Rogue with a Brogue, by Suzanne Enoch

St. Martin’s Press, August 2014

REVIEW:

Enoch presents another Highland delight, a wonderful blend of humor, warmth, peril and betrayal. Hero Arran MacLawry and heroine Mary Campbell take on the world as age-old clan rivalries threaten to keep them apart, sending them on a daring, breathless dash for freedom. MacLawry’s Scottish brogue is endearing, almost lyrical to read and adds character and authenticity to the dialog. The old English countryside setting is the cherry on top of this well-crafted, romantic charmer.

SYNOPSIS:

Arran MacLawry is a Highlander through and through. He’d much rather be back in the hills of Scotland than wasting his time in England, chaperoning his brother Ranulf, the Marquis of Glengask, and his young sister Rowena, as they participate in London Season. As if that isn’t bad enough, Arran himself is the target of the husband seeking Sasannach, the vapid English debutantes who pursue him like hounds on the hunt.

In truth, Arran has already been paired with the daughter of his clan’s strategic ally. Even though their union would increase the wealth and power of both clans, Arran is not keen on entering into a forced marriage to someone he’s never even met. He’d always thought he’d marry for love to a woman of his choosing.

Mary Campbell is the daughter of the MacLawry’s bitter rivals. They’re also in London for Season, and like Arran, Mary’s single days are numbered. Her family has offered her in marriage to Lord Delaveer, with a formal proposal expected any day. While the notion of a forced marriage rankles, she has no choice but to honor her parents’ wishes. All of that changes when she meets Arran MacLawry.

Their first encounter is at a Mayfair masquerade ball where they get acquainted over a waltz. He suspects the bright, clever and spirited woman behind the vixen mask may be his intended bride, and he is immediately intrigued. He muses that, perhaps, a marriage with this woman might not be that bad. Unfortunately, he soon learns that the mystery woman in the crimson gown who stole his heart with a single waltz is not the one he’d imagined. This woman is, in fact, the last woman he should be pursuing. He knows a relationship with Mary Campbell will come with disastrous consequences. Except now, having found this bonny lass, he can’t imagine spending his life with anyone else.

Never Surrender, by Lindsay McKenna

Harlequin, July 2014

REVIEW:

McKenna does it again, raising the bar of her Shadow Warriors series to a new high. This time, a lady warrior is captured and subjected to the unthinkable. Heroine Baylee-Ann Thorn’s cruel abuse, harrowing escape and long recovery, complicated by her near fatal head wound, lead the reader on a journey of highs and lows seldom found in romance fiction. Hero Gabe Griffin’s steadfast love is tested to the max, as he watches the woman he adores struggle with the aftermath of her ordeal. This story is at once troubling and triumphant as day by day the healing power of love brings Bay all the way home. My favorite of the series so far.

Other 2014 McKenna titles include Wolf Haven in the Jackson Hole series, three titles in the Shadow Warriors series, and her upcoming novels Touch the Heavens, and Coming Home for Christmas.

SYNOPSIS:

Petty Officer First Class Baylee-Ann Thorn, a Hospital Corpsman in a top-secret, experimental group of elite combat women, returns to Afghanistan for one last mission. She’s trained to function and fight as a highly skilled soldier, serving shoulder to shoulder with the best. On this mission, she is assigned to provide medical services and gather intel in a village located along the Taliban supply lines that snake though the mountains. Even though she’s warned about Taliban human traffickers in the area who are known to kidnap children from these villages, she’s caught off guard when a group of them suddenly rides up and begins grabbing children from their mothers near her medic post. Despite Bay’s valiant effort to defend the villagers, she’s out-numbered and is soon overcome and hauled away.

As a combat medic Bay is a valuable asset to her Taliban captors who order her to treat their wounded, and attend to the injured children. But Bay knows it won’t stop there. As a female, she’ll likely be sold or raped. Probably both. As tensions rise, time runs out for Bay and she’s viciously attacked. Now, her top priority becomes staying alive long enough to escape.

Bay’s Navy SEAL fiancé, Gabe Griffin, was reluctant to let Bay return to Afghanistan on this mission, alone, without him. He knows the dangers she’ll face. But this isn’t her first deployment. He’s seen her in action. He knows her combat and survival skills are first rate. Still, he’ll feel a whole lot better when she’s back home, safe and sound. All of that changes when he receives the dreaded call from Camp Bravo—Bay has been taken. Now, Gabe can’t get back to Afghanistan fast enough to find her before it’s too late.

Straddling the Line, by Jaci Burton

Berkley, July 2014

REVIEW:

Burton’s latest sports figure, Trevor Shay, shines as a professional athlete and a fine romantic hero. Heroine Haven Brisco is equal to the task, though a novice in many charming ways. The action and dialog are funny, clever and sexy, as Trevor and Haven get reacquainted, and Trevor’s growing family of all-stars welcomes Haven to the team, Burton style. Nobody does sports romance better.

Burton’s Straddling the Line joins an all-star roster of fun and sexy professional sports novels starting with 2011’s The Perfect Play. Next on the 2014 schedule is Holiday on Ice, followed by Quarterback Draw in early 2015.

SYNOPSIS:

Trevor Shay is an all star, dual-sport athlete, playing professional baseball in St. Louis and professional football in Tampa. An interview piece with a super jock like him, one of the hottest sports figures in the country, would be quite a coup for any television sports reporter, particularly one who is still trying to establish herself with the networks. For Trevor, that reporter is Haven Briscoe.

Haven has been struggling to come to terms with the death of her father, the man who had been Trevor’s father figure ever since college. Her mother is concerned that after nearly a year, Haven still hasn’t gotten past her grief and on with her life. So, to help kick-start Haven’s career and take her mind off her father’s death, Haven’s mother seeks Trevor’s help. She suggests that he arrange to do a feature interview with Haven as the reporter. Trevor agrees and soon Haven is moving in to his St. Louis estate to begin her weeks-long assignment.

Haven has known Trevor for many years, since she was his college tutor. At the time, she’d had a major crush on him although he’d hardly noticed her beyond the textbooks. Well, he sure notices her now. Spending every day together only heightens their mutual attraction. Naturally, they do their best to resist. After all, a reporter must maintain her objectivity, right? Ultimately, hearts are risked, closely held secrets are revealed and love prevails. All the hallmarks of romance at its best.

Then Came You, by Jill Shalvis

Berkley, July 2014

REVIEW:

Shalvis’ latest Animal Magnetism story reintroduces the Belle Haven regulars and adds heroine Emily Stevens and hero Wyatt Stone to the growing family of characters. They’re a perfect match. She’s driven, sensible, a woman with a plan. He’s laid back and easy, except when it comes to his work and his two unruly sisters. And who doesn’t love a sexy man in glasses? There’s plenty of humor and heart to go around, with lots of clever banter, smokin’ hotness, and, oh yes, those lovable animals. Shalvis never disappoints.

Then Came You joins four previous titles in Shalvis’ delightful Animal Magnetism series, with the next installment due in early 2015. For readers looking for more Shalvis, 2014 summer and fall releases are coming up in her prolific and equally entertaining Lucky Harbor series.

SYNOPSIS:

Having arrived in the small town of Sunshine, Idaho, Emily Stevens is literally counting the days until she completes her veterinary internship so she can return to Los Angeles where she belongs. There is absolutely nothing of interest for her here in “West Nowhere, USA” until she arrives at Belle Haven for her first day of work and meets her supervisor, Wyatt Stone. It turns out they’d met before, to say the least.

Three months ago, after her graduation from veterinary school, Emily took a walk on the wild side and hooked up with a sexy, complete stranger at a veterinary conference in Reno. What are the odds that her first and only one-night-fling would end up being her future boss? In Emily’s case, apparently the odds were good.

The awkwardness of their reunion passes quickly, and despite their best intentions to keep things professional, it isn’t long before they are right back where they’d left off in Reno. Of course, neither of them is looking for a long-term relationship and certainly no commitments. Emily claims she already has a boyfriend…well, sort of. And besides, according to her plan, she’ll be leaving Sunshine in less than a year. Wyatt is recovering from a broken heart and just wants to bask for a while in the attention of the local Casserole Brigade. Why complicate things with what could be true love and happiness?