No Hero Like Him by Elaine Grant --Harlequin Super Romance Novel

Another western themed book. I was surprised at how quickly I began to like this book. From the first chapter there is a viewpoint from a supporting character, not simply one of the romantic leads. The prologue is a great start to the book-- I found it very intense... I may have actually been holding my breath a little! When Seth's sister practically forces him to work for Claire, he slowly begins to see the upside.  He openly pursues Claire, who repeatedly resists her attraction to him. As Seth’s relationship with Claire continues, we also get to know more about his relationships with other characters. One thing I like about this book is that they don’t fall in love then be intimate; they begin with intimacy and then lead up to the cat and mouse game. It is more “real-life” than most of the fantasy-type romance novels.  I also like the ending to this book because it isn't the obvious, easy ending that could have been written; but it is perfect for the story :)

Her Bodyguard by Mallory Kane --Harlequin Intrigue Novel

This was the first Harlequin novel that I read in years and is what sparked my renewed interest in romance novels.  Angela Grayson and Lucas Delancey have a history, but that did not stop her brother from calling on Lucas when Angela needed protecting from the family of a mobster he was prosecuting.  While Angela is kept in the dark about her brother's case and Lucas' reason for popping up, she is trying to stay alive, figure out who is trying to kill her, pass her classes, battle creepy ex-boyfriends, and worst of all: trying to forget the reason she was so scared to see Lucas again.  This is a good romantic read, but also a good thriller.  In the heat of the action you can feel the passion that Lucas and Angela have for each other.

Stranger in a Small Town by Kerry Connor --Harlequin Intrigue Novel

This book has the makings of a thrilling lifetime movie.  Complete with "haunted" houses, decades old mysteries, small town secrets, car chases, and of course, romance.  Maggie Harper wants to fix up an old rental house that her grandfather originally owned, much to the dismay of the small town in which it resides.  The horrible events that happened in this house come back to haunt the town, and most severely, Maggie.  When John Samuels shows up looking for work, Maggie is immediately suspicious, however, he may end up being the only one she can trust.  John has a secret: work isn't the only thing that brought him to town.  No one in town wants this house to be saved, and some may even do anything to prevent it.

The Lord and the Wayward Lady by Louise Allen-- Harlequin Historical Novel

This is my favorite of all the books I have reviewed so far!  I love historical stories from Dr. Quinn and Little House on the Prairie to Jane Austen and Lousia May Alcott.  This book definately had a Lousia May Alcott feel to it and I found myself falling in love with the characters.  A poor girl, Nell Latham, makes hats for a living and is put into a sticky situation when a customer asks her to deliver a package.  When the package nearly scares the recipient to death, Nell becomes entwined in an elaborate scheme that has nothing to do with her...or so she thought.  All the while the son of the package's recipient believes she is the one behind the package and the threats implied, he cannot seem to resist her charm, and the impression that she is more than a poor milliner.  I could not put this book down and I hope to read more like it in the future!

The Christmas Stranger by Beth Cornelison --Silhouette Romantic Suspense Novel

This book is one of my favorites!  I have never rooted for a man so much in my life.  Holly Bancroft Cole is still trying to pick up the pieces after her husband is murdered.   She is a kindergarten teacher, does volunteer work, and is currently renovating the house she and her husband had purchased.  Along comes Matt Rankin, a nearly homeless man with a sad story and a kind heart to give Holly the help that she needs, and not just with renovating her house.  When Matt realizes the connection he shares with Holly, he fears that it will ruin everything; but after all, honesty is his policy.  You really have to read this book to feel the intensity of the story and see how murders are solved and loose ends tied.  An absolutely beautiful story.

Her Colorado Man by Cheryl St. John --Harlequin Historical Novel

I cannot tell you how much I enjoyed this book!  It took maybe three chapters to really get into it, but I shortly found myself unable to put it down! Mariah works in the family brewery and has a son who is about six years old and a husband who left for a while in search of gold...or so she told everyone.  She and her grandfather concocted a story about an imaginary husband in order to cover the actual circumstances surrounding her pregnancy.  To make the story seem more believable, they use a real man's name and address (unbeknown to the man) to send letter's to Mariah's son.  Once this man, Wesley Burrows finds out about the letters, be begins to long for the son he was supposedly writing and makes the choice to go to him....and his mother.  The events that unfold in this story and the secrets that are revealed make this book a complete page turner!  You will find yourself rooting for Wes, and wanting to shake Mariah until she comes to her senses! Definitely a must-read!

Gun-Shy Bride by B.J. Daniels-- Harlequin Intrigue Novel

This book got off to an interesting start, which is good because some romance novels spend a lot of time setting the scene and having something catch your interest right away is a big positive. Honestly, I became more interested in the mystery than I did by the romance, though I was still rooting for them! I was a bit worried at first because I haven't read many western books, but I ended up really enjoying it. I like the twists and turns and the few surprises at the ending. I kind of predicted the surprises, but dismissed them as I kept reading...so perhaps being right was the surprise? Ha. Either way, I really enjoyed this book.


I don't want to give away too many details, but I will give a quick run down of the plot: McCall Winchester is the Deputy Sheriff in Whitehorse and is called to check out a set of bones that were uncovered after a storm. It does not take her long to figure out who the bones belong to, but in order to find out what happened, she has to uncover many hidden secrets that the entire town, especially her family, is hiding....all while battling a man from her past and risking her life in the process.