Tuesday, October 30, 2007

Twice in a Lifetime

Twice in a Lifetime
Judith Otto
2007
ISBN 978-1-60313-097-4
Romantic suspense
****



Rachel's world is turned upside down when a strange man accosts her in a restaurant, talking about her taking away his unborn child. She is befuddled, but that's nothing new; she has no memory of her life before the last two years. Thus, she is able to accept the trut that this stranger, Struan, is her husband and willingly goes home with him to begin to reclaim her life. Yet, it's an uphill challenge all the way as she discovers she does not always like her former self and she now has a rival to fight for her husband's love. Yet, one truth remains hidden that could shatter the tentative happiness before her.



This story begins on a compeling note and keeps you hooked throughout. Though the ending is a little rushed, weakening it slightly, it is nonetheless powerful. Ms. Otto has successfully used the standard amnesia story and given it a fresh life.

Wednesday, October 24, 2007

Make Your Reservations - One Bite Stand

One Bite Stand
Nina Bangs
Lovespell
Jan
ISBN 0843959541
Paranormal
****



Daria is beautiful and kind, which means she lives with two strikes against her, since she is a harpie. To prove herself, she is sent to the Woo-Woo Inn to try and claim a powerful soul for Hades. Success will mean she has a place in her family, failure does not bear contemplation. A target is not hard to find, since the Inn is the vacation spot of choice for all magical beings who are anyone. Declan MacKenzie, vampire, would be a perfect soul to claim. Sparkle Stardust, cosmic trouble maker/fashionista extraordinaire, thinks so as well, but she has a very different match up for the two in mind. She's bound and determined to get them together, by any means necessary, and believe me, she's an expert on temptation. Unfortunately, she's also a little crippled this time. Her partner in trouble, Ganymede, is being very distant these days. Of course, there is also a cosmic disaster to avert, but is that really more important than love?



It's always a fun trip to the Woo-Woo Inn. Even though I'm not a cat person, I adore Ganymede and Sparkle, so seeing them is a treat. Declan and Daria's story is a winner, but it's the side story between the trouble makers that kept me most intrigued. Ganymede proves he's more than a powerful meddler. Hades will remind a lot of you of Screwtape, and this is a good thing. Make your reservations at the Inn, with no reservations. You will enjoy this.

Monday, October 22, 2007

Daystar- Templar Vampires II

Daystar
Rene Lyons
Samhain 2006
ISBN: 1-59998-148-3
Paranormal
****



Thanks to her sister, Lex has become a part of the world of the Vampire Knights Templar. She is not a vampire, much less a knight, but she is among the few who is trusted with their secrets and allowed to hang out with them. For one, Constantine, aka, the Dragon, she is more, much more. She is a constant source of temptation. Moreover, she is also the keeper of the power of the Daystar, and that means every evil vampire in the world will want to use her. The time is fast approaching when she will have to go through a trial in order for the Daystar's power to be made manifest. That will either end her life or change things forever. In the time she has left, Lex wants to share her love with Constantine, but can he get past the horrors he lived through centuries ago?



Ms. Lyons is most adept at building a complex fantasy world and keeping it interesting. Her version of vampirism has much in common with tradition, yet adds new aspects that make it wonderful. There are elements to the plot that remind me of Buffy, but they are things that should have been explored in that show and were not, so I am delighted to see them, in some way, given treatment here.

Daystar- Templar Vampires II

Daystar
Rene Lyons
Samhain 2006
ISBN: 1-59998-148-3
Paranormal
****



Thanks to her sister, Lex has become a part of the world of the Vampire Knights Templar. She is not a vampire, much less a knight, but she is among the few who is trusted with their secrets and allowed to hang out with them. For one, Constantine, aka, the Dragon, she is more, much more. She is a constant source of temptation. Moreover, she is also the keeper of the power of the Daystar, and that means every evil vampire in the world will want to use her. The time is fast approaching when she will have to go through a trial in order for the Daystar's power to be made manifest. That will either end her life or change things forever. In the time she has left, Lex wants to share her love with Constantine, but can he get past the horrors he lived through centuries ago?



Ms. Lyons is most adept at building a complex fantasy world and keeping it interesting. Her version of vampirism has much in common with tradition, yet adds new aspects that make it wonderful. There are elements to the plot that remind me of Buffy, but they are things that should have been explored in that show and were not, so I am delighted to see them, in some way, given treatment here.

Sunday, October 21, 2007

Miniature Epic - the Awakening by Rene Lyons

The Awakening
Rene Lyons
Tease (www.teasepublishingllc.com)
2007
ISBN 9871934678312
Fantasy/Romance
****



War between two corrupt powers has ravaged the world, and only with difficulty has Riana held onto her family home since her father's death. Inevitably though, the castle falls to the might of Warrick, the Witch Queen's faithful servant, who takes her to his mistress. However, Riana finds herself baffled by the consideration her captor shows. Yet, that is nothing compared to the dismay they share when the vile woman announces that Riana is to be given to Warrick as his unwilling and unwanted bride. Though they are forced into the match, is it possible that the secrets the reluctantly matched lovers hold could forge a union capable of changing the world?



If you like epic fantasy but are short on time, then you've just discovered the perfect book. In a very brief, all too brief, actually, span of pages, Ms. Lyons builds a world and sets up a romance that leaves you wanting more. She even makes a pairing that I normally find distasteful, that between human and demon, work. I hope sincerely that there is more to the story, and soon.

Saturday, October 20, 2007

Dead Girls are Easy

Dead Girls Are Easy
Terry Garey
Avon
ISBN-10: 0061136158
Oct
Paranormal
***1/2



Nicki Styx's life changed forever when she died. Fortunately for her, it didn't take. She just had an NDE, got sent back to Earth because it wasn't her time, and woke up to find out she, at less than thirty, had experienced a heart incident. She also learns that she has the ability to see and hear the dead. Now, all the ghosts are bugging her for favors, and one ghost, one who used to be her friend, is able to hurt her and has very evil plans for Nicki. She'll need the help of a voodoo priestess, and maybe moral support from her best friend and the hunky doctor who brought her back from life, to keep from being worse off than dead. It'll also take a lot of faith. If she makes it through this trial, perhaps she and the good doctor can settle their relationship issues. Is it creepy that she is identical to his missing, possibly dead, wife?



Light, sardonic humor balances out the inherent horror of Nicki's impending fate worse than death. Ms. Garey manages to juggle a great many plots all at the same time, making this a read for those of nimble minds. I particularly admired her frequent use of Biblical quotations, something you don't see often enough in any novels, much less paranormal ones.

Friday, October 19, 2007

Midnight Sun

Midnight Sun
Rene Lyons
Samhain
2006
ISBN 1599980673
Paranormal
****



Centuries ago, a band of Templars was cursed to "live" as vampires. Yet, despite this, they still aspire to redemption and hope to regain a chance at Heaven. Thus, Rogue, Constantine, Sebastian, and Tristan have spent the last six centuries fighting evil. Yet, they live with cold hearts and let no one outside their fellowship get close to them. Then, they rescue Allie from a renegade vampire. The mortal woman becomes a regular part of their world, and one that Sebastian cannot ignore. Giving in to the love that she longs for would only place her in danger, especially with the evil brand of vampires becoming more reckless and daring.



Though the theme of vampires seeking redemption is a rather common one, Ms. Lyons spin on it is not trite at all. Having the vampires live together as a company, as well as their vocation being Christian, is unique. Moreover, they do not get too broody, which can be a flaw in many such stories. There is plenty of action and romance to keep the story moving and the world that she has built is very intriguing.

Tuesday, October 16, 2007

A Fever You Want to Catch

Blood Fever
Karen Marie Moning
Ballantine
ISBN 038533916X
Paranormal
4 1/2*



Mac continues her quest to find Objects of Power for Jericho Barrons, her enigmatic boss/partner/mentor in her education as a Sidhe Seer. Their main goal remain the powerful book that holds the key to controlling both Fey and human worlds, and Mac still wants justice for her late sister, but there are other considerations. New and old enemies confront her, Barron's is as much a thorn in her side as he is a help, and there is V'lane, the Death by Sex Fey who is determined to have her. Mac will be challenged in ways she has never imagined and forced to change in ways she would have never expected.



This new world's development remains a fascinating, intriguing source of wonder for lucky readers. Mac and Barrons are a fantastic pairing, though they do not lay down their swords long enough to realize it. Even though I normally prefer more romance, there is a subtle tension and enough interesting action that the lack is not a deficiency. Indeed, it would be out of place. I cannot wait until the next one.

Robin T Popp- Lord of the night

Lord of the Night

Robin T Popp

Forever

December

ISBN 0446617857

Paranormal

***1/3




Eric Winslow finds himself in an entirely unenviable position when Kacie Renault kills a powerful vampire. He has sworn to protect her, but like her victim, who happened to be his best friend, Eric is a vampire. Yet, something more is going on; it becomes apparrent that there is a plot to against Eric and all for which he stands. There is a second difficulty as well. Eric finds himself falling for a woman trained to kill his kind.





Kacie and Eric's story is a compelling one, drawing on the complexities of family life and the quest for political power, as well as the abiding theme of transitions. Readers will delight with the changing relationship between the young woman and the man she has respected and who has watched over her all through her life. If you have missed the earlier books in this series, this one stands well on its own, so you may freely dive into it before backtracking.

Sunday, October 14, 2007

A Wish Granted

If you're wishing for a good book, look no further.

Careful What You Wish For
Lucy Finn
June
Signet Eclipse
ISBN 0-451-22104-4
Paranormal
****1/2



Ravine is a down-to-earth, practical attorney who does things her own way. Then, she finds a genie, and suddenly, things have to change, starting with her. Gene is not your ordinary Genie. He's only been one a few decades, cursed to fulfill wishes by a man whose woman he might have dallied with, and gotten caught. He's also not Arabian, but an Aussie. It does not take long to realize that there is something more between them than master and servant; for one thing, Ravine refuses to treat him as a slave, preferring to call him her partner. Yet, both know that once a third wish is made, he will have to depart.



This story has something to touch all your emotional senses; humor, drama, touching moments, and romance. Gene is the most charming jinn I've ever encountered, a perfect contrast to Ravine's type A-ness. If you have never read or actively avoided genie stories, then this exceptional book deserves to be your first, and if you love them, then definitely get it.

Thursday, October 11, 2007

An Ice Cold Grave - Harper Connelly 3

Ice Cold Grave
Charlaine Harris
Berkley
Oct
ISBN 0425217299
Mystery/Paranormal
***1/2



Ever since being struck by lightening, Harper Connelly has had the ability to locate dead bodies and tell how they died. This ability has been both useful to society as well as to her finances. Her latest case involves finding a great number of corpses, all of them children, who are the victims of a serial killer. Before she can leave after concluding her work, Harper is attacked, necessitating an extension of her stay in town. Even if she hadn't been hurt, the local authorities want her to remain and help, so she and Tolliver find themselves forced to accomodate the situation. It also forces the two of them to realize that they are not related and deal with the feelings they have submerged for years.



This is Harper's most deadly case yet, with events in it that mirror real life events in some ways. Fans will note that this entry seems to mark a turning point for the beloved heroine, and one does wonder where the stories will go from here. Be aware that light humor and fun are downplayed in favor of a grittier story. Despite this, if you love the series, be sure and get this asap.



That said, Tolliver and Harper moving into a sexual relationship may disturb some people. For two books now, they have presented themselves as siblings, despite not being related by blood, just by love. Even though they do not share a mutual parent, there is a tinge of incest to this turn of events that potentially will turn away readers or make some of us shudder.

Wednesday, October 10, 2007

Midnight Alley Morganville III

Midnight Alley
Morganville Vampires 3
Rachel Caine
Oct
Jam
ISBN 0803715358
YA paranormal
****1/2



One thing about Morganville you need to know before moving there is that the solutions to problems have new problems inherent inside them. Becoming Amelie, the founder of the vampire line's, protectee was supposed to make things better for Claire and those she loves. So far, it's just added to her burdens. Her "patron" has ordered the girl to study with an insane vampire alchemist, working on a top secret project to what end she does not know. The meanest girl in town, the one who set the chain of events into motion that put Claire into the Glass House, Monica, now wants to be her best friend. There must be an ulterior motive. Two of her housemates are at each others' throats, which is only natural since Shane is the son of a vampire hunter and Michael is now a vampire. Claire finds herself the focus of too much attention and not knowing who to trust in the vampyric political games that turn human lives into chess pieces.



If you love complex stories in well built worlds, then it's time to take a trip to Morganville. Each new entry into the series fits neatly after the last and ends in such a way as to make you hunger for the next one to resolve the questions opened at its conclusion. Whatever your age, it will be impossible not to be fascinated by this edgy, unfolding drama.

Friday, October 5, 2007

Never Say Never

Never Say Never
Geralyn Dawson
Oct
ISBN 0451222431
Romantic Susp.
***



A stalker sends "bad twin" Torie Bradshaw running to Matt Callahan, the man who once rescued her and subsequently got under her skin, making himself unforgettable. Matt has enough problems without Torie in his life, but he finds it impossible to say no to her; mostly because she won't go away. Murder changes things, though, and the pair finds themselves partners in solving a crime. However, Matt is not being purely altruistic; he's getting something out of this deal besides job satisfaction. To stave off matrimony minded women, he fakes an engagement to Torie, not realizing she'd like to make it real.



With the fun that hallmarked Ms. Dawson's historical work, especially the Bad Luck series, this romance takes readers on a wild ride. Though the pacing was at times uneven, that can be forgiven because of the overall quality and superb characterizations.

Thursday, October 4, 2007

Hidden Moon - Lori Handeland's Night creatures

Hidden Moon
Lori Handeland
St Martin's
July
ISBN 0312949170
Paranormal
****



Claire Kennedy's tenure as mayor of Lake Bluff Georgia is about to become the most interesting of any mayor's in the sleepy town's history. The sudden appearances of odd wolves and Gypsies at almost the same time seems a little strange. Then, people who give Claire a hard time begin to disappear; is the handsome Rom who has taken a shine to her involved? Is there magic in the air, and is it black or white? Before Claire can find happiness, these questions have to be answered.



If you have missed the Night Creatures series, for shame. However, as each one can stand alone easily, you will have no problem being sucked into this evolving universe. Fans will take note that there is a new sort of werewolf introduced, one even Edward will not know how to deal with, once he arrives. It's wonderful to see that there is more to Ms. Handeland's realm than we knew, and now I want to see what's next.

A very cool book for anyone

Betrayed
P.C. Cast
Kristin Cast
St. Martin's
Oct
ISBN 0312360282
YA Urban Fantasy
****1/2



As Zoe struggles to cope with the many changes being Marked has wrought in her life, not the least of them being her new role as leader of the Dark Daughters, sinister things begin to go on around her. Human boys are disappearing and dying horribly, and certain events are leading Zoe to wonder who she can trust inside the House of Night. Surprisingly enough, her worst enemy is not as much of a hag as Zoe thought. The implications of that truth will have effects that threaten to tear Zoe's life to shreds, or to make her stronger.



Now that you're done with Harry Potter and want to know what to read next, no matter what your age is, put this series on the list. The Casts have created a world that is equally or more complex and compelling than that of the boy wizard. I savored every page as Zoe's life unfolded before us with all the traumas of teen years magnified by her gifts. Bring on the next entry soon!

Wednesday, October 3, 2007

Confessions of a Werewolf Supermodel - Ronda Thompson

Confessions of a Werewolf Supermodel
Ronda Thompson
Oct
ISBN 0312949251
Paranormal/Chicklit/Contemporary Romance/Comedy/Mystery
****1/2



Lou Kinipski has the most unusual beauty secret of any of the top models on the catwalk. In fact, given what it is, you probably should not refer to the runway as the catwalk. Until seven years ago, she was drop dead ugly, then she turned into a werewolf. Once she bruises from an attempted rape that triggered the change heal, she's gorgeous. Because she killed her would be rapist, she went on the run, got a new identity, and became a star model. Life is good, with only a few concessions to her condition required until someone begins killing women who look like her and Lou's past starts to become an issue. Making things even more complicated are the four men now in her life; a sleazy, but still somewhat charming PI, the photographer she's had a crush on for years, the policeman who is the lead on the case, and a vampire. At least two of them could be handy, considering that she's definitely on the killer's list of victims. Romance is not Lou's biggest concern, however. Worry about her past and if she has a future are vying for that role.



I loved this! Suspense and fun are mixed so well that you are on the edge of your seat and laughing at the same time. Seeds of wonderful stories that should be told are scattered throughout the pages, making you want to revisit Lou and her world again. This is a definite keeper.

Tuesday, October 2, 2007

Lord of the Fading Lands

Lord of the Fading Lands
C.L. Wilson
Lovespell
Oct
ISBN 0843959772
Fantasy
****



Ellie knows that she is not exactly the best catch in town, but still, she cannot bring herself to accept the boorish butcher's son as her betrothed, even when he uses a dirty trick to create a binding agreement between them. Mentally, she cries out for rescue, not realizing what she is doing, and the Lord of the Fading Lands, Rain, the Tauren Soul, hears her and recognizes the voice of his true mate. Thus, a chain of events that threatens to set off a diplomatic incident between two worlds, but could save the soul of a king who has lost his joy, and with him, his land, is set into motion.



This is definitely a fairy tale for adults, complete with the handsome royal sweeping in on his charger to rescue the fair maid. Magic and romance combine in this story that brings to mind the Brothers Grimm, King Arthur, and other classic fantasies, most effectively. I look forward to more from this author.

Monday, October 1, 2007

A Kickin' Read - Overkill by L. Castillo

Overkill
Linda Castillo
Oct
ISBN 0425218295
Suspense
***1/2



Giving in to rage cost Marty Hogan her career and ultimately forced her to relocate to a nothing town in the Texas panhandle to find work as a policewoman. Her tough as nails attitude is impressive to her new boss, Clay Settlemeyer, and he's had enough regrets to be willing to give her a second chance. Yet, bad news combined with incidents that look somewhat fishy make him wonder if the lady has PTSD. When the truth comes out, that the Russian mafia is out for her blood, terror will reign over their lives until justice is served.



Even without the minimalist love story, this would be a blazingly fast paced story guaranteed to satisfy your need for vicarious thrills. Marty is an unusual, take no prisoners, both tough and soft heroine who makes herself memorable not only to Clay, but to readers who wish for half her backbone.