First Time In Forever – Sarah Morgan

First Time In Forever

Sarah Morgan

Harlequin HQN, Feb 24 2015, $7.99

ISBN: 9780373785049

The late Hollywood superstar Lana Fox named her half-sister Emily Donovan as guardian to her six years old daughter Lizzie.  Angry with her deceased sibling for saddling her with responsibilities she feels inadequate to deal with starting with her niece and worse the paparazzi feeding frenzy, Emily and her charge flee to Puffin Island off the Maine coast.

Following the deaths of his parents, as the oldest offspring Ryan Cooper gave up his youth to raise his younger siblings.  Once his responsibility ended, he fled Puffin Island; vowing to be a globetrotting journalist with no emotional attachments and never returning home.  However, the Pulitzer Prize winning Ryan is back on the island seeking escape.

When Ryan and Emily meet, each is attracted to the other.  However, though he empathizes with the over her head single “mom” and likes the vulnerable little girl, Ryan tries to keep his distance from both; but his heart begs to differ.

The first Puffin Island contemporary romance is a wonderful family drama starring three hurting individuals who reluctantly find comfort and emotional support with each other.  Character-driven by the lead trio, readers will cherish their fumbling efforts to come together.

Harriet Klausner

Fiercombe Manor – Kate Riordan

Fiercombe Manor

Kate Riordan

Harper, Feb 17 2015, $25.99

ISBN: 9780062332943

In 1932 London, twentyish Alice Eveleigh falls in love with a married man.  Their tryst leaves her pregnant and except for her ashamed parents alone since he lied about a divorce.  To save their foolish daughter’s reputation, they tell everyone that Alice is a recent widow and exile her to her mother’s friend Fiercombe Manor housekeeper Mrs. Jelphs in the Cotswold.

At Fiercombe Manor, Alice finds the diary of Lady Elizabeth Stanton, an ancestor of current heir Tom Stanton.  In 1898 pregnant Elizabeth prays her second child is a boy to satisfy the unyielding demands of her domineering spouse who scorns his firstborn Isabel for being the wrong gender.  As Alice and Tom become friends, the visitor wonders what happened at the end of the last century to Elizabeth and her two offspring.

Though the mirrored decades-apart subplots technique has been used a lot in recent years, Kate Riordan’s execution is lively with the unsympathetic Mrs. Jelphs as the link between the sympathetic mothers.  The historical roles of women in 1898 and 1932 make for a mesmerizing comparison while on the other hand the mystery fails to flow as nimbly as their plight.

Harriet Klausner

Wild Horses – B.J. Daniels

Wild Horses

B.J. Daniels

Harlequin HQN, Feb 24 2015, $7.99

ISBN: 9780373779567

In Montana Olivia Hamilton and Cooper Barnett are in love, but the engaged couple also vehemently argue too much.  During a heated fight, angry Olivia drives off in a snowstorm, but has an accident.  A stranger saves her life only to drug and rape her.

Soon after her harrowing experience, someone blackmails Olivia; she believes the extortionist is her sexual predator.  Pregnant she tells her fiancé of the assault and that the fetus may not be his.  Stunned and depressed, Cooper reacts poorly to Olivia’s revelations.  He comes to his senses when Cooper realizes the danger his beloved faces.  Turning to the law to find the rapist, Copper relies on himself to keep his Olivia safe.

Moving from the Beartooth saga, B.J. Daniels provides a satisfying Montana Hamiltons’ opening act.  The storyline is at its touching best when it focuses on the bickering yet loving lead couple.  However, the romantic mystery loses some momentum when the plot falls to a first book syndrome by veering into the lives of several other characters (many of whom I assume will headline future dramas).  Still Wild Horses is a solid Big Sky novel.

Harriet Klausner

A Real Prince – Debbie Macomber

A Real Prince

Debbie Macomber

Mira, Feb 24 2015, $7.99

ISBN: 9780778315513

“The Bachelor Prince.”  San Lorenzo is in financial trouble due to the nearby strife in the Balkans shutting down the only close international airport and thus keeping tourists away.  Heir to the throne his family has kept for seven centuries and a Duke University grad, Prince Stefano Giorgio Paolo travels to America seeking a very wealthy bride to keep the country from declaring bankruptcy.  His secretary selects shipping magnate’s daughter Priscilla Rutherford as the bride.  However, in the States the royal falls in love with Hope Jordan who can save his heart, but not his kingdom.

“Yesterday’s Hero.”  Septuagenarian department head Dr. Brewster explains to marine biologist Leah Talmadge that the Diamantina Islands leadership has a long history of Puritan ethics and will not allow opposite sex singles to share a room.  Thus she and photographer Cain Hawkins agree to a marriage of convenience that they agree ends when they finish their whales’ expedition.  On the islands neither expected to fall in love.

These reprints of 1994 and 1986 romances respectively are likable tales that follow the most likely courses.  Due to the background, ironically each reads like a historical.

Harriet Klausner

Taking Fire – Lindsay McKenna

Taking Fire

Lindsay McKenna

Harlequin HQN, Feb 24 2015, $7.99

ISBN: 9780373785056

In the Hindu Kush, hermitic Marine Corp Sergeant Khatereh Shinwari observes the Taliban setting up an assault on a SEAL team of four.  Her handler tells her no help is coming; at the same Petty Officer Michael Tarik learns from his Camp Bravo home base no immediate air rescue is available.  Though she risks her safety by exposing herself, Khat the sniper begins killing the enemy.  In spite of her efforts, Michael is injured in an RPG explosion while his three companions flee.  Khat brings Mike into the safety of her cave where she works on his head wound and a broken arm.  As he heals, Khat and Mike forge a bond until his air rescue arrives.

Khat arrives at Camp Bravo where she and Mike continue to fall in love.  However, she soon retreats to her mountain sanctuary, but Mike arranges for her to use Camp Bravo for supplies.  He soon joins her on the mountain seeking geographical Intel until they separate when she targets the Taliban.

The seventh Shadow Warrior military romantic thriller (see Never Surrender and Breaking Point) is perhaps the best entry in an awesome series due to courageous “Krazy Khat” who makes a strong case for women in combat.  Mike proves her equal as he works on the most difficult task of his life; overcoming his beloved’s penchant for solitude.

Harriet Klausner

White Gardenia – Belinda Alexandra

White Gardenia

Belinda Alexandra

Gallery Books, Feb 17 2015, $16.00

ISBN: 9781476790312

Having fled their homeland after the Tsar abdicated, many White Russians settle on the border in Harbin, China.  There Victor Grigorovich Kozlov and Alina Pavlovna meet, marry and have a child Anya.  When Anya turns thirteen her father dies in an accident.  Not long after his death, Russian Communists take control of Harbin from the Japanese occupied Chinese; severely mistreating their former countrymen.  Incarcerated Alina returns home to Mother Russia to most likely die in a labor camp and abusive Tang possesses Anya.  Family friends smuggle her out of Harbin.

In Shanghai Anya stays with Moscow-Shanghai nightclub owner and opium addict Sergei and his avaricious wife Amelia. When their ward turns fifteen, she begins to work at her guardian’s nightclub where she meets manager Dimitri.  A year later, Anya and Dimitri marry.  Her husband deserts her when the Communists seize Shanghai forcing all foreign devils out of the country.  Anya manages to get to The Philippines where she makes new friends amongst the Russian exiles in a Tubabao refugee camp before relocating in Australia.

This reprint of a mid-twentieth century epic grips the fans with a profound look at what happened to White Russian expatriates decades after they fled their homeland.  The storyline starts vivid yet fast-paced; slows down in the middle though retaining the vibrancy; and accelerates with an exhilarating climax.  Real events and a strong support cast anchor Anya’s saga; as she struggles to survive in a seemingly ever changing but ever cruel world while craving one impossible dream: reuniting with her mother.

Harriet Klausner

Search and Seduce – Sara Jane Stone

Search and Seduce

Sara Jane Stone

Harlequin Blaze, Feb 17 2015, $5.50

ISBN: 9780373798391

A year and half has passed since SEAL Darren Benton died in combat.  Though still mourning her loss and needing to honor her late spouse, his grieving war widow Amy is finally ready to move on.  Her plan is to open up a facility to breed and train military war dogs.  Family, friends and her deceased husband’s military cronies see her as a grieving widow with no chance of success.

The only exception is Darren’s best friend Air Force pararescue jumper Mark Rhodes, who from a Theater distance encourages her to go for it.  Over videos, the widow and the jumper begin to fall in love.  However, both fear losing their friendship when they meet in person for the first since the funeral as Mark arrives for her grand opening.

This Uniformly Hot! military romance (see Command Performance) is an interesting contemporary starring two fully developed protagonists and the memory of the beloved person who connects them.  Although the premise is not new, Sara Jane Stone provides a pleasing rendition.

Harriet Klausner

A Conard County Baby – Rachel Lee

A Conard County Baby

Rachel Lee

Harlequin Special Edition, Feb 17 2015, $5.50

ISBN: 9780373658725

Carrying her fiancé’s child conceived when he raped her and receiving no support from her wealthy parents who disown her for ending her engagement, Hope Conroy fled Dallas with no plan except escape.  She applies for a nanny position on a Conard County, Wyoming ranch.  Though Cash Cashford has doubts the beautiful Texan can handle his angry thirteen years old daughter Angie as she seems more like a runaway debutant, he hires her out of desperation.

Surprising herself as much as Cash, big city Hope fits in somehow in the rustic environ.  She especially gets along with Angie; or at least as good as anyone can.  As the two adults fall in love, both tacitly agree her unborn and his teen come before their desire.

The latest Conard County: The Next Generation (see The Widow of Conard County and Reuniting with the Rancher) is a pleasing character-driven contemporary starring a three-dimensional trio; especially the traumatized heroine who lives up to her name by never giving up Hope.  Fans will appreciate Rachel Lee’s fine ranch family drama.

Harriet Klausner

The Tell-Tale Heart – Jill Dawson

The Tell-Tale Heart
Jill Dawson
Harper Perennial, Feb 10 2015, $14.99
ISBN: 9780062348807

Fifty years old university lecturer Patrick spent decades of debauchery until his doctor tells him he has no more than six months to live due to a severely damaged heart. Patrick receives a second chance when a healthy fifteen years old boy dies in a tragic accident. At Papworth Hospital using the beating heart technique, doctors successfully transplant the lad’s organ inside Patrick.

Once recovered from the surgery, Patrick finds what pleasured him for years now leaves him ennui. He discusses this with his doctor who insists no evidence exists that cellular memories from the donor comes with the organ. Needing to know about the lad, Patrick learns he has Littleport resident Drew Beamish’s heart beating inside him. With an obsession to learn who was this teen who gave him a second chance, Patrick looks into Drew’s life and that of present and past relations including the early eighteenth-century relative Willis involved in a bread riot.

The engaging Tell-Tale Heart is an enthralling story that provides readers with perspectives from the recipient, the donor and the ancestor. There are two intriguing overarching themes: that the austere Fens has a thriving beautiful ecosystem for those looking beyond the bleak; and whether it is cellular or not a transplant changes the recipient’s outlook (think of Ghost Whisperer’s episode Mended Hearts) in many ways including a degree of separation to the late donor as close of not more than twins share. Although the Willis subplot adds depth to the premise of expanded memories beyond one’s experiences; it also interferes with the more appealing contemporary subplots.

Harriet Klausner

Rough Justice – Sarah Castile

Rough Justice
Sarah Castile
St. Martin’s Paperbacks, Feb 3 2015, $7.99
ISBN: 9781250056603

In Montana Sinner’s Tribe Motorcycle Club leader Jagger Knight emphasize strict adherence to the rules that he expects the membership to follow just as he does. He also avoids emotional attachments ever since his beloved was assassinated as part of a failed coup d’état.

Arianne Hunter is the first daughter of volatile Viper, the divine right chief of the Black Jack MC. After a lifetime of fearing what her father especially knowing what he did to her mother, she wants out of the lunatic testosterone milieu; but cannot leave behind her addicted brother Jeff, who will do anything for paternal approval.

Arsonists burn down the Sinner’s clubhouse and shoot a member Gunner in the leg; but they capture one of the intruders. Axle wants the arsonist dead to send a message, but are stunned when their prisoner is female. Jagger and Arianne are attracted to each other, but both ironically know he must kill her or face open hostility from fifty bikers. She insists she did not set the fire and his heart wants to believe her, but this enemy combatant was caught right there. Even as Arianne remains the prime suspect, Jagger concludes a member cut a Faustian deal that betrays him and the club.

The first Sinner’s Tribe Motorcycle Club is a contemporary West Side Story set in the world of the Friends of Anarchy. Sarah Castile cleverly interweaves club rules into the narrative, which enables the audience to better understand the subculture. Fast-paced from the opening inferno and never slowing down until the final confrontation, readers will feel transported inside a dangerous environs where loyalty is the prime commandment.

Harriet Klausner