Enemies With Benefits-Louisa George

Enemies With Benefits

Louisa George

Harlequin KISS, Feb 15 2014, $5.99

ISBN: 9780373179169

In London as Christmas nears, reclusive Dr. Poppy Spencer feels alone since her three flatmates found significant others (see The Morning After The Night Before by Nikki Logan, Your Bed Or Mine? by Joss Wood and Sleeping With The Soldier by Charlotte Phillips).  However, the last person she wants to see club owner Isaac Blair, who knows her better than anyone, arrives at her apartment.

Poppy decides there are benefits to having Isaac crash her flat though she knows she will struggle to deal with the heartbreak comes next year.  Still they decorate her place for the holiday, get drunk together and have sex.  Poppy becomes melancholy knowing Blair soon will leave her, but he seeks a different end to their current Enemies with Benefits relationship.

This Flat in Notting Hill contemporary is a cheerful Christmas romance in which the leads have a history to overcome.  Even without any veering from the most obvious straight and narrow course, the storyline remains a warm holiday tale with readers rooting for the protagonists to make it.

Harriet Klausner

Blood Wolf Dawning-Rhyannon Byrd

Blood Wolf Dawning

Rhyannon Byrd

Harlequin Nocturne, Jan 1 2014, $5.75

ISBN: 9780373009367

Sayre Murphy and Cian Hennessey knew they were mates, but he ignored her until five years ago when he abruptly left her and their Bloodrunners Pack without an explanation.  Heartbroken and confused, Sayre became a hermit while Cian a wanderer without a home.

Though he sacrificed all he desired to keep his mate and his friends safe, depressed Cian concludes that his noble deed failed as his blood enemy threatens his beloved Sayre and the pack.  Thus he comes home to confront the nightmare that sent him packing and if he somehow survives the altercation, Cian doubts he will find confession good for his soul when he tells the truth to Sayre and the Bloodrunners.

The seventh Bloodrunners werewolf romantic suspense (see the “Last Wolf” trilogy, and the “Dark Wolf” quartet) is an action-packed second chance (if he survives his personal war and persuades his Sayre) at love paranormal.  A stunning key twist re why the lead male left the pack makes this High Noon tale entertainingly electrifying, but also feels out of place in terms of the overarching saga’s theme.

Harriet Klausner

Untamed Wolf-Linda O. Johnston

Untamed Wolf
Linda O. Johnston
Harlequin Nocturne, May 1 2014, $5.75
ISBN: 9780263913934

General Greg Yarrow learns of feral friction between the established Alpha Force and the newly commissioned Ultra Special Forces Team. He wants the two units to cooperate in fighting the paranormal enemy and not each other. Thus he sends Lieutenant Sara McLinder to report to Alpha Force stationed at Fort Lukman on the Maryland Eastern Shore where the Ultra Special Forces Team also has its flag planted, with plans to join her.

Sara arrives a day early, but soon afterward someone attacks the General. Sara and her direct reporting subordinate Sergeant Jason Connell investigate the assault, but she also finds out that rumors of shapeshifters are real as Jason turns out to be a wolf-shifter. As they work the case, their attraction grows until he risks all to keep his beloved superior officer safe.

The fifth Alpha Force military romantic fantasy (see Undercover Wolf, Alaskan Wolf and Alpha Wolf) is an enjoyable tale due to the lead protagonists; especially Sara’s reaction to what she learns about Jason’s duality. Though somewhat similar in tone to Guardian Wolf, readers will enjoy this thrilling romantic suspense as Jason proves to be all he could be when it comes to fraternizing and accomplishing the mission.

Harriet Klausner