Gentlemen Prefer Succubi-Jill Myles

Gentlemen Prefer Succubi

Jill Myles

Pocket, Dec 29 2009, $7.99

ISBN: 9781416572824

In New City, Wyoming museum docent Jackie Brighton wakes up in a dumpster.  She thinks back to having met a guy at the swanky bar of the luxurious Grand National Hotel.  Out of character for her, she had gone to the room of bachelor number one angel Noah for mind-boggling (and bodily parts) sex.  Although she does not remember, she also ended up having a bite with Bachelor number two Zane the vampire.

That sexual combo has turned her into a succubus that men desire including the angel and the vampire.  Porn star succubus Remy mentors Jackie who begins a quest for a magical halo while trying to decide between the two bachelors in her life; knowing that if she chooses one over the other she has picked which side she joins in the cosmos war.

The characters are stereotype as is the war; yet Gentlemen Prefer Succubi is a great one sitting read due to a wicked sense of humor in which author Jill Myles shows she has a deft touch as the timing seems to be perfect.  Fans will cheer on the nerd who becomes a sex goddess, which has perks but also cons.

Harriet Klausner

Soul Of The Wildcat-Devyn Quinn

Soul Of The Wildcat

Devyn Quinn

Kensington Aphrodisia, Dec 2009, $12.95

ISBN: 9780758231215

 

In the South Mountains State Park of North Carolina, Native American Jesse Clawfoot is a Tlvdatsi tribesman.  His clan consists of shapeshifters who can become cougars.  Although powerful magic protects the Tlvdatsi, poachers still intrude and they face extinction as the cougar has just returned to the park.

 

When Jesse is taken captive park ranger Dakoda Jenkins rescues him and assists him in returning to his clan.  However, he conceals from his rescuer that he has been tracking her as he knows who she is, what she means to him and his tribe and who she comes from; roots she knows nothing about and an attraction she does not understand.

 

Soul of the Wildcat is an exciting paranormal romantic suspense starring two likable lead protagonists in love yet conflicted over what to with dangerous poachers.  Jesse is a terrific shapeshifter who believes his soulmate will save his tribe from extinction.  Dakoda makes the tale as a strong woman confused by her feelings for Jesse and bewildered by what she observes.  Readers will relish climbing the trails of the South Mountains as Devyn Quinn provides a thrilling shapeshifting tale of the power of love.

 

Harriet Klausner

 

Wild Instinct-Sarah McCarty

Wild Instinct

Sarah McCarty

Heat, Dec 2009, $15.00

ISBN: 9780425227619

 

“Garrett”.  The werewolf clan rejects Garrett due to his human blood.  However, they turn to him to rescue Sarah Anne, whose son is missing and daughter may prove to be the child prophesized as the bringer of doom.  Still he knows his mate when he meets her and will risk his life to keep her safe.

 

“Daire”.  The werewolf Daire saves Teri, but cannot save her unborn.  He knows his mate, but she believes his bond is not one of love but of protectiveness.  Daire has to persuade her it is both.

 

“Curran”.  He seeks Rachel, who has Sarah Anne’s son with her.  When Curran finds the pair he knows she is his mate, but she rejects his assertion and distrusts him to bring the duo to safety.

 

These three exciting interrelated werewolf romances contain fully developed characters who make for a strong thriller as the sex is hot but not over-gorging the action-packed story lines especially the relationship issues as the men know but the women doubt.  Sarah McCarty provides her audience with a superb collection.

 

Harriet Klausner

 

 

Bound by Dreams-Christina Skye

Bound by Dreams

Christina Skye

Harlequin HQN, Dec 1 2009, $7.99

ISBN: 9780373774067

 

Kiera Morrissey promised her dying mom she would return to Draycott Abbey, which she does, but hell literally breaks out when she sneaks on to the grounds of the estate.  Two goons attack her, but she shocks them when she fights back.  They are followed by the biggest canine she has ever seen.  She manages to escape the human thugs mostly because of the wolf.

 

Calan MacKay awakens the next day knowing he was drugged but that he saved the female’s life.  He has come back to Draycott Abbey because his friend Nicholas Draycott needs his help to keep his family safe during some political dealings.  He wonders why Kiera apparently loathes the Draycott brood and whether she is the threat and why he believes she is the answer to controlling his curse, but allied as his enemy.

 

This is a super entry in the Draycott Scottish Highland fantasy as DNA haunts the lead couple.  Like Calan, readers will want to know why Kiera hates all things and people Draycott while also wondering will she accept his other the wolf.  Fans will enjoy this terrific suspense thriller as each is Bound by Dreams to each other, but is love enough to overcome their respective heritage especially with someone willing to answer with a lethal negative.

 

Harriet Klausner

The Mane Squeeze-Shelly Laurenston

The Mane Squeeze

Shelly Laurenston

Kensington Brava, Nov 1 2009, $14.00

ISBN: 9780758231666

Philadelphia street smart Gwen O’Neill is a hybrid shapeshifter of the lion-tiger combo.  Suburban Lachlin “Lock” McRyrie is a calm purebred bear who is almost seven feet of muscle.  These two are from opposite walks of life, but opposites attract at least in this case.

Gwen rejects their obvious desire for one another as she prefers the single life and also acts as protector to her loved ones.  Besides which being inner city, she feels the burb is not strong enough for her.  However, Lock shows his inner strength when someone commits hate-crimes trying to hurt his loved one Gwen apparently for being a hybrid.

The latest Mane urban romantic fantasy (see The Mane Event and The Mane Attraction) is a fabulous entry in a wonderful series.  The story line is fast paced from the first meeting when the ferocious female basically growls at the gentle giant to get out of her heart and never slows down especially going over a mountain.  Character driven by the lead couple and a nasty racist, fans will enjoy this fine tale while wondering whether the couple should buy Venetian blinds.

Harriet Klausner

Seducing the Moon-Sherrill Quinn

Seducing the Moon

Sherrill Quinn

Kensington Brava, Aug 2009, $14.00

ISBN: 9780758231895s

Two years ago Pelicia Cobb could do nothing as her life fell apart due to former commando Declan O’Connell.  She did nothing wrong, but ended up in jail, unemployed and her heart broken.

Pel fled to her home off the coast of Cornwall where she has mentally recovered though her heart remains shattered; she accepts her rep on the mainland is kaput so she manages her grandfather’s Bed and Breakfast.  Declan knows what he accidentally did to Pel, but though he believes he should stay away he cannot as he plans to claim his mate. He comes to the B and B to beg for a second chance.  However, as if he is a trouble magnet, his arrival also has brought a killer with him who shoots at Pel and has murdered several people.  Declan who has one more howling shocker to reveal to his soulmate vows to keep Pel safe from whoever wants them dead.

Readers will enjoy this fast-paced paranormal romantic suspense as the hero uses his superior werewolf skills in the cat and mouse battle with the killer while also concealing his shapeshifting from his beloved until he deems the time is right to do so.  The story line is action-packed and St. Mary’s the biggest island in the Isles of Scilly is a fabulous location that brings the only freshness to an otherwise well written fine but typical werewolf romance plot.

Harriet Klausner

Sentinels: Lion Heart-Doranna Durgin

Sentinels: Lion Heart

Doranna Durgin

Silhouette Nocturne, Aug 2009, $5.25

ISBN: 9780373618170

Ocelot shapeshifter Lyn Maines is assigned to investigate whether a Sentinel is betraying the cause.  She heads to the Arizona mountains Dook’o’osliid to determine if mountain-lion shifter Joe Ryan has gone to the dark evil Atrum Core while also hunting the retreating regional Drozhar (prince) after his side lost a battle recently.  Based on what she knows about the case, she assumes Joe is a traitor.

After a few days with Joe, Lyn begins to reassess her opinion.  She believes he is either an Oscar Award level actor or innocent.  As she falls in love with Joe, she fears her heart is rose coloring her eyes or someone diabolically clever is framing him.  Now she needs his help to deal with the Atrum Core Drozhar using the mountain’s power to restore his own, but all the evidence affirms Joe is betraying their cause.

Although the plot feels a bit emaciated at first, the latest Sentinels Arizonan urban fantasy romance (see JAGUAR NIGHT) picks up momentum and turns into a wonderful entry due to the suspicion by Lyn and the Sentinels that Joe is the traitor.  Thus their relationship starts off on the wrong foot, but as they fall in love, Lyn refuses to believe her beloved whose obvious love of the mountains would sell out to someone destroying his revered snowy peaks.  LION HEART is a solid entry with a bit of a mystery to enhance the fun plot.

Harriet Klausner

A Stroke of Magic-Tracy Madison

A Stroke of Magic

Tracy Madison

Love Spell, Jul 2009, $6.99

ISBN: 9780505528117

In Chicago, Enchanted Expressions graphic designer Alice Raymond has a slight problem.  It is not being single and pregnant as she kicked her cheating ex to the curb. It is not the fact that her hormones are geometrically out of control due partly to the fetus inside her and to a degree due to her crush on her boss, Ethan Gallagher.  Finally it is not the fact that she can see her late great-grandmother and have her wishes come true.  Her dilemma is the Gypsy’s curse that proclaims for her now unborn daughter to live a happy life; Alice must find her soul mate before the infant is born.

Her libido insists it is Gallagher, but Alice no longer trusts that part of her body.  Ethan was engaged to his forever significant other who ended their relationship after a fortuneteller told her he was not her numero uno.  He vowed never again will he allow a “paranormal” con artist to intrude in his life.  However, now he believes he has found his significant other in Alice, but she rants like she visited “Wonderland” about dead relatives and gypsy curses.  Though he fears she is a certifiable fruitcake, he loves Alice, but even he is unsure whether he can stand by her when she keeps sprouting about her unborn being cursed.

Fans will enjoy this delightful paranormal romance filled with two wonderful lead characters and a strong support cast.  Alice is a believer but Ethan is a doubter, which makes for a fun relationship for readers but not for them.   Anyone who enjoys A TASTE OF MAGIC will appreciate this lighthearted frolic as once again, Tracy Madison provides a charming whimsical urban fantasy.

Harriet Klausner

Bloody Awful-Georgia Evans

Bloody Awful

Georgia Evans

Kensington, Aug 2009, $6.99

ISBN: 9780758234827

In 1940 in a small English village, everything looks normal and serene on the surface when they are not being hit by German air bombs.  However, many of the local inhabitants are Others including red were-fox district nurse Gloria Prewitt, pixies Alice Doyle and her grandma, Welsh shapeshifting dragon Howarth Pendragon and several who refuse to come out into the open because of fear of deadly retaliation in spite of the BLOODY RIGHT of freedom.  Alice was instrumental in preventing a German vampiric saboteur from blowing up a secret nearby munitions plant.

Another German vampire William Block has come to Surrey with the same mission as his late comrade.  Gloria is the first to notice the new arrival and his Nazi Luftwaffe support; she tells the others who make plans to dispatch the newcomer to the same hell they sent his predecessor to.  The enemy almost kills Alice who tries her magic against this Undead while a furious Gloria vows to stake this fiend who threatens her lover.

BLOODY AWFUL is not an apt title descriptor as the tale is BLOODY GOOD.  The super fast-paced historical fantasy story line is filled with stunning revelations and unexpected twists yet most significant enables the audience to believe in were-shifters, pixies and oh my vampires.  Her friends and her lover need to protect her although Gloria is a terrific heroine who gains confidence in her paranormal skills as she battles otherworldly saboteurs.  Georgia Evans avoids the middle book lack of a deep plot with this strong entry of a mousy fox who learns to roar like a lioness who believes she is BLOODY RIGHT (next tale) while battling a vampire.

Harriet Klausner

Wolf Tales VIII-Kate Douglas

Wolf Tales VIII

Kate Douglas

Kensington Aphrodisia, Jul 2009, $12.95

ISBN: 9780758226945

The Chanku packs have grown by six newcomers who need mentoring.  Three are sent to learn at Anton’s Montana estate; the others journey to the Colorado wolf sanctuary owned by Ulrich and Millie.

All six have come from the mean streets and thus they are tough and ready to kick butt; that is when they are not licking butt.  The old-timers at both sites look forward to some sex, respite and sex after surviving some nasty assaults (see WOLF TALES VII), but also understand the importance of mentoring the arrogant rookies using bravado to hide their fears.  However, a mysterious newcomer arrives in Colorado shaking the balance and forcing Millie to finally look back at her past.

Following the climatic action of book VII, Kate Douglas proves she is a wizard as she provides a fresh spellbound thriller by bringing in the next generation.  The story line is fast-paced and filled with sexual encounters of a werewolf kind.  Fans of the saga will appreciate Ms. Douglas’ new spin as somehow she makes each of her seemingly ever expanding cast seem different yet as a paranormal species appear real.

Harriet Klausner