Hello, and welcome back! Our weather is still rainy--the only plus I can find in it now, aside from the fact that we probably won't have a drought this summer, is that I haven't had to water my newly-planted flowers lately. But with weather like this, I also can't take my book out and sit under the tree. Oh well. Soon enough, I suppose, when summer gets here.

To start us off this week, I have a book I really enjoyed, which made me wonder why I've never been tempted to read any of this author's other books before. Leanne Banks's
Some Girls Do (Warner Forever) was a real treat. Katie Collins has perfected her disguise as a shapeless, unfeminine woman, something she feels she has to do to avoid becoming like her mother. But then her boss offers her a bonus to get his own daughter married off, and Katie's saddled with sexy security pro Michael Wingate, and all bets are off. Michael's got his own insecurities caused by his past and family, and working them out doesn't seem too difficult once Katie's under his skin. I loved this story, as well as the secondary romance with Wilhelmina and Douglas. These are well-developed, very believable characters with problems any of us might face. I'm borrowing four and a half of Cupid's five arrows for this one.

Another book that crossed my desk this week is
A Place Called Rainwater(Warner). We discussed this one when it first came out in hardcover, here, so I won't again. For Garlock fans waiting for the paperback version, now's your chance.

Next up is Rachel Lee's
Last Breath (Warner Forever) is billed as romantic suspense, but I'd change that to a suspense novel with a romantic element. Chloe Ryder is determined to find out who's framed her parish priest for murder, and to do it, she'll have to work with Matthew Diel, the one man who knows her darkest secrets. It would be more accurate, however, to say this is Father Brendan's story and Chloe and Matthew are along for the ride. I was also dissatisfied with the ending--but I won't give that away here, for those who prefer to find out for themselves. I have a small section of Ms. Lee's books on my keeper shelves, but, sadly, this one won't be joining them. I'm only giving it two arrows.

Finally, I have two books that came with my review books that aren't romances, but I know we have some erotica fans among our readers, so I'll share anyway. Remember the stories you read as a kid where you chose which way to go in the story? Well, Gotham Books has created their own version in the erotica genre.
Kathryn in the City: Create Your Own Erotic Fantasy and
The Classics Professor: Create Your Own Erotic Fantasy are the first two in the line, and very interesting. If you aren't wild about Harlequin's Blaze line, or Kensington's Brava line, don't pick these up, but if you like your sex steamy and even a little kinky, you may find these intriguing. Personally, I liked the first one better than the second.

Until next time, happy reading!