Hello, and welcome back. I hope you´re getting in some reading time during this long holiday weekend. Sneak away from the barbecue for a little while and do something for yourself.

How do you feel when a favorite author does something completely different? Say you´re a dyed-in-the-wool contemporary fan and your fave author suddenly has a new historical romance out. Do you buy it because you love her writing, or do you skip it because it´s not what you like to read? Trust me, authors don´t do things like this without a lot of thought, sometimes having to argue and plead with their editors to be permitted to stretch their wings, hoping that their loyal fans will be intrigued enough to read it.

This week, I have Katherine Sutcliffe´s debut contemporary romantic suspense. You all know her as a successful historical author, and I feel certain that she´s hoping all her historical fans will follow her into this new venture.
Darkling I Listen (Jove) features Hollywood bad boy Brandon Carlyle, in his small hometown in Texas, hoping to overcome his past and escape a stalker. Alyson James is a stranger in town, and when Brandon´s stalker seems to be closing in, can he trust Alyson with his life and heart? I´ll admit, the beginning was a little slow for me, but once the story got moving, I really liked this one. Brandon has just the right amount of strength and vulnerability, and Alyson is a great, strong heroine. And the suspense portion of the plot will have you guessing, and hoping things work out well for the lovers. I´m going to give this one three and a half of Cupid´s five arrows. I´m looking forward to more.

The second book I have to share with you this week is the new anthology
Knight's Vow (Jove), with stories from Patricia Potter, Glynnis Campbell, Lynn Kurland and Deborah Simmons. The first novella is from Lynn Kurland, "The Traveller." Much as I love time travels, unfortunately Ms. Kurland´s aren´t on my keeper list. My biggest problem is that the characters are able to go back and forth at will, provided they´re in the proper location. This time out, Juliana Nelson finds herself in medieval Scotland with William de Piaget, who has taken a vow to rescue any maidens in the greatest of distress.

The next story is "The Minstrel" by Patricia Potter, featuring Duncan, Marquis of Worthington, has made a promise to his dying mother to marry for love. Except he doesn´t believe in it. Lady Lynet doesn´t either, until she meets a minstrel who isn´t really very good at his profession.

The third story, "The Bachelor Knight" is from Deborah Simmons. Beren Brewer is called to fulfill an old vow, little expecting that he will be wed to the fair Guenivere St. Leger, the one woman her truly wanted but never thought to have.

And the final story in the anthology is "The Siege" by Glynnis Campbell, with Ryance, The Black Gryphon, and his betrothed, Hilaire, trapped beneath her father´s castle, where both of them learn the true meaning of love. Despite the first novella, I´m giving this anthology four arrows. These knights are wonderful, the kind dreams are made of, and I hope you´ll enjoy them, too.

Until next week, happy reading!