Hello, and welcome back! Hot and sticky are the words I keep hearing for this holiday weekend's weather, and I'm not very happy about it. Sure, I have plenty of books to read inside, but after the absolutely gorgeous day we had Thursday on my day off, I'd like more of the same. Then I could take my reading and writing outside again in the evening. Instead, we'll be huddled inside the air conditioned house again, waiting for the next slightly cooler day. Have I mentioned lately how much I hate summer? I'm working my way into the July stack already, but do still have one last June book to share with you this time out.

Knight of Passion (Grand Central, received from publisher) by Margaret Mallory rounds out her 'Knight' trilogy, this time with Sir James Rayburn and Lady Linnet, whose potential romance is derailed when young Linnet decides to use her relationship with Jamie to ruin her father's plans to marry her to an unwanted suitor. Broken-hearted, Jamie leaves her. Now, years later, he's returned to England and is just in time to save Linnet from a brutal assault. Not that it makes him soften his heart toward her. No, even though she's even more beautiful than ever, Jamie has come back to England from fighting in France to find himself a suitable bride, meaning one who will not break his heart or even expect him to share it. Except that he keeps finding himself with Linnet, and even he cannot deny the attraction that still flares between them. Still, Linnet is determined to make sure the people who wronged her family pay, and even falling in love with Jamie doesn't stop that notion. But it just might send Jamie into another woman's arms, for good this time. I've enjoyed Ms. Mallory's books previously, but I liked Jamie far more than I liked Linnet in this one. Her scheming early on without revealing her reasons make her difficult to like. Jamie, on the other hand, is nothing but honest about his emotions and his motivations. I dare any reader not to fall in love with him. I'm borrowing three and a half of Cupid's five arrows for this one, and looking forward to Ms. Mallory's next book.

Until next time, happy reading!