Hello and welcome back. Did you have a chance to read any good books this week? I hope so. The weather here has a decidedly fall tinge to it now that makes a person want to curl up with a cup of cocoa (or your preferred beverage) and a new book. I´ve got four new ones to choose from this week. And when you´ve read them, I´d love to hear what you thought.

First off is Emerald by Lauren Royal (Signet Historical). This is the second of Ms. Royal´s books about the Chase family, this time about Jason Chase, hot on the trail of a criminal. And he mistakes Caithren Leslie for Emerald MacCallum, a bounty hunter he thinks is also on the hunt for his man. You all know I love Scotland and all things Scottish, so much so that I´m planning to visit there with Kathryn Falk of Romantic Times in 2002. However, reading that much dialect in a book is very distracting for me. The story itself is wonderful, with Jason who can´t believe Cait isn´t Emerald, and the two of them falling in love so sweetly. Of Cupid´s five arrows, this one´s earned four.

Next up is "A Lady of Letters" by Andrea Pickens (Signet Regency). Augusta Hadley knows she is not one of the darlings of the ton, but her editorials written under a pen name would earn her a truly wretched reputation. Alex, the Earl of Sheffield has been writing to her under her nom de plume about her articles, but when he finds out who she really is, things get interesting. Though Regencies aren´t my favorite subgenre, I really enjoyed the interaction between this couple. I´m giving this one three and a half arrows.

Third is "A Thing of Beauty" by Casey Claybourne (Berkley Historical). Belinda Croft is unused to attention, being the scholarly type, but when she helps her cousin with a blemish remedy, she becomes the most sought-after woman in London. Marcus Barrow is among those seeking her out, but his reasons aren´t as clear-cut or good. At first. Attacks of conscience get in the way of things for them but you know they´ll have their happy ending. I enjoyed this much more than Ms. Claybourne´s last one and am giving it three of Cupid´s arrows.

Last up this week is Beyond Eden by Catherine Coulter (Signet). Lindsey Foxe meets her match in S.C. Taylor, the ex-cop hired to protect her. Lindsey, aka Eden, has mostly run away from her horrific past, but now things are happening that she can´t avoid. I have to tell you this is a reprint of one of Ms. Coulter´s 1992 hardcovers, in case you´ve already read it. I couldn´t get into this story. I found I had little sympathy for Lindsey and Taylor came across sometimes as one of those men who have to be in charge because they are the man. This one gets only two arrows.

Till next week, happy reading!