Tracy Sumner - Katherine Sutcliffe - Libby Sydes
Sumner, Tracy - CAROLINA ROSE (Zebra - 1999) (5)
When a man who must always be in control of his emotions meets a stubborn, rebellious woman, and they must work closely together, you can expect fireworks. That is exactly what you get in
CAROLINA ROSE, a story about the newspaper business and two people who struggle to keep a small town paper operating.
Charlotte, also known as Charlie, was 14-years old when her mother died and her father took over the job of raising her. She grew up in the newspaper business, learned every phase of it, and developed a love for the Edgemont Sentinel. Spoiled by her father, this tomboy developed a strong willful nature. She doesn't care what the town gossips say about her wearing men's trousers and ugly black boots...or her visits to the local saloon and other unladylike tendencies. Charlie is 24-years old when her father is near death and has no option but to sell The Sentinel. After she loses both her father and her business, the willful hoyden is very angry and bitter when the new editor, Adam Chase, introduces himself. However, this meeting sees the beginning of a magnetism that becomes stronger each time they are close, even though they fight it all the way.
Adam was eight-years old when his mother died, and being very small for his age, his older brother Eaton became his protector. Their father did not show love, but dominated their lives. When Eaton died tragically, Adam lost love for everyone and kept a tight control over his emotions. He was driven to become the best newspaper man possible, learning the business from the ground floor up and building a solid reputation as an editor.
When hired as a temporary editor to turn around a small-town paper, believing this would advance his career, Adam left his home in Virginia to go to Edgemont, South Carolina. Little did he know there was a petite, blue-eyed beauty there who would change his life. Charlie Whitney was a challenge from the moment he met her and sparks began to fly instantly. It was uncanny the way they could read the other's thoughts before a word was spoken. Each was the second half of the other and they fit together perfectly—if only they both weren't so stubborn!
CAROLINA ROSE is a tale about a woman born before her time, one who would be a feminist even today; a woman who wants to experience what life has to offer, who fights for what she believes is right, yet one who maintains her innocence and naivety. It is the story of a tall, dark, charming hero; a hurting soul who is haunted by guilt and memories of the past, a man afraid of love and losing control. CAROLINA ROSE also tells about the political force that drives the newspaper industry. Tracy Sumner is like an artist with words as she paints a story filled with details and descriptions that allow you to see and feel her characters and their surroundings. There is no fluff to fill up the pages in CAROLINA ROSE. What you get is excitement, sizzling sensuality, fully developed primary and secondary characters, and a satisfying ending—revealing that pure, unconditional love can heal even a hurting soul. I know this is one book I will want to read and enjoy again. ~Carol Carter for Bookbug on the Web
Sutcliffe, Katherine - JEZEBEL (Jove - 1997) (1)
Set in 1870 Texas, this book starts out when the hero, caught in a snowstorm, stumbles upon the heroine's home—and finds her in mid-labor (with her dead husband's child)! He's on the run, with a bounty on his head, but decides to stick around to help the poor babe survive since the mother is in no condition to care for the child. What started out as a fascinating story with compelling characters, unfortunately turned into one of those "annoying heroine" books. Almost immediately the heroine began to rub me the wrong way because of her selfish and self-centered attitude, and it only got worse from there. I continued to read the book because I thought the hero deserved a happy ending. His dark and tortured past was absolutely horrendous and the flashbacks broke my heart, but alas, it was not meant to be because he got saddled with the dislikable heroine for life! If you don't mind abrasive heroines, but you adore sensitive, tortured guys, you'll probably like this book more than I did. ~Laurie S. (shallah@empire.net)
Sydes, Libby - UNTIL SPRING (1993) (4+)
Addie may be young in years, but after a brutal marriage, she feels old and hopeless. Zeke isn't looking for love, but he can't help reaching out to Addie. UNTIL SPRING is an intense, moving book that will make you laugh and cry. ~Karen W. (kwheless@rockland.net)
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