SMK-ish Book Recommendations

[silentnight]

Lately I've gotten back into reading Dee Henderson's books and I have to say the humor, suspense, and romantic chemistry between the leads makes me think a LOT of SMK.  The best are "True Courage" (it was later rereleased as Kidnapped I think -- the leads are named Luke & Caroline), The Guardian, and Danger In The Shadows.  I'd stick with only her O'Malley series, Uncommon Heroes series, and Witness in that regard though -- her later books get really heavy. (Not that they aren't good -- they just don't feel as much like SMK as her older ones, so if that's what you're looking for...)

Another author whose books make me think of the show is Jen Turano. She writes historical mysteries/suspense set in the Gilded Age and the banter between leads and humor is very reminiscent of the early SMK seasons. It's so easy to picture Lee & Amanda in just about every story.

If anyone else has any recommendations please add them!

ETA: Also Forgotten by Lorena McCourtney.  The character of Jace also makes me think of Bruce's movie Hope Ranch.

[Janeth]

There is abook that's just come out called "One Thing Leads to a Lover" and it is based completely on Scarecrow and Mrs. King. She's doing a series based on 80 shows but set in the early 19th century. First one "Whos That Earl?" was based on Magnum PI and the next two are based on Remington Steele and Hart to Hart. It's kind of fun.

[silentnight]

Oh how cute! I might want to check that out! Does the language/sex content stay 80s appropriate?

Also who's the author?  I have a feeling I could get a lot of really scary results if I just put that in on Amazon.

P.S. Which ep is your avatar from? LOVE it!

[silentnight]

Yesterday I read a book called "The Gentleman Spy" by Erica Vetsch and there is no way to describe it other than this author has taken SMK and set it in Regency times. The character's physical descriptions don't match but otherwise the similarities are unreal.

It opens with him rescuing her from an unseemly part of town and he's in disguise so she doesn't know who he is at first. Later they're at a party and she still doesn't realize it's him but he WINKS at her.

And then there are these passages:

"Marcus put his hand in the small of her back."

"He squeezed her fingers and rubbed her knuckles with his thumb."

"He was still holding her hand."

They're both getting harrassed by respective family about marriage plans. He blurts that he's askes her to marry him and then says softly to her "Go along with it. I'll explain later." (And he's totally sincere)

Oh and he thinks he can keep their marriage compartmentalized -- sounds like someone trying to hide his feeling about his civilian partner. (It starts as a marriage of convenience, although the kias in the Church is described by one of their friends as "After that kiss in the Church today I thought I was going to have to call the fire brigade." LOL)

"Everything about her intrigued him, so that he'd been forced to work harder to keep her contained in his mind. He couldnt afford to lose focus during work. He wouldnt let his mind be weakened by sentiment or distraction."

"He took her hands in his...his thumbs caressed the back of her hands."

There is mention of her cowriting a speech with him which immediately made me think of Dead Men Leave No Trails. And after he delivers the speech he winks at her again.

And when she learns the truth at the end about him being a spy, her response is "And now that I know the truth, I can be of assistance. I think I would make a very good spy."

There were two other parts that were too long to quote, so I attached photos. The first two photos (same scene over 2 pages) sounds like something we'd see in the Q Bureau. And the other reminds me SOOOO much of the "I never leaned on anyone...even when I needed to" moment in Unfinished Business.

So if you're looking for a SMK related fix I TOTALLY recommend this one!

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