Hello, and welcome back. I hope you're all settling in to the new season with plenty of reading time. I'm working on some author interviews to share with all of you, but I won't tell you yet with which authors. One will be a holiday gift to all of you in December, and at least one other should be ready to go in the next couple weeks, and I'm very excited about all of them. I hope you'll enjoy reading them as much as I enjoyed doing them.

Now, on to the books.... First up is J. M. Jeffries' latest, Southern Comfort (Indigo). I've enjoyed stories in the past from J. M. Jeffries and this one only continues the tradition. Hardesty "Hardie" Arnaud is back in her tiny hometown after ending her military service, and facing a whole new set of problems as the town's new police chief. Her first week back, she's got to deal with the first murder in the parish in ten years, along with a mostly incompetent staff and enemies among the locals. Worse is when she discovers the identity of the victim and FBI agent Nick Brannigan shows up to take over the investigation. Hardie and Nick strike sparks off each other from their first meeting, but neither is willing to give up on this case. Great storytelling from the duo who write as J. M. Jeffries, and of Cupid's five arrows, it's earned four. My only gripe with the book has to do with things on the publisher's end--copyediting: typos and other assorted annoyances as I was reading. But kudos to Jeffries!

Virginia Henley recently changed publishers, moving from Dell to Signet, and this is her first title to be released by the new publisher, Ravished. Alexandra Sheffield's been unofficially engaged to Lord Christopher Hatton all her life, but it's his twin Nick that she's interested in. Nick's spent his life taking the blame for all the things his brother's done, and even some he hasn't, and while he doesn't mind, he does mind Kit's marrying Alex. I've loved Ms. Henley's books in the past, and, while enjoyable, this one doesn't go onto my "books I loved" list. Ms. Henley's been known for writing some of the steamiest romances on the market, but this one fell short in that area, at least in my opinion. I'm giving it three and a half arrows.

Finally we have The Adventurer (Highland Heroes) from Jaclyn Reding (Signet), with Calum Mackay and Isabella Drayton. Isabella's got something Calum wants, yet he can't quite bring himself to take the Mackay stone from the mysterious lady. Yet when he learns her secrets, he fears his desires will come to naught, for she is the daughter of a duke and her marriage to another is arranged. But Isabella's got her own ideas on marriage, and they may include a dark Scotsman. Enjoyable read, great Scottish setting (one of my faves, you know), and a dreamy hero. This one gets three and a half arrows as well.

Until next week, happy reading!