Romance Book Reviews
Dark of the Night by Dee Davis
Ballantine, March, 2002Paperback, 384 pages
ISBN: 0804119767
Subgenre: Contemporary
Ordering information:
Amazon.com
Riley O'Brien is the perfect political daughter; she is
an invaluable asset to her father Senator Carter O'Brien as he
makes his bid for the White House. Desolate after
the deaths of her sister and mother, Riley has given her
entire life over to her father's political career. Riley is just
the kind of woman that investigative
reporter Jake Mahoney can't stand -- an ice princess,
just like his ex-wife. So he is anything but happy when
he's forced to cover a campaign rally where Riley is the
featured speaker. When a car bomb goes off, Jake ends
up saving Riley's life, and suddenly he's not so sure
that Riley is anything like his scheming ex-wife.
As he gets to know Riley, he realizes that a murder
investigation he's working on may be tied to the
Senator's past -- a past that could destroy Riley and
her entire family.
Dee Davis presents us with a fast-paced romantic political thriller which is sure to entertain. She takes us behind the scenes of a presidential campaign, with all the spin doctoring, backstabbing and cover-ups that permeate the current political process. Jake and Riley make an appealing and passionate couple, as they seek to uncover some very nasty secrets in the O'Brien family past. Ms. Davis shows her versatility with this gripping thriller which is miles away in tone from the lighthearted and funny Just Breathe, but is just as enjoyable. Don't miss it.
Dream Island by Josie Litton
Bantam, March, 2002Paperback, 400 pages
ISBN: 0553583891
Subgenre: Historical
Ordering information:
Amazon.com
Lady Joanna Hawkforte is determined to travel to
the ancient and mysterious island country of Akora to find her
beloved brother Royce, who set out on an expedition
to the fabled land and was never heard from again.
In a shocking breach of propriety, Joanna stows away
on a ship bound for Akora. The ship is owned by Lord Alex
Darcourt, a half-English, Akoran prince, and he is
not happy at all when he discovers the stowaway.
Nevertheless, he tends to her injuries she sustained in her
stowaway attempt and takes her to his homeland.
Akora is a beautiful place located just past the Pillars of Hercules
(think Atlantis). As Joanna and Alex fall
in love, they must rescue Joanna's brother Royce, and
root out a traitor who is determined
to destroy Akora.
Dream Island is a rare gem of a Regency romance. Josie Litton (actually Maura Seger) takes a standard Regency plot and gives it a paranormal twist. The addition of the fictional country of Akora and some psychic abilities of Alex's sister, Kassandra (who can see the future), and of Joanna (who has the gift of finding lost things) gives a unique twist to this passionate story that puts it in a category of its own. Like her last bestselling series (Dream of Me, Believe in Me and Come Back to Me), this new series has romance, magic and a fantasy feel to it that is sure to enchant readers.
Head Over Heels by Susan Anderson
Avon, January, 2002Paperback, 372 pages
ISBN: 0380819171
Subgenre: Contemporary
Ordering information:
Amazon.com
The happiest day of Veronica Davis' life was
the day that she left Fossil, Washington to become
a designer/restorer of old homes. Now based in
Seattle with a thriving business, she is forced
to go back to her hometown when her flighty
sister Crystal is murdered and her husband is
accused of the crime. Veronica arrives in Fossil
to take care of Crystal's daughter, and ends up
doing the one job she swore she'd never do again:
tending bar at the family's honky tonk.
But she's short-handed, and wants to sell the bar for
her niece's benefit, so she goes back to waitressing
until she can find a replacement. To make things
worse, the handsome bartender, Cooper Blackstock, is
very antagonistic. Apparently he also knew the conniving
Crystal, and thinks that Veronica is cut from the same
cloth. But Cooper is not who he seems to be, and
he and Veronica have a long way to go before their
blossoming attraction has any chance of turning into true love.
Head Over Heels is a gutsy, heartfelt contemporary romance that is sure to tug at your heartstrings. Susan Anderson takes on some weighty issues here, such as trust and responsibility, and integrates them deftly into a funny and passionate love story which is sure to garner her more fans.
Return to the March 2002 issue of The IWJ.
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