Ash’s review of Chosen by Fate (Para-Ops series book 2) by Virna DePaul
Paranormal Romance published by Berkley Sensation 04 Oct 11

Chosen by Fate is a book I can see my self re-reading over again, just to spend more time with the characters. It’s made the series stand out a little more in my mind.

The biggest thing I liked about Chosen by Fate is the heroine, Wraith. She’s dead. She looks dead, she feels dead, and no matter what is done to her, she will come back and still be…dead. After the tension between them in Chosen by Blood, I was excited to see what would happen, and I’m disappointed. Caleb is a perfect mix of good guy and bad boy. I almost didn’t care about what’s happening in the rest of the story. My focus is centered on them and on finding out what would happen to Wraith.

We touch in with Knox and Felicia, but I’m pretty much over them. Usually I like seeing previous couples, but this time not so much. There is also the mission the Para-Ops team is on to find out why Felines are being raped. It’s interesting enough, but I feel like even the author keeps pushing it to the side. It doesn’t bother me though, so personally it’s not a complaint. We also get more of Dex, who I am starting to really like, and his future heroine, who I also like.

I only wish we could see more of Wraith after her “ending.” I want to see if she’s still the Wraith I have grown to love, how she and Caleb are, and also see how she’s handling her life now. I hope we get to see that in the next book.

In the giant world of paranormal romance, Chosen by Fate might not stand out too much. It’s a hard genre to be original in, but Virna DePauls’ characters are what keep me wanting more. They are fresh in their own way and as a reader I appreciate that more than I can say.

Grade: B+

Summary:

Five years after the Second Civil War ends, humans and Otherborn— humanlike creatures with superhuman DNA—still struggle for peace. To ensure the continued rights of both, the FBI forms a Para-Ops team with a unique set of skills.

Although he keeps company with a vampire and a were, human Shaman Caleb O’Flare can definitely hold his own. But neither his psychic ability nor his healing powers can help his sexy-as-hell teammate, Wraith—a ghost with no memory of her human existence, one who cannot experience touch without pain.

No wraith has managed to exist past its tenth year, so Wraith’s time is about to run out. She wants only two things before accepting her fate: to learn her human identity and experience one night with Caleb. Willing to risk any amount of pain, Wraith propositions him. But when a sign of impending death appears on his chest, Wraith sacrifices her own needs on the chance that sex with her could kill him.

Caleb doesn’t understand Wraith’s change of heart but refuses to let her push him away. As the team travels to Los Angeles to investigate a series of crimes in the feline community, Caleb sets out to prove to Wraith that pleasure and love are worth any risk, including death.

Read an excerpt.

Other books in this series:

Ash’s review of Bloodlust (Nightshade Series, Book 2) by Michelle Rowen
Urban fantasy published by Berkley Sensation 05 Jul 11

I really enjoy this series and I am happy to say that Michelle Rowen has left me feeling happy and satisfied with how it ends. Declan is always going to be a favorite of mine.

The end of this series is kind of bittersweet for me. I am happy with the way things ended. Knowing that there is a definite end to the story is a nice change of pace. This series doesn’t need to be never ending in order to tell its story, and, as a reader, I really appreciate that. I am getting a bit tired of having to read 10, 20, or who knows how many books in order to know what’s going on. So kudos to Michelle Rowen for knowing that it’s okay to stop after two (not that I always mind long series, but sometimes enough is enough).

Bloodlust picks up where Nightshade left off. Jill and Declan are still trying to keep Jill alive and Declan from turning into a monster. Matthias is back and he wants Jill for himself, while his evil brother tries to rule over humans. The overall feel is pretty grim and it isn’t always clear that things will turn out all right for everyone. Declan and Jill’s bond is what has kept them going and it gets tested – a lot. That’s not really saying a lot, I know, but it would be hard to put it all into words, especially without giving everything away.

I think this has been one of my favorite urban fantasy series. I read both of the books in one sitting, I could not get through them fast enough. So much is packed into two books, it’s a non-stop ride that I am a little sad to see end. Everyone has changed and I wouldn’t mind seeing where they go from here. I read that Michelle Rowen left it so she could go back to this world someday and I would love it if she does.

Grade: A-

Summary:

ONE TASTE IS ALL IT TAKES

For those who feast on blood, Jillian Conrad is a fatal attraction. After being injected with a serum that made her blood both irresistible and deadly to vampires, she was used as a pawn to assassinate the vampire king. Now, the vampires want her eliminated.

Hunted and unable to return to her old life, Jillian desperately seeks to prevent the poison in her veins from killing her. And she must find a way to help her dhampyr protector, Declan, whose exposure to the serum has split his personality into one part uncontrolled desire, and one part stone cold killer.

But an even greater danger is rising. The Amarantos — a secret society of vampires — is seeking the infant daughter of the slain king to complete their quest for true immortality. And if they succeed, no one, living or undead, will escape the darkness.

Read an excerpt.

Other books in this series:

Ash’s review of Something Wicked (Living in Eden, Book 2) by Michelle Rowen
Paranormal Romance published by Berkley Sensation 05 Oct 10

I always worry that I won’t like the other books in a series as much as I like the first. When I started reading Something Wicked, I couldn’t get into it like I did with The Demon in Me. I got frustrated and I didn’t pick it back up for a week or so. Then when I finally started reading it again, I finished the book in a few hours. Turns out this isn’t a series I can read back to back, but it is still one I am really loving.

I like where Michelle Rowen takes us in Something Wicked. The story is constantly changing, more things are revealed, and I’m left not knowing what will happen next. I hate it when a story is obvious, and I also hate when a story has so many twists and turns you need a handbook. This book  is balanced well and it stands out for me in a genre that is overcrowded. The world is kept simple, and I think that is a big reason why it works for me.

As for Eden and Darrak themselves, half the time I just want to smack them. Eden still does stupid things and she still lets other people get away with doing stupid things to her. I want her to be a little smarter after everything she’s learned. Darrak’s feelings actually seem true to his character. So while his inner struggle gets a bit whiny at times, it feels right for him. By the end of the book I could see that they have both grown.

There is also the addition of a few new characters. My favorite has to be Lucifer. So far it seems like he is supposed to be bad (in a bad way) in this series, but in my head I want him to be good. I just can’t resist the bad boy, and he is at the top of that list. Leena, Andy, and Ben are also still around, and not just as background noise. They all have their own stories and I like that Eden isn’t becoming blind to everyone else around her.

Grade: B

Summary:

Being a little wicked isn’t all bad…

Every woman has a sexy demon inside her just waiting to get out, but for Eden Riley it’s a little different. Her inner demon is named Darrak, and he’s been inhabiting bodies for the past 300 years. In the daytime, thanks to her special psychic energy, he’s able to take physical shape—a shape she wouldn’t mind getting her hands on, if it wasn’t a threat to her immortal soul…

Because of her possession, Eden now has uncontrollable black magic at her fingertips, and she and Darrak are trying to end the curse that binds them before the situation gets any worse. To do it, they’ll have to get tangled up with some unsavory characters from the underworld. When sparks and spells fly, they could get the distance they need…or each have their own private hell to pay.

Read an excerpt.

Other books in this series:

Pamela Clare is the author of one of my all time favorite historical novels, Ride the Fire, and sadly we have been waiting to see if her most recent series (MacKinnon’s Rangers) set in Colonial America would ever be finished.

We haven’t been waiting on the author but the publisher to give her the go ahead, since the setting sadly just ‘doesn’t sell’.

::pause for a cry::

Well Pamela just posted some FAB news!@!@!@

It will be a bit of a wait but Connor’s book will be out in 2012. She has moved all her books to Berkley (if you don’t already read her AMAZING I-TEAM series – it is Romantic Suspense pick it up!) Really you have time to pick up her whole back list if you have fallen behind or if you haven’t tried her out yet. Her historicals are grand and her Romantic Suspense is just getting better and better. You can find tons of reviews for both here just follow the tag…

Congrats Pamela!

And yay me! Can I call it or what *G*.

Gwen’s review of Beyond the Rain by Jess Granger
Science-fiction romance released by Berkley Sensation 4 Aug 09

I love me a good sci-fi romance.  When they’re done well – and this one is done very well – you can totally cut loose from your normal world and be completely transported to literally a whole new world.  (Did you see what I did there?  Pun? Yes? No? Well. It amused me.) 

Jess Granger has penned a really wonderful novel with Beyond the Rain.  I’m very much hoping it’s the first of many novels set in this world and that we get a similar stellar (heh) level of writing in the subsequent entries.

The start of Beyond has our heroine, Cyani, on the edge of exhaustion and ennui.  She’s tired of the warrior biz and ready to hang up her spurs, retiring to a dull life in the temple. Cyani suffers from PTSD and reminds me of an otherworldly version of a female Iraqi War veteran – seen and suffered too much at the hands of both enemy and friend to be comfortable with either, and is ready to just pretend none of it happened by holing up in a small job doing everyday things.

Of course, as any of us who has ever tried to do that knows, it never works out the way we thought it would.

Instead, Cyani meets and falls for our hero, Soren.  Soren is a nice being who, because of biology and what happened to him in his enslavement, has to bind with a mate or die.  Through the course of their time together, he binds with Cyani but doesn’t tell her.  He’s willing, on many occasions, to let himself die rather than take away her choice to stay with him.  He knows she’s honorable and selfless and that she may stay with him just to keep him alive.  However, Soren wants Cyani to choose him.

Soren is and uber-hot and sexy hero that isn’t overly alpha.  He’s a very down to earth (so to speak) and cares about those weaker than him.  And, even though he recognizes Cyani is very strong and capable, he cares about her in a way she never thinks to care about herself.

This book is stacked to the brim with interesting moments and very rich details about Cyani and Soren’s world.  You are immersed in it but never feel like you’re drowning.  Granger does an admirable job of keeping the alien-ness recognizable.  She has created a world that uses mostly common terms and reactions.  Sure it’s alien, sure it’s futuristic and sci-fi, but it feels more like “Serenity” or “Firefly” than “Star Trek,” if you know what I mean.  The reader can recognize large portions of the author’s undoubtedly futuristic world.  It’s a flawless little piece of world-building that Granger has done here.

The emotional development between Cyani and Soren is believable and very touching.  You see Cyani come to realize she deserves to care about someone and she deserves to be loved in return.  You see her move from being afraid to live to actually living.  It’s a lovely tale and made me really want more by the end.  And thanks to the oh-so-tantalizing epilogue, it looks like we may get more.  Soon??  Please??

The action is very fun to read and story arc is logical and complete.  We’re never left with a “wtf” feeling – even when the details stretch a reader’s ability to suspend disbelief.  I very much enjoyed the pace of the book and the author’s style.

I highly recommend this book to anyone looking for a rich sci-fi romance set in an interesting, recognizable world.   I can’t wait to read more from this author.

Grade: A

Summary:
.
In a universe torn apart by civil war, a warrior and a slave must fight for their freedom, for their lives, and for a love that may destroy them both…
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After five years behind enemy lines, Captain Cyani is ready to retire to her homeworld of Azra as one of the Elite – the celibate warrior sisterhood that rules the planet. But first she must complete one final mission to rescue her fellow Union soldiers. The last thing she expects to find is a prisoner, chained and beaten – but radiating feral power and an unbroken spirit…
.
Soren is a Byralen, an enigmatic people who possess a unique hormone that they use to bond with their mates – and that is sold as a sexual narcotic in the shadow trade. For years, he has endured torture at the hands of his captors as they leeched his very essence. The last thing he expects is to be freed from slavery by a beautiful warrior woman with radiant blue eyes.
.
Driven by her rigid sense of honor, Cyani frees Soren even though her life hinges upon the success of her mission. But after so many years in bondage, his hormones are so unbalanced that he will die if he does not bond with a woman. Can the lovely but distant warrior be the woman he needs to survive, or will the forbidden bond destroy them?
.
Read an excerpt here (scroll down).

Welcome back to Duck Chat!

Today Annette Blair is our guest and you’re in for a lot fun!

Annette’s witch trilogies are full of magic and loads of fun. If you haven’t read any of them yet, try one. I can guarantee you can’t read just one. Her Accidental Witch trilogy entranced readers in 2004 when The Kitchen Witch hit the shelves, followed by My Favorite Witch, and then The Scot, the Witch and Wardrobe. The Triplet Witch trilogy featured the three identical sisters of the heroine in TStWtR, Sex and the Psychic Witch, Gone with the Witch, and Never Been Witched, also became readers’ favorites when the first book was published in 2007. Annette has now taken a new direction with her Vintage Magic Mysteries series this year. A Veiled Deception and Larceny and Lace are already making the rounds. And Annette’s Work Like Magick series will be out next year, Naked Dragon the first in the series. Plus, she has a number of historicals that were published well before her paranormals became so popular. Whew! If you’re going to start reading Annette Blair, you’d better start now!

Annette lives in Rhode Island with her husband. Her love of books started when she was young and discovered a library next door to her neighborhood playground. Many books and years later, her daughter challenged her to write her own book, and thank goodness she did. What a favor she did for us, giving romanceland Annette Blair. Leave a meaningful comment and we’ll put you in the running for a copy of Sex and the Psychic Witch and  A Veiled Deception, compliments of Annette!

DUCK CHAT: Annette, let’s talk about your witch trilogies first, the Accidental Witch trilogy and the Triplet Witch trilogy. They are such fun reads. Tell us how the ideas for the series came about and then we can talk about the books themselves.

ANNETTE BLAIR: I had taken to calling myself the “Accidental Witch-Writer” because I never intended to write a paranormal, and the way I got started was, well, magic. Half an emergency root canal the Friday before a scheduled weekend in Salem MA with friends made me want to stay home and die in my own bed. But I didn’t want to disappoint my friends, so I went. I lagged behind, and popped pain meds. I never thought I’d write a contemporary. I’d said as much. But a shop called The Kitchen Witch put a plot into my head that I couldn’t let go. The Kitchen Witch  got the attention of Nancy Yost, Legendary New York Agent, and Cindy Hwang, Legendary New York Editor, and the rest, as they say, is a writing career that got shifted into high gear. Each of my witches, by the way, is more paranormal than the last.

As I was about to consider what came after Kira’s story, my next door neighbors came home from school. They’re identical triplets I’d watched grow up. They shared triplet secrets with me, so I wrote a triplet witch series. I knew they would be psychic and each would have a different strength: the past, the present, the future. Harmony, Storm, and Destiny.

DC: Did the trilogies evolve as you originally envisioned them?

AB: The Kitchen Witch was, in my mind, a stand alone. But my editors and readers wanted more. I was glad that I gave Melody two friends, Kira and Vickie. Once I knew it was a trilogy, they exceeded my expectations. As did the triplets. I fell in love with them all, and their heroes of course.

DC: If you could retire any question and never, ever have it asked again, what would it be? Feel free to answer it.

AB: I would retire: Which book is your favorite? Or which hero/heroine are? My favorite is always the book I’m working on, because I’m deep into it and excited about revealing my characters and stories.

DC: I’ve heard writers often say their stories take them in surprising directions, or dialogue flows from some unknown place. Is it the same with you? Do your characters surprise you sometimes?

AB: Expected characters go in unexpected directions. Characters pop up when I least expect them. A good example are my mysteries, because I was given a “Series Bible” with characters and situations outlined. However, surprise! Out of my editor’s ideas for a series came my own surprising characters: Cary Grant clone ghost Dante Underhill; Detective Lytton Werner aka Little Wiener; centenarian Dolly Sweet and her daughter-in-law Ethel; Chakra the cat. In Naked Dragon, I didn’t plan for a small blue guardian dragon to come through the veil with my man dragon, but there I was writing Jock who test smokes people and either approves or disapproves them depending on the color his smoke turns. Nobody else can see Jock except Bastian Dragonelli, until Bastian underestimates the power of water.

DC: The Accidental Witch trilogy starts with Melody Seabright in The Kitchen Witch and then her two best friends take over in My Favorite Witch and The Scot, the Witch & the Wardrobe. Would you tell our readers a little about each book?

AB: Melody Seabright in The Kitchen Witch is the cooking show host who doesn’t know how to cook, but she wins the hearts of her TV audience with her style and showmanship. She also wins the hearts of her producer and upstairs neighbor, Logan Kilgarven, and his son, despite her sass and quirks.

Kira Fitzgerald, a jilted witch with a twitchy wand, in My Favorite Witch, leaves her cheating jock fiancée behind only to end up working with, and falling for Jason Goddard, a playboy hockey player on medical leave. Together, they find a restive ghost, auguring crows, two little boys who steal their hearts, and a love to last forever.

Vickie Cartwright in The Scot, the Witch and the Wardrobe is a witch in denial. Shocked that she unlocks an old wardrobe that no Cartwright female before her could, she takes the contents, an antique carousel unicorn, on the Antiques Roadshow, only to catch the eye of Rory MacKenzie in Scotland whose family’s been looking for that missing piece of their history for a century. Now he knows exactly where to find it.

DC: Do you ever argue with your characters while you’re writing? Who usually wins?

AB: Must be from being a prep school department head for more than twenty years, but I always get my way, no arguing necessary. Though I do take their ideas into account, and if they’re good, I’m no fool. I’ll find the right place to weave them in.

DC: What is sure to distract you from sitting down and working/writing?

AB: Sure to distract me are three precious little beings: Travis age 5; Kelsey age 3; Laura age 2. Two grands and a great grand. I’m the Nana who gets called if one of the grands is sick, and I drop everything to pick them up and take care of them until their parents get out of work. If one of them calls and says “I miss you, Nana,” or “come play with me” I’m a puddle of mush and on my way, unless it’s Laura, who lives several states away. I have to satisfy myself with Laura’s unexpected speed dial calls, aware that she’s stolen my daughter’s cell phone again. She knows which number is Gigi’s (mine) or Poppy’s (my husband’s) and she gives us equal attention. My daughter married Laura’s grandfather last year but she has her little hand clutched firmly around our hearts. I could listen to her babble for hours, though she says, “I wuff you” beautifully. We now travel from New England to New Jersey quite often.

DC: In the Triplet Witch trilogy we get to know Victoria Cartwright’s sisters from the third book in the original series. Harmony, Storm, and Destiny are some very sexy heroines. Can you tell us about them and their heroes?

AB: Harmony senses the past in that she can read whatever she touches that’s old. She’s psychometric. So when she walks into King Paxton’s haunted castle, she can tell that the ghost haunting it is causing the turmoil in the air, which makes his renovation crew argue. Actually the Gussie the ghost made everyone argue since she died. Enter Harmony and everyone calms down. Work can get done. He can get rid of the family horror show faster with everyone getting along, so he hires Harmony to hang around while she searches for all the vintage clothes she wants. The big deal here is that King was born in the castle, so she can read him, and don’t think that she doesn’t take advantage of that.

Storm senses the present and whenever she’s near Aiden Quinn, she hears a baby crying. He won’t go with her on a trip to follow the sound so she seduces him into his motor home and out of his clothes. Then she takes out the purple fuzzy handcuffs. When he’s spread eagle in his skivvies and expecting her to, er, hop on, she waves, walks away, gets into the driver’s seat and drives away, paying attention to the sound of the baby crying in her head. Meanwhile, Aiden is almost glad for the reprieve, because he’s got a hell of a secret that he doesn’t have to bare so soon.

Destiny senses the future and paints what she sees. Problem is when she and Morgan Jarvis get stuck sharing the same lighthouse, her paintings start to make sense. Add to the mix the ghost of a child, a lighthouse keeper, and an angel named Buffy, and havoc seems to take over. Oh, Morgan also has a secret, plus he’s a paranormal debunker, and he’s trying to debunk Destiny. He has a past to face, however, before he can look to the future, and Destiny is determined to help him, no matter how incompatible they are and how hunky he’s looking.

DC: What has been your favorite book cover from all of your releases and why?

You don’t expect a one title answer, do you? The cover of Sex and the Psychic Witch ties with Gone with the Witch because my witches seem so alive, seductive, and mysterious on those covers. However, the cover for Naked Dragon is drool worthy. This series is hero centric, and the stud on that cover will stop you in your tracks.

DC: How about your least favorite cover? Why?

AB: Thee, I Love is my least favorite because it’s historically inaccurate. It depicts an Amish schoolteacher with deep cleavage and flowers and lace on her short purple gown, her legs are bare, her hair down, and she has no Amish kapp on her head. The cover is colorful, attractive, but wrong, wrong, wrong!

DC: You have a new series in the works, Vintage Magic Mysteries. Please tell us how this trilogy came about.

AB: Well, the mystery series was presented to me on a silver platter, so to speak. My agent asked if I wanted to write a Prime Crime mystery series for Kate Seaver at Berkley. Cindy Hwang is my editor for my Berkley Sensations, so that was a surprise.

Evidently mystery editors (at least Berkley Prime Crime) have these “Blue Sky” meetings where they think up mystery series, and they came up with this one where the heroine would be a fashion designer, come home from New York for her sister’s wedding, solve a mystery and stay to open a vintage dress shop. And oh yes, Madeira Cutler can “read” vintage clothes. She touches them, kind of zones, and sees things that happened while people were wearing them. If you’ll remember, in Sex and the Psychic Witch, Harmony was psychometric; she could read vintage objects and know about their pasts and their owners. I guess that’s why they thought of me for this project.

I didn’t know if I could write a mystery, so they asked if they could send the mystery bible. I said sure. They set it in Virginia, I changed it to Mystic, Connecticut. I’m a New England girl. As a matter of fact, I literally live between Salem MA and Mystic CT. Each is about an hour away. They made Eve, her best friend, a math scholar and since math scares me, I made her a computer whiz, because I have a similar background.

Once I made the bible my own, they asked me to write a chapter. So I did, and, lo and behold, they bought it. A Veiled Deception came out of that first chapter and it got an RT TOP PICK when it was released this past January. Many of the characters are my own: Dolly the 103 year old. Dante Underhill the Cary Grant clone ghost. Naming Madeira and her siblings after wine; that’s mine. Detective Lytton Werner, aka, the Wiener, he’s mine, too. Oh, and the former morgue turned funeral chapel carriage house, that’s mine too. My husband and I rented that building for twenty years and yes, there were horse stalls for the horses that pulled the hearses and there were caskets and “stuff” when we moved in. But Maddie’s family, her FBI hunk, her English Professor father and her witchy aunt, those were in the bible. Between the blue sky story.

DC: The first two books in the trilogy are already on the shelves, A Veiled Deception and Larceny and Lace. Would you tell us about them?

AB: A Veiled Deception is the first in the series, so it introduces Madeira Cutler and her family: Her mother was a witch? Home from the New York fashion world to plan her sister’s wedding, Madeira Cutler becomes a sleuth when the bride is accused of murder. Turns out, Maddie can “read” vintage clothes and follow their clues. What other gifts did she inherit from her mother?

Larceny and Lace, second in the series, takes place once Maddie opens her Vintage Dress Shop in town. She has two murders to solve in this story, because it begins with an intruder in her shop who’s trying to steal bones from a body drawer, left over from the old morgue. Seems somebody thought an abandoned building was a good place to hide a set of bones. We learn a lot more about Detective Werner in the second story. She and her best friend Eve really lead him a merry chase.

Excerpt from Larceny and Lace:

“I find that it is vital to have at least one handbag for each of the ten types of social occasion: Very Formal, Not So Formal, Just a Teensy Bit Formal, Informal but Not That Informal, Every Day, Every Other Day, Day Travel, Night Travel, Theater, and Fling.” —Miss Piggy

Chapter One

If I hadn’t asked my New York cronies to mention my grand opening in their national fashion magazines, I might be able to breathe as if I weren’t wearing Scarlett O’Hara’s corset.

Thirteen days before Halloween. Thirteen days to open Vintage Magic, my dress shop for timeless classics and designer originals.

What was I doing to make it happen? Driving home to Mystic, Connecticut, from New York after working out my contractual two weeks’ notice, rather than forfeiting the bonus I needed to turn my building into Vintage Magic.

As I drove, grinning witches and twinkling pumpkin lights mocked me. I needed a tucking miracle.

My name is Maddie Cutler, well, Madeira, a former New York fashion designer, and I can fix anything, with the possible exception of cloning myself. So you can imagine my frustration two weeks ago at having to hand my shop’s renovation reins over to my father.

Harry Cutler, staid academic, planned ahead. His oldest daughter, creative free spirit—that would be me—did not, which is how I got myself into this.

The silver lining? I passed my departing construction crew near Mystic Seaport. Finished. Finally. And only three weeks late.

The flaw in the fabric? A faxed report from the construction crew’s night watchman. A rash of bumps in the night and running feet into the early hours of the morning. Note from said watchman: The Mystick Falls police are getting ticked at being called every night “with no perp to show for it.”

I did not need anymore grief from my old nemesis, Detective Sergeant Lytton Werner, also known as “the Wiener,” thanks to a certain third-grade brat—that would also be me.

My complicated relationship with the local police aside, did the bumps in the night worry me? You bet your French knickers, they did. Why this sudden interest in a building that had been boarded up and left undisturbed for more than half a century?

I hoped never to find out.

Tomorrow I’d start moving in my stock and setting up my displays. How long could it take? I’d only been collecting vintage my whole life. Oy.

As I turned onto Bank Street, I heard raised voices in the distance, which anyone who’d passed the playhouse across from my shop heard at one time or another. Broderick Sampson, the curmudgeon of an owner argued with everyone. Just another sign I was home.

I pulled into the crowded lot behind Mystic Pizza to view my building from across the street. I had always admired the original copper weathervane, a ship in full sail time-coated a soft green, but I loved the new Victorian streetlamps brightening my parking lot, and the spotlit old-fashioned tavern sign hanging above the door: Vintage Magic in bold white on a dark eggplant-colored shield. Behind the shop name stood a pale lavender side silhouette of a woman who could be Jackie O., the sixties being such a popular vintage.

I finally uncrated my crying kitten, who would rather have been riding shotgun from the armrest, and she came to make her own assessment.

I refused to stress over the parking-lot debris marring the scene: empty wire reels and a mountain of boxes at my front door. You’d think the crew would have cleaned up.

The yellow fur ball purred and curled against my solar plexus chakra, an intuitive move on her part. She had the uncanny ability to calm me. Because of it, I’d named her appropriately. “What do you think, Chakra? Beautiful?”

She approved with a soft meow.

Genuine delight washed over me.

No more weather-ravaged, raw wood shack, though we hadn’t replaced a splinter that didn’t need it. No windows existed on the building’s main floor, but I didn’t want sunshine fading my vintage treasures, anyway.

We’d replaced the people door, but the huge, tall, front-facing double doors beside it, built for horse-drawn hearses, were now sealed . . . though the same could not be said for a similar door at the side of the building.

In front, however, their sheer size in lavender with eggplant crossbeams, made the sage building pop. Magical colors, according to Aunt Fiona, lawyer, godmother, and witch. Sage: the herb to clear negative energy and the color for prosperity; lavender for harmony; purple for wisdom.

In this incarnation, Vintage Magic oozed character and charm, leaving its days as a morgue, then a funereal carriage house, to the history books.

I moved Chakra from my lap, drove across Bank Street, and pulled straight into my smooth new tarmac parking lot.

I had yet to see the transformation inside.

Between the New York job and condo to sublet, I hadn’t been back in the last two weeks. But the minute both were done, I’d packed seven years of my life into a funky rental and beat my ETA by an hour.

As a result, Dad, Aunt Fiona, Eve, my best friend, and Nick, my hunky Italian boy toy, weren’t here, yet. They were due soon to crack open the secret room with me; secret being relative.

Dolly Sweet, friend and centenarian, who’d deeded me the place for the price of taxes, forgot to tell me about the second-floor storage room, its doors cut so seamlessly into a wall, I’d missed it on my pre-ownership tour. Like the rest of us, Dolly couldn’t wait to find out what she forgot she sold me.

Sure, reports of bumps in the night made me think twice about viewing even the bottom floor alone. But this was my building and I was the only one who hadn’t seen its transformation.

Besides, I had four things on my side. A key. A can of mace. Spiked heels. And a watch cat. Who could ask for more?

I was going in.

The key my father sent me slipped into the lock like a knife through flan, or cheesecake, or tiramisu. Hmm. I forgot to eat today. Forgot to sleep last night, too, I was so busy packing.

My stomach growled as I stepped inside, the scent of fresh paint filling me with a giddy Christmas-morning rush. Chakra jumped from my arms and hit the floor with a whomp to scope out the place.

The panel of switches and dimmers behind the enclosed stairway, near the door to my horse-stall dressing rooms, allowed me to flood the room with a soft wash of indirect pale pink light. I’d asked for a hint of art deco in the mahogany trim and it looked sensational, better than my sketches.

Crazy-quilt ideas for finishing touches, decorating, displays, and shop layout filled my mind.

I grinned as I perused my linen-paneled, three-thousand-square-foot dream-come-true. Vintage Magic.

The mahogany, waist-high hearse stalls against the back wall remained intact and set the style, while a cart of matching movable lower walls awaited placement along the front and sides. I’d be able to see my customers in whatever fashion type or designer nook they perused.

Unexpectedly, the wind grabbed the front door and slammed it.

I jumped and Chakra howled.

A metallic clank hit the floor above us.

My heart skipped a beat. Chakra flew into my arms, her fear becoming mine as I shivered in my Jimmy Choos.

Scrap! A bump in the night and no watchman in sight.

DC: How do you feel your male or female characters have evolved over your career? Do you think you write them differently now than you did when you started?

AB: Well, I like to think that I write both better. My editor told me that Bastian Dragonelli, hero of Naked Dragon, is her favorite of my heroes. I believe my heroines are stronger yet more whimsical. I think that my heroes are no longer entirely Beta but have more Alpha tendencies.

DC: Is there a genre you haven’t tackled but would like to try?

AB: I guess I would pretty much like to try every genre, eventually. I always have ideas for other genres.

DC: What advice would you give to your younger self?

AB: That’s easy: “Start writing romance when you’re home with your first baby, not when they’re both in high school, silly girl.”

DC: Your next trilogy is the Supernatural Employment Agency series, which will be out next year. Where did this idea for the series come from?

AB: Basically, they came from my “idea” that the veil between the planes is made thin by human magick, and that a witch must be a key character in the series, and they took off from there.

This is a series of situation comedies about supernatural beings and the mortals who hire and fall in love with them. The supernatural characters, according to their particular abilities, will change form, employ super strengths, libidos, vision, hearing, etc. They’ll shape shift, orb, fly, and make themselves and objects appear and disappear, shocking the hell out of their employers.

This is my official description for the Works Like Magic Novels: “They’re the chameleons of the universe—the magical, supernatural ancients—time travelers and shape shifters: dragons, angels, mermen, pirates—each with their own unique magickal talents. They’ve fought armies, advised kings, and even appeared to die for their beliefs, or their crimes, but they all end in Salem, where mortal magick has thinned the veil to a permeable mist and formed an entry portal in time. Whether the travelers were banished, came looking for secrets from their own pasts, or arrived by mistake, it’s a well known fact that it’s not easy going back, so once they arrive, they need a life and a living.

Enter Vivica Quinlan. She’s a young witch a big heart, a sense of humor, a good head for business, and a centuries-old legacy from an ancestor who survived the burning times of greeting and welcoming the ancients. Through “Works like Magick,” her small, discreet, supernatural employment agency, perfect for those who are more—and less than—human, Vivica actualizes the time travelers with all the legal trappings. She fits their talents, strengths and skills to each challenging job requirement. A perfect fit isn’t always easy to achieve, but it’s a skill for which Works like Magick bears a sterling reputation. And when the traveler fits the job, and finds love, in a way no mortal could, the results are often more than magick—they’re downright magickal.

DC: Naked Dragon, out in January 2010, and Bedeviled Angel, out in August 2010, are the first two books. Can you give us a smidge of a sneak peek?

AB: I’m going to give you the poem that begins each as a sneak peek.

Naked Dragon:

On the Island of Stars, on a plane beyond ours, A legion exists.
Romans. Knights. Males with fight.
Cursed. Exiled. Warriors still, breathing fire for sport
Casting shadows on the ground from the air, wings spread,
Bearing scales of gold, some silver, some red.
Dragons who hoped to be blessed with unlikely redress,
Humanity returned and put to the test.
But trapped by an endless lava sea, this army of dragons seems doomed not to be.
One sliver of hope, a risk: bound moons shade white magick from black.
One dragon per phase might be turned and sent back,
But who could be spared to make way for the rest? Who best?
The alpha stepped up to save his clan. Their protector nodded and chanted her plan:
“Shed horns, spines, claws and webbed wings. Shrink scales, spade and tail—”
The counter spell came in a lightning bolt. Bastian roared as he took the jolt.
But aborting now would mean certain death. No wasting time, not even a breath.
“Knight to beast now back, again. Send this man to the plane he began.”
Bastian roared as he twisted to shift from dragon to man in the steam from the rift.
Soothed by his mentor with a dragon tear, a magick so rare,
Hope grew, despite the scent of death in the air.

* * *

Bedeviled Angel:

Two souls touch
A moment sublime
Wrapped in chaotic time
While Angels stand behind

Through fate’s delay
Wild events convey
Paths leading away
While Angels walk beside

No turning back
An undeniable fact
A life-lesson lack,
Tho’ Angels have your back

DC: If you were a book, what would your blurb be?

AB: Sassy and snarky, she’ll make you laugh, cry, and end up with a heart full of hope and the belief that life is good.

DC: What would be your “voice’s” tagline?

AB: “Magic stories with Heart.”

DC: You Can’t Steal First is your novella in the Hot Ticket anthology with Julia London, Dierdre Martin, and Geri Buckley, and will hit the shelves next month. Would you tell us about it?

AB: My story, You Can’t Steal First, is about Tiago and Quinn who met when she beat him up in the sandbox. He was from the wrong side of the tracks. Her family owned the tracks. They were each other’s first, but the next morning, Tiago was gone. Now, thirteen years later, he’s a big name Red Sox player on his Hot Ticket Express (train) to spring training, and she’s been tricked into going along for the ride. There’s no right or wrong side this time, they’re riding the tracks, and they’ve got a lot of catching up to do.

Excerpt from You Can’t Steal First:

Tiago looked down at the station platform, from the parlor car in which he stood, at Quinn Murdock, all prim, and proper, and appalled, as beautiful as ever, even dissing his train.

His heart raced at the implications–Quinn, for three days, neither of them on the wrong, or right, side of the tracks, but square in the middle.

Maybe, he’d get some long-overdue answers.

Maybe . . . they’d finally kill each other.

Quinn stepped away to read the plaque on the railroad car, and the sun came out and gilded her hair to copper. Then the wind lifted it around her face, and Tiago could swear he caught its scent. He remembered the silk of it sliding between his fingers. His body remembered as well.

“Mickey Mantle?” Quinn asked, the sudden set of her lips enhancing his hard reaction. She stepped back and read the names of the baseball greats on several railroad cars. “You wouldn’t!” She turned on her gofers, and they stepped collectively back. “I told you about Tiago in confidence!”

Tiago’s heart skipped. Thirteen years, and she still talked about him?

“Please!” Quinn said, “Tell me this moldering old excuse for a locomotive is not Tiago’s Hot-Ticket Express to Spring Training!”

“This is not Tiago’s Hot-Ticket Express to Spring Training,” Charm Boy lied as ordered.

Tiago braced himself, as much against the train’s first halting surge as against the razor-sharp blade of Quinn’s presence slicing open his sorry past and threatening to make him bleed.

“Let’s get you on board,” Charm Boy said. “Damn train’s starting to move.” Despite Quinn’s protest, the man shoved her, ass-up, onto the train while Tiago bit off an objection to the familiarity.

Quinn gave her attention to fighting and cursing the ham-fisted jerk behind her, so she didn’t know who stepped out and caught her hand to keep her from falling on the tracks–couldn’t know that touching her again revved more than the Amtrak engine up front.

“Traitors,” she shouted as she turned, retrieved her hand, and caught her balance, still focused on the tricksters who got her here.

Charm Boy sprinted beside the train and tossed two suitcases in after her. One hit the floor at her feet, split, and belched enough gauze and spandex to make a hooker proud.

The second broke the bones in Tiago’s left foot.

“Effing-A,” Quinn said as she fell to her knees, rescued a rippling cellophane halter top, and shoved it back in the bag’s gaping belly. She rifled through the rainbow of bare-flesh wet dreams, and with rising anxiety, she checked the second bag, a street-walker’s shoe store. “Where’s my underwear?” she shouted. “Derek, there’s no underwear!”

Her male gofer grinned, saluted, and stopped trying to keep up, and as the distance grew between them, he rubbed his hands together at a job well done. Quinn’s female contingent caught up to him, and they high-fived each other.

Quinn screeched when she saw, and about gave Tiago a stroke when she leaned out the door. “Loserrrrrrs!”

The losers grinned, nodded, and waved.

Tiago caught the death-defying tigress around the waist and hauled her back in, against her will, his heart racing over her stunt, her scent, her lush familiar curves. “Damn, but I forgot what a pain in the ass you are.”

Quinn Murdock–the only woman who ever ran away from him–in his arms again. Tiago held her against him, eye to eye, her feet about six inches off the ground.

“Son of an effing bustard,” she snapped. “What the hell do you think you’re doing? Put me down you dumbass gorilla.”

Tiago chuckled. “I missed you too.”

The pointed toes of her biker-type knee boots made hard contact with his shins.

He set her down. “Son of a– A few more bruises, Hot Stuff, and I’ll end up shining the bench at spring training.”

“Turn your back on me, and you won’t make that cut. Despite her bluster, Quinn stepped away from him to come up against the undulating Pullman car at her back. Tiago’s heart skipped when the chasm between the platform and the car opened and closed beneath her, as if trying to suck her down and swallow her whole.

“Get your sweet ass away from there.” He offered his hand, but Quinn’s eyes narrowed to sparks of fiery emerald, so he grabbed her by the waist and lifted her off her feet to set her down in a safe spot between the car doors.

He brought her bags over as well. “Got any tassels in there?” he asked, catching a flying scrap of silk like a line drive to second. Then he pressed a button to shut the doors and cut the whirlwind trying to suck her wardrobe into oblivion.

Quinn snatched the silky scrap from his texture-testing fingers.

“Leave it to you to call your employees losers,” he said.

She shoved the scrap in her pocket. “They’re not my employees. They’re my friends.”

“You have friends?”

She placed a fast boot heel on her belching bag to nail a diaphanous strip of pink champagne and keep it from floating away.

Tiago grinned. “With all that leather you’re wearing, I keep looking for your whip.”

“You wouldn’t know haute couture if it bit you in the butt.”

“Stop it, you’re turning me on.”

“Bite me.”

“There you go again.”

Quinn tried to toss her hair over her shoulders, an assertive, attention-getter she’d used as a teen, except that her long nutmeg “wings” had been clipped, likely for the boardroom, and there was no length left. Short, stylish, and businesslike, her hair fell longest around her face where it curled beneath her chin and met like the inside point of an inverted heart, framing her features into a sassy, sexy whole while showcasing the sweet, sublime line of her neck.

She firmed her spine and raised her chin.

Twice as hot as the designer-chic curves revealed by the calfskin outfit she’d been shoe-horned into that morning, Quinn Murdock had never looked better, except for maybe the first time he saw her . . . in the sandbox.

They were five.

She gave him a black eye.

It was love at first smite.

DC: If you had never become an author, what do you think you would be doing right now?

AB: I’d still be a Development Director at the prep school where I worked for more than twenty years, until I left three years ago to write full time.

DC: You’ve written a number of historicals. Will you be writing any more in the future?

AB: I love historical romances, so yes, I’d love to write more. There are two rogues I never wrote, Hunter Elijah Wylder’s story and Myles Quartermaine’s story, and I have a sequel in mind for The Butterfly Garden. Yes, definitely more historicals, if I can.

DC: Do you prefer writing contemps/paranormals over historical or vice versa?

AB: I can only write the stories that I fall in love with. It really doesn’t matter which genre. Some authors choose according to the brevity of research, but I believe that contemporaries take every bit as much research as historicals. However, I am really shocked at how much I enjoy writing my first-person cozy mysteries.

DC: What else is on the horizon for Annette Blair?

AB: I have four books out this year and three scheduled for next so far. I hope to write more Vintage Magic Mysteries and more Works Like Magick Novels. I’d like to hit the New York Times and maybe win a Rita.

Lightning Round:

- dark or milk chocolate? – milk
- smooth or chunky peanut butter? – smooth
- heels or flats? – Heels if I didn’t need new knees; flats because I don’t have a choice
- coffee or tea? – tea
- summer or winter? – summer
- mountains or beach? – beach
- mustard or mayonnaise? – mayonnaise
- flowers or candy? – flowers
- pockets or purse? – purse
- Pepsi or Coke? – Coke
- ebook or print? – print

Because they’re still a lot of fun:

1. What is your favorite word? – “Yes.”
2. What is your least favorite word? – “No.”
3. What turns you on creatively, spiritually or emotionally? – Creatively: Peace, art, movies, a writing retreat with good friends. Spiritually: Nature in its glory; a beach, a cathedral of trees, a full moon. Emotionally: a house full of family, my grandchildren talking, laughing, singing, watching them discover life in all its aspects.
4. What turns you off creatively, spiritually or emotionally? – Creatively: exhaustion. Spiritually: intolerance. Emotionally: War.
5. What sound or noise do you love? – The birds in the morning (especially when I’m on my way to bed after writing all night).
6. What sound or noise do you hate? – An alarm clock.
7. What is your favorite curse word? – Scrap!
8. What profession other than your own would you like to attempt? – Artist/painter.
9. What profession would you not like to do? – Pope.
10. If Heaven exists, what would you like to hear God say when you arrive at the Pearly Gates? – “Good Books. Welcome. Your mother and father are waiting.”

DC: Annette, thank you so much for being with us today!

Lawson’s review of Double Play by Jill Shalvis
Contemporary romance released by Berkley Sensation 7 Jul 09

Summer is in full swing which means going to the beach or sitting poolside, or eve going to a baseball game. Here’s one great way to bring baseball to you, no matter where you are. Shalvis starts a new series about baseball players at the fictional Pacific Heat which fits the bill for sexy summer fun and lots of baseball. This is the first book by Shalvis that I’ve read, but I will say she’s got me hooked and I want to go find more to get a fix for this new habit of mine.

Holly Hutchins is a blog writer who has gotten national attention for her hard hitting articles that uncover secrets in unexpected places. After a stint in the space industry, she’s been assigned to write about the Pacific Heat, an expansion team based in Santa Barbara, Ca. She’s starting to feel dissatisfied with her traveling lifestyle and not being able to trust the people she meets since her job is to uncover the things that people are hiding.

Pace Martin is used to people trying to pry things out of him, but Holly is a bit different. Though he doesn’t want her readers and the rest of the world to know about a nagging shoulder injury, her ability to show her care about him while separating it from her work intrigues him. And he can’t stop his attraction to her, even if she isn’t his type. The realities of life in the public, Holly’s job and the life of a professional baseball player all play their part in getting in the way, but Holly and Pace have to choose what’s most important to them to get safely to home (to use a baseball metaphor).

Both Holly and Pace are great characters. They show depths of their personalities as the story progresses, but Shalvis makes sure the characters stay true to who they are when they first meet in the first chapter. Holly is driven, but lonely after a hard childhood never trusting her mother and not knowing if she’d have money for food and basic clothing. Making this into a career into investigative online journalism has continued her life into constant moving and not forming solid relationships.

Pace has been struggling with a shoulder injury that could potentially end his career. While he knows it could come eventually, he knows that right now is not the time. His integrity in turning down the temptations that could truly end his career shows he’s got more than just ambition to be the best, but a true love of the game. It also shows Pace the need to take stock of his circumstances and still do the things he’s been doing, which is just as rewarding as his baseball career.

The interactions and conversations of Holly and Pace also worked really well, and there’s several scenes in a shower that definitely steams things more than just the residual heat left over from hot water. The other thing is that though Holly is a journalist, she’s always honest about what she’s writing and why and never tries to hide or lie to pace or anyone associated with the team. Pace, though not wanting his injury public knowledge, doesn’t lie to Holly about anything he’s done, even when he’s caught in a scandal.

The other star of the story, baseball, is a welcome addition. I will admit that though I like baseball I don’t know much about it. What was given in this book seemed to be the real deal to me, from locker room conversations to how the players may act on their off time. The story even contains a secondary plotline about the issue of performance enhancers and the effect on baseball and the players which fit in well with not only the story, but putting baseball in the context of today’s views of the game. The romance did suffer a slight amount due to some of the baseball things, but everything worked well with the story and the characterizations.

The next book in the series follows the catcher of the team and the team PR exec, and as long as it’s as enjoyable as Double Play (which I know it will) I will follow this series to the end of the 9th inning.

Grade: A-

Summary:
.
Getting to first base is a cinch….
.
But getting home will take a grand slam…
.
Pace Martin is the ace pitcher for the Pacific Heat. He’s go the arm, the experience and the wins. He’s also got the pain, the pressure and the possible end of his career looming over him. The last thing he needs now is a distractions, even if it comes in the form of a tough, beautiful, tell-it-like-it-is writer who sees past his defenses.
.
Holly Hutchins knows a good story when she sees one, and the tall, dark and slightly attitude-challenged Pace Martin fits the bill. But when she realizes there’s more at stake than just a win, she starts to see the handsome, broad-shouldered jock in a different light.
.
Pace and Holly begin a seductive game, but in the face of unexpected betrayal and challenges, they’ll have to find the courage to swing for the fences. . .
.
Read an excerpt here.

Lawson’s review of Wicked Little Game by Christine Wells
Historical romance released by Berkley Sensation 7 Jul 09

If you’ve seen the movie “Indecent Proposal“, the first few chapters of this book are going to seem a bit familiar. When I read the excerpt I wanted to read this book to see how Wells would work things out. Just the idea of a man wanting to pay an overly large amount of money to spend the night with another man’s wife is an intriguing concept. What happens after the night is over is where this story diverges from Hollywood.

Lucas Morrow, Marquis of Vane, has been lusting after Lady Sarah Cole for a number of years. Though she’d rebuffed his offer years ago, that never stopped him from wanting her. One night he’s at a disreputable establishment when Sarah’s husband comes to him with an offer: 10,000 pounds for one night with his wife. Vane is horrified that any man would treat his wife that way and leaves in disgust.

When Sarah arrives at his townhouse later that night he’s shocked and does his best to be a gentleman in the face of her obvious distress. What transpires is magical and passionate to Vane, but he can see in the morning that Sarah has regretted what happened. Sarah does her best to distance herself from Vane after a wonderful night, and runs home to find her husband murdered. There’s only one choice that Sarah has: marry Vane or face ruin for the rest of her life.

There’s, of course, more going on than meets the eye. With Brinsley Cole’s death, Sarah is the prime suspect first, as he was her husband, and then Vane, as his carriage conveyed Sarah home the night of the murder. Since Sarah’s father is a prominent politician there’s a small government cover-up to make sure there’s no scandal. Through all this Sarah is desperately seeking Brinsley’s illegitimate child, because she’s barren and it’s a last ditch effort to exercise her maternal instincts.

Sarah is such a sympathetic character in the beginning. She obviously wants to do right by the child, Tom, since she’s never had any children of her own. When her husband tells her of the proposal, and a skewed and completely untrue retelling at that, she wants to confront Vane. The next morning and for the rest of the book Sarah just spirals downward into self pity, wrapping her pride and martyrdom around her and never seems to let it go until it’s almost too late. Her moment of realization leads her to do a 180 and doesn’t ring true with the way she’d been portrayed for the rest of the book.

With Sarah the way she is, it’s amazing that Vane sees anything worthwhile in what she does. He’s loving, caring, supportive and does his best to make her happy. When she rejects all of that time and again and can’t face facts, he acts in the best way possible. Is it hurtful? Yes, but if he really wanted to keep her he had to shock her to get her to face reality rather than her selfish inclinations disguised as good deeds.

The murder seemed to be thrown in so that the marriage could take place rather than as a valid event that propelled the plot. It provided another reason for Sarah to try to play the martyr rather than trying to move on with her life. The murder also forced her to go back to her parents and apologize about running off with an unsuitable man (and he is really unsuitable, though it doesn’t come about until much later).

Sarah, in fact, has to fact a lot of facts and truths that she didn’t acknowledge before. Through it all that martyrdom and pride is what she clings to rather than anything that Vane may offer. If she had been a bit more open to the turn her life had taken rather than thinking she needed to be constantly punished for running off at the age of 17. Her constant judgment of herself as well as others doesn’t make the romance seem believable and Vane suffers for it, as he’s a superb leading man.

Grade: C+

Summary:

“You want my wife. You always have…”

For years, the Marquis of Vane has hungered for Lady Sarah from afar, watching the beauty brave a cruel marriage. When Sarah’s wastrel husband makes Vane a shocking proposal – one night with Sarah for 10,000 pounds – the temptation is almost too great. Tricked by her husband into fulfilling his wicked bargain, Sarah can’t refuse a night of exquisite pleasure with the devastating man who haunts her dreams. But neither she nor Vane imagined their passionate encounter would set the stage for murder, or that a deadly twist of fate could spell a love to last all time…

Read an excerpt

Lawson’s review of Revealed by Kate Noble
Historical romance released by Berkley Sensation 3 Mar 09

Kate Noble, in her second book, goes for a bit more intrigue and some derring-do with a story about a former spy in the fight against Napoleon and the Queen of Society.  I do have to mention that after reading Lynne Connolly’s post about class in historical romance, perhaps my view of this book has changed a bit, but it is a lively tale that keeps one turning the pages.

Mrs. Phillipa Benning is the nearly unrivaled leader of polite society in London. Her one rival is Lady Jane Cummings, though no one really knows why the two women don’t like each other. Phillipa, wanting to have all of society at her feet, wants to of course score the proposal of the season from the Marquis of Broughton. To gain his attention, she agrees to meet him in secret in a library at a ball where a romantic rendezvous is implied, though not promised.

Instead Phillippa stumbles upon another secret meeting between the head of the Home Office and one of his operatives, Marcus Worth. When the name, the Blue Raven is brought up in the conversation, Phillippa decides she is going to unmask the Blue Raven at what will then become the event of the season, the Benning Ball, which also happens to be one of the last major events of the season. She ends up gaining the cooperation of Marcus Worth in her plans with some help of her own in getting invitations to other major society events.

Marcus needs the invitations because he has suspicions of a plot made by an old enemy from the war to attack various society events. The purpose of the attacks is not known, nor has the villain shown his face, but Marcus has instincts that haven’t let him down and he knows he has to do something. As he works with Philippa he begins to worry for her safety, for as she proves valuable in finding the rival spy, she is also putting herself in danger and Marcus has realized he doesn’t want her hurt, for any reason, because of him. Nor does he want to let her go.

Phillippa is a character that is pretty much what she appears to be on the surface. She has a bit of a stand-offish demeanor from having most people in her life disappoint her or never pay over much attention to her, like her deceased husband and her mother. As such, she does what she likes and is not thought of less before it because she’s very wealthy and very intelligent. She hides her true smarts from society, but then she wouldn’t be the head of the fashionable world without using her intelligence to get her to her current position.

Marcus is happy with being on the fringes of society. When he’s forced to get invitations and become seen about town he does it with good humor and is able to see beyond Phillippa’s public image to her caring nature underneath. He’s very protective of her, as he sees Broughton as a popinjay and not good enough for her (which he is of course). What Marcus doesn’t like is being nearly on display for society, which he inevitably is when he’s on Phillippa’s arm. Marcus is used to working behind the scenes and not out for all the world to see.

While it is believable that these to characters could end up together, Phillippa never seems to grow past some of her selfishness and overconfidence in her abilities to get what she wants. She’s rather cruel at times to some secondary characters as she thinks that is befitting her position as a leader in society. That Marcus can break through that to get to her vulnerabilities underneath shows that she’s not (for lack of a better word) a bitch, she still holds herself a bit apart from others around her.

The spy storyline trying to sabotage events in society in the end didn’t come out to be wholly plausible, but it did provide the necessary elements to get the plot moving to the point of a sort of climax that forces the two characters to come together in the end. The story was well written enough to keep my interest, but this book wasn’t as good as Noble’s first, Compromised.

Grade: C+

Summary:
.
Phillippa Benning is the unrivaled beauty of the Season. But when another lady challenges her for a marquis’s attentions, Phillippa entices him to a secret rendezvous—only to stumble upon The Blue Raven, England’s most famous spy, lurking at the site of her planned tryst.
.
The Blue Raven has uncovered an enemy plot directed at upcoming society functions, but he’s unable to infiltrate London society. Phillippa makes an offer: in exchange for entrée among the ton, he agrees to have his true identity revealed at the Benning Ball—guaranteeing her unrivaled notoriety. As the danger draws closer, the mysterious spy and Phillippa give in to mutual desire. But when the game turns deadly, betrayal waits around the corner, and Phillippa must decide once and for all—is it the myth that captured her heart, or the man?
.
Read an excerpt.

Gwen’s review of Atlantis Unleashed (The Warriors of Poseidon, Book 3) by Alyssa Day
Contemporary paranormal romance released by Berkley Sensation 2 Jun 09

This is one of the paranormal series I like to read, but forget about between entries.  It’s normally a long time between full-fledged novel-length books in this series, and my attention span is shorter than that (my mom calls it AAADD – Age-activated Attention Deficit Disorder).  So I forget about it and yet have so much fun reading them when they come around. 

Day has penned a very interesting world that has strong heroes and heroines, good story arcs, good villains, and strong secondary characters.  The prominence of the secondary characters adds a lot of depth to the stories without detracting too much from the main reason we’re here – to read about a romance between the two main characters.  Each of the entries has been like this – interesting and richly detailed, and very fun to read.

I don’t recommend starting with this book if this will be your first of the series.  Day spends some time telling you a little of the back story but not a lot.  You may be at sea with some of the more nuanced details of why the characters are where they are.  Not the least of which is some of the (so far) secondary romances.  I think the romance in this book could stand alone – the hero and heroine didn’t know each other before this book started, so you’re starting with them in the discovery process.  However, again, you’ll get none of that extra spice that is liberally sprinkled in with the main story if you don’t read the previous entries first.

This was a very good paranormal romance with some interesting people.  The hero and heroine are strong, independent, and intelligent people who you like immediately.  I highly recommend it to fans of the series or anyone looking for a new romance series with some hot men and smart (archeologist!) women.

Grade: A

Read more reviews and info by following the series’ tag.

Summary:
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Poseidon’s warriors swore an oath eleven thousand years ago to protect humanity from those who stalked the night. Now those powerful forces are uniting. So are two souls who are all that stand between justice and the eternal darkness…
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A warrior prince…Lord Justice made the ultimate sacrifice for his brother and paid for it with an unimaginable torture. Now he’s back, rescued from death, his sanity shaken, and his mission inescapable—the search for the lost Star of Artemis. But the beautiful human female whom he has sworn to protect is shadowed by an evil that could destroy them both…
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A woman of science…The archaeological artifacts of Atlantis speak to Dr. Keely McDermott, sharing visions of life long ago. The ancient revelations have cast her into a world between past and present, between reality and illusion—and, when she meets the fierce Atlantean warrior assigned to guard her, between terror and temptation. Now as their two worlds collide, so too will danger and desire…
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A quest for a lost star…Atlantis is unleashed.
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Read an excerpt.

Other books in the series:

We’re talkin’ up a storm again.  Welcome back to Duck Chat.

Today Beth Kery, writer of some of the steamiest erotic romance out there, joins us to talk about her books and have some fun with us. I’ve read a number of Beth’s book over the last couple of years, I have to say I’m hooked. I have been since I read Exorcising Sean’s Ghost. That remains my favorite Beth Kery book to date, and she’s had some terrific stories released since then. If you’re not familiar with her books, do stop by her website and look around. I think you’ll find something that will call to you and you’ll just have to try it! Of course, Beth is going to give you a chance to win a couple of her books. Give us a meaningful comment and we’ll toss you into the running for an ARC of her upcoming release Daring Time, a print copy of Wicked Burn, and a download of her current release, Flirting in Traffic.

If you have any questions for Beth today, leave a comment, she’s going to stop in now and again to see what you’re all up to.  So now let’s chat!

DUCK CHAT: Beth, your writing has brought about a very quick rise for you in the industry. Wicked Burn was your debut with Berkley Sensation. What’s it been like for you in your dealings with Berkley compared to the epublishing process?

BETH KERY: Hi, Sandy. It hasn’t been all that different, really, as far as the mechanics. You usually need an agent to sell to the New York market, but not always. Otherwise–you make a sale, you do edits and you release your book.

A few differences: For my first three Berkley books, I did paper edits, which was quite an experience—one master copy being shipped across the country. However, Berkley is now going to electronic edits, so there goes that difference. I had to learn different promotional and sales markets for my print book. In general (depending on who you are, of course) you reach a wider market with your print book, so you hear from more people about the book.

DC: If you could retire any question and never, ever have it asked again, what would it be? Feel free to answer it.

BK: Um…probably when did you decide to become a writer? My answer is always a little false, because it was sort of a jump and start, gradual thing for me, not a sudden “Ah ha!” I’m not so sure that I even considered myself a ‘writer’ in my head until a couple months ago, so yeah—kind of an innocent sounding question that’s pretty complicated for me to answer.

I seriously just realized the other day that I didn’t feel bad, slumming around when I went to the grocery store wearing sweatpants and glasses—because I’m a writer. That’s our uniform!

DC: I’ve heard writers often say their stories take them in surprising directions, or dialogue flows from some unknown place. Is it the same with you? Do your characters surprise you sometimes?

BK: Yes, most definitely. I typically ride the hump of the pantster/plotter bell curve. So I have a loose plot in mind, but the characters definitely improvise and grow on the stage I’ve set for them.

DC: Wicked Burn is one hot, sexy read. Tell our readers about Vic and Niall, please.

BK: Thanks, Sandy. Niall and Vic are two people who sort of come together in a sexual cataclysm one night. When things like that happen, it seems like impulse or chance, but in reality, because of their pasts and personal characteristics, there were good reasons that things were so explosive for them. I like to observe human nature and behavior, and it’s always fascinating to me the events and circumstances that lead up to something that seems like it ‘just happened.’ So, while someone might look at Niall and Vic and say they were using sex to get past their wounds or personal traumas, I wonder what it is about that point in time and those two particular people that made it possible for them to begin to heal through at first a physical relationship and then a much more profound one.

DC: Do you ever argue with your characters while you’re writing? Who usually wins?

BK: Hmmm…that’s a good question. I’d love to say I have these down and dirty drag-outs with them, but I usually don’t. That’s not to say that all my characters are always likeable, because they’re not. I’ve just come to terms with where they are at that point in the development of the story.

DC: What is sure to distract you from sitting down and working/writing?

BK: My other job, first and foremost. Beyond that, a sunny day, a certain look from my husband…. a growling stomach.

DC: Some authors eventually phase out of the epublishing world once their “bigger break” comes along. Any plans of doing that yourself?

BK: I don’t have any plans for that, but I’m admittedly a very freshman writer, so what do I know? I’d like to balance both venues. I was extremely busy last year writing books for Berkley, so I’m not sure at this point in time how things will work out. However, I would eventually like to find a comfortable balance.

DC: How do you feel your male or female characters have evolved in your writing? Do you think you write them differently now than you did when you started?

BK: Hmmm, another good question. I’ve started to experiment more with my heroines. My typical heroine is often a contained intellectual whose emotional maturity helps the hero to grow. There are some recent exceptions. Hope Stillwater, the heroine for my erotic time travel Daring Time, which comes out this May, is a spirited, feisty, impulsive suffragette who might be called progressive in any time period. And Esa, my heroine in Flirting in Traffic, is also a departure for me. She’s devoted to her work, sharp-tongued, shaky in the romance and body-image arena, and possesses a loyal, devoted heart.

My heroes are all pretty much bigger than life. One thing I’m always trying to do is find new, exciting arenas for the alpha to show his stuff. I just finished a book called Release for Berkley Heat, and the hero is a private intelligence operative—a.k.a. a spy for hire. I’m so lucky, because I have a friend who is a military intelligence operative, so I got to have a lot of fun researching it. Ryan Daire, my hero in Daring Time, is a cop who is also a boxing champion, so I had a ball researching boxing terms, famous fights, and talking to my ‘fighter’ lady friends (Belinda and Fi). I just started a book where the hero is a neurologist. I realized I’d never done a hero in the medical field, which is weird because I work in the medical field. Fantasy alpha doctors are so yummy. Don’t know where they actually are, though…

DC: Your latest ebook is Flirting in Traffic with Cerridwin Press. I really enjoyed Finn and Esa’s story. Would you tell everyone about them?

Thank you, Sandy. Finn and Esa sort of both have the older sibling syndrome and have been identified as the dependable ones–the ‘rocks’ in the family. Esa is a smart, plucky physician (yeah, I do heroine docs!) who is constantly being told by her sexy, publisher sister and best friend that’s she’s lame and boring. Finn is a dead-sexy architect who’s been burned by a perfidious fiancé and wants some no-strings-attached-rebound sex to get him back in the swing of things. Of course, he mistakenly thinks stuffy Esa is that fun sex kitten, which makes for a bumpy, but very steamy, road to true love.

DC: Is there a genre you haven’t tackled but would like to try?

BK: I’d really like to try young adult. Some day.

DC: What advice would you give to your younger self?

BK: “You have so much going for you, why don’t you savor it…celebrate it?” It must be the curse of your thirties. I look at my nieces, who are stunning, smart, well-educated, and I’m blown away by all their gifts. I had many of those gifts, but, like them, I was saddled by the insecurities of youth. Why can’t we have the wisdom of age and the future (and the body) of a twenty-one year old all at once? Sigh.

DC: Next up for you is the release of Through Her Eyes in April. Can you give us a sneak peek?

BK: Through Her Eyes is actually a re-write of the very first book I ever had published at a small e-press called Aphrodite Unlaced. It may not be my most polished book, but it has characteristics in it that I value on reflection. Daring Time, Sweet Restraint, and Release all have crime and suspense elements, so I think of Through Her Eyes as my first dip into those genres. Or into anything, really.

I was thrilled that Ellora’s Cave said they’d like to publish it. It’s an erotic contemporary with suspense and paranormal elements. Let’s see, a quick (rather sloppy) highlight of the book—an old Hyde Park mansion, a ghost, a psychiatrist heroine who is also a very reluctant psychic, a serial killer, and an extremely sexy special agent hero who is bound and determined to both save the heroine and catch the killer—for very personal reasons.

Oh…and lots of really hot sex. Can’t forget that.

DC: If you had never become an author, what do you think you would be doing right now?

BK: My other job that I still do. I’m very lucky to have two such rewarding careers.

DC: We’ve mentioned your time travel that’s coming out in May, Daring Time. Is this your first time travel? Did you find that paranormal element any more difficult than others you’ve written to date? Or was it maybe easier to write?

BK: I do! I’m probably more excited about Daring Time coming out in May than I ever have been for a book. It is my first time travel, and I cann’t say I’ve ever had so much fun writing a book. I’ve lived in downtown Chicago for the past seventeen years of my life, and Daring Time became kind of a personal tribute to a city that I’ve grown to love to so much. This city has really entered the fabric of my life.

Daring Time is what my editor calls a ‘paranormal light.’ So, the Subtle Lovers series, for instance, has a much heavier paranormal element than Daring Time. Daring Time combines many genres, though, as I suppose many time travels do—contemporary, paranormal, historical, and even a suspense/crime drama.

DC: Would you tell us a little about Daring Time too?

BK: It’s the story of a young vice detective who unexpectedly—and strangely—inherits a Prairie Avenue mansion from an elderly friend. He begins to see an elusive, beautiful woman in the house. His research tells him it’s a woman who was murdered in the year 1906. Desire creates a conduit between them and through it, he travels back to the early nineteen hundreds to save her. There are many parallels between the two time periods—for instance, the man the hero and his partner are trying to bring in for a white slavery operation in the year 2008 is the very same soul responsible for the heroine’s abduction in the year 1906.

I had the opportunity to tour several Prairie Avenue mansions to prepare for this book. The historic district came vibrantly alive for me. I’d love to do a series of time travels associated with the Prairie Avenue district, which to me was as much as a beautiful ‘true’ fantasy as the Chicago World’s Fair and the White City.

Excerpt of Daring Time:

“This professor guy must have liked you a hell of a lot to leave you a mansion,” Ramiro muttered, a hint of envy flavoring his tone.

“I was knocked flat on my ass when Alistair told me what he planned, but there was nothing I could say to change his mind. He insisted I was doing him a favor by taking it. The value of the house is appreciating hugely because of the real estate development in this area. Alistair’s lawyers advised him to reduce his taxable estate with a gift.”

“Some gift. Better he’d left you some cash, though.”

Ryan stepped into a room and flipped on a light. He studied the large spacious bedroom suite, the plaster ceilings and intricately carved mantel. Alistair knew Ryan loved Chicago history. He must have guessed how much Ryan would appreciate the mansion.

“Cash’s got nothing on this place.”

Ramiro snorted. “They broke the mold when it comes to you, Daire. Six foot and four inches of pure pushover. At least to little kids and stray animals. Can’t say the same about you when it comes to assholes like Jim Donovan.”

“You wouldn’t want me any other way.”

“Who wants you? I’m shackled to you,” Ramiro grumbled.

They stepped into the bedroom. Ryan ran his hand admiringly over the carved mahogany mantel. Unlike the majority of the house, this room retained some furniture—stuff that looked to be the same vintage as the house, Ryan realized with a sense of amazement. The green and white floral wallpaper beneath the wainscoting had faded but still retained a fresh, feminine charm. Obviously the bedroom had once belonged to a woman.

The foot and headboard of a brass bedstead leaned against the wall between two antique mahogany tables. Ryan fingered the cool metal thoughtfully. The brass needed to be cleaned but the bed was perfectly intact. An image of himself polishing the brass and putting together the bed for his own mattress flashed vividly into his mind’s eye.

He’d be nuts to even consider moving into this place.

“Look at this. Looks like something you’d have your nose buried in.” Ramiro held up an old leather bound book that he’d found in one of the table drawers. The color of the once crimson leather had faded to a dull dark red.

“Shakespeare’s sonnets,” Ryan murmured. He owned a copy of his own, nearly as well read as this old tome. Ryan had cultivated a love of Shakespeare from his father that had been nourished by Alistair. The book parted to a well-worn gold-leafed page when he opened it. He immediately recognized the one hundred and sixteenth sonnet.

He raised the book toward his face and inhaled. His brow furrowed at the scent of gardenias mixing with the odor of leather and mildew.

“I’ll bet you can get a couple grand for this old chest, Daire. People pay out their asses for antiques. Holy shit, check it out.”

Ramiro moved aside from the opened door of the massive mahogany wardrobe so that Ryan could see the full-length mirror attached on the inner side of the door. The frame had been carved into a meticulous iris design beneath the gilt. Time had taken its toll on the mirror itself. Six or so inches all along the exterior had gone foggy with age. Only the center portion reflected true. Still, the mirror was so huge that Ryan didn’t have to stoop his tall frame to see his face in the reflection.
Only it wasn’t his face that he saw. He started in surprise.

“Jesus.”

He whipped around so fast that Ramiro jerked back in alarm.

“What?” Ramiro asked. The whites of his brown eyes showed as his gaze shifted warily around the room and then back to Ryan. “What’s wrong, man?”

Ryan turned back to the mirror, this time seeing his own bloodless face and greenish-blue eyes staring back at him.

“You didn’t see her?”

“See who?”

“That woman. She was just right here, standing in front of me. I saw her in the mirror.” He quickly inspected the empty wardrobe, scanned the bedroom and rushed to the door.
The hallway stood empty and silent, the dozens of closed doors along both walls reminding him of watchful eyes.

“There’s no one here but us, Daire,” Ramiro said from just behind him.

Ryan shook his head. He knew what he’d seen with his own two eyes: a stunning, lithesome-limbed beauty with pale, flawless skin and a long mane of soft, curling dark hair hanging loose down her shoulders and back.

The same woman he’d imagined briefly in the ballroom, he realized. But this had been different. In the ballroom it had just been like a super-vivid flash of his imagination. This had been real.

Realer than real.

Laughter had curved her lush, dark pink lips. She’d worn a sheer negligee, the bottom of which barely covered the dark nest of hair between her slender thighs. She might as well have been standing there naked for as much good as the nightgown did. The only other thing that adorned her flawless skin was a locket hanging around her neck. Ryan could still see perfectly with his mind’s eye the detail of the filigree carved into the silver and the throb of the woman’s pulse at her throat.

“No. I definitely saw her,” Ryan insisted firmly, but even as he said it, he began to question himself.

He’d seen the front of her in the mirror…as though she’d stood directly before him with her back to him.

His breath froze on an inhale.

There hadn’t been anyone standing in front of him. She’d just been in the mirror, staring out at him as if the space between the gilded frame had been a doorway not a pane of glass. He crossed the room and touched the surface of the mirror. Despite the bizarreness of what had just happened, he didn’t really believe he’d feel anything but the cool, smooth surface of the glass.

Shock jolted through him for the second time that evening when the molecules of his fingers seemed to meld with those of the mirror. He wondered if it hadn’t been his imagination when a second later he pressed his fingertips against a solid pane of glass.

“You really didn’t see anyone?” he asked Ramiro as he turned around.

Ramiro shook his head.

There was no way in hell Ryan wouldn’t have noticed the back of that woman if she stood in front of him. That flimsy excuse for a nightgown wouldn’t have completely covered her bare ass.
Uh uh—not a possibility. As a healthy, red-blooded male, Ryan knew for a fact he would have noticed that.

“Dios, Daire. I think you saw a ghost.”

Ryan shot Ramiro an annoyed look. “I didn’t see a ghost. She was perfectly solid.”

Perfectly gorgeous.

He recalled the startled expression in her velvety black eyes. “She looked as surprised to see me as I did her,” Ryan said.

“What’d she look like?”

A pair of full, shapely breasts and succulent, fat nipples pressing against transparent cloth that did nothing to hide their rosy hue flashed into Ryan’s mind’s eye. The potent eroticism of the recalled image made his cock jerk in his boxer briefs.

What’d she look like? Edible. Delicious. Like an angel on a mission of sin.

“Dark hair. Dark eyes,” he muttered. For some reason he felt hesitant about sharing even a basic description of the woman with Ramiro.

“You saw a ghost all right. This house is haunted,” Ramiro declared as he glanced around, his feet shifting nervously.

Ryan couldn’t help but grin. “I thought you were a big, bad vice detective. Since when are you scared of a little tiny female?”

Ramiro gave him an insulted look. “Ever since the ‘little tiny female’ is dead.”

“She’s not dead.”

Ramiro looked a little taken aback by Ryan’s hard tone. “Whatever, man.” Ramiro shivered and started toward the door. The image of his brawny partner shuddering reflexively struck Ryan as markedly odd, not to mention alarming for some reason.

“The only time I saw you get so pale was when you got shot,” Ramiro said. “Take my advice and sell this place quick as you can. I’ll take the likes of a slimy rat like Anton Chirnovsky any day versus a haunted house. Come on. Crenshaw will be waiting for us at Bureau Headquarters. We’re making sure Chirnovsky has his story straight and is in good voice before we strap the wires on him for Donahue’s downfall this weekend.”

Ryan closed the heavy wardrobe door with a brisk bang, perhaps hoping to shatter the fey spell wrought by the vision of the stunning woman. He didn’t believe in ghosts and he was every bit as eager to nail Jim Donahue for human trafficking as Ramiro was.

Still, he lingered in the doorway, casting his gaze around the empty bedroom warily before he shut out the light.

DC: You’ve quite a number of books published in the last couple of years. Have you found it difficult to come up with storylines, have a problem with writer’s block, or something equally scary? Or has the excitement of it all kept the creative juices flowing with no problem at all?

BK: You know, Sandy, I thank my lucky stars at this point in my life it’s the latter. I realize it likely won’t always be that way, but I’ll have to take my earlier advice and celebrate the moment while it’s here.

DC: What’s next on the horizon for Beth Kery?

BK: My next book is Through Her Eyes from Ellora’s Cave on April 29. I have several books coming out this year from Berkley: Daring Time on May 5; Sweet Restraint on July 7; Paradise Rules on October 6, followed by Release in February 2010. Beyond that, I’d be happy to have the opportunities to keep on writing, if anyone wants to give them to me.

Favorite paranormal author?
Mary Stewart

Contemp?
Sandra Brown

Historical?
Margaret Atwood (also a favorite for futuristic)

Favorite paranormal book?
Probably The Hollow Hills by Mary Stewart. I’ve re-read it a million times.
If Time Travel is ‘paranormal,’ then Time and Again by Jack Finney.

Contemp?
Any old Loveswept or Bantam book by Sandra Brown, like Temperature’s Rising or A Whole New Light. I feel as if I learned romance and steam from Sandra. I like her new stuff, too, but her old stuff creates such a sense of nostalgia and longing in me. I told someone once in an interview, if you want to get most of my stuff in a nutshell, it’s Sandra Brown gone erotic. From my opinion of course, not anyone else’s–like her fans or Sandra herself.

Historical?
Oh, reverting from romance again, sorry. Alias Grace by Margaret Atwood.

Lightning Round:

- dark or milk chocolate?
Milk.
- smooth or chunky peanut butter?
Smooth
- heels or flats?
Heels (although my nieces roll their eyes at me as they look darling in their flats.)
- coffee or tea?
Coffee with cream only.
- summer or winter?
Summer.
- mountains or beach?
Mountains.
- mustard or mayonnaise?
Mustard—spicy.
- flowers or candy?
Flowers.
- pockets or purse?
Purse.
- Pepsi or Coke?
Diet Pepsi

- ebook or print?
Doh! Print probably, until I get used to be my lovely Kindle anyway.

And because we like these:

1. What is your favorite word?
Lustrous.
2. What is your least favorite word?
Was (Yes, I still use it too much.)
3. What turns you on creatively, spiritually or emotionally?
People who are scared, but do it anyway…even if it’s not pretty.
4. What turns you off creatively, spiritually or emotionally?
People who act like they know everything.
5. What sound or noise do you love?
I live in the city. My white noise machine signals relaxation.
6. What sound or noise do you hate?
Pounding nails, garbage trucks….anything cacophonous.
7. What is your favorite curse word?
Fuck.
8. What profession other than your own would you like to attempt?
FBI agent.
9. What profession would you not like to do?
Teacher—not because I don’t appreciate them enormously. I just come from a family of teachers and professors and wanted to do something different.
10. If Heaven exists, what would you like to hear God say when you
arrive at the Pearly Gates?
“I’m so proud of you—you took a real chance to get here!”
DC: Beth, thank you for chatting with us today.  It’s been a pleasure!

Devon’s review of Seduced at Midnight (Mayhem in Mayfair, Book 3) by Jacquie D’Alessandro
Historical Romance released by Berkley Sensation 6 Jan 09

I love romance across class lines. It’s one of the most compelling storylines in historical romance. So I was definitely into Seduced at Midnight, which features an earl’s daughter and a Bow Street Runner. The third in a series, but the first I’ve read, this tale of murder and star crossed romance was pleasant, if not especially memorable.

Lady Julianne Bradley has lived her life with the weight of her parents expectations to a be perfect, marriageable young lady. After all, that’s all she’s good for, having been born a female. But the shy, intelligent young woman yearns for more—a life of purpose and adventure, as personified by the Bow Street Runner, Gideon Mayne. When a series of thefts and murders brings Mayne back into her sphere, Lady Julianne seizes the opportunity to get to know Mayne better. Hired to guard the “spoiled princess”, Mayne soon finds that there’s more to Julianne than meets the eye.

Lady Julianne was a well-developed and very likable heroine. She is intelligent, witty and spunky, and can hold her own with Mayne. Her desperation at her impending doom (arranged marriage) was quite vivid. I felt bad for her. Although there was a decent chemistry between her and Mayne, I never found him quite as interesting. He was standard issue, a man who came up from nothing, decent and hardworking, perhaps a bit rough around the edges. It was hard to see what intrigued Julianne so, other than the physical and the fact that he was so different from the men she was used to. He just wasn’t that interesting.

I’m not a stickler for historical accuracy, but there were times that I found the attitudes and language to be jarringly modern. Lady Julianne and her buddies have a book club, where they discuss trashy novels and other scandalous topics. While I like that Julianne wasn’t naïve and missish (she wanted Mayne and she knew what for), there was some things that just didn’t ring true, about the way they spoke. The Sex and Ye Olde City vibe, and the bland hero, definitely imparted a “wallpaper historical” feel. I found the ending to be a bit hard to swallow as well. It was too neat.

Still, I enjoyed it. The mystery kept my interest and I enjoyed the heroine’s journey. Julianne’s parents and various suitors were rather cartoonish, but only kept me cheering for her more. I hadn’t read the other books in the series, but it didn’t hinder any understanding or enjoyment. While I doubt I’ll seek out the first two books, I’m interested in the next, Tempted at Midnight (April 2009), which features Julianne’s haughty friend and an American millionaire. Fans of the author will enjoy this one, and it’s not bad if you’re looking for a historical read to pass the time.

Grade: C+

The Summary:
The Ladies Literary Society of London gathers again for a ghost story…

Lady Julianne Bradley has always longed for wild adventure. Unfortunately, the man with whom she wishes to share her fervor can never be hers. Tormented by her desire, she’s preparing for a suitable marriage when ghostly occurrences straight out of her latest read start happening—and to protect Julianne, her father hires the very man her heart cries out for.
Read an excerpt

Other books in the series:

Shannon C.‘s review of Visions of Heat (Psy-Changelings, Book 2) by Nalini Singh
Paranormal science fiction romance released by Berkley Sensation 6 Mar 07

I don’t know what it is with me and certain series out there. I start a series of books, adore the first book, and then invariably find something else shiny to read. That’s what happened with the Psy-Changeling books. I loved the first one, and meant to pick up the rest of the series, but life intervened. Then I decided that I wanted something I could guarantee would be a good read, because I was under the weather, and Nalini Singh popped into my head. I feel like I’m the last blogger ever to embrace these books, and for that I should be ashamed, because they really are that good. 

This installment of the Psy/Changeling series features Faith Nightstar, a specially-designated F-Psy. She has the gift of foresight, and her predictions are almost never wrong. She is kept in isolation, monitored remotely. But she is beginning to feel darkness creeping upon her, and the tenuous control she has over her mind is threatening to fracture. She seeks advice and answers from Sascha Duncan, the only Psy she can think of who isn’t going to snitch on her to the Psy Council. But in the process of finding Sascha, she meets Vaughn, a jaguar Changeling whose animal is rather closer to the surface than most Changelings, and the two of them find themselves embroiled in a plot including murder, scheming, and romance.

I found it pretty darn impossible to put this book down. I’m usually the kind of reader who stretches her reading out over a couple of days. Not so this book, which I finished in a matter of hours. Ms. Singh writes the kind of alpha men who work really well for me, and she writes heroines who mesh well with them. I never felt that Vaughn’s personality seriously overpowered Faith’s, and I absolutely adore the sensual, touchy-feely Changelings. As I said on my twitter at the time, I want one of these guys for my own.

Faith herself wasn’t as compelling a heroine as Sascha from Slave to Sensation. There was a sense of fragility about her that distanced her a little from me. I don’t think I’m likely to remember her quite as well as I remember Sascha. That being said, the romance here works beautifully, and Ms. Singh sells me on a fated mates storyline, which is quite difficult.

I liked seeing some of the secondary characters, particularly the members of the Dark River Changeling pack. I further enjoyed the Psy Council, and I absolutely loved the small twist at the end involving Faith’s father. They all weave seamlessly into the plot, and I didn’t get the sense of “OMG look at me, I am a sequel-bait” from any of them. That being said, I would have liked to see a bit more of the Changelings in particular, as the quiet scenes with Nate and Tammy and their cubs were among my favorites in the first book. But I suppose their absence was necessary, since neither Faith nor Vaughn are particularly communal people.

I liked Slave to Sensation slightly better than I liked Visions of Heat. But given the fact that VoH was impossible to put down, it still gets an A, and I hope that the rest of my 2009 reads are just as stellar.

Grade: A-

Read more about the Psy-Changelings series by clicking on its tag.

Summary:
Hailed as a major new talent in paranormal romance, Nalini Singh takes us deeper into the world of the Psy and the changelings in her latest extraordinary novel, where a gifted woman sees passion in her future-a passion that is absolutely forbidden by her kind… Used to cold silence, Faith NightStar is suddenly being tormented by dark visions of blood and murder. A bad sign for anyone, but worse for Faith, an F-Psy with the highly sought after ability to predict the future. Then the visions show her something even more dangerous-aching need…exquisite pleasure. But so powerful is her sight, so fragile the state of her mind, that the very emotions she yearns to embrace could be the end of her. Changeling Vaughn D’Angelo can take either man or jaguar form, but it is his animal side that is overwhelmingly drawn to Faith. The jaguar’s instinct is to claim this woman it finds so utterly fascinating and the man has no argument. But while Vaughn craves sensation and hungers to pleasure Faith in every way, desire is a danger that could snap the last threads of her sanity. And there are Psy who need Faith’s sight for their own purposes. They must keep her silenced-and keep her from Vaughn…

Read an excerpt.

Other books in the series:

Branded by Fire, Book 6 - coming 7 Jul 09

Gwen’s review of Hot Property by Susan Johnson
Contemporary erotic romantic suspense released by Berkley Sensation 5 Aug 08

I had not read Susan Johnson before.  I understand she writes both historicals and contemps and that her sensuality is always very steamy.  I enjoyed this book but had a couple of small things I was not a fan of – read on to find out what… 

This book’s premise is interesting: a writer of non-fiction investigative books gets herself in a pickle (not such a big pickle, it turns out) and asks her hunky neighbor for help out of it.  Said hunky neighbor is also in a pickle (a rather huge one, it turns out) and agrees to help his sexy neighbor.

I have one problem with this premise: why would a guy, who in such incredible danger he has to have assault weaponry in his pantry and booby traps around his cabin, agree to help a seemingly innocent neighbor right when the aforementioned danger reaches a crisis level?  I mean, if she’s a spy or plant from her enemy, saying “no” would be logical.  If she’s innocent, saying “no” would be humane.  Seems awfully selfish on his part and his actions truly stretch my ability to suspend my disbelief.

The relationship between the hero and heroine is interesting and I like that the resolution is realistic.  I totally did NOT buy into the hero’s sexual stamina.  I realize I’m reading an erotic romance where all men are hung like horses and have supernatural stamina, but this guy stretches even THAT trope.  I also found myself noticing the “lavender,” if not fully purple, language – just a little over the top but not awfully so.

Then there’s the firefight in the Canadian wilderness.  Seemed to be a bit anticlimactic, to be honest.  Two (good) guys just happen to have the right artillery to take down two (or is it three) bad guy helicopters, and nobody notices.  That’s some serious wilderness.

I also didn’t fully buy into the resolution of the CIA Director-candidate storyline.  I felt it was a bit over the top and that it was a little too “sledge-hammer when a ball-peen would do”.  If it had resolved more like the billionaire storyline, or something where the guy is totally discredited, I would have liked it and believed it more.

This wasn’t a bad read for what it was – contemporary erotic romance.  What didn’t work were the romantic suspense elements.  They were heavy-handed and just didn’t fully work for me.

I can recommend this book to anyone looking for marathon sex scenes or fans of the author.

Grade: C-

Summary:

To finish writing her exposé on art collectors, Zoe Chandler has fled to a secluded lake house where a muscle-bound neighbor in cargo shorts catches her attention. The problem: he likes seclusion too. Haunted by his past in the CIA, he isn’t looking for company. But when Zoe’s controversial book brings a threat to her door, she begs Nick to protect her from danger…and keep her close. With his own trouble brewing, he’s not sure he can trust her–but she’ll do everything in her power to persuade him.

No excerpt found.

Sandy M’s review of Wicked Burn by Beth Kery
Contemporary Erotic Romance released by Berkley Sensation 2 Dec 08

I’m so glad Beth Kery has arrived.  Wicked Burn is her debut with Berkley Sensation.  Kudos to Berkley for discovering what a talented author Ms. Kery is and giving her the opportunity to share that talent in the print arena.

One thing this author does well, besides just penning a good story, is the erotic side of romance.  In this book you get hot and bothered pretty darned early and you stay that way throughout the read.  Both Vic and Niall have issues – and I use that term loosely – in their past that have kept from them permanent and long-term relationships.

But when they first eye each other in their apartment building, they really take notice, and when the opportunity opens up for Vic to get to know Niall better, he seizes it quickly and no questions asked.  I really enjoyed that particular scene, especially when you realize Niall isn’t going to utter one word to slow him down.  I liked that their lust and emotions opened up this way between them, sweeping them along at a frenzied pace, therefore forcing them to do the get-to-know-one-another thing after their lust is slaked.

And we get to know them at the same pace as they do.  Vic is a playwright and is just weeks away from opening his latest show, is still wary of relationships after a bad ending with his former fiance.  Niall works for the Chicago Metropolitan Museum of Fine Art, is in the middle of divorcing her husband, their relationship not surviving the death of their son three years earlier.  Each of them are surprised as they learn these tidbits and more about the other as the book goes along.  They’re able to get past most of it as it all comes up.  It’s only when Vic finds out about Niall’s marriage that things are thrown off course.

Niall’s “issues” are a little more complicated than Vic’s and during this early period she’s just not ready to talk to him about it, and she has good reason given Vic’s reaction when he does learn all, but that was her mistake, however.  Because she takes too long, Vic sees the situation as living his past again.  But I like how Niall doesn’t give up after all is said and done.  She busts her way back into Vic’s life, even knowing he probably won’t be able to stand the sight of her.

It takes Vic a while, but when he finally can’t hold his feelings at bay any longer, they come together again in an explosion of emotion and sex that’s been between them since the beginning.  The only small disappointment I had was that I wish all the explanations had come from Niall.  I felt that a deeper emotion outside of the sex was lost when that didn’t happen.

But all in all, Ms. Kery has a hit of a debut on her hands.   The characters are engaging and interesting people who you hope can get past the bad stuff to start again.  I enjoyed the dichotomy of Vic’s and Niall’s family life, one embracing and the other judgemental.  Needless to say, the secondary characters are just as interesting in their lives as Vic and Niall are in theirs.  Congratulations, Ms. Kery!

Grade: B+

Summary:

He wanted all of her…

Vic Savian knows what he wants when he sees it. And what he wants is his sexy neighbor, Niall Chandler. So when he sees her in the hallway of their building being harassed by an aggressive suitor, Vic makes his move—and finds himself greatly rewarded…

And did she ever let him have it…

Sleeping with her gorgeous neighbor—when she didn’t even know his last name—was the craziest thing Niall’s ever done. Now, she can’t seem to get enough of Vic—or the uninhibited passion he stirs in her. Suddenly, with his help, she’s opening to sensual pleasures she’s never known before. But when Niall’s past comes back to haunt her, will she and Vic let themselves venture beyond the bedroom and explore the possibility of love that’s in their hearts?

Read an excerpt.

Gwen’s review of The Dangerous Duke by Christine Wells
Historical romance released by Berkley Sensation 2 Sep 08

Every now and again, I seem to go on a Historical Bender.  I read all sorts of historicals – regency, medieval, and all kinds in between.  I love me a raw paranormal or some edgy urban fantasy, but it’s nice to soften the palate with a more genteel story once in a while. This was one of those nice historicals, but it had a hero and heroine who liked things a little on the raunchy side, no matter their breeding (heh). 

To begin with, I think this is a good, better than average story.  Not great, but fun to read.  It drags a bit in parts – the pacing is slow here and there when a character does much navel-gazing – too much introspection done too often.  For example, the hero’s rather repetitive doubts got on my nerves and the story got a bit tedious.  However, he redeemed himself when he was not always so honorable and it made things interesting.

The villain is a little unbelievable and not consistently portrayed – but that may just be because i didn’t see enough of him.  This lack also affected the pacing and suspension of disbelief.  I wasn’t quite “there” when the story’s climax occurred, but, meh, I just rolled with it.

All that said, I LOVE the heroine.  Kate is always very consistently portrayed and I felt she was the strongest character of the whole book.  Huzzah!  Finally a strong, steadfastly portrayed historical heroine!  And I didn’t even have to break out my urban fantasy TBR!  Both her portrayal and her motivation never wavered.  Kate’s portrayal made up for any lack in the book.

I enjoyed the romance.  The sexual tension between the main characters was very nicely steamy throughout.  The heroine’s opinion of her own sexuality and confusion over the same (all worked out as a result of overhearing another “well bred” couple’s sexual encounter) was a fascinating glimpse into the way a woman’s head works.  Men – pay attention.  Wells does an admirable job dealing discreetly with Kate’s confusion and Max’s attempts to be Kate’s “ideal lover” -  the ensuing scene where this comes to a “head” (heh) is worth the wait.

One main criticism:  I don’t quite understand the road trip – it doesn’t appear to serve any purpose to move the main characters around house to house, and adds very little tension to the story.

This is a fun historical romance and I recommend it to someone looking for a historical a bit on the lighter side, or fans of the author.

Grade: B-  C+  B- (yes, I waffled a lot writing this)

Summary:

When Lady Kate Fairchild threatens to publish a tell-all political diary if her brother isn’t released from jail, she meets a formidable adversary in Max, the Duke of Lyle. Max believes Kate’s brother knows the whereabouts of the rebels who burned his family home. Stealing Kate’s diary, he spirits her off to a country estate, ransoming her for her brother’s cooperation. But the wrong diary has ended up in Max’s hands-a sizzling account of Kate’s affair with a fantasy lover. And when Max discovers Kate’s sensual desires, he can’t resist exploiting them in every way…

Read an excerpt.

Lawson’s review of Just the Sexiest Man Alive by Julie James
Contemporary romance released by Berkley Sensation 7 Oct 08

This is the debut novel for Julie James, who seems to have a knack for having things with a legal setting. It also has to do with the always good story of the super famous movie star with a heart of gold. The characters are realistic, especially for being set in Hollywood, the dialogue is snappy and there’s enough sizzle to satisfy that fall sexy craving.

Taylor Donovan is a successful associate lawyer sent from her Chicago law firm to handle a sexual harassment lawsuit, as her specialty is employment law. Taylor is asked by the senior partner to help out a personal friend and advise an actor about an upcoming legal thriller. Though Taylor is under pressure to keep up with the information from her case, she does the favor for her boss to look good for her future with her law firm and becoming a partner. When the actor blows her off, twice, to go spend a long weekend in Vegas, Taylor has no time for him in no uncertain terms.

Jason Andrews has never been told no, at least not since he came to Hollywood. When Taylor refuses to see him after he didn’t show to their appointments, he thinks he can charm his way into getting her do what he wants. Taylor is different than the star-struck women he’s used to, and when she puts him in his place, he’s intrigued. Though he does do some things that would win any other girl, Taylor remains outside his charm.

I liked Taylor a lot. She didn’t let anyone boss her around, even her boss, and she let everyone know she was smart enough and capable of doing anything thrown at her. Though she’s career driven, she still had relationships with her family and three best friends in Chicago. When Jason tries to get what he wants, she effectively shuts him down using logic and intellect, rather than any sort of womanly wiles.

Jason starts off a petulant, spoiled superstar. He knows that he can get any woman he wants, any part he wants and any other thing he wants at the time. When Taylor proves a tough nut to crack, especially after a failed attempt to make her jealous, just being himself is what wins Taylor’s time. He’s loyal to his best friend Jeremy, a screenwriter, who he knew when they were in college together. What shows underneath is a good guy, if someone far to used to getting anything and everything whenever he wants it.

The villain worked well enough in the story, if someone who’s overly ambitious and desires to be famous more than to be respected. The story between Taylor and Jason, weaving her legal career, her case, his movie career, the paparazzi and life in L.A. was a good story. The only problem with the book was a personal grind for me. Though it’s a romance, that doesn’t mean there has to be sex. And there’s not a lot of sex scenes, but with the chemistry between Taylor and Jason, I wanted there to be some horizontal mambo going on. They sparkle and the payoff really isn’t there, but it doesn’t take away from the rest of the story.

Grade: B+

Summary:

COOL. CALM. COLLECTED.

Nothing fazes Taylor Donovan. In the courtroom she never lets the opposition see her sweat. In her personal life, she never lets any man rattle her–not even her cheating ex-fiancé. So when she’s assigned to coach People’s “Sexiest Man Alive” for his role in his next big legal thriller, she refuses to fall for the Hollywood heartthrob’s charms. Even if he is the Jason Andrews.

CONFIDENT. FAMOUS. IRRESISTIBLE.

Jason Andrews is used to having women fall at his feet. When Taylor Donovan gives him the cold shoulder, he’s thrown for a loop. She’s unlike any other woman he’s ever met: uninterested in the limelight, seemingly immune to his advances, and shockingly capable of saying no to him. She’s the perfect challenge. And the more she rejects him, the more he begins to realize that she may just be his perfect match. . .

Read an excerpt.

Lawson’s Quick Quack Reviews of Three Contemporary Romances by Sherrill Bodine, Elizabeth Bevarly, and Candace Havens
All released Nov 08

I’m sure Sybil would much rather I did three full reviews of these books…  but I just can’t. Maybe it was the Thanksgiving Holiday, maybe it was the fact that I was drugged up while reading these due to some sort of cold, or maybe I’m just lazy and don’t want to.  But these three books had some of the same sorts of issues to me. Lumping them all together probably isn’t the best idea, as they really are three totally different sort of plots and settings, but they’re all in my head in one spot. That and I’ve got a headache from the cold’s hangover and I don’t want to look at a computer too long.

Talk of the Town by Sherrill Bodine
Contemporary Romance released by Grand Central Publishing 25 Nov 08

I don’t know what sort of market this was going for, but it kind of hits that 40-something, “Sex and the City”-loving, late edge baby boomer that may be a little dissatisfied with the 21st century so far. Or maybe that’s just cynical little me, I don’t know. Rebecca Covington has been demoted and sent to the Home and Food Section by her paper’s new owner after one too many blind items that expose someone that doesn’t want the attention.

Rebecca finds herself overly attracted to David Sumner, the new owner, and he feels the same. There’s some good sparks and sweet moments, but neither character seemed very fleshed out. The time spent to explain motivations with backstory was glossed over, but repeated over and over. Rebecca’s loved ones abandon her, David is still mourning his wife who died of cancer, but neither is expanded on enough to give any emotional depth to the characters.

There are some good secondary characters, who seemed a bit more fleshed out than Rebecca and David, and it is a sweet story, but there just wasn’t enough there to make a heartfelt story. It was rather like Entertainment Tonight: bombardment with the “Top Story” but when it comes in the last 5 minutes, the 2 minute story is just a fluff piece.

Grade: C-

Summary:

GOSSIP QUEEN DETHRONED!

Darlings, what a to-do at the Daily Mail today! After fifteen years as Chicago’s gossip guru, Rebecca Covington has been demoted from divulger of secrets for the city’s elite to headlining recipes in the Home and Food section. Apparently, a touchy senator is threatening legal action for Rebecca’s latest extramarital scoop. But Windy City rumor has it that new CEO and dreamy Pierce Brosnan look-alike David Sumner downgraded Rebecca in favor of fresher, younger blood on the social beat.

Industry insiders expect Rebecca to fight her denouement, and inquiring minds have already seen the feisty maven trading quips and searing glances wtih her arresting new boss. Rebecca swears she’ll reclaim her shining star status, but can the dishy diva even cook? And how can she ignore David’s arousing effect on her sensibilities?

Don’t miss a trick, darlings. Sparks are going to fly.

Read an excerpt.

Ready and Willing by Elizabeth Bevarly
Contemporary Paranormal Romance released by Berkley Sensation 4 Nov 08

I know this is the second book Bevarly has set in Louisville, KY during the time of the Kentucky Derby. It’s obviously something I should go see, just to say I’ve been. Audrey Magill is trying to make her living, moving from being an accountant to a milliner. The Derby is one place where that most likely would happen. She’s also a widow still grieving for her husband. When she’s sent on a mission to save the soul of a descendant of Silas Summerfield, the previous owner and ghost in her house, she doesn’t think it will work out, but she does it anyway.

Nathaniel Summerfield thinks she’s off her rocker, but starts to believe her when a couple of things happen. I don’t know if it was meant to be more suspenseful than it was, but there was no real threat to me of Nathaniel loosing his soul, other than him feeling cold all the time. Why Audrey was chosen for the job is never really addressed, aside from the fact that she bought the Summerfield house and Silas’ portrait. The chemistry between the two was pretty good and sexy, but the emotional connection never seemed to really take off.

The reason things never did seem to take off was the secondary storyline about Silas (yes, the ghost) and Audrey’s neighbor Cecilia. Every time things would get going in a good direction, Silas and Cecilia would have a scene and Cecilia’s issues would be brought forward and though they are important, the book was about Nathaniel and Audrey. They got shortchanged for a ghost and… well I can’t be mean about Cecilia, as it’s a sad story, but again, not her story.

Grade: C-

Summary:

When Audrey Magill stumbles onto a portrait of a 19th-century riverboat captain, she thinks it’ll be perfect for her new hat shop. She doesn’t expect to meet a ghost who insists Audrey must help save the soul of his great-great-however-many-greats grandson. Now in addition to scrambling to open her shop in time for the Kentucky Derby, she must convince a complete stranger that he’s in danger of losing his soul — and that everlasting love does exist.

No excerpt available.

The Demon King and I by Candace Havens
Contemporary Paranormal Romance released by Berkley Trade 4 Nov 08

The title of this book is a little silly, especially with the cover, but it was different than I expected. It’s set in Austin, mostly, and there are some definite girl-power vibes. The Caruthers family is part of a supernatural group that guard the Earth and other planets from the things that go bump in the night. It’s a bit complex, but it’s an interesting world that Havens has built and I wouldn’t mind some more trips there to follow the many Caruthers sisters and other family members.

What didn’t work was the first person. It was distracting from the rest of the story because there were times it seemed to go over into third person and the snap back to first. I don’t know really how to describe it, but this is one first person book that… perhaps it’s just trying to hard. The other thing that didn’t work was the love story. Arath, the titular Demon King, would appear out of nowhere for a short time, then disappear again. There didn’t seem to be a lot of time where Gillian and Arath spent any meaningful time together to form anything other than a lusting relationship.

I’d go back to the world of the Caruthers sisters though, as Alex (who gets her book next, I’m assuming) and maybe another sister get set up for their own stories.

Grade: C

Summary:

The Caruthers sisters are heiresses with privilege, wealth, beauty, and brains. But these party girls have something extra. As the Guardian Keys, possessors of an ancient family secret, they hold the fate of the world in their hands.

Gillian, the eldest, is a sensation in the art world— this world, that is. In her other world she’s the Assassin, a knockout who snuffs out dimension-jumpers who foul up her personal space. She never expected to join forces with one. But when a plague of murderous demons plunges the earth in darkness, she has no choice but to get a little help from a being who knows his stuff.

No excerpt available.

Lawson’s review of The Rogue and the Rival by Maya Rodale
Historical romance released by Berkley Sensation 4 Nov 08

The first book in this series, The Heir and the Spare, told the story of two identical twins, sons of the Duke of Buckingham. The “good” twin Devon had his story, and Phillip has his in this one. Phillip has been the bad boy, doing anything and everything to spawn a reputation to be an absolute scoundrel. Anyone who loves a bad boy turned good man story, this is one to check out.

The story opens with Phillip in a convent. He was found in a ditch, near death and brought to the abbey so he could recuperate. Assigned to care for him is Angela, who is allowed to see him because she hasn’t taken her orders yet. Phillip is bedridden and bored and ends up talking to Angela to keep himself entertained. As he slowly heals he learns more about Angela, including her reason for being in the convent instead of in society.

Angela has heard of Phillip, Lord Kensington, even in the secluded convent, and does her best to avoid the scoundrel. What she doesn’t count on is starting to like him while he tries to charm her. Angela also doesn’t count on his changing to make her happy. Putting aside selfish ideas, Phillip attempts to work to earn money to leave the abbey, and realizes he can’t live without Angela with him. She is hurt when he leaves due to some unfinished shady business and goes on her own way, with Phillip left alone, again.

Phillip is a bad, bad boy. And pretty unapologetic about it too. He hasn’t bothered to correct any of the gossip because of some insecurities about who he is. If he’s not bad, then who is he? Angela, in a short amount of time, makes him realize that he has worth and he can make something of his life. Being the scoundrel that he’s known to be is more than who he really is, but he’s still very charming especially as the makes good.

Angela, though a sympathetic character, due to the fact she’d been seduced, ruined and sent to the abbey by her family, does start to grate. Especially when she demands Phillip do certain things to rectify his past, which she wishes that the man that ruined her had done for her. She also doesn’t trust Phillip because she doesn’t trust herself or forgive herself for giving in to a moment of weakness.

I’ve got to say that I’m a historical fan. But from time to time heroines like this, that treat sex as though its something so dirty, yet are so happy to do it when the “right guy” comes along, just doesn’t sit well with me. It may be my inner feminist, or it may be just my modern sensibilities, but I don’t want to see a heroine that’s torn up with guilt over sex. Especially when she goes home and sees that it’s mostly been in her head and over time the indiscretion has been forgotten or at least it’s not a horrific tragedy.

Phillip is what saved the book though, with his willingness to do everything Angela asked, but he wasn’t a pushover. He made her face the realities about her thinking and demands and still showed her that she could trust him. Even for a reformed rake, his patience with her was amazing and took her insecurities and guilt down a notch enough to make it an easy read.

Grade: C+

Summary:

Six long years have passed since Angela Sullivan set eyes on a man. Six years since the man she loved ruined her-and her parents banished her to Stanbrook Abbey, where she’s now preparing for her vows of poverty, obedience, and chastity. But when the abbey takes in a
handsome-if impudent-injured rogue, it will take divine intervention for Angela to quell her sinful thoughts…

If Lord Phillip were not in such pain from his riding accident, he would consider himself lucky to be staying in a building full of women. But his rakish reputation has preceded him. True, Phillip may not be his angelic twin brother, but as days become weeks, his thoughts of Angela grow nobler-as Angela’s thoughts of him become less than holy…

Read an excerpt.

Other books in this series:

Gwen’s review of Mercury’s War (Breeds, Book 16) by Lora Leigh
Futuristic paranormal erotic romance released by Berkley Sensation 7 Oct 08

This is another excellent Breeds book.  It reads fine on its own, but you’ll get more from the story if you’re familiar with the Breeds world.  However, while excellent I have a few reservations about the development of the heroine’s story arc.  This is a complaint I rarely have with a Leigh book, so it surprised me to have it here. 

I love Mercury as a hero.  He is a standoff-ish, very controlled character when the story starts.  Due to trauma from the labs and chemicals they had him on, he’s suppressed his inner animal so ruthlessly that, while he looks more like a lion than his counterparts, he acts the least like one.  It’s no spoiler to say that by the end of the book, he’s come to recognize his beast and has come to a balance and peace with that side of his nature.

Mercury’s journey isn’t possible without meeting Ria.   She’s equally controlled and shut-down at the beginning of the book.  Her control results from wearing dowdy clothing and ruthlessly dressed hair. She only lets her true feminine nature come out when she’s alone, if then.  The circumstances of her life makes her want to blend in to the background, where it’s safe from rejection and attention.  She’s an expert code-breaker and this “gray” exterior allows her to be particularly effective when sent on assignments by the Leo, her boss.

Mercury makes it his mission to pull Ria out of her shell – let her be the woman outside that he knows she is on the inside.  The mating heat the two are going thru make it imperative that she accept her, and his, true natures.  This in turn causes Mercury to come to accept his true nature.  This reluctant blossoming is a sweet part of the story that we don’t always get in an intense Breeds book.  Breeds are hyper-sexual – this one is no exception – and full of action and adventure – we have that too – but seldom sweet.  It was a nice change and made for a really good story.

What bothered me, and it’s a small quibble now that I think about it, was that the heroine’s true nature isn’t really hinted at earlier in the story.  That made me doubt not trust it entirely when it was revealed.  It felt a little deus ex machina, but, again, didn’t detract too much from the story for me.

I found this Amazon.com review to be interesting.  If what it says is true, it explains a few things that I’ve seen in evidence in the last few Breeds books – namely, the lack of buttsecks.  Now, this could be simply because Leigh saves those particular tidbits (eww) for her non-Breeds books, or there could be some veracity to the reviewer’s opinion that Berkley wants a more “mainstream” erotic bent (heh) to the Breeds series.  Regardless, there is far less of the extreme sex in War than we’ve seen in the past.  Not that there isn’t some seriously hot action going on — Mercury is one seriously hawt hero.

Leigh has given us another hot Breeds story with trademark excellent action and good character development. I’m looking forward to Book 18, Coyote’s Mate, coming Feb 2009.

Grade: B+

Read reviews and other information on this series by following the Breeds series tag.

Summary:

Someone has been slipping the Sanctuary’s secure information to a pharmaceutical company. Now it’s up to Ria Rodriguez to pose as a clerk and uncover the leak. Yet she has no idea of the danger she’s about to encounter-or the passion she’s about to ignite in one of the greatest Breeds ever created.

Read an excerpt.

Other books in the series (in rough reading order):

Liviania’s review of Jinx (Bigtime, Book 3) by Jennifer Estep
Paranormal romance released by Berkley Sensation 2 Sep 08

My hot little hands finally snagged me a copy of Jinx, the latest in Estep’s series of superhero contemporaries.  After staring happily at the book for a few minutes I managed to actually begin reading it.  Shortly after that I finished reading it.  At least, it felt like a short time since Estep delivered just as much excitement and romance as she did in the previous two novels. 

Fashion designer and secret artist Bella Bulluci can’t control her superpower.  Sure, her luck helps her out sometimes, but generally she’s embarrassingly clumsy.  Nor can she control the men in her family from being superheroes – a lifestyle that got her brother killed.  And her grandfather will not reveal the identity of his girlfriend.  What’s a girl to do but control every other aspect of her life?  Bella is deeply repressed, but still likeable.  It’s easy to understand why she feels she needs to control her life, especially in a city as chaotic as Bigtime.

Of course, things are about to spin out of control.  Ubervillian Hangman shows up at the art exhibit Bella coordinated for charity looking to steal the Star Sapphire donated by the richest man in town.  She manages to keep it out of his hands, but then she falls into the hands of art thief Debonair.  Debonair, who deserves his name – a playboy in tight blue black leather that does not look sexy (or so Bella tries to convince herself).

Things may heat up in his Lair of Seduction, but Bella remembers her parents’ tumultuous marriage all too well.  Often I find the psychological hang-ups authors burden characters with to be irksome and irrational.  Bella’s hang-up actually makes sense.  She grew up watching her mother plead with her father not to fight crime, cleaning his wounds one her mother passed away, and then attending his funeral after an ubervillain proved to be faster than his motorcycle.

In addition, I didn’t get frustrated because Debonair didn’t act like a jerk.  He bungled things a bit when he trapped Bella in his lair, but he lets her go.  He constantly gives her room to make her own choices and searches for a solution to their romantic dilemma.  He’s got a giant dash of sweet to go with the sexy.  Half the fun of Estep’s books is her strong characters and she hasn’t lost her touch.

All of the secondary characters shine in their moments.  I know the books are through a woman’s point-of-view, but I’ve wanted Swifte’s story since he first appeared in Karma Girl.  Each book he gets a little more flesh and it just makes me crave more.  Jinx also makes me want to see more of Joanne James, a character previously depicted in a less flattering light.  She becomes awesome in this book and not just because she’s seen through a friend’s eyes.  I to continue reading about her so that I know she gets the ending she deserves.

I would say unfortunately Estep’s next release is not going to be in the Bigtime series, but I would be lying.  The next release is the start of a new series about assassins.  I love books about assassins.  I love Estep’s writing.  I’m totally excited.  That doesn’t mean I don’t want the fourth Bigtime book too.  I’m greedy.

Grade: A

Click on the Bigtime series tag for more news and reviews.

Summary:

She never wanted to be a superhero. Too much danger. Too much spandex …Bella Bulluci’s big passion is the arts. Her big pain is being born into a family of superheroes. Of course, Bella might feel differently if her own superpower was one she could control – or at least get some use out of. Instead, her power is one of capricious luck – supercharged telekinesis. In other words, static electricity. Bella knows that’s not a power – just a jinx.

During a gala fundraiser for the local art museum, Bella comes upon two things no Bigtime supergirl should be without: an ubervillain of her very own who plans to steal a priceless gem; and a dashing – if slightly shady – stranger named Debonair. He may have a reputation as a notorious playboy, but the real sparks are going to come from Bella, who’s finally going to learn just how well love and danger can go together …
Read an excerpt here.

Other books in the series:

Laura J’s review of Flat-Out Sexy by Erin McCarthy
Contemporary romance published by Berkley Sensation 4 Nov 08

Over the last couple of years there has been a surge in books based around the sport of stock car racing. Harlequin has a line of NASCAR books. Kimberly Raye and Pamela Britton have also released books featuring this very popular sport. Erin McCarthy has now jumped onto the scene with this latest featuring a rookie race car driver and the widow of a former race car driver. 

I’m so glad to that Ms. McCarthy is back to writing her contemporary romances. It’s been two years since her last one (I like her paranormals too, but her contemporaries will always be my favorites). Sybil couldn’t believe it took me a week to read this book, but after waiting for so long, I wanted to savor it for a while and after reading the first chapter I knew I didn’t want to rush through this one.

Having lost her husband to the sport two years ago, Tamara Briggs wants no part of a relationship with another driver. She is the mother of two young children and having them lose another father would not only devastate her children, but her as well. Tamara is one of the few heroines that I have read this year that I truly, truly liked. I have liked others, but Tamara felt like a real person. Her fears were real as well as her determination to move past them and feel like a woman again. It was not easy for her and a lot of that determination came after she met Elec and was able to see how he saw her and that he did mean all the things he was telling her.

Elec.  Well, what can I say about him. He is an amazing hero. Caring, tender, funny, patient, understanding, and, of course, flat-out sexy. He was willing to let Tamara direct the relationship to a point because he knew and understood her fears. While he respected those fears he would still gently nudge her toward a more open relationship with him, but even then, if he sensed her unease, he would back off. Elec is definitely in my top ten heroes for 2008.

I really loved all the characters in this book and I am looking forward to seeing more of them. Just in this book alone there is the potential for several more books (read this as I really WANT more books with these characters). The chemistry between Elec and Tamara was hot but tender at the same time as he slowly made her believe how beautiful she was.

There is a teaser at the end of the book for the next one, but no title and no date as yet when it will be out. So yes, I will be stalking the bookstore and websites looking for the release of the unnamed second book.

Grade: A

Summary:

Independent single mother Tamara Briggs wanted to find a new, sexy, no-strings-attached man—just not one as young as NASCAR driver Elec Monroe. But he sure does get her heart racing. And after she’s tricked into a blind date with him, Tamara gives in to her passion. Things screech to a halt, though, when he asks to meet her children. Whatever happened to wham-bam-thank-youma’am? Suddenly Tamara has to decide how much risk she’s willing to take to experience the power of true love.

Read an excerpt here.

Devon’s review of A Mermaid’s Kiss (Mermaids Series, Book 1) by Joey W. Hill
Paranormal Romance released by Berkeley Sensation 4 Nov 08

Joey W. Hill was one of the first erotic romance writers I ever read, and she is definitely one of the best. Her writing is extremely sensual, but also very emotional. Her books emphasize the vulnerability of forming a sexual and romantic connection with another. It takes trust and a leap of faith to open oneself up completely to another. Hill’s books also celebrate the joy of being completely accepted by another. While A Mermaid’s Kiss was less sexually intense than some of her other works, it’s a fascinating and sensual romance about losing one’s faith and then having it restored through the love of another.

Jonah is a Prime Commander of the Angels. He has spent thousands of years fighting evil, usually in the form of the Dark Ones (demons). He has grown weary of his existence, and is starting to lose his faith in the Lady, the Highest Power whom he serves. No longer seeing the point of it all, Jonah allows himself to fall deep into the sea when one of his wings is severed during a battle with the Dark Ones. He knocks into Anna, an isolated half-human, half-mermaid, who is awed and intrigued and determined to help Jonah.

The first fifty or so pages were slow. The writing style felt very formal, almost like a fairy tale, and I found it hard to get into. The book really picks up with the introduction of Anna’s ally, the prickly seawitch Mina. I loved Mina and I’m so psyched she gets her own book (A Witch’s Beauty, January 2009). Mina’s visions set Anna and Jonah off on a road trip inland to a place where Jonah can be fully healed. The “road romance” is one of my favorites, because although they meet people and have adventures, the focus is on the hero and heroine and the relationship development.

Jonah was an intriguing, larger than life hero. He is so old and powerful, but he has lost his way. He feels an immediate connection to Anna, so much younger and less powerful than he, but who is full of passion and faith in the goodness of others. She makes him feel again. Anna annoyed me at times. She was almost Mary Sue-ish, and just so good. She seemed a bit weak at times too. What kept me from disliking Anna was the wicked sense of humor she exhibited, and the fact that she never took any crap from Jonah, Mina, or anybody. In fact, she always gets her way. It was very clear that Anna’s quiet strength was exactly what Jonah needed. Their romance was great.

The road trip part of the book really held my interest, but towards the end, it started to flag, during what should’ve been the big climactic battle. It got a bit confusing, and I wanted things to move along already. I also have to mention that one part squicked me out a bit. Don’t want to be spoilery, but it involves Anna’s shapeshifting abilities. Despite that, I loved A Mermaid’s Kiss. It had a well-realized fantasy world, great secondary characters as well as the hero and heroine, and a sexy, moving romance. I recommend it to fantasy/paranormal fans, and I’m really looking forward to the next one.

Grade: B+

The Summary:

The angelic Jonah has been battling the Dark Ones for centuries. But his noble spirit has begun to tire with the weight of war—allowing a Dark One to strike a blow that severs his wings and knocks him into the sea.

Anna is a Daughter of Arianne—a direct descendant of the mermaid of legend. Anna’s longing for love compels her to risk her very life to protect and hide the fallen Jonah. And the longer Jonah delays his return to the heavens, the more Anna’s secret passions are tempted.

But as she falls more in love with him, Anna wonders if she’s destined to lose her heart and her dreams to save Jonah’s soul…

Read an excerpt

Lawson’s review of Demon Bound (Guardians, Book 4) by Meljean Brook
Paranormal romance released by Berkley Sensation 4 Nov 08

I really, really need to get the anthologies that have the short stories that go along with the Guardians series. Not that reading the books isn’t enough, but Brook’s world is amazing and any chance to step into it is a memorable reading experience. This installment in the Guardians series follows Jake Hawkins, who had a secondary role in Demon Night, gets his story in this one. There also some major revelations about the Guardian history and Michael, which if I talk about in depth would just spoil everything. So I won’t. 

Jake starts off the story teleporting into an obscure temple in Tunisia finding Alice Grey, Guardian unofficial librarian who is called the Black Widow. Alice is excavating the temple in hopes that it will give her clues on how to help get her out of a bargain with a demon named Teqon. While there, Jake helps Alice with some of the work, some demons arrive looking for Alice, to give her a message from Teqon. Both Alice and Jake fight off the demons and they leave the temple.

Jake seeks some answers about Alice and learns of her bargain with Teqon and decides to help her, whether to save Alice by getting her out of her bargain or fulfilling it by getting Michael’s heart and giving it to Teqon. In helping Alice, Jake teleports her to new sites where other temples have appeared. The temples don’t always stay visible, as they are spellbound so that humans would not be able to find them.

As Alice and Jake discover more from the temples, Jake starts to control his Gift of teleportation a bit more and he sees Alice as more than the Black Widow, who is known more for her spiders and the creepy way she likes to scare the novice Guardians. Alice is forced to seek help for her problem with the bargain she made, which makes her have relationships with the people around her, and not just her spiders. Along with all that comes knowledge of things that Michael, the Doyen and head Guardian, has not told the Guardian community, from their creation, history to the present day.

Before getting to the plot, a bit about Jake and Alice. Jake I adored. He’s a smart guy, but he was caught up in in the draft and went to Vietnam. Though he didn’t do well in school, it was because he wanted more than his small town in Kansas and getting drafted wasn’t what he wanted. His tale of how he died and was transformed showed a sense of nobility, honor and caring that Hugh had as well. Jake is right next to Hugh, in my opinion, in the best heroes in the Guardian series (though remember, I haven’t read all the stories yet).

Alice at first was very prim and proper and almost cold. Her Gift is to communicate with spiders (which could be rather off putting to anyone who has any sort of fear or distaste for spiders), which does make her odd, it affects even the way she walks and moves. Because of her bargain, she’s used these things as an excuse not to get close to anyone and not let anyone know about her life. She does warm up over the course of the book, and her vulnerability, modesty and fears are replaced with her strength, knowledge and confidence in herself.

While the majority of the action in the book takes place over about two weeks, it does seem odd that Alice would drop her walls so quickly with Jake. They spend so much time together though, that it works and does make sense. Alice and Jake compliment each other well, with her Victorian style dresses that cover her from head to toe, which gives Jake lots to imagine and Jake’s vintage band t-shirts that Alice tries to decipher, thinking they’re message t-shirts. The dynamic between these two gives lots of steam and chemistry as they work together in different ways.

Unlike Demon Moon and Demon Night, Demon Bound focuses more on the history of the Guardians, rather than the present day. The prophecy of Belail is mentioned, from Demon Night, which also has to do with Alice’s bargain. What worked the best in the story was the revelation of the past. Instead of a retelling of the events, it’s continuing layers of world building in Brook’s world. Not only that, but it also expands on the idea that Heaven and Hell are in fact not so far apart, and their struggle has always been intertwined with humanity not only in the middle but an essential part not only for the souls but showing that even those Above and Below are subject to what we would think of as human nature and emotions as well.

As much fun as discussion about everything in the book would be, that would give away too many spoilers. Jake, Alice and their quest for her redemption is tied in well with the spectacular world of the Guardians and the new history revealed gives even more depth to the series.

Grade: A

Summary:

The seductive and dangerous world of the Guardians now yields a secret that threatens the soul of a woman and the fate of the universe, both DEMON BOUND.

Among the Guardians, Alice Grey is known as the Black Widow — a woman trapped in a web spun by the demon Teqon. To save her soul, she agreed to deliver to Teqon the heart of the oldest and most powerful Guardian of all, or else be damned for eternity. After more than a hundred years, Teqon is calling in his debt.

Jake Hawkins is a novice Guardian whose gift of teleportation could be invaluable to Alice in determining her next move. But in aligning himself with her he never expected to fall in love. Now, their passionate flight to escape Alice’s damnable bargain is threatening both their souls. For they’re about to discover a hellish secret about the Guardians — something that will change their universe forever.

Read an excerpt.

Other books in this series:

Devon’s review of Mysteria Lane by MaryJanice Davidson, Susan Grant, Gena Showalter and P.C. Cast
Contemporary Paranormal Romance Anthology released by Berkley Sensation 7 Oct 08

This is the sequel to the August 2006 release Mysteria.  Mysteria Lane returns to the small Colorado town of Mysteria, a haven for supernatural creatures of all kinds, where all the different types of magic can cause strange things indeed. The same four authors return with new sexy, and lighthearted tales. There is some connection with characters from the previous volume, but you won’t feel lost if you haven’t read it (I hadn’t). But I’m going to go back and read Mysteria, because this was an enjoyable read. None of the stories blew me away, but it was just the thing for a quick read on a chilly October evening.

Disdaining Trouble by MaryJanice Davidson

The weakest story of the bunch. I absolutely loved MJD’s narrative style in the opening scenes, but there was just no meat to it. The Desdaine triplets—Withering, Derisive, and Scornful—have been trouble since the day they were born. They delight in causing trouble for others, until their naughty triumvirate is broken by Withering’s untimely fall into a wishing well. She returns minutes later, having spent twelve years in a demon dimension (and reminding me of Connor from Angel). Half human pizzeria owner Thad is fascinated by the strange and beautiful blonde. But will Withering stay, or return to the demon dimension?

As I said, the setting/atmosphere was great, but the characters were kind of bland and the storyline rushed. It felt like the beginning to a longer story. In fact, since I was unfamiliar with the anthology, I thought one of the other authors might return to these characters. Rather than an HEA, it was more like a “Hey, I kinda like you!”

Grade: C
No excerpt found.

The Nanny from Hell by Susan Grant

In this story, a sexy demon is dispatched by Lucifer to kill the young son of the town Minister and her ex-demon husband. However, sexy rogue demon hunter Quel Laredo senses something wrong the minute Shay D’Mon (no one noticed the name?) roars into town. Shay’s poor driving skills land her in that darn wishing well, with unexpected and unwelcome results.

This one kept my interest, but it felt rather familiar. So many of the elements seemed like I’d seen them over and over before. The demon who secretly wishes to be human, the rough and tough Latino demon hunter, the lovers in a past life thing…not bad, just not memorable.

Grade: C+

Read an excerpt.

A Tawdry Affair by Gena Showalter

Showalter is the only author I have never read before, although I have several of her books on the TBR pile. I’ll have to pull them out, because I enjoyed this one a lot. It was amusing without being over the top, the hero and heroine were likeable and had chemistry, and I was rooting for their HEA. I have a thing for stories where one party has feelings for the other, but is sure those feeling are unrequited, when in fact they secretly are.

Glory Tawdry, a love witch, hates bartender Falon. Hates him because she lurves him, that is. Falon is attracted to Glory, but has a bad history with witches. When Glory tries to get revenge on Falon, wacky and sexy hijinks ensue. A fun and satisfying story.

Grade: B
No excerpt found.

It’s in His Kiss by P.C. Cast

I really enjoy P.C. Cast’s work, so I was fully expecting to enjoy this story, and I did. She has a nice style, and can be depended upon for unusual and well drawn characters. Cast’s stuff is usually a bit different, so I was surprised by how formulaic some of the stuff felt, but it was a fun little romance. Summer Smith is a new high school English teacher. She has returned to her hometown to live out her life according to her rigidly controlled plans. Until a chance meeting with a vampire makes her rethink some of her ideas.

The bit about Summer’s need for control was so heavy handed and repetitive, I came to dislike her. She seemed like a knucklehead. But by the end, it made more sense. She had great chemistry with Colin. I have no idea why Colin was a cowboy. It added nothing to the story. Chicks dig cowboys, I guess. And I didn’t love the ending. But it was an entertaining little story about learning to trust yourself enough to take a chance.

Grade: B
No excerpt found.

Overall Grade: B-

The Summary:

Return to a town of bewitching seduction and sensual demons. There’s a spellbinding witch of love who wants to make one man hers; a vegan having trouble adapting to vampirism; Satan’s emissary, who is looking for steady work in Colorado; and angelic triplets feeling a wee touch of the devil.

Gwen’s review of The Magical Christmas Cat by Lora Leigh, Erin McCarthy, Nalini Singh, and Linda Winstead Jones
Contemporary paranormal romance anthology release by Berkley Sensation 7 Oct 08

This collection of stories are all centered on the holiday period and all have a few things in common – love, passion, and cats. They’re all quite nice stories, a couple are downright great. Read on to see how they fared…

Stroke of Enticement by Nalini Singh (87 pages)

This is a very good Psy-Changeling story that centers around the heroine, a school teacher named Annie Kildaire, and the hero, a DarkRiver soldier named Zach Quinn. It’s very much their love story and has none of the typical Psy-Changling “suspense” elements that we normally see from Singh. Just a pure love story and I loved it. The cat in this story is the hero.

Because we’re centered on the relationship, we get a couple of very well developed characters in the H/H. Especially the heroine and while the hero is still very yummy, perhaps more time could have been spent on him, but it wouldn’t have been a short-story if that had happened. And, can I say, OH MY about this hero. I wanted to lick him all over.

The conflict in this story came from family – particularly the heroine’s. Annie had been injured horrifically when she was a kid and still suffers some side effects from it – both physical and emotional. This causes some interesting scenes between Annie, her family, and the DarkRiver soldier she brings to dinner. It’s very “Guess Who’s Coming to Dinner” and is very fun to read.

This was just a terrific Psy-Changeling story and worth the price of the book all on its own.

Grade: A

Summary:

My [Singh's] contribution to this anthology features Zach, a DarkRiver soldier you’ll love, and Annie, a human woman who finds herself tangling with this irresistible cat.

Read an excerpt.

Christmas Bree by Erin McCarthy (76 pages)

This was an enjoyable story, if a bit forgettable. I felt a little like I was reading a really racy Cosmo story. Lighter, more chick-lit-type stories aren’t my thing, though. So keep that in mind as you read this review.

The heroine, Bree, has dreams about the hero, Ian, and doesn’t realize it until she meets him on her doorstep. Bree’s cat, Akasha, keeps showing up in the hero’s car, under their feet, in the hallway, and always with a bit of mistletoe in her mouth. There’s so much build-up as a result of the year of dreams the hero and heroine have of each other they fall to boinking on the floor almost as soon as they meet each other. Twice.

The heroine is a pretty stereotypical almost-goth chick who calls herself a “witch” and the hero is a pretty stereotypical poor kid from the wrong side of the tracks who makes good as a big-city lawyer. Not a lot stood out for me in the story, but, remember, these kinds of stories aren’t my thing. I liked it and promptly forgot it.

Grade: C

Summary (mine – not the book’s):

Self-professed witch, Bree Murphy, is unconventional and likes it that way. She taught her little sister to read tarot and she reads palms and futures for a living – all in the rambling old Victorian house she inherited from her grandmother. Ian Carrington is a big city lawyer to the millionaires. He brokers deals for the high society when they don’t want to get their hands dirty. One of his clients wants Bree’s house and wants it bad. Problem is, Ian wants Bree too. How is he going to balance his client’s wants with his own? Will they end up happy or will hearts be broken?

No excerpt available when the review was written.

Sweet Dreams by Linda Winstead Jones (76 pages)

This was the darkest of the four stories. The cat in this case is actually the villain – a demon trapped in the statuette of a cat. The heroine, Ruby, is a local baker who doesn’t realize that her soul will bring about the release of the demon, who will then lay waste to mankind. Her neighbor, Zane, a local professor who also happens to be a member of a group of warriors dedicated to the extermination of this demon (of course), discovers that Ruby is the next/last victim and goes about trying to keep it all from happening.

I didn’t like the hero much until about mid-way thru the story. The action elements were good and the villains were interesting. It was a fun paranormal story, but the romance felt a bit forced. Interesting, but, in the end, forgettable.

Grade: C+

Summary (mine – not the book’s):

Ruby Kincaid, the town’s best baker, doesn’t realize she’s about to be the culmination of a spell that has been brewing for centuries. But her hunky neighbor, Zane Benedict, does. A parapsychology professor at the local univerisity, Zane knows about Ruby’s destiny and is determined to do everything in his power to stop the spell and keep an unspeakable evil from being unleashed on the earth – including killing Ruby if he has to… But he doesn’t want to…

No excerpt available.

Christmas Heat by Lora Leigh (117 pages)

This was a lovely Breeds story and I think it’s obvious who the cat is in this entry. Noble, our hero, is a Jaguar Breed and has been in love with Haley, one of the librarians at the Sanctuary Library, for a while. He doesn’t realize it, but Haley is in love with him, as well. The story follows the predictable “heat” path – irresistible lust and some seriously hot, and I mean HAWT, sensuality with really steamy, raw sex, eventually ending in a life commitment and love. The path there is littered with dead bodies, an explosion or two, family holidays, and some major bad guys.

There’s good action and tension throughout the whole story. There was one scene that I didn’t like where one of the villains catch the H/H mid-boink. I could have done without that mental image and it’s the only thing that keeps the grade from an A. Nevertheless, there’s good character development even if the villain(s) felt like a bit of an afterthought. I loved when the heroine’s family shows up and bowls the hero over – he had never experienced anything like her, her family, or their celebration of the season. It was charming.

This was a very good Christmas love story… Breeds style.

Grade: B+

Summary (mine – not the book’s):

Noble Chavin, Jaguar Breed, and Sanctuary librarian Haley McQuire find love and heat under the Christmas tree.

Read an excerpt.

This was a charming and very readable collection of four Christmas stories all themed around cats. I highly recommend it to any fans of the four authors, or someone looking for some quick paranormal hits to while away an afternoon.

Overall Grade: B

Book Summary:

Put a little meow in their stockings this year with these all-new tales of Christmas and felines-from beloved bestselling authors!

New York Times bestselling author Lora Leigh and top-selling authors Nalini Singh, Erin McCarthy, and Linda Winstead Jones have a special gift for readers this year: never-before published holiday stories featuring passionate romance, paranormal adventure, and a distinctly alluring feline touch. With four new stories-including one featuring Lora Leigh’s genetically altered Feline Breeds-this is a collection packed with more surprises than Christmas morning, and more chills than the snowiest winter night…

Lawson’s review of My Lord and Spymaster (The Spymaster Series, Book 2) by Joanna Bourne
Historical romance released by Berkley Sensation 1 Jul 08

With many words of praise for The Spymaster’s Lady, Bourne’s second book this year, My Lord and Spymaster, matches Lady in terms of characterization, style and use of dialogue. What’s different is the setting and issues the spies need to deal with. There are some appearances by some characters from Lady as well, in Doyle and Adrian, which leads me attempt to say the time of this book sometime after 1808, as there’s mention of Doyle’s daughter causing trouble in Spain for Napoleon.

Ok, so after some surfing around the author’s blog I found that it’s set in 1811. Some other surfing lead to finding pictures of people (famous and not so) that look like the characters. Adrian’s looks a bit like David Tennant to me. . . but I think that’s a pondering for another day.

The story opens with Jess Whitby and Doyle hiding in an alley waiting for Sebastian Kennett so that Jess can pick his pockets and find out if he is the traitor called Cinq. She’s hoping to incriminate someone else, as her father is currently being held as a suspected Cinq by British Intelligence on Meeks Street. Jess hopes the scheme will work, as Sebastian comes down the street drunk. Instead a gang comes out of the woodwork and tries to kidnap Jess, and though rather inebriated, Sebastian is able to fend them off and takes Jess back to his ship.

Though incoherent due to a head injury, Sebastian falls quick and hard for Jess, until Adrian, who had been with Sebastian during the attack, lets Jess’ last name out. Sebastian had been the one to turn over the majority of the evidence against her father. Since people are after Jess, most likely hired by Cinq (as Jess and Adrian both believe her father is innocent) she is ensconced in Sebastian’s house for protection.

As Jess tries to clear her father’s name, she starts to fall for Sebastian one day at a time as he wears down her resolve with a well planned seduction. Jess stumbles her way through London gathering all sorts of evidence and doing her best to avoid being caught, all while using her tricks of the trade (picking pockets, locks, burgling and jumping off roofs) she learned as a young poor urchin in East London.

The characterizations of Jess, Sebastian, Adrian and even Cinq’s motivations are so well layered, it took my breath away. I spent as much time thinking about these characters, their motivations and their actions I think I could probably write a dissertation on everything that came out of it. Well, maybe not that long, but tackling some analysis may make this review a bit long, so dear reader, you have been warned.

Sebastian is first, because he’s a bit less complex than Jess. Sebastian had not the best childhood, as he’s the bastard son of an earl, who made enough money in shipping to buy his father’s house from him. He was saved at the age of eight by his aunt Eunice, who lives with him, and given the chance to make something of himself. Though he’s a master trader, over time he’s become an agent for British Intelligence. Though Sebastian does tend to see the world in black and white, with Jess he easily accepts the shades of grey and pursues her even though he’s trying to put away her father for treason. As Adrian slowly convinces him of Josiah Whitby’s innocence, he falls harder for Jess and takes her foibles in stride to make her his woman.

Jess is far more complex. Though she’s 21, she’s experienced the world’s harsh realities, she is still a bit of an idealist and seems to walk through life with blinders on. She’d had to sell herself to the leader of London’s underworld at the age of eight, she’d killed a few men, had her sweetheart taken from her and redesigned her father’s company accounting system by the age of sixteen. Talented in the ways of the underworld, but raised by her father to try to be some semblance of a lady.

What Jess is though, is a woman with a child’s heart. She doesn’t see the world through rose colored glasses but she has a very defined view of what is black and white, which is different from Sebastian’s. How she behaves in trying to clear her father’s name and getting evidence shows she really doesn’t think, or that she’s afraid to think. Though she is brilliant, with the accounting system, fluency in multiple languages and the running of her father’s shipping business, she has a huge lack of common sense and perception of her personal safety. There are instances of her risking herself because she just does things without thinking of the possible consequences.

Though this is well founded as a character trait of hers from when she was a child, one would think that she had learned to take greater care with her well being. The realization is though, she’s always really had to fend for herself. She’s loyal to a great fault, as evidenced in the things she’ll do to try to clear her father’s name, but really no one has been there to care for her. They always seem to leave, her father (when she’s a child and later in conducting his shipping business before she’s involved), Adrian (he was with Jess and her father in Russia for a few years), her mother’s death, her sweetheart and probably countless other important or not important people in her life.

She inspires loyalty in caring in others though, which leads to Sebastian’s infatuation with her, Adrian’s fear of the loss of her good opinion, and her protection by Lazarus, king of the underworld, even though she has a reckless abandon with her own life in trying to fulfill her goals to complete her ends. I understood Jess, but I can’t particularly say that I liked or really respected her. Bourne’s characterization of Jess though, slowly filling in the backstory and peeling away the layers of her bravado and showing the vulnerability underneath everything is what made the story extraordinary.

So Jess I understood, Sebastian I loved and Adrian I adore to no end and I can’t wait for his story. I’d like to see what happens to Lazarus in the end, for he’s got something in store for him as well, but Adrian was wonderful and he will make a spectacular hero when his time comes. Though, if Adrian and the Intelligence Service are trying to convict or acquit Jess’ father, with the amazing amount of sources that Jess is able to help gather, some questions are never asked. If Josiah is Cinq, is he in England when those packets of information go missing? Who is his connection in those higher circles that could give him access to that sensitive information? Two things that are never brought up, unless they have already been asked and answered off the pages of the book.

The nuances of plot and story that takes these characters to the end of this story show Bourne’s writing is going to greater heights, and though I didn’t enjoy some parts, I can’t give this book any lower grade than I have due to the exceptional writing style, characterization, and historical feeling. I love a book that really makes me think and use those analytical skills in many different ways.

Grade: A-

Read more at the Spymasters series tag.

A daring beauty, she was infamous for taking chances. . .

Raised as a poor but cunning pickpocket, Jess Whitby may have grown into a wealthy young woman, but now she must once aga rely on her guile. Her father’s been wrongly accused of selling secrets to Napoleon, and he’s going to hang-unless Jess finds the real traitor in the London underworld. She never dreamed her search would begin by waking up naked in a rude captain’s bed. Or how little she’d mind. . .

Now she’ll risk everything for love.

When Captain Sebastian Kennett prevents a kidnapping on the London docks, he takes the headstrong would-be victim home. He’s infatuated with her courageous spirit. Shes enthralled by his commanding strength and the sexy spark in his eyes. Then she discovers something else about the spellbinding seaman: he could be the traitor she’s hunting, the man whose next move could determine her father’s fate-and her future as well.

Other books in this series:

Lawson’s review of Jinx (Bigtime #3) by Jennifer Estep
Paranormal romance released by Berkley Sensation 2 Sep 08

It’s no surprise that I’m a fan of Estep’s Bigtime superheroes. I loved Karma Girl and Hot Mama. She’s got a very creative world and it’s a new take for romance. Even the first person doesn’t bother me. Jinx continues all of this, with keeping in touch with members of the Fearless Five and introducing new supers in the mix.

Jinx follows Bella Bellucci, the sister of Johnny Bellucci, now engaged to Fiona Fine. Bella is used to the superhero life as her grandfather, father and now brother have all been Johnny Angel. She’s hated it all her life, especially because her own power isn’t something really useful to have. Bella has luck, both good and bad, and is kind of a klutz, but designs beautiful, if simple, clothes for her fashion design firm.

While Johnny and Fiona off on a romantic vacation, of course being in a world of superheroes, an übervillain decides to strike. At a fundraiser that Bella helped plan no less. Being the person she is, Bella tries to save some things, including the massive diamond on display, but she gets swept off into safety by the mysterious Debonair.

Bella is kept in his safe house, as it were, and makes it back home, but not without Debonair following her after her escape (he does let her go). Tangled in this is Bella figuring out who Debonair really is and coming to terms with her own power, which she never really has wanted in the first place.

This one, again, is in first person. I would say that it bothered me, except I read through the book rather fast, so it wasn’t a hindrance to the story. Bella is an interesting heroine. She’s got a power, but she doesn’t like it, doesn’t use it in the way one would think of a superpower, and in fact doesn’t really like superheroes. It’s a different take on this world, to see it through the eyes of the cynical person, the one who has to deal with the worrying, the day to day and the fears associated with superheroes.

Because of all that Bella is naturally controlling, anxious and sometimes grating in her ideas of what should go on. Who wouldn’t though, when faced with the things that happen in Bigtime all the time? Add into that an unexpected romance with a superhero and you’ve got a woman who has to make a hard choice. The sweet thing is who Debonair turns out to be as well as how he wins over Bella in the end.

It was also was nice to revisit some secondary characters like the members of the Fearless Five, their alter egos and especially Joanne James, who really shines as a secondary character in Jinx, with her own trials and tribulations, and her kick ass nature. Though she’d been given a hard line in the first two books, her grit and spirit really comes out in this one and it’s good to see a secondary character grow as such.

I would love to go into what’s next, but I’ve been sworn to secrecy *wink*. The different take on the story and the secondary characters help Bella to shine in her tale and give another great story in the Bigtime series. Estep’s writing fits well with her world and paints a vivid picture of heroes, villains, the big city and what it really takes to with all three.

Grade: A-

Click on the Bigtime series tag for more reviews and news.

Summary:

She never wanted to be a superhero. Too much danger. Too much spandex …Bella Bulluci’s big passion is the arts. Her big pain is being born into a family of superheroes. Of course, Bella might feel differently if her own superpower was one she could control – or at least get some use out of. Instead, her power is one of capricious luck – supercharged telekinesis. In other words, static electricity. Bella knows that’s not a power – just a jinx.

During a gala fundraiser for the local art museum, Bella comes upon two things no Bigtime supergirl should be without: an ubervillain of her very own who plans to steal a priceless gem; and a dashing – if slightly shady – stranger named Debonair. He may have a reputation as a notorious playboy, but the real sparks are going to come from Bella, who’s finally going to learn just how well love and danger can go together …

Read an excerpt.

Other books in this series:

Limecello’s review of Beyond Fearless by Rebecca York
Paranormal romantic suspense published by Berkley 4 Dec 07

I wasn’t quite sure what to expect from this book. I’ve never read a book by Rebecca York before, and while I’m intrigued, I’m afraid I’m not enthralled. The premise of the book is interesting enough, but the story lost me after a while. There were a lot of unique qualities and intricacies, but put together, it became too much.

Anna Ridgeway is a psychic, and uses her powers to support herself as a magic show for hotels and clubs. She’s nice enough, but I never felt particularly attached to her. Yes, I rooted for her and didn’t want bad things to happen to her, but I didn’t identify with Anna. It’s hard to explain – but she’s a bit too withdrawn, or anxious. Anna is something of a contradiction, supposedly the most powerful character, but she never seems to be in control.

Zachary Robinson is a hero I had a hard time getting to know. It didn’t help that none of the characters really knew what was going on throughout the book. Zach doesn’t seem to have is rather static, and doesn’t exhibit a range of emotion. He’s a nice guy, and capable, but he lacks real warmth. While Zach is intimately tied to the heroine, and completely invested in her, you still don’t really get the sense of who he is or what he’s about.

I began reading the story, and wasn’t entirely sold, but remained interested. Zachary, then Anna are introduced to the reader individually, both in their “native” element – a place neither of them really gets back to. That might have something to do with why I felt neither Zach nor Anna were very established. I know too much explanation would have ruined the plot- or killed the suspense aspect, but it seemed like characters were coming out of the woodwork and even they didn’t particularly know what they were doing (in regards to the story).

Still, the main point is people are out to get Anna (and consequently Zach) – a lot of people, actually, and Zach and Anna form a psychic bond. They’re soul mates. Even this, I could get behind, but there were times when even my suspended belief ended. Anna and Zach “meeting” as children I accepted. The other psychics, or Dariens Lindsay and Jordan, who connect with them, I was skeptical about, but could understand. However, the fact that Anna and Zach could exercise not only mind control, but physically manipulate objects to the point of changing them physically, including the weather, I could not believe.

I think it was slightly difficult to really get into the book because too much was happening all at once. The characters could never catch a break – while spending time together they were being psychically attacked, trying to strengthen their own psychic connection, having sex, reaching out to other psychic presences good and bad, hiding from attackers and using mind control. I would have liked the story a lot more if certain aspects were scaled back a little. The book just went too far. Beyond Fearless felt rather incomplete, and I know it’s part of a series, but it felt like the characters had no closure. I also felt the strongest relationships occurred were when Lindsay and Jordan showed up and befriended Anna and Zach. One thing I did like, however, is how Ms. York gave her villain a back-story. He wasn’t very layered, but you knew where he was from, what he was about, and what his goals were. Well, one of the villains – there were a number of others that I believe have appeared and will appear in other stories.

As something slightly off topic, I’m afraid I didn’t particularly like Ms. York’s webpage. The layout is fine, but the links, and way those were set up weren’t so great. It wasn’t very user friendly, and I had a devil of a time trying to find this book link. [Likely some of it has to do with updates, or lack thereof.]

I liked the story, and thought what happened was interesting, and would like to get to know the characters better. Likely this will happen in the subsequent novels, and for those of you who enjoy series, and not only paranormals but romantic suspense (because this novel is both) – you’ll might like these books.

Grade: C–

On the lush Caribbean island of Grand Fernandino, Anna Ridgeway is working her “magic.” Blessed with uncanny psychic abilities since she was a child, she now uses her gift in a mind-reading act at a nightclub. But she’s been plagued with a sense of impending danger since she arrived on Grand Fernandino. Her feelings are confirmed when evil forces coalesce around her and international treasure hunter Zachary Robinson.

At first, Anna fears Zach’s very presence. But when they touch, their physical and psychic bond astonishes them. They find they share a common past- and an uncommon passion for each other. But there is a sinister figure from long ago who will never allow their love to survive. A man who has been hunting them all their lives…

Read an excerpt here.

Did you notice Karma Girl has a new cover? Discussion anyone? Is it better or worse than the first one? I’ve got to say I’m not a fan of the real person on the cover rather than the sort of comic book look of the first one. Of course the new cover is due to the fact that Karma Girl and Hot Mama are getting reissued in mass market in anticipation of the next book in the series, Jinx, being released in September.

Not on only did Karma Girl get a new cover, but Hot Mama did as well. Again, I’ve got to say I liked the kind of comic book look at the cover, rather than this real person. I’m not a member of the marketing division, however, so obviously it’s not my choice. You shouldn’t judge a book by it’s cover though, right? What’s inside these two books are wonderful stories and a very cool world. I mean really, who doesn’t love superheroes? Don’t tell me you don’t, because I’m wondering how many people are foaming at the mouth waiting for next week and The Dark Knight to come out. Estep’s superheroes, and ubervillains could fit with Superman, Batman, Spiderman, Ironman, Catwoman or Wonderwoman any day of the week. Fiera would probably kick a couple of asses of her own on the way there.

So that leaves us here, with Jinx. Hot Mama’s reissue is out August 5, and so if you haven’t read either of these yet, you’ve got time to go pick them up before Jinx comes out. Get in touch with your inner superhero, tackle those ubervillains and manage your secret identity. That doesn’t help? Hmm. . .it’s a great way to escape and Estep does tell a great story. I love the human side of her characters, even the villains, who always have a not-so-good reason to disrupt life but it’s there nonetheless.

Have I gushed too much? Hmm. . . well check out these reviews too:

Karma Girl

Hot Mama

And be on the look out to catch some uberhot, fun and super excerpts for all three novels.  Jennifer Estep’s site.