Scorched-Sharon Ashwood

Scorched

Sharon Ashwood

Signet, Dec 2009, $7.99

ISBN: 9780451228642

 

Former detective Connall “Mac” Macmillan honestly can say he was on the date from hell; in fact it went so bad he was turned into a demon.  He prays all the time to regain his humanity and being able to destroy Geneva the demon was a large step at regaining what he lost.

 

However Alessandro Caravelli the vampire distrusts the demi-demon so incarcerates him in the Castle, a prison with magical bars.  For centuries Constance the vampire has resided at the Castle where she served Atreus the sorcerer who recently has gone insane.  When the guards kidnap her adopted son, she pleads with Mac to find and rescue him.  Unable to resist her, Mac investigates inside the prison he reluctantly with no choice calls home, but he begins to find clues that something is not right at the Castle and unless rectified many will die.

 

The second Dark Forgotten urban fantasy is a terrific thriller as Mac goes from the bad that happened to him in Ravenous to the ugly of being Scorched in a magical prison.  The key to this super tale is his investigation inside the realm of magic as fans will want to join his escapades.  Sharon Ashwood provides a super saga leaving the audience what next will befall Mac.

 

Harriet Klausner

Hunter’s Need-Shiloh Walker

Hunter’s Need

Shiloh Walker

Berkley, Dec 2009, $7.99

ISBN: 9780425231500

 

Psychic Analise Morell and shapeshifter Duke Lawson attend Excelsior exclusive private school for Hunters. They hate each other ever since she left him with a nasty vampire four years ago.  His friends helped him escape hell, but neither of them could help him escape his bittersweet memory of kisses and betrayal.  They also conceal how attracted they are to each other inside of their loathing for one another.  Simply they keep their distance.

 

However Ana needs his help as she has no one else she feels she can turn to yet ironically she distrusts him.  He would prefer to tell her to go get bit by a feral vampire in hell, but fears she will go after a killer by herself if he says no.  Reluctantly though he distrusts her he agrees to be her co-Hunter going after a deadly predator whose victims haunt Ana to liberate their souls.

 

This is a terrific Hunters romantic fantasy starring two intriguing protagonists who have an interesting history that interferes with their present.  The story line is fast-paced from the onset as Duke begins to understand his beloved enemy to his chagrin.  Fans will relish this fine entry and seek previous Hunter thrilling tales (see Hunting the Hunter).

 

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

Soul Magic-Jennifer Lyon

Soul Magic

Jennifer Lyon

Ballantine, Oct 27 2009, $7.99

ISBN: 9780345506351

Wing Slayer Sutton West has vowed to follow his father’s lead if the moment he can no longer control his blood lust begins.  When the curse began to overwhelm his sire chose suicide rather than harm an innocent witch.

Rogue witch slayers killed Keri Fisk.  Two years have passed and her twin sister psychiatrist Dr. Carla Fisk still mourns her loss.  Sutton finds he is attracted to Carla, who runs a clinic, but he fears that desire might be the first step in the curse.  However, he saves her life when rogues attack, but both realize a shocker; the rogue Styx and the demon Asmodeus have teamed up and trapped Keri’s soul in a knife used by the witch slayer to provide his partner with the souls of witches she kills.  As they try to save Keri’s soul, Sutton and Carla wonder which twin is his soul mate.

The second Magic romantic fantasy (see Blood Magic) is a super saga as readers learn more about the plight of Keri and the soul mirrors through the lead couple.  The fun in the tale is observing Sutton and Carla forging a loving relationship in spite of the curse placing them in opposite hostile camps in which their attraction means death.  Filled with danger Soul Magic is a terrific tale that stands alone, but reading the previous entry enhances the knowledge of the Lyon world of Magic.

Harriet Klausner

Captive Desires-Diane Whiteside

Captive Desires

Diane Whiteside

Berkley, Nov 2009, $15.00

ISBN: 9780425229989

Danae Livingston writes fictional accounts of her warrior hero Alekhsiy in a fantasy realm filled with her desires.  However, although she has wet dreams about her hunk, she knows he does not exist except in her libido.

She soon revises her opinion of what reality is when Alekhsiy arrives on Earth needing her help to save his world from evil.  He is taken aback to see the woman who haunts his nocturnal desires in the flesh as is she.  However, at a fandom fantasy festival, a fanatic demands she writes of the destruction of Alekhsiy’s realm or else face his wrath.

This is a very exciting romantic suspense fantasy with the premise of a writer seemingly having the power of God; although the premise has been used before and Alekhsiy’s realm never comes to life.  Still, the story line is fun to follow as a fanatic demands death to Alekhsiy’s world or death to the “creator”, which leads to all types of metaphysical questions.  Well written and enlightening, Captive Desires is an engaging heated thriller.

Harriet Klausner

Shifting Plains-Jean Johnson

Shifting Plains

Jean Johnson

Berkley, Nov 2009, $15.00

ISBN: 9780425230862

Tava Ell Var has known violence all her life as the offspring of a human female raped by seventeen were-tigers.  Her adoptive father, a gentle scribe, showed her kindness while aising her, but marauding bandits murdered him; leaving her alone especially in light of people she has known for years rejecting her.  Tava vows vengeance for the only person whoever cared about her.

However, before she can stalk her adversaries, a Shifterai warband led by Kodan Sin Siin kill the outlaws and offer Tava sanctuary with Clan Cat as she is a shapeshifter too.  She hesitates well aware of the raping of her mom.  She is given no choice as she can be a slave or a free member.

The prequel to the Sons of Destiny saga is an enjoyable romantic fantasy as fans of the series will enjoy the tale of love between shapeshifters.  Although not as dramatic as the Sons of Destiny with sudden leaps in the story line, Jean Johnson provides an enjoyable tale in which the romance supersedes the fantasy elements even with a potential she-Tiger who may prove genuine or die as the first female royal shifter in ages.

Harriet Klausner

Possess Me At Midnight-Shayla Black

Possess Me At Midnight

Shayla Black

Pocket, Oct 27 2009, $7.99

ISBN: 9781416578468

In England, evil mage Mathias apparently eliminated his only adversary who could have prevented him from taking control of all magic practitioners.  The Doomsday Brethren Wizard Bram Rion lies in a comatose state following a black smoke assault by Mathias who plans to take over his unconscious rival’s seat on the Wizard Council as the second step of his plan.  Once he does that and finds the Doomsday Diary of Morganna le Fey, he will succeed.

However, he makes one tiny miscalculation.  Mathias fails to factor in Bram’s sister Sabelle.  When Mathias begins his final assault, lowlife warrior Isdernus “Ice” Rykard escorts Sabelle, as a female she can carry the reverent tome, and the comatose Bram to safety.  Ice wants her as his mate, but Sabelle cannot say the Binding Words as her brother must bless their union; both know Bram would never accept a lowlife like Ice.  However, when Ice is hurt, Sabelle heals him as their bodies and souls unite.  The next day he leaves her to draw Mathias away from the siblings.

The newest Doomsday Brethren urban fantasy (see Tempt Me with Darkness and Seduce Me In Shadow) is a superb entry as Bram’s sister and Ice star in what appears top be a bittersweet love story.  Both pray Bram lives, but ironically if he does the couple can never be together.  Sabelle is brave but Ice heats up the plot with his love for her ultimately affirmed with his version of Dickens final line in A Tale of two Cities: “It is a far, far, better thing than ever I have done” sacrifice to keep his beloved and his chieftain alive.  Fans of Shayla Black will relish this enthralling and exciting novel as ice will melt the hearts of all readers.

Harriet Klausner

Nice Girls Don’t Date Dead Men-Molly Harper

Nice Girls Don’t Date Dead Men

Molly Harper

Pocket, Aug 25 2009, $7.99

ISBN: 9781416589433

In Half Moon Hollow instead of allowing children’s librarian Jane Jameson to die, Gabriel converted her into a vampire and his lover (see NICE GIRLS DON’T HAVE FANGS).  She loves her “sire’ dearly but also knows he is not honest about where he goes when he leaves town or who the mysterious Jeanine is.  Gabriel asks Jane for more time, but swears he will explain all to her soon; she agrees to his request.  Meanwhile she works at an occult bookstore owned by Mr. Wainwright who accepts her for what she has become unlike her blood family who are ashamed of her fangs.

She’s a bridesmaid for her best friend Zeb and his fiancée Jolene the werewolf.  Both families are against the marriage and will do anything to sabotage it.  Zeb’s mother wants her son to marry Jane and Jolene’s pack demands she wed a were.  They show their opposition in violent ways, which leaves Zeb to wonder if he can live safely on the same land as his future in-laws.  If that is not enough to occupy Jane, she wonders how a dead man can be alive with a zillion spouses who did not survive the first year after saying I do while worrying about her Grandma Ruthie who is next to the altar with this Black Widower.

NICE GIRLS DON’T DATE DEAD MEN is a humorous down to earth vampire thriller with various subplots that add depth to the story line.  Molly Harper’s take on the vampire mythos is not totally new (see MaryJanice Davidson’s Betsy’s shoes and all), but refreshed by a terrific heroine who lost her library job due to the hours the place is opened.  The eccentric cast adds depth in terms of jocularity as they drive Jane crazy.  The different species effectively turn Half Moon Hollow into a unique locale in the urban (make that small-town) fantasy sub-genre.  Readers will enjoy what happened to Jane as she finds herself as the forever bridesmaid in dresses that she would not want to be caught dead in let alone attend a wedding.

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

Witch Fury-Anya Bast

Witch Fury

Anya Bast

Berkley, Jun 2009, $7.99

ISBN: 9780425228692

After watching the woman attend the funeral of her foster mother, Duskoff International CEO Stefan Faucheux kidnaps the grieving Sarafina Connell and her dog Gossett.  He insists she is a fire witch; she laughs at him thinking a madman has abducted her.  However, his assertion has her thinking back to when her insane biological mom died in a fire.

A coven led by earth witch Theo Winters storms Faucheaux’s compound.  They take Sarafina with them as their prisoner.  Theo and his cohorts assume she is in cahoots with the vile CEO.  Sarafina informs her hosts that her former host had Bai an Atrika demon with him.  The coven panics because Bai should never have been able to cross the barrier between the mortal and demon realms while also wondering why they are interested in Sarafina.  Theo knows deep in his gut why he is interested in Sarafina besides her connection to Faucheux though he denies it even to himself.

The final Elemental Witches urban romantic fantasy (see WITCH HEART, WITCH FIRE, and WITCH BLOOD) is an excellent finish to a strong saga.  The story line is action packed from just after Sarafina buries her foster mother and never slows down as the major strings (mostly paranormal) from the previous three tales are tied up nicely.  Though newcomers would be better off starting with the previous novels to better understand the overarching plot that WITCH FURY closes, Anya Bast is at her best with the final Elemental Witch thriller.

Harriet Klausner