Internal or Ex?

Romantic_L_eads Recommendations and reviews of romantic fiction

Internal or Ex?

It's all a matter of mood and taste. Do you enjoy drama caused by the internal conflagrations that eat at respectable people coping with grief and love and the strictures of society? Or, do you thrill to the machinations of the characters caught in catastrophic events? Internal or external conflict, those are the choices this month with two gems that represent the best of each style.

Glass Houses

By Stella Cameron (Berkley - August 2000, $33 Hardcover)

If you're looking for adventure, thrilling chases and repulsive villains then this romantic suspense is right up your alley.

Aiden Flynn, a New York City detective happens upon _ snoops into _ the e-mail of his shady co-worker Ryan.

It looks like Ryan is using an online alias to gain the trust of an innocent dupe. The messages imply that a British photographer, Olivia FitzDurham, is spooked, afraid for her safety. There had been several attempts to steal her photographs and Ryan had Olivia convinced to run to New York to avoid danger.

Aiden suspects the real danger is from Ryan. Compelled to protect her, Aiden intercepts their e-mail and meets the unsuspecting Olivia at the airport in New York.

However, Ryan uses his unethical influence to set the New York police against Aiden and his British companion, who are now the chief suspects in international art thefts.

Olivia and Aiden head off on a cross-country adventure trying to outrun cops. Disguises, sleazy sex, kidnappings and daring escapes, all while dragging along a big friendly dog, make Glass Houses a rollicking fast-paced adventure.

The characters are typically superficial because you only really know them under duress. But that is the way characters work in this type of intense story. This one is hot if not exactly warm.

Here Comes the Bride

By Pamela Morsi (Avon - July 2000, $9.99)

Pamela Morsi has an instinct for portraying the inner workings of the romantic heart.

It is turn-of-the-century Texas and Cottonwood "business lady", Gussie Mudd has decided it's time to get married by fair means or foul.

She decides to bring her selected mate, handsome and proper Amos Dewey, up to the mark by enlisting her ambitious employee, Rome Akers, to court her and stir up some jealousy.

Rome can't believe his good fortune. He just needs to help Gussie get Amos to propose so Gussie can get married in six weeks. In return for pretending to court Gussie, he is offered the partnership in Mudd Ice Manufacturing, something he's been saving toward.

But Rome realises that still-grieving widower Amos might be a tough nut to crack and the plan calls for some serious spooning on his part.

All the public courting takes a toll on the two pretenders. Rome realises that he does not only want to be Miss Gussie's business partner but her husband as well. Now he has to contend with a former lover who botches an attempt to help and sabotages Gussie's trust. Worse, Gussie has a suddenly determined suitor in Amos Dewey. While Gussie arranges her wedding she has to make a heart wrenching decision about the groom.

This warm and witty story lives up to Morsi's standing as a star of the genre.

Janine Taylor is a Halifax writer. She can be reached at romanticleads@canada.com or http://ajaninet.tripod.com

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