Week ending July 1, 2016

Hoyt, Elizabeth. Once upon a Moonlit Night. Forever Yours: Grand Central. (Maiden Lane, Bk. 10.5). Jul. 2016. 100p. ebk. ISBN 9781455539178. $1.99. HISTORICAL ROMANCE
Kidnapped and desperate to escape a mad duke intent on marriage, Hippolyta Royle flings herself in front of a carriage, hoping to barter safe passage to London in exchange for a hefty reward from her father. The lone passenger, Matthew Mortimer, newly anointed Earl of Paxton, agrees to help her but doesn’t believe she is the wealthy heiress she claims to be. Forced together on the road, Matthew swiftly develops a protective instinct over the hapless Hippolyta. Unfortunately, the two are discovered at a roadside inn, so Matthew agrees to marry her to save her reputation. Unbeknownst to him, his new wife is hiding a secret heritage that comes back to haunt them both and risk Hippolyta’s reputation anew.
Verdict Hoyt (Duke of Sin) opens with an action-packed scene and keeps a quick pace throughout. Sadly, Hippolyta’s continuous blunders and the churlish Matthew make for a less than empathetic pairing until the very end, leaving series fans somewhat disappointed in the couple’s unflattering portrayal. Unique elements, such as a pet mongoose, help to flesh out a plot that feels rushed.—Eve Stano, Lincoln Lib., Springfield, IL

Smith, Lauren D.M. The Emperor’s Arrow. Carina: Harlequin. Jul. 2016. 340p. ebk. ISBN 9781460397435. $4.99. FANTASY ROMANCE
[DEBUT] When Emperor Galen requests bride candidates, Evony is sent as the representative of the Amazzi, known for their warrior women. While she is honor-bound to serve the emperor, she has no desire to become empress. However, throughout the bridal competition, Galen and Evony become closer. He reveals that there is a rebellion against him and the main reason for bringing in these candidates is to determine where his subjects’ loyalties lie. Evony agrees to do all in her power to protect him and undermine the rebels’ plot, but the more she spends time with Galen, the more she begins to see him as not just her emperor but also as her possible lifemate. The Grand Prize winner in Harlequin’s 2015 So You Think You Can Write contest.
Verdict While the plot is exciting and the straightforward writing makes the pace move quickly, awkward wording and a tendency to tell rather than show can take the reader out of the story. The relationship feels underdeveloped, with the chemistry never quite hitting the mark. A fun but flawed epic fantasy romance, but readers who appreciate strong heroines will love Evony.—Jenna Friebel, Deerfield P.L., IL

Zabo, Anna. Due Diligence. InterMix: Berkley. (Takeover, Bk. 3). Jun. 2016. 270p. ebk. ISBN 9781101989142. $3.99. LGBTQ EROTIC ROMANCE
Fazil Kurt and Eli Ovadia are on assignment in Seattle, far from their Pittsburgh home office. Their job is to improve business operations at Singularity Storage, a struggling data tech company. When Fazil realizes that one of the company’s engineers is also his ex–high school boyfriend, Todd Douglas, the past comes rushing to the surface. Todd never understood why Fazil ran away from him 15 years ago to attend college in California when he could have studied at the local university. Even worse, Fazil never returned Todd’s many phone calls or letters, so Todd never received an explanation. The sexual attraction and deep feelings between Fazil and Todd are still white hot, but will the hurt from the past prove to be insurmountable again?
Verdict The third installment in Zabo’s “Takeover” series (after Takeover and Just Business) reads well as a stand-alone novel. The complex emotions of Fazil and Todd’s reignited romance will draw readers in, while their sexual interactions burn with intensity.—Vicky Coffin, Eastern Connecticut State Univ., Willimantic