Christina Bartolomeo - Pamela Bauer - Nina Beaumont
Bartolomeo, Christina - CUPID & DIANA (Scribner HC - 1998) (4+)
A perceptive, elegantly written contemporary romance about a woman torn between two lovers. The heroine's ethnic family ties, her used designer-clothing store and fashion interests, the two lovers' family backgrounds, and the story's Washington D.C. setting are all beautifully drawn. ~Elena P.
Bauer, Pamela - DADDY'S HOME (Harl. Super. 863 - 9/99) (3)
When a commuter plane crashes into an icy Minnesota river,
killing eight people, Tyler Brant saves the life of popular
TV news anchor Kristen Kellar. The press is now hounding Tyler
and everyone is calling him a hero, especially Kristen—but he doesn't want to be a hero. A fiery automobile accident five
years earlier, which took the life of his wife Susan and injured his daughter Brittany, still haunts Tyler and he would rather put both traumatic events behind him.
Kristen can't stop thinking about the crash and the man who saved her life, but she doesn't want the media attention either; she sees firsthand how intrusive journalists and photographers can be. That intrusion is the catalyst that brings Tyler and her together again, and they realize they share a special bond as the lone survivors of the crash. Tyler won't open up to Kristen about his feelings, but he becomes her protector. Even though her injuries are on the mend, he knows the emotional healing will take much longer.
Kristen realizes she is more attracted to Tyler than her fiancé, TV news anchor Keith Jaxson. Their relationship has taken a turn for the worse, and it continues to deteriorate as she discovers how self-centered and egotistical Keith really is. Kristen will discover a lot more in the coming days as she plays the role of nanny to Tyler's daughter; she begins to see life through the eyes of a six-year-old child...and through the heart of a woman in love.
Pamela Bauer has written a sweet romance that explores the trauma and personal growth of two survivors. Tyler is a very overprotective father who must come to grips with his fear of losing his loved ones; and Kristen wants to escape her superficial world and be loved for herself. Although the romance was underdeveloped, competing with an abundance of overly sweet scenes involving the hero's precocious daughter, DADDY'S HOME should appeal to those who enjoy wholesome family-style stories with a message about living life to its potential. ~June Folk for Bookbug on the Web
Beaumont, Nina - SHADOWED HEART, A (Harl. Hist. - 1998) (4+)
Sea captain Luca Zeani is a patriot hero of Venice, who has come to plead with the Senate for more men and ships in order to battle pirates. Our heroine, Chiara, is a gypsy girl looking for revenge against two men: the man who defiled her sister, and her father, who abandoned his family. She has "the gift," allowing her to "see" things about people and their lives. When these two first meet, Luca is intrigued by the waif-like girl who stares at him with such hatred in her eyes. He knows he has never met her and wonders why she feels such animosity toward him. Chiara cannot believe she has so quickly found the man who harmed her sister. She wants to kill him, but her vision tells her that he is good. Yet she also sees a darker form behind the light. Is Luca good or evil? Has he hidden his darker side behind one of goodness? She fears the truth and cannot bear to look deeper for the answers.
Nina Beaumont has written a superb tale which delves inside the very souls of two lonely people, and shows us how, together, they overcome evil. I felt pulled into the midst of the story, wanting to help the hero and heroine through their many heartaches and struggles...as they realize their love for each other. Although the darkness that Chiara has seen threatens to separate them, love triumphs in the end. A SHADOWED HEART is an excellent story that is sure to please readers who crave an absorbing historical fantasy. ~Robin Peek for Bookbug on the Web
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