THE PAGAN STONE

By Nora Roberts
Jove (2008), 305 pages, $7.99 (paperback)

Nora Roberts very, very rarely disappoints.

But the finale of her latest otherworldly-type trilogy fizzled somewhat.

Perhaps it was because the bad guy wasn’t really a guy – or gal. Perhaps it was because Gage and Cybil weren’t really romance hero and heroine worthy.

Maybe it was because Gage and Cybil’s “courtship,” if you can call it that, seemed to be more about the physical than romance.

And maybe some readers aren’t just enlightened enough to latch onto characters who are way too casual and “cosmopolitan” about certain things.

Or maybe all the research and speculation about the big evil entity lurking in their lives just got a bit tedious and overshadowed the romance.

Regardless, “The Pagan Stone” wasn’t as good as its predecessors, “Blood Brothers” and “The Hollow.”

Still, a disappointing Nora Roberts book is better than many and it’s still an intriguing story. And besides, if you read the first two books, you’ve got to read this one.

Encouraged by successful battles against the evil thing in the earlier books, the team of six is ready to dispense of the bad entity for good. They’re far from totally confident they can, but they know they have no choice.

Of course we started “The Pagan Stone” with two couples already blissful – Quinn and Cal (“Blood Brothers”) and Fox and Layla (“The Hollow.”) By the way, Layla was less annoying in this book.

Gage and Cybil resent the notion that fate may be forcing them toward couple-dom. They acknowledge a physical attraction, but are determined not to be paired for eternity.

Of course, they end up paired for eternity.

When Gage confesses his love – and it does rather charmingly come out like a confession dragged out by torture – he says, “I’m not here with you because of some grand design dictated before either of us were born. I don’t feel what I feel for you because somebody, or something, decided it would be for the greater good for me to feel it. What’s inside me is mine, Cybil, and it’s in there because of the way you are, the way you sound, the way you smell, you look, you think….

“I’m in love with you, and I’m almost through being annoyed about it.”

And by the time you read that, you’ll almost be through being annoyed at Gage and Cybil and the research that bogged down the story somewhat.

Overall rating: 3 of 5 hearts. While the research and speculation about how they can best defeat the evil entity gets cumbersome, there is still enough witty dialog and repartee to make it worth reading. Nora Roberts is incapable of writing a bad book. This one just isn’t as good as most of hers.

Hunk appeal: 10. Gage is a good enough guy, and while he stumbles a bit – and is somewhat too casual – he does rally nicely at the end.

Steamy scene grade: XXXX. Doesn’t stumble here.

Happily-Ever-After: OK. The evil is destroyed and the town can live without the fear that strikes every seven years. The couples are all paired and headed toward wedded bliss.

Also this week…..

A BRIDE BY CHRISTMAS
by Heather Graham, Jo Beverley and Candace Camp (2008 paperback) 3 of 5.

These are actually stories by these authors written 19 and nine years ago. Even though they’re all short stories, they do drag at times. Still, they’re Christmas stories and that makes them more tolerable. In Graham’s story, “Home For Christmas,” a Yankee captain confiscates a Southern home, and captivates it’s young mistress – Isabelle. She is torn between her feelings for Travis, and her allegiance to the Confederacy. In Beverley’s, “The Wise Virgin,” Joan gets entangled in a feud between her uncle and his long-time enemy, and falls in love with the enemy. She thinks their future together is doomed not to happen, but she underestimates the power of true love. And in “Tumbleweed Christmas,” by Camp, Melinda becomes a housekeeper and cook for a curmudgeonly rancher. By Christmas, he’s not so curmudgeonly any more.

A McKETTRICK CHRISTMAS

By Linda Lael Miller
HQN (2008), 280 pages, $16.95 (hardcover)

If you’re having trouble finding the Christmas spirit this season, spend a couple of hours with the McKettricks.

Linda Lael Miller has written an historical Christmas tale focusing on the family many of her fans have come to love.

Lizzie McKettrick is coming home to the family ranch, after spending years away at school. She’s bringing home a city boyfriend to meet her family. She is excited to be going back to the Triple M and is looking forward to becoming the town’s school teacher – and to her boyfriend proposing marriage.

But her plans were rather derailed – like her train, which was knocked off the tracks by an avalanche.

With their lives in danger, an unlikely group of strangers form a bond, as they try to keep their Christmas spirits alive despite knowing their lives are in danger. Morgan, a doctor on his way to Indian Rock to set up practice, takes charge of caring for everyone, with Lizzie by his side.

It doesn’t take long for Lizzie to realize that her city boyfriend isn’t the one – and that Morgan is.

Lizzie and Morgan’s courtship isn’t all that, but this is a sweet and fun holiday read that won’t take up much of your time, and will definitely help get you in the Christmas spirit.

It doesn’t take the entire book for the passengers to be rescued – thank goodness – and the rest of the book mainly focuses on Morgan and Lizzie’s courtship, albeit a rather tepid one. However, their love isn’t.

The bottom line is, if you want a decent holiday story, this will do the trick. Especially if you’re a McKettrick fan.

Overall rating: 3-plus of 5 hearts. The romance isn’t great, but it’s a sweet holiday story that is certain to get you in the Christmas spirit, with a twist or two that will keep you smiling and thinking of the season.

Hunk appeal: 10. Morgan doesn’t have that tough-guy, save-the-damsel sort of appeal, but he’s a good guy. And most definitely the love of Lizzie’s life.

Steamy scene grade: XXX. First comes marriage….well, sort of.

Happily-Ever-After: Good. Actually the best part is when the McKettrick men save Lizzie and the train passengers (come on, this didn’t ruin anything. You knew they would.) The remaining story wraps up Lizzie’s and Morgan’s relationship, but it’s almost anti-climatic. Just kind of a sweet.

Also this week…..

Captivated & Entranced
by Nora Roberts (1992 paperback) 5 of 5.
This was re-released in a two-for-one this month. And if you haven’t met the Donovans before, don’t hesitate to make their acquaintance now. It starts with “Captivated,” Morgan and Nash’s story. And one of the best break-up/make-up scenes ever is in this book (have a box of tissues handy). The Donovans are a family of witches, and Morgan is perhaps the witchiest. Nash is a movie writer, and solicits Morgan for consultation regarding one of his scripts. And the rest is magic. Next, in “Entranced,” it’s Sebastian’s turn. He teams up with private investigator Mary Ellen and creates magic with her, while foiling a kidnapping ring.

SALVATION IN DEATH

By J.D. Robb
Putnam (2008), 353 pages, $25.95 (hardcover)

Eve and Roarke are back with a suspenseful story that will enthrall you by capturing your curiosity and snare you with the usual wit, repartee and passion that have made this series of books an addiction for many readers.

For those of you who have never read one of J.D. Robb’s books, find copies of the first two stories of the series, “Naked In Death” and “Glory In Death.” You’ll be hooked.

And by the way, for those who don’t know this yet, J.D. Robb is Nora Roberts.

In this tale, Eve and Roarke are enjoying their happy albeit never restful marriage. Surrounded by an eclectic group of colorful friends, Eve tries to deal with the complicated and scary parts of her life – like planning a wedding shower – and the mundane, like solving a murder.

Or two.

This book actually has two murders for Eve and her trusty partner, Peabody, to solve. One is cracked pretty quickly, the other takes up the entire book.

While conducting a funeral mass, a priest is poisoned. As Eve begins investigating this intriguing case, she unearths secrets and will prevent you from being able to put the book down.

And of course when she goes home, Roarke is there to help her unravel the mystery – and help her remember that her life is about more than solving murders now.

Roarke isn’t quite as involved with helping her solve this case as in some others, and perhaps there isn’t quite enough of him in the book. But when he’s there? He’s…..well, he’s Roarke.

As one expects from a J.D. Robb book, the banter and dialog between characters is snappy, witting and fun. Especially between Roarke and Eve, although Peabody has become quite a sidekick as well.

Like when Eve comes home to Roarke the first evening and says, “I thought you were somewhere else today. Like Mongolia.”

“Minnesota.”

“What’s the difference?”

Then she asks, “Did you buy Mongolia?”

“Minnesota.”

“Either.”

“No. Did you want it?”

And then there are the mushy scenes, those tender moments that these two driven, tough people share only when they’re alone.

As usual, this book hits on all cylinders.


Overall rating: 5 of 5 hearts. The interaction between Eve and Roarke, and the couple and their friends, is always fun and witty and would make it worth reading even if there was nothing else. However, there is a big something else that will keep you turning the pages – the murder. It’s a good mystery to solve.

Hunk appeal: 10-plus, plus, etc. Roarke is the standard to measure all others – and they all come up short. It doesn’t hurt that he owns planets and is the most powerful, rich and gorgeous man in the universe. But he not only totally loves Eve, he totally understands her. And still considers her “everything and all things” for him.

Steamy scene grade: XXXXX. Roarke and Eve. Enough said.

Happily-Ever-After: Very good. Eve solves the case beautifully, and she has her moment with Roarke. Of course the best thing is knowing we’ll be reading more about Eve, Roarke and the gang. In fact, “Promises In Death” is scheduled for release in February. Something to look forward to after the holidays.


Also this week…..

Home for the Holidays

by Johanna Lindsey
(2000, paperback) 5 of 5.

You may have to do a bit of scrounging to find this one, but it will be worth the hunt. It was actually a hardcover before it was released a year later as a paperback. It's a perfect holiday story, borrowing the "Scrooge" theme. Like most of Lindsey's books, this is a historical romance, set in turn-of-the-century London. Baron Vincent is a man void of emotion, one who has lived his 29 years without love, without friends and without a Christmas tree. Then he meets Larissa, a sweet young woman who is only supposed to be pawn in Vincent’s plan for revenge. Of course he falls in love with her and she changes his life. Unfortunately, he did tell her all of that until after she discovers Vincent is responsible for her and her family’s misfortunes. Which makes for a great reconciliation scene.

SUITE 606

By J.D. Robb, Mary Blayney, Ruth Ryan Langan, Mary Kay McComas
Berkley (2008), 344 pages, $7.99 (paperback)

Of course in this anthology, J.D. Robb steals the show.
Even a short story starring Eve and Roarke is enough to excite fans and “Ritual In Death” is the definite highlight of this book.
So let’s focus on that one.
Eve is accompanying Roarke at a party in a hotel (owned by Roarke, of course) when a bloody, naked man stumbles in.
Instantly, the party changes from social tedium to murder investigation for Eve. And for Roarke, since he delightfully tags along for much of this one.
The murder and mayhem occurred down the hall from the party – in Suite 606.
As an anthology story, it’s short and quick. But the exceedingly talented Nora Roberts (aka J.D. Robb) excels in infusing the story with the typical humor, suspense, wit and passion that is the earmark of this series.
In the other stories, Mary Blayney’s “Love Endures” is a sweet tale about a couple estranged for years by the lies crafted by the heroine’s husband. When he dies, his ghost must linger until the truth – uttered from his lips – reunites Stephen and Summer.
The other two stories aren’t as strong.
Ruth Ryan Langan, usually reliable for writing stories worth reading, gives readers a disturbingly haunting tale this time – with an ending that’s far from satisfying. Mary Kay McComas’ story is cute, but a bit mind-boggling.
But Robb’s story alone makes this worth reading.
And even better – a full-length Robb book is now available now. Look for a review of “Salvation In Death” next week.


Overall rating: 4 of 5 hearts. Robb’s story is a definite 5, Blayney’s a 4, and the other two would be 3s. One thing positive – they’re all quite different. You’ve got a futuristic murder-suspense, a historical with a ghost, a paranormally weird story and a time travel tale.


Hunk appeal: 10. Of course, Roarke is off-the-scale 10-plus-plus. The others are OK. Stephen gets major points for “enduring” and his behind-the-scenes care of Summer for years. Sam is just put in a too-weird-for-words situation. And a wizard for a hero? Almost works.

Steamy scene grade: XXXX. In some, more than others.

Happily-Ever-After: Good. The best thing about the Robb book is knowing a full-length tale awaits. Langan’s ending was not good at all. Blayney’s ending was a bit weird, but good. McComas’ ending was better than OK.


Also this week…..


KISS AND TELL


by Suzanne Brockmann (1996, paperback) 4-plus of 5.

Before Suzanne Brockmann hit it big with her Navy Seal novels, before she became an advocate for a social cause or two in her books, she wrote pure, sweet romances. And she was quite good at it.
“Kiss And Tell” is the first of a trilogy, and is a story that only advocates romance and love.
Leila couldn’t wait to shake the sand from her shoes and leave her small, beach hometown for the big city. She’s home for the holidays, and bummed because boyfriend maybe-soon-to-be-fiancee Elliot, wasn’t able to join her for the New Year’s Eve masquerade party.
But she wasn’t alone at midnight. She shared a shockingly passionate kiss with a man dressed as a Ninja, someone she didn’t recognize during their all-to-brief interlude. When mystery man has to hurry away due to an emergency beeper summons, she’s left wondering, who kissed her?
Marsh is the best friend of Leila’s brother, and the local doctor. And Leila’s lifelong nemesis. He’s always secretly been attracted to Leila, but even he was shocked by the result of that kiss. He can’t way to explore what it means, but is thwarted when he learns Leila didn’t realize it was he she had kissed.
Not knowing what to do, he gets drawn into a ruse of “helping” Leila find the man. And all along, he tries to woo and court her.
And the results are sweet to read.

HOME FOR THE HOLIDAYS

By Lisa Plumley
Zebra (2008), 344 pages, $6.99 (paperback)


There’s no place like “Home For The Holidays,” and there’s nothing like reading about romance at Christmas.
Lisa Plumley once again gifts readers with a Yuletide story sure to put you in a holiday mood, with characters certain to make you laugh – and shake your head.
Rachel is a rather annoying small-town-girl-turned-LA-snob, who gets an unfair comeuppance in the big city, and decides to hide out and lick her wounds back home during Christmas.
Reno is the local hero, the small-town kid who made it big in the NFL, who then returned home to run a sporting goods store and endear himself to the locals by being the go-to-for-any-favor man about town.
So, he was only doing one of his favors when he agreed to pick up Rachel at the airport.
Their courtship was rather unorthodox, since Rachel was in full LA-is-so-much-better-than-this-place mode, and Reno was determined to change her mind. There was also the fact that Reno was suffering a lot of guilt because his best buddy fancied himself in love with Rachel, and was counting on Reno to hook him up.
Oh, and then there were Reno’s parents, who separated over Tom’s insensitive Christmas gift.
In other words, this is vintage Plumley. She’s created a cast of characters that are a bit eccentric, quirky and likeable and spun a story that will make you smile.


Overall rating: 4 of 5 hearts. It’s really tough to not like a holiday book. And it’s really tough not to like the quirkiness and fun that Plumley infuses in all her stories. And there’s lots of Christmas in this one as well!


Hunk appeal: 10. Reno is just a good guy. Almost too good, at times. He loses points when Rachel discovers he was supposed to be setting her up with his best friend, by deciding he’s the affronted because she doesn’t understand how he felt.

Steamy scene grade: XXXX. A good guy.

Happily-Ever-After: Good. It’s another hero-rushing-after-heroine-to-stop-her-from-leaving scene. But hey, it works! Reno goes after Rachel, catches her, apologizes – accepts her apologies – and both say very mushy, very romantic stuff that makes it a good ending.



Also this week…..

BIG SKY WINTER

by Diana Palmer (2008, hardcover) 4 of 5.

Actually, this is a two-in-one, with both stories written in 1986. But as most of her stories are, these two are timeless and you’ll enjoy them every bit as much now as you would have 22 years ago.
In the first story, “Rawhide & Lace,” Ty is a homely rancher, who is nasty and cruel to the woman he loves – the beautiful model Erin. Of course it’s a self-defense mechanism, to keep her from breaking his heart. It doesn’t work – in more ways than one. His nastiness runs Erin off, but not before their passion resulted in a pregnancy. She tries to tell him, but he’s nasty again. Soon after, she wrecks her car and loses the baby and her career.
Ty finds out about that shortly before Erin inherits half of his ranch – with the stipulation that she lives there. She doesn’t want to, but knows a lot of innocent people would lose their jobs if she refuses. Ty is determined to make up for his part in Erin’s accident, but still slips into nastiness often. Of course they end up married, and eventually happy – after clearing up misunderstandings and learning each other’s true feelings.
“Unlikely Lover” is the sequel to “Rawhide & Lace,” featuring Ty’s former nemesis and neighbor, Ward. Mari is the niece of Ward’s cook, and becomes an unwitting pawn in auntie’s matchmaking scheme. Even though Ward and Mari are both aware of the aunt’s plot, they succumb to the love that simmers between them.
Of course Palmer’s name is on the cover, so they have to suffer many self-erected obstacles before they can embark on happily-ever-after. But of course, they finally get there.

SEDUCE ME AT SUNRISE

St. Martin’s (2008), 360 pages, $7.99 (paperback)

Lisa Kleypas does it again.
Kleypas was born to write romances. She writes scenes that resonate with romance readers, ones that get earmarked and cherished. Scenes that have tears streaming down cheeks while readers sigh wistfully.
Quite simply, Kleypas gives romance readers exactly what they want.
In “Seduce Me At Sunrise,” she reprises beloved characters from “Mine Till Midnight,” and gives us another charming and unforgettable story.
In “Mine Till Midnight,” we meet Win, invalid sister of heroine Amelia, and Merripen, a gypsy taken in by the girls’ family as a boy who is obviously in love with Win, and just as obviously has some sort of connection to Amelia’s future husband, Cam.
“Seduce Me At Sunrise” picks up soon after “Mine Till Midnight” ends, with a brief flashback to when Merripen came to live with the Hathaways. Win is getting ready to journey to France, where a doctor has had success in “curing” fragile patients suffering lingering effects from illnesses, such as Win’s scarlet fever.
Much of the story deals with the compelling and consuming passion Win and Merripen share for each other, and Merripen’s determination to ignore it. He doesn’t think he’s good enough for her. But at the same time, he can’t let her go.
This causes much frustration for Win – and readers – as Merripen succumbs to passionate petting and embraces, only to push her away in an effort to convince her to forget about him.
It doesn’t work.
“Seduce Me At Sunrise” has plenty to keep readers turning the pages: Wit, suspense, secrets to learn and, of course, lots of love and passion.


Overall rating: 4-plus of 5 hearts. “Seduce Me At Sunrise” is full of romantic passages, words designed to make readers sigh wistfully and shed capacious tears. Like when Merripen tells Win, somewhat angrily, that he does love her: “All the fires….could burn for a thousand years and it wouldn’t equal what I feel for you in one minute of the day.”

Hunk appeal: 10. Once he quits trying to deny his love and the inevitability of a union with Win, it’s a definite plus. Unfortunately, it takes him most of the book to get there. Still, Merripen’s wonderfully protective and eventually loving. And he definitely has some great lines: “I love every part of you, every thought and word….I love you for being the answer to every question my heart could ask.”

Steamy scene grade: XXXXX. Get ready to blush.

Happily-Ever-After: Very good. It’s a rather long ending, but you won’t complain. It starts when Merripen gives in to love, and promises to love Win forever. From then until the final page, secrets will be revealed (including Cam and Merripen’s questions about their past), a villain unveiled and Win and Merripen’s love will face a test – and pass.


Also this week…..


AGAIN THE MAGIC

by Lisa Kleypas (2008 paperback) 5 of 5.

Simply one of the all-time best romances, a compelling love story that oozes romance and has you dreading the final page.
The story spans several years, beginning when Lady Aline and stable boy McKenna realized their innocent childhood friendship has evolved into something more. Their passion is the stuff great love stories are made of.
So, of course, they have to face tragedy. Aline's father threatens McKenna, and Aline must take drastic measures to keep him safe. As her sister explains to an embittered McKenna many years later, "She loved you . . . enough that she chose to make you hate her rather than see you harmed in any way."
And McKenna does try to hate Aline. He returns to her home 12 years later as a successful man intent on making Aline suffer for casting him aside all those years ago. He tries to fight his affection for Aline with bitterness and nastiness, but he can't fight love.
Truths have to be discovered and secrets shared before they can embark on their happilyever- after.
This book is full of wonderfully romantic, tender scenes that will linger in your mind -- passages you'll turn to time after time, whenever you need a quick dose of passionate romance.
Interesting note: “Again The Magic” introduced Lord Westcliff, Aline’s brother, who was later an integral character in the Wallflower series as the husband of Lillian, and had smaller roles in “Mine Till Midnight” and “Seduce Me At Sunset.”

THE RUSTLER

By Linda Lael Miller
HQN (2008), 374 pages, $7.99 (paperback)


Take a former outlaw-turned-good guy in the early 1900s. Pair him up with a damsel in distress and what do you get?
A fun, pure romance by Linda Lael Miller.
Following in his brother Rowdy’s footsteps (“A Wanted Man”) Wyatt decides to shed his outlaw ways and find a law-abiding job. He ends up in Stone Creek, where his brother is the marshal.
And he meets Sarah.
Sarah has two rather significant secrets that make her rather sad, and keeps her from allowing any man to get too close. She considers herself an old maid who is “too plainspoken and too smart to suit most men.”
And Wyatt decides right after meeting her that he’s going to marry her.
It takes a bit longer for him to realize he loves her.
Sarah is immediately drawn to Wyatt, but those secrets hold her back. Her father, the town’s banker, suffers from what seems to be dementia. She can’t let anyone know, or realize that she’s actually running the back, or she knows the business will be taken away.
Her other secret is a past relationship with a city man, who is a total jerk.
And the result of that relationship.
When the jerk comes to town with his son, Sarah is ecstatic to spend time with the boy. But when the jerk turns the visit into blackmail, her life becomes a nightmare.
One Wyatt intends to turn into a dream.
And, of course, he does.
It’s nice to visit characters from the other books in Miller’s “Stone Creek” series, and nice to get to know Wyatt, who ends up making a rather good, good guy.


Overall rating: 4 of 5 hearts. Nothing complicated about this book, just a pure, unapologetic romance with a determined hero, an independent damsel in distress, and a villain who gets his due.

Hunk appeal: 10. Romance books like to tout that reformed rakes make the best husbands, but the Yarbro brothers seem to be proving reformed outlaws are pretty good as well.

Steamy scene grade: XXX. Definite “carrying on.”

Happily-Ever-After: Good. A bit of excitement, and a sweet “I love you” scene, along with a happy epilogue.




Also this week…..


Raintree: Inferno / Sanctuary / Haunted

by Linda Howard, Beverly Barton and Linda Winstead Jones (2008 paperback) 4 of 5.

The stories that were released separately a year ago are now together in a three-for-one. Howard’s “Inferno” starts off the trilogy, introducing Dante.
This is a series that probably will sound ridiculously stupid when you try to tell someone about it.
But it's so good, you won't care.
It is a paranormal series, but don't let that turn you off. Dante is king of a far-reaching group of people with special powers, including brother Gideon (“Haunted,” by Winstead Jones) and sister Mercy (“Sanctuary,” by Barton.) They can do stuff like control fire and lightning and read minds.
The Raintree, as the clan of powerful and power full people are known, use their abilities for good. The Anasar is a clan that has been warring with the Raintree for centuries, and they come to blows big time in the series.