Hello, and welcome back! Our weather here still isn't ideal, at least for me, but it's about to be, after the storm front rolls through later today. Then it'll cool down to where I can bear it again, at least for a few days. I might even get to do some gardening on my day off. In the meantime, I'm staying indoors, with the air conditioner on and my stack of books at hand.

This time out I have the latest from one of my faves, Loretta Chase: Your Scandalous Ways (Avon). James Cordier had thought his days of spying over and planned to go home to England to find himself a sweet, biddable heiress to wed. But he's off on one last mission for his country, and Francesca Bonnard may be the most difficult mission he's ever had. Or rather, resisting her will be his biggest challenge. Francesca encourages her 'bad girl' image, letting people believe what they will about her male acquaintances, that they're all her lovers, that she entertains more than one concurrently. But when James moves in to the house across the canal from hers in Venice, her life becomes much more complicated. James is after some letters in Francesca's keeping, but he's not the only one who wants the letters, and this other person doesn't care who's hurt in the hunt. James and Francesca are great fun. As one expects in a Chase story, this is filled with humor and crackling sexual tension, with an irresistible hero and a heroine who doesn't need protecting, but who is she to turn away her one true love when he's trying to be helpful? Chase is a master at creating stories filled with characters readers will love, and James is one of those heroes, like Rupert in Mr. Impossible, that is just about the ideal romance novel hero, sexy, funny, sensitive, and just plain believable. Readers can't help falling in love with him, right along with Francesca. This one is a definite keeper and has earned four and a half of Cupid's five arrows. I can't wait to reread this one.

Until next time, happy reading!