Debut Novels from Carina Press

After five years of covering seedy Eastern European politics, Laura Thorsen returns to Canada only to run afoul of the mob. When they try to kill her over an explosive exposé, she flees to her secluded childhood home in the Yukon. Little does she know that her estranged mother is also being haunted—by the ghosts of her dead husband and a former lover who disappeared thirty-four years ago.

Their nearest neighbor, Mack Hawkins, is drawn into the action when mobsters track Laura down. Despite her protests, he insists on his own brand of personal protection, and desire soon sparks between them. But in this race for time, will Laura be able to evade those who want her dead and mend her relationship with her mother before it’s too late?

This is one of those experimental locations that Carina Press is rapidly becoming known for. This is the Yukon we’re talking about. As in the far, far northern reaches of Canada. Land of auroras. And snow. And ice. And in this novel, the mob. I can see a lot of fun with this. I mean, how many members of the mob are prepared for a place like the Yukon?

Allegra Fairweather here. Paranormal investigator. Got problems with specters? Shapeshifters? I’m the woman to call. Just don’t call me a Ghostbuster. The last guy who did that ended up flat on his back with my boot at his throat.

With my 99.5% success rate, solving the mystery of a bleeding rose that has sprung up on the shores of Loch Furness should have been an easy gig. But already I’ve heard the shriek of the local banshee, discovered two bodies (and then lost two bodies), and had a near-death encounter with a three-hundred-year-old ghost. And perhaps most dangerous of all, the hot pub owner who hired me now wants to show me exactly what’s under his kilt.

Luckily, I’m ably assisted by my very own guardian angel. I’m grateful for his help—but he’s also drop-dead gorgeous. A bit distracting when I’ve got a mystery to solve, and the clock is ticking…

I bought this one just the other day. It looks fun, although I hope she goes for the Scot and not the angel. We’ll have to see how it works out. So far, I don’t have an ebook reader–just my iPod touch and Adobe Digital Editions. Which means I probably won’t be reading these very quickly until I do get that reader. I’m leaning toward the cheap Nook that just came out.

Rafe had never met a truly irresistible woman, until he met Liberty.

Libby has the kind of beauty that comes on slow—strikes a guy the longer he looks. And Rafe sure is having a fine time looking, and touching, and loving Liberty Starr.

The only problem is that Rafe is pretending to be just another cowboy down on his luck. Working for the FBI, he’s come to Stone Hill, Colorado, to investigate the man Libby loves like a father.

He was just another cowboy.

Free-spirited Libby offers him a job and a place to stay. Together they spark like wildfire, their intense passion filling their days and nights. But Rafe is only in town for the summer, and while Liberty is willing to risk her heart, secrets threaten any possibility of a future together…

Woah, look at that cover! This is way racier than the novels I usually showcase, but I promise that this is as racy as it will get. I don’t want to blow out your monitors, after all.

Duty will bring them together—and tear them apart!

As a guardian angel, Mischa must protect the one man who may be able to bring about lasting peace to the Middle East. As a djinni, Rafe must fulfill the wishes of a terrorist leader. Their duties colliding, Mischa and Rafe become foes, but the heat between them is undeniable.

When the terrorist learns that a guardian angel stands between him and his greatest wish, he orders his djinni to remove her. Taking creative license, Rafe spirits her away to his private oasis, where she will be unable to protect the peacemaker.

Beyond their mutual desire, they find common ground in honor and loneliness. Passion quickly grows into love. But it’s soon clear to Rafe that love cannot be bound, and Mischa must be true to her life’s purpose. Even if Rafe must sacrifice his own taste of freedom to grant hers…

Oh, and you should know that the shorter these books are, the lower the price. This is a novella, fewer than 25, 000 words. Which means you could read it in about an evening.  I won this one in a contest. So far, it’s way steamier than I usually read, but I was pulled in by premise and the great conflict that is evident in the blurb.

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So how have I decided to handle reviews of Carina Press novels? Well for one, if I’m interested, I’ll buy them. If I read them and enjoy them, I’ll give them a regular review, with a disclaimer that I’m having a hard time being impartial. If I don’t enjoy any particular novel, I most likely will simply not mention it beyond the showcase.

I’m open to suggestions.