Week ending May 9, 2014
Fenske, Tawna. Frisky Business. Sourcebooks Casablanca. May 2014. 343p. ISBN 9781402293153. pap. $6.99; ebk. ISBN 9781402293160. CONTEMPORARY ROMANCE
The Cascade Historical Society and Wildlife Sanctuary (CHS/WS) in Bend, OR, is the perfect spot for former Portland fundraiser Marley Cartman. Leaving her fiancé behind wasn’t as difficult as it could have been, and Marley sees her new job as director of donor development for CHS/WS as a fresh start. She also finds a new companion in a mixed-breed dog named Magoo. From the scruffy appearance of Will, the volunteer who introduces her to Magoo, Marley assumes he’s a blue-collar guy, which leads her to reconsider her dating requirements: maybe men with a smaller bank account would suit her better. Will, aka William Barclay V, might be an iconoclast, but as the multimillionaire chair of the board of CHS/WS, or Cheez Whiz, he is anything but blue collar. Will has trust issues, though, after his ex-wife came out as half of a loving couple with Will’s sister. Something about Marley’s reticence to discuss her past makes Will wary. Is this any way to begin a relationship?
Verdict Loaded with outrageous euphemisms for the sex act between any type of couple and repeated near intimate misses, Fenske’s (Believe It or Not) latest is a clever tour de force on finding love despite being your own worst emotional enemy. Sweet and slightly oddball, this title belongs in most romance collections.—Bette-Lee Fox, Library Journal
Gross, Andrew. Everything To Lose. Morrow. May 2014. 336p. ISBN 9780061656002. $26.99; ebk. ISBN 9780062196378. F
In Gross’s (15 Seconds; No Way Back) 12th thriller, Hilary Blum, a jobless and financially strapped divorcée, witnesses a freakish car accident. After rushing to help, she discovers a dead driver and a satchel crammed with half a million dollars. Deciding to grab the money entangles her in a prominent politician’s cover-up of three murders. Hilary joins up with Patrick Kelty, the son of the deceased driver. Together they uncover the murderous blackmailing conspiracy that the money was meant to silence.
Verdict Having learned the tricks of the trade after coauthoring five titles with James Patterson, Gross has developed into a solid formula writer, cranking out exciting, propulsive thrillers every year, each filled with the customary adrenaline-fueled, nonstop action, heart-gripping suspense, and harrowing climax. In his latest book, Gross engages readers with a strong, emotionally laden plot characterized by familial vengeance and unexpected twists. [See Prepub Alert, 11/10/13.]—Jerry P. Miller. Cambridge, MA
Kendal, Claire. The Book of You. Harper. May 2014. 368p. ISBN 9780062297600. $25.99; ebk. ISBN 9780062297624. F
Clarissa is a juror on a violent case of stalking and manipulation. Day after day, she is forced to listen to the testimony of a woman who has been hunted by someone who said he loved her. Likewise, when Clarissa walks out of the courtroom, she knows that her own stalker is waiting for her. Ever since that one mistaken night, Rafe has followed her, watching her every move. He sends her gifts and floods her voice mail with messages. Rafe is clever and masks his true intentions under the guise of kindness. As the trial and her own nightmare develop on a parallel plane, Clarissa devises a plan to rid herself of Rafe forever. In order to obtain her freedom, she must decide how far she is willing to go to survive.
Verdict Kendal’s debut novel is a palpitating tale of obsession and dangerously unrequited love. Fans of Gone Girl and The Silent Wife will enjoy the delectable tension right up until the heart-stopping conclusion. [See Prepub Alert, 11/11/13.]—Caitlin Beauregard, MLIS, New York