Dishing, Reading and Lots More in March...

Please tell me Spring will finally decide to stay (soon!), instead of Mother Nature teasing us with warm days and then snow. How’s a body to adjust to such extremes? It’s no wonder that so many of us are ill. Daylight Savings Time starts at 2 a.m. on March 8, 2009, and I am ready. Now, hurry up Spring!

I enjoyed some great personal reading in February; here are my recommendations:

DEEP DISH (HarperCollins hardcover, 3/08) by Mary Kay Andrews is a totally delicious treat filled to the brim with feisty Southern charm and verve. When Gina Foxton, a local Georgia PBS cooking star, finds herself in the running for a show on a national TV food channel, she’s confident she’ll land the gig. After all, her only competition is “Mr. Kill it and Grill it” Tate Moody, the down-home star of an outdoor cooking show. Ah, but she should have known nothing was that easy. First, Gina’s boyfriend (and show producer) is found in bed with their sponsor’s wife. Then Gina’s sister drops out of school and thinks she can take up residence with Gina, while they both try to dodge their mom’s constant phone calls. Now, the national “suits” have decided to feature Tate and Gina in a wacky cook-off on live TV, fighting for their careers. Surely the sparks flying between their kitchens have everything to do with competition and nothing to do with sexual attraction. Ha! Who said oil and vinegar don’t mix? These two come up with some ingenious recipes for dishes – and for life. I loved this book!

UP CLOSE AND DANGEROUS (Ballantine 5/08) by Linda Howard is a tense, taut romantic suspense that will keep you mesmerized. Bailey Wingate’s adult stepchildren are shocked when their late father leaves her in control of their entire fortune – and they hate her for it. Then the engine of the small plane Bailey is taking from Seattle to Denver fails and the pilot, Cam Justice, has to crash land in the remote mountain. Stranded in the wilderness with Cam, who’s seriously injured, Bailey fights to keep them both alive. Struggling to survive in the harsh elements and trying to find a way off the mountain and back to civilization, a trust is formed. But will they live to continue the relationship? They both wonder whether the crash was an accident, and if the killer will try to finish the job. Not if these two tough people have anything to say about it.

KNOCK OFF (Kensington hardcover, 3/07) and KNOCK ’EM DEAD (Kensington hardcover, 3/08) by Rhonda Pollero are the first two books in the totally delightful and witty mystery series featuring the caffeine-addicted, discount-sale-shopping fashionista and underachieving paralegal Finley Anderson Tanner. After reading the review copy for the third book, FAT CHANCE (Pocket trade paper), that’s coming in mid-March 2009 (look for my review), I had to read the other two. The characters’ antics are amusing as they try to handle tricky situations with sometimes disastrous results. As Finley secretly lusts for Liam, a sexy ex-cop/P.I. she knows is all wrong for her, Liam does whatever he can to turn up the heat between them. I love this series – the characters, the plots – and I can’t wait for more!

MAYHEM IN HIGH HEELS (Making It, 12/08) by Gemma Halliday is the fifth and final installment in her High Heels mystery series featuring trouble magnet/shoe designer Maddie Springer. As this series comes to a close, Maddie is all set to walk down the aisle (finally!) with the man of her dreams, the delectably sexy detective Jack Ramirez. But things never go easy for Maddie, so you know she’s in for a shaky route to the happily-ever-after she longs to achieve. Frivolity, murder and mayhem abound in this hilarious ending to a totally delightful series.

Speaking of Gemma Halliday, she is writing a hot new Hollywood Headlines series that will feature Felix Dunn, a character made famous in the High Heels series. Official word from Gemma’s web site explains the series thus: “The L.A. Informer is Los Angeles' premier tabloid magazine, reporting on all the latest celebrity gossip, scandals and dirt. They're not above a little sensational exaggeration and have even been known, on occasion, to bend the law in pursuit of a hot story. Their ace reporter, Felix Dunn, has just been promoted to managing editor. Now he's got his work cut out for him keeping the magazine running smoothly while keeping his staff in line… Tina Bender is the Informer's gossip columnist extraordinaire. She knows everything about everyone who's anyone. And she's not afraid to print it. That is, until she receives a threatening note, promising, ‘If you don't stop writing about me, you're dead.’ Teaming with a built bodyguard, a bubbly blonde and an alcoholic obituary writer, Tina sets out to uncover just which juicy piece of Hollywood gossip is worth killing over.” The title of the first book of the new Hollywood Headlines series is SCANDAL SHEET and its pub date is set for November 2009. I know that seems like a long way off. Hopefully, I’ll get an ARC for a review of it here.

March 3, 2009, is a big day for new releases. Here’s just a small sampling:

DON’T LOOK TWICE (Wm. Morrow hardcover) by Andrew Gross brings back Detective Ty Hauck (first introduced in THE DARK TIDE), which starts with a drive-by shooting in the suburb of Greenwich, Connecticut, and leaves an innocent bystander dead. What seems like a vicious case of retribution quickly turns into something much more widespread and sinister. It’s touted as “a gripping story of profiteering on an international scale.” This thriller promises to be another hit for this talented author.

A DROP OF RED (Ace trade paper) is book four in Chris Marie Green’s Vampire Babylon series, which includes NIGHT RISING (Ace, 2/07), MIDNIGHT REIGN (Ace, 2/08) and BREAK OF DAWN (Ace, 9/08). A DROP OF RED continues the adventures of Hollywood stuntwoman-turned-vampire hunter Dawn Madison, who along with her comrades, has already wiped out the Los Angeles Vampire Underground. This new book starts another trilogy arc in the series as the action moves to a second Underground found in England.

DANGER IN A RED DRESS (NAL) by Christina Dodd completes the Fortune Hunter series with a riveting family drama that delivers secrets, lies and passion. Hannah Grey finds herself caring for an elderly woman in a mansion on the wild Maine coast. When the woman dies, she entrusts Hannah with a dangerous secret and makes her promise to right a terrible wrong from the past. Carrick Manly will do anything to possess his family’s fortunes – even murder – and he knows his mother gave Hannah the access codes to her offshore accounts. Fearing for her life, Hannah flees. Gabriel Prescott has hunted for his long-last family his entire life. When his search leads him to Hannah, everyone involved is in danger.

GHOULS JUST HAUNT TO HAVE FUN (Obsidian) by Victoria Laurie (a real-life psychic) is the third book in a fun series featuring sassy, no-nonsense medium and ghost buster M.J. Holliday. This time, she’s been invited to San Francisco, along with three other mediums, to film a TV show called “Haunted Possessions.” While staying at the Drake Hotel, one of the most haunted hotels in America, a woman staying there commits suicide. But when M.J. picks up the woman’s ghost, she realizes it was murder – not suicide. Now the fun begins as she deals with the detective on the case.

THE ADVERSARY (Berkley Prime Crime trade paper) by Michael Walters is the second book in an exciting new series of crime thrillers set in modern-day Mongolia. The head of Mongolia’s largest and most powerful crime empire is finally about to get his comeuppance. But it seems that the wealthy Muunokhoi has friends in high places.When Muunokhoi’s trial begins to fall apart, Nergui, the former head of the Serious Crime team, and Doripalam, his replacement and onetime protégé, are forced to look internally to find out who in the justice system has submitted to the lure of the crime lord’s power – only to realize that Muunokhoi’s deadly influence is much stronger than either of them could have envisioned.

HOUNDING THE PAVEMENT (Obsidian) by Judi McCoy is the first book in a new lighthearted paranormal mystery series featuring Ellie Engleman, who has a psychic connection to dogs. Ellie is attempting to start life over after her divorce, so she embarks on a new career as a dog walker on Manhattan’s Upper East Side. Now, it seems that Rudy, the deceased first dog she ever owned, has returned to her in the Yorkiepoo she’s adopted at the local ASPCA. Ellie finds she can communicate mentally and verbally with her new dog, also named Rudy, as well as all the dogs she walks. When Ellie finds the dead body of her first client and realizes his dog is missing, she and Rudy start to investigate. Of course, there’s a sexy homicide detective to deal with adding to the fun.

On sale March 10, 2009, is Jo Barrett’s new novel DON’T LET IT BE TRUE (Avon A trade paper). A few Texas society gals are hiding sordid pasts as strippers, pole dancers, call girls, Democrats… But oil heiress and socialite Kathleen King's secret is far worse. The flamboyant philanthropist and shopaholic is flat broke! Then her longtime beau, Dylan Grant, finds himself similarly busted and in a monetary mess of his own. So Kat and Dylan devise a plan to untangle their financial ruin – while also coming to terms with yet another secret that threatens her biggest dream of all. The Texas oil elite are appropriately portrayed with pathos and humor, along with some unexpected twists.

March 17, 2009, is the on-sale date for A DATE YOU CAN’T REFUSE (Vanguard hardcover), the fourth book in Harley Jane Kozak’s highly entertaining Wollie Shelley mystery series. Greeting card designer Wollie finds herself having to accept a job she’d really like to refuse – but can’t. The FBI insists that she take the job of “social coach” with MediaRex. They want her to infiltrate the company and come up with evidence of video piracy by the owners. When a dead body shows up on the company’s property, Wollie gets caught up in a conspiracy that has far-reaching implications. Oh, joy!

March 24, 2009, is another big release date with these books to choose from:

PURSUIT (Putnam hardcover) by Karen Robards, tells a complex tale of political conspiracy and a steamy love affair. When a senior partner at the law firm where she works asks rookie lawyer Jessica Monaghan to meet First Lady Annette Cooper at a Washington, D.C., hotel, Jess is thrilled. This plum assignment must mean she’s on her way to bigger things. But bigger isn’t always better. Jess doesn’t remember much; only that she ends up in the backseat of a speeding car that crashes, killing the First Lady. Badly injured, Jess is the only survivor of what is called a tragic accident. But was it? Terrified and certain the First Lady’s death was no accident, Jess has only the FBI agent on the case, Mark Ryan, to turn to… before she also ends up dead.

SUDDEN DEATH (Ballantine) is the title of the first romantic suspense novel in Allison Brennan’s new Sacramento FBI trilogy. When a homeless veteran is found dead in a squalid Sacramento alley, FBI Special Agent Megan Elliott vows to find the murdered hero’s killer. Her investigation gets complicated fast; the victim, a former Delta Force soldier, is just one link in a nationwide spree of torture and murder. Soldier-for-hire Jack Kincaid returns from a job only to learn that one of his closest colleagues has been brutally murdered. Jack decides to take matters into his own hands, which puts him in direct conflict with Megan. Will they be able to work together to bring about justice?

TOO RICH & TOO DEAD (Bantam) by Cynthia Baxter is the second installment in her Murder Packs a Suitcase cozy mystery series featuring travel writer (and amateur sleuth) Mallory Marlowe. This time Mallory is in Aspen where she discovers an old classmate dead in a mud bath at the woman’s spa. And if trying to learn the identity of the murderer isn’t enough, Mallory has to deal with two handsome men’s amorous attentions.

LORDS OF CORRUPTION (Vanguard hardcover) by Kyle Mills is a tale of greed and corruption at the expense of the innocent set in a country torn with tribal warfare and disparate loyalties. When Josh Hagarty is courted by a charity, NewAfrica, he succumbs to the lucrative offer. However, within days of his arrival at the site of NewAfrica’s philanthropic center, Josh figures out the non-profit is not what it seems.

DEADLY DESIRE (Bantam Spectra) is the seventh Riley Jensen Guardian novel by Keri Arthur. Riley is finally comfortable with her role as a Guardian in the Directorate, even though her skills keep changing. Her relationship with Quinn is solid, but their situation is kept interesting, since she still hasn’t found the soul-mate for the wolf part of being. Then she meets wolf Kye Murphy on a dangerous mission and finds it is too comfortable working with him. Will this change Riley’s life yet again?

A KNIFE EDGE (Bantam hardcover) by David Rollins brings back wise-cracking, no-nonsense action hero Vin Cooper in another hair-raising military thriller. Cooper is sent to investigate the suspicious death of Dr. Hideo Tanaka, who made a dangerous discovery while exploring a deep sea trench near Japan. Back at the Pentagon, Cooper is wrapping up this inquiry when terrorists attack San Francisco. One of the victims turns out to be Tanaka's partner from his previous case. What is the connection? Cooper has to find out. Then he’s drawn into a case involving the death of a former military friend. While all of this is going on, he’s also trying to deal with his shaky relationship with Major Anna Masters. Seems like just too much for one man to handle – even Cooper.

ONE HOT MESS (Dell) is the fifth hilarious mystery by Lois Greiman starring former cocktail waitress/current psychologist Christina McMullen who seems to attract murdered bodies like a magnet. After the last fiasco appears to sink her relationship with LAPD Lieutenant Jack Rivera, Chrissy renounces getting involved with murder and vows to concentrate only on her practice. We’ll see how long that resolution lasts.

DANTE’S NUMBERS (Delacorte hardcover) by David Hewson is the seventh installment in his Italy-set thriller featuring Detective Nic Costa and his associates. The chaos and crimes surrounding a movie based on Dante’s nine circles of Hell finds the Italian detectives traveling to San Francisco for the movie’s US premiere as they work to recover Dante’s death mask and see that no one else gets hurt in the process. It’s a monumental task, since no one wants to cooperated – Italian or American.

March 31, 2009, is the date for these titles to go on sale:

FLIPPING OUT (Minotaur hardcover) by Marshall Karp brings back the wisecracking LAPD detectives Lomax and Biggs for their third uproarious crime mystery. As they investigate what they think is a serial killer targeting LAPD wives, their humorous and quick-witted banter eases the tension. But the twists and turns they encounter are causing problems with finding the elusive thread connecting the cases.

KISS OF DARKNESS (Pocket) is the third book in Jennifer St. Giles’ paranormal Shadowmen series. A battle is brewing in Twilight, Tennessee, and Emerald Linton and Sam Sheridan become caught in the center of a mêlée of epic evil. Emerald, Sam and their small band of rebels are determined to save their town from the converging evil, but will they be able to do so in time? Then watch for the fourth book in this unique series, BRIDE OF THE WOLF (Pocket), which will go on sale the end of April 2009.

CONFESSIONS OF A LITTLE BLACK GOWN (Avon) by Elizabeth Boyle tells the story of Miss Thalia “Tally” Langley, who receives the wrong trunk at her sister’s house party. Little does she know that wearing the black gown she finds inside will lead her into a cat- and-mouse game with British Intelligence.

UNSEEN (Zebra) by Nancy Bush is a thrilling suspense novel with a touch of romance. Gemma has always had a spotty memory. She’s gotten used to losing blocks of time and not remembering anything about it. When she awakes injured in a hospital with no memory of what happened to her or how she got there, she isn’t surprised, but she is disturbed. Could she really be the vigilante who’s targeting abusive men, like her friends fear? As she tries to learn the truth, will the handsome detective working the cases be a help or hindrance?

As always, there’s more to come next month, so stay tuned...Tanzey

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