L.A. Metro by RJ Nolan

Publisher:      L-Book

Kimberly Donovan and Jess McKenna know about betrayal.  Kim was forced to leave her last position at a hospital when false accusations were made against her and her closeted lover refused to support her.  She comes to LA Metro hoping to start over and that her past won't follow her.  Jess McKenna, the chief of LA Metro's ER, is an emotionally closed off workaholic who uses her icy reputation to cover her inability to make a relationship work with another woman.  Jess limits her personal contacts to her sister and her Great Dane Thor.  If not totally satisfying, that has kept her from being hurt again.

Kim is a unique individual though.  Her positive attitude and her willingness to volunteer to be the psychiatric resident in the ER wins over everyone, including a very reluctant Jess.  Slowly they develop a friendship, which is where they both swear they're going to keep the relationship, but it's not to be.  Secretly, each woman wants to pursue something deeper, but neither of them is sure she can open up enough for that, especially Jess.  Each one has made such poor choices in the past that she's not sure she can trust her instincts for the future.

RJ Nolan's ability to develop characters and create plots is showing improvement in each book that she produces.  L.A. Metro is her most complex novel to date.  Underneath the typical romance is a story about how damaging relationships can be and also how they can heal.  Kim shows the same patience building a bridge to Jess that she shows in building bridges between the departments in the hospital.  The struggle that Jess goes through with her intimacy issues is extremely realistic and touching.  These are mature women who deal with situations in a mature manner.  Everything isn't perfect in their world, but they deal with it.  It's nice to read a story where relationships develop gradually, plus confront and deal with real situations.

L.A. Metro is an entertaining story.  Nolan's fans of her previous books won't be disappointed.

Double Trouble by RJ Nolan

Publisher:                 L-Book

Romance is wonderful, but trust is more important for a relationship to work.

Kris is looking forward to a standing date with her friend to see the first game of the season between the San Diego Padres and Los Angeles Dodgers.  Watching the game is almost impossible though because she can't stop staring at the woman sitting near them.  They finally have a chance to meet when both of them end up covered in spilled beer.  It may be a strange beginning for romance, but it works for Kris and Erin.  As they come to know each other better, they find they both have trust issues due to failed relationships and Erin has a further complication.  As a divorced mother of two children, she has to be careful who she lets into their lives.  Kris is great with the children though and even Erin's ex-in-laws are encouraging her to take a chance on forming a new family.  There is a snake in the Garden of Eden however.  Erin's ex-husband is determined to break them up and lying is an acceptable and normal behavior for him.  He wouldn't have a chance except that both women have been hurt so badly before.  If Erin and Kris can't learn to separate the past from what they know about each other, the snake may get what he wants.

Double Trouble is a pleasant story and moves at a quick pace.  The characters are appealing and respond to the situations in very realistic manners.  Those responses provide the tension in the story.  The book is a traditional romance, which will make it satisfying for fans of that genre.  

All Gone by RJ Nolan

Publisher:           L-Book 

This is one for animal lovers, though part of it will make you sad.

Dr. Kody Garrett is working in vet clinic owned by a very demanding older doctor.  He has a reputation for burning through junior partners at an amazing speed, but Kody is determined to hold on and prove she’s his equal.  She thinks she’s getting her chance when her boss goes on vacation and leaves her in charge of the clinic, but then animals start dying.  When she suspects that someone is poisoning animals, Kody reports the situation to Animal Control and meets Officer BJ Braden.  Unfortunately, her boss didn’t want attention called to his clinic and Kody gets fired, but that doesn’t stop Kody and BJ from trying to catch the killer.  Things become more desperate when the killer starts hunting not only animals, but humans.

This is a fast paced, well told story that will keep you guessing about who is poisoning the animals.  The characters are pleasant, although one of the “bad girls” is perhaps the most interesting.  If you’re looking for some entertainment for a couple of hours, this is your book.  If you’re an animal lover, prepare to be angry.