I have a lot of mixed feelings about this book. While I love the Samantha Jellicoe stories, this one is half historical and half modern with a common

Imagine being raised in family where assassination is a tradition and children are raised to be ruthless to be deadly killers. But when the heroine falls in love with someone charged with protecting her latest target, the situation explodes – literally.

This story doesn’t take itself too seriously and it filled with lots of humor and interesting situations. While the publisher is noted for it’s chick-lit stories, this particular one ends with a happily ever after. I’m definitely looking forward to her next book.

Details: Making It, August 2007

Excellence Rating: Great

Hot Stuff by Janet Evanovich and Leanne Banks

Cate Madigan spends her nights tending bar, so she can spend her days studying to become an elementary school teacher. Because money is tight, she found a room to rent with a man who also works at the bar - a cross-dressing lounge singer named Marty. But when Kellen McBride stops by the bar one night and leaves Cate feeling tingly, strange things start happening. First Marty disappears, then someone breaks into her apartment and finally she finds a dead body inside the stairwell. Fortunately Kellen is around to lend a hand. But Kellen is an ex-cop on assignment and Cate is the best lead he has. So when Marty sends Cate a 120 pound mastiff puppy, Kellen volunteers to help hoping to get the clues he needs. Soon, the danger escalates and Cate and Kellen find their lives in danger, while at the same time falling in love. Now assuming that they manage to survive, can Cate forgive Kellen when she finally learns the truth.

Compared to some of the stories written by Janet, this one is almost believable . It has her usual assortment of unique characters, including a man named Pugg who avoids the use of the word “I” at all costs and who’s convinced that Cate's the perfect girl for him. There is a touch of mystery flowing through the story and just a touch of danger tossed in for good measure. If you love romantic comedy, this story will definitely bring a smile to your face.

Details: Signet, April 2007

Excellence Rating: Very Good

Steaminess Factor: Yummy

My Nerdy Valentine by Vicki Lewis Thompson

The formula for the latest nerd book starts with one psychology student named Amanda Rykowsky whose life consists of work, school and more work. Then it adds one stockbroker named William Sloan, who’s a hunk of the first degree. It combines them with a lady psychologist specializing in extreme sex therapy and a villain who’s idea of romance involves leaving anonymous naughty Valentines, stalking Amanda at work and home, and using sleeping gas as preparation for making love. Then it simmers the mixture using the heat between Amanda and William as William pretends to be her boyfriend to catch the stalker. Assuming that Amanda survives her boss and the stalker, will she choose to make her pretend relationship, permanent?

While the story is a bit slow in the beginning, I loved the way the stalker slowly raised the stakes forcing Amanda and William together for some sizzling times. In many ways, this book reminds me of a classic Blaze only longer. The kind that was published two or three years ago. Though I do think she’s stretching the definition of a nerd to accommodate these characters, however. I’d prefer to see more engineering and computer nerds because after all techie nerds rule!

Details: St. Martins, January 2007

Excellence Rating: Great

Steaminess Factor: Heat Wave

Sex, Lies and Online Dating by Rachel Gibson

While conducting research for her latest mystery novel, Lucy Rothschild arranges a series of online dates looking for men to serve as patterns for murder victims in her story. Posing as a nurse so as not to give any clues as to why she’s meeting them, Lucy finds most of her dates are men are just looking for quick and easy sex - not at all her type. One date and she has enough material to kill them off in her story, but a second date - no way. Then she encounters Quinn McIntyre, a man totally unlike the other men she met; a man she could fall in love with. She quickly agrees to a second and then a third date, even though she’s has more than enough information to kill him off in her story.

Quinn McIntyre’s latest assignment is to locate a serial killer, who meets her victims through online chat rooms. Posing as a plumber, he meets Lucy Rothschild, who dated all three of the victims shortly before their deaths. Despite the fact that she’s his number one suspect, Quinn finds himself strangely attracted to her. As they continue to date, Quinn realizes that she’s not the nurse she’s pretending to be when he finds incriminating evidence in her place describing each of the three victim’s murders, including details never released to the public. Now Quinn faces the possibility that the new love of his life is also his serial killer.

The plot is somewhat predictable in the beginning, giving the book a somewhat slow start. However, Rachel tosses in a few twists along the way, just to keep you on your toes. The book is filled with humorous situations and the main characters are full of personality and life. All in all, a nice fun read.

Details: Avon, February 2006

Bottom line: A very good book