THE EDGE OF DESIRE

By Stephanie Laurens
AVON (2008), 433 pages, $7.99 (paperback)

There are two problems with reading books written by Stephanie Laurens.
First, she’s wordy, often taking a page when a couple of sentences would do – especially with the more steamy scenes. (Thirteen pages?)
The second problem is despite often having to muddle through the wordiness, Lauren quickly hooks you and forces you care about the plight of the characters, therefore sentencing you to read the entire book.
The good news? You’re ultimately glad you did.
“The Edge of Desire” marries off the final member of the Bastion Club. This was a group of seven men, all former spies, who after the war return to London (around 1816) with the need to find wives. They weren’t interested in the "hen-witted flibbertigibbets" paraded on the marriage mart and they refused to be trapped into marriage by conniving matrons.
So each man found his true love, his soul mate, on his own.
Christian actually met – and fell in love with – his future bride before he went off to fight the war. Letitia loved Christian as well, and promised to wait for him.
But she didn’t.
What will confuse readers – and certainly confuses Christian as well – is that Letitia is just as angry at Christian as he is at her. But she does explain about 127 pages into the book.
The book opens when Letitia appeals to Christian for help. Her husband has been murdered and her beloved brother is the top suspect.
Letitia is much more upset about her brother’s plight than her husband’s fate.
To spare her brother from being wrongly prosecuted for her husband’s murder, and to save her family from ruin, Christian and Letitia team up to find the real murderer.
In the process, they tumble upon quite a mystery – and into several beds.
Letitia realizes just how little she knew about the man she married, and what they discover while seeking his murderer shocks her. And what Christian discovers about his past with Letitia is just as surprising.
While unraveling that mystery, they fall in love in again. But Letitia is afraid of being hurt by Christian again – and Christian is afraid he won’t be able to convince Letitia to take a chance on him again.


Overall rating: 3-plus of 5 hearts. It’s not a book you’ll sit down and read cover to cover. But you will keep going back to it, wanting to unravel the mystery with Christian and Letitia, and waiting for them to embrace their happily-ever-after.

Hunk appeal: 10-plus. Even though Christian unwittingly messed up years earlier, he doesn’t hesitate to accept the blame and take measures to make up for his mistake. He’s protective, heroic, patient and passionate.

Steamy scene grade: XXXXXX. So much that it fogs up the rest of the book at times.

Happily-Ever-After: Good. The bad guy is discovered and thwarted, and Christian and Letitia end up together. And while Christian may be the last of the club members to marry, the gang is most likely to show up again when the mysterious Dalziel finds his true love.

Also this week …

NORTHERN LIGHTS

by Nora Roberts (2004 hardcover, 2005 paperback)

Nora Roberts’ website reports that Lifetime Movie Channel has decided to make four more of her books into movies for 2009. Her latest book, “Tribute,” is being considered along with “High Noon,” “True Betrayals,” “Midnight Bayou,” “Carnal Innocence,” and “Northern Lights.”
“Northern Lights” gets my top vote, ranking as an all-time favorite.
The come alive on the pages. Roberts takes readers a the small Alaskan town in the coldest part of winter, and you may find yourself getting up to grab a blanket while reading.
Nate is "escaping" to Lunacy as he runs from his past. He’s the sheriff.
Meg is a tomboyish loner, a gruff, self-sufficient no-nonsense woman who is perfectly content to remain snowbound alone at her remote home with only her dogs for company.
When a body is found, Nate begins to unravel a mystery from the past - a mystery that involves Meg somewhat. While he sleuths and adjusts to living in Alaska, he slowly falls in love with Meg.
She's not particularly thrilled at first. But the idea grows on her.
My second vote goes to “High Noon.” Roberts does a masterful job of entwining Phoebe and Duncan's romance while spinning a suspenseful story of an evil man's plot to destroy Phoebe. This book is actually more of a suspense novel than a romance story, but romance readers won't feel cheated.
The book I’d vote off the list is “Midnight Bayou," the only Roberts’ book I don’t like. The book’s niche is reincarnation. OK for a while, but it got to be a little much. Perhaps my romance mind just isn't liberal enough.

HOT PROPERTY

By Carly Phillips
HQN (2008), 376 pages, $7.99 (paperback)

Those who thought the “Hot Zone” stories were finished when the third and final Jordan sister married are in for a pleasant surprise.
“Hot Property” returns readers to the New York City public relations firm, immersing them once again in the world of hunky professional athletes.
Centerfielder John Roper takes center stage in this book, after appearing in a support role as Micki’s best friend in “Hot Number.”
The heroine is Amy, niece of Hot Zone partner Spencer Atkins, who was introduced as the daughter and keeper of Atkins’ eccentrically crazy sister in “Hot Item.”
In “Hot Property,” Amy moves to New York to work for her uncle’s public relations and sports agent firm. The story actually starts where “Hot Item” left off, at Sophie and Riley’s wedding.
At the wedding, John is instantly smitten with Amy and starts a flirtation. Problem is, his date walks up while he’s in mid-flirt, and Amy isn’t impressed with a man who would hit on one woman with a date nearby.
A month later, Amy starts her new job and meets her first client: John.
The sparks that sizzled between them at the wedding are still smoldering when they see each other again. But John’s life is infused with problems and it becomes Amy’s job to fix them.
First of all, John is recuperating from an injury – and a disastrous performance in the World Series a few months earlier. But it’s difficult for him to focus on rehabilitating and getting his career back on track with his mother, sister and brother calling him repeatedly, expecting him to solve their problems at their beck and call.
Amy intervenes and convinces him he has to weaken a few family ties and concentrate on his career. Which he does – while he’s concentrating on Amy as well.
John is the first to recognize, accept and embrace love in this relationship. It’s fun to watch a man in love work for the acceptance and love of the woman of his dreams.
Phillips exploded on the romance scene a few years ago with her series on the Chandler brothers, boosted by Kelly Ripa’s enthusiastic endorsement of “The Bachelor.” Since then, she’s gifted readers with several sizzling romances, full of passion and romantic turmoil that culminates in very satisfying happily-ever-afters. “Hot Property” is another of Phillips’ winners, a fun read that will keep you smiling.



Overall rating: 4 of 5 hearts. An unapologetic romance, with just enough tension to make it interesting without detracting from the love story. You engage with the characters, from the likeable hero and heroine, to their zany relatives. It will make you smile, laugh and sigh.


Hunk appeal: 10-plus. Roper’s devotion to those he loves, his patient seduction of Amy and his willingness and ability to say and do the right things makes him a definite keeper.

Steamy scene grade: XXXX. A definite keeper.

Happily-Ever-After: Good. Perhaps it’s a big drawn out, but who says that has to be a bad thing?

Also this week …

Strangers in Death (In Death)

by J.D. Robb (2008, paperback) – 5 of 5.

If you missed the most recent story featuring Eve and Roarke when it was released this past winter, you can now pick up a copy in paperback.
And if you haven’t, do it now.
It’s another must-read story in the beloved series about gutsy, tough and dedicated homicide detective Eve and the character that defines romance heroes, Roarke.
Eve's investigation of a murder might borrow a plot device from another well-known mystery writer (no need to ruin the surprise), but that makes it even more fun to read, once you figure it out.
As for the romance? It has Roarke, doesn't it? And while he and Eve have one brief tiff, it's rather humorous and ends well. Otherwise, they're in accord the entire book and enjoy several tender and romantic scenes, as well as witty moments.
And J.D. Robb fans are in for two more treats in the coming months. “Salvation In Death,” is scheduled for release in November, as is “Suite 606” an anthology featuring short story “Ritual In Death.”

FEARLESS

By Diana Palmer
HQN (2008), 315 pages, $24.95 (hardcover)

Warning: Don’t read this book without a box of tissues nearby.
Of course Diana Palmer fans don’t have to be warned.
“Fearless” is another book with ties to Jacobsville, where the rugged hero is set to foil the bad guys but isn’t able to thwart love and the heroine draws the readers’ complete support and sympathy.
Rodrigo was the “loser” in love in “Outsider,” when Sarina and Colby reunited and found their happily-ever-after. What readers didn’t fully realize in that book was how devastated Rodrigo was when his DEA partner, Sarina pursued her bliss with Colby.
Glory is a typical Palmer heroine, a damsel in distress type who has hidden depths and is stronger than she appears. An abusive mother left Glory crippled, but loving – and rich – step siblings came to her rescue. Despite a genetic heart condition, Glory has emerged as a tough assistant district attorney who is forced into hiding when a nasty drug lord she’s prosecuting threatens her life.
She hides at her step-siblings farm in Jacobsville – where Rodrigo is working uncover trying to capture the same drug lord.
So their “courtship” begins cloaked in lies, with neither able to reveal their true identities. Rodrigo decides to marry Glory, but immediately regrets the hasty decision. He treats Glory horribly, and says hurtful things to her that will have you grabbing for those tissues.
Of course, that’s Palmer’s trademark and the appeal of her books: The hero unwittingly hurts the heroine, then feels totally guilty about it and seeks to make amends. In this case, Rodrigo doesn’t know about Glory’s ties to her rich step-family, her successful career or the heart condition that makes her frail. So a few health scares and harsh assumptions puts Rodrigo squarely on that grovel path.


Overall rating: 4 of 5 hearts. Typical Diana Palmer: A bit corny, but delightfully romantic with pages that will make you cry and smile. Misunderstandings are such wonderful setups for groveling and it’s fun to watch Rodrigo stumble and fall – and then find solid ground again.


Hunk appeal: 10. Like all of Palmer’s heroes, Rodrigo is a bit rough at times, treating his heroine less than gallantly and making her, and the readers, shed tears. But like all of Palmer’s heroes, he adequately makes amends, feels suitably guilty and fixes everything in time for the happily-ever-after.

Steamy scene grade: XXXX. A bit moreso than many of her books.

Happily-Ever-After: Good. Perhaps Rodrigo overdoes it a bit, but he had a lot to make up for. He could have cleared up things a bit more satisfactorily verbally, but his actions spoke loudly. A short “epilogue” is a nice touch.

Also this week …

A WHOLE NEW LIGHT

by Sandra Brown (1989, paperback) – 4 of 5. "A Whole New Light," by Sandra Brown is being re-released in paperback. It’s one of the author’s oldies but goodies, a pure romance where love prevails. Cyn, her deceased husband, and Worth were best friends. Two years after her husband's death, Cyn discovers her feelings for Worth are changing. It's like Worth told her, he suddenly saw her in "a whole new light." It takes some time (nearly the entire book) for the couple to accept and deal with their changed relationship. But by the end, they appreciate their love and embark on a sweet happily-ever-after.

SOME LIKE IT WICKED

By Teresa Medeiros
Avon Books (2008), 384 pages, $7.99 (paperback)

“Some Like It Wicked” is a charming story that proves once again that love can conquer all.
Catriona is orphaned as a young girl and sent from Scotland to live with her British uncle. She dreams of returning to the Scotland her father romanticized with tantalizing stories, and returning her clan to its days of glory.
But when her uncle threatens to marry her off to “the next man who walks through that door and asks for your hand” Catriona knows her dreams are in jeopardy. And since she knows who that next man will be, she’s especially worried.
So, she devises a plan.
When she was younger, she met Simon, a dashing soldier who made a lasting impression on Catriona. She followed his military career, harboring a crush on the man who was deemed a hero during a sea battle.
But Simon considers himself a fraud, and returns home to act in the most un-hero-like manner possible. Still, Catriona seeks him out to be her hero.
It just takes him a while to fill that role properly.
Catriona’s plan is to marry Simon, then use her dowry to pay him to escort her to Scotland, where she hopes to be reunited with her brother. Strictly a business arrangement.
Right.
The trip to Scotland is long enough for the two to have some uncomfortable moments trying to resist the growing attraction between them – an attraction that started building the day Simon met the young Catriona in her uncle’s barn.
But the trip isn’t long enough for the couple to succumb to love. That comes a bit later after a few disappointments, a revelation or two and a transformation for Simon.
“Some Like It Wicked” isn’t as fairytale-ish as many of Medeiros’ novels, but it is well written and charming with witty, touching and tender moments. It probably won’t be your favorite Medeiros book, or your favorite of the summer, but it’s a fun story that you won’t regret spending time with.


Overall rating: 4 of 5 hearts. An easy read about a young girl chasing her dreams, and discovering love trumps all. You’ll appreciate Catriona’s spirit and while Simon is disappointing at times, he triumphs by the end.


Hunk appeal: 10. It’s more like Simon emerges as a hero. He’s spent years in self-destruction mode, but Catriona knows the prince she glimpsed years earlier is still in him somewhere. She just doesn’t know how deep that prince was buried. Her faith in him wavered somewhat, but she was rewarded for her trust.

Steamy scene grade: XXXX. Simon has his moments.

Happily-Ever-After: Good, if perhaps a bit drawn out. Simon does transform into a suitable hero, but is it too late? It’s good to see him have to fight for the woman who has loved him most of her life. When she finally tells him that she would wait for him “forever and a day” he replies, “You’ll never have to wait for me again because I’m never going to leave you.”

Also this week …

Before the Scandal: The Notorious Gentlemen (Avon Historical Romance)

by Suzanne Enoch (2008, paperback) – 3 of 5.

This is a book that will keep you turning the pages with the hopes that the bad guys will get their due and the hero will get his heroine.
And of course, he does. And they do.
Phin’s sister tricks him into returning home, after he spent years away fighting in a war. His guilt over bad behavior that resulted in his brother losing the use of his legs kept him away, as well as his belief that his family didn’t want him around.
When he returns home, he discovers his family’s friendly and helpful neighbor isn’t as friendly and helpful as they think. In fact, he stumbles upon a plot to run his family out of their ancestral home.
Of course, he foils that. And wins the love of long-time friend Alyse as well. It’s difficult to say which was the biggest challenge.
It’s a good book with a likeable hero and a suspenseful-enough story.