Valley Of Decision – Lynn Gentry

Valley Of Decision

Lynn Gentry

Simon & Schuster/Howard Books, Sep 22 2015, $14.99

ISBN: 9781476746418

Several years have passed since Dr. Lisbeth Hasting left behind her beloved barrister Cyprianus Thracius in third century Roman controlled Carthage.  Both agreed to the separation to keep their daughter safe since his beloved offspring would be an Achilles’ heel for Cyprianus as the leader of the persecuted (by Rome) Christians.  Though she fiercely misses her mate, Lisbeth raises their child and uses her medical practice to control her sadness.

Disappointed with her mom’s lack of effort over the last decade to bring her daddy home; teenage Maggie’s paternal obsession leads her to take a radical course to persuade her father that his family (at least her as she doubts her mom cares) needs him.  In Carthage, Maggie finds her grandmother accused of murder, but her attempts at rescue leads to a riot.  The Proconsul demands the death of the troublemaking teen mastermind and her rebellious family.

The third Christian Chronicles of Carthage saga (see Return to Exile and Healer of Carthage) is a complex time travel family drama, but has a “déjà vu all over again” (the late great Yogi Berra) feel to the overarching theme.  Well written climaxing with a terrific unexpected but reasonable late twist, Valley Of Decision is a fine finish to a fabulous trilogy.

Harriet Klausner

The Gilded Life of Matilda Duplaine – Alex Brunkhorst

The Gilded Life of Matilda Duplaine

Alex Brunkhorst

MIRA, Sep 22 2015, $26.99

ISBN: 9780778317531

With the death of legendary Hollywood studio chief Joel Goldman, Los Angeles Times editor Phil Rubenstein, wanting a retrospective article, sends a low-level reporter Thomas Cleary to obtain quotes from the deceased’s fiftyish daughter Lily and other “guests”.  Rubenstein expects Cleary will fail re Lily who loathes journalists, but might get something useful from the intoxicated at Goldman’s Bel Air estate.

Upon meeting the reporter, Lily likes his Milwaukee Catholic honesty.  To his astonishment, she asks Thomas to stay for dinner.  At the repast, Thomas meets VIPs and their mates.  They all like the Midwesterner and invite him to special events to boost his career.  When Thomas attends a fundraiser at the Duplaine estate, no one else is there except Matilda Duplaine.  Though meeting for the first time, they talk for hours; he likes her but she bewilders him.  As they begin clandestine meetings, Matilda realizes she must leave home for the first time ever in her life if she is to continue to see Thomas.  They go to Hawaii, but his curiosity gets the better of him as he seeks to solve the gilded enigma he loves.

The Gilded Life of Matilda Duplaine is a captivating Hollywood drama that reads like Daphne du Maurier’s Rebecca in a Jackie Collins setting.  Fans will empathize with Cleary who struggles with a desire to join the exclusive Hollywood club; yet also believes at the same time he is a minnow swimming amidst sharks.  However, it is the mystery of Matilda that keeps the audience’s attention because, like Cleary, we want to know more about her.

Harriet Klausner

Dragon’s Promise – Denise Lynn

Dragon’s Promise

Denise Lynn

Harlequin Nocturne, Sep 1 2015, $5.75

ISBN: 9780373009534

Unlike his older brothers Braeden (see Dragon’s Lair) and Cameron (see Dragon’s Curse) who embraced their changeling wizard status, twentyish Sean Drake only wanted to be an ordinary human.  However, one year ago, reality changed Sean’s hopes when he shifted into a dragon for the first time.  Now he considers returning to his family Dragon Lair after years away.

In a bar in the Detroit area, Sean’s inner dragon marks Caitlin St. George as his.  Though confused by their attraction they share a one night stand before going their separate ways.  Pregnant, Caitlin’s parents plan to give the baby away and marry her to a man who will control her worst urges.  When Nathan the wizard kidnaps their infant, a desperate Caitlin informs Sean that he sired a child who was abducted.  Avoiding Caitlin the dragon-slayer for distracting obvious reasons, Sean the dragon pursues Nathan in order to rescue his offspring and slay the abductor.

The third Drake romantic urban fantasy is a suspenseful super finish to the trilogy starring in this one the ultimate star-crossed lovers (her DNA demands fighting and slaying dragons like him and his to flight from her).  Lynn world once again seems real especially the Drake family tree, but it is the protagonists who make this a winner as natural enemies united by their save their baby quest and love.

Harriet Klausner

Canadian Wolf – Linda O. Johnston

Canadian Wolf

Linda O. Johnston

Harlequin Nocturne, Sep 1 2015, $5.75

ISBN: 9780373009527

Aware of the success of Alpha Force (see Loyal Wolf), Canada wants a home-grown team of shapeshifters to work on cases to similar those performed by this unique American military unit.  Thus the brass assigns Alpha Force Lieutenant Selena Jennay to help the Royal Canadian Mounted Police to create their own shapeshifting team led by purebred human Sergeant Major Owen Dewirter.

Having had a dangerous experience with a shifter; the Canadian accepts the existence of the subspecies; but rejects the premises of changing without a full moon stimulus and retaining human cognizance in the beast form.  To quickly provide him with proof of assertions, Selena changes into her wolf.  Though he distrusts Selena and others like her, Owen insists on a real field test: rescue kidnap victims, catch their abductors and expose the traitor inside their team.  Falling in love was not part of the mission.

The latest Alpha Force police procedural urban fantasy romance (see Untamed Wolf and Undercover Wolf) provides newness with the international twist and the gender-bending lead couple.  Although the storyline starts somewhat slowly ironically due to the two fresh spins, the appealing leads and support cast make for an interesting romantic suspense.

Harriet Klausner

Teasing Her Seal – Anne Marsh

Teasing Her Seal
Anne Marsh
Harlequin Blaze, Sep 15 2015, $5.50
ISBN: 9780373798674

Their current mission abruptly aborted, US Navy SEAL Lieutenant Commander Gray Jackson and his unit immediately head to Belize where they will go undercover at luxurious Fantasy Island. Their new assignment is to capture a drug runner. Gray obtains a position as a massage therapist.

Unemployed emergency room surgeon Laney Parker leaves behind her cheating fiancée and her former six days a week trauma job in San Francisco to go on her nonrefundable honeymoon alone at Fantasy Island. When the masseur massages her, Laney and Gray think of heaven. Neither expected much more than a heated fling, but love enters the equation.

This Uniformly Hot! (see Anne Marsh’s Wicked Secrets) contemporary is a heated romance, but never obtains the level of blazing scorcher anticipated from what readers learn early on about Fantasy Island (though hotter than Mr. Roarke’s version). Still the audience will enjoy the mental and physical massages between the dazed doctor and the stunned SEAL as love leaves both fantasizing about happily ever after.

Harriet Klausner

High Country Hideout – Elle James

High Country Hideout
Elle James
Harlequin Intrigue, Sep 15 2015, $5.50
ISBN: 9780373698615

Soldier Angus Ketchum lost a leg during his fourth tour in Afghanistan. Covert Cowboys, Inc. hires the veteran though Angus cannot understand why Hank Derringer took on a Wounded Warrior as a field operative. Sexagenarian Last Chance Ranch foreman CW Reinhardt contacted his military buddy Derringer to provide protection for his boss Widow Reggie Davis and her five years old son Tad because of increasingly dangerous occurrences.

Derringer assigns Ketchum, who worked on a Texas ranch, as an undercover cowhand at the Colorado Rockies spread protecting Reggie and Tad. He meets the owner in the field when he rescues her from spooked cattle only to have her yell at him. Reggie has no money to pay Angus, but hesitantly even after CW’s support, provides room and board for Angus and even more reluctantly his dog Ranger. When the peril mounts, the veteran and the canine rise to the occasion to keep safe the woman and child they adore.

The seventh Covert Cowboys Inc. romantic suspense (see Navy Seal Newlywed) is a pleasant contemporary in which for much of the storyline the emphasis is on caring relationships. There is action especially late in the plot, but the falling in love interplay between the Widow and the “One-Legged Cowboy” takes center stage.

Harriet Klausner

Running Wild – Susan Anderson

Running Wild
Susan Anderson
Harlequin HQN, Aug 25 2015, $7.99
ISBN: 9780373788460

To escape temporarily from his overwhelming family, American Finn Kavanagh vacations in a small South American country El Tigre. To wash away some of his travel frustrations he stops in a cantina in the capital Santa Rosa when the beautiful blonde strolls into the bar. Stunned not only to see an apparent American female here, but even more astonishing is his desire for this stranger.

Magdalene Deluca arrived in her childhood home Santa Rosa searching for her missing missionary parents in spite of them practically abandoning her when she was a young teen. Following her as she leaves the cantina, Finn rescues Magdalene from a kidnapping attempt. He also joins her on her search and rescue mission; while the cartel targets her and by extension him.

Running Wild is an action-packed Amazonian romantic suspense starring two amiable leads (Finn was a support character in the Sisterhood Diaries) with polar opposite family issues. Although the protagonists are too perfect especially the blending of their specific skills even as the romance supersedes the danger, readers will relish this “rumble in the jungle” (hard to believe forty-one years have passed).

Harriet Klausner

The Puppy Proposal – Katie Meyer

The Puppy Proposal

Katie Meyer

Harlequin Special Edition, Sep 15 2015, $5.50

ISBN: 9780373659180

Nic Caruso arrives in Paradise Isle, Florida to assess the locale as his family’s potential next mega resort.  When Nic rescues Murphy, a dog who lives up to his “legal” name, he also meets local veterinary technician Jillian Everett.

To his amazement, Nic finds Jillian so alluring that he ignores his mantra of family first.  She wants to believe he is her Prince Charming, but after a childhood of foster care Jillian distrusts everyone, but especially handsome charmers who always have a devious agenda.  While they fall in love; he knows the Caruso family construction project to lure tourists here will end his relationship with Jillian as her Paradise will become lost.  While he struggles between his close-knit family and the love of his life, Jillian remains a doubting cynic that anyone truly wants her permanently at their side.

This engaging contemporary stars two opposites in love and a page stealing matchmaking canine; and ably supported by a robust secondary cast (his kin and her two future book leads BFFs).  Though somewhat philosophically passive as the lead couple separately reflects back on their respective lives of with and without a loving family; the first Paradise Animal Clinic romance is a sunny delight.

Harriet Klausner

Twice Blessed – Barbara Cameron

Twice Blessed

Barbara Cameron

Abingdon Press, Sep 15 2015, $14.99

ISBN: 9781630881115

“Her Sister’s Shadow.”  Twins Katie and Rosie Stoltzfus have always done everything together.  Currently, they work at an Amish store and own Two Peas in A Pod selling canned vegetables and fruits grown in their garden.  They love and adore each other, but the more introverted Rosie wants some time away from “Her Sister’s Shadow.”  When she meets Jacob, Rosie feels he is the one; but doubts he notice her when Katie lights up the world.

“His Brother’s Keeper.” Twins Mark and Ben Fisher have two different personalities but both love their childhood friend Ruth.  Ben is heartbroken because he knows he is wrong to covet his bruder’s fiancée, but cannot stop himself from loving her.  When the brothers drive a buggy, a speeding truck heads towards them on their side of the road before crashing into them.  At the hospital Ruth identifies semiconscious Ben as her Mark; while the real Mark lies comatose.  Though he knows he should not, Ben fails to correct the mistake because selfishly he wants Ruth at his bedside.

These affable Amish holiday romances star two different sets of identical twins.  Even with straightforward and somewhat similar plots, readers will sing “Oh, the weather outside is frightful, but the fire is so delightful …” (Let It Snow by Sammy Cahn and Jule Styne); as Barbara Cameron warms her readers with Twice Blessed comfy Christmas contemporaries.

Harriet Klausner

Perfect Reflection – Karen Wiesner

Perfect Reflection

Karen Wiesner

Lulu.com, Aug 19 2015, $14.95

ISBN: 9781312395589

In Peaceful, Wisconsin A&A Design Elaina Houston reflects back to her childhood in which her parents demanded 24/7 perfect behavior (as defined by them) from her.  She tried to live up to the parental paragon but failed as no person could meet the expectations demanded by her father and mother.  Eventually she gave up attempting to live someone else’s fantasy at the cost of internal tsuris; though since she quit trying Elaina almost always focuses on the bad from her past while ignoring the good.  Her only reliefs from self-induced misery are her belief in the Lord, and her Odd Jobs co-worker and BFF Ethan Lynwood as he likes the “real” Elaina.

Super-egotistical Ethan believed in his unfailing genius that led him to make terrible errors that hurt others as he covered for the misdeeds of his father and especially his brother Sebastian.  The camel’s back broke when his sibling’s actions led to the suicide of Abby, a girl Ethan liked.  Giving up on “evil” Sebastian and deciding to leave his family behind in Chicago, Ethan fled to La Crosse to escape from his enabling mistakes; as he has learned wisdom without humility and passion for the Lord and people lead to prideful transgressions.  Two years ago Ethan met Elaina.  In love with God and each other, neither anticipated their pasts to arrive with vengeance.

The fifth fantastic Friendship Heirloom inspirational contemporary (see First Comes Love and Forever And All That Jazz) is a delightful novel starring two protagonists who turned to God to help them deal with dysfunctional family histories.  The suspense comes late, but brings completeness (and full circle) to a tremendous drama.

Harriet Klausner