The astrological sign of Scorpio has long been associated with intrigue, strong emotions and renewal. It is also considered by many to be the sexiest icon in the zodiac. Authors Jenna Howard and Deanna Lee have drawn upon these qualities for Scorpio, their contribution to the Zodiac Series from Liquid Silver Books.

She Was A Showgirl by Deanna Lee
Lola Bridges used to work as a showgirl at the Zodiac Hotel & Casino where her life was fun and carefree. This was before witnessing her former boss, mobster Phil Moretti, carry out two brutal murders. For the past year Lola has been on the run as she knows Moretti has her on a hit list. During this time Lola has relied on her own cunning and the skills learned from her policeman father to evade Moretti. She has also stayed under the sights of the police because she feels they cannot protect her.

U.S. Marshal Jared Copeland was the partner of one of Moretti’s victims, and he is determined to bring down the man who killed his friend. When Copeland apprehends Lola, it is his intention to use the former showgirl as a way to get to Moretti. Soon, however, the lawman realizes that the desire to protect Lola conflicts with his obsessed drive for justice.

The premise of She Was A Showgirl echoes of the Crime Noir genre very popular some decades ago. Author Deanna Lee utilizes the curt-and-snappy dialog familiar in these novels and provides a plot and gritty atmosphere appropriate to the niche. While Lee’s effort to recapture the enjoyment of this genre is laudable, I felt this story did have flaws. Lola Bridges is indeed a brassy and sassy heroine; but underneath these things, there are no layers to her character. Lola’s relationship with her father and the knowledge she learned from him could have lent some depth to this heroine. The father, however, seems mainly a tool of reference to emphasize Lola’s cleverness. The characters of Copeland and Moretti serve their purpose: here we have a tough, suave lawman and one nasty mobster. Unfortunately, neither male character is allowed to be anything more than two-dimensional. The story is aptly fast-paced, but suffers most from the scenes apparently designed to be sexy. I felt no credible chemistry between Lola and Copeland, and there was a definite “in your face” quality to the intimate scenes. While sensuality can work well with an appealing plot and convincing characters, with this story I felt that these elements finished out as raunchy at best.

Midnight Hour by Jenna Howard:
Mattie Adamson’s “day job” is spent as a celebrated fashion model; but in her double-life works for Z.O.D.I.A.C. (Zone of Defense In Armed Conflict), a mysterious agency that utilizes Mattie’s assassin skills to bring down certain social predators. Mattie’s less than happy past relationships has made her an ideal candidate for this job. However, this past has also left Mattie cagey about affairs of the heart. This is until she meets the wealthy Max Grayson. While Mattie finds herself attracted to Max on a level that transcends the flesh, she fears his reaction if he learns the full details of her life. When an unexpected and very nefarious menace threatens Max’s daughter, Mattie realizes that some things in life are much more important to protect than one’s own secrets. It is a twist in her life that will bring out the best in Mattie; she will realize inner strengths and truths she never knew she possessed.

Author Jenna Howard has weaved a thoroughly satisfying tale with Midnight Hour. Narrative, plot and character development are all well crafted. The secondary characters are convincing and allowed their own distinct personalities. The plot also touches on a rather delicate subject matter. Where a lesser skilled writer could have just incorporated this subject for the sake of the hype element, Howard handles it with sensitivity. Mattie is a well-faceted heroine, and the conflicts of her tormented psyche and understandable desire to help justice makes her one of the most interesting heroines I’ve come across in quite awhile. This heroine grows emotionally as the story unfolds, which I also applaud. I didn’t know whether I’d end up liking Max Grayson or not; he, too, had some serious demons to contend with. But in the end he is a likeable, and very human, hero. All in all, I came away impressed not only with this story, but by the author’s skill.

My final verdict: By integrating the classic astrological traits with the themes of both stories, readers will find a very interesting contrast of writer styles in Scorpio from the Zodiac series. Jenna Howard has shown her writer’s winning potential with the suspenseful Midnight Hour. It is a story I will recommend to others and not forget for some time. Conversely, readers who like uncomplicated characters and gratuitous elements will find She Was A Showgirl by Deanna Lee a story sure to scratch their itch.

Reviewed by Laurie
©June 2007