Suzanne Brockmann has won beaucoup RITA and Favorite
Book of the Year awards from Romance Writers of America for her
Navy SEAL novels. Wanting to see for myself what all the fuss is
about, I started reading them a couple of books back. I've enjoyed
them, but OUT OF CONTROL -- ah,
now, that book I loved. It's three separate love stories
that intertwine. The primary one is about Ken "Wildcard" Karmody,
the SEAL who's been sought out by Savannah von Hopf to take her
to an Indonesian island where her kidnapped uncle is being held.
Brockmann usually has a WWII secondary story running through her
single title books and this one features Savannah's grandmother
Rose, who was a double agent during that war. And last, but far
from least is the story of Molly and Jones, who are (respectively)
a missionary and a pilot with a shady past. Brockmann has a real
flair for dialog and deft characterization, and I'm telling you,
I was glued to this story. So my tip of the month is this: hie
ye on off to the nearest bookstore and check it out for yourself!
Pick
posted: 2-25-03
Dallas Leigh wants one thing in life--a son to inherit
the empire he's spent the past several years building. But the
dearth of marriageable women in his corner of Texas is a definite
roadblock between him and his dream. So he makes a pact with the
Devil--or in this case, the McQueens-- neighbors he's been feuding
with over land ownership. He'll agree to pull back his fences to
give them access to the river for their cattle, if they'll give
him their daughter's hand in marriage.
Cordelia McQueen has been a virtual prisoner in her
father's house for many years, but being sold to a man she's only
heard discussed in vitriolic terms hardly strikes her as trading
up. And at first, Dallas appears to be every bit the demon spawn
she expected him to be. Little by little, however, the two find
much to love and admire in each other.
But this is romance, honey! Of course there are obstacles
and misunderstandings galore standing in the path of True Love.
Lorraine Heath is so good at plucking heartstrings, though, that
you'll enjoy the journey every bit as much as your final arrival
at the oh-so satisfactory conclusion. I defy anyone to make it
through young Rawley's part of the story with dry eyes.
This is an oldie that truly is golden. It's not for
nothing that Heath has garnered numerous awards, including the
Romance Writers of America's prestigious RITA. Unfortunately Texas
Glory is out of print, but find yourself a copy at a used book
store. After reading it, I'm betting you'll be willing to plunk
down your hard earned cash to support this excellent writer when
her next new title hits the shelves.
I know I intend to.
Pick
posted: 2-01-03
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I came this close to missing out being one
of the first to discover Mary McBride. Warner Books sent me the
manuscript for this story out of the blue on what was a very tough
week with two family emergencies, a pulled muscle in my back, the
approaching Christmas holidays that I wasn't half ready for, and
my own work, which hadn't been progressing as smoothly as I would've
liked. Plus, I hated the title-- I was therefore going to toss
it in my recycled paper box, but thought I should at least read
the prologue in order to dispose of it with a clear conscience.
All right, sure, so the prologue was clever, but
I'd put money on the first chapter not living up to it. Only...
the next thing I know I'm whipping through the pages, going 'Dang,
this is good."
Angela and Bobby Holland are married Secret Service
agents who have been separated for eleven months. Now they've been
thrown back together for an undercover assignment to protect the
mother of the President of the United States. They're still crazy
about each other, but sometimes love just isn't enough -- not when
one partner refuses to open his emotions to the other.
You will root these two on, I guarantee it. Mary
McBride has a deft hand when it comes to motivating her characters
without burdening the reader with reams and reams of back-story,
and she writes with originality and verve. I had a tough time putting
this book down long enough to work on my own, and I predict this
is an author who is going places.
Remember. You heard it here first.
Pick
posted: 11-01-02
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I loved this book. Gabrielle Jerningham is
betrothed to Peter Dewland when his older brother Quill, the future
Viscount Dewland, declares himself ineligible to father children.
It's not that Quill can't perform his marital duties, but
due to a war injury the sort of rhythmic repetitive motion that
lovemaking entails results in migraines that fell him for three
days straight. James has created a wonderful conflict when Quill,
upon meeting Gabrielle, can't seem to keep his hands off of her.
Eventually neither can he bear not to marry her himself,
and I just had to keep turning those pages to find out how their
dilemma would be resolved. I know you will, too.
Pick
posted: 07-01-02
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I love Anne Stuart's heroes. I have a feeling they've never gotten enough
hugs as boys, and by the time their stories open they are usually in
desperate need of redemption. Connor Maguire is no exception. A burnt
out war journalist, he's spent the past several years working for the
world's sleaziest tabloid. Now he's on the hunt for the dirt on Aristide
Pompasse, a renown artist famed almost as much for his affairs with his
young models as he is for his art. When Maguire breaks into the artist's
Florence apartment and stumbles across Pompasse's body, he recognizes
a murder when he sees one-- even if it has been staged to look like an
accident. He also knows an opportunity, and he's determined to get all
the down-and-dirty, write the expose, and retire back to his native Australia
a wealthy man. So he represents himself as an insurance investigator
in order to get his hands on Pompasse's journals. And to hell with how
his deception might affect anyone else.
What he doesn't expect is his unbidden fascination with Charlie, Pompasse's
young widow -- and the only of the man's many women to have gotten away
from the artist. Maguire isn't prepared for the feelings she generates
in him as he watches her struggle to deal with her ex-husband's mistresses,
a fiancé whose touch makes her shudder, and her own high-maintenance,
less-than-maternal mother. He finds his inability to keep his hands off
Charlie and his protectiveness of her about as welcome as a case of the
clap, and it's pure pleasure to watch this guy who thinks he's so hard-boiled,
so willing to use anyone and anything for his own ends, deny, deny, deny,
even as love inexorably draws him in.
Oh, big sloppy sigh. It's just this sort of cad-felled-by-love story
that makes a girl have to adore this genre!
Pick
posted: 04-30-02
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With his arrogance,
Sheikh Kaj al bin Russard got men to follow his
orders. With his dark good looks, he got women
to follow his feet. Now Kaj needed every one
of those talents to lure Princess Catherine of
Altaria to the altar.
One of the last remaining virgin royals, Catherine could fulfil the terms
of Kaj's father's will. But it would take more than a fiery sheikh to
melt the renowned "Ice Princess" who'd vowed never to fall
in love. With his barely leashed power and potent masculinity, Kaj was
a formidable foe. But Catherine was ready for battle. Then she made her
fatal mistake.
She let him kiss her.
Okay, it's no secret that Caro and I are brainstorming partners, so you
gotta know I love her stuff. But this book is extra special great. My
bud got to create a hero who is larger than life, which is something
usually only writers of historical romance are allowed to do. And folks,
I'm here to tell you, Kaj is a honey! He's dark, he's sexy, he's a man
used to getting what he wants, and he expects to get that handily from
Princess Catherine, too.
Muwahaha. Is he in for a surprise.
This is romance with a capital R, and it will suck you right into the
fantasy. Cross has the ability to place you in the magical kingdom right
alongside Kaj and Catherine, so run, don't walk to your nearest bookstore,
because this one is a Silhouette Desire, and unfortunately they don't
remain long on the shelves. Then remember, when you're thrilled with
the story and want desperately to reward me for passing along this tip--
Godivas are never remiss.
Pick
posted: 04-01-02
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I've got to quit setting books aside. I got
this one two years ago, but I tossed it on a shelf on my bookshelf
and it immediately got buried under other books. My mother treats
my office bookcase, which is huge and literally jammed with books,
as her own private lending library. She puts little yellow post-its
in the inside front cover with her name, the date she read the
book, and her comments. When I went looking for a book to read
last weekend I picked this one up, saw she'd read it in October
of 2000, and considered it "a real keeper."
And, boy, is it! This is a story of family
and lovers, of growing up, of tentatively reaching out for misplaced
dreams, and of learning to communicate. Michelle Turner fell
in love the summer she came to live with the father she'd never
really known, a famous Hollywood star now running a horse ranch
in Montana. She was nineteen years old, mad about painting, and
in love for the first time in her life with Sam McPhee, the son
of an alcoholic single mother with a bent for writing bad checks
and leaving town in the dead of night. It's the most magical
time in Michelle's life. But when she finds herself pregnant,
she also discovers Sam has left town with his mom, and her father's
only comment is, "That doesn't surprise me. Your mother
was careless, too."
Now it's sixteen years later, and Michelle
has traded her love for painting for a career in an ad agency.
Her estranged father needs a kidney transplant, and when she
finds herself a perfect match, she's determined to give him hers.
So she drags her troubled sixteen year old son back to Montana
with her. And guess who else is back in town?
This book is filled with compelling characters
with real issues, and it's handled in a manner so grown up and
deft, it leaves me dazzled. Do yourself a favor. Grab this book
and hunker down for a wonderful time. Because, as my M'ma would
be happy to tell you, it's a real keeper.
Pick
posted: 02-28-02
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My mother calls this, "The sexiest book I've ever
read."--and she means it as a compliment. This from the woman who
is constantly telling me my books have too much sex in them.
Ah, well. She's absolutely right; this is a sexy book·and so much
more. It's not for nothing Kleypus burned up the New York Times
list with this story. She writes engaging characters we really
care about and root for. In SUDDENLY YOU, we have Amanda Briars,
a novelist in 1836 London who, at almost thirty, decides she's
not about to greet her next birthday without making love to a man.
When Jack Devlin appears at her door, she believes he's her gift
to herself, hired for one night of passion. Instead, she's been
set up to meet the cast-off son of a nobleman and London's most
notorious businessman.
I love well motivated, likeable characters,
and this book is loaded with them. They're funny, they're flawed,
they're compelling. So do yourself a favor and build a nice hot
fire to stave off the cold winter night, pour yourself a cup of
tea, and dive head-first into this fast-paced page-turner of a
book. You won't be sorry.
Pick
posted: 02-01-02
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Oh, wow, oh, wow! So, did you like the movie THE
MUMMY? Do ya love fast-paced, sexy, adventure-studded romances?
Then hang onto your hat, ladies and gents, 'cause have I got a
book for you! Archeologists A. David Evans and Cleopatra Fraser
had one brief night of passion long ago. Misunderstandings and
interference by Cleo's father left both feeling betrayed, and they've
been battling ever since as they chase after the same treasure
across 1870s Egypt. Whether one is rescuing the other from the
clutches of a sinister potentate, or stealing treasure out from
beneath that same one's nose, both feel most alive when they're
one-upping the other.
Now they're both in Scotland for an archeology symposium
at a brand new, soon-to-be-opened university where Cleo's father
has been offered a post, and neither knows quite how to act. The
sexual tension they were able to ignore with the entire Nile Delta
to buffer the impact is overwhelming trapped within four walls.
And just who is A. David Evans, anyhow? Is he a hero, or is he
the morally bankrupt thief most people believe him to be? I really,
really liked the way Sizemore presented that question. And if you
want an answer to it, I suggest you run, don't walk, to the nearest
bookstore and score yourself a copy of THE PRICE OF PASSION.
Check out Susan's site: http://members.aol.com/Ssizemore/storm/home.htm
Pick
posted: 01-02-02
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Almost thirty-four, still a virgin, and with no marriage
prospects in sight, town librarian Norah Brown was headed for the
Old Maid Hall of Fame. Then Elijah Wilder, the baddest boy ever
to roam the streets of Kisscount, Oregon, shockingly agreed to
marry her so she could keep her family estate. What he didn't know
was that Norah had secretly loved him for years.
Eli was the only man who sensed the temptress lurking
beneath the bookworm. It was there in the way he looked at her--
as if he could taste her, feel her, see right through her, into
her soul. Just as Norah knew that within her hard-bodied, hard-hearted
temporary husband lurked a man who lived for her loving·
Oh, oh, oh! I LOVE this book-- and it ain't for nothing,
folks, that Caroline Cross earned herself a RITA, the Oscar of
the romance world, for writing it. It's got it all: a plain Jane
who transforms herself, a bad boy with a heart as big as the state
of Oregon, a cute kid, and wild, passionate, sheet-burning se· er,
love. Sure, Caroline's my brainstorming partner, and I tend to
really, really like her stuff, period. But this is extra special,
no kidding.
Once upon a time, when my cousin Colleen and I were
eleven and twelve years old respectively, I accused her of being
prejudiced about something that now escapes me. What it was isn't
important. But I've never forgotten her firm reply, and I steal
it here for my own use, because it's a classic and it applies to
my own complete and utter faith in this book. "I don't care what
you say," said she. "I still don't like it." ("I don't care what
you say," say I. "I still love it.")
"And I am NOT a prostitute."
Caveat: This book (#1143) is a 5/98 Silhouette Desire,
so it's now out of print. Look for it in your local used book store.
I then predict that you, too, will fall in love with the writing
of Caroline Cross and rush to buy her new releases the minute they
come out.
Pick
posted: 11-01-01
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Wanna read about the ultimate bad boy, the one you
can't decide whether to slap silly or mother? Boy, have I got a
book for you! Successful Hollywood star Johnnie Irish has returned
to Hope, Texas, the home of his worst memories. There he meets
schoolteacher Maggie Mayfield, one of the few people in the world
to sense the pain and loneliness beneath his cocky swagger. Maggie
offers Johnnie her heart-- but will her love be enough to stop
his self-destructive behavior before it's too late?
Well, duh. It's a romance, boys and girls-- of course
it will. Eventually. But I'm warning you upfront, Johnnie will
keep your butt perched right on the edge of your seat until the
very last minute. This guy's a heartbreaker, with a childhood that
crushes that organ in an entirely different way.
I think Teresa Weir is one of the finest fiction
writers around. So do yourself a favor. Treat yourself to an afternoon
that'll take you back to LAST SUMMER.
Caveat: This is an older book. You may have to search
the used book stores for a copy
Pick
posted: 08-27-01
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Rakes at their
wicked, wicked best. You
just gotta love those sinful Regency rakes, and for my money
Suzanne Enoch has created the most compelling hero in Reforming
A Rake. Lucien Balfour is electrifying-he's sexy, fun,
and wonderfully, scandalously verbal. He is soooooo bad . .
. and trust me, my friends, that's good. Give yourself a treat
today: run, do not walk, to your nearest bookstore to score
your very own copy. You'll no doubt wanna send me Godiva's
in sheer gratitude for the tip. Go with that impulse.
Pick
posted: 12-01-00
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Savannah Blues