The Virgin – Tiffany Reisz

The Virgin
Tiffany Reisz
Mira, Mar 31 2015, $14.95
ISBN 9780778317975

On the eve of their wedding in Scotland, dominatrix Nora Sutherlin the novelist and Father Søren, joined by Kingsley, chat about the year that changed everything. During that pivotal period in their lives, twentyish Elle (Nora’s nee name) and Kingsley left New York; each fleeing from their heartless master Søren.

Elle stayed with her mom at the latter’s convent in Upstate New York where she soon enjoyed a sexual relationship as the dom with a sub virgin nun Kyrie that led to the emergence of the author and dominatrix. Kingsley went to Haiti where he liberated Juliette from the French ambassador and fell in love with her.

The third Original Sinners: The White Years (see The Saint and The King) is a must read for series fans (see The Red Years) as The Virgin fills in the backstory of what happened during that critical year of change. The delightful Kingsley-Juliet subplot adds complexity to both characters especially the female; while the Elle-Kyrie segue lacks that same level of intensity perhaps because the much more mesmerizing mother-daughter relationship overwhelms it.

Harriet Klausner

Normal – Graeme Cameron

Normal
Graeme Cameron
Mira, Mar 31 2015, $24.95
ISBN 9780778318507

He methodically prepares for teenager Sarah. When he decides the time is right, he enters the eighteen-year-old chosen one’s house and murders her. Once his deed is done, the killer thoroughly cleans the home to insure he left behind no evidence that he committed the lethal home invasion. Everything went perfect until he goes to his van to leave the scene; his keys are locked inside.

Sarah’s executioner soon bumps into his victim’s friend Erica; whom he captures and incarcerates in his secret basement under the garage. As he improves his skills with his mantra practice makes perfect, the serial killer has his first major setback when he goes to buy food for his latest and meets Rachel the grocery store clerk. Stunned the predator knows he loves Rachel, but struggles with making the triangle work leading to errors that could end his career.

This is a dark jocular serial killer contemporary romance that amusingly satires both subgenres. Obviously not for everyone, those who embrace the premise of a psychopath suffering from the “Normal” emotion of love will want to read Graeme Cameron’s black romantic comedy.

Harriet Klausner

The Closer You Come – Gena Showalter

The Closer You Come
Gena Showalter
Harlequin HQN, Mar 31 2015, $7.99
ISBN 9780373779628

In Strawberry Valley, Oklahoma, Brook Lynn Dillon has spent a lifetime getting her older sister Jessie Kay out of one trouble after another. So she is not surprised to learn that intoxicated Jessie Kay is at the flat shared by three roommates (Jase Hollister, Lincoln West and Beck Ockley). Without causing further problems, Brook Lynn extracts her drunken sister from the bachelors’ pad though to her astonishment she is attracted to Jase.

An ex-con who spent years behind bars for manslaughter, starting over Jase is even more amazed that he wants seemingly straight-laced Brook Lynn. He weighs asking her out against staying single; as he begins his new life without commitments except for his vow of no criminal activity. Rationalizing she will reject him the moment she learns of his deadly past, Jase tries but fails to ignore his feelings.

This Original Heartbreakers Sooner romance (see e-novella: The One You Want) is an appealing contemporary as the audience meets the prime series cast and the small-town when Brook Lynn crashes Jase’s residence like infantry charging the enemy with a rescue in mind. The key to this superb second chance at life is the depth of the intermingled and somewhat mangled relationships between the protagonists, her sister and his roommates; especially to the delight of fans how love befuddles Brook Lynn and Jase.

Harriet Klausner

Part Time Cowboy – Maisey Yates

Part Time Cowboy
Maisey Yates
Harlequin HQN, Mar 31 2015, $7.99
ISBN 9780373779598

A decade ago, as an out of control teen with a record Sadie Miller left Copper Ridge, Oregon for good. Now ten years later, Sadie returns home hoping to start over. On her first day back in town, Sadie runs into the one person she planned to avoid at least until she settles in; Deputy Sheriff Eli Garrett, the rigid rancher who arrested her just before she fled Copper Ridge.

Having enough tsuris to last several lifetimes from his siblings, Eli has no doubt the bad seed remain the same felonious troublemaker she was as a teen; but frustrated by his attraction to Sadie in spite of his upper head warning him not to. Making matters more difficult on his already out of control libido is Sadie has taken over the B&B on his family ranch. Likewise Sadie loathes her yearning for the by the book cop to kiss her.

This Copper Ridge Oregonian romance (see e-novella Should Have Been A Cowboy) is an entertaining contemporary gender war between two amiable opposites in love. The storyline starts leisurely enabling readers to meet the key series players and the rustic locale, but once we learn who’s who, the pace accelerates into a warm humorous drama.

Harriet Klausner

Manhunt – Tyler Anne Snell

Manhunt
Tyler Anne Snell
Harlequin Intrigue, Mar 17 2015, $5.50
ISBN: 9780373698295

Culpepper, Florida Police Detectives Braydon Thatcher and Tom Langdon lead the investigation into missing Amanda Alcaster, whose mom filed the missing person’s report. Cal Green the mechanic calls the station to report his conscientious secretary Trixie Martin has not come to work in two days. In his office, irate out-of-towner Sophia Hardwick demands Braydon find her older sister Lisa. Sophia explains Lisa failed to visit her to celebrate her birthday and the latter’s boyfriend Richard Vega called her asking if she was with her; they believe that flighty Lisa was too happy to run away.

Braydon realizes the three females seem to share nothing in common except vanishing and that this case eerily reminds him of what happened over a decade ago. As the cops make inquiries, Braydon makes grilled cheese for two. However, Braydon fears for Sophia’s safety and what will happen to the vanished trio if it not too late already.

This is an exciting romantic suspense starring two wonderful protagonists whose first meeting is awesome. Even as we know who the culprit is long before the cops do, the police procedural Manhunt grips subgenre fans from the moment the she-cat rips skin from the detective and never slows down until a terse confrontation.

Harriet Klausner

The Tomb: A Novel of Martha – Stephanie Landsem

The Tomb: A Novel of Martha
Stephanie Landsem
Howard Books/Simon and Schuster, Mar 17 2015, $14.99
ISBN: 9781451689129

Everyone respects Martha as the paragon of Jewish women who looks over the well-being of her family, and is kind and considerate to neighbors and strangers. However, Martha conceals the secret of when she sinned. At her sister Mary’s wedding, she met and fell in love with Isa the musician; they shared an intimacy with his promise to return to her, but he never did.

Seven years has passed since Martha’s transgression that only her brother Lazarus knows how she fell from grace. The family patriarch Lazarus knows he is dying and wants to insure he meets his death bed vow he made to his dad to take care of Martha. Thus he arranges a marriage between his sibling and pious Pharisee Simon because he believes the latter will forgive Martha. She wants to beg the alleged Messiah her cousin Jesus to save her brother, but fears Simon’s holy wrath starting with threatening to reveal her wrongdoing, a stoning sin. At the same time near the Galilee, Jesus miraculously heals Isa from the demons that have tormented him for years. Isa heads to see Martha praying that he is not too late.

The third Living Water biblical series (see The Thief and The Well) is a terrific tale that focuses on the trials and tribulations of Lazarus’ sister Martha. Driven by the nurturing yet haunted lead female who risks her life and soul to save her brother, readers will appreciate this entertaining drama as Stephanie Landsem enables the audience to visit first century Judea through the eyes of pious Martha and to a lesser degree her siblings.

Harriet Klausner

Cursed – Lisa Childs

Cursed

Lisa Childs

Harlequin Nocturne, Mar 1 2015, $5.75

ISBN: 9780373009411

In Copper Creek, Michigan frightened Raven calls FBI agent Seth Hughes insisting she is in danger from Maria Cooper.  Seth rushes to the town knowing that whenever Cooper reads someone’s future they die very soon afterward.  The Fed questions Maria, as the only suspect in a series of homicides.

To his astonishment as he arrived in Copper Creek believing she is the stone cold killer, Maria persuades him that she is not a serial killing witch hunter and in fact fears the psychopath targing her too; even as she poorly conceals her fear from the agent that he might be this maniac.  Teaming up, Maria and Seth seek the deadly culprit while also starting to fall in love.  At the same time her worried sisters (see Haunted, Damned and Persecuted), whom she fled from in order to keep them safe, search for her.

The first Witch Hunt tale in almost eight years will thrill fans of the siblings.  The characters are top-rate especially the lead couple and the action never slows down until the final confrontation.  Cursed is an enjoyable urban romantic fantasy.

Harriet Klausner

Raintree: Oracle – Linda Windstead Jones

Raintree: Oracle

Linda Windstead Jones

Harlequin Nocturne, Mar 1 2015, $5.75

ISBN: 9780373009404

After years of failing to control her always too late to help others visions, PTSD sufferer Echo Raintree the “Prophet” decides she needs help from an outside expert after her clan’s attempts failed.  Thus she leaves her North Carolina Mountain sanctuary for Cloughban, Ireland to plead with Ryder Duncan the wizard to train her on how to turn her curse into a gift.

Struggling to find the remote village that GPS fails to locate, Echo, after several wrong turns, arrives in Cloughban.  She enters the Drunken Stone Pub where at first sight Rye knows the outsider will destroy his blissfully predictable life.  He wants this Raintree to leave him and his eleven year old daughter Cassidy alone.  After discouragement from the wizard, Echo leaves the pub only to encounter and receive encouragement from Cassidy.  When Echo reenters the pub, she collapses into a visionary fit.  As the “Stray” and the “Princess” work on her affliction and at the pub, other visitors monitor the pair while planning to use Cassidy’s skills for their evil intent.  In love with father and daughter, the Raintree Prophet risks her life to keep both safe.

After a several years hiatus, the return to the Raintree clan (see Inferno by Linda Howard, Sanctuary by Beverly Barton and Haunted by Linda Winstead Jones) is a charming romantic urban fantasy set in a terrific Brigadoon-like locale (though Ireland instead of Scotland).  What makes the tale engage the audience is the fully-developed cast consisting of the magical lead trio, the eccentric villagers, malevolent meanies, and in very small roles her concerned clan.

Harriet Klausner

Killshadow Road – Paula Graves

Killshadow Road

Paula Graves

Harlequin Intrigue, Mar 17 2015, $5.50

ISBN: 9780373698257

Gates operative Nick Darcy has been placed on administrative leave while an inquiry occurs into whether he leaked info that placed another agent in peril.  Wounded and being hunted by the Blue Ridge Infantry and the Feds, FBI undercover agent McKenna Rigsby seeks help from a trusted old fling Nick.

She explains to her host that either her Knoxville field office boss Darryl Boyle or her partner Cade Landry betrayed her to the militia group she had infiltrated.  As she heals from her wounds and his boss gives him tacit approval to guard her, Nick and McKenna realize they have been in love with each other for eight years; but first must deal with who inside the FBI wants her dead and why; as well as the militia.

The fifth Gates romantic suspense (see Deception Lake, Boneyard Ridge, Crybaby Falls and Dead Man Curve) is an entertaining contemporary.  The lead operatives contain polar opposite attitudes; he is rigidly a SOP-hound always by the book and she ignores rules preferring freelancing.  The protagonists’ growing relationship makes for an engaging entry but also leaves the action much more diminished than usual.

Harriet Klausner

Mist of Midnight – Sandra Byrd

Mist of Midnight
Sandra Byrd
Howard Books, Mar 10 2015, $14.99
ISBN: 9781476717869

In 1858, Rebecca Ravenshaw grieves the loss of her missionary parents Sir Charles and Constance Ravenshaw killed during a Mutiny. Accompanied by her newly hired chaperone Mrs. MacAlister, she leaves Bombay to return to her homeland England for the first time in two decades. A couple of months later in England, Rebecca meets with her father’s solicitor Walter Hightower, but he and others think she is a cruel charlatan as the real Rebecca recently committed suicide at the family estate Headbourne; even her companion doubts who she is. She also learns that a stranger Captain Luke Whitfield has taken residence at her family estate.

Highmore interrogates her and says the London Missionary Society will send someone in a few months to prove the preposterous imposter’s claim is false. Whitfield allows Rebecca to stay at Headbourne until he assumes her scam is exposed. The staff treats her with contempt and incidents targeting Rebecca begin happening. Falling in love with her host who she fears might have killed the fake and soon her too, the beleaguered Rebecca turns to the Lord and her late mom for comfort and guidance.

Mist of Midnight is an exhilarating Gothic romantic suspense. The impact on the three-dimensional heroine by the identity theft is brilliantly executed as Sandra Byrd authors a taut Victorian thriller.

Harriet Klausner