April 18, 2008 The Romance Book Club’s April meeting focused its discussion on Thunder and Roses (Fallen Angel Series) by Mary Jo Putney. Participants really enjoyed this book, particularly due to its characters depth, development and growth as well as the lessons they learned and the respect they showed for one another, even when they were hurting. Other books in the Fallen Angel Series include: Thunder and Roses Petals in the Storm (revised from The Controversial Countess) Dancing on the Wind Angel Rogue Shattered Rainbows River of Fire One Perfect Rose Several in this series can be found on Bookshare. Should anyone wish to explore Mary JO Putney’s books further, visit her website at maryjoputney.com where many books, both contemporary and historical romances can be found. On Friday, May 16, 2008, Angels Fall, by Nora Roberts, a romance suspense novel, (with a little mystery and some romance) will be discussed. This book is available on Bookshare, or as RC 62893 through your regional library. Synopsis: Reece Gilmore knows there's a killer loose in Angel's Fist, Wyoming—even if gruff loner Brody, despite his seeming impatience and desire to keep her at arm's length, is the only one willing to believe her. When a series of menacing events makes it clear that someone wants her out of the way, Reece must put her trust in Brody—and herself—before it's too late. After suffering a terrible shock, Reece Gilmore is slowly starting to put her life back together. Leaving her home in Boston, she travels around the country; when she arrives in Wyoming, her car refuses to go any further. Planning on staying only until she earns enough money to fix her car, she takes a job as a cook in the Angel Food Cafe. As she gets to know her new boss, co-workers and the other residents of the town, including Brody, an annoyingly stubborn yet mysteriously sexy writer, she starts to believe that for the first time, she may have found a place she might actually want to call home. Reece's hard-won happiness and sense of security is threatened, however, when she becomes not only the sole witness to a murder but also the next target of the killer. Other Books Which Were Recommended But Not Chosen: Light In Shadow by Jayne Ann Krentz Synopsis: Hiding behind an expensive, black-market-created identity, Zoe Luce has built a successful interior design business in Whispering Springs, Arizona, and hopes she has successfully buried her past. She can't ignore her unique psychic abilities, and when she walks into a new client's bedroom and hears the walls scream and moan, she knows something terrible has happened in the house. Did her client murder his wife? She's determined to find out, but investigating a possible murder is beyond her expertise, so Zoe turns to Ethan Truax, a private detective new to the community. Solving the murder is easy for Ethan compared to the complicated enigma that he finds in Zoe. Mysterious nightmares haunt her and when a would-be blackmailer is found dead, her past inexorably collides with her new life, threatening their dreams of a future together. Though this book is currently not available on Bookshare, the National Library Service offers it as RC 55520 or in WebBraille as BR 14598. Lady Be Good By Susan Elizabeth Phillips Synopsis: Flying from England to Texas, Lady Emma Wells-Finch meets world-famous pro golfer Kenny Traveler. She assumes that he's a gigolo and decides that he's just the man to relieve her of her virginity in order to get the stuffy, Duke of Beddington out of her hair. Kenny's need to avoid scandal to save his career conflicts with Emma's need to invent scandal to free her from her English admirer. In another plot line, Kenny's flighty sister, Torrie, as beautiful as Kenny is handsome is being forced by her father to marry geek Dexter O'Conner. These two characters also have their work cut out for them, for Kenny and Torrie's respective childhoods have left them scarred and incapable of adult relationships. This book is available from NLS as RC 48952. Trust Me by Jayne Ann Krentz Synopsis: In this romance, struggling young Seattle businesswoman Desdemona Wainwright meets reclusive super-rich computer genius Sam Stark. Hired to cater Stark's wedding reception, Desdemona is left with the bill when Stark is left at the altar. The account settled, she finds herself attracted to the emotionally aloof Stark. When Desdemona backs away from their increasingly intense relationship, Stark responds by hiring her to cater parties for Stark Security Systems-on the condition that she act as his hostess. During a swank party at his home, someone tries to make off with ARCANE, his new, top-secret encryption and decryption software. Stark is certain Desdemona's jealously overprotective stepbrother, Tony, is to blame. After Desdemona hires Stark's own company to prove Tony innocent, matters take some dangerous turns, including murder. Read this book through NLS as RC 40282. Jill suggested a romance author she likes is Rosamunde Pilcher. Some of her books which are on Bookshare are: September The Shellseekers Another View The End of Summer Snow in April We look forward to seeing you at our May, 16 meeting! As always, we welcome your suggestions! Happy reading. The Romance Book Club Team silvara@xxxxxxx slumpkin@xxxxxxxxxxxxx ***** Grace Please sponsor me in the march for independence, Walk for Opportunity in Dallas Texas. Any amount will help, no matter how small. Proceeds benefit the National Federation of the Blind Jernigan institute. http://nfb.convio.net/site/TR/Events/General?px=1095161&pg=personal&fr_id=1040