April showers may bring May flowers, but with luck, they’re bringing you extra reading time. Great books have rained down on me recently, both old and new, and as always, I am excited to share some of the gems I’ve enjoyed.
First off, I was recently privileged to lead a writers’ conference discussion of Lucy Score’s THINGS WE NEVER GOT OVER. I’d done a quick listen to it a few years back and enjoyed it, but now I did a more thorough read. My verdict and that of most of the conference attendees: A winner! There are a few plot holes and inanities we had fun poking fun of, but overall, this runaway bride, grumpy/sunshine, enemies-to-lovers, found-family romance is a delight that will leave you remembering Naomi and Knox with a satisfied smile.
Skipping back a few centuries, I was absolutely captivated by Susanna Kearsley’s newest title, THE KING’S MESSENGER. The king in question is James II of England (aka James VI of Scotland—Ms. Kearsley allows historical details space to enlighten but never overwhelm), and the messenger is Andrew Logan, torn between his need to honor his job and provide for his family and his growing suspicion that the task assigned him is not in itself honorable or worthy. The quiet love story that grows between Andrew and Phoebe, a royal scribe’s daughter, adds to the book’s enchantment.
Shifting gears to more preposterous historical fun, I was unexpectedly delighted by Lia Riley’s PUCK AND PREJUDICE. Tucker, an American hockey star temporarily sidelined by illness, visits his sister who is working in England. And as happens in subtitles like “A Spicy Time Travel Hockey Romance,” he ends up falling through pond water and emerging to meet Lizzie, one of Jane Austen’s closest friends. Wardrobe and other shenanigans ensue, but what could have turned out completely farcical instead revealed itself to be a thoughtful, well-told story of two people grappling with societal injustices while falling in love and having to overcome personal obstacles. I’ll happily skate along with this author any time!
For a more down-to-our-rapidly-disintegrating-earth-based tale, I recommend the utterly engrossing and heart wrenching new book by Charlotte McConaghy, WILD DARK SHORE. This is NOT a romance, but it is a beautiful love story—of love for family, love for our planet, and love between a man and a woman that will carve a lasting niche in your heart.
Also touching on our precarious ecological reality, Mia Sheridan’s upcoming HEART OF THE SUN, is, in fact, both a hold-your-breath tale of survival and a beautiful romance. Emily and Tuck knew and loved/antagonized each other as children and then went their separate ways. Emily’s now a world-renowned pop star, and Tuck’s a penniless, recently released felon. They’re thrown together when solar flares take out the power grid, and necessity, in this case, is both the mother of invention and resourcefulness as well as the impetus for learning to trust one’s instincts and recognize each other’s true identities hidden under layers of societal costuming.
Finally, I am once again late in discovering a romance writer who has been adored for years by far more savvy readers. This time it’s Zoe York, and I fell in love with RECKLESS AT HEART—luckily, the start of a five-book series. It’s the story of the oldest Kincaid brother, Owen, whose life has been one challenge after another, finding out that his own conceived-out-of-wedlock but dearly beloved daughter is now pregnant herself. New-to-town midwife Kerry Humphrey provides outstanding care, but Owen is determined that his admiration for her will not evolve into anything stronger. But I did mention that Ms. York writes romance, right?! RECKLESS AT HEART is a lovely book, and I can’t wait to read more of the series.
Missing winter? SECOND ACT is a hold-your-breath romantic who-done-it set in a frigid New York January that will keep you turning pages ‘til the thrilling conclusion. Until next time, happy reading!
Pirouettes, Soaring grand jetés, Heavenly music, Murder?!
Nobody in the last scene of the ballet Giselle was actually supposed to be dead. A witness to the baffling death, NYC Detective Frank Sutton is suspicious of ballet in general, suspicious of the throngs of company members unable to give him any straight answers, and most definitely, suspicious of the bewitchingly beautiful prima ballerina, Margot Johnson.
Why is the exquisite dancer retiring at such a young age? Was the murde
red Russian dancer a victim of international espionage or artistic rivalry? And most urgent: is Margot his prime suspect, or will she be the next to fall victim to the theater killer?
Reviewers say Second Act kept them reading all night, wishing the story would never end. A tender romance between two hardened cynics, Second Act has it all: a snowy New York City winter, the magic of dance, and a mystery that will keep you on your toes until the final curtain!
Romance | Romance Contemporary | Romance Suspense [NapierPress, On Sale: February 24, 2023, Hardcover / e-Book , ISBN: 9781735102436 / eISBN: 9781735102443]
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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