Midnight Sun

May 1, 2003
It's hard to figure out why Midnight Sun is categorized as a "romantic suspense" when there is none of the latter; the only suspense is in waiting to see if something suspenseful will happen. As a romance, however, Kat Martin's tale of 28-year-old Charity Sinclair, a New York career woman who leaves her job editing adventure books to follow her dream of prospecting in the Yukon, has considerable strength. Readers can rest assured that Charity finds far more than mere gold dust, and the author's descriptions of Charity's neighbor, Call Hawkins, linger lovingly on every one of the rugged recluse's physical attributes. Well-researched theories about DNA-transmitted "inherited memories"-offered in explanation of Charity's obsession with the Klondike Gold Rush-are intriguing, and temptingly detailed "how-to" descriptions of modern gold-panning methods will activate readers' get-rich-quick fantasies.

May 1, 2003
Charity Sinclair has been obsessed with the Yukon as long as she can remember. When a small inheritance gives her the chance to buy a mining claim, she gives up her editorial job in New York and her too-perfect boyfriend. Upon arriving she finds the cabin a disaster and her closest neighbor hostile. Billionaire Call Hawkins has good reasons for wanting to be left alone, but he just can't help but watch Charity as she tries to wrest gold from her claim, and he is always on hand to jump in when she gets herself in trouble. But once they reach a truce, they're thrust into danger: his plane and her mining equipment are sabotaged. Which of them is the target, and why? Meanwhile Charity's strangely realistic dreams of the Yukon gold rush lead her on a fascinating genealogical search. Martin's latest is a terrific contemporary romance with an interesting setting, perfect pacing, compelling plot, fascinating detail, charming secondary characters, and a resourceful and likable pair of protagonists.(Reprinted with permission of Booklist, copyright 2003, American Library Association.)