Re-do-it's

Romantic_L_eads Recommendations and reviews of romantic fiction

Re-do-it's

ROMANTIC LEADS BY Janine Taylor

RELEASED FOR PUBLICATION DEC, 1999

Smart authors try to get the most mileage from their words. Two recent examples of this are: Barbara Hazard, who released a completely updated version of an early gem, and Karyn Monk, who’s publisher re-released an older novel to take advantage of her growing reputation as a writer. One strategy worked and the other didn’t.

The Scottish Legacy

By Barbara Hazard (Signet Regency – December 1999, $7.99)

Any serious regency fan would recommend searching out Barbara Hazard’s back listed titles. Happily, Hazard has taken one of her early stories, first released in 1981, and reworked it into a renewed masterpiece.

Delilah Douglas’ eccentric great-aunt Cecily has called her extended family to her isolated Scottish estate to inspect and choose an heir from among them.

Amid this intriguing tableau, Delilah contends with her total infatuation with one of her second cousins and growing interest in another cousin. Delilah’s entertaining description of her mish-mash of cousins is rudely interrupted by attempted murder.

As always, Hazard is top drawer.

Surrender to a Stranger

By Karyn Monk (Bantam – December 1999, $8.99)

Monk’s recent stories of Scotland were sparkling examples of the genre and I fully expect her next new release to live up to her new reputation.

This story was released five years ago under Bantam’s Fanfare imprint. Unfortunately this earlier work, set during the French Revolution, could have used a judicious editing job.

Jacqueline Doucette awaits execution by guillotine in a squalid prison in Paris. She is attempting to fend off the evil man who sent her father and brother to their deaths when the notorious Black Prince arrives and spirits her away to England.

Jacqueline is consumed with revenge, an emotion The Black Prince, Armand St. James, can relate to. She receives a letter from her betrothed who claims to be captive in a French prison. Jacqueline asks Armand to rescue her fiancé, but it’s a trap to capture Armand. Jacqueline is then forced to try and rescue Armand herself.

After she successfully rescues Armand, Jacqueline falls victim to another obvious trap.

Jacqueline is billed, throughout the book, as a smart survivor. Unfortunately the heroine never lived up to her billing. She is truly one of the worst examples of a dopey, emotional and unthinking romance heroine. Obviously, a reprint of an author’s under-appreciated older titles is a way to expand her future market. This version has a really handsome cover. However, readers of Surrender to a Stranger may be discouraged from seeking out Monk’s latest work, which has been outstanding.

The House on Olive Street

By Robyn Carr (MIRA – 1999, $6.99)

Lately, a fashionable theme is stories about groups of female friends coping with the death of one of their circle.

In this case, a group of writers of various degrees of success arrive to arrange a fiftieth birthday surprise for Gabby. Gabby is the catalyst of the group and host of their get-togethers. Rather than celebrating her birthday, the group discovers Gabby dead in her living room from natural causes.

Ella, Barbara Ann, Beth and Sable all relied on Gabby as an anchor in their own lives. Their ability to rediscover their moorings following her death is the focus of the book.

There isn’t a whole lot of romance but I still recommend getting this book and savouring it.

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Distributed By Writers Syndication Services

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