Hello, and welcome back! I've been reading October romances like a fiend the last few days, and have several waiting to share with you, and am nearly done with another. At this pace, October will be like September, where I run out of reading material before the month is over. That's not good. On the other hand, some of what I've been reading is quite good.

Shannon K. Butcher is back this month with No Escape (Grand Central Forever). Isabelle Carson has lost three childhood friends recently, to what the police have called suicide, but she doesn't believe that. None of them was in a situation that would push them over that edge. Which leads her to believe that someone is killing those close to her and that she might be next on the list. Grant Kent has known Isabelle since they were kids, and he'd do nearly anything for her, including try to find out who's trying to kill her, but he didn't expect the adult Isabelle to be so alluring. Worse, he never expected it would be so difficult to keep his hands to himself. Isabelle and Grant's childhood friendship still remains, but the adult attraction they share is irresistible, making heat rise off the pages as you read. But there's still someone trying to kill Isabelle, and even Grant, with all his military experience and friends as back-up if needed, might not be able to figure out who it is in time to save her life. Isabelle is no shrinking violet, and she knows what she wants, even as she knows it's unlikely she'll get it, at least not permanently. Grant's past makes it difficult for him to express his emotions openly, and he'd die rather than cause Isabelle any pain, which he foolishly believes his staying might do. The killer is closer than they imagined, and it might be too late when these two finally get their emotional act together. I liked this one very much, with the high stakes of discovering the murderer before he strikes again, and with the deep emotional connection between Isabelle and Grant. It's a definite keeper and has earned four of Cupid's five arrows.

Until next time, happy reading!