Hello, and welcome back! Hope you're all finding plenty of reading time. I've got a couple more things to plant before I can make another trip to the local nursery, but I'm working my way steadily through this lovely stack of upcoming releases to share with you all.

First up this week is Gena Hale's latest, Sun Valley (Onyx). I've reviewed both of the previous books in this trilogy and was very excited to see this one when it arrived. Laney's sister Neala is front and center here, stuck on Will Ryder's ranch while she's waiting to testify in a trial. She's not exactly a country girl, and Will is none too pleased to have her there, causing all his men to drool and do other foolish things--and he's no better than they are. Ms. Hale is very good at making her characters lust after one another while they still can't trust each other, causing extrememly high tension. Add in a younger other woman, an uncle who's a spy (yes, Sean is back), and possibly a lurking murderer. Mix well, and get yourself a must-read-in-one-sitting-book. Don't start this one without a large block of uninterrupted time. Of Cupid's five arrows, I'm giving this one four.

I believe I may have mentioned (either here or in the forum) a couple fall books I got last weekend, both by Nora Roberts, including her upcoming J. D. Robb. I can't wait to share those with you, but in the meantime, I have Face the Fire (Jove), the final book in her Three Sisters Island trilogy. Wow, I'm going to miss this series. First Nell, then Ripley, and now it's Mia's turn, and hers may be the most difficult, because for her to succeed at her quest to save the island, she's got to face the only man she ever loved--a man who broke her heart into tiny pieces when he left years ago. Sam Logan is determined to win Mia back, but she's not the same young girl he left behind, and he hadn't counted on the strength of her convictions not to be hurt again. But he's come home, and he won't give up easily. All the same, Mia isn't interested in being persuaded to see things his way either. The way they handle the reconciliation is very realistic for these two characters, very convincing. Added bonuses are the paranormal element of the story and revisiting other well-loved characters. Sadly, though, this is the end of the trilogy--I can't wait to see what Ms. Roberts comes up with next. This one's earned four and a half arrows. A definite keeper for me and hopefully for you, too.

Until next week, happy reading!