Reviewed by Gannon Carr
Publisher: Signet
4.75 stars

A spunky American ghostbuster, a handsome, brooding Scot, and a crew of mischievous ghosts come together in this witty, warmhearted paranormal from author Cindy Miles.  I was hooked from the first page and by the time I closed the book I had a sappy, contented smile on my face.

Gabe MacGowan is trying to sell Odin’s Thumb Inn and Pub, so he and his young son, Jake can have a more normal life away from the ghosts that inhabit the inn.  But these spirits are not what is really haunting Gabe; it’s his wife death.  But the ghosts have other ideas about Gabe and Jake leaving. They continue to frighten prospective buyers, so Gabe is forced to contact a “ghostbuster” to rid him of these pesky…

Reviewed by Gannon Carr
Publisher: Onyx
4.5 stars

Connie Brockway has long been an auto buy author for me.  So when she switched from historical to contemporary, I followed along and was not disappointed.  Both of Ms. Brockway’s contemps were warm and witty—vintage Brockway.  Now, she has returned to her beloved historicals with a delightful, engaging story filled with romance and magic.  As the title says, it is indeed So Enchanting.

From the time she was a child, Fanny Walcott had the unique ability to commune with animals; they responded to her emotions.   For the most part, her family and friends found it charming, but one day she has a row with her brother and he is attacked and injured by a pack of dogs that are stirred into a frenzy by Fanny’s anger. …

Reviewed by Gannon Carr
4.5 stars

Fans of medieval romance are in for a treat with this charming tale from Lynsay Sands.  Filled with intrigue, suspense and liberally sprinkled with humor, Devil of the Highlands is a perfect book to start the New Year.

Evelinde d’Aumesbury has the stepmother from hell.  When Edda, her stepmother, informs Evelinde that she is to be married to the “Devil of Donnachaidh”, Evelinde is horrified. Marrying the infamous “Devil” is a daunting prospect for Evelinde, but it can’t be worse than living with the malicious Edda.  When the betrothed first meet—under strange and amusing circumstances—Evelinde does not realize she’s getting up close (and very personal) with the “Devil”.   The attraction is instant and powerful, but Evelinde knows she can’t betray her betrothed—even if she’s never met him—with…

Reviewed by Gannon Carr
Publisher: Avon
4 stars

In order to fulfill the unusual terms of her grandmother’s will, Fiona MacCarran needs to paint pictures of fairies that she actually sees—for a book her brother is writing—and find a wealthy, titled Highlander to marry.  Thinking this is impossible, Fiona accepts a teaching job in the Highlands teaching the children of Clan MacGregor.  When she meets Dougal MacGregor, laird of the clan, Fiona is captivated by the tall, dark and oh so handsome Highlander.  With a reputation as a smuggler, Dougal definitely does not fit Fiona’s requirements for a wealthy husband, but once she’s in his arms, family duty no longer seems important.

Dougal MacGregor became laird at the age of fourteen when his father was shot by revenue officers who thought he smuggling illicit…

Reviewed by Gannon Carr
Publisher: Avon
4.75 stars

Lorraine Heath returns to her Scoundrels of St. James series with the story of Jack Dodger, the consummate rake, and Olivia Stanford, the widowed duchess, who has the pleasure—oh, yes!—of reforming him.  Oh, how I envied her!  Jack is a wealthy, devilish scoundrel who inspires a great deal of sighing and swooning.

Jack Dodger, formerly known as the Artful Dodger, has left the filth and danger of the London rookeries behind and is now the wealthy owner of one of London’s most exclusive gentlemen’s clubs.   Because of his poverty-stricken childhood, making money is the most important thing to Jack.  The ladies of the ton love to gossip about the deliciously wicked Mr. Dodger and his den of iniquity.  Of course, they would never dream of associating…

A virgin hero.  Honestly, I never even considered the thought while I was devouring historical romances.  Because in a traditional historical, the heroine is always the virgin, not the hero.  Someone has to know what they are doing and that someone is always the hero.  And then in 1991 I read Diana Gabaldon’s Outlander and “met” Jamie Fraser, my first virgin hero.

For those of you who have never read Outlander or the rest of Gabaldon’s incredible series (what are you waiting for?!), I’ll give you a quick synopsis.  It’s 1945 and Claire Randall, a former combat nurse, is back from the war and on a second honeymoon in the Scottish Highlands with her husband, Frank.  One day, she’s exploring a stone circle and when she touches one of the stones she is…