The Hottest Ticket In Town – Kimberly Van Meter

The Hottest Ticket In Town

Kimberly Van Meter

Harlequin Blaze, Apr 21 2015, $5.50

ISBN: 9780373798490

Exhausted from her brutal yet unfinished tour with Atlanta coming up next week and from her demanding manager Trent Blackstone, burned out country music star Laci McCall flees after her latest sold-out gig in Memphis for her childhood haven, the Bradford Ranch in Woodsville, Kentucky.  At the same time Elite Protection Service co-owner Kane Dalton tells his brother and partner Rian to handle the Senator’s gig as he heads to the Bradford Ranch.  He further explains that Warren, who is a like a grandfather to the Dalton gang, asked him to watch the spread while the elderly man takes his wife Cora for medical treatment out of state.

Laci finds her first love Kane sleeping in her bed.  Stunned to see the female he never forgot, Kane knows leaving her again will destroy him; as he barely survived walking away from her when they were teens.  As they both recognize that they remain in love with one another, neither wants to consider the future.

The latest Wrong Bed romance (see Good With His hands by Tanya Michaels) is a heated second chance contemporary.  Trent is over the top of Black Mountain as he destroys the Golden Goose with an outrageous schedule; and Kane’s response to change the upcoming dates too simplistic and glib (though health-wise necessary) as more than just the avarice Svengali manager is impacted.  Still fans will want to obtain The Hottest Ticket In Town.

Harriet Klausner

A Seal’s Pleasure – Tawny Weber

A Seal’s Pleasure

Tawny Weber

Harlequin Blaze, Apr 21 2015, $5.50

ISBN: 9780373798476

Navy SEAL detonation expert Gabriel “Romeo” Thorne and eMagazine’s Tessa Monroe explosively met through their respective best friends Lieutenant Commander Mitch Donovan and Livi Kane (see A SEAL’s Secret).  Their second dynamite encounter is at Mitch and Livi’s wedding.

Each cannot understand what is going on as their feelings are in the troposphere when it comes to the other.  At the same time, Tessa and Gabriel deal with problems at the workplace; which each uses as a handy excuse proclaiming that they have no time for anything but a fling.  Still neither Gabriel nor Tessa wants to end their trysts as they struggle with the disease of love while hiding behind the façade of the best sex either ever had.

This Uniformly Hot! sequel stars two protagonists singing the refrain from “I’m Not In Love” (10Cc).  Although more insight into the leads’ apparently difficult youths would have strengthened the characterizations (or omit these hints entirely), readers will relish the heated relationship between Gabriel and Tessa fueled by the deadly Ds (desire and denial).

Harriet Klausner

From Best Friend To Bride – Jules Bennett

From Best Friend To Bride

Jules Bennett

Harlequin Special Edition, Apr 21 2015, $5.50

ISBN: 9780373658879

Stonerock, Tennessee residents, therapist Megan Richards and Police Chief Cameron St. John, first met and became friends in kindergarten.  Years have passed since they became best buddies; but each conceals from the other the same secret that they love their BFF but fears the revelation would nuke their friendship.

When Megan has a lucrative offer to practice in Memphis, she and Cam separately reconsider whether to reveal or not reveal their love though hesitant that the revelation could devastate their special bond more than a commute relationship would.  Still the cop and the therapist hesitate because each accepts if they tell their heart’s desire they cannot go back to the way it was; as revelations mean all or nothing.

The third St. Johns of Stonerock (see The Fireman’s Ready-Made Family and Dr. Daddy’s Perfect Christmas) romance is a warm jocular contemporary starring two pleasant protagonists and sensational secondary characters (their families and other townsfolk).  Readers will enjoy the leads’ dilemma between Friends and Lovers (artists: Gloria Loring and Carl Anderson; Words and Music by Paul Gordon and Jay Gruska); as we root for Megan and Cam to take a chance.

Harriet Klausner

Good Rake Is Hard To Find – Manda Collins

Good Rake Is Hard To Find

Manda Collins

St. Martin’s Paperbacks, Mar 31 2015, $7.99

ISBN: 9781250061065

One of the Lords of Anarchy four horsemen Jonathan Craven substantially leads another club member Frederick Lisle in a carriage race from Basildon to Dartford.  However, a third coach catches up to the former Napoleonic War veteran and as Jonathan tries to escape he crashes to his death with his last thoughts on letting down Nora.

His grieving sister Leonora believes her brother did not die in an accident, but instead was murdered due to his Lords of Anarchy association.  She wants to investigate but knows a woman will receive no cooperation.  Thus she makes her case with her former fiancé Frederick who agrees to help her infiltrate the club; but for Leonora to gain entrance they must pretend they are patching up their broken relationship.  As they work the case closely together, both know they remain in love; but Nora owes Freddy an explanation as to why she ended their betrothal.

The first Lords of Anarchy romantic mystery is a rousing Regency in which Manda Collins adroitly ties together the suspense and second chance at love subplots.  The fully developed amateur sleuths turn this into a tremendous historical as they work the dangerous case while feeling déjà vu of falling in love all over again.

Harriet Klausner

Gathered Waters – Cara Luecht

Gathered Waters

Cara Luecht

WhiteFire Publishing, Apr 15 2015, $14.99

http://www.whitefire-publishing.com

ISBN: 9781939023308

In 1880 Karlskrona, Sweden, believing he follows Scripture, Anders Modig takes a moral stand by giving newcomer Johan, ostracized by the Stockholm Lutheran Church, a place to stay.  Hiding his disappointment local Bishop Peterson congenially questions Anders re Johan.  Not long afterward, the Bishop ostracizes Anders for not tossing his guest out of the carriage house.

Although the Bishop is silent on Anders’ family, the townsfolk behave as if his pregnant wife Brianna and their two small children are pariahs too.  Treated by family and friends as undesirables, the Modig family leaves Sweden for the United States where they hope to find religious freedom to practice their beliefs as stated in the American Constitution.  In the States, along with others, the Modig family forms a church that tends to the less fortunate.

Gathered Waters is a fabulous Christian historical based on Cara Luecht’s ancestors fleeing their Swedish homeland for religious freedom.  Readers will respect and admire the frightened yet courageous lead couple who dive into uncertainty believing that the Lord will takes the plunge with them.

Harriet Klausner

When Grace Sings – Kim Vogel Sawyer

When Grace Sings

Kim Vogel Sawyer

WaterBrook Press, Mar 17 2015, $14.99

ISBN: 9780307731333

Chicago-based Real Scoop editor Ken assigns reporter Briley Forrester to look behind the kind pious façade of the Amish-Mennonite communities featured in their rival Illinois Times.  Briley heads to Arborville, Kansas believing when he uncovers the dirt he will be rewarded by becoming a featured journalist at the tabloid rather than a minor player buried in the middle of the rag.  In Arborville, Briley stays at Alexa Zimmerman’s Grace Notes Bed and Breakfast.  He learns she is not Old Order Mennonite but lives their lifestyle as her adopted mom Suzanne (see When Mercy Rains) is.  Attracted to each other, the guest and the hostess share in common childhood abandonment issues.

Steven Brungardt and Anna-Grace Braun are engaged.  However, he recently inherited his late grandfather’s farm in Arborville.  Though he prefers to be a teacher, he considers working the land to please his parents and his fiancée.  However, having learned that her biological parents reside in Arborville, Anna-Grace has doubts about relocating there as she does not want to meet them.

The second Zimmerman Restoration family drama is an exhilarating entry due to a three-dimensional ensemble cast.  Although like its predecessor the pleasant storyline lacks closure, When Grace Sings is a well-written novel that leaves the audience wanting the final story released yesterday.

Harriet Klausner

Raising The Stakes – Karen Rock

Raising The Stakes

Karen Rock

Harlequin Heartwarming, Apr 1 2015, $6.50

ISBN: 9780373367191

After a nomadic childhood and an attack in the Bronx, Vivienne Harris fled to the Adirondack’s farmhouse she inherited from her Great-Aunt Nancy and opened up Homestead Diner.  When she investigates a noise at her home that she thought might be mischievousness caused by either or both of her roommates, Jinx the half-blind cat and Scooter the geriatric deaf dog.  Instead Vivie finds a frightened bear cub eating her pies.

Though she thinks the house invader is as cute as a Button, Vivie fears the ferocious mother might be nearby.  The 911 operator sends Conservation Officer Liam Walsh to her farmhouse.  He warns her to be wary of poachers who orphaned the cub and strongly argues with the newcomer not to adopt the baby bear; but instead let him do the humane thing by killing the animal who is too young to survive in the wild.  Vivie not only wants to save Button, she knows she needs Liam to do it.

This is a pleasant rural romance starring three wounded warriors who find love greatly diminishes their emotional traumas.  The support cast at the diner, poachers and especially Vivie’s flat-mates add depth to a warm contemporary in which Liam ironically should quote WC Fields: “Never work with animals …” since Button steals the show and to a degree Vivie’s affection.

 

Harriet Klausner

Cavanaugh Fortune – Marie Ferrarella

Cavanaugh Fortune

Marie Ferrarella

Harlequin Romantic Suspense, Apr 1 2015, $5.50

ISBN: 9780373279135

Ignoring nepotism charges from those who he believes can’t meet the APD quality level, Aurora Police Chief Brian Cavanaugh assigns his second cousin police officer Valri Cavanaugh to assist lead detective Alex Brody on a murder investigation.  Promoting her to temporary detective; Brian explains to Valri her computer skills that recently led to solving a case are needed on who shot in the back gamer and alleged hacker Hunter Rogers and sledge hammered his laptop.

With his partner in the hospital, cynical Alex is irate that the boss dumps on him a bubbly relative with no experience.  To his astonishment, Valri proves more than helpful starting with salvaging info from the seemingly busted up hard drive.  As they work the case, the two cops try to ignore their growing feelings towards one another.

The latest Cavanaugh Justice romantic police procedural (see Cavanaugh Undercover, Cavanaugh Baby and Cavanaugh Hero) is an engaging whodunit due to a captivating mystery.  Valri’s temporary promotion feels wrong as I doubt she meets PD requirements and the image of impropriety is an important consideration Brian ignores; while the lead relationship follows the usual series path.  Still fans will relish in following the antics of the fighting and fussing officers as they investigate and fall in love.

Harriet Klausner

The Nanny Plan – Sarah M. Anderson

The Nanny Plan
Sarah M. Anderson
Harlequin Desire, Apr 1 2015, $5.25
ISBN: 9780373733798

Trish Hunter attends a lecture at San Francisco State University given by Silicon Valley’s latest “Boy Billionaire” twenty-eight year old Nate Longmire. However she is not there to hear him speak, but instead to obtain a matching donation to hers from the creator of SnAppShot to her One Child, One World charity since he claims that technology should make life better for everyone. Her stunt gets her in the door, but the results of due diligence on her charity by his assistant will determine whether he provides her funds. Moments after they say goodbye his mom calls from Kansas City to inform him that his older brother and sister-in-law died in an accident.

Two weeks later Trish arrives at his office for her appointment, but someone there mistakenly thinks she applied for the nanny job; so sends her to his house. When she arrives there, Trish finds Nate and his employee Rosita struggling with caring for his hysterical baby niece Jane. Trish quickly calms down the infant. Grateful Nate offers her, a sizable donation to her charity if she serves as Jane’s nanny for a month. Already attracted to each other, Nate and Trish fall in love, but their arrangement is for one month not a lifetime.

Based on a true occurrence by the founder of the Lakota Children Foundation (http://lakotachildren.org), this Billionaires and Babies contemporary (see Royal Heirs Required by Cat Shield) is an enjoyable family drama in which Jane’s needs overwhelm that of the adults. Readers will root for the billionaire geek and the caring nanny to make it; at a time when each recognizes what happens to baby Jane comes first and their adult love requires a new contract.

Harriet Klausner

Moonlight and Diamonds – Michele Hauf

Moonlight and Diamonds
Michele Hauf
Harlequin Nocturne, Apr 1 2015, $5.75
ISBN: 9780373009428

Though he loves Minnesota, werewolf Stryke Saint-Pierre looks forward to attending a wedding in Paris. Besides playing the tourist, Stryke hopes the city enables him to meet a female peer as his father expects him to start a new pack.

Rhys Hawke asks Stryke to do him a favor by picking up artifacts for him at the Order of the Stake and gives him a ticket to attend a private gallery. At the gallery, Stryke finds many socialites but none of his breed. Still he is attracted to the owner Blyss Sauveterre who decides he is the perfect mule since he will not be in France much longer. She plans to seduce him into giving a diamond to a demon in exchange for the elixir that conceals her inner essence. Everything goes wrong leading to demons hunting Stryke and Blyss.

The second Saint-Pierre urban fantasy romance (see Ghost Wolf) is a stupendous suspense starring An American Werewolf in Paris and the female who turns his dreams of romantic connection into a nightmarish connection. The metamorphosis of Blyss brings realism to the pleasurable paranormal romp as danger exponentially mounts for two shifters who, if they survive the demonic storm, have to be in love to consider wintering in Minnesota and été in Paris.

Harriet Klausner