Tori Carrington - Susan Carroll
Carrington, Tori - CONSTANT CRAVING (Harl. Tempt. 716) (1/99) (4+)
When we first meet nerdy Adam Gardner, he is ogling his
boss's legs through a crack in his office door. But even
as he is imagining torrid, erotic fantasies about her, Eva
Mavros Burgess, junior partner in the accounting firm where
Adam works, is gearing up her courage to ask Adam to pose
as her husband for a family weekend.
CONSTANT CRAVING is a wildly funny, sexy tale of a romance between two people, neither of whom is what they are pretending to be. Geeky Adam is really hunky FBI agent Adam Grayson, assigned to uncover shady dealings at Eva's firm. And Eva is not just a cool, olive-eyed beauty with brains, she is divorced, pregnant, and desperate to hide the truth from her strict Greek-American family. So they travel to sultry New Orleans together, as Eva tries to turn Adam into stockbroker Bill Burgess, and Adam tries to keep his undercover nerd image intact, and both of them try to persuade themselves that the breathtaking sexual attraction they feel for each other is impossible.
This is the first book by Tori Carrington, the pen name of husband-and-wife team Lori and Tony Karayianni...and definitely an author to watch! Sizzling sex, high adventure, computer games, and lots of Greek food make for too much fun. Run, don't walk to your nearest bookstore and treat yourself to CONSTANT CRAVING. ~Anne Kirby for Bookbug on the Web
Carrington, Tori - LICENSE TO THRILL (Harl. Tempt. 740 - 7/99) (4+)
Melanie "Mel" Weber can't believe she has been kidnapped...right out of the ladies' room at her wedding rehearsal dinner! And the kidnapper is none other than her former partner and ex-lover, Marc McCoy.
Marc and Mel had been Secret Service agents together, assigned to a Senator running for the presidency when an assassination attempt by a corrupt agent resulted in Mel getting shot. Prior to the shooting, the lovers had broken off their relationship after discussing their plans for the future, which, for Marc, didn't include children. Mel later discovered she was pregnant, and knowing Marc's feelings about children, decided it was best to forget him. After confiding in her lifelong friend, Craig Gaffney, she accepted his marriage proposal.
Unbeknownst to Mel, the agent who shot her has escaped from jail and has threatened her life. Marc will do anything to protect her, even if it means keeping her locked up against her will in a safe location. Since their breakup, he's been absolutely miserable. He doesn't know why Mel quit the agency or why she wants to marry this other guy. To help himself understand her, he has been reading a lot of women's magazines and relationship books, and he tries to show Mel how he feels by his actions, since he is so bad at expressing himself with words. But before they can discover whether or not there is a future for them, the assassin tracks them down and makes another attempt on Mel's life.
LICENSE TO THRILL is the first in a series about the McCoy brothers, and if Marc is an example of the rest of the clan, this is going to be a sizzling and humorous series. Even though the plot is a familiar one, the two main characters make this book different and special. Melanie is a tough yet vulnerable woman, who knows she's probably not doing the right thing by marrying Craig, but Marc isn't interested in having children and she wants her child to grow up in a loving family. Marc is a tough guy, but he is so endearingly male. No matter how hard he tries to convey his feelings, the words come out all wrong. A host of enjoyable secondary characters, especially Marc's family and Mel's mother, round out the story; plus, there's a surprise twist at the end. LICENSE TO THRILL is an absolutely hilarious, heartwarming romantic suspense. I can't wait to read the next book in the Magnificent McCoy Men series! ~Sharon Laird for Bookbug on the Web
Carroll, Susan - BRIDE FINDER, THE (Fawcett - 2/99) (5)
"Beware the woman of flame. She comes. . ." Anatole St. Leger lives a life of self-imposed isolation in a castle high above the stormy Cornwall shore. Because of a dark family legacy, he fears the powers that live within him. Looking into the crystal stone embedded in the St. Leger family sword, he sees a vision of impending disaster: a beautiful flame-haired woman pushing someone over a cliff. In spite of the vision, and because of timeless family tradition, Anatole must put his trust in his former tutor, Septimus Fitzleger. Known as the "Bride Finder," distant cousin Septimus has the power to find the one woman destined to be Anatole's wife. He is successful in his quest, and Madeline Breton journeys to Castle Leger to meet her betrothed. Her dreams of a handsome and gentle man are crushed, however, when she arrives to find a wild and dark warrior. Anatole is livid—Madeline is everything that he does not want in a bride. She is beautiful and petite, with hair of flame...like the woman of his vision!
Their marriage is constantly tested by Anatole's fear of unleashing his dark powers and Madeline's inability to understand why her husband is so remote and secretive, but they slowly fall in love. Into this already strained relationship comes a playful ancestral ghost, a wicked present-day relative, and an ancient family enemy who threatens their very lives.
Susan Carroll has written a sweeping and spellbinding historical romance that encompasses legend, magic and love. THE BRIDE FINDER is a beautiful story about two people who have a difficult time finding true love, but when they do, not even the darkest evil can separate them. This book will hold your attention from the first word to the last! ~Sharon L. (JENW18B@prodigy.com)
Carroll, Susan - PAINTED VEIL, THE (5)
Anne is desperate to recover her daughter from the hold of her vicious brother-in-law; so desperate that she turns to the mysterious Marquis of Mandell for help. Mandell is a man haunted by dreams—a man who believes his conscience has been lost. He is a fabulous dark hero, brooding without being annoying. And Anne is truly good without being insipid. A terrific read! ~Karen W. (kwheless@rockland.net)
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