HelenKay Dimon's HARD AS NAILS

HelenKay Dimon has a new book scheduled to release on June 24 - can you hear readers pawing the ground in anticipation? I have read all of her previous releases, but this is the first time I've been fortunate enough to get my hands on one for review. Needless to say, I was thrilled! I was also excited to finally meet HelenKay at the RT booksigning - my HARD AS NAILS arc now bears her autograph!
Take a look at HelenKay's Coming Soon page - there's even more good stuff coming in '08, including a holiday anthology with pal Jill Shalvis and Donna Kauffman! And while you're at it, you might as well check out HelenKay's blog - there's always something interesting and fun going on there.
Here's my (4.5 blue ribbons) Romance Junkies review:
An anthology that takes readers into the lives (and loves) of the characters who were secondary in her earlier novella (Hardhats and Silk Stockings) in the WHEN GOOD THINGS HAPPEN TO BAD BOYS anthology, HelenKay Dimon has written another winner with HARD AS NAILS.

THIS OLD HOUSE
Aubrey Matheson is desperately determined to remain in her aunt’s historic home for just a bit longer. Yes, the beautiful old house has been sold and her elderly aunt comfortably settled into a retirement home, but Aubrey has her own secret reason for staying. When Cole Carruthers shows up, he’s confident that he’ll have Ms. Matheson out on her cute little butt in no time at all. He wasn’t counting on her coming at him with a sledgehammer that weighs almost as much as she does. When Aubrey argues that Cole’s company took advantage of her poor old aunt and refuses to leave until they make it right, Cole wonders what she’s up to. His determination and stubbornness equal hers and he vows to remain in the house with her until she tells him the truth or leaves. What he didn’t count on was an undeniable attraction to Aubrey that packs a punch that’s more powerful than her sledgehammer.
ALL ABOUT ADAM
After a seven day fling that ended with the disappearance of Rebecca Carter, Adam Thomas has unsuccessfully done everything possible to get in touch with her for the past eight months. When he finds Becky waiting in his firm’s conference room to discuss negotiations for her friend’s purchase of the historic home he’s part owner of, he’s excited at the opportunity to reconnect with her. Becky’s experience with men hasn’t always been pleasant though and despite Adam’s dogged resolve to get her back in his life, it won’t be easy to get her to drop her guard. When Becky finally does open up to let Adam in, she tells herself it’s just to prove that he’s a minor distraction, certain that once they’ve been intimate she’ll be able to move on. If only it was that simple. Both of these hard bargaining attorneys are in for the experience of a lifetime - when they finally stop opposing each other!
MAN AT THE DOOR
Erin McHugh, having faced the consequence of her controversial parents for her entire life, simply wishes to live quietly and without incident. When Ray Hammond, the job foreman overseeing the restoration of the historical building she recently purchased, shows interest in her she blows him off, mostly because he’s younger than her. Ray refuses to be dissuaded by a measly seven years and he sets out to win Erin over. But Erin soon discovers that Ray has a secret of his own and fear of negative public attention have her backing away. When she realizes that she’s in danger of losing the most special, solid thing in her life, she knows that nothing short of a grand gesture will do in trying to get him back – but will she be too late?

This anthology will satisfy the romantic notions and needs of even the most seasoned romance reader. The stories are not rushed or incomplete and mesh together nicely, almost giving the feeling of being one full-length story. Ms. Dimon always provides readers with characters who seem like warm-blooded acquaintances rather than simply characters written in ink on paper. HARD AS NAILS has my highest recommendation for all contemporary romance fans.

Thanks for stopping - I hope you're all having a great week! (Don't forget the Jill Shalvis contest running through this Friday - see below)

Laurie