Lady Reckless

This sequel to LaFoy's early 19th-century Irish time-travel It Happened One Night features Carrick des Marceaux, son of LaFoy's earlier heroine, American time-traveler heroine Alanna, and Glynis Muldoon, a contemporary Kansas cowgirl. Glynis is pulled out of a raging storm by Carrick's sister, a wannabe spellmaker, and into the midst of a fight between rebels led by Carrick (aka ""The Dragon"") and the redcoats in residence. There's a bit of mumbo-jumbo about the Dragon's Heart, a gem whose sparkling, swirling depths have foretold Carrick's death by hanging, and a lot of talk about cheating one's destiny, which Carrick can accomplish by fleeing into the future with Glynis, but this is a tired story and a tired plot. Though a competent writer (aside from a few blunders like ""His tongue boldly stroked the dulcet cavern of her mouth""), LaFoy has broken one of the cardinal rules of fiction-writing technique: she often tells what's happened rather than shows it, unfortunately in critical scenes. (Aug.)