DARK OF NIGHT

By Suzanne Brockmann
Ballantine Books (2009), 418 pages, $25 (hardcover)

Once upon a time, Suzanne Brockmann wrote sweet, undiluted romances that were not tainted by suspense or intrigue. They were full of passion and tenderness, and brought tears to the eyes of romance readers.
Then she veered into military romance, and her first squad of Navy SEALs still managed to produce touching, tender stories that were heavy on romance.
But she’s evolved away from books that are heavy on romance, to stories that focus more on suspense. She’s also delved a bit into social commentary and burdened characters with some disturbing emotional baggage. As a result, her current novels are a bit more complex to read.
Having said that, her newest book about members of the Troubleshooters private security group – comprised mostly of former SEALs, spys, etc. – has a bit more lighthearted romance than some of her more recent books.
“Dark of Night,” revives recurring characters from those recent books, and pairs them up -- Sophia with Dave, and Decker with Tracy.
Sophia and Decker are two burdened with the aforementioned emotional baggage, and Tracy has a bit of a tragic past of her own. So while we have to be reminded of that, which is a downer, it’s nice to see them distracted by love and even nicer to see Decker and Tracy even dabble with frivolity at times.
The intrigue in this story focuses around Jimmy Nash (hero from “Flashpoint”) whose death was faked to protect him and those close to him. Nash found himself involved with some sort of ultra-evil bad guys and his friends think it’s a good way to keep him safe, and catch the bad guys.
Tracy figures out that Nash is still alive, so Decker decides to bring her into the fold. Which ends up putting her in danger as well, but also makes her an unlikely asset in the investigation.
And ends up pairing him with his soul mate.


Overall rating: 3 of 5 hearts. Well written, and the byplay between Tracy and Decker is really fun to read. The suspense? Well at the risk of spoiling the ending….it would have been more interesting if the bad guys had actually ended up being someone we knew.

Hunk appeal: 10. It’s hard to embrace Decker too much, but you definitely like it that Tracy does. As for Dave? A likeable geek, but not someone you’ll cast for your dreams.

Steamy scene grade: XXXX.

Happily-Ever-After: OK. Decker and Tracy have a touching ending, as does Dave and Sophia, but the intrigue? Well, the ultra-bad guys ended up coming across more like keystone cops gone bad than the ultimate evil machines they were supposed to be.


Also this week…..

The Nanny Solution

by Teresa Hill (2009, paperback) 3 of 5 hearts.

A February Silhouette offering tells the story of a woman betrayed by her husband, who is still being punished for a short-term breakdown. She gets a job with Simon and it’s love at first sight. Only Audrey won’t let herself trust love, or a man, again. Simon is rich, powerful and used to getting what he wants. But the problem here is that he completely understands why Audrey is reluctant to trust him, and can’t blame her for her reasons. It doesn’t stop him from trying, though.

I STILL DO

By Christie Ridgway
Silhouette Books (2009), 212 pages, $4.99 (paperback)

The plot has been used before, the hero’s story written before, and the heroine’s plight read before.

Who cares?

In “I Still Do,” Christie Ridgway manages to blend those used-before plot devices into a sweet, easy-to-read romance that is perfect to cuddle up with on these chilly winter days.

It’s simple, without twists, suspense or other distractions.

Will and Emily were childhood and teen-age “summer” sweethearts. They attended camp together, and were exclusive during those months.

During the other months? Emily was a reclusive bookworm, while Wild Will sowed his wild oats.

Emily went on to become a librarian. But a family tragedy re-routed Will’s life, forcing him to become a fireman so he could support and raise his five siblings. During those 13 years, Emily and Will didn’t see each other.

When Will’s youngest sister graduated from high school, he went to Las Vegas with pal Owen to celebrate his newly reclaimed bachelorhood. He found Emily there with her best friend, Izzy. One night, they all got married – Emily to Will, Izzy to Owen. The next morning, Izzy and Emily ran away.

But Emily didn’t run too far. She had just taken a new job in Will’s hometown. They both agreed an annulment would be best. But something always seemed to prevent their discussion of the matter.

In the meantime, Emily tries to fight her attraction to Will because she doesn’t want to ruin his long anticipated emancipation from responsibility. Will tries to deny his feelings for Emily because he doesn’t want to give up that freedom.

The result? Emily gets definite mixed signals. “You want good times,” she told him. “To play. And even then, you’ve run hot and cold on me….”

But then something happens to make Will realize that wild bachelorhood lifestyle was only something he thought he wanted, only a mirage of something he thought he’d missed.

I wanted to have good times,” he told her, adding, “You are my good times.”



Overall rating: 3-plus of 5 hearts. Nothing complicated, nothing that will make your pulse race. Just a wonderfully simple, easy and fun to read romance.

Hunk appeal: 10. Will is a too-good-to-be-true sort of guy. But while he’s never rude, crude, nasty or the least bit mean to Emily, he doesn’t really shower her with hearts, candy and love either. He’s conflicted. But once he realizes he needs to let his heart make life decisions, he’s OK.

Steamy scene grade: XXX. Better than OK at times.

Happily-Ever-After: Very good. It’s a bit of a corny ending – which sets up a sequel (Izzy and Owen’s story) – but since romance readers like the corny and sappy, it’s good.

Also this week…..


Naked in Death (In Death, Book 1)

by J.D. Robb (1995 paperback) 5 of 5 hearts.

With another installment of the series due out in February (“Promises In Death”) this would be a perfect time for folks who haven’t read these books, or those who are new to them, to catch up a bit. “Naked In Death” was the story that introduced fans to Eve and Roarke, and started the series 14 years ago. Eve is a homicide cop in 2058. She meets Roarke, perhaps the richest, most powerful and most handsome man in the universe, during a murder investigation. Roarke, who is usually linked romantically with the most gorgeous models and celebrities, recognizes Eve has his fate almost immediately. He just has to convince Eve. Read this book, and perhaps the one that follows (“Glory In Death”) and you’ll be in pretty good shape to pick up the series. Although chances are, you’ll want to read every other book as well.

COWBOY TO THE RESCUE

By Stella Bagwell
Silhouette Books (2009), 213 pages, $4.99 (paperback)
As Silhouette books are designed to do, “Cowboy To The Rescue” gives readers a hefty dose of romance in a small, easy-and-quick-to-read package.
And it’s quite a delightful one.
Even if you haven’t read about the other Saddlers finding their loves, you’ll enjoy watching Lex find his soul mate. The book is full of tender moments and caressing words as he and Christina sort through the confusion of falling in love.
Lex has a playboy reputation and has pretty much given up on finding true love. Christina always has yearned for hearth, home and a soul mate but a disappointing relationship has her doubting she’ll ever find those things.
So while their brains send out love-at-first-sight signals, their hearts are reluctant to believe they actually have found what they’ve spent their lives looking for.
Christina arrives at Lex’s family ranch to investigate the suspicious death of Lex’s father, who drowned 12 years earlier. Lex’s mom hired Christina, a private investigator, to find out the truth behind his death.
At first, Lex is resentful of his mother’s plan but agrees to serve as the family liaison to Christina. Immediately, he is drawn to her and is confused about what he’s feeling.
Is this love? he keeps wondering.
Of course it is, foolish man. But it takes him about 200 pages to finally figure that out, and a few more to utter the words Christina longed to hear.
Those caressing words? How about when Lex finally realizes he does love Christina and thinks, “She was the very thing his heart, his soul, had been searching for…. He wanted her to be happy, deep-down happy. He wanted to love her. Really love her.”
One of the most tender moments was when he realized he loved Christina, but opted to wait to share that because he knew she wouldn’t believe him. Yet, he knew she was hurting because she didn’t think he did. So he said, “Don’t worry, my sweet. Everything is going to be all right.”
And it was.


Overall rating: 4 of 5 hearts. Just a pure, simple, romance full of those tender moments and ahhh-inspiring words. There is a bit of suspense to add to it, but the romance is the main feature.

Hunk appeal: 10. Lex isn’t extraordinary. He’s just a rancher who is a good man, a man who wants to be sure he’s found his true love even though at some level, he recognized her the moment he saw her.

Steamy scene grade: XXX. At several levels.

Happily-Ever-After: Very good. Once Lex tells Christina “everything is going to be all right,” the romantic ending just spiraled to a very satisfactory conclusion with a nice epilogue. The suspense portion of the book had to be wrapped up, and perhaps it was a bit distracting, but all’s well that ends well. And this does.




Also this week…..

Mr. Perfect

by Linda Howard (2000, hardcover and paperback) 5 of 5 hearts.

Even though I rated this at 4-plus nine years ago, it keeps improving with age. This has become a favorite classic. Linda Howard manages to insert a healthy dose of humor into a book fraught with evil and murder. The murder of characters you know and like. Still, the heroine, Jaine, is quite possibly the most fun romance heroine you'll ever read about. And Sam is her perfect mate. You're likely to dog-ear the pages of "Mr. Perfect," the binding becoming creased and its hold on those pages growing precarious. The repertoire between Sam and Jaine borders on hysterical at times. You'll be reading portions aloud to loved ones and friends.

RUNNING HOT

By Jayne Ann Krentz
G.P. Putnam’s Sons (2008), 337 pages, $24.95 (hardcover)

Jayne Ann Krentz is such a talented writer, she can make readers believe and enjoy virtually anything.

Even a series about heroes and heroines with special paranormal talents.

Her “Arcane Society” series continues with “Running Hot,” a story about Grace and Luther finding love while using their unusual aura-reading talents to capture some dastardly bad guys.

Some readers may be tiring of the whole aura-reading, crystal-using, siren killing type of stuff but Krentz just seems to be having some fun with it. There’s not a lot of jargon to muddle the story and the fact that the good guys are trying to thwart paranormal bad guys doesn’t diminish the intrigue or the romance that “runs hot” between Luther and Grace from the time they meet.

Grace is forced to start a new life. Won’t ruin the small surprise there. She gets a job as a reference librarian with the Arcane Society, and her unique ability to spot bad guys from their auras becomes known to paranormal investigative boss Fallon Jones.

Jones sends her on a mission, and tags Luther – an aura manipulator – as her bodyguard.

Of course they meet, they become attracted to each other, fall in love and live happily ever after.

Eventually.

As with most of Krentz’s books, it's quite simply a well-written, fun read that will entertain you from start to finish.


Overall rating: 4 of 5 hearts. The whole paranormal, aura-reading bit is a somewhat off-putting at times. But if you regard it as a touch of spice in an otherwise normal suspense, it doesn’t distract.

Hunk appeal: 10. Luther is open, honest and doesn’t play games. He understands Grace and takes very good care of her.

Steamy scene grade: XXXX. Very good care.

Happily-Ever-After: Good. Even though you know who the bad guys are, it winds up pretty well. The ending does have a fun little twist for long-time Krentz fans, and Luther and Grace embark on that happily-ever-after.



Also this week…..



Chances

by Nora Roberts(2008 paperback) 4 of 5.

Even though the two stories in this book are 22 and 24 years old, their timeless romantic qualities make them worth reading in any decade. First is the Roberts’ classic “Opposites Attract,” when tennis stars Ty and Asher discover their ill-fated love might not be so destined for doom after all. The couple was in love, got shoved apart, then managed to fix it years later. Eventually. In “A Will and a Way,” Pandora and Michael are forced to live together to fulfill a beloved uncle’s last wishes. They realize they’re in love but have a few other problems to contend with as they make that fall.