Hello, and welcome back! We've survived the first round of holiday celebrations without too much difficulty. Now to manage the next month or so.... At least I have lots of reading material to sit down with when I need a break from the holiday madness.

And so you have reading material, too, I have three books to share with you this time out. First up is the latest from JoAnn Ross, Out of the Storm (Pocket Star). Laurel Stewart gets her turn, and in the midst of trying to salvage her career and hunt down her missing best friend, she gets entangled with sexy detective Joe Gannon. A fun, sexy story ensues, one that'll pull you out of your own holiday madness for a few blissful hours of reading. Laurel's smart but not annoying, and Joe's strong without being overbearing. Nearly perfect protagonists for true romance fans. This one's earned four of Cupid's five arrows.

Next is Jerri Corgiat's Follow Me Home (Onyx). Alcea Addams and Dakota Jones are not a match made in heaven. Not even a good bet in the tiny southern town where Alcea lives with her nosy, always-butting-in family and where Dak is not planning to stay. This is another of those stories I feel like I should really, really like but don't. I don't think it's a matter of storytelling--though the family bit gets a tad annoying after a while--but more a matter of not liking the author's 'voice' during the course of the storytelling. I'm sure if you're looking for a tale with a down-on-her-luck heroine who just happens to have a huge family around this one might be something you want to pick up. But for me, it isn't a keeper.

Finally, we have the latest from Karen Rose Smith, A Precious Gift ( Silhouette Logan's Legacy Series) (Silhouette Romance). Carrie and Brian Summers should have a perfect marriage. And now, with the opportunity to adopt a baby, it should be just that much better. But this couple has some secrets, and some serious issues to conquer before they can really have their happily ever after. Believing that a baby will solve their problems is just the first issue, and a biggie at that. As usual, Ms. Smith creates characters you can believe in, and as I read, I wanted them to overcome all their issues, to get that happy ending. I'm giving this one four arrows, too.

Until next time, happy reading!