Donna Kauffman Reviews

Page Two

Added November 2, 2003

Baby, It's Cold Outside

novella in Jingle Bell Rock

Author: Donna Kauffman
Publisher: Kensington Brava
Available At: Bookstores Everywhere
Publishing Date: October 2003
Genre: Romance: Contemporary
Format: Trade Paperback
Price: $14.00
ISBN: 0-7582-0569-4
Author Email/Website: www.donnakauffman.com
Reviewer: Robin Taylor

In the first of Kensington Brava's six-packs, we get six wonderful little Christmas-themed tales.

Be prepared for an emotional onslaught when Jace Morgan and Suzanna York (Zanna) run into each other in the middle of a snowstorm in Baby, It's Cold Outside by Donna Kauffman. The high school sweethearts are headed back to Rogue's Hollow on Christmas Eve. It's been ten years since they've seen each other, and Jace cannot believe that Zanna still has a piece of his heart. When Zanna sees Jace at the train station, her feelings of dread and anticipation reflect the guilt she has from leaving Jace. Both Jace and Zanna experience a firestorm of want and need, with two hearts that will only be complete when they are mended together. Who will be the first to breach this immense gap between them?

Be sure to pick up this fantastic anthology written by familiar authors who will always have you coming back for more. It is hard to pick a favorite story, as each is so well-written. Even though these are very short, they are thorough enough that I was satisfied after each read. Jingle Bell Rock is already destined for the keeper shelf.

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Added March 15, 2003

The Big Bad Wolf Tells All

Author: Donna Kauffman
Publisher: Bantam Dell
Available At: Bookstores Everywhere
Publishing Date: June 2003
Genre: Romance: Contemporary
Format: Trade Paperback and ebook
Price: $10.95 trade paperback, $9.95 ebook
ISBN: 0-553-38222-5 trade paperback, 0-553-89765-9 ebook
Author Email/Website: www.donnakauffman.com
Reviewer: Robin Taylor

Tanzy's friends--Rina, Mariel, Sloan and Sue--all married, all participants of Designated Sex Days, as Tanzy puts it. Not Tanzy, thank you very much. No, even though her friends all seem happy, this does not mean for one minute that romance columnist Tanzy Harrington is anywhere nearing that direction. That is, indeed, the premise for The Big Bad Wolf Tells All, by Donna Kauffman. Can Tanzy continue on her self-avowed path as a lone wolf?

She can love 'em and leave 'em, right? She won't get hooked like her best friends. Well, she's fairly confident in that assesment until she ends up in very close quarters with Riley Parrish.

Securites expert Riley Parrish has one job, to keep said Tanzy Harrington safe. His method of operation? Well, as a new fan to Tanzy's columns, he figures he'd best play the role of her bodyguard as a sheep. Simple enough, huh?

Here's a snippet from one of Tanzy's columns: Does married sex always become routine? Is it because Fun Single Guy is now Married Guy with a Mortgage? Is responsibility, not familiarity, the real culprit that kills exciting sex? Or is it more basic than that? Maybe a Fun Single Guy who marries is turning in his wolf badge for one stamped Sheep. He's become one with the herd. The herd being all the other Dependable, Responsible Guys with a Mortgage. And Sheep Sex, no matter how you position it, will never live up to Wolf Sex. That is the flavor of this book. Needless to say, Ms. Kauffman writes this book with a lot of wit!

To Tanzy, Riley is the typical sheep. But, there are times he appears too sheep-like. Then, there are times that Tanzy spies very wolf-like qualities. Hold up! 'cause if he is a wolf, watch out!

So, what's really going on here? Why the confusing vibes from Riley? The man is too intense one minute, and back to being docile the next. In spite of all of that, the sexual chemistry feeding off of the both of them is palpable.

But, for Tanzy, being a popular columnist has its own issues. Tanzy finds ut the real purpose between her association with Riley. While they both work vigorously at ironing out and solving the issues in their newfound relationship, things rise on a very high emotional level.

The Big Bad Wolf Tells All brings a nice change of pace from the intensely erotic romance novels. This book brings a humor and wit that helps us to see how the relationship between Tanzy and Riley evolves.

Ms. Kauffman brings us a book wrought with emotional and sexual tension. The conflict remains throughout the entire book, which causes both Tanzy and Riley to evaluate their opinions on wolves and sheeps.

What a wonderful exercise in setting up the plot, defining the characters, and the conflicts, and bringing us a resolution that is immensely pleasing to its readers.

Fans of Donna Kauffman's books *waving* will not be disappointed with The Big Bad Wolf Tells All. They'll want to tell all of their friends to run and grab a copy for themselves.

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