I think I'm lucky to find this book because there aren't a lot of copies of this book in the bookstores. (If any one is wondering I found this copy lying in an ancient bookstore)

Alaina Montgomery, a smart and cool lawyer, who's all about class. Dylan Harrison, a bait and bar shop owner, who goofs around all the time. The only thing they have in common when they met was that they both live in Anastasia, California.

They met when Alaina's BMW broke down on the road when she's trying to go to her friend's costume party. Because of how Dylan and Alaina dressed, they were both arrested. From then there was a mutual attraction for each other and they related how they hated it when their friends would try to hook them up with some other person. So they come up with this idea to pretend to be dating, so it'll be just an easy date without any hassles. They get to know each other and they fall in love, but they never tell each other because they're too scared to. But could they truly ever connect over their differences?

I really loved this book and now I'm searching for the other books in this set. There are 4 books in this set and so far I only found 2 and I really do hope I'll find it.

The concept rocks: write stories inspired by TV and movie heroes, but don't do it directly.

Much of the writing is equally good: obviously all these authors are excellent writers.

Some of the stories were compelling, some were mildly entertaining. None were awful.

However, this book is uneven. I have a hard time imagining that any one person would love all these stories. Some of the stories suffer from being so short, and others are just not that interesting.

I loved Moon Over Miranda and Mary Jo Putney's reworking of the King Arthur tale.

Five stars for concept and two of the stories. The other stories were all 3-star and 4-star in quality, so I'm averaging it all out to be four stars.

Get a copy of this anthology while you still can. You will NOT be a bit disappointed. Ten novellas from talented authors whose stories are inspired by TV and Movie heroes. What a kick! Regency, Western, Contemporary, Futuristic... They're all very well represented here. Stories and characters that will make you smile for days to come. Don't be put off by the mix of genres. This confirms that when written well, romance stories are timeless.

"In Our Dreams" is a unique collection of stories. While the authors use television/movie heroes as inspiration, they have managed to build on those images and make them uniquely their own. From Mary Jo Putney's twist on Arthurian legend to Courtney Henkes tongue-in-cheek take on mythic fantasy, I found myself eagerly turning the pages. This was a wonderful read with something to feed the romantic cravings of any reader. Whether your tastes run toward rugged Old West types or the cool elegance of the English Regency, there is something here for you.

Hey, chere', Tami Hoag has a new book. "A THIN DARK LINE" returns to the French Triangle, the setting of two earlier books, "Lucky's Lady" and "Cry Wolf". As a matter of fact, you might want to ready "Cry Wolf" first, as "A Think Dark Line" reveals both the killer and victims in "Cry Wolf".

A few years after the Bayou Strangler's reign of terror is ended, Bayou Breaux is once again terrorized by a killer. After a prominent businesswoman's mutilated body is found, her accused stalker is investigated and arrested for the murder. Charges of corruption in the Sheriff's Office, tainted evidence, and a legal technicality set Marcus Renard free. Renard now focuses his obsession on Sheriff's Deputy Annie Broussard, the officer who found the body. Broussard feels an obligation to the murdered woman, and to the woman's child, to find and punish her killer. Standing in her way is her own department. Deciding to use Renard's obsession to get close enough to him to prove his guilt, Annie is caught in a dangerous crossfire. Her only ally is Detective Nick Fourcade, a rogue cop with a reputation of corruption and violence. Annie can't be sure if Fourcade is helping her or using her, since it was his investigation, his evidence, and his screwup that let a brutal murderer go free. And Fourcade's only hope of redeeming himself and his reputation is in the hands of the woman most likely to die next.
Nina M.

A Thin Dark Line returns to the French Triangle, the setting of two earlier books, Lucky's Lady and Cry Wolf. Those of you who have not already read Cry Wolf may want to read it before reading Thin Dark Line as the killer and the victims in Cry Wolf are revealed in Thin Dark Line.

A few years after the Bayou Strangler's reign of terror is ended, Bayou Breaux again terrorized by a killer. After a prominent businesswoman's mutilated body is found, her accused stalker is investigated and arrested for the murder. Charges of corruption in the Sheriff's Office, tainted evidence, and a legal technicality set Marcus Renard free. Renard now focuses his obsession on Sheriff's Deputy Annie Broussard, the officer who found the body. Broussard feels an obligation to the murdered woman, and to the woman's child, to find and punish her killer.

Deciding to use Renard's obsession to get close enough to him to prove his guilt, Annie is caught in a dangerous crossfire. Her only ally is Detective Nick Fourcade, a rogue cop with a reputation of corruption and violence. Annie can't be sure if Fourcade is helping her or using her, since it was his investigation, his evidence, and his mistake that allowed a brutal murderer go free. Fourcade's only hope of redeeming himself and his reputation is in the hands of the woman most likely to die next.

A Thin Dark Line returns to the French Triangle, the setting of two earlier books, Lucky's Lady and Cry Wolf. Those of you who have not already read Cry Wolf may want to read it before reading Thin Dark Line as the killer and the victims in Cry Wolf are revealed in Thin Dark Line.

A few years after the Bayou Strangler's reign of terror is ended, Bayou Breaux again terrorized by a killer. After a prominent businesswoman's mutilated body is found, her accused stalker is investigated and arrested for the murder. Charges of corruption in the Sheriff's Office, tainted evidence, and a legal technicality set Marcus Renard free. Renard now focuses his obsession on Sheriff's Deputy Annie Broussard, the officer who found the body. Broussard feels an obligation to the murdered woman, and to the woman's child, to find and punish her killer.

Deciding to use Renard's obsession to get close enough to him to prove his guilt, Annie is caught in a dangerous crossfire. Her only ally is Detective Nick Fourcade, a rogue cop with a reputation of corruption and violence. Annie can't be sure if Fourcade is helping her or using her, since it was his investigation, his evidence, and his mistake that allowed a brutal murderer go free. Fourcade's only hope of redeeming himself and his reputation is in the hands of the woman most likely to die next.

This was the first story I ever read by Tami Hoag and it won't be my last. In this book she renders her characters in a colorful picture of the swamps in Louisiana. The emotional turmoil she puts the protagonists in are very gripping. The storyline is original and believable and doesn't lack the tension (sexual and otherwise) to make you turn the pages.

There were a couple of lose ends that were not tied up satisfactorily though. For example, Serina never found out the details of Shelby's relationship with Lucky and what it was that brought Lucky's soul into such an unstable state. I would also have expected "Lucky's mission" in the swamp to be much less mundane after the secretive hints on several occasions.

Still, the book is otherwise well rounded and a truly enjoyable read.

Lucky's Lady is a great summer read, bound to kick the notches up on your thermostat. Hoag tells a suspenseful, romantic story of two unlikely partners, Serena and Lucky. Brought together unwillingly and under difficult circumstance, they can't control their attraction to each other. The real suspense of this story can't hold a candle to the romantic suspense that keeps you reading, page after page, to find out more about Lucky Doucet and the man he really is underneath the tough-guy facade. Pick up this book now and fall in love with Lucky, too!

I could not put this book down! I felt like I was in the story myself. Tami Hoag always does a super job with descriptions. It has suspense, romance (great romance), greed, etc. I will probably read this book again. I wish she would write some other books like this one. Of coarse, I love every book she has ever written.

Tami Hoag seems to be determined to enter the serial killer sweepstakes with ASHES TO ASHES. She creates a dark, violent atmosphere; almost claustrophobic at times. Her characters are as trapped by their pasts as they are mired in the search for the mass murderer.

As much as I liked NIGHT SINS and GUILTY AS SIN, I found parts of ASHES TO ASHES painful to read. Tami Hoag gives the reader more details than they need to know -- unless your are a coroner! I am not sqeamish, John Sandford is one of my favorite authors, but I have never felt pushed to the edge of comfort by his books.

On the plus side, the plotting and character development kept me reading well into the night, and though I was disappointed by the heroine in jeopardy ploy at the end, I would like to read Hoag's next book which will feature some of the characters in ASHES. Just tone down the graphic descriptions, Tami. You don't need them to illustrate your villain's evil deeds. We already know!

I read all 600 pages of this book in one day, which, I suppose, says something good about it. The basics: Tough-on-the-outside, vunerable-on-the-inside former FBI agent turned victim advocate, Kate Conlan, is given the task of Angie, a teenage girl, witness to a brutal murder. The serial killer deemed "The Cremator" is torturing, murdering and burning prostitutes in the city of Minneapolis, his latest victim the daughter of a billionaire. Special Agent/profiler John Quinn is called in from Quantico to direct the task-force. He's jaded, a workaholic, and has a spotted past with Kate. There are numerous other characters in "Ashes to Ashes", all of which have their own little quirks and interesting personalities. In fact, some of them are more intriguing than Kate and Quinn. I found this book to be somewhat predictable. If you pay attention, you can easily pick up on the foreshadowing, but I guess that's the part that gets a person "hooked". I wasn't mislead by the suspects Hoag plants along the plot. Their presence somewhat annoyed me. I had the feeling of, "get this over with already"; again, part of what kept me reading. I'd rate this book at slightly better than mediocre. If you like smart, witty, no-nonsense characters, it should make a pleasant read. It's a great book if you want to be hooked and enjoy some raw entertainment, sort of like a blockbuster movie.

To call this book romance suspense doesn't do it, or Tami Hoag, justice. This is a full-on, grab you by the throat suspense thriller that rates up there with the best of them. If you enjoy the likes of John Sandford, Michael Connelly, Jonathan Kellerman, James Patterson and Patricia Cornwell you'll love this book. It hit the bookstores here yesterday and I grabbed a copy as they were stocking the shelves...and have just finshed it in one sitting (starting at 5.00am!). As I got into the last third of the book it had me pacing from one room to the other as I read it: I just couldn't sit still. Yes, there is a love story woven through it but Tami Hoag has moved a long way from the earlier romance/suspense she wrote (although I loved those early books too). This book is filled with fascinating characters (including a very brief appearance at the end by a not so nice guy from "Guilty As Sin"), an excellent plot with the appropriate twists and turns and plenty of detail on police/FBI procedures. She deserves to reach a whole new audience with this effort and I'm sure she will. The only problem now is having to wait so long for the next book. All I can say is, thanks for a great read Tami Hoag!

First, I'd like to say that I'm a big Tami Hoag fan. I have most of her books. They move swiftly, and I'm usually engrossed in her multi-layered characters. In Night Sins, however, the frequent switch between characters' thoughts, often in the same paragraph, was confusing and kept me from getting too emotionally involved with any of them. Ms Hoag usually has multi-viewpoints in her books, and while I always find it difficult to follow when she switches back and forth on the same page, when it's in the same paragraph, I become distanced. Not to say this book doesn't have it's strengths. It does. This author does her research. She knows the police procedures, her plots are always tight, and usually I don't know the villain until near the end. While she had some intriguing twists and turns, I guessed the villain fairly quickly, not something I'm normally capable of doing. I have Guilty As Sin on my pile to be read next, but somehow, I'm just not that excited about it after reading Night Sins. I missed the miniseries, but if I was going to recommend a book to put on TV, it would be Cry Wolf or Dust to Dust. Those held my attention!

I haven't read many Tami Hoag books previously, but am looking forward to reading Guilty as Sin to find out what transpires. A good way to make people buy more books is to leave you hanging for a sequal. This book makes you see how things often work in real life. A lot of times, there aren't all the answers. Sometimes, you never find out what really happened and you never know how someone could do such a monstrous thing.

The book made me really feel the pain that many of the characters felt. The mother's emotional as well as Megan's physical pain. That's what makes this a good read. Although some of the writing was somewhat long-winded, I still couldn't put it down.

Dr. Hannah Garrison, a woman with many roles. Mother, wife, neighbor, professional, she has it all. Little does she realize that it's all gone in the blink of an eye. Her world shattered. Her son kidnapped, gone without a trace, her marriage failing, her sanity slipping, her world turned inside out. And this is only the beginning. Megan O'Malley, a tough, independent young woman in the male domimnated world of Law Enforcement, struggles to crack her first case. A stranger in both her new role as field agent, and citizen in the small town of Deer Lake, MN she vows to prove her merit. Mitch Holt, chief of police, has escaped the warm climate of Florida, but he cannot escape his past. A shell of his former self he heads the investigation into the biggest crime in town history. These are just a sampling of the terrific characters that fill the pages of Tami Hoag's thriller: Night Sins. Clever, dynamic and captivating, this book is hard to put down. Each passing chapter reveals new leads, twists, and possibilities. It is refreshing, realistic and gives the reader a chance to piece it all together before the end. Think you know who did it? A good book for the new year, pick it up!

"Dark Paradise" is the first Tami Hoag book I ever read. I bought it because of the attractive, moody front cover, plus the synopsis on the back didn't sound too bad. Basically, it said Marilee Jennings, an ex-court reporter, left California for New Eden, Montana, to visit her friend (Lucy MacAdam) and remained to uncover the truth of her friend's death. But you wouldn't have guessed that was the plot after reading the book. However, before I start criticizing, let me introduce the main characters.

Marilee is the protagonist in "Dark Paradise"; J. D. Rafferty is the rugged cowboy who had shared the late Lucy MacAdam's bed before jumping to Marilee's. It's a common formula Tami Hoag uses in her books: outwardly strong leading lady falls for tough, macho guy. Although I'm not much into romance novels, I'm sure a lot of Hoag's fans enjoy her books for this common thread.

Then there's J. D.'s brother Will who's constantly having problems with monogamy, which compels his wife to associate with the Hollywood crowd that has invaded Montana. Among this group is Evan Bryce, a well-to-do man who's interested in Lucy's land and has one unusual relationship with his female cousin (who I kept expecting to be a man because of the repeated references to her manly looks). There are several other nonexistent characters--such as J. D.'s crazy uncle who is a suspect in Lucy's death--, but most of them are easily forgotten and insignificant in the end.

"Dark Paradise" is more of a romance book than a mystery. It's almost pointless to try and guess the killer because there's hardly any real suspense. Also, Lucy barely seems important to the story since she's rarely brought up. Several times I forgot why Marilee was remaining in Montana (besides J. D., of course). However, it is well-written and pretty entertaining.

Only attempt this book if you like Tami Hoag's romantic suspense and verbosity (500+ pages). If you're looking for a good scare, you might try her other mystery books (Night Sins, Ashes to Ashes).

Need something to take the chill off these cold winter nights? Snuggle up with a sizzling book by Tami Hoag. Part romance, mostly thriller, Hoag's books combine well-drawn characters, believable dialogue, and page-turning suspense to create can't-put-it-down excitement. And, I've never been able to figure out "whodunit" before the author reveals the culprit!

"DARK PARADISE" is a personal favorite of mine. Set in Montana, it is a story of greed, lust, blackmail, and murder. Marilee Jennings has just ditched her fiance', job, and California lifestyle. Hoping to decompress and regroup, Mari heads to Montana to visit her old friend Lucy. Unfortunately, when she arrives, Lucy is dead. The official ruling is a hunting accident, but too many pieces of the puzzle point to murder. Mari puts herself in danger when she starts poking into the circumstances of Lucy's death. Caught in the increasing hostilities between the new, rich Hollywood types taking over the town and buying up the surrounding land, and the area ranchers fighting to maintain the way of life they've lived for generations, Mari must find a way to make a life for herself in the land she has come to love. But first, she has to survive.

Nina M.

Tami Hoag has written another thriller, murder mystery that I couldn't put down. The story begins as the main character, Marilee Jennings, is driving to Montana after she has quit her job as a court stenographer and decided to go to Montana where her friend Lucy MacAdam moved the year before. When she arrives, she discovers Lucy's cabin torn apart and that Lucy has been dead for over a week, the apparent victim of an accidental shooting.

Marilee decides to stay so she might learn what really happened to her friend Lucy. J.D. Rafferty, Lucy's neighbor makes her feel most unwelcome in the town and there seems to be a division in the town about the many rich California people who are buying property in New Eden. Marilee finds out that she is Lucy's heir and that she has inherited her small farm. Tami Hoag has, once again, created a rich story set in an attractive town. The tension and developing relationship between Marilee and J.D. Rafferty is intriguing and adds to the mystery of the book.

After having read "A Thin Dark Line," and "Night Sins" I was ready for more of Tami Hoag. The story line of "Guilty as Sin" was just as good, but everytime it turned to the relationship between Ellen North and Jay Butler Brooks I was ready to toss the book in the trash. I don't think the author meant for the romantic parts of her book to be funny, but I found the situations totally laughable. They reminded me of the old Carol Burnett "Went With the Wind" skit. Tami needs to make up her mind whether she wants to write mysteries or romances. I vote for mysteries.

Did you get a chance to read "Night Sins" yet? I hope so, because we're reviewing the sequel "GUILTY AS SIN" now, and I don't want to spoil anything for you. "Guilty as Sin" picks up right where "Night Sins" left off. While a prominent Deer Lake citizen sits in jail for the abduction of Josh Kirkwood and the brutal assault on BCA Agent Megan O'Malley, Josh is returned home. Did Chief Holt arrest an innocent person, or is there still an accomplice on the loose? Now another child in a nearby town has been stolen, throwing further doubt on the suspect's guilt and scattering law enforcement resources across the county. With every new piece of evidence found, a dozen new questions arise. Rather than solving the crime, the investigation seems to be building a haystack in which to find their needle.

Assistant County Prosecutor Ellen North must build a case against a suspect most people have trouble believing to be guilty. In fact, someone is violently protesting the arrest. Is a nationally recognized and applauded program for the rehabilitation of juvenile offenders really a clinic in violence and psychological terror, or is North jumping at shadows? Who is leaving notes and maddening clues, always one step ahead of the investigation? Has an innocent man been framed, victim of the age-old motives of lust and greed? Or is this just another ploy to lead the law agencies further afield? A career has been destroyed, a family torn apart, and a close-knit community will never look at a neighbor the same way again. Welcome to the next level of The Game.

Nina M.

In Guilty as Sin the story centers on the child abduction that began in Night Sins. The story surrounds the perpetrator of the abduction of eight-year-old Josh Kirkwood. Ellen North, County Prosecutor and Mitch Holt, Police Chief for Deer Lake, Minnesota investigate. Ellen North must build a case against a suspect most people don't believe to be guilty. This book is as dynamic and riveting as the first and kept me enthralled as the mystery was first built into a more devious story and then slowly unraveled to a climatic end. A great story spread across these two novels. Highly recommended.

As a Tami Hoag fan, I found this book to have a slow start. The storyline tempts the reader and lays ideas that "something" has happened to both of the main characters, Jack and Laurel; however, it is slow at revealing what the "something" is. Unlike Hoag's other books which starts off with a murder mystery, the first half of the book delves into a the love story part of the plot. Because I enjoy Hoag for the Who-Dunnit stories, I felt that the first half dragged on. Not a bad read, but does not measure up to my favorite, A Thin Dark Line. Both Cry Wolf and A Thin Dark Line take place in South Louisiana, a place that is near and dear to my heart.

Tami Hoag deserves an A+ for her wonderful evocation of the Louisiana swampland in this thriller. The town, people, and the spooky swamp itself have all stayed in my mind weeks after I finished the novel. Another great feature of the work is its sexy Cajun hero, Jack. Most of the time, he's a real charmer. This said, Cry Wolf has one serious failing in my view: it places far too much attention on what proves to be a tedious romance. From the beginning, it's obvious who will get involved with whom. The novel is seriously marred by these characters' long monologues and incessant conversations about "why we shouldn't be romantically involved," even though it's crystal clear that the romantic relationship is good for both partners. Jack's puerile moments of insecurity are particularly irritating - they don't fit his character. He is very appealing in his confidence, but exceedingly dull in his moments of insecurity. I would have appreciated it if the leading couple had tormented each other less and enjoyed each other more - especially since the steamy love scenes are quite well-written. As a thriller, the novel is OK. It's rather obvious whodunit, but the killer's motives are not immediately apparent. Overall, Cry Wolf offers a good read, but it is NOT for those who can't stomach sappy romances full of pointless game-playing.

I really enjoyed this book! The first Tami Hoag novel I ever read was "Ashes to Ashes" which was also very good but a little more gruesome and scary. "Cry Wolf" was more of a mild thriller. The things I loved about this book was the outstanding character development. You really come to know and like these characters (most thrillers are not into character development). I also enjoyed the relationship between the two main characters, it seemed so "real". But don't worry there is also plenty of action. You'll just have to wait for it a little longer than in most thrillers. I highly recommend this book. This is a perfect beach book. Enjoy!

I will start by saying this book is very well written and very suspensful. Lots of good plot twists and a great trail of clues to follow. However, it was very dark. It was difficult at times to deal with the unrelenting darkness of both of the primary characters lives...borderline depressing. I have read Tami Hoag for many years and have really enjoyed her romantic suspense novels. However, this is definitely a step away from her previous writing. I enjoy the reality and the conflict, however there is very little redemption or relief for Sam or Nikki. I felt depressed at the end of the book. To me the appeal of the Romantic Suspense novel is the hope, and even joy, you feel for the characters in a sometimes hopeless and difficult situation. I also did not feel like I got to know the characters of Amanda or Speed very well. While I understand that real life does not always have a neat or tidy ending, perhaps that is part of the appeal of reading in the first place. For me it is a form of relaxation and escape. I have enough reality to deal with in my own life already. When I finish a book, I like to have a feeling of satisfaction for the characters. Unfortunately, I did not experience that with this book. In the future, I will probably wait for the paperback.

When I was first introduced to Tami Hoag's novels, I honestly didn't know what to expect. I mistakenly believed that they were of the romance genre, but once I started reading her many novels, I realized just how wrong I was to have made that assumption. Dust To Dust, her newest effort, reads like a sandstorm with more twists than a country back road. She brings back familiar favorites, Sam Kovac and Nikki Liska, and the dynamics are as wonderful as ever. The book is brimming with diverse characters who have more than their fair share of deep dark secrets that they wish to keep hidden. Tami Hoag is able to deliver a novel that deals with what some may see as a controversial issue, the death of a gay cop, without becoming mired in sterotypes; but that is just the beginning as Hoag expertly weaves this seemingly cut and dried case of suicide into something much deeper and darker than anyone could have possibly imagined. If you want a novel that will keep you guessing from beginning to end, this is definitely a worthwhile read.

Following up on her previous book, Ashes to Ashes, Tami Hoag brings us into a new Minneapolis based mystery with some characters we came to know in Ashes. An exciting story that starts with the death of Police Officer Andy Fallon's apparent suicide as a result of rejection by his father because he was gay. Next, Andy's father is dead and there is clearly something wrong with what is also made to look like a suicide. The story takes us into the world of the Minneapolis Police Department and what's been going on there over a twenty year period. Great characters. A compelling read. Read Ashes to Ashes and follow it with Dust to Dust.