Summer Sensations: Overload/The Leopard's Woman/Lonesome Rider

Blackout by Linda Howard - Elizabeth Major was an interior designer who was just starting to break into the wealthy market. She worked out of her office in a sleek Dallas highrise across the hall from the security offices of Tom Quinlan. Elizabeth didn't know much about Tom, but she got involved with him anyway - the physical attraction between the two of them was just too much to resist! However, Elizabeth unexpectedly broke off the relationship after a short time and avoided Tom whenever possible, never even telling him why she dumped him. Unfortunately, a record heat wave left her stranded in the office building with only Tom for company. And this time, Tom was determined to discover why Elizabeth had left him...The Leopard's Woman by Linda Lael Miller - Olivia Stillwell loved her job. She got to travel all over the world researching new scenes for her uncle's books and focus on her artistic pottery in her down time. Olivia wasn't particularly enjoying her latest assignment in Mexico, especially when her car broke down and she was kidnapped by bandits and sold to Esteban Ramirez, a wealthy rancher. Unsure of what Esteban planned to do with her, Olivia was determined to fight Esteban every step of the way. But as the hot summer days turned into sizzling siestas and sultry nights, Olivia found it more and more difficult to resist Esteban...Lonesome Rider by Heather Graham Pozzessere - Blade McKenna lived for revenge. Ever since the soldiers had murdered his wife, their unborn child and his father, he had dedicated his life to hunting the men down, one by one. His path led him out west, where he ran into the beautiful widow Jessica Dylan, who was on her way to claim her late husband's ranch and only legacy. Jessica tried to hire Blade to work for her and protect her, but Blade's price was too high - he wanted Jessica. After a great deal of thought, Jessica agreed to his price and started a whirlwind romance between two very different people...Summer Sensations is a typical anthology in that the stories have little, if anything in common, except hot days. I enjoyed Overload by Howard, but felt that I didn't get enough time to get to know the characters. I also felt that I entered the relationship in the middle and never really got to see the beginning or a definitive end. Still, her characters were engaging and her sex scenes were hot, as always. My favorite story was The Leopard's Woman. I am just a sucker for those domineering, hot-blooded Latino men who take what they want and spend the rest of the time persuading their women that they are right where they belong. I could definitely feel the heat coming off of the pages for this one! Lonesome Rider was also well written and I really liked the hero, but the heroine was a little too perfect for me. It was the only historical romance in the anthology and so it stuck out a bit more. I had a hard time getting into it because I was expecting another contemporary romance. Still,

Courtesy of CK2S Kwips and Kritiques Overload by Linda Howard (originally published in 1993) Elizabeth Major has her own interior design business in a sleek office building in downtown Dallas. Across the hall Tom Quinlan runs a Private Investigation office. Tom and Elizabeth had a passionate relationship not too long ago until Elizabeth suddenly cut it off for no apparent reason. One hot day in midsummer, they get stranded, alone together, from a severe blackout, trapping them within the building. They cannot resist the fire between them, so they indulge it. But can their passion for each other overcome the secrets keeping them apart? Or is there a chance beyond this one night together, in the summer heat? Ms. Howard weaves yet another intense tale for which she is famous. This story is full of passion and sensuality. As always, her characters are skillfully rendered. The sparks between them fly off the page. The Leopard's Woman by Linda Lael Miller (originally published in 1992) Olivia Stillwell is in Mexico, researching details for her famous author uncle's next book. She is kidnapped and sold to Esteban Ramirez, and is confined to his ranch. Olivia is terrified of what she will be forced to do as his slave. However, from the moment she looks into his eyes, that fear slowly fades into an entirely different kind. She finds herself instead fearing losing her self, body and soul, in his embrace. Ms. Miller has written many a passionate tale, and this is just one more. She manages to pack a lot of punch, and plot, into this short novella. The characters are intriguing, though they could stand to have a little more dimension to them. In spite of that, this was another pleasing read by her. Lonesome Rider by Heather Graham Pozzessere (originally published in 1993) Blade McKenna has but one desire...to avenge the horrible murders of his wife and their unborn child, and his father. Jessica Dylan is on a quest of her own. She only wishes to head west to claim the land of her late husband's ranch. From the moment these two meet on their entwined paths, they are drawn to each other. When Jessica gambles herself as the prize, and loses to Blade, they find it impossible to resist each other. Ms. Pozzessere is an extremely talented author, a fact which is evident in this, one of her earlier works. The glimmer of her future stardom is found on every page. Her characters are beautifully created, and she delivers well on an often used plotline, making it her own. This book is a hot one, to be enjoyed in the peak of the summer heat. Or perhaps, it should be saved for warming up a cold winter's night. This is one to be enjoyed several times over. © Kelley A. Hartsell, 2001. All rights reserved.

I really enjoyed the 3 stories. I was looking for light reading with a little spice and that was just what this book provided. Once I started a story it was difficult to put it down. A great poolside or beach book!