously beautiful Dante is a leaves him unsure if he is in the past or it's a race against time, and both friends and remarkable hero who bonds with Heather present. enemies seek them with their own agendas. even as he struggles with his sanity. Wow! The government is hunting him, to kill or In the burgeoning genre of urban fantasy, Paul Zunino 38 Affaire de Coeur January/February, 2010 leads a tormented life because of the man she chooses to marry. Notorious Royal Marriages: A Journey This is a captivating tale of power struggle in the court of King Henry VIII. Neither male nor female children are able to decide their Through Nine Centuries of Dynasty, own fate in life when they are just being used as pawns in the Destiny, and Desire parents' struggle to stay in Henry's favor. To survive in this court Leslie Carroll one must be conniving and ruthless. The question is, can you live with the consequences of your actions? New American Library, Trade Paperback Heather Nordahl Files 978-0451229014 33333 Family Value When a royal marries, most often love isn't part of the deal, then D-L Nelson again, love can be a bonus. Love or not, however, no royal marriage is easy. Notorious Royal Marriages offers vignettes of thirty-two Five Star, Hardcover marriages taking place between 1137 up to and including 2005. 978-1594148736 Fact is spiced with rumor--the reader is always told which is 333½ which--to make the stories enticingly provocative. The short essays Family Value is an interesting story about two families who of each marriage are surprisingly complete and offer enough about share a house in Massachusetts. Their lives intertwine as they royalty to give the reader a good feel for who and what they were help each other through their daily trials and major upheavals. or are (the stories end with Prince Charles and Camilla Parker Jay Marsh is a lawyer who has never cared to find out about his Bowles). With a few swift strokes of the pen, author Leslie Carroll birth parents, but circumstances force him to come face-to-face describes the appearance and nature of the royals with some with an uncomfortable truth regarding his past. His wife Carol is a information about the landscape that surrounds the royals and probation officer. She has a high-stress job, which includes lifestyle of each. managing the case of a teenager involved in a racist militia. Little The stories are fascinating. The shortness of each chapter does she know that this young man will change her life. demands that no superfluous words be put on the page. It took The couple upstairs includes Laurel, a woman who can't keep this reviewer no time at all to read the more than 500 page book. quiet about her employer’s involvement with illegal use and storage To be royal sounds to most of us like it would provide a of chemicals. At the same time, she's thrilled that she will finally get sumptuous lifestyle with all the trimmings. As the stories in to meet her birth parents. Meanwhile, her husband Tony seems Notorious Royal Marriages proves, however, we should consider depressed as he searches for work and is denied job after job. ourselves very fortunate to not have had to suffer the politics, The beginning of the story is a little slow as you learn the details cruelty, jealousy and conniving that a royal must endure. Children of their daily lives and there are many minor characters to keep are separated from mothers, children disappear, husbands have track of throughout the book, but, the ending, which is surprising notorious affairs that his royal wife must endure; one small faux and ties everything together, makes it a worthwhile book to read. pas and an unsuspecting wife could lose her head. Rhonda Larson This book is a fun, entertaining and educational read. Marilyn Dalrymple

Hallowed Circle Linda Robertson Pocket/Juno, Mass Market 978-1439156780 33333

Seph Alcmedi has just been volunteered of her *waere friends. One of these friends is book, but this book is in another for a contest to choose the next High gorgeous, tattooed Johnny, and she's stratosphere. Linda Robertson's second Priestess for the Cleveland area witches' thinking of making him more than a friend. urban fantasy is an instant classic, featuring coven. Seph doesn't want that kind of power She finally succumbs to overwhelming a refreshingly wise and likeable heroine. or that kind of attention because she bears a temptation, only to learn that Johnny may Several characters grow and change over the vampire stain, given to her by an not be wonderful at all. She must push down course of the tale, and it will be a pleasure to extraordinarily powerful vampire. If the Elders her pain for the Eximium, which brings all the see where this series will take us next. Best sense the stain, she might have her ability to contestants together for a series of tests. It of all, readers don't need to have any practice magic taken away from her. may feel a bit like a witchy reality show, but knowledge of Wicca to enjoy this tale, but *Waerwolves are treated with a great deal as Seph learns her strengths and shows her those who do might get a little something of intolerance, and Seph has been providing skills, she will also face danger. extra. secure kenneling over the full moon to some The first book in this series is a very good Heather Nordahl Files January/February, 2010 Affaire de Coeur 39 Secrets of the Tudor Court: Between Shades of Grey Two Queens Jasper Fforde Viking, Mass Market Kate Emerson 978-0670019632 Pocket, Trade Paperback 3333 978-1416583271 3333 3333½ Eddie Russett lives in a world dominated by color. People can As this well-crafted fictionalized biography opens, Anne (called only see certain colors and are assigned their places in society by Nan) Bassett is competing with her older, plainer sister Cat for the the degree of color they can see. People are even healed by looking position of maid of honor to Henry VIII's third queen, Jane Seymour. at swatches of color corresponding to their dominate color. Henry is watching in secret and chooses Nan. She's delighted to All around are signs of the Previous (people who lived hun- be in court, as she loves court life, and hopes to find a rich, titled dreds, maybe thousands, of years before them). From their roadways husband. Her search goes as high as the king, for once his that absorb organic materials to stay alive to their old cars and mistresses are cast off, they frequently make excellent marriages. tractors and abandoned housing, the Previous left many ques- Unfortunately for her scheming, Jane Seymour is enormously tions unanswered. pregnant, and she goes into her confinement the day after Nan is Eddie doesn't begin to question the rules and regulations they placed, bringing the maids with her. live by until he goes to East Carmine with his father. This is where Nan is attracted to Ned Corbett, who works for her stepfather, he meets Jane, a grey who refuses to obey the rules, Tommo, a but he has no money or consequence. Still, she allows herself to be lower red who is very ambitious in an almost illegal way, and lured into a flirtation, and even more. Then, to her horror, she Courtland, a high yellow who bullies everyone because of his so- discovers she's pregnant. She manages to conceal the pregnancy cial status. from all but a select few before giving away the baby. Meanwhile, Eddie volunteers to go on a dangerous mission to High Saffron Jane Seymour has her baby, then comes to a tragic end. Through when he is stripped of over 700 merits for fighting in a hockeyball two more queens, Nan manages to attain positions with each queen. match. Will he return an enlightened man, or will he be eaten by the She even gains the attention of Henry, but he's gotten old and fat, yateveo tree and never heard from again? and the revelation of her previously unchaste state could be fatal. This book is hard to follow at first, but the reader will not be able Through plots and schemes that threaten her family and others to put it down. By the end of the book, the reader will be hooked, she holds dear, there is one unusual constant: the admiration of wanting more. Wat, a boy who is growing into a man. L.D. Yates This is the second tale in Kate Emerson's "Secrets of the Tudor Court" series, but it takes place at a later point in Henry's reign, so stands completely alone. She succeeds in taking a large cast of major and minor historical figures and breathes a vibrancy into them that makes this a novel that entertains as it educates. An extensive Who's Who section is provided in the back of the book, as is a reader's club guide and an interview with the author. Heather Nordahl Files

Promises in Death J.D. Robb G.P. Putnam's Sons, Hardcover 978-0399155482 33333

Lieutenant Eve Dallas returns in this 30th she will find who killed her and bring them to as to not only 'who' but 'why'. It is very installment of J.D. Robb's "In Death" series. justice. In this case it also brings out those difficult for the writer of any series to keep This time the girlfriend of Eve's friend, Chief shadows of the former life that Eve keeps coming up with fresh and interesting stories Medical Examiner Morris, is found murdered carefully hidden and even if it means that it for the length of time that this one has with in the basement of her apartment building. all comes to light, she will keep her promise. no end in sight. Robb pulls this off Amarylis Coltaine was also a cop recently Rourke, as always, is her support and the beautifully, and I, for one, look forward to transferred from Atlanta and had the skills to whole gang is all here. my annual visit with Eve and Rourke and defend herself. The manner of her death This was one of the more intense of this can't wait to see what happens each time. suggested she did not defend herself; so Eve series and very well structured. The who- Some stories are to be read; some are to be is convinced that she knew her killer. Eve dun-it portion of the story was exceptional savored. This series is definitely the latter. makes a promise to Morris and to herself that and kept you guessing deep into the book Inez Daylong 40 Affaire de Coeur January/February, 2010 Spider's Bite The Stepsister Scheme Jennifer Estep Jim C. Hines Pocket, Mass Market DAW, Mass Market 978-1439147979 978-0756405328 3333½ 3333

Gin Blanco is an assassin, and she is very good at her job, a fact All is not as it seems in the land of the traditional fairy tales. that is clearly illustrated in this book's first chapter. When her han- Cinderella did, in fact, marry Prince Armond and they were working dler Fletcher gives her a rush job, she doesn't expect anything to on happily ever after when Charlotte, one of the wicked step-sis- go wrong. But as she waits for a perfect shot at Gordon Giles, ters, kidnaps him. This is when Cinderella (aka Danielle Whitshore) another assassin tries to kill her. She kills him instead, then goes finds out that the Queen has her own Secret Service of sorts made into action to save the man she was hired to kill because if she up of Talia (aka Sleeping Beauty), a martial arts master who has all saves Giles' life, maybe she will save her own. Though she saves of the fairy blessings which makes her almost invincible; and Snow Giles and police detective Donovan Caine, she still has to run for (aka Snow White) who is an expert at mirror magic. Together they her life, first from Caine, who saw her kill, and then from the min- must go into the land of Fairie and rescue Armond while taking ions of the mysterious Air elemental who wants her dead. She is extreme care of a now pregnant Cinderella. still being framed, as Giles was killed in a car crash. Caught up in the politics and intrigue in Fairie and fighting step- Ashland, Tennessee, is a seedy Appalachian city with a corrupt sisters who strangely have access to too much magic, the three police force. But it is also a place of magic, of vampires, giants and have very little time to save Armond and get to safety. dwarves and also elementals, who can magically manipulate stone, This was an interesting and fun way to reinvent a fairy tale using ice, air or fire. Gin is a Stone elemental, and she uses that in her characters we know from childhood and making them into a fairy work. Once she sees Fletcher's tortured body, she's on a mission to tale for those of us grown in years, but still childlike enough to find and take down the Air elemental who killed her handler, tor- enjoy a visit from our old friends from those days. This story is a tured his son, and wants her dead. The best way to do that is to fun take on these characters and allows you to get to know them join forces with Caine, but the only law-abiding cop on the force better as adults. While it does not say that this is the beginning of has some reservations about working with an assassin. a series, it would be great fun if it were. There are many more Jennifer Estep debuts her "Elemental Assassin" series with this dimensions that could be explored with this fascinating fairy tale. dark, gritty tale featuring a hard-edged yet intriguing heroine. Gin Inez Daylong kicks serious butt as she grieves for her handler/mentor and lusts after Caine. This noir thriller with a paranormal twist should hook readers with its excellent action sequences, compelling characters and perfect ending. Heather Nordahl Files

The Queen's Dollmaker Christine Trent Kensington Publishing Corp., Trade Paperback 978-0758238573 33333

The life of Claudette Laurent had always utterly alone, she accepts this offer, hoping immediately intrigues William. been secure until the day a fire broke out in to start her life anew in England. Upon After months of hard work, Claudette Paris and she lost everything. Claudette arriving in England, Claudette secures a manages to leave the Ashcroft household barely escapes the fire alive, but she loses position in the Ashcroft household where and continue her father's doll making legacy both of her loving parents to the flames. To she meets William Greycliffe. in London and thus begins a journey that make matters worse, she cannot find her life- William is a newer member of the socially takes her places she never dreamed of. long friend and secretly betrothed Jean- elite in England. He manages to offend This is a captivating novel that combines Philippe in the aftermath turmoil of the fire. Claudette, and she puts him in his place, no the life of a French girl of humble beginnings Her search for her beloved brings her to the matter their difference in social status. This with the history of Marie Antoinette and her docks in Paris where she is offered passage French girl who claims she is the daughter of family. to England in exchange for working for a a famous dollmaker and obviously more Tiffany Viale wealthy family once she arrives. Feeling educated than any servant he has met before January/February, 2010 Affaire de Coeur 41 Undone - Outcast Season, Book One Working with Earth Warden Manny Rocha not only allows her to earn her keep, but also helps her learn how to deal with being Rachel Caine mortal. When the Rocha family is threatened, Cassiel must find the Roc, Mass Market power and humanity to protect them while keeping her mortal body 978-0451462619 alive. 3333½ As a true fan of the "Weather Warden" series, I'm happy to see this sort of a spin-off. The Djinn are a fascinating species and play In this spin-off from Caine's "Weather Warden" series, once a an integral part in the "Weather Warden" series. In this spin-off Djinn of limitless powers, Cassiel defied her ruler and had her es- they take front seat and become all the more fascinating. This se- sence torn away, reshaping her into human flesh. While she con- ries has a lot of potential and I, for one, became hooked on the first siders humans inferior, she is forced to live among them, specifi- book. I can't wait to see what happens next and how this series cally among the Weather Wardens, since she is dependent on their might effectively interact with the Wardens' series. power to stay alive. Inez Daylong

Shadow Blade Seressia Glass Pocket/Juno, Mass Market 978-1439156797 33333

Kira Solomon is unable to touch anyone As this tale opens, Kira examines an ancient Khefar without pain. What does it mean? without wearing gloves. She has always been and powerful dagger shown to her by her dear Veteran author Seressia Glass turns her able to hear the thoughts of those who have friend Bernie. The dagger wants to be used, considerable talents to urban fantasy with this touched anything she touches, as well as read but she resists its seduction. Then Bernie is compulsively readable tale. The use of an the thoughts of those she touches. With the killed by a seeker demon (or its Avatar). Kira Egyptian pantheon--Kira is a follower of Ma'at, onset of puberty, her touch causes pain, wants revenge, but her enemy is too powerful Khefar a follower of Isis--gives the story a putting her foster sister into a coma. Her to go after recklessly, and she will not give firm foundation, and the plot, with danger and adoptive parents, at wit's end, give her to the such a powerful weapon to Shadow. She must darkness, but also a hint of romance, should Gilead Commission, an organization that trains also deal with the Nubian Khefar, the original surely satisfy. Bring on more of these her to fight on the side of Light against the owner of the dagger, and his companion, an characters. forces of Shadow, as a Shadowchaser in a old man who is more than he seems. Are they Heather Nordahl Files loosely organized army. friend or foe? And, to her shock, she can touch

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42 Affaire de Coeur January/February, 2010 Veteran narrator Sandra Burr brings the voices of the story right Angels at Christmas into your room as her clear and clever voice adds depth and richness Debbie Macomber to the storyline. You will laugh and shed a few tears as you cherish Read by Sandra Burr these holiday stories from this gifted author. The recording quality is Brilliance Audio, CD Unabridged top notch, as may be expected from Brilliance. 978-1441807608 Lettetia Elsasser 333½ Lakeshore Christmas (The Lakeshore Once a year Shirley, Goodness and Mercy, three very lovable angels, are allowed to visit the Earth. This time, in "Those Christmas Angels," Chronicles) Anne Fletcher has a prayer request; her son Roy needs a special Susan Wiggs woman in his life. Roy has grown bitter after his father left them and Read by Joyce Bean has become a workaholic. Anne is praying for heavenly intervention Brilliance Audio, CD Unabridged when Julie Wilcoff is the woman the angels literally throw into Roy's 978-1423351959 path. The daughter of one of his employees, Julie is not the woman of 3333½ Roy's dreams or vice versa. As time passes, the pair finds more to admire about the other until Roy's distrust breaks Julie's heart. Wiggs' latest in the "Lakeshore Chronicles" series, Lakeshore Mercy is tasked with helping an elderly man named Harry in "Where Christmas is a touching story that delves into the core of human lives. Angels Go" find some peace before he dies, as he fears leaving his Avalon's holiday pageant is a tradition in the community and it beloved wife behind. Rosalie has become more and more confused as couldn't be better planned than by librarian Maureen Davenport. Once time goes by, and Harry's latest visit to the doctor did not bring good a participant, Maureen hopes the success of this year's pageant is one news; he doesn't have long to live. Wanting to get her settled in a the community will remember forever. Too bad her co-host is former retirement home, Rosalie is not cooperating. Mercy has her work cut child star in recovery Eddie Haven. He is definitely not what Maureen out for her. needs to pull this off. Community service has brought Eddie to the Goodness is to assist Beth who is afraid of love after her marriage pageant, and he has completely different ideas of how it should be ended abruptly. Spending the majority of her time online playing World organized. Squabbles, disappointments, and some pretty tender (and of Warcraft, she has locked herself away from all but her online partner. scary) moments combine to bring Mo and Eddie together, despite But the magic of the season, along with some divine intervention, their inability to trust. brings love when she least expects it. Complex characters, emotional turmoil and a tender love story are Finally, Shirley is tasked to grant the wish of a little boy who just the basis for A Lakeshore Christmas. Wiggs has, once again, wants to keep Rusty, the stray dog, but his family cannot afford another welcomed visitors into the small and tight-knit community, opening mouth to feed. Without the aid of Shirley and a few Christmas miracles, the doors to all the flaws and foibles contained within. This is a very this young boy's heart will be broken. January/February, 2010 Affaire de Coeur 43 touching story of second chances and opposites attracting, a beautiful DC politicos threaten to destroy them. Under the guise of Happy Day holiday read. Brilliance Audio presents a top-notch sound recording Camp for Boys and Girls in Pahrump, Nevada, Lily has hosted the elite while the narrator, Joyce Bean, tells the story in a well-modulated of Washington for years and knows many of their secrets. When she voice and emotional inflection. threatens to expose them, she is killed, but not before turning over her Lettetia Elsasser files to her Nevada lawyer, Cosmos Cricket. When the Sisterhood is brought into the picture, no one is safe from scrutiny. From Congress The Perfect Christmas to the White House and Supreme Court, the girls will not cover up anyone involved, even if it means not getting their pardon from the Debbie Macomber President. Read by Tavia Gilbert Thrilling from beginning to end, Razor Sharp is fascinating with its Brilliance Audio, CD Unabridged diverse cast of characters. Read by Laural Merlington, whose smooth 978-1441805753 and clear voice brings the story to life, the narrative flows throughout. 333½ Brilliance Audio produces a quality CD I will recommend to friends. What could be better than a Christmas story by Debbie Macomber? Lettetia Elsasser The Perfect Christmas pits a professional matchmaker, Simon Dodson, against Cassie Beaumont. All she wants is a husband and kids and, so Southern Lights far, all of her attempts have not panned out; blind dates, e-Dating, Danielle Steel nothing. Simon does not make a good impression on Cassie with his Read by Nick Podehl know-it-all attitude. He is very selective about the clients he represents, Brilliance Audio, CD Unabridged and he sees something in Cassie she does not comprehend. Assigning 978-1423320777 her three tasks to complete before meeting the man he has in mind, 333 Cassie sets out to follow through. A light and lovely romance is just what the holiday needs and who could be better in the telling than Alexa Hamilton is a top New York District Attorney assigned to one Debbie Macomber? of the most notorious prosecutions in recent history, that of a serial Read by the crisp and clear tones of Tavia Gilbert, the story comes killer responsible for the rapes and deaths of over twenty young girls. to life with a richness I would not have known had I read the book. She is more than capable of handling this case, but it comes with built- Gilbert brings out the humor and angst each character has to offer. in dangers. Alexa is divorced and raising Savannah, a precocious Cassie's character felt just like a best friend; I wanted to help her along teenage daughter, alone, but things get sticky when Savannah's life is in any way I could. The tears, laughter and emotional highs and lows threatened with mysterious envelopes slipped under the door of their are very well portrayed by Gilbert. Brilliance, once again, presents the apartment. The only hope for her safety is to ship her to her father--in reader with a quality CD to treasure again and again. Charleston. Lettetia Elsasser Tom Beaumont has proven to be a weakling in the past--subservient to both his aging mother and his wife, two of the nastiest women in the Razor Sharp South. That weakness caused him to jilt Alexa and leave her and his baby daughter fending for themselves while he went back to his Fern Michaels previous wife and a new daughter. His Yankee daughter is not welcomed Read by Laural Merlington here. Yet, in the wake of danger to her, a spine is growing, and he lays Brilliance Audio, CD Unabridged down the law. 978-1423379772 Savannah, an intelligent, outgoing girl adapts to any surrounding. 3333 In time, she has almost all of her Savannah family eating from the palm of her hand. Plus, she has found a boy friend. Now Alexa is afraid she It's a new assignment for the Sisterhood; the President of the United is going to lose her daughter to the alluring South. States offers the women a full pardon if they will uncover the source of Southern Lights opens up with a bang--with the suspect in multiple information leading to a major sex scandal about to rock her re-election serial killings of young girls on the run--but just fizzles out. Nick plans. Justice is about to be served, Sisterhood style, by seven women Podehl aptly handles the multiple voices and accents, but this reviewer fighting for justice. Razor Sharp opens as Lizzie Fox, high-powered was surprised that a woman didn't take this role. The listener is attorney, takes on a new client in the form of a high profile Madame by schooled in the culture of Southern society, bless her heart, in a way the name of Lily Flowers. Her bordello is frequented by a prominent that it does not feel like an education. Washington who's who, and now she and her girls are in danger when Mildred Burkett

44 Affaire de Coeur January/February, 2010 Affaire de Coeur

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