The Negotiator - romance

Author: Dee Henderson

Title: The Negotiator    

Publication Date: 2000, 2001

Number of Pages: 296 (319 with chapters from other titles)

Part of a Series: yes, O’Malley Series Book 1, 6 books in series and 1 prequel

Subject Heading(s):

• Christian fiction
• Government investigators-fiction
• Hostage negotiators-fiction
• Romantic Suspense fiction

Geographical Setting/ Time Period: Modern day Chicago, Illinois

Main Character(s):

• Kate O’Malley-calm hostage negotiator
• Dave Richman- FBI special agent

Plot Summary: Kate O’Malley is called in to handle a hostage negotiation at a bank where Dave Richman happened to be a customer at the time of the hostage taking. After the crisis is averted Kate and Dave are both part of the investigation. Kate begins receiving threatening messages on her answering machine and Dave becomes protective. An airplane is blown up and the perpetrator called in a warning ahead of the explosion which mentions Kate’s name. Kate has to relive a troubled childhood and work through some issues in order to find the culprit. The family she created in the orphanage rallies around her as well as her new friend Dave and her co-workers. She explores her feelings towards God and Dave throughout as well as new developments in her adopted family.

Appeal: Quick paced, lots of action, realistic, family ties, Christian redemption, strong characters, soul searching

Brief quote: “Kate flexed her fingers, forced to bury all her emotions into that one gesture. She would give her next paycheck to be able to go outside for about ten minutes and pound something. She not only had a cop in her midst, she had a would-be hero who wanted to give her backseat advice!” (pg. 20)

Prizes or Awards: none

Similar Works:

• Word of Honor by Terri Blackstock Christian, romantic suspense
• Sinner’s Song by, Nancy Mehl Christian, fast paced, suspense

Reviewer’s Name: Erin Bedford

 

 

Adapted from Saricks, Joyce G. and Nancy Brown. Readers= Advisory Service in the Public Library 2^nd.  Chicago: ALA, 1997.

The Angel - Romance

Author: Carla Neggers

Title: The Angel

Publication Date: 2008

Number of Pages: 345

Part of a Series: Yes. Book two of the BPD-FBI (Boston Police Dept.- Federal Bureau of

Investigation) series. Book one is The Widow (2006).

Subject Heading(s):

• Angels
• Celtic legends
• Folklorists
• Good and evil
• Interpersonal attraction
• Men/women relations
• Missing persons
• Protectiveness in men
• Search-and-rescue ops
• Secrets
• Statues
• Truth
• Violence
• Women illustrators

Geographical Setting/Time Period: Boston, MA and Ireland/Present day

Main Character(s): 

• Keira Sullivan- the artistic, independent, beautiful, and slightly eccentric heroine.
• Simon Cahill- the no-nonsense, quick-thinking strongman with a mysterious past and a disarming charm.
• Bob O’Reilly- Keira’s uncle; the cynical veteran cop who is struggling with the trauma of his past while trying to protect his family now.
• Abigail Browning- Bob’s partner; the younger cop who worked hard to prove herself, she struggles with her own dark past.

Plot Summary: Despite a mysterious stranger’s death and warning not to go, Keira Sullivan, illustrator and folklorist, travels to Ireland to connect with her family’s roots and investigate a legend about a stone angel. After Keira goes missing for days, Simon, dispatched by Bob to find and rescue her, quickly realizes Keira’s accident was no accident at all and works diligently to protect her. When a family friend with ties to the angel legend is murdered back in Boston, Keira and Simon return to help Bob and Abigail uncover clues. Delving into the murky world of good and evil, it is a race against time to discover who the killer is and stop him from murdering again.

Appeal: This is a fast-paced novel that immediately piques the reader’s interest with its mystical and somewhat complex story. While the story line is largely plot-centered and action-oriented, the reader gets a well-rounded sense of the main characters, whom are recognizable and relatable. Point of view switches between all the main characters, but Keira’s perspective is most prominent. The book’s frame is engrossing, moving from contemporary, urban Boston neighborhoods, to a folksy, mystical village in Ireland, and back and forth again. The descriptions are vivid without the writing being dense.

Brief quote: “Keira welcomed the feel of the breeze on her face, and she looked at Simon with his thick black hair, his green eyes- a clear, mesmerizing green, she thought. She’d noticed he was good-looking in Boston, but now, at dusk on a long June day, out on the southwest coast of Ireland, she was struck by how sexy he was.” –p. 121-122.

Prizes or Awards: None

Similar Works: 

• Irish Mist by Andrew Greenly- another romantic suspense involving Ireland, men/women relationships, and secrets.
• Tall, Dark, and Deadly by Heather Graham- another romantic suspense involving men/women relations and missing persons.
• Call After Midnight by Tess Gerritsen- another romantic suspense involving men/women relationships, missing persons, and Europe.

Reviewer’s Name: Cyndi Selinger

 

Adapted from Saricks, Joyce G. and Nancy Brown. Readers= Advisory Service in the Public Library 2^nd. Chicago: ALA, 1997.

It's In His Kiss - Romance

Author: Julia Quinn

Title: It’s in His Kiss   

Publication Date: 2006  

Number of Pages:  501 (large print edition)

Part of a Series:  Book 7 in the Bridgerton family series (The first book is The Duke and I)

Subject Heading(s):

• Library of Congress SH:
• Diaries—Fiction; Translators--Fiction

 Geographical Setting/ Time Period: London 1825 (Regency era)  

Main Character(s):

• Hyacinth Bridgerton, and smart and outspoken young lady.
• Gareth St. Clair, a rogue with a heart of gold.

Plot Summary: Hyacinth Bridgerton is in her fourth London season, and she has yet to meet her match among the men of society.  Then elderly busybody Lady Danbury introduces her young protégée to her grandson, the notorious Gareth St. Clair.  Hyacinth offers to translate a family diary for St. Clair, even though her Italian is less than perfect.  She finds that there is more to Gareth and his mysterious family history than meets the eye.

Appeal: It’s in His Kiss is filled with witty repartee between the two main characters, which makes for a fun and fast-paced read.  A cast of quirky characters, a few steamy love scenes, and a slight hint of mystery are also included.  A light and witty romance.

Brief quote:

“He flashed her a bland smile.  “Not that I wish to give you any ammunition, but the sad fact of it is—most men are sheep. Where one goes, the rest will follow.  And didn’t you say you wished to be married?”

“Not to someone who follows you as the lead sheep,” she replied. (page 118)

Prizes or Awards: None

Similar Works:

The Courtesan’s Daughter and other books in the Courtesan series by Claudia Dain (suggested by the romance blog Dear Author http://dearauthor.com/wordpress/2008/09/29/if-you-like-julia-quinn-hosted-by/ as light comedy also set in high society London)

Reviewer’s Name: Joy Woods

Form adapted from Saricks, Joyce G. and Nancy Brown. Readers= Advisory Service in the Public Library 2nd.  Chicago: ALA, 1997.

Fat Tuesday - Romance

Author:  Sandra Brown  

Title: Fat Tuesday

Publication Date: Original Hardback: 1997, Reissued in paperback: February 2008

Number of Pages: 458 Part of a Series: no

Subject Headings: 

• bayou
• criminals
• Louisiana
• Mardi Gras
• murders
• New Orleans
• police corruption
• romance
• suspense

Geographical Setting/Time Period:  New Orleans, LA, present day

Main Characters:  

• Burke Basile: troubled policeman
• Remy Duvall: unhappy trophy wife
• Pinky Duvall: Remy’s husband, a wealthy criminal defense lawyer with many underworld associations
• Wayne Bardo: Pinky’s hitman and Basile’s enemy.

Plot Summary:  In a botched drug raid, Basile accidentally kills his friend and partner, Kevin Stewart, who was being used as a human shield by Bardo. Bardo is tried for his role in the death, but Duvall gets him acquitted. Basile vows to get revenge. He kidnaps Duvall’s wife Remy, trying to use her as bait to draw Duvall close enough to kill. Basile and Remy initially dislike each other. He thinks she is a glorified prostitute, and she is afraid of him. During their time together these feelings change dramatically. Remy realizes she must stand up for herself and wishes to escape from Duvall’s control into a loving relationship with Basile. Things come to a head on Mardi Gras night, when secrets are revealed and justice is served.

Appeal: Pace: Quick, lots of dialogue and action, less description. Characterization: The hero shifts from untrustworthy to trustworthy. Hero and heroine’s points of view are both shown. They each have strong personal ethics. The hero is manly—strong, takes action when threatened, and tries to hide his emotions. The heroine is virtuous—religious, wants to do good. Frame: General feeling of uneasiness, uncertainty about characters survival. Gritty descriptions of crime and criminals. Geographical setting is more important at the end, in a creepy bayou and a Mardi Gras costume party. Story Line: Many surprises and plot twists, the sex scenes are not too explicit, not too chaste, the heroine chooses between two very different men.

Brief Quote:  “His malcontent stemmed from the night he’d spent lying next to Remy while upholding his resolve not to touch her. What he’d told her last night was only partially true. If he made love to her, she would hate him. He would be like all the other men, including her husband, who had exploited her. “(p 355)

Prizes or Awards: none

Similar Works:  

• Remember the Night by Linda Castillo (also takes place in New Orleans
• Kiss and Tell by Charry Adair (also involves a kidnapping)
• Cypress Nights by Stella Cameron (also romantic suspense set in New Orleans)

Reviewer’s Name:  Alexis Whitney