cover image Pocketful of Paradise

Pocketful of Paradise

Kathleen Kane. St. Martin's Press, $5.99 (312pp) ISBN 978-0-312-96090-2

Kane (Charms) once again displays her remarkable talent for unusual, poignant plots and captivating characters. Zachariah is a Soul collector in deep trouble with his superiors, the Minions (as in heavenly) for falling down on the job. When a soul collector fails to collect a soul on time, the possessor of that soul lives on and throws the whole system out of wack. By way of punishment, Minions send Zachariah to earth to live with the humans for a month, setting him down on a small horse ranch in Nevada owned by a pretty young widow and her six-year-old son. The humanizing of Zach is great fun and the love scenes sizzle (he's a quick learner); but, because of the nature of his job, death is also a real factor and brings some emotional contrast. (Jan.)