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| HOME | WESTERN | CRIME and MYSTERY | ROMANCE Author: A through M | N through Z | CHRISTIAN | SCI-FI | FANTASY | HORROR |
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| Bradford, Barbara Taylor | Love in Another Town |
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Publication Date |
1995 |
| Number of Pages | 226 |
| Geographical Setting | The northwestern highlands of Connecticut |
| Time Period | Contemporary |
| Plot Summary | Handsome Jake Cantrell, 28, gifted lighting expert and small businessman, longs for true love, marriage, and fatherhood. Though he's separated from his spiritless, drab wife, Amy, she's unwilling to grant him a divorce. Samantha Matthews persuades Jake to do the lighting for her little theater production of The Crucible. In the process, he meets Samantha's best friend, Maggie Sorrell, 43, an interior designer whose husband has recently left her for a younger woman and whose grown children have betrayed her. Although Maggie and Jake are smitten by love at first sight, Jake assumes Maggie must find him unsophisticated, while Maggie assumes Jake must consider her ancient. Although eventually their love blossoms passionately, when Amy is diagnosed with ovarian cancer, the kindhearted, honorable Jake commits himself to caring for his wife during her illness. Meanwhile, Maggie discovers she's pregnant. |
| Appeal | A contemporary "womanly" romance in the older woman/younger man subgenre. Focuses primarily on the two main characters. Some "glitz and glamor" overtones, with references to swanky hotels, Italian opera, antiques, the fine points of interior decorating, and detailed descriptions of everybody's clothing. A fast read with a happy ending. |
| Notes | Graphic sex. Adultery. Pregnancy out of wedlock. Lengthy description of a near-death experience. |
| Reviewer/Date | Barbera Bass, 7/10/00 |
| Brent, Madeleine (pen name) | Moonraker's Bride |
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Publication Date |
1973. Out of print as of 7/2000. |
| Number of Pages | 352 |
| Geographical Setting | China and England |
| Time Period | Late Victorian period (Boxer Rebellion) |
| Plot Summary | Lucy, a young English woman, has lived at a Christian mission in China her whole life. As the director of the mission is dying, Lucy attempts to steal some gold to buy food, and is caught. An Englishman in the next cell, facing execution the following morning, convinces Lucy to marry him so she can inherit his estate. Soon after, she travels for the first time to England, at the request of an English gentleman who is trying to find a family treasure based upon a riddle that is following Lucy around the globe. Lucy is caught between her loyalty to her dead husband and the kindness of two feuding families, while attempting to unlearn the lessons that life in China has taught her. |
| Appeal | Mystery/ suspense. Victorian sensibilities contrasted with rough life in China. First person point of view. Good characterizations of the mysterious young men and strange English families. |
| Notes | Chaste romance. |
| Reviewer/Date | Stephanie Deininger 6/28/2000 |
| Brown, Sandra | Sweet Anger |
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Publication Date |
1985 |
| Number of Pages | 298 |
| Geographical Setting | Denver, CO |
| Time Period | Contemporary |
| Plot Summary | Recently widowed news reporter Kari Stewart's life clashes with Hunter McKee, the D.A. who dragged her dead husband's name through the muddy waters of a political corruption scandal. Kari then blames Hunter for the stress that caused her miscarriage. As she takes time off to sort through her grieving, career adjustments, and mental health, Kari and Hunter fall in love. Just when the picture looks perfect, another woman in Hunter's life drives a wedge between the lovers. |
| Appeal | Formulaic romance between two attractive, young professionals with exciting careers. Fast paced story about finding love despite adversity. Soap opera-esque. |
| Notes | Several explicit descriptions of sex. |
| Reviewer/Date | Yvonne Ng 6/29/2000 |
| Cookson, Catherine | The Whip |
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Publication Date |
1983 |
| Number of Pages | 370 |
| Geographical Setting | Northern England countryside |
| Time Period | Victorian era |
| Plot Summary | After her parents die, 8 year-old Emma Molinera is sent to live with the maternal grandmother who she has never known. Leaving behind her father's world of the traveling circus, she takes with her his whips and knives, which she uses with skill. But because of this skill and her Spanish heritage, she is looked upon suspiciously by others. Still Emma grows into a spunky, independent and intelligent women who men find irresistible. Eventually she gains the love of a farmer's son, whom she agrees to marry him in order to better a bad situation, but not necessarily for love. |
| Appeal | Easy to be absorbed into the characters and plot; especially courageous Emma and her troubles. Historical story of the harshness of the times for the working class of Northern England. A periodic romance story. Told from two points of view: Emma and an older man who also falls in love with her. Amusing dialog. |
| Notes | Also published under the title The Spaniard's Gift. |
| Reviewer/Date | Susan Cook 06/27/00 |
| Delinsky, Barbara | A Woman's Place |
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Publication Date |
1997 |
| Number of Pages | 358 (Hardcover Ed.) |
| Geographical Setting | Boston, Massachusetts |
| Time Period | 1990's |
| Plot Summary | Claire Raphael is a woman who has it all - a loving husband, two beautiful children, and her own successful business. Then, in an instant, it's gone. Returning home from a business trip she is greeted at her door by an officer of the court, who serves her with divorce papers and informs her that she must vacate the premises. Her husband of fifteen years has claimed that she is an unfit mother and is asking for sole custody of the children. Claire finds herself being criticized for being a successful working mom and is driven to fight for custody of her children at any cost. The only people she can trust are her attorney, Carmen Niko, and long time family friend and business partner Brody Parth. During her separation from her husband, she learns to look critically at herself, her marriage, and finally of her relationship with Brody. |
| Appeal | A romance with a strong story line, might draw those who see romance as only "Harlequin Paperbacks." Well drawn characters, with a strong independent female protagonist. |
| Notes | Descriptive sex scene |
| Reviewer/Date | Sarah Comfort June 29, 2000 |
| du Maurier, Daphne | Rebecca |
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Publication Date |
1938 |
| Number of Pages | 357 |
| Geographical Setting | Manderley, a family mansion on the Cornwall coast in England. |
| Time Period | Present |
| Plot Summary | After a whirlwind romance and marriage to the wealthy Maxim de Winter, the heroine moves into her new husbands mansion Manderley. Though very much in love with her husband, the new Mrs. De Winter comes to find her newlywed happiness is overshadowed by the haunting specter of Maxims first wife Rebecca and the mysteries surrounding Manderley and Rebeccas death. |
| Appeal | Fast-paced, gripping, with an atmosphere of dark suspense. |
| Notes | Gothic setting. First person viewpoint. |
| Reviewer/Date | Ella Manesse 6/29/00 |
| Frank, J. Suzanne | Reflections in the Nile |
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Publication Date |
1997 |
| Number of Pages | 418 |
| Geographical Setting | Ancient Egypt |
| Time Period | During the reign of Hatsheput (1425 B.C.E.) |
| Series | Shadows On The Aegean by J. Suzanne Frank, Sunrise On The Mediterranean by J. Suzanne Frank |
| Plot Summary | A young American woman, named Chloe, has time traveled from the twentieth-century to Ancient Egypt where she meets the man of her dreams, an Egyptian healer named Cheftu, and witnesses the Biblical Exodus. |
| Appeal | Intriguing love story set in the richly described historical setting of Ancient Egypt. Good descriptions of Ancient Egyptian culture, history, and religious practices. |
| Notes | Acts of physical violence and sexual acts are described. Egyptian words and terms SPRINKLED throughout the text. A glossary is APPENDED. |
| Reviewer/Date | Pamela Chamberlain 6/28/00 |
| Gabaldon, Diana | Outlander |
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Publication Date |
1991 |
| Number of Pages | 627 |
| Geographical Setting | Scotland |
| Time Period | 1945 and 1743 |
| Series | Dragonfly in Amber; Voyager; and Drums of Autumn |
| Plot Summary | It is 1945. Claire Randall a former combat nurse during World War II, and her husband Frank are on a second honeymoon in Scotland. There they find an ancient circle of boulders which transports Claire back in time to 1743, where she meets a man who is her husband’s great, great…(6 times) grandfather. His name is Jonathan Randall, Esquire. He is an English military captain and he is to be feared. Using her nursing skills, Claire meets Jamie, whom, out of necessity, she weds. The marriage is to serve as protection from the awful Jonathan Randall. But, can anyone really be safe from Captain Jonathan Randall? Will Claire travel back to her own time and back to Frank or will she stay in this time with Jamie whom she has grown to love? |
| Appeal | Time travel, strong female character, romantic suspense, 1743 Scotland |
| Notes | Excessive violence. Spousal abuse. Strong sexual depictions. Torture scenes including a homosexual depiction. Graphic medical depictions. |
| Reviewer/Date | Joanne Gen 6/29/00 |
| Garwood, Julie | The Bride |
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Publication Date |
1989 |
| Number of Pages | 358 |
| Geographical Setting | The clan Kincaid's holdings in Scotland |
| Time Period | 1102 |
| Plot Summary | England's King Henry and Scotland's King Edgar have decreed that the powerful, dashing Scottish laird, Alec Kincaid, must wed an English woman. He chooses the violet-eyed, quick-tongued Jamie, youngest daughter of the unscrupulous Baron Jamison. After the wedding, Jamie is unwillingly carried away to Scottish lands and must begin the difficult tasks of earning the clan Kincaid's acceptance, while winning her arrogant husband's heart. As for Alec, his world is thrown into turmoil by this English bride-is it possible that he loves this fiery, stubborn, untameable woman? Further complicating matters, is an unknown figure lurking in the shadows with death on the mind and the striking new bride as the target. |
| Appeal | A quick read with witty repartee, vivid, bold descriptions, and thorough male and female character development. Strong-minded, lovable female character. Solid plot line punctuated with hot love scenes, humorous dialogue, and unforgettable tender moments. |
| Notes | Multiple explicit descriptions of sexual acts. |
| Reviewer/Date | Mary Pezzetti 6/23/00 |
| Garwood, Julie | Prince Charming |
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Publication Date |
1994 |
| Number of Pages | 387 |
| Geographical Setting | The story starts in London but almost immediately moves to the United States. Here the characters move from Boston to the Montana Territory. |
| Time Period | 1868 |
| Plot Summary | Lady Esther, who is on her deathbed, makes arrangements to protect her granddaughter Taylor's future. Lady Esther raised Taylor to be an absolute lady at all times. Uncle Andrew has provided Taylor with some other special experiences. All of this will help Taylor in the her new life in America. Lucas Ross is to be Taylor's protector as she travels to America where she is to collect a legacy left by her sister. But troubles arise when the legacy is stolen and sold. Taylor and Lucas work together to reclaim this and in the process, a loving relationship develops. |
| Appeal | Lots of flowing description. Multiple stories. Handsome, rugged, unattached man saves a woman from some of the inequities of life. Lady Taylor is gracious and kind and pleasant. Someone any reader would want the best for. |
| Notes | Some explicit sexual descriptions. Some violence. |
| Reviewer/Date | Chris Vander Weit - 6/28/00 |
| Hamilton, Laurell K. | Circus of the Damned |
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Publication Date |
1995 |
| Number of Pages | 329 |
| Geographical Setting | St. Louis, Missouri |
| Time Period | Parallel universe |
| Series | Anita Blake, Vampire Hunter |
| Plot Summary | A fast paced story that pits the indomitable Anita Blake, zombie raiser and occasional vampire hunter, against the creatures that walk the night. Renegade vampires have left a trail of corpses behind them and it's up to Anita to bring them to justice. While hunting vampires, raising zombies and battling mutant snakes, Anita must also fight her growing attraction to the Master Vampire of the City, the seductive Jean-Claude, who desires to make her his human servant. |
| Appeal | Fast paced action. Strong heroine. Intriguing mix of humor, adventure, horror, and romance. |
| Notes | Depicts graphic violence; the occult. |
| Reviewer/Date | Kara Nielsen 6/29/00 |
| Hannah, Kristin | Angel Falls |
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Publication Date |
2000 |
| Number of Pages | 274 |
| Geographical Setting | Last Bend, a small town in Northwest Washington state |
| Time Period | Late 1990's |
| Plot Summary | Mikaela Campbell's fall from a horse at her home, Angel Falls Ranch, places her in a coma, and her family in a state of painful suspense as they try to bring her back to consciousness. This event forces some painful discoveries upon her husband, Dr. Liam Campbell, her teenaged daughter, Jacey, her young son Bret, her mother, Rosa Elena Luna, and her ex-husband, movie star Julian True. They must face their fears and examine their lives to learn what loving truly means, what to keep, and what to let go. |
| Appeal | Character-centered; vivid description; realistic dialog; thought-provoking; empathy arousing. |
| Notes | Some profanity; use of some Spanish dialog. |
| Reviewer/Date | Patricia S. Harrison 6/29/00 |
| Holland, Cecelia | The Belt of Gold |
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Publication Date |
1984 |
| Number of Pages | 305 |
| Geographical Setting | Constantinople |
| Time Period | 9th Century AD |
| Plot Summary | Hagan the White is a exiled Frankish nobleman returning from a pilgrimage to the Holy Land to atone for his sins. Together with his brother, Rogerius, Hagan arrives in the fantastic city of Constantinople just in time to rescue the ravishing Theophano from the clutches of her enemies. Theophano, the servant of the extraordinary Empress Irene, finds herself irresistibly attracted to the roughly handsome Hagan, despite her initial appraisal of him as a bloodthirsty barbarian. Theophano and Hagan are quickly drawn into a deadly web of intrigue which threatens their blossoming love, as the Empress vies for power with the ruthless John Cerulis, who craves her throne for himself. |
| Appeal | Vivid recreation of an intriguing historical setting; strong and resourceful female characters in positions of wealth and power. |
| Notes | Graphic sex and violence. |
| Reviewer/Date | Kyle Samudio 6/29/00 |
| Johansen, Iris | The Face of Deception |
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Publication Date |
1998 |
| Number of Pages | 354 |
| Geographical Setting | East coast of the United States, Virginia |
| Time Period | Late twentieth century, contemporary |
| Series | Sequel: The Killing Game |
| Plot Summary | Eve Duncan, the leading Forensic Sculptor in the U.S., rebuilds faces from bare skull bones. John Logan, a rich businessman, hires her to identify a mysterious skull. She accepts his offer, but later when she realizes there may be criminal and political connections, she struggles to find out the truth. Eve and Logan become entangled romantically and find themselves in dangerous situations. She becomes the persuasive heroine, who remarkably is trying to overcome the loss of her own daughter who possibly was murdered by a serial killer. |
| Appeal | Romantic-Thriller. Suspense. Deception. New York Times best selling author . Female Forensic sculptor. Fast moving. A Heart-stopping read. |
| Notes | Some grisly scenes, plenty of dialogue |
| Reviewer/Date | Mónica López 6/29/00 |
| Klause, Annette Curtis | The Silver Kiss |
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Publication Date |
1990 |
| Number of Pages | 198 |
| Geographical Setting | United States - East Coast City |
| Time Period | Late 1980's |
| Plot Summary | Zoe
is a lonely young woman who faces the impending death of her
mother, her father's resultant depression and detachment, and the moving away of her only friend. As her world becomes filled with certain loss, Zoe meets the seductively beautiful young vampire Simon, who also understands loneliness and death. Despite their initial worries, both are drawn to each other through mutual attraction and empathy. Together, Zoe and Simon resolve to confront and overcome their darkest fears, be they the unavoidable changes life, and death, brings, or Simon's savagely dangerous younger brother, Christopher. |
| Appeal | Descriptive and sensuous blend of traditional romance and fantasy. Dark, suspenseful storyline. Well-developed characters, with sympathetic portrayal of youth and its hopes and frustrations. |
| Notes | Occasional violence, blood drinking |
| Reviewer/Date | Martin E. Delgado 6/28/00 |
| Lindsey, Johanna | Tender is the Storm |
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Publication Date |
1985 |
| Number of Pages | 250 |
| Geographical Setting | New York City and the Arizona Territory |
| Time Period | 1882 |
| Plot Summary | Sharisse Hammond is not in love with Joel, the man her father has picked for her to marry, but her sister, Stephanie, is. To escape watching her sister marry the man she loves Stephanie plans to run away as a mail order bride. Sharisse learns of her sister's plan and decides to take her place, not to marry the man, but just to stall until things are settled at home. When Sharisse arrives out west she finds that the prospective groom, roughbred rancher Lucas Holt, is completely different from what she expected. He plans to use his intended bride in his secret master plan to ruin his father's old enemy. Lucas has an untamed twin brother, Slade, who also pursues Sharisse. As she starts to fall in love with both twins, she begins to realize that she is not the only one being deceptive. |
| Appeal | Romance in the old west, opposite twins, mail order brides. |
| Notes | Detailed sex scene |
| Reviewer/Date | Kristina Wetherbee, 6/28/2000 |
| Lofts, Norah | Knight's Acre |
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Publication Date |
1975 |
| Number of Pages | 320 |
| Geographical Setting | England and Spain |
| Time Period | 1450's |
| Series | This is the first in a series. Subsequent titles include The Homecoming and The Lonely Furrow. |
| Plot Summary | Sir Godfrey Tallboys, a gallant but impoverished knight, enters a tournament to earn money to finish his half-built house. Unseated by a much younger knight, Godfrey returns home, depressed and destitute. Soon, however, the wealthy Count of Escalona offers him 500 pounds to enter a tourney in Spain. Hoping to recover his lost honor and money, Godfrey leaves his wife Sybilla to oversee the estate for six months. Once there, Godfrey and his fellow English knights discover that the Count has enlisted them in an attack on the neighboring Moorish state of Zagelah. By treachery the knights are killed and Godfrey taken prisoner, existing as a Moorish slave for six years. Sybilla, meanwhile, must raise her four children, manage the estate, and fend off suitors. Then, a chance encounter with the mysterious woman Tana offers Godfrey the opportunity for escape-or to fall into a cleverly set trap… |
| Appeal | A historical romance with a strong focus on the time. The relationship between Godfrey and Sybilla is evident in that both remain faithful to the marriage despite six years apart. |
| Notes | Only a few references to sex; one brief sex scene (without the "purple prose"). |
| Reviewer/Date | John McPike 6/28/2000 |
| Michaels, Barbara (aka Elizabeth Peters or Barbara Mertz) | Black Rainbow |
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Publication Date |
1982 |
| Number of Pages | 289 |
| Geographical Setting | Victorian England |
| Time Period | 1855-1857 |
| Plot Summary | Young Megan O’Neill becomes the governess for the Grayhaven Manor, which is inhabited by the mysterious and handsome Edmund Mandeville and his sensible, caring sister, Jane Mandeville. Megan is well-treated and respected; but amidst the light, she fails to see the darkness within Grayhaven, and her obsession for Edmund and fondness for Jane continues to grow. The arrogant and unethical Lady Georgina Astley and the superstitious people of Warwickshire village put Megan in danger, but Sam Freeman, a mill worker and union member, comes to her rescue. When she finally opens her eyes to the disturbing truth about Edmund, it is too late and the inevitable begins to unfold in the wonderfully unexpected conclusion. |
| Appeal | Romantic and suspenseful drama with conflict between duty and passion, good and evil. Written from the perspective of two strong-willed women of independent spirit. Recreation of the Victorian period with descriptions of rules, customs, and architecture of 19th century England society. |
| Reviewer/Date | Juliana Punt 6/29/00 |
| HOME | WESTERN | CRIME and MYSTERY | ROMANCE Author: A through M | N through Z | CHRISTIAN | SCI-FI | FANTASY | HORROR |
