Going Overboard - Kay Wilding (HAR #463 - Nov 1992)

HE HAD A GLASS SLIPPER...

...but his Cinderella had vanished! The nearly naked stranger who'd fled from his stateroom bath -- leaving only her slipper behind -- now haunted his erotic dreams.

Aboard the luxury cruise ship American Dreamer, a regular bevy of beauties circled the powerful tycoon. Jackson "the Shark" Sherrod knew he was considered the finest catch in the sea. But after one glimpse of his elusive enchantress's enticing flesh, he knew just the woman he wanted.

Jackson wasn't called Sherrod the Shark for nothing. What he wanted, he usually got. Only this time, when it came to this woman, he had to find her first. And Sherrod the Shark was no Prince Charming.

Oldie (25 years!) but still good. Frances is a modern day Cinderella. She had spent the last thirteen years caring for her father, while her older brother and sister went on with their lives. When her father passed away, she got the shock of her life (and so did they), as she inherited almost a million dollars. With her siblings furious at being left out, Frances takes her sister-in-law's advice and goes on a month long cruise to get away. She ends up in the wrong cabin and is in the bath when the rightful occupant arrives. Horrified and embarrassed, she flees, hoping not to see him again.

Jack is a businessman in the midst of a takeover that has run into some problems. On the advice of his partner and best friend, he heads out on a cruise while waiting for developments. He's stunned by the beauty he found in his cabin, and determined to find her again.

I really enjoyed their first meeting. Frances is shocked and frightened by the appearance of a man in what she thinks is her room. Having been sheltered due to her past circumstances, she overreacts just a bit. Jack is suspicious of why she is there and not terribly inclined to believe her explanation. There are definitely sparks flying between them, and Jack wants to know more. But when he answers a phone call, she sneaks away. Frances goes to great lengths the next day to avoid discovery, especially when she finds out that he has been seated at the same table as she for the length of the cruise.

I liked Frances. She was a bit innocent and naïve, her only real exposure to the world coming from reading and watching television. But she was ready to embrace new experiences. It was fun to watch her reactions to Jack, especially at the beginning. She succeeded in hiding from him until a couple too many drinks brought out the gentleman in him and the exposure of her disguise. I liked seeing her relax in his company once they got past their initial meeting. She also has a pretty uncomplicated view of the world - what is right is right, and what isn't is wrong.

I liked Jack also. He's more cynical and world-weary. Having witnessed his father's company being taken over, and his father's reaction to it, Jack has been bent on revenge for the last ten years. He's almost there, and just waiting on some financing when problems arise. Hiding out on the cruise isn't his first choice, but he'll do it if he has to. He looks at finding his mysterious visitor as a welcome distraction, and doesn't expect to have his life changed by her.

I enjoyed the development of their relationship. It started out as friendship, when Jack realized just how innocent Frances was. He's attracted to her, but sees her as far too good for him. He's determined to keep it that way, but finds himself unable to keep from kissing her. Once Frances gets over her embarrassment, she enjoys Jack's company. They have fun with their sightseeing, and they share quite a few laughs. She is also blown away by his kisses, and wants to experience more. Convincing Jack of that seems to be an uphill battle.

I loved seeing Frances's confidence in herself grow thanks to Jack's attention. It was fun to see her plan to get her way with him. Though things didn't go quite as expected, they did end up moving their relationship forward. But as they grew closer, Jack began to feel guilty. He knows that he isn't planning anything permanent, having already made a hash of his personal life once because of his work. He's afraid that he's going to hurt Frances, and he hates that idea, but he also can't force himself to stay away from her. At the same time, Frances's feelings for Jack are growing. She knows that he's not interested in something permanent, but she can't help dreaming a little. A sweet offer from her has Jack taking another look at his own feelings. Then her confidence in her ability to be part of his world takes a hit, and nothing he says can convince her that she is what he needs.

I ached for them both as they parted ways. Both were miserable without each other. I loved seeing Frances's new persona standing up to her sister, but she was still hesitant about fitting in to Jack's life. It was fun to see her sister-in-law try to convince her to try again. I loved Jack's big moment, as he sees the changes he has to make if he is to get the future he wants. The epilogue is sweet, with Frances making some changes of her own.

Dearest Rogue - Elizabeth Hoyt (Grand Central - June 2015)

Series: Maiden Lane (Book 8)

HE CAN GUARD HER

Lady Phoebe Batten is pretty, vivacious, and yearning for a social life befitting the sister of a powerful duke. But because she is almost completely blind, her overprotective brother insists that she have an armed bodyguard by her side at all times-the very irritating Captain Trevillion.

FROM EVERY DANGER

Captain James Trevillion is proud, brooding, and cursed with a leg injury from his service in the King's dragoons. Yet he can still shoot and ride like the devil, so watching over the distracting Lady Phoebe should be no problem at all-until she's targeted by kidnappers.

BUT PASSION ITSELF

Caught in a deadly web of deceit, James must risk life and limb to save his charge from the lowest of cads-one who would force Lady Phoebe into a loveless marriage. But while they're confined to close quarters for her safekeeping, Phoebe begins to see the tender man beneath the soldier's hard exterior . . . and the possibility of a life-and love-she never imagined possible.

Very good book. I was hooked from the beginning and had trouble putting the book down. It started with a bang, as an attempt is made to kidnap Phoebe. James is there to save her and get her home safely.

Phoebe is young, pretty and wants to experience the same things as others her age. But she is also blind, and her overprotective brother keeps her pretty isolated. Her frustration is obvious in her attempts to elude his control. There is a terrific scene where she blows up at him and lets him know just what she thinks of her treatment. In the time since James has become her bodyguard, he has borne the brunt of that frustration. She has had no trouble letting him know that she doesn't appreciate his presence.

James is a former officer of the dragoons who was injured on duty. After leaving the service, he took a job as Phoebe's bodyguard. He is determined to keep her safe, even more so after the kidnapping attempts begin.

I loved the relationship between them from the beginning. Phoebe can be a bit snarky at times, reacting to the limits placed on her activities. James is quite good at keeping his cool and not reacting to her little jabs. In the six months that he has been her guard, Phoebe never really noticed him much as anything but her guard, until the attempt to kidnap her. At that point, she started to see him as a man. His strength, his protectiveness, and, since she couldn't see him, his scent and his voice suddenly affected her in ways it hadn't before. James had felt an attraction to her from the beginning, but resisted.

I loved Phoebe's sudden interest in learning all about him, and her persistence in pursuing her questions. She didn't let anything stop her in her quest. This made it even harder for James to resist her. It all came to a head one day when, in her frustration with him, she kissed him. She was stunned by the way it made her feel. Though attracted to her, James knows that she's far above him, it doesn't stop him from kissing her back. When a second attempt on her occurs, James takes matters into his own hands and spirits her away.

I loved their journey out of London. Phoebe is amazingly resilient and doesn't let the circumstances keep her from her own goal of getting to know him better. I loved seeing James start to unbend a little and show her the man underneath the bodyguard exterior. James also begins to see Phoebe's need for independence and tries to dial back his need to protect her from everything. Though he knows their stations dictate that there can be nothing between them, when Phoebe makes her own feelings clear he doesn't try to push her away. I loved how he treated her as an adult who knows her own mind. I loved seeing them take the next step, with her enthusiasm and his desire to make her happy, creating some pretty intense scenes. Upon their return to London, I loved seeing both James and Phoebe confound her brother with their intentions. The scene where Max comes to see James is especially fun.

There are a couple of things going on during the book. Foremost is the kidnapping attempts on Phoebe and trying to find out who is behind them and why. There are hints of who it might be, but enough doubt caused by other happenings, that it is hard to be sure until the very end. I loved how James had a better idea of the danger than Max did, and how he was proved right. The final confrontation was intense, and I loved James's reaction when he found Phoebe.

There was also a smaller side story of the reason James had left home all those years ago. I loved how Phoebe got him to share with her. Getting to know the people involved was great. There was a very tense moment when James's past made a reappearance, but it ended with a surprise twist.

This is the first of the Maiden Lane books that I have read, but it won't be the last.

The Viscount Needs a Wife - Jo Beverley (Signet - Apr 2016)

Series: Company of Rogues (Book 16)

Since being widowed two years ago, Kitty Cateril has been trapped in her late husband's home, where she is expected to mourn forever. Desperate to escape, Kitty will consider any option -- even a hasty marriage to a stranger with no intention of abandoning his bachelor ways.

London life suits Beau Braydon, especially his work keeping Britain safe. So when he inherits the title of Viscount Dauntry, he has no intention of resettling on a rural estate. He can’t resist the opportunity to marry a sensible widow who can manage Beauchamp Abbey for him -- until he realizes Kitty is more than he bargained for...

Before Kitty and Dauntry can adjust to each other, a threat to the royal family takes them to London. Soon someone is determined to prevent Dauntry from exposing the villain, and secrets in Kitty's past threaten their growing love...

Good book. Kitty and Braydon are both trapped in lives they don't want. Kitty had been married to a wounded war hero who has since died. His mother has made grieving an art form and, with no place else to go, Kitty is stuck mourning a man long gone. She is desperate to find a way out, even if it means finding a position as a governess. Then a good friend tells her of a man who is in need of a wife to care for his home and family members.

Braydon never expected to inherit a title. He was quite happy with his bachelor life in London, with its parties, beautiful women, and his occasional work for the government. Inheriting the title also means inheriting the previous viscount's domineering mother and spoiled daughter. He has no interest in settling in the country, and asks for help finding a wife who will do it for him.

The initial meeting between Kitty and Braydon doesn't go well. She isn't anything like what he had pictured and he is certain that she would not be up to the challenges ahead. Kitty found him to be rather cold. But both are quite clever, and in their first official encounter have quite the battle of wits to get the other to withdraw from the arrangement. Instead, they discover a growing connection, one that surprises them both. Braydon begins by trying to avoid it, seeing a complication he doesn't want. Kitty is simply wary of risking her heart again.

In spite of their misgivings, they follow through on their plan. I loved seeing them get to know each other. Kitty is strong, independent and quite clever, with a tendency to speak/act on her instincts rather than thinking about them first. She is also vivacious and social, and in her previous marriage had a large group of friends, many of whom were her husband's soldier friends. Her friendships with these men puts a little bit of a strain on her marriage to Braydon, until he can deal with his unexpected jealousy. Braydon is also clever, aided by a nearly photographic memory. His work for the government is important to him, and he refuses to give it up just because his circumstances have changed. I liked his willingness to include Kitty in what was going on, as he discovered that she had a different perspective on events. I found his unwillingness to get involved in his estates a little disconcerting. As the days go on, their attraction and growing friendship begins deepen. Though neither had had any intention of letting their emotions get involved, there didn't seem to be any way to stop it. There was no great disaster or danger that exposed their feelings, just the growing realization that they wanted more.

There were a couple of mysteries running through the book. First was the attempted attack on three of the royal princes that brought Braydon back to London. His assignment is to find out who is behind it. His work on this shows some of the problems that plagued England at the time, such as a poor economy, what to do with returning soldiers, and the growing strife between the classes. What he discovered surprised him and threw a different light on the problem. Also going on was a look into a family secret. The previous viscount's wife had run off, but never been divorced. Kitty wants to know what happened to her. In their search for that information, something else is discovered that will have an unexpected effect on their future. I thoroughly enjoyed how that one worked out.

While there wasn't any real intensity to either mystery, unlike in some previous books in the series, it was still very well done and kept me hooked from first page to last.

Baby on the Oregon Trail - Lynna Banning (HH #1311 - Jan 2017)

New Year, new family!

Heading West, pregnant widow Jenna Borland's life surely can't get any more complicated -- until fate throws Lee Carver across her path. She resents his help, but she needs him to drive her wagon over the Great Plains.

Lee can't fathom why this prickly woman gets under his skin. But as the journey brings these two outsiders together, he wonders if Jenna and her baby could be just what he needs to begin a new life with a brand-new family!

Very good book, with a different storyline than most. Jenna, her husband, and her stepdaughters are part of a wagon train on the Oregon trail. At the beginning of the book, her husband is shot and killed while trying to steal a horse, leaving Jenna to continue the journey.

Jenna hadn't wanted this journey in the first place and now she is really stuck. She is unprepared for the hardships, including her fear of the oxen and horses. The leader of the wagon train assigns someone to help her with her wagon - the man responsible for her husband's death. She's furious, but doesn't really have any choice.

I have to admit that Jenna irritated me at the beginning. I understood that the journey hadn't been her choice, but she seemed awfully whiny to me. She griped about her two older stepdaughters' attitudes, but hers wasn't much better. Her anger at Lee was logical, given the circumstances, but I felt she could have shown a bit more gratitude. She also considered herself an outsider once she was widowed, and seemed to spend a fair amount of time feeling sorry for herself. I grew to like her more as she faced the challenges ahead of her.

On the other hand, I liked Lee right from the start. He had every right to defend his property according to the rules of the times. He didn't have to volunteer to help her continue the journey, but he is a gentleman at heart and felt it was only right.  He is treated as an outsider by most of the others because of his Southern background, while the others were all Northerners.

I loved seeing the relationship grow between them with the backdrop of the Trail and its hardships. The relationship was strained at first because of the circumstances, but forced into each other's company day after day they had to learn to get along. I loved Lee's protectiveness and his insistence on teaching them all the skills they needed. It was sweet to see the way that the youngest, Ruthie, took to Lee, and the effect it had on him. I also loved seeing him handle the two older girls. As the days and weeks went by, he and Jenna slowly began to get to know each other. They are able to share the pain and secrets of their pasts, without experiencing any judgment from the other. And though the attraction and feelings grow between them, there are still obstacles that keep them apart. Lee is bound for a more remote part of the state to build his horse breeding ranch. Jenna is determined to remain in town and find a way to make a living while making sure the girls get the schooling and upbringing they need. The concerns were real and believable and I ached for their inability to find their way for a future together. The ending was sweet as Lee comes through with the answers they need.

Even more than the romance, I enjoyed the journey itself. Outside of a brief mention in school history books, and the computer game my kids used to play, I had very little exposure to that part of the past. The descriptions were vivid enough that I frequently felt I was there, from the incredible heat of the trek across the Plains to the arduous trip over the mountains. The encounter with the Indians was nerve wracking, with an unexpected result, and the dangers of having a baby on the trail were excellently portrayed.

San Antonio Secret - Robin Perini (HI #1688 - Jan 2017)

Series: Carder Texas Connections (Book 8)

A San Antonio rodeo may hold the key to finding the truth behind two missing people

When Sierra Bradford's best friend and goddaughter are abducted, she vows to find them at any cost. Sierra -- shot at the scene of their kidnapping -- checks in to a motel to treat her wounds. It's there that she encounters former Green Beret Rafe Vargas, who's come to her aid…and not for the first time. As his best friend's sister, Sierra is off-limits. But that hardly stops a powerful attraction from growing as they work together on an undercover sting operation to find her friend's adbuctors. Under the guise of a rodeo cowboy and his pregnant wife, Rafe and Sierra come to find out that the rodeo may be the key to their investigation -- and their possible future.

Exciting book. It opens with Rafe as part of a rescue mission that saves Sierra from a kidnapping and explosion. We immediately see that there is chemistry between the two. Rafe desperately tries to resist, but ends up giving in a spending a hot night with her, before his guilty feelings send him running.

Two months later, Sierra is missing again. Rafe gets a panicked call from his best friend, Noah, who is also Sierra's brother. Noah asks Rafe to find her, which he does pretty quickly, only to discover that she's been injured. She and her best friend and her friend's daughter had been kidnapped, and though Sierra escaped, her friend did not. Sierra is determined to find and save her friend. She's not too happy to see him, especially after his disappearing act, but realizes that she can use his help.

I liked Sierra. She is a smart, determined and capable of much more than some others believe. She had been working as a computer specialist for the same covert group that her brother and Rafe work for, until she was suspended after her last kidnapping. Though she's always been behind the scenes in previous investigations, she refuses to step back from this one. I loved her insistence on being involved. I also liked her belief in her friend's innocence, even in the face of evidence to the contrary.

I also liked Rafe. He is strong and protective. He has been attracted to Sierra for a long time, but there's the old "bro code" obstacle of not getting involved with your best friend's sister. He gave in to her advances two months ago, but has avoided her ever since. He also feels that he is not good enough for her. He lost someone close to him and blames himself. He wants to keep her safe, but also has to admit that he can't find her friend without her.

I enjoyed seeing their relationship grow as they worked together. Sierra knows how she feels, and though cautious about risking her heart again, she wants the chance. The scenes at the rodeo were great, especially her reaction to his first ride. I loved seeing her help Rafe realize that he wants a home and family of his own. The ending was fantastic, with a bit of a twist to the big moment.

The suspense of the story was really good. With Sierra's escape from the kidnapper, it freed her to find out why they had been taken and who was behind it. Though she isn't usually a field operative, I loved seeing her make the most of the opportunities they were given. There were some very scary attempts on their lives, each one getting more intense. The closer they got to the end, the more convoluted the problem seemed. The final confrontation was really intense, with an unexpected twist to it. The secret wasn't anything like what I expected either.

Eagle Warrior - Jenna Kernan (HI #1692 - Feb 2017)

Series: Apache Protectors: Tribal Thunder (Book 2)

Could protecting her mean protecting the enemy?

As a former US Marine, Turquoise Guardian Ray Strong is no stranger to high-risk situations. But when he is assigned to protect Morgan Hooke -- a single mother and daughter to the Apache who killed a mass gunman -- Ray suspects there is more to his mission than meets the eye. Is Morgan an innocent bystander, or the keeper of her father's secrets and blood money? Despite his better instincts, Ray feels a powerful attraction to Morgan. Motivated by love and the loss of his own parents and best friend, Ray will do anything to keep her out of the hands of unseen enemies.

Good book, second in the series that began with Turquoise Guardian. In that book a gunman killed multiple people at a mining company, apparently as some kind of ecoterrorism. At the end of that book, Morgan's father had killed the shooter, been captured and jailed. Investigators believe that Morgan may have been aware of her father's plans, and knows what happened to the money he was paid. Others are not so sure, and the leader of the Turquoise Guardians sends Ray to watch over Morgan and her daughter. He is supposed to keep them safe, and also discover what she knows.

Morgan and Ray meet when he saves her and her daughter from an intruder who is looking for the money that her father supposedly received. She is not very happy about his presence, but she'll accept it to keep her daughter safe. She's also not happy about the sudden attraction she feels for him. She's been burned once, by her daughter's father, and she's not interested in repeating past mistakes. Ray also feels the attraction, and though he'd like to take advantage of it, he feels that it would be a bad idea. Whatever else he feels, he is determined to keep Morgan and Lisa safe.

I liked both Morgan and Ray. Morgan is strong, compassionate, loving and smart. Though unhappy at the necessity, she accepts Ray's help for the sake of her daughter. She tries hard to keep him at a distance, but as they work together to discover the truth, she finds herself drawn to him more and more. I loved her determination to find the money, and her insistence that it isn't hers. I also enjoyed seeing how she let down her walls as she got to know Ray, and was able to share her painful past with him. Ray is the bad boy of the group of Guardians. Thanks to the actions of his past, he feels that he is not good enough for any woman, let alone Morgan. I ached for him and his belief that he doesn't deserve to be loved. Part of his determination to protect comes from his guilty feelings over the death of his friend during the war. I loved his protectiveness and how it grew to be more, even though he tried to resist it. I liked that Morgan wasn't going to settle for less, and that she showed Ray that he was far better than he thought he was, and exactly what she wants in her and Lisa's lives.

 The suspense of the story is very good. The main theme of this book is the search for the missing money. The action got progressively more intense as Ray and Morgan came closer to finding it. I loved seeing the clues they followed and how they figured out each one. The final confrontation was one that had me on the edge of my seat as I waited to see how it was going to turn out. I loved Morgan's ingenuity, and worried about how quickly Ray would find her.

Continuing from the first book, we discover a little more about what the eco-extremists have in mind, though details are still lacking. There are also more questions raised about just which side the leader of the Guardians is on. I'm really looking forward to the next two books and how it will all end. I have also enjoyed the tidbits of Apache tradition that have been included in the story.

Turquoise Guardian - Jenna Kernan (HI #1685 - Jan 2017)

Series: Apache Protectors: Tribal Thunder (Book 1)

Her Warrior Protector

Carter Bear Den is a proud Apache of the Turquoise Canyon Reservation. The former US Marine is a member of the Turquoise Guardians working to protect his people and their land. When he discovers a grisly mass shooting at the Lilac Copper Mine, Carter's one thought is to find Amber Kitcheyan.

After breaking her engagement to Carter and relinquishing her membership with the reservation, Amber found work at the mine. Now she is the sole survivor of the shooting -- at best a witness, at worst a suspect. But Carter swears to protect the only woman he has ever loved, even if it means losing everything else.

Good start to the new series. Carter came home from the Marines and is now a member of a group that helps protect his fellow members of the tribe. His boss and medicine man sent him to the Lilac Mine with a message for Amber, who also happens to be Carter's ex-fiancée. He arrives in time to see a mass shooting take place, and is determined to find Amber.

Amber has worked for the mine for only a short time. After noticing a problem with some paperwork, she left the office to take it to her boss for signing. She arrived at his house just in time to witness his murder, and is rescued by Carter just as the gunman has her in his sights.

Both Carter and Amber still have feelings for each other, even though their engagement was long ago. Their relationship had happened when they were young, and the issues that drove them apart could have been avoided with a little more maturity and much more communication. Thrown together now, as Carter works to protect Amber from those that want her dead, they have the opportunity to clear up their past issues, but it is going to take some work on both their parts.

I liked both Carter and Amber. Both are proud of their heritage and that dictates many of their actions. Amber relinquished her membership in the tribe, which puts her outside their influence and protection, but there is some mystery about how and why it happened. Amber is loving and protective of those she loves, and much stronger than she believes. Though the end of their relationship broke her heart, she never stopped loving Carter. Carter is also protective of those he loves, and even though he is still angry at her, protecting Amber is never in question. He also never stopped loving her, though he didn't realize it until he saw her again. He is also stubborn, and tends to believe he knows what is best.

I liked seeing the reigniting of their relationship. Carter is still hurting from the loss of his friend and fellow Guardian during the war, something he blames himself for. The freshness of that pain is one of the things that had contributed to his breakup with Amber. I liked seeing him able to share some of those feelings with her, and how her reaction helped ease some of his pain. But he is still very much a take charge kind of guy, and his protectiveness brings back some of the memories of what drove her away from him to start with. As she opened up about her own feelings, and how she had felt that he didn't respect her enough to listen to her, Carter finally began to see where he had gone wrong.  As more of her story was revealed, I ached for her feelings of loss, and her frustration at not being listened to. It was interesting to find out the background of it, and see what Carter thought could be done to fix it. I thought his big moment at the end was fantastic, and can't wait to see how things work out by the end of the series.

The suspense of the story was really good. There is some viewpoint from the bad guy side of the equation, but it is mostly told from Carter and Amber's side. From the very beginning the action is intense and nearly nonstop. Because she was not killed with the others, there had been some question as to whether she was a witness or involved, but Carter never really seemed to have any doubts. As more information comes to light, and Amber and Carter begin to figure out what is happening, both of them are in increasing danger. There are also some questions about who might be playing for both sides of the issue. I definitely had some concerns about a couple of the characters. I loved seeing the involvement of Carter's fellow Guardians, Ray, Dylan and Jack, all of whom had been in the Marines with him. There were also a couple of appearances of Agent Luke Forrest and his partner from the first Apache Protectors series. By the end, though one small part of the mystery had been solved, there is still much more going on. I was somewhat surprised by what happens with Carter and Amber at the end.

There are still a couple of unsolved questions going on. The biggest is what is going on with the environmental groups that seem to be behind the trouble. Something big is building up, but there isn't enough information yet to know what it is. The Guardians are on alert and determined to protect their people. There is also a personal story that is going on with fellow guardian Jack, who is Carter's twin brother. They don't look at all alike, and Jack has always felt out of step. I like that his fellow Guardians don't let it bother them. I am curious to find out what the full story is. I have a couple ideas, but will wait to see what else is revealed.