Sharon Sala - Lynda Sandoval - Deirdre Savoy
Sala, Sharon - REUNION (Mira - 1999) (3)
Gabriel Donner survived the automobile accident that killed his parents, but he ended up in a coma. When he awoke, he had strange dreams in which someone was calling for help. After his discharge from the hospital, Gabriel's dreams become worse, and one morning he wakes up in the rose garden with blood on his pants. A story in the newspaper, which reports everything exactly as he dreamed it, leads him to contact a psychic for help. His uncle recommends a woman by the name of Laura Dane. The psychic's first contact with Gabriel is mind-boggling. She has an instant mental picture of them making passionate love, and knows this will happen in the future.
Five people have been murdered by a serial killer the police call "Prince Charming." His calling card is a rose denuded of thorns and left for each victim. Gabriel has dreamed about all the murders, and because he has also been sleepwalking, he is very afraid that he may have committed these terrible crimes.
REUNION started out with such a frightening tale of horror that I was captivated and eager to read the rest of the book. It's too bad that such a promising beginning settled into the humdrum of repetition. It was pretty easy to figure what was really going on. Sharon Sala can't write a bad book, but REUNION was not her best effort. I have enjoyed so many of her romances and I will be looking forward to the next one. ~Marilyn H. (mlyn@jps.net)
Sala, Sharon - SWEET BABY (Mira - 1998) (Very Highly Recommended)
The best word I can use to describe this book is "incredible." In my opinion, it is not a traditional romance because the hero and heroine are together at the beginning, but it is a romance about learning how to love and commit. The hero, Brett, is ready to make a commitment to the heroine, Tory, but because of an incident early in her life, an incident she doesn't remember, she's afraid to make a commitment.
One of the amazing things about this book is the love and devotion Sala is able to portray in Brett. When he learns about Tory's past, he lets her decide how much she wants to learn and remember, while he is there to support and comfort her. I was truly touched by his actions. If there is anyone out there who hasn't made plans to read this book, I urge you to change them. SWEET BABY is truly a wonderful book. ~Beth C. (Elizabeth_Coogan@brown.edu)
Sala, Sharon - SWEET BABY (Mira - 1998) (4+)
In my opinion, this contemporary romance is one of Sala's best. It was an emotional read for me from the very beginning, and it features one of the most sensitive "good guy" heroes I've ever come across in a novel. No annoying arrogance and impatience, just lots of understanding. You know from page one that he is deeply, totally in love with the heroine, and you feel it throughout the book. The heroine is the troubled one in this story. She had a hellacious past that she doesn't remember, and it's kept her from committing to the hero. She walks in and out of his life, and not until she recovers her memory will she be able to give her heart completely to him. With the hero's love and patience (and police background), he helps her confront the demons in her past. He gets my vote for #1 hero of the year. ~Laurie S. (shallah@empire.net)
Sandoval, Lynda - LOOK OF LOVE (Pinnacle Encanto - 1999) (3+)
Dr. Esme Jaramillo is a scientist who is involved in the
research of how to clone human organs from a patient's DNA,
thereby reducing the risk of rejection after transplant. Because of an overheard remark made by her mother years ago, Esme believes herself to be unattractive. She has devoted her life
to science and is therefore shy around strangers and her coworkers, but sometimes she comes across as being uptight and aloof.
When invited to appear on The Barry Stillman Show, Esme is nervous, but believes this is a good opportunity to explain her project to the general public. Gavino Mendez is the make-up artist on the show, but Esme is somewhat puzzled because he doesn't apply any makeup to improve her appearance and, for some reason, he seems uncomfortable around her. But she believes he considers her beyond help.
As she enters the soundstage, Esme spots her family and friends in the studio audience and notices they seem unhappy. She has no warning when a coworker joins her onstage and makes the statement that Esme is in need of a full makeover. That's the reason she is a guest on the show?! Esme is crushed, especially when the audience agrees with her coworker. In tears, she runs off the stage, ignoring the make-up artist backstage when he tells her she is beautiful just the way she is. Gavino is so upset at his part in humiliating this woman that he quits his job and follows her. He tries to persuade Esme to give him a chance to make up for the hurt he caused her.
LOOK OF LOVE is the first in a series of three books about a trio of females who met in high school and have remained friends. This short contemporary is basically about a woman's insecurity and a man's attempt to change her opinion about the way she looks. I did question why an intelligent, experienced woman would be so blind to her looks, then give the matter far more importance than it deserved. However, LOOK OF LOVE should please readers who want a romance with a modern spin and a tender, appealing hero. ~Pat Cavender for Bookbug on the Web
Savoy, Deirdre - SPELLBOUND (BET/Arabesque - 1999) (2)
Ariel Windsor, a twenty-seven year old psychologist, has never had a serious relationship or experienced the sexual passion all her girlfriends talk about. Truth to tell, she isn't eager to. The only thing on Ariel's mind right now is her imminent arrival at her grandmother's home on Martha's Vineyard. Her cousin
Jenny is getting married in a couple of weeks and she is returning home to help with the wedding.
Ariel is deep in thought as the island ferry approaches the dock and she doesn't notice the tall, gorgeously built, handsome man staring at her so intently. Hollywood movie director, Jarad Naughton, is not known for his shyness and he rushes to introduce himself to the lovely woman anxiously awaiting to depart the ferry. Struck by Jarad's good looks, Ariel is willing to pass a few minutes in conversation but knows instantly that he is not for her. He oozes charm and confidence and she doesn't have time to get involved with this kind of man. Learning that Ariel is an "islander," Jarad shows interest in being shown around the island, but Ariel declines. As she starts to disembark, he quickly gives her a good-bye kiss.
Arriving at her grandmother's home a short while later, Ariel learns that Gran is preparing for a surprise houseguest. Unbeknownst to Ariel, the visitor is Jarad Naughton. After she returns from an afternoon outing with her cousin Jenny, Ariel is astounded to see him relaxing in Gran's living room. It seems Jarad's parents are old friends of her grandmother, and because they could not attend the wedding, they've sent their son to stand in for them. Ariel is on the brink of panic when she realizes that this man, whom she's been thinking about nonstop for the past couple of hours, will be a part of her life for the next few weeks. Jarad, on the other hand, is overjoyed that the woman he is so strongly attracted to will be staying under the same roof with him for the duration of his stay.
Wedding preparations and a matchmaking Jenny throw Ariel and Jarad together constantly. Ariel realizes she is beginning to care for him in a way that is far too disturbing. Jarad senses her fear and sets out to tenderly woo her. He is very successful...until he makes a quick trip to the West coast and a tabloid paper prints a photo of his return to the beautiful ex-girlfriend waiting at the airport to greet him. Ariel is devastated. The photo seems to prove that Jarad only thought of her as a temporary diversion. How could a promising relationship be destroyed so easily? Can Jarad explain away his very public actions to a heartbroken Ariel and restore her faith in their love?
SPELLBOUND, Deirdre Savoy's debut, is a fast-paced summer romance with a glamorous setting. The island plays a key role in the love story; however, the relationship develops over a two to three-week period and moves very quickly. While Ms. Savoy has written a book with great sexual tension and wonderful seduction scenes, this reader found the story to be filled with gaps of unexplained events and sketchy background information relating to the key characters. Overall, SPELLBOUND does have some interesting moments, but romance readers may find it difficult to digest. ~Olivia Holton for Bookbug on the Web
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