Kathleen Gilles Seidel - Alexandra Sellers - Ana Seymour
Seidel, Kathleen Gilles - SUMMER'S END (Harper - 6/99) (4+)
Gwen Wells, a Navy wife, and Professor Hal Legend have both lost a spouse after many happy years of marriage. When they meet at a social function, Hal asks her for a date. Gwen is hesitant because it's been so long since she dated, but loneliness prompts her to accept. Her children, Jack and Holly, are grown and have lives of their own. The same holds true for Hal. Two of his children, Phoebe and Ian, are married with families; and his youngest daughter Amy, who is single and seldom at home now, is an Olympic gold-medal figure skater on the professional circuit.
Gwen and Hal's date begins a loving relationship, and they decide to marry; but not knowing how their children will react to their marriage causes some anxiety. In order to get both families together so they can meet for the first time, Gwen decides to continue a Legend tradition—they will all spend the summer at the very primitive Legend cabins in Minnesota. Their children have reservations about the get-together, however; especially Amy, who has always disliked the summer retreat because it interfered with her skating. When the family members finally gather, they are joined by Gwen's teenage nephew, Nick, who recently lost his best friend to suicide. As everyone cautiously gets to know each other, unresolved feelings abound and tension fills the air. The growing attraction between Jack and Amy is also obvious, and this kind of complication in an already difficult situation is cause for alarm. Jack tries to restrain his feelings, but his good intentions are thwarted by near tragedy.
It has been a few years since Ms. Seidel's last book was published, but SUMMER'S END was well worth the wait! This wonderful, heartwarming novel is not a romance per se; it is mainstream fiction with romance mixed into the plot. Sometimes humorous, sometimes serious, the main thrust of the story is how two separate families—who have each suffered the loss of a parent/spouse—become one family. That's not an easy accomplishment, of course, and this group is definitely not the Brady Bunch! But each character has their own fascinating story to tell, and the author allows you to get inside their minds and emotions. The multiple stories and points of view are handled deftly and they enhance the plot rather than detract from it. SUMMER'S END is the perfect book for summer...or any season of the year. ~Sharon Laird for Bookbug on the Web
Sellers, Alexandra - BELOVED SHEIKH (Silh. Desire 1221 - 6/99) (4)
Archaeologist Zara Blake is cooling off in the desert wadi waterfall when she realizes she's being observed by a group of horsemen, specifically by the handsome and mesmerizing leader. Thinking they are bandits, Zara flees back to camp, but not before she exchanges a soul-jarring look with the bandit leader. Back at camp, she finds the members of the archaeological
expedition buzzing with excitement about the arrival of Sheikh Rafi of Barakat, and all have been invited to a feast in his tent. Later that night, Zara realizes the man who had held her gaze so hypnotically at the waterfall was none other than Sheikh Rafi!
As the feast progresses, Rafi lets it be known that he's taken with Zara and has eyes only for her. In turn, Zara feels herself responding to the enigmatic sheikh and almost ready to surrender to her desire. Needing to clear her fevered senses, she flees outside—only to be abducted by a man on horseback, the bandit leader, Jalal. Rafi comes to Zara's rescue, but cannot free her immediately. He hides nearby to come to her when it is safe, to care for her needs, and to tell her stories until it is time to battle Jalal for the freedom of his beloved.
BELOVED SHEIKH is the most sensual category romance I have read in a long time—sensual in that it caresses all the senses. Especially breathtaking is the scene where Zara dreams she is in a harem, being prepared to meet her lover, Rafi. Ooh-la-la! BELOVED SHEIKH is the third book in the Sons of the Desert mini-series, and the love stories of all three sheikhs are brought to an exciting and satisfactory conclusion with a sumptuous triple wedding. ~Debora Hosey for Bookbug on the Web
Seymour, Ana - FAMILY FOR CARTER JONES, A (Harl. Hist. - 1998) (5)
In 1881 Vermillion, Nevada, the Sheridan sisters face an uncertain but impoverished future. Their parents are dead and the banker informs Kate and Jennie that they were left with virtually nothing except their home. Not only do they have to feed each other, they have to keep their younger adopted brother from starving. Finally, to add to their woes, Kate is pregnant and her lover has deserted her for California.
Desperate for income, Jennie opens their home up to boarders, but the town's ladies object and obtain a court order prohibiting the practice in this respectable part of town. The new district attorney, Carter Jones, is sent to serve the siblings with a summons that will ultimately close down their only source of income. However, when he sees Jennie, Carter has other plans for the beautiful, feisty woman. Jennie falls in love with the lawyer, but not even that strong emotion will stop her from feeding her family.
A FAMILY FOR CARTER JONES is a fun to read Americana romance that brings to life the interrelationships of small town living in the latter half of the nineteenth century. The cast is well-defined as each one struggles with motives, needs, and morality, which in turn makes for a vibrant story line. Ana Seymour's ability to draw deep interactive characters is what earns this historical romance a place amidst sub-genre fans' summer reading. ~Harriet Klausner
Seymour, Ana - LORD OF LYONSBRIDGE (Harl. Hist. - 8/99) (4)
Setting: England, 1130
Get ready for a good medieval read when you are introduced to Connor, a hero to dream about. When his castle was taken over by Normans, the former Lord of Lyonsbridge accepted the position of horse master in charge of the castle stables so he could honor his pledge to his dying mother and father. He promised to keep peace and protect the villagers from the conquerors. Although his former serfs still recognize him as their overlord, none of the Normans in residence have any idea who he is. Connor's status with the people and his arrogant manners puzzle the visiting Lady Ellen, who is the daughter of the new lord. She arrived with her cousin Sebastian to bring the castle up to their Norman standards, and since no lady has been in residence since the time the castle was conquered, they find its condition appalling.
Connor is moonstruck at first glance when he is confronted by this widely prized, golden-eyed beauty, and it doesn't take this couple long to realize they are heading into dangerous territory. Sparks fly in the first chapter when the author introduces them, and the sensual tension continues to escalate from that point on. Both Connor and Ellen are strong, independent thinkers who spit and sputter at each other; two enemies fighting love all the way, believing there is no possibility for a future together.
Ana Seymour delights her readers by focusing on building peace between two enemies, rather than writing of battle scenes and war that would lead to the settlement of their differences. Her theme centers upon the hero and heroine and their developing relationship, but she also gives you intrigue and action from a cast of supporting players. There is no lack of interest at any point in this page-turner. I only wish it had been a bit longer. ~Carol Carter for Bookbug on the Web
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