Full Scoop by Janet Evanovich and Charlotte Hughes

Maggie Farnsworth has a secret - a big secret. Fourteen years ago, her boyfrend, Carl Lee Stanton, was sentenced to jail for the murder of an FBI agent during an armored car robbery. Unknown to both Maggie and Carl Lee at that time, Maggie was pregnant with Carl Lee’s child. Forced to raise her daughter by herself, Maggie studied to become a pediatrician and is struggling to start her medical practice in her home town of Beaumont, South Carolina. When Carl Lee escapes from prison, the FBI assigns Zack Madden to protect Maggie, despite the fact that Zack’s father was the FBI agent gunned down by Stanton. While Maggie feels a strong attraction to Zack, which is the first time she has thought about a man since Carl Lee, she must find a way to stay alive long enough to act on her feelings.

This series has evolved from the beginning with the focus of the books shifting away from Max and Jamie as the primary characters and on to other characters in the same town. Max and Jamie are still around, appearing as recurring secondary characters in the story. In a way this makes the book better as it allows the authors to explore new territories, but I really liked Max and miss reading about him. Still Maggie and Zack are interesting characters and I particularly liked watching her psychopathic ex-boyfriend make his way across the country in order to kill Maggie. The ending could have been a little stronger, but it still was satisfying. I recommend reading it to anyone that likes complex stories with a touch of danger.

Details: St. Martins, April 2006

Bottom line: A great book

A New Attitude by Charlotte Hughes

Marilee Abernathy woke up one day to find that her husband had left her for a floozy. To make matters worse, her son helped him move. But she never expected that her husband would resign his duties as a church minister. Rather than live with the shame, she tried to commit suicide, only to fail miserably. Then in her darkest moment, Sam Brewer walked into her life. Her friends rallied around her too, and soon Marilee had adopted a whole new attitude about life.

I’ve enjoyed the Full series of books that Charlotte has written with Janet Evanovich, so I couldn’t resist reading something she wrote alone. But I have to confess when I found that Marilee was a minister’s wife, I put the book down and reached for another Blaze :) . But I knew I’d read this one eventually and I’m glad I did. Charlotte created some rather unique and memorable characters and the filled the book with humor. I really enjoyed it once I got into the story and I think you will too.

Details: HQN, February 2006

Bottom line: A pretty good book