In Love's Shadow

Tedious narrative and a tired plot burden this mundane tale that Lanigan (Tender Malice) considers to be a way to help emotionally battered women ""navigate their way back to emotional, spiritual and psychological freedom."" When her husband commits suicide after mishandling funds and driving the family business to financial ruin, trophy-wife Roya Pulaski must step into the breach and fight to save what's left of her children's livelihood. Of course, Roya hasn't a clue how to run the company, which means she must rely on marketing genius Nick Petros to pull her through. Unfortunately, Lanigan buries Roya beneath a plethora of characters, all of whom have problems as great as hers and have overcome them with the same blithe ease. Fans expecting the usual adventure, charm and imaginativeness of Lanigan's previous works will be disappointed with this offering. (Nov.)