Delightful Double post

Thanks to feeling cruddy and rain, here's two hightly rec'd reads.

Kitty and the Silver Bullet
Carrie Vaughn
Grand Central
Jan
ISBN 0446618756
Fantasy
****



The saying goes you can't go home again, and if you are a banished werewolf, this is doubly so. However, when her Mom is diagnosed with cancer, Kitty will defy the laws and everyone who would stand in her way to be there for her family. Of course, she finds herself in trouble. Between landing in a war between two vampires battling for local supremacy and becoming the incentive for other werewolves to defy the abusive Alphas of her former pack, Kitty and her new lover have their hands more than full, and this time, Cormac can't bail her out, since he's in jail. It's time for her to learn what she's made of, no matter what.



True to life, human drama and supernatural pathos are intricately woven into perhaps the most intense, compelling, and fascinating of all the Kitty books. Though there is less humor, given the situations, Kitty is one of the best characters to hit the scene, and the two men in her life, especially Cormac, continue to provide added depth to the mix without getting up to one's chin in angst.


Morning Light
Catherine Anderson
Berkley
Jan
ISBN 0451222776
Paranormal/Contemporary/Inspirational
*****



Loni McEwan's life was shattered by the consequences of her psychic gift two years ago, but when a new vision points her in the right direction to find a lost, missing boy, she follows her instincts and reaches out the the one man her talent says can pull off the rescue, Clint Harrigan, a devout non-believer in psychic mumbo-jumbo - until faced with proof that she's for real. Soon, the somewhat antagonistic pair find themselves working as a team in the wilderness, fighting the elements, the odds, and an attraction that neither was prepared to discover as they race time to save a life.



It may be impossible for Ms. Anderson to write a bad book. Though technically, this would not be shelved on the Christian fiction aisle, Loni and Clint's strong moral convictions formed by their faith make it an excellent book for all put the most Puritanical Christian readers. Even those put off by the, as some people call it, "weird" stuff, i.e., ESP, that element, though vital, is not a prepossessing issue for the most part. What makes this book are the characters and their building relationship set against the background of a life or death quest.

A treat for MaryJaniceDavidson fans

Dead over Heels
MaryJanice Davidson
Berkley
March
ISBN 0425219410
Paranormal anthology
***1/2



For years now, Ms. Davidson has created feisty, flakey, fun heroines who charm her readers and escort them to worlds that are just a bit wider than our own. In this charming anthology, we get to "daytrip" to three of them for the price of one. Though Fred is not the heroine of the Survivors, one of her fellow mermaids finds a delightful romance with a conceited newsman she rescues. It may not be the Little Mermaid, but it's definitely more than a splash of fun. If you adore the Wyndham Werewolves, then go with one as she tries Speed Dating, Werewolf style, in an effort to wed before she's thirty. However, my personal favorite brings us to Betsy, the Undead Vampire Queen, as she and Sinclair go on their honeymoon in Undead and Wed, and try to make peace with Betsy's best friend's boyfriend who hates their guts. Something sinister is going on that will force enemies to work together, but it really does a number on romance. The best part of all though is the tantalizing taste of the next Undead book at the end. I can hardly wait.

Carole Nelson Douglas returns to fantasy

Dancing With Werewolves
Carole Nelson Douglas
Juno
Oct
ISBN 0809572036
Urban Fantasy
****



Several years ago, it seemed as if everyone expected Y2K to bring about the End of Days. It fizzled in this world, but Delilah Street's Earth, it was appocolyptic in the true sense of the word- revelatory. Rather than ending life, it revealed that witches, were-beings, vampires, and all things mystic are real. Delilah is not a witch or other para-being, at least she doesn't think she is, but she does investigate them for a local news station until she gets on the wrong powerful being's bad side. That, grief, and seeing her "twin" dead on CSI Las Vegas V impel her to shift her residence to Vegas and try to find out who the mystery woman with her face is. Delilah thought she was alone in the world. Now, she might not be. CSI's producer, Hector Nightwine, provides her with a job and a place to live. He is only one of the intriguing males who will come into Del's life. The vampire, Snow, wraps her wrist in an enchanted bracelet with strange powers that couuld lead to trouble. Ex-FBI agent, Ric Montoya, provides her with help, via his dowsing powers, and romance. Then, there is her new dog, a wolf hybrid, who could be considered her familiar. Her investigation will show Delilah just how complex and dangerous the world is. CinSims, beings who replicate matinee idols, a werewolf/vampire war, mystical spiders, and Vegas itself keep the action fast paced and filled with rich images. Delilah may have bitten off more than she can chew, or it might just be the start of something wonderful. My vote is for the latter.



Ms. Douglas' return to fantasy is a triumph. She has enhanced the present reality with magic and excitement that leaps off the page and never slows down. Readers' minds will be filled with vivid pictures, but never too much information. Yet, despite the fast pace, there are raw, emotional moments that will strike your heart. Though set in Vegas, this book is not a gamble. You can only win if you read it.