B O O K  R E V I E W S

3/24/00

Spring time fills the air with romance.

Sharon Galligar Chance
Book Reviewer for the Times Record News

Springtime just seems to bring out the romantic side of all of us, and this season’s lineup of romantic reading treats is particularly pleasing. The following five books have been written by some of the greatest authors in the romance genre today, and I am thrilled to be able to share their work with readers.

Look for these marvelous books in bookstores this season, and give yourself a well-deserved romance break. After all, ‘tis the season for love!

Simmer All Night
By Geralyn Dawson
Pocket Books; $6.50

In 1883, the Historical Society of San Antonio learns that clues exist in England that might lead to finding a copy of the missing Texas Declaration of Independence. The society chooses an unwilling Cole Morgan to track down and retrieve the rare document.

Meanwhile, across town, Christina Delaney mortifies her family by acting like a Jezebel after winning the local Chili Queen contest. Her mother decides to send the out-of-control gal to her English grandfather, the Earl of Thornbury.

Cole Morgan is asked to escort the wildly impulsive Christina, as they are both going to England at the same time. Though he wants to say no on both counts, Cole agrees. After daringly kissing him as a prank in Texas, Christina finds herself attracted to her "enemy" Cole. He reciprocates, but cannot abide her scandalous behavior. Once in England, the aristocracy lines up to court Christina, forcing Cole to reassess his brotherly feelings towards the woman he now loves.

"Simmer All Night" by Geralyn Dawson is a sensational combination of a scorching western romance with an extraordinary Victorian twist. The unusual mix works as the characters add a witty charm into the story line. Christina is a stimulating lead protagonist whose antics disguise her need for love. Cole is a delightfully patient hero who will earn reader’s admiration with his sympathetic kisses and hugs. But don’t get me wrong, Cole is no wimp, which proves that "real" men can understand a woman’s eccentricities.

Geralyn Dawson has cooks up one sizzling story with "Simmer All Night." I loved the ongoing references to cooking chili scattered through out the story. Dawson continues to delight her readers with her Texas-sized storytelling talent.

The Rogue
By Ana Seymour
Harlequin; $4.99

One of the six Knights of the Black Rose to survive the disastrous Crusades, Nicholas Hendry has at last returned home. Harrowing experiences in the war, and his miraculous safe return, has led Nicholas to lead a calmer life. But as he returns to his home, Nicholas finds his life once again in an uproar.

Beatrice Thibault, owner of the town’s inn, hates Nicholas Hendry with a passion, and with his return she makes no bones about telling him so. Her sister Flora died giving birth to Nicholas’ child just before he left for war, never telling him he was a father. Beatrice has cared for the child as her own the entire time Nicholas was gone, and doesn’t intend to return him without a fight. She just didn’t plan on falling in love with the handsome rouge.

Together, Nicholas and Beatrice slowly learn to accept one another, and to work together to protect his beloved mother and regain his family home from an evil Baron. Along the way, they discover that their lives would not be complete without each other.

"The Rogue" is the second episode in the six "Knights of the Black Rose" series, and is a fascinating Medieval romance centering on the double dealings and greed of the aristocracy. Veteran romance author Ana Seymour’s story line is thoroughly stimulating, and her characters are realistic and heroic. The "battles" between Beatrice and Nicholas add a sensual tension to an already perfect tale that will thrill romance fans. Though Seymour is primarily known for her fascinating western romances, she puts forth a brilliant additional facet to her talent with this medieval series.

One Wish
Linda Lael Miller
Pocket Star Books; $6.99

In the Washington Territory of 1874, 11 year-old Luke Shardlow watches horrified as little Charity Barham wades into the dangerous floodwaters of a raging river. He barely manages to save the younger child from drowning. Charity explains to a bewildered Luke that she was seeing a magic frog. She grants her rescuer one wish, but he walks away without using it. Not too long after that, Luke's life falls apart when his dad is hung for killing his stepmother. Luke and his despicable older half-brother, Vance, are forced to leave town.

In 1889, Luke returns as a hardened bounty hunter. His latest effort is to bring his brother Vance, who is now wanted for a series of vicious robberies, to justice. This brings Luke home, where he meets up with the beautiful Charity, and an attraction immediately erupts between them. However, she is the daughter of the wealthiest rancher in the region and he is the son of a killer. Her father rejects Luke’s interests and pushes his daughter to wed her fiancé, neighbor Raoul Montego. But Luke still has his one wish to use, and he intends to use it to make Charity his own.

"One Wish" by Linda Lael Miller is a wondrously enchanting tale that shows why Miller has remained one of the greats of the romance genre. Miller knows how to work her characters to their fullest potential, and keep her readers entertained. The story line is crisp and filled with emotional conflict that ultimately boils down to Charity’s having to make the choice between her love for Luke and her family's expectations. Chalk up another victory for Linda!

Montana Mavericks: Big Sky Brides
By Christine Rimmer, Jennifer Greene and Cheryl St. John
Silhouette Books; $5.99

"Montana Mavericks: Big Sky Brides" is a wonderful anthology kicking off Silhouette's new edition of the popular "Montana Mavericks" series. Christine Rimmer, Jennifer Greene and Cheryl St. John have written contemporary stories about two sisters who are marrying for convenience and wishing it was for love – as they believe their great-grandmother married.

The first story (written by Christina Rimmer) finds leftover bride Suzanna spending her wedding night with a sexy stranger. But when she discovers she is pregnant with his child, could she refuse the arrogant cowboy's proposal?

The second bride, the determined Diana, couldn't turn down a chance at marriage and motherhood with the millionaire of her dreams. Even if she didn't have this single dad's love – yet. This portion of the anthology was written by Jennifer Greene.

But perhaps my favorite story of the three is Cheryl St. John’s tale of the two girl’s great-grandmother Isabelle.

Sent away to school in the East, Isabelle returns to her beloved Montana ranch after her father’s death. But she doesn’t feel welcome there.

Kyle Running Horse Brennan, the ranch foreman, does nothing to change those feelings; he wants her to head right back to the city. He’d stuck a bargain with her father to be a partner in the ranch, and his desire is to own this piece of land which used to be in his family.

Isabelle digs in her inappropriate heels for a fight, and stays. Since Kyle owns more than half the horses, and she is unable to pay for ranch hands, they come to an odd arrangement, and are married. The marriage of convenience grows into a marriage of love, aided somewhat by a silver amulet which Kyle's Cheyenne aunt gives Isabelle as a wedding present.

Tied together by a packet of love letters found in a trunk, these three stories are exciting, sensual and, above all, romantic to the hilt! Collaborating across many miles, these three talented authors have brought the fans of the Montana Mavericks series a wonderful addition to the collection. Well done, ladies.

The Orchid Hunter
By Jill Marie Landis
Jove Books; $6.99

Helping her eccentric botanist father search for rare and much sought-after orchids, Joya Penn has grown up free and wild on the African island of Matarenga. Though she is, for the most part, content with her life, Joya is often lonely, being the only white woman on the island. She also feels a deep, unexplainable need to go to England, the ancestral home of her parents. She feels that part of her, an otherworldly girl she always draws pictures of, resides in England. However, Joya feels her chances of going to the land of her ancestors is remote. It is even less likely that she will be marrying, since most of the islanders feel uncomfortable around her and her father would forbid it anyway.

Everything changes when the dashing Trevor Mandeville arrives on the island seeking the perfect orchid for Her Majesty, Queen Victoria. When he stumbles upon Dustin Penn and his daughter, Joya, in the jungle, thoughts of prize-winning orchids are wiped from his mind. The machete-weilding young woman dressed in trousers and a shirt tied under her breasts appears to be his sister, Janelle!

Joya is likewise entranced; the handsome man staring at her has been in her dreams for years. Joya’s father is now forced to reveal a twenty-year-old secret involving twin girls separated at birth.

When Treavor realizes that Joya is the lost twin of his adopted sister, he insists Joya accompany him back to England, where she is joyfully reunited with her sibling. Like Joya, Janelle has had visions of "her other self" and has painted portraits of this self in the jungle.

Along her journey to Victorian England, Joya finds herself falling in love with Trevor, and he with her. The instant love they share is overwhelming. Trevor is confused by his attraction to his sister's identical twin and, being a true gentleman, spends an inordinate amount of time trying to rationalize his feelings for the unconventional young woman. Unless love finds a way, this culture-crossed duo is destined to a lifetime of unhappiness.

In her latest enchanting novel, "The Orchid Hunter," author Jill Marie Landis once again delights her readers with a humorous and poignant tale of remarkable love. This entertaining and often whimsical story line features two memorable lead characters; but clearly the tale belongs to the spirited Joya, whose uninhibited nature takes Victorian London by storm, sending proper society into clear disarray. The secondary, yet equally delightful romance featuring Joya's sister Janelle, only adds spice to the overall fun.

Particularly fascinating is Landis’ exploration into of the closeness of twins, and how the two girls dreamed of each other for years. Also interesting is her depiction of the orchid craze that overtook Victorian society. Jill Marie Landis’ books are always guaranteed to please, tease and thrill her readers.

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