“In Bed with the Highlander” by Maya Banks (historical, Ballantine, September 2011, $7.99, 368pp)

I was only a couple of pages into “In Bed with the Highlander” before I knew that I was reading a book that was destined to become one of my all-time favorites. The strange part is that my ARC of it had been sitting around for a while, and I wasn’t sure about whether or not I would read it. Maya Banks has been one of my favorite authors for years, but that opinion was based upon her contemporaries, erotic contemporaries and romantic suspense stories. I was unsure about her switch to historical romance. When a copy of the second book in the trilogy arrived on my doorstop, I went and found my copy of “In Bed with a Highlander” figuring that I needed to give Banks the benefit of the doubt.

“Sweet Kiss of Summer” by Sophie Gunn (contemporary, Grand Central, August 2011, $7.99, 416pp): Reading Sophie Gunn’s “Sweet Kiss of Summer” was a rather odd experience for me. Currently, I have been too busy to read at my normal pace – ok, to be honest, I’ve have little time to read at all. I started Gunn’s book on a Monday and didn’t actually finish it until Sunday. For someone who reads at least one book a day, this is not normal. The length of time it took to read had nothing to do with the book, but with my crazy work week. Unfortunately, it did make my reading experiencing a bit choppy.

Additionally, I made a judgment about “Sweet Kiss of Summer” based upon the cover. The picture and the colors on the cover scream “lighthearted and fun romance.” I expected comical and quirky and was rather surprised by a story with emotional depth and a serious storyline.

“The Ideal Man” by Julie Garwood (romantic suspense, Dutton, August 2011, $26.95, 336pp):

Book Description:

Dr. Ellie Sullivan has just completed her residency at a large urban hospital. While jogging in a park nearby, she witnesses the shooting of an FBI agent in pursuit of wanted criminals, a couple identified as the Landrys. The only person to see the shooter's face, Ellie is suddenly at the center of a criminal investigation.

Agent Max Daniels takes over the Landry case. A no-nonsense lawman, he's definitely not the ideal man that Ellie has always imagined, yet she's attracted to him in a way she can't explain.

“The Many Sins of Lord Cameron” by Jennifer Ashley (historical, Berkley, August 2011, $7.99, 320pp)

Jennifer Ashley continues her Mackenzie brothers’ series with “The Many Sins of Lord Cameron,” the third installment. The story features the crafty Ainsley Douglas, who is at the beck and call of the queen often being called upon to solve difficult problems for the royal, and Cameron Mackenzie, a hardened and bitter rake extraordinaire. We first meet Ainsley when she searches Cameron’s bedroom for an incriminating letter the queen once wrote to a lover, which was stolen by Mrs. Phyllida Chase. Ainsley happened to see Mrs. Chase slip the letter into Cam’s pocket for safekeeping. But Ainsley’s search is interrupted by Cameon, and the sly Mrs. Chase, when the amorous couple seeks Cam’s bedchamber for some privacy.