No publisher takes better advantage of the series phenomenon than Harlequin Enterprises. Catherine Anderson has published a continuation of her Harlequin Historical series and Candace Camp has embarked on a new post-Napoleon series for Mira _ Harlequin's "big book" alter ego.

A Stolen Heart
By Candace Camp (MIRA - 2000, $6.99)
Camp is a practiced hand at creating intricately woven plots. Alexandra Ward arrives from America on business and unwittingly takes Regency England society by storm. That's partly because she has an uncanny resemblance to a French aristocrat believed to have been killed by a proletariat mob.
When Lord Sebastian Thorpe first meets his beautiful business partner he acts on his attraction by introducing her to his social world. But when it appears she may be angling to become heiress to a friend's fortune, Lord Sebastian refuses to be duped by her beauty and innocent act.
Alexandra, however, has no interest in any fortune, having already amassed her own. Now if only people would believe her and stop attempting to murder her.
This is a fun, fully formed plot and a perfect prelude to Camp's next installment about the missing French aristocrat. 


Tanner Stakes His Claim
By Carolyn Davidson (Harlequin - May 2000, $5.99) 
This is the second installment of Davidson's new series set in the not so wild west town of Edgewood, Texas.
The hero, Wes Tanner, was adopted as a youngster by an upstanding couple, the protagonists of the first book in the series. 
Wes Tanner wants to do all the right things and live down his unfortunate early childhood as son of the town drunk. As sheriff, he takes an interest in everybody in the community but he's disgusted to find himself drawn to the enigmatic new saloon singer dubbed Angel. But he is pleasantly surprised to discover there is a genteel lady behind the stage presence.
Angel has amnesia and knows nothing but the songs she sings. She is living in the saloon, cooking for the prostitutes by day and singing on stage each night. She is attracted to the Sheriff but cannot move on with her life while her past is still a blank.
When she discovers she is pregnant, with no memory of the father, Wes decides he's going to marry Angel and settle down. But it is Wes' past that conspires to change their plans.
This is a nice story that is basically a couple of high quality character sketches. The plot is relaxing to say the least.


Janine Taylor is a Halifax writer. She can be reached at romanticleads@canada.com

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Copyright © 2000 Janine Taylor
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