Hello, and welcome back! I hope you're all surviving the wild and crazy holiday season. I'm counting days and hours until it's all over and work settles down again, as the wild and crazy is wilder and crazier than I've ever seen it, and I'm wiped out. I don't think I'd mind so much if we'd get some snow to make it feel more like the winter holiday season, but it doesn't look like we will any time soon. I'm a bit disappointed with Mother Nature right now.

This time out, I have the latest from Starr Ambrose, Thieves Like Us (Pocket, received from publisher), one I've been waiting a long time to read. In this one, Janet Aims is on track to starting fresh after her divorce from her murderous ex, and getting rid of the jewelry he bought her is just one more step. Except that a necklace she's sold turns out to have been stolen, a few hundred years ago, and now people think she knows where the rest of the collection is, and they'll do anything to get it from her. Much as she hates to, the only person Janet can turn to is ex-jewel thief Rocky Hernandez, who's been quietly pursuing her for months. Sure, he's sexy, but she's not in the market for a new man just yet, even if his kisses do turn her bones to mush. But she doesn't have the resources that Rocky does if she wants to find out where her ex got the stolen jewelry, or to find out where he hid it. Rocky is so, so sexy. I've been a fan of Ms. Ambrose's books since her first, Lie to Me, as they're filled with great suspense, touches of humor and some of the hottest sexual tension around. Janet and Rocky can't do anything but fall in love as they try to solve the mystery of the stolen jewels, with Rocky so strong and smart, and, with his history, just enough of a bad boy to make any woman intrigued. Janet's no weakling, though, but she's not stupid enough to think she can take on professional thieves on her own, and if it means risking her heart again, well, there are far more dangerous things around. This was a terrific read, just the right thing to get my mind off some truly stressful work days, and I dare you not to fall in love with Rocky. This one's earned four and a half of Cupid's five arrows. I hope our wait for her next book is short!

Until next time, happy reading!