Olmsted in Chicago

Ambitious senator Alan MacGregor vows to find out everything he possibly can about unconventional Shelby Campbell, while artist and loner Grant Campbell finds a renewed interest in life when he meets lovely Genevie+a6ve Grandeau. Reprint.

Setting: Contemporary U.S.
Sensuality Rating: 8

Bestselling author Nora Roberts continues her acclaimed MacGregor series with two romantic novellas in The MacGregors: Alan and Grant. In All the Possibilities, Washington, D.C., socialite Shelby Campbell meets Senator Alan MacGregor and the attraction is immediate and powerful. Unfortunately, Shelby is determined to avoid romantic involvement with any public figure, a resolve that stems from her witnessing her politician father's assassination. A man in the spotlight, especially a man in politics, is too vulnerable, and she can't risk losing someone she loves again. Her determination is no match for Alan's, though, as the handsome MacGregor lays siege to the Campbell heart with weapons too compelling to resist.

In One Man's Art, Shelby's brother, Grant Campbell, has found his own way of coping with his loss. A famous cartoonist and political satirist, Grant lives as a virtual hermit in an isolated Maine lighthouse, jealously guarding his privacy. His battlements are breached, however, when beautiful Genvieve Grandeau arrives sodden and stranded on his doorstep. Genvieve, herself a renowned artist, has come to Maine seeking solitude and inspiration. When Grant's grudging willingness to assist a damsel in distress turns to outright surliness as he camouflages his attraction to her, she sets upon a mission to make him regret his rudeness. Soon she has more on her hands than she expected, as she and Grant both recognize a passion that neither can deny.

Though thinner in plot than the typical Roberts book--due to the shorter, double-novella format--The MacGregors: Alan and Grant nonetheless contains the same compelling characters, rich description, and sensuous storytelling known and loved by Roberts fans. This newest MacGregor novel should please both her devoted readers and new readers alike. --Lisa Wanttaja