Review: Under the Gun

Under the Gun
Helenkay Dimon
Romantic Suspense
Mystery Men/Book 1
Harlequin/March 16, 2010

Who wanted her dead? That’s what Claire Samson wanted to know. On the run and alone, there was only one man she trusted to find her. Recovery agent Luke Hathaway was the best at locating and saving, and she needed the best if she wanted to live. But the handsome agent who promised salvation had some conditions of his own. If he were to help, she needed to stick close by his side. Very close. And the only thing more dangerous than her current situation was the way Luke made her feel. From the protective look in his green eyes, she could tell he felt the same. But every second that brought them closer together was also ticking toward an explosive confrontation that might tear them apart…

The first book in the Mystery Men series starts out quickly on a suspenseful note, continuing at a fast paced. There is a lot of action packed into this category but there is also a romance that moves right along with the action.

Claire Samson is wanted by the police but they're not the only ones after her. She turns to her former fiancé, Luke Hathaway, supposedly an antiques dealer. Fortunately for Claire, Luke is not into antiques rather he's into guns and knives and his ability with weapons comes in handy. Claire going after Luke but then running away from him confused me. There is some back story on why she broke the engagement but it was thin and didn't make sense considering the heat these two were giving off. It would have made more sense if Luke had broken up with Claire because of the dangers and secrecy of his job.

Luke hasn't forgiven Claire for practically leaving him at the alter two years ago. He's still hurting but being an alpha male, pretends he's over her and simply wants to find out who is out to kill her. What's interesting is that he doesn't take her word that she's innocent of killing her husband. Instead, Luke must see the crime scene and verify that it was impossible for Claire to have committed the murder. I really didn't get why these two would have been together other than the physical attraction. They still loved each other but I didn't get why.

Luke's good friends and coworkers, Adam and Holden, really added depth to the story. I enjoyed the camaraderie these three shared and how both men looked out for Luke. Neither trusted Claire and didn't want Luke to get tangled up with her again. She did win them over but they made her work for it.

The suspense and mystery surrounding the murder are what kept me reading. Claire and Luke do get there HEA but at that point I was ready for more of Adam and Holden. Lucky for me, both men get their own books.

Rating: C+

Mystery Men ~

Under the Gun
Guns and the Girl Next Door
Gunning for Trouble
The Big Gun

TBR Challenge Review: One Cowboy, One Christmas

One Cowboy, One Christmas
Kathleen Eagle
Double D Ranch/Book 2
Silhouette/December 1, 2009

From Goodreads ~

Stranded and half-frozen in a South Dakota snowstorm, bull rider Zach Beaudry reached out for help at the nearest house he could find. And the beautiful rancher-schoolteacher who answered the door was a vision. Zach thanked his lucky stars for the kindness of strangers. But to Ann Drexler, this man was no stranger.

Zach didn't seem to remember their shared night of passion all those years ago—but how could Ann forget? Seeing Zach on her doorstep was as shocking as seeing the ghost of Christmas past. And though running her family's wild mustang ranch gave Ann a thing for strays, she tried to keep her distance. Yet as Zach regained his strength and became indispensable with the horses, Ann had to wonder—was a second chance with this cowboy in her Christmas future?

The first book In Care of Sam Beaudry, which I read, was about Zach's older brother. And while the books are about brothers, the stories are set in different states so the characters may be related but the stories are written as stand alones. Both books are contemporary westerns complete with cowboys and ranch hands and at times a little heavy on the cowboy vernacular.

The life a rodeo cowboy takes it's toll on the body and for Zach Beaudry his body is about to give out, just like his truck does, leaving him stranded. This guy is banged up and in need of some tender care. In walks Ann Drexler who just happens to find the cowboy passed out on her doorstep. Ann and her sister Sally take in Zach and bring him back to life. Zach agrees to help out on the ranch in return for his truck is being fixed.

Ann and Zach have an almost immediate attraction even thought Zach isn't at his best when he shows up at Ann's home. Ann does have an advantage - she remembers Zach and the night they spent together eight years ago. Zach - no clue. They've both changed in those eight years, most notably is Ann's weight loss and increased self confidence. Zach is still himself, only older and we hope, wiser. He has slowed down his partying and given his current circumstances, that isn't going to change.

The romance is kinda sweet, kinda cute but I didn't fall into it like I had hoped. It came across as more of Ann's crush on Zach bearing fruit. I'm not sure why Zach fell for Ann. She's a nice person but would he have fallen for her if they hadn't been so isolated? Not sure. I think this is one romance that could have used more time to develop rather than the week or so that it took for Ann and Zach to fall head over heels.

Rating: C

Double D Ranch Series ~

In Care of Sam Beaudry
One Cowboy, One Christmas
Cool Hand Hank
Once a Father

Review: Wife for a Week

Wife for a Week
Kelly Hunter
Contemporary Romance
Bennett Family/Book 1
Eligible Bachelors/Book 1
Harlequin Presents/August 7, 2007

From Goodreads ~

Nicholas Cooper must produce a wife for his business deal, and Hallie Bennett is beautiful and intelligent enough to pull it off. She needs the money, and Nicholas has determined some strict rules for their week together.

Rule No. 1: Displays of affection in public only

Keeping their hands on each other in public turns out to be surprisingly easy. It's keeping them off in private that's the problem. Hallie is falling for Nicholas, but will Nicholas make his contract wife his real-life bride?

First I have to thank Angela James for tweeting about how much she enjoyed this book. I was curious enough to check out the blurb, which I liked. A quick look at the local library's website showed they had it available as an e-book. Score! I don't read much from the Presents line, I usually stick with either Harlequin's Historical, Blaze or SuperRomance lines. I'm just not into billionaires, Greek tycoons or their secret babies.

Shoe shopping with your mother can be dangerous. It can also tempt fate and give you everything you've been looking for. Nick Cooper finds out the hard way when he walks into the shoe store where Hallie Bennett works. The sparks are there from the beginning and Hallie shows that she's no pushover when it comes to dealing with bossy men. Right from the first scene with Nick and Hallie, I liked these two. You would think with Nick being the boss and the one paying Hallie he would be the one with all the power. Not so. Hallie is very good at maneuvering situations for the optimal outcome. She doesn't always get it right the first time but her heart is in the right place. This is something that Nick comes to learn and love about Hallie.

Their business relationship takes them to Hong Kong. I was surprised at how much detail Ms. Hunter was able to included in such a short format. I've never been to Hong Kong but certainly had a feel for the city by the end of the book. There is action and passion as Nick and Hallie pretend to be a loving couple. The lines become blurred when the rules are broken and Nick and Hallie do more than pretend. The plot sounds like one you've probably read before and the outcome is obvious but the way Hunter wrote it, I didn't care that it was predictable. It was pure escapism in the very best way!

The romance is sweet and funny. The secondary characters add to the story without taking the spotlight from the hero and heroine. The dialogue is witty and the pacing is spot on with a rich story packed into this short format. Definitely worth reading.

Rating: A

Books in the Bennett Family Series ~

Wife for a Week
Bedded for Diamonds
The Maverick's Greek Island Mistress
Untameable Rogue
Red-Hot Renegade

ARC Review: Only His

Only His
Susan Mallery
Contemporary Romance
Fool's Gold/Book 6
HQN/September 27, 2011

From Goodreads ~

Wedding bells are ringing in Fool’s Gold, but not for Nevada Hendrix. Her triplet sisters are engaged, and even her mother has a more active love life than she does. Determined to make a fresh start, she applies for her dream job, only to discover that her new boss is her first love. Maybe she could overlook the fact that they’ve seen each other naked, but she’ll never forget the way he broke her heart.

Tucker Janack agrees to Nevada’s “business only” ground rules. After all, love is a trap that the construction millionaire has avoided his whole life. But when great business partners turn out to be so much more, every rule gets broken. Will either of them be willing to try again…or will their past get in the way?

I was surprised I liked all three of the Hendrix sisters but I think Nevada, with her sometimes brusque manner, intrigued me the most. She has a secret in her past that was alluded to but now we find out that secret is centered around Tucker Janack.

Nevada Hendrix is ready for a change. She works for with her brother Ethan as an engineer but has decided to apply for a position with Janack Construction. They are building a casino and resort just outside of Fool's Gold and Nevada thinks this will be a great opportunity for her. It's a surprise when she find Tucker Janack instead of his father conducting the interview. Nevada is such a dynamic heroine. Someone I can see myself hanging out with. She's so generous and giving, always thinking of others which is where I had some problems with her and wanted to just yelled are her "What are you doing?!". But I'll get to that later. Now, she's trying to move on and get the job but Tucker wants to rehash the past and it just pisses Nevada off. She's more mature about the whole thing than Tucker was - good for her! She handles the situation well and once she's cooled off, listens to advice and makes the logical choice.

Tucker Janack is used to traveling the globe for his work. He never really had a permanent home so life in Fool's Gold is a new experience to him. Nevada Hendrix is not a new experience. They have a past, although Tucker doesn't seem to place as much importance on it as Nevada does. He was too absorbed in the power of Cat, as in Caterina Stoicasescu, a temperamental artist who left an impression on both Tucker and Nevada ten years ago. Tucker isn't the same guy he was ten years ago but I still had a hard time warming up to him. I'm not sure I can say I even really liked him. He was just kind of there but the real focus for me was Nevada.

As Nevada and Tucker start working together, the attraction starts to build but fate is about to bitch slap them both in the form of Caterina Stoicasescu. Seriously, I could never figure out why Nevada was so damn nice to Cat. At first Nevada felt sorry for her but then she actually started to like the stuck up diva. This just bugged the crap out of me since otherwise, I liked Nevada. Could not stand Cat. Far too manipulative and self-centered.

Nevada has other things going on besides her annoying to me, friendship with Cat. Both of her sisters are engaged and it looks like there will be a triplet wedding for two since Nevada has no prospective groom in sight. I felt so bad for her. To have to deal with this on top of everything else. There were a few bright spots in Nevada's life, namely Heidi, Charlie and Annebelle. It was good to see Nevada branch out from her sisters and have some new girls to hang out with. I would imagine all three women will get their own stories, maybe next year.

There is also a secondary romance of Nevada's mom, Denise, and a past love. I thought it was merely okay and Denise at times acted like a hormonal teenager rather than a woman in her fifties. The town of Fool's Gold also get in on the action, as usual but it didn't feel as intrusive to the romance as in some previous books.

I did find myself laughing at some of the situations Nevada found herself in. It's a good thing she has such a great sense of humor, otherwise she probably would have gone crazy!

Only His had some good points, mainly Nevada, but I think I'm ready for a break from Fool's Gold. I hope the next group of heroes and heroines are not as marriage focused as those in the past. While it's sweet and romantic, it can become a little too sweet and unrealistic. So for now I'll say good-bye to Fool's Gold and maybe I'll see you sometime next year.

Rating: B-

Books in this series ~

Chasing Perfect
Almost Perfect
Sister of the Bride (novella in Summer Brides anthology)
Finding Perfect
Only Mine
Only Yours
Only His

ARC Review: Tempted by His Target

Tempted by His Target
Jill Sorenson
Romantic Suspense
Harlequin/September 20, 2011

From Goodreads ~

Wanted for the murder of a Mexican drug lord's son, party girl Isabel Sanborn fled to Oaxaca. Now she owes her life to Brandon Knox, a passing tourist who just saved her from a hit man.

But Knox is no accidental hero—he's an undercover U.S. marshal assigned to bring Isabel to justice. Instead, wanting to protect her, he joins her on the lam…with cartel goons and corrupt police in hot pursuit!

And as the danger escalates, sexual tension sizzles. For the first time in his career, Brandon considers jeopardizing his mission to safeguard his target. And though Isabel can elude the authorities,she can't escape her feelings…

The opening pulled me in, set on a beach, with the hero watching the heroine surf. (One movie I can watch over and over is Blue Crush). He may be the well-trained one but she can hold her own against the men after them. The setting is not a place we see often either. Although I've only been to Baja, Sorenson did a good job describing not only the landscape but the people and culture of the Oaxaca region. It was an enjoyable change of scenery.

Isabel Sanchez loves the ocean. It's one of the reasons she's living in this region of Mexico. She fled her life and the high living in LA when a night of drugs and loss of memory put her on the most wanted list of a dangerous man and the US government. But it's the drug lord that she's more afraid of since she thinks he wants her dead. Isabel Sanchez aka Izzy Sanborn has come a long way from the party girl she use to be. I liked how Izzy has transformed herself into a survivor. She still makes mistakes but her survival instincts have kicked in.

Brandon Knox is just a surfer, looking for the perfect wave when he shows up on the same beach as Izzy. A harmless tourist who just happens to teach self defense classes which explains why he's so good at saving Izzy from the men who are after her. Just like Izzy, I had no problem buying into this but when Brandon pulls out a gun and ammo, his story started to get shaky. His fear of Izzy bolting if she knew who he really was very genuine. The reason she's in Mexico is because she ran so there's no reason to believe she won't do it again but as they became closer and he thought of them having a life after she was safe, he should have come clean and trusted her.

The romance was an on-the-run romance which sometimes works and sometimes doesn't. This time it didn't fully work for me. I got the physical attraction part. Izzy and Brandon had no problem steaming things up, but the actually falling in love part is where I felt the story weakened. Since they were both lying to each other about who they were, it was hard to believe they actually fell for the real person. Too many lies in the way. Maybe if they had had a chance to fall in love after they were no longer on the run, it might have made it more believable.

The suspense runs fairly high with little down time. With Izzy knowing the country and how the drug cartels work, she proved to be a real asset to Brandon. At times, he played the muscle while she was the brains. Even with all of Brandon's training, Izzy was just as important a factor in keeping them alive as he was. (I liked that!) They did learn to work together quickly with part of that due to the fact that they didn't have much choice if they wanted to survive. There was still an air of mistrust between the two which made sense since neither was telling the full truth.

Tempted by His Target was a quick read with a lot of action. The romance seemed to be brought about by the physical attraction and driven by stressful circumstances. I did like the pacing of the story, I never got bored just wish I had believed more in the couple. Looking forward to reading Sorenson's full length novels.

Rating: B

ARC Review: Bad Boys Do

Bad Boys Do
Victoria Dahl
Contemporary Romance
Donovan Brothers/Book 2
Harlequin/September 27, 2011

From Goodreads ~

Olivia Bishop is no fun. That's what her ex-husband said. And that's what her smart bob and glasses imply. So with her trademark determination, Olivia sets out to remake her life. She's going to spend time with her girlfriends and not throw it all away for some man. But when an outing with her book club leads her to a brewery taproom, the dark-haired beauty realizes that trouble—in the form of sexy Jamie Donovan—may be too tempting to avoid.

Jamie Donovan doesn't mean to be bad. Sure, the wild streak in his wicked green eyes has lured the ladies before. Now it's time to grow up. He's even ready for a serious romance. But how can that be when Olivia, the only right woman he has ever met, already has him pegged as wrong?

The second book in Dahl's newest contemporary series features a sexy as hell, kilt wearing ladies man as our hero. But is he really the irresponsible modern day rake that everyone thinks he is? Not by a long shot. Jamie is getting a chance to tell his story and show his siblings (I'm looking at you Eric) that he is far more than just a sexy man in a kilt.

Olivia Bishop is thirty-five years old. That thought is most prevalent in her mind when she finds herself attracted to Jamie Donovan. Olivia has a hang up about her age when compared to young Jamie's twenty-nine years. Did she dwell on it a little too much? Yep. Did it bug me? Not too much but I don't see six years as a big difference. Olivia is an intelligent, successful woman but her split with an ass of an ex left her doubting her value. So it made sense that she would focus on the age difference as her reason for not getting serious with Jamie. Between that and Jamie's rep, Olivia tried to convince herself that it was just a fling. A very satisfying fling that wouldn't lead to anything serious. I thought Dahl did a good job explaining Olivia's fixation on the age difference and showed how Olivia was able to finally look past the numbers to the man she had fallen in love with.

Jamie Donovan loves women and women love him but it doesn't end with that. Sure he's had his share of physical relationships/one-night-stands/quickies. Whatever you call them, Jamie is ready to move on from those and into something deeper. You can see it in his actions, how he still welcomes, smiles and gives attention to his female customers but there is so much more going on behind that gorgeous smile of his. How he wants to be treated as more than just eye candy, asking his sister to stop with the tweets that encourage the women to fondle, grope and kiss him. When Jamie meets Olivia he knows she is different. I think that difference both scared and intrigued him, he wasn't sure how to treat her. Jamie is smart and he learns quickly, realizing Olivia is someone special.

Olivia and Jamie start their relationship acting on the mutual physical attraction. It becomes more than that for both which has Olivia panicked and Jamie deciding he wants more than just casual. Jamie is truly trying to change his ways and pursue what is important to him which is expanding the family business. Olivia helps him, realizing he has some great ideas. It's Jamie's siblings that need convincing and that's where I felt Jamie totally won me over. The treatment he endured from his siblings Eric (the ass) and Tessa made me feel so bad for Jamie. He's trying to be more responsible and they won't let him. Jamie showed a lot of restraint and maturity with Eric. Eric did reluctantly come around but I think a 2 x 4 would have been more effective (and more satisfying!).

In case you haven't noticed, I'm not exactly fond of Eric. I did like him in the novella Just One Taste, so there is hope. Dahl has her work cut out to turn this ass of a brother into hero material but if anyone can do it, I believe she can.

I loved how Jamie and Olivia get to know each other through late night phone calls. And how Jamie finally opens up about what happened when his parents died. You can't help but feel overwhelming sympathy for him and everything he's been through. It's easy to see that Olivia is good for Jamie but he also has much to give in return. It was good that Dahl didn't give Jamie all the sexual power in the relationship and Olivia all the intellectual power but brought a nice balance of both between the two. There is a whole lot of heat going on between Olivia and Jamie. My goodness can Dahl write the steam. It's classy steam with a taste of naughty thrown in making for some very erotic scenes.

This is a contemporary series that keeps getting better. The relationships between the three Donovan siblings continue to change and progress. Jamie and Olivia, for all their surface differences, have real chemistry that was a pleasure seeing developing into far more than either imagined. Definitely recommend this series!

Rating: A-

Books in this series ~

Just One Taste (prequel novella in The Guy Next Door anthology)
Good Girls Don't
Bad Boys Do
Real Men Will (November 2011/Eric)

Review: Soldier on Her Doorstep

Soldier on Her Doorstep
Soraya Lane
Contemporary Romance
Harlequin/July 2011

From the back cover ~

One knock at her door will change her life forever...

Soldier Alex Dane promised his dying comrade he'd make sure his wife and daughter were okay, and so he finds himself on a doorstep with his heart in his mouth.

Lisa Kennedy loved her husband, but she must focus on her daughter, Lilly, who hasn't spoken since her daddy's death. Still, the least she can do is offer this battle-weary hero a place to rest.

When Lilly's little hand reaches for Alex's big, strong one, for the first time Lisa feels her buried emotions begin to stir...

When you have a heroine who was deeply in love with her husband and has been widowed for a matter of months, it can be tricky to have her fall in love again and make it believable. I did believe in Lisa's love for Alex by the end, and while she had her moments of missing William, the conflict she felt at falling in love with Alex felt very minimal. Which would have been fine but I couldn't help but think it had only been months since William died. Yes, he had been overseas for months prior to that but still...

Lisa Kennedy knew there could come a day when her husband William might not make it home. It still didn't make it any easier when she found out that William had been killed overseas while serving in the army. It's been months since his death and Lisa and her six year old daughter Lilly are trying to move on with their lives in Alaska. The way Lisa is portrayed you can tell she loved William very much and still does. But she understands that loving him doesn't mean she can't someday love another man. She's just not ready for it, instead concentrating on helping her daughter speak again. Lisa's reactions and thoughts were realistic for her situation but I was surprised at how quickly she fell for Alex. I did like that she's practical about it and I think that had to do with her being in love before and still believing in love. She could have become cynical and depressed but instead she continues to try to keep a positive outlook, if not for herself, then for Lilly.

Alex Dane is just passing through to fulfilling a promise. But instead of a quick stop, he ends up staying for a few weeks. Alex would be the last one to call himself a hero but that's what he becomes in the eyes of Lisa and Lilly. The way the relationship between Alex and Lilly developed was critical because there was no way Lisa would ever fall for a man that Lilly didn't trust or feel comfortable with. In creating that relationship Lane allows for Lisa to have a relationship with Alex. With both these relationships, Alex shows little bits and pieces of himself, letting Lisa, Lilly and the reader get to know this solitary man.

The romance is there but it takes a while to develop which makes sense since neither character is ready to jump in, feet first, to love. The problem is, for a short book (187 pages) it moved at nearly a snail's pace. I kept waiting for something, although I'm not sure what, to happen. There is some conflict from Lisa's family, specifically her sister, but it didn't play a large role in the story. Alex's feelings of guilt are lifted after a serious talk with Lisa and Alex finally has a home to call his own.

Soldier on Her Doorstep was a sweet, if a bit slow, romance. The writing is easy to read even with what I thought might be regional terms but now I'm thinking they might be due to the fact that the author is from New Zealand. Whatever is the case, I'm looking forward to reading more from Ms. Lane.

Rating: B

Review: Revelations

Reflections
Janice Kay Johnson
Contemporary Romance
Count on a Cop/Book 23
Harlequin/Super #1228/September 1, 2004

From Amazon ~

Ann Caldwell doesn't know who she is. She doesn't really know what she is, either.

Growing up, she wanted just one thing—her father's approval. But she never got it. When she was little she was too much girl and later she wasn't enough woman. She even became a cop to please him. Now he's gone and she realizes how empty her life has become. She'd like to fall in love but doesn't know the first thing about getting a man. Even worse, the one man she wants is her partner, Juan Diaz — who has never looked at her twice.

As Ann struggles to find her way, she discovers a bigger task — figuring out who has begun killing cops. She and Diaz must solve the case before anyone else dies. Is on the job the only place they're destined to be together?

This is a follow up story to Johnson's Mommy Said Goodbye. You can read my review here. The heroine of Revelations, Ann Caldwell, is a cop just like her father. In MSG, Ann followed in her father's footsteps when it came to hounding Craig Lofgren, hero of MSG. Now Ann has realized her father wasn't the cop she thought he was. She's moved on but still trying to come to terms with the father she thought she knew.

Juan Diaz is an older, more experienced cop who finds himself partnered with Ann Caldwell, a newly minted detective. He's intrigued by her. She tries to dress to hide the fact that she's a woman but Diaz can't help but notice that his partner is a woman. Diaz has already lost one marriage to his job and he doesn't see his kids as much as he would like. We hear how divorce rate is high among cops so I'm glad Diaz had that baggage of a divorce, made it far more realistic. His kids were well done - having enough page time to establish his relationship with them but not too much since he didn't see them that much.

Ann Caldwell is a grown woman yet she hasn't had many of the experiences that most women have had. She doesn't date much and her work has her primarily around men all day. What she really needed was some confidence in her femininity. I do think that Diaz helped bring that out in Ann. You could tell she wanted to change and become who she wanted to be and not who she thought her father had wanted her to be. She just needed a catalyst to make that change.

The suspense plot I found somewhat boring at times. Maybe if it had been more graphic or I had felt Ann or Diaz were in greater danger, then the tension would have been higher. As it was, the villain was fairly easy to identify and I much preferred time spent with Ann and Diaz getting to know each other. I liked seeing Ann come out of her shell, shedding her nervousness and gaining confidence in her power as a woman.

I liked Ann and Diaz, seeing them take their professional relationship and turn it into a close friendship and eventually a romantic couple. The mystery/crime solving was simply okay. I do like Johnson writing style, she does well in the short format. Fortunately, she has a long back list and continues to publish with Harlequin.

Rating: B

Review: Mommy Said Goodbye

Mommy Said Goodbye
Janice Kay Johnson
Contemporary Romance
Harlequin/April 1, 2004

From fictiondb ~

What would you think if one day your wife disappeared, and everyone believed you were responsible?

How would you feel if the only thing that kept you from being arrested was your child's insistence that his mommy told him she was leaving?

And what would you do if you suspected your son was lying?

One day Craig Lofgren came home to discover that his wife was gone. He and his kids have been living in a nightmare ever since. The police think he killed her; the neighbors do, too. The only bright spot is Robin McKinnon, the one person who believes in Craig. But until his wife is found he has nothing to offer her. Welcome to purgatory.

SINGLE FATHER

He's a man on his own, trying to raise his children.
Sometimes he gets things right. Sometimes he needs a little help...

Since I've only been reading books from the various Harlequin lines for a few years, I wouldn't say that I have an extensive knowledge of what the different lines have to offer. I was surprised at the darkness and intensity of Mommy Said Goodbye. It's a view of the fallout when a family suffers a devastating loss in addition to being the focus of prejudice, ridicule and scandal.

A single father raising his two children as best as he can amidst the small town gossip and rumors of what happened to his missing wife. That's what Craig Lofgren has been trying to do ever since his wife disappeared a year and a half ago. The police targeted Craig as a suspect in her disappearance, believe possible foul play, but without any evidence, no arrest was made. But that doesn't matter to many of the townsfolk. Craig is looked at with suspicion and treated as a social pirraha. He has put up with it for so long, it's become almost normal for him to distance himself from society. But it's his kids that he worries about the most and what the tragedy is doing to them.

Right off I felt sorry for Craig and his kids. They not only go through the aftereffects of losing a loved one but not knowing what happened keeps them wondering if they did something wrong. Craig is portrayed as a husband who loved his wife but didn't understand her. The kids have their own guilt to carry, wondering why mommy left them. Add in the attitude of the police and many of the neighbors and former friends, and life has been extremely difficult for the Lofgren family. I thought the author did a good job of showing the different ways this family was affected not only by their loss but also the community's response.

Robin is in a difficult position. She is a teacher and one of her students is Brett Lofgren. No surprise, Brett is a troubled student. His friends have deserted him and his temper is on a short fuse. Robin wants to help and reaches out to Brett. I liked how realistic Robin is when reaching out to Brett while still having doubts about his father and his role in his wife's disappearance. As she spends more time with Craig and his kids, her doubts go away and the attraction between her and Craig builds.

Even though it's been a year and a half since his wife's disappearance, Craig still has to deal with the police and one officer in particular. There is a set up for a spin off story (Revelations, 09/04) featuring the police officers. You can almost feel the defeat in Craig when dealing with the police. It's Robin that keeps his morale up and shows him that not everyone thinks the worst of him.

The romance develops slowly and softly. I wouldn't say it's the focal point of the story. Much of the focus is on the aftermath of the disappearance. I would have like to see the romance further along than it got. Craig doesn't feel like he has anything to offer Robin until his wife is found. Robin finds herself falling for Craig and his kids and wanting to know more about his wife and their relationship. I liked how they got to know each other, and their kids. The kids were not excluded in this relationship which I thought was important since both Craig and Robin are depicted as loving, caring parents.

I'd like to offer a shout out to Wendy aka Super Librarian, for reviewing and recommending Mommy Said Goodbye as well as the sequel, Revelations. Both, while lighter on the romance, are well written romantic suspense stories.

Rating: B+

Review: Getting Rid of Bradley

Getting Rid of Bradley
Jennifer Crusie
Contemporary Romance
Harlequin Temptation #480/February 1994
Reissued/Harlequin/December 2008
Library ebook

From the author's website ~

Lucy Savage is finally getting rid of Bradley—and his hideous green recliner. Bradley is out of her life for good. Or so she thinks. Turns out Officer Zack Warren wants to arrest the very same Bradley for embezzlement and figures the lovely Lucy can lead him straight to his target.

Good thing there’s a cop around. Because someone shoots at Lucy and then blows up her car. Zack insists she needs twenty-four-hour protection. What does he think her three dogs and attack cat are for? Still, he insists on moving right in to Lucy’s house.

Now there’s danger lurking outside and in her own kitchen, bathroom—and bedroom. Or maybe Zack is just what Lucy needs.…

I picked this one up, really downloaded it, because Nath said she liked it. If Nath says she likes a book, there's a good chance it's a very good book. In the case of Getting Rid of Bradley she was spot on!

The story opens with Lucy and her sister Tina at the courthouse waiting for Lucy's now ex-husband to show up. It was the day her divorce was finalized and Bradley was suppose to be there. He doesn't show so they head over to a diner where Lucy said Bradley might show up. It's at the diner things get crazy. There's bad food, poor service and a couple of hot guys that turn out to be cops. Which is a good thing since it turns out Lucy needs the police.

After getting shot at and grabbed by what she thought was a drug dealer, Lucy finally goes home to her three pound puppies. I absolutely loved the personalities Crusie gives to these adorable dogs. Heisenberg, Maxwell and Einstein are unique characters that add so much flavor to the story. The roles they play in Lucy's life is so important that I can't imagine her falling in love with someone who doesn't love her dogs. Or at the very least like them.

Detective Zack Warren is in for a surprise when the crazy woman from the diner turns out to be linked to a big case he's been working on. He tracks her to her home and after assuring her that he is indeed a cop, he gets down to questioning her. Lucy isn't at all what Zack expected to find after their first encounter. She sexy and sweet and yes, a bit crazy but there is a definite attraction between these two. Zack is not what I would call likable until you get to know him, especially after Lucy's positive influence takes hold. It's not that he's mean or a jerk, he's just gruff, grumpy and unapproachable. Both in looks and manner. But underneath all that he's a real sweetheart.

The more time Zack spends with Lucy and her dogs the more she, and the dogs, drive him crazy but in a good way. :) Crusie had me laughing a lot at the comedic situations Lucy, Zack and yes, the dogs, find themselves in. In between all the witty and sharp dialogue is the threat of pain and possible death as Lucy's life becomes more complicated as the search for Bradley continues. Zack has moved in to Lucy's house, offering protection and the very willing use of his very sexy body. Lucy isn't a pushover and makes Zach work for it. She truly drives him crazy. It's great!

When Lucy divorces Bradley she also decides it's time for a change. She's tired of playing it safe and wants to make her own mistakes and not have her sister Tina bail her out. This makes her more open to Zach and his idea that oh, he can watch over her better from say, her bed. LOL I really liked these two together. The dynamics of their relationship had both of them changing. Sort of a meeting in the middle type of situation. With Zach softening up and Lucy becoming more independent.

The mystery surrounding where Bradley is and what trouble he's gotten into was fun to try and figure out. Even the criminals got in on some of the comedic scenes. This was truly a cute, funny and sweet romance. Definitely a favorite Crusie.

Rating: A-

Review: Her Secret Fling

Her Secret Fling
Sarah Mayberry
Contemporary Romance
Harlequin/January 2010
Purchased

From the back cover ~

Jake Stevens - star reporter and celebrated literary genius - is a snake. How else to explain the way he turns Poppy Birmingham's hero worship into loathing with a single conversation? So what if she's got a lot to learn about journalism? Aren't they coworkers now? On the same team? Jake can take his attitude and...

Then during a job-related road trip, their relationship goes from antagonistic to hedonistic in no time flat. And suddenly Poppy can't think of anything more delicious than having a secret fling with Jake. But with all this intensity, can she really keep it no-strings-attached?

Another Sarah Mayberry and another win! The setting is a newspaper, the Melbourne Herald. Our heroine is a former professional swimmer who is the the paper's newest writer. Our sexy hero makes it clear that he isn't happy with the newest staff member. Our heroine is determined to succeed at her new career and refuses to let the hero's rude attitude stop her.

Hmmm... let's start with Jake the jerk. LOL Okay, I totally get why our handsome, award winning writer is not happy when someone with no writing experience is given the job of columnist. He's worked hard to get to where he is and to have someone come in without paying their dues really ticks him off. Mayberry had her work cut out for her when she wrote Jake. He really was a jerk to Poppy when they first meet. Beyond his good looks, I didn't like Jake at first. I liked Poppy and Jake was mean to her. Bastard. So for me to come around to not only liking Jake but liking him with Poppy, Mayberry had to work her magic, and she did.

Poppy Birmingham gives up her swimming career when an injury forces her into early retirement. When offered a job as a columnist she takes it, looking for a career away from the pool. Her first day on the job doesn't go as well as she'd hoped. She does get to meet her hero, columnist and author Jake Stevens. She also gets a rude awakening when he's less than friendly, making it clear that he thinks she's just a dumb jock. This attitude doesn't help Poppy's insecurities. She knows the only reason she got the job is because of her experience in the sports world. She barely finished high school and with that in mind she has enrolled in an evening writing class.

I totally enjoyed Poppy's persistence. The way she refused to let Jake get to her while still finding him attractive. You go girl! Show him what you're made of! She was great when it came to standing up to Jake. There were times when she was barely able to hold it together but she did and I couldn't help but cheer her on. It turns out she's a natural when it comes to getting the story. Her insight into the athletes world gives her writing a unique perspective.

Jake was funny with his irritation and dislike for Poppy while grudgingly admitting, if only to himself, that he finds her attractive.

He couldn't help noting the firm bounce of her ass as she walked. Probably she could crack walnuts with that, too. He wondered idly what she looked like naked. Most swimmers didn't have a lot happening up top, but she clearly had a great ass and great legs. page 20

He's caught and he doesn't even know it. LOL This is early on and Jake is still acting like an ass towards Poppy. Still wallowing in his own problems and willing to take out his frustrations on her. Jake is suffering major writers block. His one and only novel was a huge success but that was years ago. His personal life took a downward spiral and the only writing he has done are his columns for the paper. His second novel is still rattling around in his head and he can't seem to get it out. Maybe he's in need of a muse... or a kick in the ass. :)

After the sexual tension hits it's peak, Poppy and Jake give in to their attraction with a one night stand that continues beyond the one night. Neither wants anyone to know that they have become more than coworkers so they meet in secret. Soon it becomes more than just sex, and something or someone had to change. Mayberry does a wonderful job in developing not only Poppy and Jake's relationship but developing Poppy as a reporter and writer. As she writes, her confidence increases and she blooms. She develops friendships with her coworkers and begins to enjoy her new career. Jake, on the other hand, is closed off with a big "Do Not Enter" sign when it comes to relationships. And he is determined to not let anyone get close. He really needed to be hit with a 2 X 4 before he would acknowledge his feelings. Out of the two, Poppy was the stronger character, causing change in both her own life and Jake's. The way they played off each other and the way they ultimately encouraged each other made for an appealing couple.

Mayberry, for me, has developed into an author that I can count on to give me unique characters, uncommon situations and an interesting story. Fortunately I still have some of her back list to read through while waiting for her next release.

Rating: A

sidenote ~ Every time I typed "Poppy" it started as "Poop". The mind of an eight year old boy lurks inside my head. :D