Fatal Secrets

PHINNEY, BARBARA

FATAL SECRETS

"For my baby's safety, I must give her up..."

An old letter is all Kristin Perry has of her birth mother. When the Witness Protection Program couldn't keep mother or daughter safe, the woman fled 'underground'. With the help of private investigator Zane Black, Kristin tries to track her down. Instead though, she finds herself the target of a series of deadly 'accidents'. Zane's still searching for her missing mother -- but now Kristin's starting to wonder if her family reunion will be the death of them all...

THIS IS THE FIFTH IN THE PROTECTING THE WITNESSES SERIES. KRISTIN APPEARS IN THE PREVIOUS BOOK, AS DOES JACKSON MCGRAW. THIS BOOK SETS UP THE THE GRAND FINALE WHICH TAKES PLACE IN BOOK 6 -- RISKY REUNION. I'M QUITE INTRIGUED WITH THE NOTION OF SIX WRITERS COLLABORATING ON A SERIES. OVERLAPPING CHARACTERS HAVE TO BE CONSISTENT -- OVERALL PLOTS CARRY OVER BUT BUILD WITH EACH SUBSEQUENT BOOK -- AND YET EACH STORY HAS TO STAND ALONE WITH ITS OWN SUSPENSE/ROMANCE COMBINATION. I FELT THAT THE SUSPENSE OVERSHADOWED THE ROMANCE IN FATAL SECRETS, BUT IT WAS STILL A GOOD READ.

Child of the Mist

MORGAN, KATHLEEN

CHILD OF THE MIST

An arranged betrothal was never the course Anne MacGregor imagined her life would take. Yet when her father explains that her cooperation is the only way to bring about the long-sought truce between feuding families. Anne has no other choice.

A simple ceremony pledging Anne's hand in marriage after one year of commitment is the only seal to the promise of peace. But when the arrangement requires the reluctant Anne to follow Niall Campbell back to his home, she soon discovers that peace is not so easily achieved. Before they even arrive, rumors about her abound, and her safety is threatened. Meanwhile, Niall's ascension as leader of his clan is in jeopardy, as a traitor works to bring about his downfall.

As Niall and Anne begin to see beyond each other's defenses, love takes them by surprise. But will it be enough to defeat their foes? Or will the truce be broken, their lives forfeit, and war return to their beloved land?

I WAS VERY EXCITED TO FIND THIS GEM AT MY LIBRARY. SO MANY OF THE CHRISTIAN HISTORICALS ARE SET AROUND THE TURN OF THE CENTURY AND USUALLY IN THE WESTERN PART OF THE UNITED STATES. WHILE I LOVE READING THEM IT WAS WONDERFUL TO JOURNEY ACROSS THE OCEAN TO 16TH CENTURY SCOTLAND FOR A CHANGE.

KATHLEEN DID AN EXCELLENT JOB OF CAPTURING THE ESSENCE OF THAT ERA. THERE HAS BEEN CONTROVERSY RE. SOME OF THE CONTENT OF THIS BOOK -- FOR SEXUAL SUGGESTIVENESS, VIOLENCE AND A NEGATIVE PORTRAYAL OF THE CLERGY. WHILE I DID FIND THIS A GRITTIER READ, I THOUGHT THAT KATHLEEN HANDLED ALL THE CONTROVERSIAL ISSUES WITH GRACE WHILE STILL REMAINING TRUE TO THE TIME PERIOD.

FACT WAS: SCOTTISH HIGHLANDERS WERE BRAWNY, LUSTY CLAYMORE SWINGING WARRIORS :-) AND NIALL CAMPBELL CERTAINLY PORTRAYED THEM MAGNIFICENTLY. RELIGION WAS STEEPED IN POLITICS AND FANATICISM FED THE SUPERSTITIONS OF THE TIME. WHILE THE CAMPBELL CLAN'S CLERGYMAN WAS REPREHENSIBLE, I FELT THAT ANNE MACGREGOR'S PURE LOVE OF GOD PROVIDED A GOOD BALANCE.

THE SUSPENSEFUL PLOT WAS FILLED WITH TWISTS AND TURNS AND PLENTY OF INTRIGUE THAT KEPT ME TURNING PAGES. NIALL AND ANNE'S TURBULENT ROMANCE WAS INTRICATELY WOVEN INTO THE ACTION-PACKED PLOT. I REALLY ENJOYED READING MAID OF THE MIST AND HAVE ALREADY PLACED HOLDS ON THE REST OF THE SERIES AT MY LIBRARY.

Steadfast Soldier

WYATT, CHERYL

STEADFAST SOLDIER

Rescuing people is his job but the one person pararescue jumper Chance Garrison can't seem to help is his own ailing father, who refuses his much-needed physical rehabilitation. That is, until Chance hires unconventional occupational therapist Chloe Callet. To his surprise, Chloe and her sweet black Lab, Midnight, work wonders. And not only on the elder Garrison. Chance just may have met the woman who can get through his own toughened exterior. Can he persuade the lovely Chloe to take a chance -- on him?

CHERYL WYATT DOESN'T JUST USE WORDS TO TELL A STORY, SHE CRAFTS WITH THEM. HER PACING, DETAIL AND DIALOGUE DELIVER A TIGHT PLOT WITH IMPRESSIVE IMPACT. SUCCINCT WORD CHOICE STILL PACKS A WALLOP WITHOUT ROBBING THE READER OF AN EMOTIONAL CONNECTION WITH HER CHARACTERS.

AND CHERYL EXCELS AT CHARACTERIZATION. SHE CREATES THOUGHT-PROVOKING PEOPLE WHO ARE STRUGGLING TO FIND THEIR WAY THROUGH DIFFICULT TIMES.

AS A ROMANTIC HERO, CHANCE GARRISON IS SUBLIME. CHERYL CONTRASTS HIS STRENGTHS WITH FEARS AND EXPOSES VULNERABILITIES THAT MAKE HIM BELIEVABLE AND VERY, VERY APPEALING. CHLOE CALLET HAS HER OWN BRAND OF STRENGTH BUT IS ALSO EMOTIONALLY FRAGILE. AT THE BEGINNING OF THE BOOK THEIR NEEDS AND DESIRES FOR THE FUTURE ARE DEFINITELY AT ODDS. PART OF THE JOY OF THIS READING JOURNEY IS DISCOVERING HOW CHERYL STACKS THOSE ODDS IN THEIR FAVOUR TO ENSURE A HAPPILY EVER AFTER ENDING.

THE ROMANTIC CONNECTION BETWEEN CHLOE AND CHANCE IS IMMEDIATE, BUT FRAUGHT WITH COMPLICATIONS. THAT DOESN'T STOP THE SLOW SIZZLE THAT GRADUALLY FANS INTO A DEEPLY-COMMITTED, GOD-CENTERED LOVE.

DEFINITELY AN INCREDIBLE READ THAT TRANSPORTED ME STRAIGHT INTO THE PAGES OF THE BOOK AND I DIDN'T WANT TO COME OUT!!! FROM PLOT, TO CHARACTERIZATION, TO ROMANCE, STEADFAST SOLDIER IS TOTALLY CAPTIVATING.

Letter Perfect

HAKE, CATHY MARIE

LETTER PERFECT

If her own two feet don't end up tripping her, Ruth Caldwell's mouth is likely to get her into equal trouble. But Ruth has the best of intentions. Truly. It's just that her attempts to live up to her mother's expectations of how a lady should act have often yielded...well, less than impressive results.

Josh McCain is speechless when he sees Ruth step off the stage in Folsom, California. Sure, it looks like she's been sleeping in her gown for the past week, but with a crown of riotous curls and those deep green eyes, she's certainly the most beautiful woman he's ever met.

But attraction is not all that causes sparks between Ruth and Josh. With Ruth's legitimate claim to an inheritance, the Broken P Ranch's future is suddenly precarious. And when Ruth's 'accidents' -- going beyond even her normal bumbling ways -- seem to take a sinister turn, Josh must decide where his loyalties lie.

CATHY MARIE HAKE HAS THE GIFT OF CREATING STRONG, INDEPENDENT AND INTELLIGENT FEMALE CHARACTERS -- AND THEN SHE TURNS THEIR WORLD UPSIDE DOWN AND THE RESULT IS ALWAYS A CAPTIVATING READ! AND YET, NONE OF HER BOOKS (I'VE READ THREE -- ALL HISTORICALS) ARE IN ANY WAY REPETITIVE.

I WAS CAPTIVATED BY RUTH CALDWELL FROM THE VERY FIRST PAGE AND WAS QUICKLY IMMERSED IN HER STORY -- ESPECIALLY WHEN IT TURNED SURPRISINGLY SUSPENSEFUL.

JOSH MCCAIN DIDN'T STAND A CHANCE AND IT WAS FUN TO WATCH HIM REACT TO RUTH'S ANTICS BUT HAKE GAVE HIM A SENSE OF HUMOUR AND READING DIALOGUE BETWEEN THE TWO HAD ME LAUGHING OUT LOUD.

THE SUSPENSE WAS SOLID AND BROUGHT TO A STAND-UP-AND-CHEER CONCLUSION AS TRUTH COMES TO LIGHT. FANS WHO LOVE A BLEND OF HUMOUR AND MYSTERY ALONGSIDE A SWEET ROMANCE WILL LOVE LETTER PERFECT.

The Cinderella List

BAER, JUDY

THE CINDERELLA LIST

Wanted: One smart, kind, thoughtful -- and totally gorgeous -- man! Since she was a child, Marlo Mayfield has kept a list of traits her Prince Charming must possess.

After a series of bad relationships, Marlo's beginning to lose hope that her ideal man exists. But when she caters a party for Jake Hammond, Marlo realizes he could be the man she's been waiting for. There's only one problem: Jake is super wealthy, and Marlo's not sure she fits into his blue-blooded world. But Jake is determined to show Marlo that with a little faith and a lot of love, he just might be the one.

THIS IS A LOVELY, CLASSIC PURE ROMANCE. IT HAS TRADITIONAL LINES AND JUDY HAS FLESHED OUT THE CHARACTERS NICELY. I REALLY LIKE IT WHEN AN AUTHOR INCLUDES HER OWN INTERESTS IN A BOOK SINCE IT LENDS AN AIR OF AUTHENTICITY TO THE STORY. JUDY'S LOVE OF HORSES AND HER TRAINING IN EQUINE-ASSISTED PSYHCOTHERAPY PROVIDES A NICE BACKGROUND TO THE ROMANTIC PLOT LINE. A VERY NICE 'ESCAPE' READ.

Forevermore

HAKE, CATHY MARIE

FOREVERMORE

There is no one quite like Hope Ladley. A veritable dandelion in the wind, she blows from one farm to the next, roaming the Texas countryside as an itinerant cook. When she rides her mule, Hattie, onto the Stauffer farm, Hope knows this is the place the Lord wants her to be.

Jakob Stauffer, though grateful for a cook to assist his pregnant sister and young daughter through the harvest, is baffled by Hope's unconventional methods as she gets things done around the farm. Yet he can't deny the way her sunny disposition and unstinting love make changes of a different kind...even within his own heart.

HOPE HAS TO BE ONE OF THE MOST INNOVATIVE AND CHARMING CHARACTERS I HAVE EVER MET!!!!! SHE CAPTIVATED ME FROM THE FIRST PAGE AND HELD ME ENTHRALLED RIGHT TO THE END. AND ALL THE WHILE I READ, I MARVELED AT CATHY MARIE HAKE'S INCREDIBLE IMAGINATION.

HOPE MANGLES IDIOMS AND HER SPEECH IS PEPPERED WITH THEM. IT'S INCREDIBLE THAT CATHY CAME UP WITH SO MANY, BUT THEN SHE FINDS A WAY TO TWIST THEM INTO HILARIOUS FAUX PAS THAT IRONICALLY MAKE SENSE AND LETS HOPE BLITHELY SPEW THEM THROUGHOUT THE WHOLE BOOK. BRILLIANT. BRILLIANT. BRILLIANT. NOT ONLY FUNNY AND ENDEARING, BUT SUCH A CLEVER WAY FOR THE READER TO CONNECT WITH A CHARACTER.

I LOVE THE WHOLE PREMISE OF HOPE BRINGING A HEALING CHANGE. SHE'S A MAGICAL CHARACTER -- KIND OF LIKE A MARY POPPINS ON A GRANDER SCALE...AND MAYBE A FAIRY GODMOTHER WITH COMMON SENSE...NOT TO MENTION AN AMELIA BEDELIA FOR THE OLDER SET. I DON'T THINK MY DESCRIPTIONS CAN DO JUSTICE TO HOPE. SHE'S EXCEPTIONALLY UNIQUE. PERIOD.

THIS IS A DEFINITE MUST-READ FOR HISTORICAL LOVERS -- AND IF HISTORICALS AREN'T YOUR THING -- MAKE AN EXCEPTION. YOU WON'T BE DISAPPOINTED.

Texas Pursuit

SMITH, DEBRA WHITE

TEXAS PURSUIT

Tired of waiting for the right man to start a family, Tanya flew halfway around the world alone to adopt her son. On the return flight, she was seated next to a man named Maurice and endured hours of his comments and innuendos. Once they landed in Dallas, he started stalking her -- sending gifts, leaving voice mails, following her everywhere...finally forcing her to move,

Maurice hires private detective Sonny Mansfield, whose intentions were good when he agreed to help a client locate his missing "ex-wife" and kidnapped "son". But watching Tanya with her little boy, Sonny realizes he's made a terrible mistake by inadvertently leading danger back into her life.

Joining forces to defeat the madman, Sonny and Tanya can't deny the attraction they feel for each other. But their love will be short-lived if they aren't able to escape Maurice for good.

ENJOYABLE MYSTERY/SUSPENSE. THE TAUT PLOT MAKES THIS A PAGE-TURNER BUT THE DEVELOPING ROMANCE BETWEEN SONNY AND TANYA MAKES YOU SAVOR EVERY LAST WORD. THE SECOND IN A SERIES BUT IT WASN'T CONFUSING TO READ FIRST. KUDOS TO DEBRA FOR MAKING IT READ LIKE A STAND ALONE. I'LL DEFINITELY BE ON THE LOOK OUT FOR TEXAS HEAT (THE FIRST OF THE SERIES WHICH IS OUT NOW) AND LOOK FORWARD TO THE THIRD BOOK WHEN IT IS PUBLISHED.