HERO, COME BACK

Three historical romance veterans present novellas that give the spotlight to heroes who've appeared in previous books in supporting roles. In Laurens's gentle though disappointingly conflict-free Lost and Found , longtime friends are blindsided by love, but must reunite a boy with his aristocratic family before they can indulge their hearts. In The Matchmaker's Bargain , a whimsical tale that reels with delightful screwball scenes, Boyle binds her engaging heroine to a former rake-turned-recluse, who soon recognizes this sprightly girl has taught him to live again. The final entry, Dodd's The Third Suitor , a fast-paced adventure involving a hoyden heiress and a spy on vacation at the shore, delivers many thrilling twists and turns. While each story will satisfy the individual author's readers, Dodd's has the broadest reach and provides the most entertainment per page, doling out fun main characters, a sinister villain, sizzling love scenes and a marvelous ending that will make strong women cheer. (June)