Hello, and welcome back. Hope you're all staying cool. And for those of you in the southwest, I've been hoping as I watch the news for some rain to put out those fires. I just picked up a lovely new set of bells to hang from my tree, so now while I'm sitting in the shade with my moment's choice of books, I have music in the background. Actually, with the breeze blowing outside my office window now, I'm hearing it as well. Wonderful.

The first of the August releases are arriving on my desk--though I know I have at least one more July book heading through the mail in my direction--and I have two to share with you this week. First up is Jessica Hall's, aka Gena Hale, latest, The Kissing Blades (Signet). It's finally time for Sean Delaney to get his story told. If you've been reading Ms. Hall/Hale's previous books, you'll recall that in the last book Sean kidnapped Kameko Sayura in the line of duty. At this point, Meko hasn't seen Sean in some time, though that hasn't stopped her from thinking about him. But when Meko's assistant is kidnapped after Meko's been getting some strange phone calls, Sean is the only person who can help her. I'm really going to miss these characters--and yes, you'll revisit some people from the last two books--and wonder what's next for Ms. Hall. Whatever it is, I'm sure it's going to contain the same sizzling attractions and edge-of-your-seat suspense as this one and all the rest of her romances. I'm borrowing four of Cupid's five arrows for this one.

The other book I have to share with you is Patricia Rice's lastest Malcolm-Ives romance, The Trouble with Magic (Signet). Felicity Malcolm Childe's magical gift is to see things by touching other people--sometimes things she doesn't want to see, like the death of her suitor's mother. The only thing she wants is to be rid of this curse/gift, and she's learned of a book that may hold the key to casting off her gift forever. The only trouble is, she'll have to go to Edinburgh to search for it, and being an unmarried woman, that'll be difficult. Or so one might think. Ewen Ives has no interest in a wife, and particularly not a Malcolm wife. But when Felicity and her sister head off for Edinburgh, he knows he can't let them go alone, especially not the sensitive Felicity. This next installment in the Malcolm-Ives series is no disappointment. Lots of humor and steamy desire between this pair, and I can't wait for the next! This one's earned four arrows.

Until next time, happy reading!