Sacred Sins by Nora Roberts (Bantam, 1987)

STATS: There’s a killer strangling slender, pretty blondes with the white silk scarf of a priest and Ben Paris is the magnetic police sergeant assigned to the case. 

THE LOOK: “His profile was in shadows, struck intermittently by streetlights.  It was funny how sometimes he looked safe, solid, the kinds of man a woman might run to if it were dark.  Then the light struck his face another way, and the planes and angles were highlighted.  A woman might run from him.” 

LEADING LADY: Tess Court is a shrink who believes “The Priest” is in pain and seeking help.  She’s immediately drawn to Ben despite his resistance to her theories.  He’s immediately drawn to her, struck by her elegance and the cool wash of her violet eyes. 

There’s a particularly funny scene when Ben is trying to romance Tess and he gets a call from one of his lady friends:

“It didn’t take a trained psychiatrist to understand there was a woman on the other end.  Tess smiled into her drink and went back to the view.

‘No, I’ve been tied up.  Look, sugar—“  The minute the word was out, he winced.  Tess kept her back to him.  “I’m on a case, you know?  No, I didn’t forget about..I didn’t forget.  Listen, I’ll have to get back to you when things lighten up.  I don’t know, weeks, maybe months.  You really ought to try that marine.  Sure.  See ya.’  He hung up, cleared his throat, and reached for his drink again.  ‘Wrong number.’

It was so easy to laugh. She turned, leaned against the windowsill, and gave into it.  ‘Oh, really?’

‘Enjoyed that, didn’t you?’

‘Immensely.’

‘If I’d known you’d get such a kick out of it, I’d have invited her up.’”

J  Love Ben.

BOTTOM LINE: Ben is a tough cop who often butts heads with Tess, but he always makes me think of a gentleman.  Just like his description above, he’s a bit of a riddle—gentlemanly but capable of ripping someone’s head off if he needs to protect the public or the woman he loves.  This is probably Nora in my favorite phase, concentrating on just a couple of characters and drawing out the story so we get to really enjoy it.  

QUESTION OF THE DAY: Ever been in an awkward situation and had to laugh your way out of it?  

CONNAL MACNEIL

Charm Stone by Donna Kauffman (Bantam 2002)

If you’re a fan of Karen Marie Moning, consider reading this one!

Connal MacNeil’s spirit has been waiting for his betrothed to show up on Scotland’s roaring shores.  When she does, she’s modern-day surfer Josie Griffin, who, after a tumultuous wipeout, found his clan’s stone and put it on.  Only, she doesn’t know the significance of that act, and even when she does, she’s not willing to accept it. 

STATS: 

Connal has bargained his soul for one last chance to save his clan.  When Josie shows up, his first words are, “I believe you have something that belongs to me.”  When he finds out she’s worn the stone, he informs her she is his, as well.  And when she says she’s not a fan of Fate or Destiny, Connal calmly tells her “I’ll convince ye otherwise.” 

THE LOOK:

“He was tall, ruggedly built, his dark hair pulled back from his face.  Unlike most of the men she’d seen in Scotland, he actually wore a kilt, with the excess tartan tossed over his shoulder like a cloak.  The fabric was worn, the colors faded, like a favorite pair of jeans.  And he looked just as natural in it.  Beneath the plaid was a shirt that might have been linen, but in the growing dusk it was hard to tell.  The shirt wasn’t new and neither were the leather boots laced up his thick calves….Imposing didn’t begin to describe the man.” 

LEADING LADY: 

When she puts a necklace with a huge stone around her neck, the last thing Josie  is expecting is a little kilted man to appear and tell her it is her fate to marry Connal MacNeil and bear him children.  Josie doesn’t quite agree.  She doesn’t like being told she’s a victim of Destiny, or as Connal puts it, that she has “no say in the matter.”   

A lot to learn

Connal has a lot to learn about his modern bride, including that she’s not in danger when she’s surfing and won’t take kindly to being “rescued.”  He thinks her “wave hunting” is ludicrous, and she refuses to believe he’s a ghost.  

BOTTOM LINE:

Josie and Connal have wonderful, spirited banter on the way to some magnificent love scenes.  Connal’s swoon-worthy, because he both appreciates Josie’s spirited nature….

“His jaw chenched.  ‘Dinna test me, lassie.’

‘Dinna test me either…whatever it is you call boys,’ she finished on a lesss-than-authoritative note. 

A jagged bolt of lightning lit up the sky, illuminating his face.  In that split second she swore she saw his expression falter, a brief twitch curve his lips. 

‘Lads,’ he said sternly, making her wonder I fit had been a trick of the light.”

…And knows how to make her knees wobble with unrelentless passion:

“’Now,’” he told her, “’you’d best dispatch of your guests or they’ll be treated to the screams I’ll elicit from you when I make you come apart for me again.’  He stepped closer. ‘And again.’” 

Swooning yet?

Be ready to cry too.  When Bagan, Connal’s short sidekick, tosses the stone into the sea (thinking Josie is not the one for  Connal), angering the gods so they call Connal home, you’ll feel Josie’s pain.  And even when she thinks he’s gone forever, she takes it upon herself to do—in the present day—what Connal had always wanted.  Save his clan’s future.  And that’s what saves Connal and their love.

QUESTION OF THE DAY:

Have you ever felt like you’ve fought Destiny, only to have to accept it in the end and been thankful that you have? 

Spenser Series

by Robert B. Parker

First appeared in 1973

Berkley Books

STATS:  Private Detective Spenser lives in Boston, where he was once a former State Trooper, DA investigator and football player and boxer. He’s smart mouthed, savvy and a tough guy with a heart of gold. When he gets a case he’s like a bloodhound with his nose on the scent. He doesn’t give up. Although, there have been a television series, (Spenser for Hire) and thirty-five books chronicling his adventures, his first name seems to be a mystery.  He’s just simply known as Spenser the P.I, who captures the essence of the old style detectives like Phillip Marlowe. He also cooks and loves dogs.

THE LOOK: Although his height is unknown, as a former boxer, he keeps himself fit by lifting weights regularly. He’s described by his girlfriend’s acquaintances as a ‘hunk’. We can assume its true, since there is know clear description of him. 

LEADING LADY:  Dr. Susan Silverman is Spenser’s long time girlfriend. She holds a PH.D from Harvard in Psychology. She often aids him in his cases. Although, they have a long term relationship, neither seem to want marriage. Susan often jokes about paying back Spenser with nights of sexual ecstasy. The conversation will go back and forth until they agree on a time and how many nights will be due for payment. Spenser obviously loves Susan, in every book he often describes himself lost in her eyes, or loving to look at her. Their reason for not marrying is a mystery and rarely mentioned.  

BOTTOM LINE: Spencer is an old fashion detective, following in the foot steps of Bogart in the Maltese Falcon and Phillip Marlowe. I love these old style cops who are uncomplicated, with some baggage, but just enough that it doesn’t weight them down. They are plan speaking, and strong. Robert B. Parker’s writing is short on descriptions and long on suspense and humor, most of which comes from Spencer’s mouth.

Question of the Day:   Have you ever read Robert B. Parker? What do you think of Spenser and how does he compare to the modern world of cops and suspense?

   CBS, Monday 10p.m      

STATS:  Lieutenant Horatio Cane (David Caruso) is a well seasoned cop who is the head of the CSI for Dade County Florida Sheriff’s department. A South American drug dealer widows him, by way of his wife’s murder. He has a teenage son, by a demented evil woman he had an affair with while in deep-undercover years ago. He’s a sharp-shooter, CSI officer, detective and whatever hat he might need to wear to get the job done. He is also a father figure to his team of CSI investigators. ‘H’, (as he called) seems to take care of everyone else, but himself. Cool, collected, he rarely shows a rattled nerve and is loyal to his friends and family almost to a fault. Even though surrounded by the open and colorful life of Miami, he is something of a loner super cop. He also has a habit for falling for the most beautiful woman you’ve ever seen, only to find out she’s some evil genius criminal. For that reason, in the end he is always very much alone.  

THE LOOK:  6’, red hair, and intense blue eyes.  When interviewing a suspect, he rarely faces him, always stands at the ready, turning his head to speak in a low soft voice. Always with him, is his trade mark aviator sunglasses.

LEADING LADY:  Currently his only leading lady is his work. Every time, H, falls in love or gets married it’s a death sentence to his loved one. They eventually die some horrible death.  He’s a man destined to be alone.

BOTTOM LINE:  CSI Miami is my favorite of the CSI’s, due to H. I love his cool, calm almost suave exterior.  He has a heart of gold, and has a real weakness for children. Although, I consider CSI Miami, of the three shows to be the worst procedurally. The holographic computer, over the top beautiful lab, (it makes me want to work there), and the sky line as the panoramic view sweeps down over the bluest water I’ve ever seen. Makes one wish they could be arrested at least once in their life by H. All of it attracts me to CSI Miami, and most especially to H. And who can resist the mystery behind the sunglasses.

 QUESTION OF THE DAY:  Which is your favorite CSI? And what do you think of H.