eHarlequin Silhouette Romantic Suspense Titles for February 2010

Sparked by danger, fueled by passion, eHarlequin.com has released the February 2010 titles in their Silhouette Romantic Suspense series. Let yourself be swept away with characters who fall in love under larger-than-life circumstances. In Silhouette Romantic Suspense, suspense, emotion and glamour combine to create these highly charged books! For more information or to purchase any of the books below, click on the book title or book cover. (Previous months titles can be found on the backlist page.)

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The Man from Nowhere by Rachel Lee

Just coming off a bad relationship and stuck in a work-related nightmare, Trish Devlin doesn't need more stress. So when she spots a stranger lurking outside her home, it's the last straw. Yet she's drawn to this compelling man who claims to have visions of her impending murder and offers protection.

Grant Wolfe can't explain why he feels compelled to defend the skeptical beauty, but he ignored a premonition once before—with deadly consequences. Can he convince Trish that his visions are based in an all-too-dangerous reality—or will the killer get her before their love has a chance?

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The Vigilante Lover by Debra Cowan

Firefighter Walker McClain was, hands-down, the sexiest, most affecting suspect that undercover investigator Jen Lawson had ever been assigned. But she hadn't come to Station Three to fall into bed with McClain. She was there to find out if he was a dangerous vigilante—the Payback Killer.

Walker knew better than to get involved with his new SWAT partner. But she awakened feelings he thought had long since turned to ash after his wife's brutal murder. And as their attraction heated up, so did the killer's deadly plan. The question was, just how deep did Walker's obsession with justice go?

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The Best Revenge by Justine Davis

Something in St. John's intense blue eyes reminded Jessa Hill of her childhood friend. But Adam Alden was long dead …

The handsome stranger had vowed to help her defeat Adam's father in the mayoral race. Yet St. John's quest for revenge seemed too personal for a casual acquaintance. Could St. John and Adam be the same man … and would he disappear with Jessa's heart a second time?

Dameron St. John returned home with a new identity and a score to settle. But he wasn't prepared for the emotions that surfaced when he reunited with Jessa. Could he let her in once again…and together would they slay his demons once and for all?

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In Bed with the Badge by Marie Ferrarella

Police officer Riley McIntyre is less than thrilled at being teamed with former academy classmate Sam Wyatt. They're assigned to solve a string of home invasions. The man is as mind-stoppingly handsome as he is irritating, sparking in Riley deliciously improper thoughts. But how can she possibly trust him on any level?

Sam's life has just been upended, too…by the appearance of a six-year-old daughter he never knew about. Terrified of fatherhood, he turns to Riley for help with the sweet little girl. Before long, their days on the job end with nights of domestic bliss and insatiable passion. And when Riley's life is in jeopardy, Sam realizes how desperate he is to save her and his new family …

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Games of Mystery: The Hardy Boys in The Hidden Theft, New from Big Fish Games

Games of Mystery, your source for mystery-themed board, electronic and video games, parties for kids and adults, and murder mystery weekends and mystery getaway vacations, is pleased to announce the availability of a new mystery casual game from Big Fish Games released today. You can find out more about these games by visiting our Mystery Games: Big Fish Download Games page or by clicking on the links provided below.

The vault at the Spencer Mansion is robbed, and the Bayport Police call on the Hardy Boys to help tie up some loose ends – but they soon find themselves in the middle of a major criminal investigation that takes them on an adventure all over Bayport, and even into New York City. But the pieces don’t add up, and Frank and Joe find themselves embroiled in a drama of sinister proportions. Is the recent theft linked to something from the past? Can Frank and Joe find and decipher the clues in time to prevent another crime from happening?

Games in this series are based on characters and settings in The Hardy Boys series of young adult mysteries written by Franklin W. Dixon.

See also the other game in this series, The Hardy Boys: The Perfect Crime.

The Hardy Boys: The Hidden Theft may be downloaded and purchased for $6.99 with a Big Fish Game Club membership. Due to its large size (886.25 MB), a demonstration version is not available.

Watch a preview video below:

Get any standard game for $6.99 with a Big Fish Game Club membership. Other benefits include the $2.99 Daily Deal, Tomorrow's Game Today, and special member rewards. And if you purchase any 6 games within a single month, you earn a free game with the Big Fish Game Club Monthly Punch Card!

Read our new game reviews by Ms. Terri: Midnight Mysteries: The Edgar Allan Poe Conspiracy (Review), Nancy Drew Dossier: Lights, Camera, Curses! (Review), The Hardy Boys: The Perfect Crime (Review), Enlightenus (Review), and Nick Chase: A Detective Story (Review).

Big Fish Games: Bestsellers

Big Fish Games: New releases

And don't forget to visit Games of Mystery for all kinds of mysterious fun!

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Fox Premieres Human Target Sunday, based on the Graphic Crime Novel by Peter Milligan

Tomorrow, Sunday January 17th, Fox premieres Human Target, an action drama based on the Human Target series of graphic crime novels by Peter Milligan (and illustrated by Edvin Biukovic and Javier Pulido), the character originally created by Len Wein and Carmine Infantino.

The series stars Mark Valley as Christopher Chance, a unique security expert who makes himself a "human target" in order to protect and save lives in danger. When there is an unusual or imminent threat that can't be solved through "normal" means of protection, Chance is hired to completely integrate himself into his clients' lives. But does anyone know who Christopher Chance really is? What secrets lay buried in his past? What would make a man willingly become a human target?

Human Target also stars Chi McBride as Winstron, Chance's business partner, and Jackie Earle Haley as hired gun Guerrero. After tomorrow's premiere, the series airs in its regular time slot of Wednesdays at 9 ET/PT on Fox. Visit the official series website for more information.

Watch a trailer for the series below:

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Mystery Book Review: The Ragged End of Nowhere by Roy Chaney

Mysterious Reviews, mysteries reviewed by the Hidden Staircase Mystery Books, is publishing a new review of The Ragged End of Nowhere by Roy Chaney. For our blog readers, we are printing it first here in advance of its publication on our website.

The Ragged End of Nowhere by Roy Chaney
Non-series

St. Martin's Minotaur (Hardcover)
ISBN-10: 0-312-58253-6 (0312582536)
ISBN-13: 978-0-312-58253-1 (9780312582531)
Publication Date: November 2009
List Price: $24.99

Review: Winner of the 2008 Tony Hillerman Prize for best first novel set in the southwest US and representing the style of the late Tony Hillerman, Roy Chaney crafts a murder mystery surrounding the theft of an unusual artifact in The Ragged Edge of Nowhere.

Bodo Hagen and his brother Ronnie went their separate ways following the death of their father. Bodo joined the CIA and was stationed in Berlin while Ronnie joined the French Foreign Legion, a unit of the French Army in which their father also served. When Bodo receives word that Ronnie had been murdered in the desert outside their hometown of Las Vegas, he returns to not only pay his respects, but look into who might have wanted his brother dead ... and why.

It seems Ronnie had been trying to fence a rare artifact, a wooden hand with a broken finger. A dealer in antiquities believes it may have originated at a monastery of the Russian Orthodox Church, part of a statue of Jesus that was crafted with articulated features that was believed destroyed by fire. Quite unique and very valuable, if it can be found and authenticated. As Bodo continues his investigation it becomes increasingly clear to him that he's not seeing the whole picture, and when certain individuals think he may have the hand, or at least know where it is, his life, too, is in danger.

Chaney has a real flair for time and place, deftly painting Las Vegas as a city of hopes and dreams, but also one of disappointment and despair. Some readers may groan or roll their eyes believing this is yet another religious artifact thriller, and to be fair, the basic plotline is rather derivative, but The Ragged Edge of Nowhere is far more nuanced. Not only is it exceptionally well written and populated with intricately drawn characters, the artifact's origin will likely come as a surprise, as will the fact that it is a real, historical object.

Though not indicated as the first in a series featuring Bodo Hagen, the abrupt manner in which this book ends suggests a sequel with this most interesting character may be forthcoming.

Special thanks to St. Martin's Minotaur for providing a copy of The Ragged End of Nowhere for this review.

Review Copyright © 2010 — Hidden Staircase Mystery Books — All Rights Reserved

If you are interested in purchasing The Ragged End of Nowhere from Amazon.com, please click the button to the right.

Synopsis (from the publisher): Bodo Hagen thought his family had left Las Vegas for good. He had joined the CIA and moved to Berlin, while his younger brother had followed in their father’s footsteps and joined the French Foreign Legion. For a while they were free from the criminal underworld upon which the Vegas Strip was built.

But when his Legion contract ended, Bodo's brother returned to Las Vegas. Five days later his body was found on the edge of the desert. Word is that he’d returned from Europe with a valuable—and possibly stolen—ancient relic to sell. Now Bodo must come back and track down that missing artifact—and with it, his brother’s killer.

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CBS Orders Updated Hawaii Five-O Series

Last October, we reported that CBS had ordered a pilot for an updated version of updated version of the classic criime drama Hawaii Five-O. Now, The Hollywood Reporter is reporting that CBS has given the go-ahead for the series itself.

The project is described as "an updated take on the original series that is centered on an elite branch of the Hawaii State Police headed by Steve McGarrett and answerable only to the governor."

The original series aired for 12 seasons on CBS from 1968 through 1980, with a total of 284 episodes. The first eight seasons are available on DVD from Mysteries on TV: Hawaii Five-O; the ninth season will be released March 16th.

In a day when series opening themes can run as short as a few seconds, one wonders if CBS will keep the magnificent theme music that accompanied the original. You can see the opening credits from 1968 pilot below (which are somewhat different than what ran for the weekly series):

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Harlequin Intrigue Titles for February 2010

eHarlequin.com has released the February 2010 titles in their Intrigue, breathtaking romantic suspense series. Get these edge-of-your-seat reads today with characters who conquer everything from kidnappings to murder mysteries, only to find themselves irresistibly drawn to one another! For more information or to purchase any of the books below, click on the book title or book cover. (Previous months titles can be found on the backlist page.)

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The Enforcer by Anna Perrin

Professional. Powerful. Thoroughly male…

That was psychologist Claire Lamont's first thought when she met her bodyguard, the agent charged with keeping her from a rogue operative's bullet. And as much as she feared death, she soon faced an even scarier predicament: walking away from a man she couldn't tear her eyes off of.

Bodyguard Brent Young was considered one of the best, and he vowed to use every ounce of his FBI training to help Claire. His enticing ward prodded him, unleashing his secret desires. The longer he kept her secluded at a remote cabin, the more sizzling the tension grew. Before long, the chances of remaining professional became a thing of the past … as did their chances of staying alive.

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Shotgun Sheriff by Delores Fossen

Comanche Creek's not big enough for two to investigate a murder. That's the feeling Texas Ranger Livvy Hutton gets when she's sent there as a forensic expert. Yes, she's horning in on Sheriff Reed Hardin's territory and can't ignore a distinct chill in the air between them. But according to evidence Livvy uncovers, she senses the cowboy cop's acting ornery to protect his good ol' boys from arrest for the murder. And backing off is not in her nature.

Then, just days into the investigation, Livvy detects bigger trouble: a mutual attraction she and Reed have no business acting on. A torrid affair could compromise the case…or spark some much needed—and very satisfying—cooperation!

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Powerhouse by Rebecca York

Test Subject: Matt Whitlock.

Ability: Thought manipulation.

Weakness: Shelley Young's sudden return—and the heartbreaking news of their four-year-old son's kidnapping.

It had been five years since he'd last laid eyes on Shelley Young, but Colorado rancher Matt Whitlock would never forget the moment she'd left his ranch without a backward glance.

Now, with fear for his son's safety lying heavily in his heart, working together quickly became like old times—as did the rekindling of an attraction that had never really been extinguished. Following leads deep into the snowy mountains of South Dakota, Matt knew it was time to reveal the truth about his past…and its connection to bringing the little boy home.

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Colbe Lockdown by Debra Webb

The Colby Agency of Chicago has long handled the most private investigations with discretion and success. Staff from the top down maintain pristine reputations and the agency always works within the law. Until now …

With a long list of clients comes an equal number of enemies. Someone wants revenge—and is determined to get it starting with Victoria Colby-Camp. The only hope of survival for Victoria and her staff lies with Colby investigator Slade Convoy and a total stranger—Mia Dawson, a personal assistant in the D.A.'s office.

With the offices in lockdown and holding hostages, the captors have one demand and a twenty-four-hour deadline: kidnap Cook County D.A. Gordon and deliver him to the Colby Agency. Slade's assignment is twofold: gain the cooperation of Mia, the only person who knows how to get past Gordon's security, by whatever means necessary and bring in Gordon. Together Slade and Mia have no alternative but to break the law in order to execute the operation. But will they be able to plead their case once justice is served? And will the operation fail when Slade learns Mia has an agenda of her own?

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Chickasaw County Captive by Paula Graves

2nd suspense novel in the Cooper Justice series.

When someone tries to kidnap his daughter, Jefferson County D.A. Sam Cooper sees red. He wants little Maddy protected, at any cost. Even if that cost includes working with a distractingly attractive detective, Kristen Tandy. He knows Kristen wants to solve the case…so why does she try so hard to stay distant from him and his little girl? Remaining professional is something he fully understands, but the emotional—and physical—scars Kristen tries to hide make Sam deeply interested in turning things personal. And the more protection Kristen offers his daughter, the more her closely guarded vulnerability draws him in. Before long, as the truth of her past is slowly revealed, Sam realizes just how desperate someone is for her to remain silent …

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A Baby Between Them by Alice Sharpe

From the moment Ella Baxter vanishes, Seattle cop Simon Task knows it's up to him to bring her home. Especially once he learns she's pregnant with his child. Now, charging through the danger that shadows her and reminding her of their intensely passionate shared past is all that matters. As they follow cryptic clues to learn why she is being targeted, Simon senses there are things Ella would rather not remember. Still, getting her to trust him when she can't even remember him is a challenge he's up for. Breaking the news to her that she's pregnant may not be quite as easy …

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If you enjoy the romantic suspense books in this series, you can get 2 free Harlequin Intrigue books plus 2 free gifts just for giving the automatic program a try. Accepting your two free Intrigue books and mystery gifts places you under no obligation to buy anything. You may keep the books and gifts and return the shipping statement marked cancel. If you do not cancel, about two months later, and then every other month, eHarlequin will send you four additional Intrigue books.

Keep up to date by subscribing to eHarlequin.com's free newsletter that contains the latest information about their series of books as well as informing you about subscriber-only special offers and new products. Click on the banner below to subscribe for free:

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