Alyssa Dean - Katherine Deauxville - Barbara Delinsky - Genell Dellin
Dean, Alyssa - 50 CLUES HE'S MR. RIGHT
(Harlequin Duets 6 - 7/99; also see Cheryl St. John) (4)
Freelance writer Tara Butler has grudgingly accepted a job to write an article for a women's magazine, REAL MEN, based on a 1949 issue entitled "Forty-Nine Things You Need to Know About a Real Man." The editor has given her a copy of a women's survey, listing men with "real man" qualities. Her first meeting is with Chase Montgomery, an author of action-adventure fiction whose hero, Hunter McQuade, is on the list. At the urging of her editor, Tara reluctantly accepts Chase as her partner on the assignment and together they schedule interviews to uncover the 50 CLUES HE'S MR. RIGHT. Alyssa Dean serves up page-turning enjoyment in a fun-filled, sensual tale you won't want to miss. ~Carol Carter for Bookbug on the Web
Deauxville, Katherine - ENRAPTURED (Leisure - 6/99) (4)
Setting: Regency England
Sacheverel de Vries, the twelfth Duke of Westermere, is riding in his coach one day when all of a sudden the door is jerked open and a beautiful, young woman lunges inside. She confronts the duke, quickly firing off a speech about social justice and equality, and accusing him of being a brutal exploiter and murderer of men, women, and children! Outraged, Sach denies
the woman's accusations and tries to toss her out of the coach; but she rips the bodice of her dress and swears she will accuse him of ravishing her—a threat she later carries out after they arrive at his club. When Sach discovers she is Marigold Fenwick, daughter of the vicar on his country holdings, he decides the best way to silence the gossip is to make her his betrothed and keep her secluded in his London home.
Marigold and her friends, Penny and Sophronia, are trying to improve the lives of the impoverished and ill-treated mine and mill workers on the duke's estate. When the confrontation in the carriage doesn't yield the desired results, Marigold and Penny put their heads together and come up with yet another idea. Perhaps if she seduces the duke, he will become so enamored that he'll either settle a large sum of money on her or do anything she requests. While Marigold is pursuing this scheme and getting to know the man who is now her fiancé, she becomes involved with his main interests: botany and criminology; and she discovers there is more to Sach than meets the eye. She also discovers she is falling in love with him. However, danger is lurking in the shadows, threatening the duke's estate and his life. Will Sach discover the source of the evil and deceit before it's too late?
ENRAPTURED is a cleverly written Regency tale, brimming with adventure, humor, and sensuality. The heroine is so dynamic she seems to leap right off the pages. She is strong-willed, determined, and bold—readers will absolutely love her. Sach is portrayed as an intelligent, enigmatic man who is ahead of his time in regard to criminal science (an interesting element in this story). The numerous secondary characters all take on personalities of their own and enhance the plot immensely. ENRAPTURED is a delight through and through! Sharon Laird for Bookbug on the Web
Delinsky, Barbara - COAST ROAD (Pocket - 5/99) (4+)
(This book is most unusual in that the story is told mainly from the hero's point of view.) Jack McGill has received a call from his ex-wife's best friend, informing him that his ex, artist Rachel Keats, has been in an automobile accident and is now in the hospital in a coma. He is needed to take care of his teenaged daughters, Samantha and Hope. Not knowing how he will be received by his daughters and his ex-wife's friends, Jack drives from San Francisco to Big Sur to help his children—and his ex, if he can. As the days drag on, he tries to draw Rachel out of the coma by talking to her and trying to bring back some of her memories by smell and touch. Meanwhile, he is learning how to be a hands-on father to his children. He comforts his younger daughter, Hope, when her cat dies; and he learns how to take the middle road with Samantha when she is almost raped on her prom night.
At first, Jack is optimistic, but as week one turns into week two, he knows a moment or two of despair. Through his daughters and Rachel's friends, however, he is getting an education about his ex-wife and her thoughts and feelings. He thinks about his life with Rachel and realizes where it went off-track—how he drove her to leave him.
This is the story of one man's personal growth as he gains insight into what other people think and feel, especially his ex-wife. Through Barbara Delinsky's masterful writing, I could actually get inside Jack's head and his thought processes. He learns not to just accept, but to analyze what is going on around him, and he discovers what is important in his life. I cheered when he finally got it right. The author also includes wonderful descriptions of Rachel’s paintings, and I could see the colors that Rachel loved and used to decorate her world. COAST ROAD is an emotional and complex story, but a satisfying one that I highly recommend. ~Beth C. (Elizabeth_Coogan@brown.edu)
Dellin, Genell - THE RENEGADES: COLE (Avon - 4/99) (3)
I enjoyed this western historical much more than I anticipated I would and more than I should have. Although it follows a formula, the author is not afraid to go outside the lines...and the result is very readable.
The formula is "the angry loner and the determined-but-inexperienced woman on a cattle drive." After the death of her father, Aurora Benton collects his money and cows, packs her belongings and decides to head to better grazing land in Texas. She needs a bodyguard, however, because one of her neighbors has accused her of stealing his cattle. Half-Indian Cole McCord is an ex-Texas Ranger and ex-gunfighter, whose notorious past has given him a dangerous reputation; and that's exactly why Aurora chooses him to keep her safe. Even though Cole hates the idea, he is intrigued by this woman and he needs the money, so he agrees. Much to their surprise, along the way Cole and Aurora learn to share laughter and teasing, and they find mutual respect and friendship, as well as a scorching attraction for each other.
There are historical inaccuracies and a few plot holes that I couldn't ignore in this book, such as a gunslinger doing cowboy work on a trail drive and the serious charge of cattle-stealing that is never really answered. Despite such flaws, Genell Dellin has created a hero and heroine you'll enjoy knowing, along with wonderful characterizations, great action, and writing that at times approaches poetic. LONESOME DOVE it's not, but it's a fun ride just the same. Cole's story is the first of a western series, and I'll certainly read the next story because Genell Dellin's writing is a treat. I can overlook problems in a book if there is talent on the pages. If you feel the same way, then don't miss THE RENEGADES: COLE. ~Anne Kirby for Bookbug on the Web
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