Table of Contents
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Hotlists 2008
Crime Fiction - embedded
Seeing Stars
Lists of (mostly) hardcover books which received at least one starred review (indicating a work of unusual merit) from the following review sources: Booklist , Publisher's Weekly (PW), Kirkus and Library Journal (LJ).
The review journal assigns the star.
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Overbooked specializes in providing timely information about fiction (all genres) and readable nonfiction. Overbooked has been online since 1994. Overbooked is a work in progress . . .
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Starred Reviews
Romance & Romantic Suspense Stars 2004
September 9, 2008
Annotations are from Advance, the Ingram Book Magazine - unless otherwise noted.
2004
- Kissing Frogs
Author: Altom, Laura Marie
Publisher: Dorchester $ 5.99 (paper) ISBN: 0505525682 Date: 2004
Booklist
Biologist Lucy Gordon dreams of discovering a new species of frog. When she finds one, she joyfully gives it a kiss--and it transforms into a bad-boy medieval prince.
Updated 12.15.03 - Hissy Fit
Author: Andrews, Mary Kay
Publisher: HarperCollins $ 24.95 ISBN: 0060564644 Date: 2004LJ
Welcome to the wonderful world of bestselling author Mary Kay Andrews, where the bourbon is cold, the manners are genteel, and a cheating varmint of an ex-fianc gets the comeuppance he so richly deserves.
Suggested Reading: Antiques Mysteries
Updated 7.13.04 - Slightly Sinful
Author: Balogh, Mary
Publisher: Dell $ 6.50 (paper) ISBN: 0440236606 Date: 2004PW
In this outing of Balogh's saga of the six Bedwyn brothers and sisters, passionate middle son Alleyne Bedwyn is cut off from his past only to find his future with a beautiful woman he'll risk everything to love.
Updated 4.19.04 - A Hard Man Is Good To Find
Author: Blackwood, Jane
Publisher: Zebra $ 5.99 (paper) ISBN: 0821776169 Date: 2004Booklist
In this lighthearted romance, a Pulitzer Prize-winning journalist takes over a small-town newspaper. Soon he's alienating the staff and igniting sparks with a sexy, smart-mouthed reporter who's determined to uncover his real story.
Updated 11.29.04 - My Seduction
Author: Brockway, Connie
Publisher: Pocket $ 6.99 (paper) ISBN: 0743463226 Date: 2004Booklist
The "USA Today" bestselling author whisks readers to Regency-era Scotland with an exciting new romance trilogy--a scintillating, passionate, and surprising love story of three mysterious Highlanders and the women they are pledged to protect.
Updated 6.1.04 - My Pleasure
Author: Brockway, Connie
Publisher: Pocket $ 6.99 ISBN: 0743463234 Date: 2004Booklist
In the second title in the Regency-era Rose Hunters trilogy, Helena Nash works as the companion of an overbearing society matron and her great-niece, Flora. When Helena helps Flora secretly marry a poor nobleman, her actions lead her to the dangerous side of London and into the arms of swordsman Ramsey Munro.
Updated 11.2.04 - A Deal With
the Devil
Author: Carlyle, Liz
Publisher: Pocket $ 6.99 (paper) ISBN: 0743470036 Date: 2004Booklist
The USA Today bestselling author of The Devil You Know pens a shimmering novel about a Scottish noblewoman on the run from her past and a powerful English lord brought to his knees by desire.
Updated 3.11.04 - Miss Wonderful
Author: Chase, Loretta
Publisher: Berkley $ 6.99 (paper) ISBN: 0425194833 Date: 2004Booklist
The beloved USA Today bestselling author offers her long-awaited new novel--the tale of a bluestocking and a reformed rake who clash over a matter of business, and soon find themselves facing an entirely different sort of tension.
Updated 3.22.04 - Kate Hannigan
Author: Cookson, Catherine
Publisher: Simon & Schuster $ 25 ISBN: 0743237730 Date: 2004Kirkus
A sweeping historical romance about love across the social divide, this classic first novel--the one that launched the career of England's late, great Cookson--is now available in the U.S. in hardcover for the first time.
Suggested Reading: Fiction & Mystery Debuts | Historical Fiction Stars
Updated 11.24.03 - Bet Me
Author: Crusie, Jennifer
Publisher: St Martins $ 22.95 ISBN: 0312303467 Date: 2004Kirkus
The biggest gamble of all is true love in this story about long shots, risk management, and great shoes--the best novel yet from the author of Faking It.
Suggested Reading: Best Bets
Updated 12.10.03 - Daisy's Back
in Town
Author: Gibson, Rachel
Publisher: Avon $ 6.99 (paper) ISBN: 006000925x Date: 2004PW
Former cheerleader Daisy Lee Monroe returns to her hometown of Lovett, Texas, to rock the world of Jackson Lamont Parrish--the bad boy she left behind--in this sassy, hot, and hilarious treat from the RITA Award-winning author.
Updated 1.26.04 - Moon in the Water
Author: Grayson, Elizabeth
Publisher: Bantam $ 6.50 (paper) ISBN: 0553584243 Date: 2004Booklist
Against the beauty, danger, and romance of the wild Missouri River country, two souls seek to make their marriage of convenience into something more in this compelling historical romance.
Updated 3.22.04 - A Tale of
Two Vikings
Author: Hill, Sandra
Publisher: Dorchester $ 6.99 (paper) ISBN: 0843951583 Date: 2004Booklist
When twin Viking brothers are separated during battle, each must find a way to cope. But when the way leads each into the arms of two beautiful, feisty women, the warriors learn that love, too, is a battlefield.
Updated 4.21.04 - The Cajun Cowboy
Author: Hill, Sandra
Publisher: Warner Forever $ 5.99 ISBN: 0446612952 Date: 2004Booklist
Louisiana hair stylist Charmaine LeDeux discovers that there is a second chance for love with Raoul Lanier, the man she thought she had divorced who tells her they are still married.
Updated 6.10.04 - The Sun Witch
Author: Jones, Linda Winstead
Publisher: Berkley $ 6.99 (paper) ISBN: 0425199401 Date: 2004Booklist
This first book in Jones's new Sister of the Sun trilogy introduces the three Fyne sisters, who live under a curse that makes true love unattainable for them. When youngest sister Sophie meets the soldier of her dreams, she discovers Nature has gifted her with fertility.
Updated 12.6.04 - Dangerous Deceptions
Author: Kerstan, Lynn
Publisher: Signet $ 7.50 (paper) ISBN: 0451212487 Date: 2004Booklist
The award-winning author of Heart of the Tiger begins a trilogy about a secretive fellowship dedicated to righting wrongs in the highest circles of Regency society, and the men and women who risk their lives--and their hearts--for justice.
Updated 10.4.04 - Secrets of a Summer Night
Author: Kleypas, Lisa
Publisher: Avon $ 6.99 ISBN: 0060091290 Date: 2004PW
This first title of a delectable new series introduces the delightful, husband-hunting "Wallflowers"--four young ladies who enter London society with the common goal of marriage. Here, Annabelle Peyton is determined to resist the titleless yet equally resolute seducer, Simon Hunt.
Updated 10.12.04 - The Marriage Test
Author: Krahn, Betina
Publisher: Berkley $ 6.99 ISBN: 0425196453 Date: 2004Booklist
The bestselling author of The Husband Test and The Wife Test returns to the Convent of the Brides of Virtue, where a proper young lady is about to learn some things about the way to a man's heart.
Updated 5.7.04 - Dirty Little
Lies
Author: Lane, Connie
Publisher: Dell $ 6.50 (paper) ISBN: 0440237475 Date: 2004Booklist
In this hilarious, action-packed tale, a sophisticated FBI agent is assigned to protect a Midwestern beauty queen from a stalker with ties to her past.
Suggested Reading: Adult Books for Teens
Updated 2.23.04 - Playing James
Author: Mason, Sarah
Publisher: Ballantine $ 12.95 (paper) ISBN: 0345469550 Date: 2004LJ
A hilarious and charming debut novel, Playing James follows an adorable rookie crime reporter as she takes on love, loot, and a certain boy in blue.
Suggested Reading: Debuts | Chicklit | Adult Books for Teens
Updated 4.5.04 - The Shadow Runners
Author: Maverick, Liz
Publisher: Lovespell $ 6.99 (paper) ISBN: 0505525895 Date: 2004Booklist
The third title in the 2176 series that features heroines who help restore democracy to the world and find love along the way. Falsely imprisoned, an escaped convict from a moon colony is asked to return to the place of her imprisonment by the one man she cannot trust--the man who stole her heart.
Updated 11.29.04 - Forget Me Not
Author: Melton, Marliss
Publisher: Warner $ 5.99 (paper) ISBN: 0446614823 Date: 2004Booklist
Helen Renault's missing Navy SEAL husband Gabe is presumed dead. She learns that Gabe is alive but has no memory. Under Helen's care, he begins to heal. With his memories returning, others will do anything in their power to make sure he stays silent.
Updated 10.4.04 - Wedded Bliss
Author: Metzger, Barbara
Publisher: Signet $ 6.99 (paper) ISBN: 0451208595 Date: 2004Booklist
The RITA Award-winning author delivers a heart full of bliss with this witty Regency tale of a bride who must convince her groom that love is more important than convenience.
Suggested Reading: Adult Books for Teens
Updated 3.11.04 - The Butler Did It
Author: Michaels, Kasey
Publisher: Harlequin $ 6.50 (paper) ISBN: 0373770065 Date: 2004PW
In this brand-new Regency romance, Morgan Drummond, the Marquis of Westham, finds his passions stirred when he meets debutante Emma Clifford, who is staying at his residence thanks to the Drummond's enterprising butler and a discreet classified ad.
Updated 8.23.04 - Run No More
Author: Mulvany, Catherine
Publisher: Pocket Star $ 6.99 (paper) ISBN: 0743493834 Date: 2004Booklist
This first novel by a talented newcomer is a stunning paranormal romantic suspense tale about a woman who must travel through time to save the man she loves.
Suggested Reading: Debuts
Updated 9.7.04 - The Power of Two
Author: O'Shea, Patti
Publisher: Lovespell $ 6.99 (paper) ISBN: 0505525933 Date: 2004Booklist
In the fourth title of this futuristic, action-adventure series, elite operative Cai Randolph must find an enigmatic figure named Banzai McGuire. Now more than ever Cai needs her partner, the dark-souled Jacob Tucker, to trust her completely.
Updated 11.29.04 - The Paid Companion
Author: Quick, Amanda
Publisher: Putnam $ 24.95 ISBN: 0399151745 Date: 2004KirkusBooklist
His intentions are purely practical. The Earl of St. Merryn seeks a woman to pose as his finace for a few weeks to keep the husband-hunters at bay while he goes about his business. The plan never included falling in love.
Updated 4.6.04 - Northern Lights
Author: Roberts, Nora
Publisher: Putnam $ 25.95 ISBN: 0399152059 Date: 2004KirkusPW
Lunacy was Nate Burke's last chance. As a Baltimore cop, he'd watched his partner die on the street--and the guilt still haunts him. With nowhere else to go, he accepts the job as Chief of Police in this tiny, remote Alaskan town, where he unearths the secrets and suspicions that lurk beneath Lunacy's placid surface. And his discovery will threaten the new life--and the new love--that he has finally found for himself.
Updated 9.6.04 - The Christmas Matchmaker
Author: Savery, Jeanne
Publisher: Zebra $ 4.99 (paper) ISBN: 0821776533 Date: 2004Booklist
It's a Christmas full of unexpected romance when a man rescues a widow and her child from a raging snowstorm and brings them along to a house party for the holidays.
Updated 10.4.04
Hotlists
African American Fiction | Christian Fiction
2008 Excel Files: (download - print, sort, etc.)
Crime Fiction | Fiction | African American Fiction | Christian Fiction | Nonfiction Notables
Stars
Fiction: Jan-June | July-Dec Crime Fiction: Jan-June | July-Dec
Speculative Fiction Romance Historical Nonfiction | YA
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