Colder Than Ice by Helen Macpherson

Publisher:           Regal Crest Enterprises

Dr. Allison Shaunessy, an archaeologist from Australia, wants to launch an expedition into Antarctica to find the possible remains of the Finlayson Expedition. She is trying to prove that Finlayson was actually the first explorer to reach that continent, but she's having trouble raising the money to cover the costs. Enter Dr. Michela DeGrasse, a psychologist with the International Space Research Institute, who is working on psychological studies for the first Mars mission and would like to go on the expedition to study how the team interacts under adverse circumstances. Michela manages to find the descendent of Finlayson, who is willing to fund the project, with the stipulation that Michela must be the expedition leader. Allison has the permits and transportation to get a team to the exploration site, but, as someone who needs to be in control of things around her, can she accept being second in command of an expedition that could establish her academic career?  Her team also presents some challenges in that it contains her fiancée, who feels he should be leading the expedition, and the daughter of the department chairman at her university who has an agenda all her own.  The story unfolds as these two strong-willed women get to know each other and try to find a way to work together, while struggling with a physical attraction that surprises both of them. They do find Finlayson and a surprise they hadn't counted on. And they discover something about themselves, too.

This is Helen MacPherson's second novel and, like And Those Who Trespass Against Us, it features interesting characters and an engaging story.  It is an adventure story first, with a struggling romance as the second theme.  MacPherson has obviously done meticulous research about life in Antarctica and how an expedition like this would function.  The characters find themselves interacting with nature as much as each other.  The descriptions of the terrain provide a magnificent and dangerous setting for the story.  This is a satisfying book all around and a good read.

Love's Redemption by Helen Macpherson

Publisher:              Regal Crest Enterprises


Jo Ashby is a television star with her program “Where Are They Now?” which features stories about famous people who drop out to create a new direction in their lives. The series is doing very well, but Jo won’t be satisfied until she can do the story that interests her the most. Lauren Wheatley was the most promising amateur on the women’s golf circuit ten years ago when she had an unexpected meltdown in a tournament and disappeared from sight. 

Jo locates Lauren serving as the chief guide in a nature park in Tasmania and sets out to find out what happened to someone who everyone thought would end up in the Hall of Fame. Lauren doesn’t want the publicity of the show because she’s got more than one secret that she doesn’t want revealed. She’s very happy living in obscurity and resists Jo in every way she can think of. Some things are inevitable though and, as the women get to know each other and cooperate on some rescue missions of lost hikers, they find there is a mutual attraction. 

Jo has to decide if she can compromise her journalistic principles to protect Lauren’s secrets and Lauren has to decide if she can let her barriers down enough to enjoy a relationship with someone who can actually return her feelings. And there is another presence lurking in Lauren’s life that might make everything impossible.

Love’s Redemption is Macpherson’s third published novel. She doesn’t publish her books as quickly as some writers, but she always delivers a solid story when she does. A reader can always expect detailed character development wrapped in a tight and focused story. Macpherson delivers again. This is a lesbian romance, but it steps a shade above the norm. 

Lauren Wheatley is an intricate character who draws the reader into her mysteries slowly. Jo Ashby is the type of journalist that most people wish was really on television as she seems to understand that there is a line that should not be crossed when reporting about a person’s private life. The emotions that both of these characters experience radiate off of the pages. Add to that detailed descriptions of a shark hunt underwater, the beauty of the nature park and the dangers of rescuing people lost in snow storms and the result is a rich story. 

Macpherson throws in a supernatural storyline that isn’t usual in her books, but fits perfectly here. Waiting three or four years for an author’s next book is worth it when the reader knows she can count on a story that has some quality to it and is enjoyable to read. Love’s Redemption fulfills both qualities.