It’s September, and we desperate, hopeless addicts know what that means: a new J.D. Robb book! PASSIONS IN DEATH’s arrival brought sighs of relief to readers across the globe, and their anticipation was generously rewarded. The story opens, of course, with murder most foul, when a young, exuberant bride-to-be is killed at her pre-wedding party. Eve didn’t know the victim, but she knows and cares about the location of the killing—a nightclub where she herself was once the victim of a vicious assault. Ferreting out the killer proves a challenge, as the dead woman was surrounded by a group of closely-knit, and seemingly loving friends. Roarke, meanwhile, is busy being Roarke (fess up: aren’t you closing your eyes and sighing longingly, too?) running his galactic enterprise while simultaneously able to focus on the fate of individual administrative employees and ensure that Eve has a glorious cup of coffee whenever she most needs one. As always, the mystery was captivating, Eve’s ruminations about life, elevators, and syntax were entertaining, and a brief scene in which Eve and Roarke walk in the garden and sample a peach was the epitome of tenderness. How many days until February????
Readers always eagerly await new arrivals from Kristan Higgins, as well, and she came through with style in her new book, LOOK ON THE BRIGHT SIDE. Lark has followed the path she set out for herself with discipline and determination, so when the carpet is pulled out from under her, she’s not sure how to cope. Yes, she’s a great doctor, but her supervisors lose patience with her overly-emotional involvement with cancer patients. Then her always dependable parents start acting downright weird, and to top off the craziness, she somehow finds herself agreeing to a fake relationship in a deal with the devil—a cold, insensitive doctor who promises to help her back to her chosen field if she’ll only pose as his fiancée for a few months. What could possibly go wrong? But this is Kristan Higgins, so the real question is, of course, how will this all turn out to be absolutely right? LOOK ON THE BRIGHT SIDE sensitively addresses numerous issues (dementia and infidelity among others) while delivering a lovely story that will leave you with a smile and an uplifted heart.
If you’re reluctant to say goodbye to summer, check out the delightful REBEL SUMMER by Cindy Steel. Ivy goes “home” for the weekend for a friend’s celebration, and thanks to a series of I Love Lucy-style mishaps, gets stuck there for months. Ivy no longer sees the Florida island as home, has a hostile relationship with her politician father, and most assuredly does NOT want to spend time with Dax, a guy she just might have had a thing for back in high school. I was happy to learn that Cindy Steel has several well-reviewed romcoms under her belt, so I’ll be sure to visit her work again soon.
Also a happy revelation for me: Marina Adair, another well-received romcom author I have somehow never read before. ALWAYS A BRIDESMAID was fun and even educational; I’ve never read a novel featuring a Formula 1 driver, and it was a treat not only to learn about a new field but to spend time in London and Monaco. Jane works as a bridesmaid for hire (who knew?), and things get complicated when the brother of her current bride/client proves to be both too curious and too tempting.
As I’m running out of time and space, I’ll throw in a quick cheer for two tried-and-true authors who also have new books out. VISCOUNT IN LOVE by Eloisa James is a delicious return to the historical world the author knows so well. Here an over-burdened and cantankerous viscount comes to depend on the sister of a debutante who jilted him for both companionship and help with the rambunctious twins now under his guardianship. Torie and Dominic are most definitely ill-suited, so we all know where this is going. But the journey is witty and impassioned, and you’ll learn a bit about female 19th century artists as a bonus. And Ali Hazelwood’s BRIDE is both entirely new and exactly what we’ve come to expect from this amazing author. Misery’s a vampyre, (author’s spelling, not mine!) whose very name reveals her less-than-loving upbringing, and Lowe is a werewolf. Their riveting story is at once a marriage-of-convenience rollercoaster adventure and a romp through a fantasy world we’ll crave returning to. Luckily, the author cleverly hints that there might be more to come.
Meg's friends during her high school years all expected her romance novels to hit the shelves decades ago, but she foolishly allowed "serious pursuits" to get in her way. Now that her beloved children can feed, clothe, and most importantly, support themselves, she's free to turn her attention to her first passion - putting words to paper that capture your attention and make your heart sing in quiet joy. Her stories tell most frequently of second chances--in life, love, and sometimes even at rediscovering a soul-mate from a previous life.
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