The Captain's Christmas Homecoming - Lauri Robinson (HH #1688 - Nov 2022)

Can real life compare…
To the love in their letters?
 
When Emma first used a pseudonym to write to Captain George Weston on the front line, it was because she felt responsible for his broken engagement. Yet his letters became a light in the darkest hours, and she shared more of her desires than she ever dared before, never imagining they'd actually meet. Now that he's home for Christmas, she longs to see him, but that means revealing who she really is…
 
I loved this sweet holiday story set immediately after World War One. It was a nice change of scenery from the Regency and Victorian historicals more frequently published. The author did a terrific job of setting the scene, pulling me into a period I'm not as familiar with. I liked the attention to detail, such as the mentions of the pandemic and its effects, and little things, such as popular Christmas gifts of the time.
 
The story opens as George is about to arrive back in Albany after eighteen months of serving in the war. He feels very fortunate to have survived the war unscathed. He looks forward to finally meeting the woman whose letters meant so much to him and his fellow soldiers. His mind conjures up a young woman who could be the perfect wife for him, so imagine his dismay when the lady who meets his train is old enough to be his grandmother! But George is a kind and honorable man and treats Beverly Buttons with the utmost respect and gentlemanliness. He invites her and her young friend to the welcome home party his parents are giving him.
 
Unbeknownst to George, Beverly's friend Emma is the author of the letters he received. Emma is a relative newcomer to Albany and cousin to the woman George was engaged to at the start of the war. But Martha jilted George and eloped with a man who had come to Albany looking for Emma. Emma felt guilty about the broken engagement and started writing to George to make amends. She used a fake name so he wouldn't connect her with Martha. She never expected she would meet him.
 
I enjoyed watching the relationship develop between George and Emma. Though told that Beverly was his correspondent, it is Emma that he is drawn to. He makes his interest in her known, but as much as she would like to return it, her guilt keeps her pushing him away. Though he tries to abide by her wishes, Fate (and Beverly) keeps pushing them together. It doesn't take long for the little things to start adding up and for George to suspect that Emma was the one who wrote to him. I liked that they settled the truth early and didn't drag it on, though Emma left out her connection to Martha. That left them free to spend time together.
 
However, there is a fly in the ointment. Emma's Aunt Jill (Martha's mother) is a mean-spirited woman who actively despises Emma and her family. She constantly disparages Emma's father and denigrates their lifestyle. After her parents' deaths, Emma moved to Albany to escape New York City's poverty and start a new life. Jill continues her poor treatment of Emma, which comes to a head when she discovers that George and Emma are spending time together.
 
I loved George's immediate support and protectiveness of Emma. His solution to the issue was unorthodox but effective. There were some lovely scenes of them together. I especially enjoyed seeing George tell Emma about his plans for the family company and her appreciation of his efforts to help returning soldiers. The plans to help the city's children brought them even closer together. But Aunt Jill has another nasty trick up her sleeve, and this one nearly drives them apart. Thankfully, each realizes the depth of their feelings for the other which gives them the strength to fight for what they want. The scene in the train station was sweet and emotional. George's love and support for Emma remain evident in his calm but forceful interactions with Jill and Emma's boss. I loved the epilogue and catching up with them a few years later.
 
My only quibble with the story is that Aunt Jill got off far too easily for everything she did. I understood Emma's desire to put the past behind them, but she and her sister deserved better. Jill should have had to face some consequences for her actions. 

His Christmas Guardian - Cindy Dees (HRS #2205 - Nov 2022)

Series: Runaway Ranch (Book 4)
 
Trained to be enemies…do they dare become lovers?
 
CIA Agent Alex Creed's mission is to take down a deadly criminal before Christmas…and only Nick Kane stands in his way. The black ops agent claims he's after the same target and that working together is the best plan. Never before has Alex been so attracted to someone he shouldn't trust. Especially knowing Nick has a bit of a death wish, while Alex envisions a future together…
 
Good book that started with a rush and kept me hooked to the end. Nick is a government black ops operator tracking a fellow operative who went rogue. He used to work with this operative, and the betrayal he feels has made the search personal. After following Gray to an art gallery and planting a tracking device on the man's limo, Nick walks casually away. A few minutes later, he is attacked by a man who is easily as good, if not better, at hand-to-hand fighting as he is.
 
Alex is a CIA agent whose job is to go after operatives who have gone bad. Gray and his team are suspected of stealing valuable international artifacts and murdering US military personnel. His first impression is that Nick is one of Gray's men, and he wants to capture and question him. He did not expect to encounter someone who could fight him to a stalemate.
 
Alex and Nick agreed to a wary truce as they worked out who each other was and why they had a mutual interest in Gray. These men have worked in the shadows for so long that neither of them trusts easily. It was sad and amusing to see how each was constantly looking for signs of betrayal, even once they figured out they were on the same side. Deciding to work together was logical, but there was still some struggle for control until they got past their trust issues.
 
Matters are complicated by the attraction Nick and Alex feel for each other. Each tries to ignore it while concentrating on their mission, but it is always there, simmering under the surface. I enjoyed seeing them get to know each other and discover their differences and similarities. I found it interesting that Alex, the "fixer" who has dished out so much death, has dreams of a peaceful retirement. Nick expects to die in the line of duty which lends itself to some reckless behavior on his part. I liked Alex's determination to get Nick to stop seeing himself as expendable.
 
I enjoyed seeing the relationship between Nick and Alex develop. It was fast, helped along by the intensity of their situation. Each felt protective of the other, which had the potential to create some problems while they were working. There were some fun parts, such as their differing views on Christmas. I loved watching Alex try to bring a little Christmas spirit into Nick's life, from the Christmas tree with its unique decorations to the snowball fight. Alex's sensitivity is unexpected, given his vocation, and I enjoyed seeing it come out in his desire to help Nick. Both have some insecurities regarding relationships, but their love for each other overcomes them in the end. I loved the ending and their plans for the future.
 
The suspense of the story kept me turning the pages. The backstory of Gray and what he did are explained as the story goes on but can be read in more detail in the previous book in the series (Her SEAL Bodyguard). The tension remained steady as Nick and Alex looked for clues about what Gray had stolen, then planned ways to draw him into a trap. The intensity ramped up when they found the stolen crate and what was in it (WOW!). I was glued to the pages as they prepared their trap and set the bait. The final confrontation was a nail-biter as Nick and Alex were significantly outnumbered. 

Shielding Her Son - K.D. Richards (HI #2089 - Aug 2022)

Series: West Investigations (Book 4)

She thought she'd escaped her past…
Has it caught up with her?
 
Erika Powell has lived in hiding for years to protect her son from his wealthy, tyrannical grandfather. Wary of strangers, she's suspicious of James West, who's renting a neighboring cabin, despite their sizzling chemistry. But when attempts are made on Erika's life, James fears he may have endangered her -- because the undercover PI's investigation of Erika may have led someone dangerous right to her.
 
Good book with terrific suspense and a quick romance. James West recently left the military, medically retired after an injury made it impossible to continue as a sniper. He's working for the family security firm while he decides what he will do with the rest of his life. His current assignment is to check out Erika Powell and ascertain whether she and her son are the missing heirs of a New York businessman. It's going slowly because Erika is very private and seems wary of strangers.
 
When Erika's rich, spoiled, and emotionally abusive husband died, his controlling father kicked her out of her home. She had just discovered that she was pregnant and was afraid her father-in-law would do anything to take her child if he knew about it. So, she changed her name and moved away from the city, landing in the small town of Carling Lake. When the story starts, she's been there for almost ten years and has begun to put down roots. She bought a house that she is turning into a B & B.
 
The story starts with a bang as Erika is injured in a fall on her property. Her hiking companion runs for help and brings James, who lives in the house next door, to Erika. He helps her while they wait for an ambulance, but the circumstances seem suspicious to him. When he foils an intruder attempting to break into her house, he suspects something untoward is going on.  When she hears about the intruder, she has two suspects in mind - that her father-in-law has found her or that a rival B & B owner is attempting to keep her from opening her inn. Erika, a part-time reporter for the local paper, is also investigating some possibly missing grant money, which is also motivation for trouble. Erika reluctantly accepts James's offer to help with the house renovations while simultaneously serving as protection against whoever is behind the trouble.
 
Neither Erika nor James expected the sparks of attraction that flared between them. Both try hard to resist, but it does no good. James isn't ready for a relationship when he has no idea what his future looks like. Erika isn't going to enter a relationship when she can't be honest with the other person about who she is. But the more time they spend together, the harder it is to resist. I liked watching James and Erika get closer. James's support helps Erika restore the self-confidence that her late husband damaged. At the same time, Erika helps James see an unexpected path to his future. It doesn't take long for James to realize that he wants Erika and her son in his life permanently, but he's reluctant to say anything because he still has no plan for his future. Erika can't look at a future with James until she faces her past - which comes sooner than expected. I did not see that twist coming. I loved James's sweet and romantic big moment at the end.
 
The suspense of the story was excellent. The "accident" on the rope bridge was nerve-wracking, and I loved how James's suspicions were immediately raised, which led to his watchfulness. I could feel his frustration at not being able to catch the intruder. Erika's confrontation with Ellis, the other B & B owner (and town mayor), moved him to the head of my list of suspects. The story that Erika was investigating also provided a possible motive for the attack, as there was clearly some cover-up happening. The family connection was low on my suspect list. The tension built as Erika's son Marcus disappeared. Erika did what any mom worth her salt would do, even if it complicated matters. The final confrontation came from a previously unknown player. I was glued to the pages watching Erika's mama bear protectiveness take over. The resolution was very well done.
 
I liked the secondary characters. Erika's son Marcus was terrific. He's just as protective of Erika, and it was sweet to see the ten-year-old as the man of the house. I also liked how he and James connected so quickly. I also liked the sheriff, Lance, who was such a good friend to Erika. I suspect he may have been romantically interested in her, but she never saw him that way. Other people in the town played small but significant roles and gave the town some of its personality.

 

Nurse Pro Tem - Glenna Finley (Dell - 1967)

The trouble between lively, sandy-haired nurse Jane Chapin and handsome Washington attorney Joshua Blake began when they met at the Continental Broadcasting Studios. It was a simple case of mistaken identity - he thought she was an impudent receptionist and she thought he was an aspiring page boy. But what followed turned out to be an intricate matter of international intrigue that involved them both in a dangerous series of romantic double-crosses; curious quirks of fate and terrifying realities that threatened both their lives and love. The truth was the only thing that would save them - but they would have to ignore their own gnawing doubts long enough to find it.
 
Fun vintage romantic suspense. I read the author's romantic suspense books from the 70s and 80s and have fond memories of them. I was unaware of this title until I saw a complete list of her books. Naturally, I had to track down a copy and read it.
 
The story gets off to a rough start for our heroine, Jane, and hero, Josh. In a comedy of errors, they first jump to conclusions about who the other one is, trading barbs and snide remarks. If that's not enough, a mishap with an ink bottle ends with Josh covered in ink, and when he moves Jane out of his way, it triggers a rogue file drawer that intersects with his head. Needless to say, they are not each other's biggest fans. The icing on the cake is when Jane is tagged to show Josh around the studios.
 
Jane is filling in as a temporary nurse at the studio as a favor to a family friend. She's just finished a two-year job in South America and plans a vacation at her parents' place in Washington state before moving on to her next job. Josh is an attorney from the studio's headquarters in DC who has come to New York to help boost the international section's productivity in advance of congressional budget hearings. The two mix like oil and water, but there are sparks of attraction under the antagonism. Complicating matters are other potential love interests who have their eyes on Jane and Josh. The studio's resident doctor, a friend of Josh's, makes no secret of his interest in Jane. Josh is frequently found in the company of Ellen Barton, the daughter of a studio vice president who has her eye on him.
 
Life gets more interesting when one of the producers is found knocked unconscious in the music library. Emilio is married to the daughter of a Caribbean dictator but is currently carrying on an affair with the studio librarian, so maybe there is some connection. Not long after, Jane's apartment is ransacked, leaving her and Josh puzzled about the reason. Despite their constant clashes, Jane and Josh work together to see if they can figure out the culprit. An attack on the division head and a poetry quote are the final clues that lead to the bad guy facing justice.
 
I enjoyed seeing the development of the relationship between Jane and Josh. Neither is at their best during their first meeting and despite their misunderstandings, there is no doubt that they've made an impression on each other. Over the next few days, they can go from perfectly agreeable to snarky attitudes in a heartbeat. Jane tries to put Josh out of her mind by going out with Dr. Mark Jamieson. It's all for nothing when they encounter Josh with Miss Barton. I thought Mark was lovely with his acceptance that they weren't meant to be and that he and Jane still had a good time. Josh didn't seem quite as content in his role. He won points with me when he came to the rescue after Jane's apartment was ransacked. His protectiveness was sweet and gave me hope for the future. I wasn't sure what would happen when Josh disappeared after all the trouble and Jane didn't hear from him. I didn't blame her for leaving her temp job early to head to her parents' home to recover. I loved the scene on the train and Josh's big moment.
 
It was a lot of fun reading this vintage story. The descriptions brought those earlier days into sharp focus. Reading about how Jane got dressed to go out for the afternoon and grabbed a fresh pair of white gloves before leaving created a vivid picture in my mind. The clothing descriptions were interesting and set the mood for their scenes.