Heat Wave (Harlequin) has stories from Stephanie Bond, Leslie Kelly, and Heidi Betts that'll heat up your summer even more than it already is. Bond's 'Rex on the Beach' has p.i. Lucinda Bell trying to track down a missing groom, and his best man seems her best option. Rex McCormick can't believe the amazing woman he's just met, but something about her is just a little off. How was he to know she was using him? Kelly's 'Getting into Trouble' sets Allie Cavanaugh in the path of carnival hypnotist Damon Cole, who's not interested anymore in the things that are important to Allie, who finds that fact out a little too late in their relationship. Betts's 'Shaken and Stirred' features Abby Weaver on a vacation without the friend who was to join her, but with the company of sexy Marine Mike Mastriani instead. Nothing wrong with a little beach fling, right? This trio of stories is fun, light, and not too complicated, for your own vacation reading. It's earned three and a half of Cupid's five arrows.
Tag, You're It! (Berkley) by Penny McCall is next with the follow-up to her fabulous debut several months ago. This time, Alex Scott is shocked when a man is dumped out of a plane into her snowy valley. But is he a good guy or a bad guy? FBI agent Tag Donovan can't trust a total stranger with the details of his assignment, which makes it difficult for him to gain the stubborn, wary Alex's trust. But when her house is burned, and the entire small, crazy town nearby thinks they're on a treasure hunt, the fun really begins. She can't trust the sexy stranger, but resisting him is nearly as difficult. And when Tag figures out just why he's here, things get rather more complicated. This is a wonderful way to follow her last book, All Jacked Up. The characters are smart and witty, and the chemistry between them is crackling, making the happy ending well worth the wait. I can hardly wait now for her next book; hope it's not too long a wait! This one's earned four and a half arrows.
Until next time, happy reading!
