Falling For Her Fake Fiancé – Sarah M. Anderson

Falling For Her Fake Fiancé
Sarah M. Anderson
Harlequin Desire, Oct 1 2015, $5.25
ISBN: 9780373734184

In Denver, Ethan Logan takes over modernizing the over century and a half old Beaumont Brewery starting with bringing interoffice communications out of the 1970s. However, Ethan never expected the pushback from the frightened staff who overtly opposes the needed reengineering changes to save the business and their jobs.

Ethan realizes he needs a family member to help him win over the employees. Thus he turns to the fifth heir Frances Beaumont for assistance with a whacky concept of a marriage of convenience between them. Frances agrees to marry him if he meets her stipulations. Neither the businessman nor the first daughter debutant expected to fall in love; but who will risk their heart first to renegotiate a permanent deal.

The fifth Beaumont Heirs romance (see His Son, Her Secret) is an enjoyable boardroom contemporary that ironically uses the overused, typically historical marriage of convenience premise to modernize a Colorado brewery. The protagonists are a nice pairing of a married couple preparing for their divorce even before they exchange I do; until each wants to modify the contract, but fears confessing how they feel.

Harriet Klausner

The Immortal’s Redemption – Kelli Ireland

The Immortal’s Redemption
Kelli Ireland
Harlequin Nocturne, Oct 1 2015, $5.75
ISBN: 9780263917994

In 1718 Scotland, as he waits in ambush for the fat genocidal Laird of Clan McKay, Dylan knows he lacks a key trait that successful assassins require: patience. Still he somewhat controls his anxiety to kill the abomination for mass murdering of Druids. However, before he can complete his task, Danu the Mother of All visits him with a vision of a beautiful woman who along with mankind will need his help three centuries in the future when a Shadow Realm god escapes bondage.

Three hundred years later Danu returns; she informs Dylan the time is now for him to find the woman who will lead him to the truth or his death as he must kill this Kennedy Jefferson to prevent the end of the world. When she awakens in a hospital, Kennedy has amnesia and fears she suffers from mental illness apparently common in her family. Only her best friend Ethan keeps her stable. When Dylan and Kennedy meet, they are attracted to each other, but his mission must come before his heart.

The Immortal’s Redemption is an entertaining romantic urban fantasy with an intriguing dilemma faced by the lead male. The support cast and Dylan are fully developed, but Kennedy acts irresponsibly foolish and feels for the most part incomplete as perhaps more insight on her memory loss and sudden moments of recall would have helped readers to understand her better.

Harriet Klausner

If Not For A Bee – Carol Ross

If Not For A Bee

Carol Ross

Harlequin Heartwarming, Oct 1 2015, $6.50

ISBN: 9780373367436

 

In the bakery in Rankins, Alaska, thirteen year old Gareth Everett holds the specially made birthday cake when a bee lands on the box, panicking the teen.  His widow mom Janie rolls up a newspaper to swat the insect, but a beach bum interferes protecting the bumblebee.  Gareth drops the box.  She realizes the bee patrol protector is renowned scientist Dr. Aidan Hollings AKA as brother-in-law to her sister Emily (see Mountains Apart).  The baker Lilah cannot make a timely replacement because another of Janie’s four children Reagan is lactose intolerant.  Gareth watches mother and son walk away as if part of a funeral march.

Aidan uses the small town as his temporary home base while leading the state study of bumblebees.  However, he likes the feisty Janie the journalist and enjoys the enthusiasm of her two oldest sons (Gareth and Reagan) who still struggle with the death of their dad; though he admits he is not very comfortable with their two year old twin brothers.   As the two adults fall in love, she must overcome her doubts that a famous hunk would want a ready-made family of five; and he must overcome his doubts that a widow with four children would believe a globetrotting scientist would want a ready-made family in the middle of nowhere.

Deftly combining jocularity with anxiety, the latest Seasons of Alaska (see A Case for Forgiveness) contemporary is a delightful family drama romance in which the two oldest boys play significant roles in this love fest.  Readers will relish the tale of the matchmaking bumblebee as love thrives in Rankins, Alaska.

Harriet Klausner

The Baby Who Saved Christmas – Alison Roberts

The Baby Who Saved Christmas

Alison Roberts

Harlequin Romance, Oct 1 2015, $5.99

ISBN: 9780373743582

 

Though knowing her late mom Jeannette would be horrified by what she was doing, twenty-eight years old Scotswoman Alice McMillan’s search for her family takes her from Edinburgh to Nice and by bus to Villefranche-sur-Mer.  The Kindercare Nursery School teacher walks along a beach to St Jean Cap Ferat where she plans to meet for the first time her famous racing car father André Laurent.

When she arrives at her destination, a stunned Alice observes paparazzi and security guards stationed at a luxurious chateau.  A guard notifies celebrity chef Julien Dubois that Alice claims André is her father and seems unware that he just died.  Expecting a con artist, Julien invites Alice inside where he challenges her contention that she did not know Lauren crashed his car three days ago and was buried today; three months ago his wife (Julien’s sister) Colette died in childbirth.  Alice meets her half-brother Jacques who suffers from the measles.  Julien explains his sister named him guardian while Jacques paternal grandmother files a lawsuit in Paris to claim the baby belongs with her.  When the local doctor quarantines everyone inside the chateau, Alice and Julien spend time together and fall in love; but each distrusts the other and besides Jacques comes first.

More an extended family drama as the romance arrives late and never quite gels; The Baby Who Saved Christmas is a fresh endearing Joyeaux Noel European contemporary.  Character-driven, fans will enjoy this warm holiday story.

 

Harriet Klausner

Willow Brook Road – Sherryl Woods

Willow Brook Road
Sherryl Woods
Mira, Sep 29 2015, $7.99
ISBN: 9780778317661

With her fashion career comatose and her relationship with her boyfriend dead, Carrie Winters leaves Paris for her home in Chesapeake Shores, Maryland to attend the Christmas wedding of her twin sister Caitlyn (see The Christmas Bouquet) and regroup. Her family welcomes her back into the fold which feels nice and warm; but led by her well-meaning grandfather Mark O’Brien; her relatives also intrude into her life. Observing how good Carrie is with her nephew, her cousin Luke O’Brien (see The Summer Garden) suggests she open up a daycare center; which she does.

Two weeks ago, as he was about to move into his new home in Chesapeake Shores, Sam Winslow learns his sister and brother-in-law died in a horrible accident. He has no time to grieve his loss since he became his hurting bewildered six year old nephew Bobbie’s guardian. Lacking parental skills and aware that Bobbie’s needs gives him no time for trial and error, Sam turns to Carrie for help. Neither Carrie nor Sam expected to fall in love, but besides their respective relationship phobias holding them back; both accept Bobbie comes first.

The thirteenth Chesapeake Shores contemporary (see Dogwood Hill) is a pleasant holiday family drama due to three-dimensional leads (especially the frightened child) supported by the usual extended O’Brien meddling “suspects”. Though the romance takes an obvious backseat to Bobbie but also impacted by the adults’ hesitations, Sherryl Woods reminds her fans “Life moves pretty fast. If you don’t slow down and look around, you might miss it” (Ferris Buehler’s Day Off).

Harriet Klausner

Dances Under The Harvest Moon – Joanne Rock

Dances Under The Harvest Moon

Joanne Rock

Harlequin SuperRomance, Oct 1 2015, $6.75

ISBN: 9780373609307

 

In Heartache, Tennessee, twenty-eight year old “good girl” (for staying home to care for her bipolar mom) Heather Finley and her brother Mack (see Promises under the Peach Tree) attend the wedding of their sister Erin (see Nights under the Tennessee Stars).  Their youngest sibling Ashley refuses to return to a place she fled as a teen.  After the wedding Heather plans to go for her dream of becoming a country singer by competing in America’s Voice in Charlotte.

Filled with remorse for failing his sister after their father went to prison, Mayor Zach Chance asks Heather questions about her late father that disturbs the soon to leave town woman.  Concealing his other motive of being attracted to her, his query upsets Heather.  She ponders to be a country star or not by doing what she always has done: protect her family.  However Zach offers a third option while a stalker plots a fourth outcome.

The third Finleys of Heartache romance is a winning contemporary that looks closely at the impact of a chronic condition on the sufferer, her family (especially how different her four children reacted to their mom after their dad died) and the townsfolk.  Although the suspense comes late and feels unnecessary, once again Joanne Rock authors a profound Volunteer State family drama.

Harriet Klausner

A Knights Bridge Christmas – Carla Neggers

A Knights Bridge Christmas

Carla Neggers

MIRA, Sep 29 2015, $17.99

ISBN: 9780778317593

To start over, Widow Claire Morgan and her six year old son Owen move to Knights Bridge, Massachusetts where she begins her new job as the library director.  At the same time that the Morgan family relocates; sadly and filled with guilt Boston ER Dr. Logan Farrell believes he is doing what is best for his feisty grandmother Daisy by placing her in a senior’s assisted living facility.

Daisy accepts her grandson’s contention she needs eldercare, but makes one request of Logan in return.  She wants a last Christmas gala including a candle in the window in her now empty home.  Unable to say no, Logan acquiesces to his beloved grandma’s wish.  He persuades Claire to help him provide Daisy with a Christmas to remember.  Working together, neither of the sandwich generation adults anticipated falling in love.

The fifth Swift River Valley contemporary (see Echo Lake and Cider Brook) is a charming New England holiday romance.  The protagonists are a nice pairing of a workaholic and a traumatized person, but upstaged by his grandmother (especially the glimpses into her past) and her son.  Readers will relish visiting Knights Bridge for the holidays.

Harriet Klausner

Trading Christmas – Debbie Macomber

Trading Christmas

Debbie Macomber

Mira, Sep 29 2015, $9.99

ISBN: 9780778318293

“Trading Christmas.”  Since her Harvard student daughter Heather is unable to visit her, widow schoolteacher Emily Springer decides to cross the country to see her in Boston although she is concerned over costs.  She arranges over the internet to swap houses with Harvard History Professor Charles Brewster who hates the Yuletide holidays.  To Charles’ bah humbug chagrin Leavenworth, Washington including Emily’s home comes out of a Christmas catalogue.  Meanwhile, Emily’s friend Faith Kerrigan travels to Leavenworth to spend time with her while Charles’ brother Ray travels from New York to Boston to spend time with him.  Adding to the mix-up is that Emily’s daughter is in Florida.  As the two couples (Emily and Ray, and Charles and Faith) fall in love, each learns the real meaning of the holiday that miracles occur.

“The Forgetful Bride.”  Even though they have not seen each other in two decades, Joseph tells everyone that Caitlin is his wife.  When she was eight and he ten, her older brother “witnessed” his sister and his best friend “marrying”.  Upset with Joe, Cait insists to him (and herself) she loves her boss Paul.  Joe says she loves him and on Christmas Day, he plans to kiss his bride.

With a plot similar to the 2006 movie The Holiday, though released earlier (in 2004), Trading Christmas is an uplifting holiday tale that uses coincidences to make the point that miracles exist when love blossoms.  The reprint of the 1991 Forgetful Bride is a “second chance” holiday romance, but Joe’s constant contention grows cold and Cait’s irritated reaction seems over the top of the Space Needle.

Harriet Klausner

Call Me Mrs. Miracle – Debbie Macomber

Call Me Mrs. Miracle

Debbie Macomber

Mira, Sep 29 2015, $15.99

ISBN: 9780778318484

“Call Me Mrs. Miracle.”  Finley’s Department Store heir Jake Finley and his owner dad Jacob never celebrate Christmas.  Unlike the jolly New York shoppers, father and son never forgot the tragedy that occurred two decades ago on Christmas Eve when Jake’s mom and sis died.  In Brooklyn, Holly Larson struggles with having her eight year old nephew Gabe living with her while her widower brother serves in Afghanistan and their parents provide medical assistance in Haiti.  Finley Department Store seasonal employee Emily “Mrs. Miracle” Merkle thinks Jake and Holly are a perfect match; she plans to live up to her nickname using a toy that Gabe wants as the matchmaker.

“The Christmas Basket.”  Ten years ago, Noelle McDowell left her hometown of Rose, Oregon to go off to college, but secretly vowed never to return.  Noelle loved Thom Sutton, but as high school seniors, he failed to show up when they planned to elope.  She concluded that he wanted to humiliate her as part of the long running feud between their mothers.  The only thing that could bring Noelle back to Rose is her sister’s wedding.  When Noelle and Thom meet at the town holiday dance, they realize the attraction remains between them and finally talk about that day.

Even as the storyline goes as expected, the reprint of Call Me Mrs. Miracle (made into a movie) remains a lighthearted inspirational Miracle on 34th Street.  The reprint of The Christmas Basket is a warm second chance though the reason the leads failed to meet lacks needed depth.  Still these are two enjoyable holiday romances.

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