First up this week is the latest contemporary from Christina Dodd, 
Close to You (Pocket Star), with Kate Montgomery discovering that, along with her new job, she's got a stalker. And a past she never knew. Her bodyguard, Teague Ramos, is definitely not the sort of man she should be interested in, but those hormones get in the way every time. Not having read the previous stories in the series, I felt a little at sea sometimes during the reading of this one. Teague is, however, the sort of dark, dangerous hero many readers long for on occasion, so it would be worth it to pick this one up just for him. On the other hand, the bad guy is no real secret, so this one is more romance than suspense. (Not that that's a bad thing, just that if you're looking for more suspense, you won't find it here.) I'm borrowing three of Cupid's five arrows for this one.
Next is Jillian Hunter's 
Seduction of an English Scoundrel (Ballantine Ivy). Lady Jane Welsham and her fiance have come up with the perfect plan to stop their unwanted wedding. Too bad the missing groom's cousin suddenly develops a conscience. Rogue Grayson Boscastle, Marquess of Sedgecroft, decides that while he and his kin hunt down the errant bridegroom, he shall keep company with the bride. This one was fun, though I did start to wish they'd just get on with it when Grayson comes up with another plan later in the story. Mostly sweet, with a few hints of steam here and there, historical fans should find this one easy going. It's also earned three arrows.
Connie Brockway is next, with 
My Surrender (Pocket). Charlotte Nash is determined to make something of her life, to make her father's sacrifice count for something. Surely he didn't have spying in mind, however. Andrew "Dand" Ross isn't too keen on the idea either, but it seems he has little choice. But when a plan goes awry, they have to come up with a new way to smoke out the bad guy, and, no matter what her heart says, Dand cannot be the man for her. This one has a bit more steam to it, but not quite as much as I was hoping for. I was a little disappointed by the too-neat way one of the threads was wrapped up at the end, but this one should provide a few good hours of reading pleasure for you. I'm giving it three and a half arrows.
Finally, we have Kresley Cole's new one, 
If You Dare (Pocket). Courtland MacCarrick's job as mercenary doesn't turn out quite as his 'boss' General Pascal had hoped when Court steals Annalia Llorente, the general's fiancee, carrying her toward his home in Scotland. But Anna is determined to save her brother, no matter what it costs her. Court is a gem, though I didn't love Anna nearly as much. I wanted to like this one a lot more than I did, but it just wasn't a keeper for me. I'm giving this one three arrows as well.
Until next time, happy reading!
