Veena’s review of Night Shift by Nalini Singh, Illona Andrews, Lisa Shearin & Milla Vane
Paranormal Romance published by Berkley 25 Nov 14

I read this book because I’m interested in Ms. Singh’s Secrets at Midnight, which turned out to be as delightful as expected and brought the leopard world alive for me, fangs and claws and all. Lisa Shearin and Milla Vane are completely new to me, so these stories are my introduction to them. I have enjoyed Ms. Andrews books before, but these characters and series is also new to me.  The verdict is…

Secrets at Midnight by Nalini Singh

From her first book when she introduced us to Lucas, the Leopard alpha, I’ve loved the cats. It’s been some time since we plunged back into this world with a good old-fashioned mating. Bastien Smith has scented his mate, but in an anomaly for his world he apparently keeps losing her scent, no matter how hard he tries. As he speculates who she might be, a good deed leads him right to her, but apparently she’s human and not a changeling after all or…

Poor Sebastian, not only does he have to find his mate, but then she’s got to pass Mercy’s tests, which are pretty brutal and have scared away potential girlfriends before. Kirby, of course, has a spine of steel to have survived what she has in her young life. This short story is a delightful, fully fleshed-out cameo of a leopard’s mating, which is definitely not a solitary affair.

And if you needed further incentive, we get to visit with Daddy Alpha Lucas and the leopard pack as we wait with Mercy to give birth to her pup-cubs.

Summary:

Nalini Singh delivers a smoldering story with Secrets at Midnight, as the scent of Bastien Smith’s elusive lover ignites a possessiveness in him that’s as feral as it is ecstatic. And now that he’s found his mate, he’ll do anything to keep her.

Grade: A

Read an excerpt.

Magic Steals by Illona Andrews

Despite Ms. Andrews writing paranormal romances, for whatever reason I have not embraced her writing. I find this short story an unexpected pleasure with a vegetarian tigress who is mated to an alpha jaguar shifter.

With everything that’s apparently been going on, the two haven’t had much of a chance to work on their relationship, and when they finally get time to date, it seems like fate conspires to keep them apart, what with interfering relatives and awful supernatural creatures that can only be killed by a powerful white tiger.

I quite enjoyed this unexpected gem.

Summary:

When people start going missing, shapeshifting tigress Dali Harimau and jaguar shifter Jim Shrapshire must uncover the truth about the mysterious creatures responsible.

Grade: B

Read an excerpt.

Beast of Blackmoor by Lisa Shearin

I’m not quite sure what to make of this story. Kavik really put my back up at the start of it, with his actions in the temple for which he was justifiably cursed. However, when we get to the meat of the story and see his suffering and all the good deeds he does, I have a hard time reconciling that the two actions are one and the same person. But, by the same token, I couldn’t understand why a Goddess who stands on the side of the righteous would condemn people in a land to such a depth of suffering as is described, all to punish one man’s acts, heinous as they might have been.

Mala is a great heroine, steadfast in her quest and faith. I enjoyed their adventures on their quest, but, overall, I find the story too dark for my taste.

Summary:

Warrior princess must tame The Beast of Blackmoor to earn a place among her people. But she quickly discovers that the beast isn’t a monster, but a barbarian warrior who intends to do some taming himself.

Grade: D

No excerpt available.

Lucky Charms by Milla Vane

This story is not really a love story in my opinion. It is a very interesting first day on the job for Makenna, with a partner who apparently doesn’t want to be her partner, despite her almost instant attraction to him.

While I admire the imagination that turned New York into a playground for the supernatural and allowed the reader to go clubbing with the best, I find the story totally lacking substance, and, honestly, the McDonald’s scene with the leprechaun prince is the kicker. Not my cup of tea at all.

Summary:

It’s seer Makenna Frazier’s first day on the job at Supernatural Protection and Investigations, and her first assignment is more than she bargained for when bodyguard duty for a leprechaun prince’s bachelor party goes every which way but right.

Grade: D

Read an excerpt. (scroll down and click tab)

Overall Grade: B