Black Hills

Publishers Weekly: It's not just a sure-fire formula that's kept the crown atop the queen of romance, as this thriller proves. The gushy love-conquers-all story of South Dakota wildlife biologist Lil Chance and ex-cop/PI Coop Sullivan takes a back seat to the taut, gritty chase of a serial killer. There's never a doubt that Lil and Coop-childhood sweethearts who fall in love, drift apart and then reconnect-will help each other mend their wounded hearts: "It was a good day, she thought, when you opened yourself to both the joys and the risks of love," Lil discovers. Nor is it surprising that a crazed killer will meet his match in feisty Lil. But this premier storyteller proves an ordinary love story can still win your heart, and even an inevitable confrontation may scare you silly. (July)