Reviews by Jodi Israel
|
When I opened Sue Rich's "Jade" at 10 o'clock on a work night, I planned on reading only a chapter or two. Several hours and a few tissues later, I came to the happy conclusion that it was worth the lost sleep! Rich attains a near perfect balance of humor and poignancy that makes the book impossible to put down. Jade Wentworth's father gambled away everything in his life, including his estate, which now belongs to Morgan Frazier. With the family nearly destitute, Jade's cousin Sedgewick hatches a plan to kidnap Morgan for ransom. Jade is by turns appalled and frightened. When the kidnap comes off, she takes action -- on Morgan's behalf. Morgan is astounded by her generosity of spirit. He also quickly realizes Jade is not safe in her own home. When they escape Wentworth Hall their adventure truly begins, and an attraction that had begun on sight blossoms into a happily ever after love. My keeper of the month.
|
When Raven sheds his old life by moving to Chicago and changing his name, Tess supports him. However, when she joins him in Chicago, she discovers the support doesn't run both ways. He is high-handed, remote and uncommunicative -- ashamed, it turns out, of his heritage. He refuses to love her because she is caucasian. He won't be a party to half-breed children who are at home nowhere. He doesn't count on Tess' perseverance and his own heart's desire. A feel-good story.
|
Marrying Geoffrey Alcott is one of those expectations. She likes him well enough until she meets Shay McKenna, who turns her whole world upside down. Not only because the poor Irish immigrant is happily married, but because through his dying wife Bria, Emma discovers ways to make her own life more meaningful.
This is not a story about adultery. Shay is too much in love with Bria to consider such a thing. But it is about how loving someone makes one more complete, more in touch, more giving. I had a strong sense of satisfaction at the end of this novel. I'm off to find her backlist!
|
Joyce leads off with the traditional. In "Sundown" Emily Anderson is taken hostage, in her own home, by Raphael Caldwell. Supposedly he's killed several men, rustled cattle and other unsavory activities. But Emily, a schoolteacher, isn't so quick to judge a book by its cover.
In Connie Brockway's "Heaven With a Gun" Jim Coyne is an exiled newspaperman who senses the story of his career in Lightning Lil, a thief with a very specific agenda. When a woman throws herself in his arms and claims to be Lil herself, he has to choose between his career and her love.
This fine collection of stories is by turns funny, sweet and sexy and makes for wonderful reading.
|
Sometimes anthologies are used by authors as stepping stones for larger works. All three authors participating in "Fortune Cookie" use their stories to tease us into wanting to know more.
Three friends receive fortune cookies. Their fortunes at first seem obscure, but they soon become all too clear. Janice Kaiser writes "Double Trouble" in which Zara takes her twin sister's honeymoon trip and meets the man of her dreams. In "The Dream Doc" by M.J. Rogers, Laura wants to prove that Dr. Quinn took advantage of her aunt's generosity only to discover there is more to the man than his lab coat. Last is "Dear Darcy" by Margaret St. George (a.k.a. Maggie Osborne) in which Darcy lies about her appearance to her email penpal, and now he wants to meet her!
While all three stories are well written, the last story is the best, possibly because it is so true to life. These are quick stories with strong central romances. The fortunes come into play in each story, and it is exciting to see the theme played through.
|
What do you do when you are engaged to one brother only to discover you have been intimate with the other? Dallas Schulze explores this in "Home to Eden." Kate Moran experiences tremendous heartache when her fiance's black sheep brother returns to the fold. She barely even knew his name, but for one night Nick Blackstone made her world just a little brighter. Now, when she has the whole world in her hands, his return is haunting.
Nick is a very wounded hero. He left Eden, California, after the death of his wife and child and he's not entirely sure he's ready to come back. He also carries another secret. He has the power to heal. But it isn't something he can control. Nick's attraction to Kate burns visibly as does her for him, but she is promised to his brother.
This is a compelling story, full of emotion. Schulze, a longtime category author, chooses her words to have the greatest impact in the shortest space. Her sense of timing, even in this single title format, is on target. The story moves as if charged.
Let me know what you think about the trend toward anthologies, the new paperback-sized hardcovers and the higher incidence of hardcover debuts for our favorite authors. I can be reached at jodi@tiac.net
Jodi Israel is a member of the Romance Writers of America and reports each month on noteworthy new romances. Comments are welcome at jodi@tiac.net.
©1997, ProMotion, inc.
Support your