Hello, and welcome back! We're still waiting for some real snow here. I refuse to give up hope just yet; January's not even over yet, after all. I've been keeping busy indoors with my reading and have put a fair dent in the February books already. I'm even going to have some time to read some of the new books I picked up at work over the weekend. Now all we need is that snow.... In the meantime, I have two new February releases to share with you.

Doing It Right (Brava) by MaryJanice Davidson is up first, with two related novellas, 'Thief of Hearts' and 'Wild Hearts'. In the first one, Dr. Jared Dean walks in on a big thug getting his butt kicked by a very attractive woman. When she escapes him, he doesn't expect to see her again, but she does reappear, calling herself Kara and spouting a fantastic tale about a mobster who's after Jared now, and how she's going to protect him. In the latter, Kat Wechter stops Chess McNamara from stealing her car, only to find herself in the middle of a dangerous police investigation. For fans of Davidson's previous work, this will be a likely addition to your keeper shelves. It's filled with her trademark smart-alecky characters, which should please her fans. Not my cup of tea, however.

Natural Born Charmer (William Morrow) by Susan Elizabeth Phillips is up next. Dean Robillard has nothing more in mind than escaping his life for a little while. Meeting Blue Bailey is a good diversion. She's cranky and prickly, and just what he needs to get his mind off his own issues. Blue, for her part, just wants another change of scenery, so going along with Dean to Tennessee doesn't seem like a terrible idea. He's too good-looking for his own good, but she can see right through him. She thinks. This one is filled with her trademark quirky characters, and plenty of them in the tiny Southern town where Dean has a farm, offering up lots of humor and an equal amount of emotion-tugging. If you're looking for a story peopled with characters who will touch you and make you smile as well as breaking your heart, this is the one to pick up for the month. It's a definite keeper. I'm giving it four of Cupid's five arrows.

Over in the forum, we're deciding right now what book to read as our February book club selection. You only have a couple days to help us choose. And until next time, happy reading!