Judging a book by its cover

REVIEWS BY SANDY HUSEBY

The vagaries of chance affect people in ways great and small. While reading Anna Karenina, a book club discovers the truth of this lesson when Cynthia, the golden girl of privilege in their group, abruptly announces she is divorcing her husband, Eric. Stunned at the provocative news—and frustrated by Cynthia's refusal to discuss it—the five other women in the club begin to examine their own relationships more closely. Chance has played dealer in all their lives. What if Donna and Rina had never been college roommates? Or Jen and Elizabeth's mother had treated them differently during their childhood? What if Trish had chosen a less analytical profession? As Cynthia must deal with choices about her marriage, the force of random chance haunts all the women. In their ebullient conversations about literary classics, the personal histories they'd each kept closed away begin to emerge. Gloria Goldreich's Dinner with Anna Karenina is a scintillating and magical visit to great literature wrapped in the everyday realities of women's lives. An extraordinary and impeccable keeper.


Regency masques and balls, oh my

In Lauren Willig's sequel to The Secret History of the Pink Carnation, the intrigues of the French Revolutionary era continue to haunt graduate student Eloise Kelly. On a trip to England, she pursues papers that will help to reveal the histories of English and French spies, most of whom used floral sobriquets. Colin Selwick is keeper of those secrets and his ancestor is one of the bouquet, the Purple Gentian. As The Masque of the Black Tulip begins, Eloise has discovered the 1803 papers of the Gentian's sister, Henrietta (Hen) Selwick. Hen is determined to help the English cause by exposing a mysterious spy, the Black Tulip, and her amateur efforts run up against her friend Miles Dorrington's more official assignment from the War Office. As the intrigues swirl, so does the romance as fiery passions surface between Miles and Hen. Their story is interwoven with Colin and Eloise's modern-day attempt to piece together the history and perhaps begin a romance of their own. An appealing tale that deftly blends the intrigues of wartime with the oldest story of all.


A little bit of 'me' time

The editorial staff of Bold Books scrambles to create instant books while bemoaning the state of their own romances in Melissa Senate's delightfully dishy The Breakup Club. Senior Editor Lucy's husband goes ballistic over paper plates at Thanksgiving dinner. Hours later, Lucy finds a New Year's Resolution in his pocket: leave Lucy. The marriage was perfect until then, unlike her younger sister Miranda's drive-by relationships. And then there's Christopher, trying to juggle weekend fatherhood with justifying why he got the promotion instead of Lucy. And the new kid at the office, Roxy, may be the sleeper destined to find true love with Robbie, er, Rob. This is as captivating a cluster of chick lit characters as readers would want to meet. Senate understands the realm of book publishing firsthand and delivers a delightful slice of the life of the newly single trying to make it in Manhattan. A treat!


Seeking freedom and family

Falsely imprisoned for the murder of his wife, Nathan Chasing Elk seizes an opportunity and escapes. Catharine Lyons has her own escape intentions: life on the rugged Western ranch is grueling for a woman alone, and she wants to return East. The Apache warrior Marteen wants Catharine as his woman, and she turns to Nathan in desperation, asking him to pose as her husband. Wounded in his escape and needing sanctuary, Nathan finds her offer and Catharine herself irresistible. From that initial deception, Nathan and Catharine find common purpose in journeying to find his young daughter in Madeline Baker's Western romance, Dakota Dreams. As the pair travels northward into Lakota territory, they learn that the perils of the frontier pale in comparison to the challenges and passions of the heart.


Sandy Huseby writes from her homes in Fargo, North Dakota, and lakeside in northern Minnesota.

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