Shauna Michaels
Michaels, Shauna - LOUISIANA BRIDE (Precious Gems Hist. - 3/99) (3+)
Anticipating the announcement of her engagement to her lifelong love, Pierre, Danielle de Bussy is shocked when her stepfather, the Marquis Duchamp, betroths her stepsister to him instead. In order to escape the Marquis' nefarious plans for her, Danielle
seeks protection at the neighboring abbey. Hopefully, the sisters will be able to find a way to send her to the Louisiana colony where her uncle lives.
That opportunity presents itself when she makes the journey as a "casquette girl" (a woman raised in a nunnery and sent to Louisiana as a possible wife for a colonist). As she steps off the boat, the first man she meets is Rouen Beauvoir, who is at the fort to gain information about a traitor responsible for inciting an Indian uprising against the French settlers. From the first moment he sees Danielle, he is intrigued by her. He also senses that she doesn't belong in the colony. Danielle is attracted to Rouen even though she finds him arrogant and annoying; however, her purpose for being there isn't to attain a husband. She needs to find her uncle.
Later that evening Rouen is attacked by ruffians, but he escapes after learning they were hired by his father to take him back to France, where he will assume his rightful place as heir. In an impulsive move, he offers to escort Danielle to her uncle's cabin. Along the way they find their attraction toward one another undeniable, but neither is interested in falling in love. Even so, the events that occur when they arrive at the cabin force them to come to a mutually beneficial agreement.
Shauna Michaels has written an entertaining marriage-of-convenience story about an independent-minded hero and heroine who are well paired and similar in nature. They both seek the freedom to chose their own destinies, but their story is not always a gentle one. LOUISIANA BRIDE is reminiscent of several of the early historical romances in that some of the intimate acts are nonconsensual. There is a great deal of action and adventure centering around the colonization of the Louisiana Territory at the beginning of the 18th-century, a fascinating part of our country's history that is not often written about. I recommend this book to readers who enjoy a sensual romance with a colorful French-American setting. ~Sharon Laird for Bookbug on the Web
Michaels, Shauna - OVER THE TOP (Precious Gems - 1998) (4)
Leah Taylor has just about run out of places to live, and if her zany, somewhat off-center family acts true to form, she won't be able to put down roots in the small town of Shady Oaks either. With an unwritten job description that reads like a help wanted ad for a "Zoo Keeper," this divorced mother of two, custodial granddaughter of one, and caretaker of the most stubborn Beagle in all of creation, has had lots of experience keeping one step ahead of irate neighbors.
Hoping for the best, but expecting the worst, Leah hasn't even finished unpacking the boxes when things begin to look grim for her family's future in this quiet little town as well. With a sense of adventure that makes Houdini look like an amateur in the escape business, Arnold, a daft but delightful Beagle, uses the mayor's morning newspaper to make confetti...three days in a row. Next comes six-year-old son Joey. He wields his off-the-scale genius I.Q. to test a new flying machine idea; unfortunately, the plan needs a little work and Joey ends up "grounding" himself in the front yard. Well, now...here comes Mr. Mayor again to check out the very public results. You see, in addition to being an aviation buff and a very attractive widower, who likes his newspaper in one piece, Shane O'Grady is also this small town's only pediatrician. Having gotten off to a rocky start with Leah (remember the confetti), checking out Joey's little body for injuries gives Shane a welcome opportunity to take a second look at Joey's redheaded, sexy momma, too.
Is fate trying to tell these two something? It appears so, and in the end, this book has not one, but three endearing romances. (A little hint here. Only two of them are of the "human" variety.) OVER THE TOP is a jewel of a read. It's light in tone, but with insightful writing and a caring attitude, Ms. Michaels successfully deals with some very complicated emotional issues. The only thing that kept this book from being a 4+ read for me was some rather uneven editing in the first two or three chapters. But don't let that deter you. I wholeheartedly recommend adding OVER THE TOP to your reading list if you enjoy a romance with witty, well-written dialogue and sweet sensuality. ~Connie Ramsdell for Bookbug on the Web
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