Wendy the Super Librarian‘s review of The Librarian’s Secret Scandal by Jennifer Morey
Romantic Suspense released by Silhouette Romantic Suspense 01 Sep 10

Is it any wonder why I had to read this book?  The obvious reason would be the librarian heroine, but damn Harlequin with their sneaky titles!  I had to find out what the heck her secret scandal was!  Lucky for my impatient self, the author clears up that mystery within the first chapter.

Lily Masterson left Honey Creek, Montana fifteen years ago and didn’t look back.  The former town bad girl, she gave everyone plenty to talk about.  But after a night of partying in Bozeman ends with her being abducted and raped, Lily seriously reevaluates her life.  She moves to California, gets her library degree, and has a daughter.  Now she’s back in Honey Creek, running the library, taking care of her ill father, raising her now teenage daughter, and trying to live down her reputation.  The last thing she wants is to give the town gossip-mongers more to talk about, but that she does when Sheriff Wes Colton comes around courtin’.

This book was an exercise in one step forward, two steps back.  I was so excited to get an actual reformed bad girl heroine.  Nothing fake or misunderstood about this gal!  Lily rebelled for a fairly common reason (uptight parents), which meant a lot of partying, a lot of wild hijinks and, brace yourself, affairs with married men.  And while she’s a changed woman, getting the assholes in town to see that is another matter entirely.  This is where things start to slide because, now that she’s “reformed,” Lily is determined to throw herself in the fires of martyrdom.  Nothing essentially wrong with that, given this is a common road tread by many a romance heroine, but forcing her daughter to board the sinking ship is much harder to abide.

Because Mommy is a “whore” – so too the apple must not fall far from the tree.  Poor May is bullied to within an inch of her life at school, and Lily’s great answer to this problem is “hold your head high.”  If there was a halfway decent reason to subject her daughter to this abuse, I couldn’t find it.  Everyone in town hates her guts (except for 3 people!) and her father, while nice to May, treats Lily like crap because of her past behavior.  I don’t care how sick the guy is or that you’re all that he has left, why subject your daughter to mountains of abuse to take care of a man who treats you like dirt?  Hire him a home health care nurse and stay in Northern California! (Cold-hearted, thy name is Wendy).

What saves this romance for me is the hero, who is so scrumptious that I want to take him home to meet my parents.  He’s a few years younger than Lily, is not thrown off by ridiculous small town gossip, and is just an all-around nice guy.  He’s persistent, charming, and fills the knight in shining armor role admirably.

The bulk of the suspense comes in the form of a man Wes’ brother was convicted of killing.  Then the “victim” turns up freshly murdered 15 years later while brother is sitting in a prison cell.  This mystery is tied into the rest of the books in this multi-author continuity series, and for that reason there is some series-itis here.  However the author does a good job of bringing the reader up to speed, so I never felt lost or confused.  There’s also some tacked on suspense regarding threats against Lily, which mostly worked for me, until the climax, which felt rushed and, frankly, a little too easy.  After some of the other risks the author took in the story, going the obvious route on that plot point was a little disappointing.

This was the ultimate mixed bag read for me.  As much as I liked the hero, and found the suspense of the continuity interesting, I had problems with the All Small Town Residents Are Jackasses conflict and the abuse the heroine willing forces her daughter to endure.  For that reason I can’t highly recommend this one, but if you’re sucked into the series?  This is an essential piece of the puzzle.

Grade: C-

Summary:

“People are going to talk about us.”

Fifteen years ago Lily Masterson was Honey Creek’s bad girl — until she fled with a terrible secret. She’s now a responsible librarian, but no one believes she’s changed — except handsome sheriff Wes Colton. And though she’s determined to keep her secret, she and the sheriff certainly give ‘em all something to talk about….

Former navy SEAL Sheriff Wes Colton is all about truth and justice. He’s convinced Lily got the short end of the stick. Gossipmongers be damned, she’s got that type of earthy beauty that keeps him up at night. When threats become more sinister, it’s the last straw — he won’t rest until she’s safe.

Read an excerpt.

Other books in this series:

Wendy the Super Librarian‘s review of The Christmas Stranger (The Bancroft Brides #1) by Beth Cornelison
Romantic suspense released by Silhouette Romance Suspense 01 Oct 09

I’ve never naturally gravitated towards Harlequin’s romantic suspense category lines, despite being a longtime mystery/suspense fan.  I suspect it’s because, as much as I love the category format, adhering to a shorter word count, delivering a satisfying romance, and one top of all that, a satisfying suspense plot is a really tall order.  It takes a particularly skilled writer to be able to pull it off.  For the most part Beth Cornelison does in this first book in her Bancroft Brides trilogy.  The suspense plot wasn’t exactly challenging, but thoughtful characters and a climactic finish swoop in to save the day.

A year ago Holly Bancroft Cole’s husband, Ryan, was murdered.  They found his body in an abandoned church, his wallet and shoes missing.  Given the questionable neighborhood, police suspect a vagrant of the crime, but there are precious few leads.  Which means 12 months down the road, the case is still unsolved.  Holly has filled the void with her teaching job and volunteering at a local community aid center.  That is where she meets down-on-his-luck Matt Rankin.  Matt is living in a shady motel, currently in between construction jobs, and has lost custody of his kids to his in-laws.  If anyone needs a break, it’s this guy.  Through a series of circumstances, Holly ends up hiring him to complete renovations on her farm house.  Work has stalled on it ever since her husband’s death, Matt needs the job, and she just wants to be finished with it all.  But what will happen when Holly discovers the many secrets that Matt is keeping from her?  Especially in light of the fact of their growing attraction?

Yes gentle readers, we have ourselves the ol’ Big Secret plot.  It works fairly well here, as the Big Secret is highly charged and very emotional.  However, it does rely heavily on coincidence.  The reader has to be willing to buy into the fact that Matt and Holly’s paths have crossed before – even if they don’t realize it right away.  Sort of like two ships passing in the night.  The author lays out the facts in a slow and concise manner, having Matt unfold his tragic past throughout the entire course of the story.  This is at times frustrating as he shares the truth with Holly in drips and drabs, instead of just laying all of his cards out on the table, and getting it over with – thereby causing turmoil later on in the story.  That being said, both Holly and Matt are very nice people, you want them to succeed, and glory be, even with reticence and holding back, they do talk to each other – making it easy to buy into their budding romance.

The suspense thread here is decent, but it’s fairly obvious early on who our bad guy is.  That said, the author does a fine job of leaving motive up in the air until it’s revealed during the final chapters, and this helped save the day.  It’s easy to get bored with a suspense thread if you unravel it early on, and in this case the author does the smart thing by holding back just enough to cultivate an exciting finish.

While The Christmas Stranger didn’t change my life, it was a fast, quick read that kept me entertained.  Holly and Matt are both very likeable people, and the suspense plot kept the story humming along at a good clip.  There’s also a nice bit of Christmas flavor to the story, that would make this one an ideal holiday read – with an added bit of excitement as Holly unravels the mystery of her husband’s death.  It’s a good, solid start to a new series, and future books are planned for Holly’s two sisters.

Grade: B-

Summary:

After her husband’s death, Holly Bancroft Cole knows Christmas won’t be the same this year. Still grieving, she decides to complete the renovations on her North Carolina farmhouse and hires a construction worker. Drawn to his piercing eyes and gentle manners, Holly can’t shake the feeling that secrets lie behind the handsome stranger’s warm smile.

Haunted by memories, Matt Rankin can’t remember the joy that simple pleasures bring until he meets Holly. When a harrowing attempt is made on her life, Matt realizes he can’t live without this beautiful angel. Now he must protect the woman he loves at all costs—even if it means risking his own life.

Read an excerpt.

Wendy the Super Librarian‘s review of Silent Watch by Elle Kennedy
Romantic suspense released by Silhouette Romantic Suspense 01 Aug 2009

Romantic suspense is an extremely tricky genre for an author to write.  You have to juggle both romance and suspense, devote equal time to both plot lines, and keep the reader satisfied on both counts.  Couple that with writing the sub genre in the shorter category romance format?  Yeah, it can be a recipe for disaster.  But oh, when an author gets it right?  It’s a joy and wonder to behold.  Unfortunately while there were some bright moments in Elle Kennedy’s first Silhouette Romantic Suspense, the reliance on too many well-worn romantic suspense cliches dampened my enjoyment.

Swimsuit model Samantha Dawson barely survived her encounter with the serial killer, The Rose Killer.  For her protection, and hoping it will break the case wide open, the FBI lets everyone believe she’s dead and spirit her to a safe house out in the middle of nowhere.  Then another woman is attacked, and she miraculously also survives, but she’s so traumatized she’s refusing to spill her guts to the authorities.  One of the agents working the case, Blake Corwin, is particularly haunted by the Rose Killer case, and is desperate for any type of lead.  His brilliant idea?  Show up on Sam’s doorstep and try to convince her to talk to the latest victim.  Imagine his surprise when Sam opens up the front door and greets him with a shotgun.

My enjoyment of this story was marred by too many contrivances that readers have seen one too many times in other romantic suspense stories.  We have the damaged FBI agent who is haunted by the death of the woman he loved, and failed to protect.  We have the gorgeous heroine in peril who is still traumatized by her encounter with a serial killer, but then turns around and does stupid crap that puts her in danger.  There are moments in the story where the romance does shine, and that’s when Blake and Sam are talking.  Just talking to each other about their lives pre-Rose Killer – Sam’s work as a model, their respective childhoods, etc.

Unfortunately those nice moments are broken up by plot turns that had me scoffing.  Blake is apparently determined and obsessed with catching the Rose Killer, but other than playing bodyguard to Sam, the reader never actually sees him doing any investigative FBI-type work.  Then, with her cover blown sky high, and with a serial killer on the loose, Sam keeps wanting to leave Blake’s house to go “outside.”  We even have a chapter where the two go outside to frolic in some freshly fallen snow.

No, I’m not making this up.

I did like that Sam called Blake on quite a bit of his “failed to protect the woman I loved, and I shall never love again” bullshit – but I was mightily annoyed that a pivotal emotional scene involving a secondary character later in the story is marred by Sam and Blake ripping each others’ clothes off and boinking like bunnies.  In the end, there just wasn’t enough here to keep me terribly engaged in the story.  Some of the relationship stuff was nice, but too often this story felt like “been there, done that.”

Grade: C-

Summary:

Blake was tracking the Rose Killer in order to forget the woman he couldn’t save. Now there was a new lead: a survivor. Convincing Samantha “Sam” Dawson to help was only half the battle. Resisting the allure of the fiery beauty was downright impossible.

Sam wanted nothing to do with men. With the city. With the fame of her former life as a model. Six months after the heinous attack, she still bore the killer’s trademark scar. But if she was as tough as she thought, she’d have to face her fears to catch a killer—and dare to love again.

Read an excerpt.

Thank you for stopping by Duck Chat today. Welcome!

Author Karen Whiddon has been keeping her fans happy the last ten plus years with a variety of romance genres from paranormal to contemporary to romantic suspense. Her first book, Desert Fire, was published in 1997 and now with more than twenty books to her credit, she’s celebrating her latest release, Wild Wolf, this month.

Growing up near the Catskill Mountains of New York and the Rocky Mountains of Colorado, Karen now lives in North Texas with her husband of twenty-two years. They have a daughter who is a kindergarten teacher. Some of her loves include animals, going on cruises and fishing trips, traveling to Las Vegas and just about anywhere else, and she just loves spending time with her husband.

Karen has graciously offered to give away two copies of the Midnight Cravings anthology in which her novella Mate of the Wolf is featured. So be sure to leave a meaningful comment or question for Karen to be in the running.  Now let’s chat!

DUCK CHAT: Karen, you’ve got a terrific backlist, but let’s start with your Silhouette Nocturne series, The Pack. First would you tell how the idea for the series came about?

KAREN WHIDDON: I was working on a proposal and rewriting and it popped into my head that the heroine was a shape-shifter. I wasn’t sure the book would even sell and certainly didn’t anticipate doing a series, but my agent submitted it to Leslie Wainger of Silhouette and she ended up offering for it and a second, blind book.

DC: There’s nine books in the series so far. Is it possible to tell how they’re related and give a little insight as to the series as a whole?

KW: The series centers on the idea that a sub-society (The Pack) of shape-shifters exists in tandem with our current human society. I usually set them either in The Catskills in New York, North Texas, or Boulder, Colorado (all places I’ve lived), though I have set one on Vancouver Island, BC, Canada. Occasionally a story will have a reappearance of characters from one of the previous books, and sometimes the hero or heroine of a book will have been a secondary character in a previous book, but other than that, each book is basically stand-alone. I continually introduce new elements into the stories, such as vampires. They’re a lot of fun.
DC: If you could retire any question and never, ever have it asked again, what would it be? Feel free to answer it.

KW: A lot of people seem to think that I’m very odd, since I write paranormal stories. Believe me, I’m an ordinary person who also happens to be a writer. I’m a wife, mother, and insurance agent too. I don’t attend any weird, masked rituals except maybe in my dreams!

DC: I’ve heard writers often say their stories take them in surprising directions, or dialogue flows from some unknown place. Is it the same with you? Do your characters surprise you sometimes?

KW: Yes, my characters always surprise me. Though I’m required to submit a synopsis to my editor, even though they might have contracted for a “blind” book, I don’t like to write to outline. For me, the fun of writing is discovering what will happen next. It has to be new to me in order for me to write it fresh. Often I’ll be doing some minor household chore, like dusting or vacuuming, and I’ll realize something about one of the characters in whatever book I’m working on. Or a scene will occur to me and I’ll have to dash off and write it down.

DC: Do you ever argue with your characters while you’re writing? Who usually wins?

KW: No, I can’t say I’ve every really argued with them. Sometimes I might try to make them do something they wouldn’t really do and when the scene isn’t working, or I become stuck, that’s their gentle way of pointing this out to me.

DC: Your latest release is a book in The Pack series, Wild Wolf, which is Simon and Raven’s story. Can you give us a look into this book and their relationship?

KW: I began wondering about the possibility of a shape-shifter gone feral when I wrote Secrets of the Wolf. Several books later, I realized I had to write Raven’s story. She’s a Feral Shifter, or one who prefers to live as a wolf. This is because of a horrible, abusive past. Then I started thinking about the Pack Society and how true Ferals could endanger them, so I created the Society of Protectors. Their job is to assess and rehabilitate Ferals. They also, like trained military assassins, exterminate Ferals when necessary. Simon, the hero, is a Protector who has been sent to assess Raven.

Here’s a special treat – an excerpt from Wild Wolf:

“Another Feral shifter.” Hanging up the phone, Simon Caldwell dragged his hand across his face and tried to smile at his fellow Protector and friend, Anton Beckham, known as Beck. “There’s been a murder—a professor up at CU, in Boulder. They think a Feral killed him, so it’s another search and destroy. The Feral’s been located—living up on a nearby mountain. Your assignment, this time.” There was more—much more, but Beck would receive that info in the case file.

Beck frowned. “Doesn’t the Council realize how burned out I am? Hellhounds, I had to eliminate my last three.”

“Let me talk to Ross.” Simon should have seen this coming. Burnout. All the telltale signs were there. “I’ll take the job. You need a break.”

“You’ve killed your last seven,” Beck pointed out. “If anyone should have burnout, it’s you.”

“I don’t get burnout.”

“Right,” Beck said, grimacing. “You’re the Terminator.”

Grinning, Simon shrugged and poured himself another cup of coffee. Returning to his seat at the polished steel table, he took a long drink. “Unlike you, I don’t let emotions get in the way of what I have to do.”

“Emotions have nothing to do with it. One of those last three Ferals could have been rehabilitated. I know it.”

“You knew it, huh? When did you realize you might be wrong? When he attacked you and you nearly lost your arm?”

“The Council wouldn’t give me enough time,” Beck insisted. “Come on, man. Show a little compassion.”

Simon said nothing, knowing any further argument would be pointless. Beck knew The Protector’s Creed as well as he did. Drumming his fingers on the metal table that had always seemed more appropriate in a laboratory than a kitchen, he sipped his coffee and stared at nothing.

“You really don’t give a wolf’s ass, do you?” Beck sounded faintly accusatory.

“Of course I do. But let’s look at the stats.” Simon took a long drink from his chipped mug. “Out of the last forty-seven Ferals encountered in the past year, only six were able to be saved.”

“Grim statistics, true. But you know as well as I do that some of the Protectors are trigger-happy, particularly the European and Middle Eastern contingent.”

“First threatening move, you shoot.” Simon hated pointing out the obvious. As soon as his friend left the room, he was going to call in a recommendation that Beck be sent on enforced medical leave. An uncertain Protector was a dead Protector. He didn’t want that to happen to Beck.

“You have to give them more of a chance.”

When Simon didn’t comment, Beck pushed himself away from the table.

“You know what your problem is, Caldwell?”

“I’m sure you’re going to tell me.” Simon couldn’t keep the weariness from his voice. “Let me take a wild guess. I’m too hard. Unfeeling. Too old.”

“Nope,” Beck said, surprising him. “You’re not too old. You’re only thirty-four, a year older than me. I can tell you think I shouldn’t take this assignment, because you’re worried I’ll fail. But you’ve got a worse problem than I do. I think you identify too closely with the Ferals. ‘Grass is greener’ type of thing. That’s why you terminate them so quickly. Because they scare you.”

Simon snorted. “You’re wrong.”

“Maybe I am.” Beck sounded tired. “But honestly, Simon. Sometimes you seem dangerously close to Feral yourself.”

“The end result is all that matters.” Eyes narrowed, Simon slammed his mug on the drainboard. “I’ll ignore your insult. This time. Remember, I’m the one the Council always calls to clean up the mess guys like you make.”

Beck sighed, head in hands. “Sorry.”

“I’m going to take this case,” Simon told him. “Not only because you need a break, but because this seems particularly intriguing. The murdered professor is rumored to have been keeping two shifters captive for years. One of them is the Feral.”

“How’d we locate this one?”

Simon knew his grin looked savage. “How do we always? Rumors of a werewolf, sightings. Thefts, appearances. Humans talk. Then finally, a shifter reports to their local council.”

“What about the other Feral, the second one?”

“The Society hasn’t located her yet. She’s either very careful, or very lucky.”

“Her?” Beck looked even more troubled now.

Simon nodded. “Two females. One—or both of them—is likely the killer.”

“Kept captive? Hounds know, they had reason.”

“There you go again.” Shaking his head, Simon didn’t bother to hide his disgust. “I’m taking this case.”

“Go ahead.” Beck didn’t argue. Not about that. “But you know what? You’re cold. Hard. I think it’s time the Council should reconsider their training methods. Like taking us from our parents before we even start school.” He didn’t bother to hide the bitterness in his voice. “Most of us can’t even remember our birth family. There’s no reason.”

“First off, they don’t take us. We’re given. You know that. When we exhibit skills beyond those of others our age. Our parents are honored to send us. You know that.”

“Maybe.” Beck dropped his head. “But I still think we go to training too young.”

“Do you? Years of training hones our skills, inspires loyalty. In the end, none of that matters.” Simon crossed his arms, weary of the same old argument. “We’re born to be what we’re born to be. Forgetting that is what gets you in trouble.”

Pushing himself up, Beck flipped him the bird before dropping his cup in the sink. “I’m going upstairs. Do you want to make the call, or shall I?”

“I’ll do it.”

As soon as the other man left the room, Simon picked up the phone and dialed Ross, their unit commander. No way was he letting Beck go on this assignment. Until he got his head together, Beck was a disaster waiting to happen.

Blowing snow and biting wind made Raven shiver, despite the thick pelt gifted to her by the Old One when she died. Raven had cried when the old wolf went still, lifting her human face to howl into the night, exactly like her wolf-family did. The Old One had passed last winter, a season marked by death amid swirls of snow, ice and bitter, bitter cold.

She couldn’t stay wolf always, and in her human shape Raven hated the cold. The bone-numbing chill was the one thing that tempted her to rejoin the human world. When she became wolf, she felt warm enough. Human was another story. No matter how many layers of stolen clothes she wore, she couldn’t banish the cold from her skin.

After last winter, she’d nearly packed it in and given up. Only her pack of wild wolves had kept her in the cave, shivering when she was human, gritting her teeth and counting the hours until she could become wolf once more.

When spring had finally arrived, the pack had rejoiced. In summer and fall, every day had been a celebration of life, of living.

Until now. This day, winter started again. Early.

Shivering, she cursed her human form, hating the weakness of her olfactory senses, so sharp when she was wolf. Yet even as human, she sensed something was wrong, something more than the icy wind blowing over the mountains, more than the promise of snow in the air.

Beside her, Shadow whimpered.

“You sense it, too.” Absently, she stroked the thick pelt of the wolf at her side. Her pack knew her scent, whether human or like them, and one or two stayed with her always. As protection and for company.

Two more heavy-coated wolves glided closer. The animals had started growing their winter coats weeks ago, their internal clock telling them the time had come. As human, Raven had noted the change and stepped up her gathering and storing, remembering the long winter the prior year. This year she’d vowed none of her pack would starve.

Despite her preparations, she still felt unsettled. Something was definitely not right.

Later, she’d change to her wolf-self and scout out the area, but now she needed to gather more wood. She thought she’d beefed up her food rations—nuts, berries, whatever she could find—enough. Years ago, in her human time, she’d learned to cure meat, but now she had no way to obtain the salt to make the brine. Yet her pack, always generous with their kills, had not protested when she’d taken choice cuts of meat to try and freeze them, burying them in the crevice areas where her cave dipped deep into the earth.

She wanted to be ready. Yet she worried that despite her hurried preparations, winter had arrived too quickly. She needed human supplies—salt and matches, blankets and a newer thermal sleeping bag to replace the tattered one she’d stolen. A fire would be essential if she wanted to survive the subzero temperatures this high in the mountains. Even her pack liked the warmth, though she needed it. Unlike her furry pack, she couldn’t keep her wolf-form with its thick pelt indefinitely. Eventually, she went back to the form she’d been born in, which pained her.

In the summer, when the hikers and campers flooded the mountain, she’d taken what she could, trying her best not to inconvenience anyone. But now, with the icy north wind howling over the mountains, humans no longer came to the mountain. There’d be no choice for it—she’d have to make a quick trip down into civilization to steal what she needed, fast. As soon as the storm passed, she’d do so.

A movement on the horizon caught her attention. The animal beside her growled low in her throat. The other wolves moved up to flank her, circling her with their silent protection.

Raven stared—uncertain whether what she saw was real. If not a vision, she had a problem. Despite the blizzard, a human climbed the mountain, heading directly toward them. The furious wind and blowing snow had carried away his scent and he’d gotten way too close to her pack’s sanctuary.

Of course, he might be lost. A lost human and a blizzard usually equaled death, unless she led him to safety. She preferred to do the latter. Two winters ago another man had died on her mountain. The search teams had nearly found her cave and her pack before locating his body.

With the human here, she’d be better off as wolf.

She dropped low to the ground and stripped off her clothes. Then, muttering her usual prayer, began the change from human to wolf. Over time, she’d learned to shape-shift in seconds. Now she’d track the stranger…

DC: What is sure to distract you from sitting down and working/writing?

KW: Oh my gosh, the internet. That, and Spider Solitare! Recently I’ve taken to handwriting in a lined notebook with a nice pen, then transferring to computer. That seems to help remove the distractions and free up my creativity.

DC: The Pack started out as Silhouette Intimate Moments and now they’re being published as Nocturnes. Has this made a difference in the way you write the stories?

KW: The only real difference might be that I am able to focus more on the impact the paranormal aspect has on the relationship. But writing for IM, I also had no real restrictions, as long as the love relationship was center stage. Everything else revolves around that.

DC: How do you feel your male or female characters have evolved over your career? Do you think you write them differently now than you did when you started?

KW: Probably. I think my characters now are much more multi-faceted than they were when I wrote my first book back in 1997 for Kensington Precious Gems.

DC: You have several books with Magic in the title, Shadow Magic, Soul Magic, and Missing Magic, just to name a few. Do these books make up a series or are they all unrelated? Where did the idea come from for the books?

KW: The Magic books were all Fae Paranormals published by Dorchester for their Lovespell line. Most of them, with the exception of Lone Star Magic and Missing Magic, were historical paranormals and like my Pack stories, revolved around a loose premise of a society. In those stories it’s the Fae.

As far as the idea for those, I’d written five short contemporary romances for Kensington and wanted to do something different. So in 2001 I wrote a book for myself with a time traveling heroine and a half Fae, half human, Prince. I sent it to Chris Keeslar at Dorchester, who bought it. The book did very well and was reprinted in 2007. All of those Magic books feature a Fae character, usually the hero (except Shadow Magic, where it was the heroine).

DC: Is there a genre you haven’t tackled but would like to try?

KW: Hmmm. I’ve done contemporary, historical, paranormal, and suspense. I don’t know – maybe erotica?

DC: What advice would you give to your younger self?

KW: Patience is a much underrated virtue. I wanted to be a writer so badly that I’d often send material off without proofing it or re-editing it.

DC: If you were a book, what would your blurb be?

KW: Wow, interesting question. As I grow older, I get more comfortable in my own skin. Yet I love to explore new areas (as in my recent foray into the world of physical fitness). Since more story isn’t yet completely written, I’d have to put a big question mark.

DC: What would be your “voice’s” tagline?

KW: I’ve been told I have a “strong” voice, but am not quite sure what that means. I don’t like to write overly florid description or meandering prose, but like to cut to the chase.

DC: If you had never become an author, what do you think you would be doing right now?

KW: LOL, my other job is running a commercial insurance agency. But, when I was young, I had some talent at art and my high school art teacher recommended me for a scholarship at an art school. I also love working with animals and showed horses and obedience dogs in the past. No matter what, I’d have to have some form of artistic outlet.

DC: What’s on the horizon for Karen Whiddon?

KW: I just turned in another Pack story and am working on the next book in The Cordasic Legacy for Silhouette Romantic Suspense. I’m contracted for two more Pack books after that and another SRS. Beyond that, time will tell. I’d like to do another single title, like my Magic books, but more of a contemporary romance.

Lightning Round:

- dark or milk chocolate?    – Definitely dark.
- smooth or chunky peanut butter?    -  Smooth
- heels or flats?    -  Both. I love me some high heels, but spend most of my time in flats.
- coffee or tea?    – Again both. I drink coffee every morning and tea every afternoon.
- summer or winter?    – Winter. I love snow and Christmas and bundling up with a nice fire in the fireplace and some hot cocoa. Hmmmm.
- mountains or beach?    – Mountains. I grew up in the Catskills and the Rockies and two of my other favorite places on earth are Alaska and British Columbia.
- mustard or mayonnaise?    -  Both. Depends on what kind of meat.
- flowers or candy?    – Flowers.
- pockets or purse?    – Oh, purse. I have quite a collection of purses.
- Pepsi or Coke?    – Diet Coke.
- ebook or print?    -  Print. I love the feel of paper and have a huge library. Not to say that I won’t even break down and get a Kindle/

Just for some extra fun:

1. What is your favorite word?    – Sleep.
2. What is your least favorite word?    – Deadline
3. What turns you on creatively, spiritually or emotionally?    – Beautiful nature. Forest, lake, mountains, beach.
4. What turns you off creatively, spiritually or emotionally?     – Loud noises – TV or voices.
5. What sound or noise do you love?    – Cranes over the lake. Eagles over the ocean. Crows.
6. What sound or noise do you hate?    – Loud TV is the worst for me.
7. What is your favorite curse word?    – I can’t say it here
8. What profession other than your own would you like to attempt?    -  Artist
9. What profession would you not like to do?    -  Accountant
10. If Heaven exists, what would you like to hear God say when you arrive at the Pearly Gates?  -”Welcome. Let me show you the Hall of Records.”

DC: Karen, thank you so much for spending the day chatting with us!

Wendy the Super Librarian‘s review of The Heiress’s Two-Week Affair by Marie Ferrarella
Romantic suspense released by Silhouette Romantic Suspense 1 Apr 09

Romantic suspense is a tricky genre to write in because the author has to satisfy both camps of readers. The suspense has to be suspenseful, the romance has to be romantic, and both of them have to be convincing. Then try to do that in a shorter category format, and it’s a pretty tall order to fill. This first book in the multi-author Love In 60 Seconds series also has the added task of setting the whole wheel in motion. While the author does an amiable job juggling it all, I still found the experience a bit of a mixed bag.

Natalie Rothchild is from a notorious Las Vegas family, but for the last several years has shunned the lifestyle and opulence for a quieter (if you can believe it!) life as a homicide detective for the LVPD . Her estranged twin sister, Candace, had other ideas. Think Paris Hilton, only about 1000 times more obnoxious and evil. So when Candace winds up murdered, there are a long list of possibilities. Determined to nab her sister’s killer, Natalie knows that she has to tread very carefully. Not only because the department has put her on bereavement leave, but also because her father is babbling about a cursed diamond ring that Candace was seen wearing the night she was murdered. A diamond ring that is now missing in action.

As if dealing with her sister’s murder isn’t enough, Natalie has come face-to-face with a man who broke her heart eight years ago. Matt Schaffer was desperately in love with Natalie, but between his family’s underworld ties, and the fact that there is no love lost between the Schaffer and Rothchild clans, he left her instead. Mr. Compassion did this by sneaking off in the night for L.A. with nothing but a Dear Natalie note left on his pillow. What a guy! Needless to say, Natalie is not prepared to deal with him, but she must. Matt is the head of security at the casino where Candace was seen before her murder. He was also one of the last people to see her sister alive.

The suspense angle centering around the missing diamond ring and Candace’s murder is very engaging and keeps the pages turning. I also loved the “soapy” nature of this plot. A “cursed” diamond ring, two very dysfunctional families, and years of resentment that is anything but water under the bridge. I could easily see myself buying all four books in this series, tossing them in my beach bag, and reading them back-to-back while soaking up sun, sand and surf.

Unfortunately, as interesting as I found the suspense angle, the romance mostly didn’t work for me. I really liked Natalie, who has lived her life in the shadow of an extremely dysfunctional family, but is determined to make something of herself. She’s the one grounded person surrounded by a sea of loony toons . It’s amazing she didn’t haul off and smack every single one of the secondary characters. Matt, on the other hand, comes off as a sanctimonious prick. He’s one of those “sacrificing” romance heroes, who instead of treating the heroine like an adult, leaves her for “her own good.” Oh, and doesn’t bother explaining to her “why” it’s for her own good. It’s been eight years. Eight years of not knowing, of not having any answers, and he continues to give her the same “it was because I loved you so much” claptrap for the first half of this story. I couldn’t help but think she should have asked a patrolmen for his night stick so she could beat Matt to death. Maybe not quite as satisfying as hot sex, but after eight years I figure the girl is justified.

It’s also problematic that this story is left with some loose ends. While the romance runs it’s natural course, the small matter of the bad guy and the missing diamond ring are still very much up in the air. Most definitely fodder for the next three books in this series, although still annoying that the reader doesn’t get at least some closure in book one. Still, it’s certainly an engaging enough read for those looking to get hooked into a soap-style series for their summer vacation.

Grade: C+

Summary:
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Shell-shocked detective Natalie Rothchild wasn’t sure what stung more—knowing that her twin had paid dearly for flaunting their fortune at a Las Vegas hot spot—or prying information from the man who went AWOL after promising her forever.
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In between lame excuses and darkly possessive glances, casino security expert Matt Schaffer revealed how the bejeweled tabloid queen sashayed down the red carpet before she died. Yet he couldn’t say whether Natalie was dealing with a crime of passion or a family foe on a wild rampage.
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Would the two ex-lovers partner up to solve this horrific crime—or would they give the sizzling heat of Sin City a run for its money?
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Read an excerpt.

Other books in this series:

As mentioned in the January 2009 Scoop column, the website celebrating Harlequin’s 60th birthday went live yesterday!  And to celebrate, Harlequin is offering sixteen titles for free!  Books can be downloaded in pdf, epub, lit or ereader.  And though it doesn’t seem o be up yet, soon the books will be available for the iPhone through Stanza.

The titles that can be downloaded are:

Once a Cowboy by Linda Warren (Harlequin American Romance)

Slow Hands by Leslie Kelly (Harlequin Blaze)             

His Lady Mistress by Elizabeth Rolls (Harlequin Historical)

Crime Scene at Cardwell Ranch by B.J. Daniels (Harlequin Intrigue)  

Price of Passion by Susan Napier (Harlequin Presents)        

The Bride’s Baby by Liz Fielding   (Harlequin Romance) 

Snowbound by Janice Kay Johnson (Harlequin Superromance)

Baby Bonanza by Maureen Child (Silhouette Desire)  

Kiss Me Deadly by Michele Hauf (Silhouette Nocturne)

Stranded with a Spy by Merline Lovelace (Silhouette Romantic Suspense)

Dancing in the Moonlight by Raeanne Thayne (Silhouette Special Edition)

A Very Special Delivery by Linda Goodnight (LoveL Inspired)

Homespun Bride by Jillian Hart (Love Inspired Historical)

Hide in Plain Sight by Marta Perry (Love Inspired Suspense)

Irresistible Forces by Brenda Jackson (Kimani Romance)

Speed Dating by Nancy Warren (Nascar)

So what are you waiting for? Go! This is a great opportunity for Harlequin newbies to try it out, or to try a line you wouldn’t normally read.