She's changed her name to Mandy Barrister. She's been working at Sid's Cafe in downtown Chicago for three months when someone finally catches her. He is U. S. Marshall Jared Copeland. He is especially interested in capturing Lola the showgirl from the Zodiac Hotel and Casino in Las Vegas. He believes she let his partner bleed to death from a minor wound by running away without seeking aid for him.

The truth is Jared's partner was shot eight times and Lola tried to save him. He pressed a tape recorder in her hand, told her he was already dead and screamed at her to run. She did. She used a pay phone to call 911 and requested an ambulance. There was no record of that call.

Lola knew and the tape showed that the victim knew his murderer and that the murderer was another Marshal. Lola knew that the Marshal's Office was corrupt, so she didn't trust Jared any more than she trusted the mob.

The only person Jared told he had Lola in a hotel outside Chicago was his superior officer in the Marshal's Office. When a hit-man shows up to kill them, Jared begins to believe Lola and she begins to trust Jared. They decide they can avoid the U. S. Marshals on their way to Washington, D. C. to turn themselves in, but they can't avoid the feelings they have for each other.

SHE WAS A SHOWGIRL is an exciting romance you won't want to put down.

MIDNIGHT HOUR by Jenna Howard is a glimpse into the life of Scorpio, an assassin who murders on command for the Zone Of Defense In Armed Conflict, or Z. O. D. I. A. C., as it is more commonly called by those few in our government who know of its existence.

Under the guise of Mathilda Adamson she travels the world as a super model with her photographer, Alain, a. k. a. Leo. Together they rid the world of the monsters who are so evil the law can't touch them.

Mattie socialized with the rich and famous. She always managed to remain aloof until she met Max Grayson, millionaire, widower, father to eight year old Bree, and lover extraordinaire. They promised each other that the relationship wouldn't get serious. They'd have fun and sex together and that would be all. Max ruined it all by telling Mattie that he loved her.

Mattie loved the time she spent at Max's estate with his daughter, Bree, and his mother, Sandrine. They were like the family she'd never had. Mattie had fallen in love with them all against her wishes. But Max made things impossible by speaking the words and expecting Mattie to say them back.

Mattie wanted the relationship and the life that Max offered more than anything, but she knew it could never be. When Max found out who she was and what she did, he'd turn his back in disgust. She could never let him find out about her.

Mattie decided to back away from the relationship, but she couldn't refuse to pick up Bree at school when Sandrine had a migraine. Bree wasn't at school when Mattie got there. She'd been taken by a man who said he was her father. She'd been kidnapped.

Mattie got a phone call from her father, the monster who had molested and abused her, murdered her three year old baby brother and molested and killed several other young girls in the years since Mattie escaped him. He had Bree.

Max was so angry when Mattie left to meet Alain to take a modeling job when her father was holding Bree that he told her to never come back. It broke her heart but she had to leave to save Bree. She couldn't tell Max who she was or where she was really going.

Max followed her to apologize and ran into Scorpio with her Glock at the ready. He didn't even ask questions. He just trusted her. Alain convinced Mattie to let Max come along because he wasn't the type to stay behind and do nothing. He told Mattie she might as well tell Max who she was because he'd never believe the model story now.

Would Mattie be able to face her past to save Bree from her monster of a father? Would Max be able to accept Mattie now that he knew who and what she really was? Would he hold it against her that her father kidnapped Bree? Would they be able to save Bree before her father molested her or worse? Would Max and Bree look at her differently if she had to kill her father in front of them?

MIDNIGHT HOUR is an exciting mystery suspense with surprising twists.

THE ZODIAC SERIES: SCORPIO is an enjoyable book with sexy love stories and just the right amount of mystery and suspense.

Overall rating:
Sensuality rating: Explicit

Reviewer: Karen H.
November 30, 2005