Sourcebooks, paranormal romance, September 2008
Connections: second in series, follows 50 Ways to Hex Your Lover

Linda Wisdom returns us to the wacky, wonderful world of witch Jazz Tremaine, her vampire lover Nick, her human housemate Krebs, her resident ghost Irma (who has obtained a slobbering ghost dog companion), and her sentient bunny slippers, Fluff and Puff. But all is now well in Jazz's world: first she gets awakened by the very real-feeling nightmare of Nick tearing her throat out, and then, as she runs home, her bunny slippers get accused of eating a were-weasel who works the boardwark carnival.

So now she has to track down both the source of her bad dreams and the real culprit behind the were-weasel's disappearance, all while balancing the rest of her life: Irma wanting new stuff all the time, Krebs wanting her approval of his latest girlfriend, her disgusting boss Dweezil wanting her help in his latest turf war...it's all in a day's work, but is it getting to be too much?

I like Jazz even better this time out -- she's less shallow, more vulnerable, more real. The unnecessary and condescending explanations of some things were, for the most part, gone (still, do you really need to explain what Father Knows Best was?!), which only improved the reading experience for me. Overall, I am really growing to enjoy Ms. Wisdom's creative world and the characters who live in it.

Review © 2009 by Riley's Reviews

Samhain, romantic suspense, October 2009
Connections: second in trilogy

First of all, a big fat THANK YOU to Samhain Publishing for picking up Gennita Low's contract on these books. You're not going to regret it, because she rocks!

A quick word of advice to GLow fans: because Virtually Hers picks up where Virtually His left off and it's been 2 years, it might be good to re-read VHis first, just to refresh your memory on the remote viewing programs and such, before embarking on the new adventures of Hell and Hades.

When last we left Helen "Hell" Roston, she had just done two hugely important things: she remote-viewed spontaneously without the aid of devices or her mysterious and seductive monitor, Hades, and through said remote-viewing, learned the identity of Hades. Now the trick is getting super-slick Jed McNeil to admit his role as Hades, and what results is a deviously seductive game of cat and mouse between the two super spies.

Personal games aside, Jed and Helen still have a mission to complete: locating missing weapons before a rival team, who apparently also have a remote viewer, does. And when Helen and one of the other COMCEN team members who can remote-view, Armando, have a close encounter on the "psychic plane" (for lack of a better word) with the rival team's remote viewer right there in COMCEN HQ, the whole team realizes that things are far more deadly than originally thought. And when Helen and Jed, as Hell and Hades, trace the invasion back to its source, Jed discovers it's far more personal too.

But before we can find out why, we're given one hell of a cliffhanger -- when is Virtually One coming out, anyway?!

I thoroughly enjoyed this second foray into the secret world of remote viewing. The plot was well-drawn, and by virtue of having read VHis first, I was entrenched in the lingo for this go-round. The commandos of COMCEN are great fun, and it was terrific to see them all again. But the centerpiece, of course, was the growing relationship between Hell and Hades.

Ms. Low expertly built the layers of interaction between Helen and Jed, giving them identities and interactions as Hell and Hades, Helen and Number Nine, and Elena and Jed, and making them functional on every level. The three levels might not fully mesh yet, but readers can see how they will, and the fun will be watching the characters get there.

Review © 2009 by Riley's Reviews

Berkley Sensation, paranormal romance
Connections: related to Holly's other upyr stories, but stand alone well

Kissing Midnight (June 2009)
( Read more... )
Breaking Midnight (July 2009)
( Read more... )
Saving Midnight (August 2009)
( Read more... )
All reviews © 2009 by Riley's Reviews

Pocket, historical romance, June 2009
Connections: 5th novel in the School for Heiresses Series

In this penultimate entry in the series about Mrs. Charlotte Harris's finishing school, former student Lucinda Seton is on center stage. She's helping Mrs. Harris out by filling in as a temporary drawing teacher, hoping to lose herself in her work and forget about Peter Burnes, her longtime suitor who jilted her for someone more "suitable" once he gained a title. She finds way more than she bargained for in the person of Don Diego Montalvo, Master of Mystery -- the magician who has rented the estate next door and plans to turn it into a pleasure garden similar to Vauxhall Gardens. She vows to do her best to help Mrs. Harris run Diego off; the problem is, can she resist him?

Diego, though, has an ulterior motive, and so every promise Lucy makes to herself to resist his charms is made even harder by the fact that he is actively wooing her for his own purposes. He's supposed to get Lucy to come back to Spain with him at the behest of her long-lost grandfather, and in return, he will regain his family's estates. The mission seemed simple enough when he agreed to it, but now that he's met the free-spirited Lucy, can he keep his vow to her grandfather to deliver her untouched?

In some ways, this is a predictable plot, but in others, it's not, and it's the unique aspects Ms. Jeffries injects into her characters and stories that make all the difference. How many abduction plots do we see in historical romance? A lot. But no one fills in the backstory nearly as well as Ms. Jeffries does -- I was guessing until the very end, unable to quite ferret out the secret of Lucy's family. Diego's family history is equally rich and emotional. Together, he and Lucy have a depth of character that other Regency-era romance couples only wish they had.

Another thing I like that Ms. Jeffries does is taking a sexual more and turning it on its head. For being outspoken and exuberant, Lucy is labelled a hoyden and unsuitable. Her former suitor doesn't think she would be an appropriate wife, but is perfectly willing for her to be his mistress. Diego, on the other hand, teaches Lucy that passion is natural and doesn't mean she should be treated with disrespect.

Besides the lovely story of Lucy and Diego, there is also the ever-present thread of correspondence between Charlotte Harris and her mysterious benefactor, Cousin Michael. The letters are leading up to their own story, when the identity of Cousin Michael will be revealed. I had started speculating as to Michael's identity while reading this book, and my thought was that he would be titled. After reading a certain scene, I changed my mind as to which titled gentleman might be Michael. I won't give it away in this review (or in the Wed Him Before You Bed Him one either), but I will say that I guessed right. Heh.

I've really enjoyed this entire series, and Don't Bargain with the Devil is a worthy addition.

Review © 2009 by Riley's Reviews

ROC, contemporary fantasy, March 2007
Connections: second in series, follows Nightlife

Nightlife introduced Caliban "Cal" Leandros, who's half-human and half-monster -- a dark elf known as an Auphe -- and his older half-brother, the fully human Niko. Now apparently safe from the Auphe, the brothers have settled in New York City and run an investigative agency catering to the supernatural community.

Their newest case deals with the Kin, the werewolf mafia: Cal is supposed to go undercover to gather proof that one of the bosses is trying to take down a rival, but the deal goes sideways, and the bad guys kidnap George, the young seer Cal is sweet on (but won't admit it). The case takes them deep into the underbelly of of the underworld as well as deep into their own dubious family history.

Ms. Thurman doesn't pull any punches; the action scenes are beautifully (and grotesquely at times) written, and the plot is dark, intricate, and seamlessly crafted. I am fast growing to love the Leandros boys. Their brotherly relationship is snarky yet affectionate, rooted in the deepest possible loyalty. And they extend that loyalty to their friends like George, Niko's vampire girlfriend Promise, and the ruthlessly charming puck Robin Goodfellow. Together, this ragtag bunch make a terrific and powerful team, solving cases while navigating complex interpersonal relationships.

I'll definitely be back for more.

Review © 2009 by Riley's Reviews

This volume of short stories, all by new-to-me authors, left me with mixed feelings. I liked 2 of the stories, was "meh" about another, and the first story in the volume was the worst piece of dreck I have EVER read in all my years of reading. Without further ado...

"Torn Desires," Lacey Danes: The only reason I finished it was to count the number of times the author used the word "futter" or some variation thereof...no less than 37 times! The characters were horrible and unsympathetic, and the heroine's fascination for one of the men she was "torn" between was completely incomprehensible. ( Read more... )
Ugh. The whole thing left a bad taste in my mouth. And I warn all of you now not to play a drinking game with the word "futter" in that story, b/c you will die of acute liver poisoning. Absolutely, positively zero readers, happy or otherwise.

"Get There," Megan Hart: Fortunately, this story was completely wonderful and took the bad taste of the first story out of my mouth. This was a sweet and sexy story of an engaged couple counting the hours until they can start their new life together. Edie and Ty are a terrifically believeable couple, and I was rooting for them 100% of the way. My only complaint was that it was too short! Now I simply must get Hart's full-length books...5 happy readers.

"Hell Is Where the Heart Is," Jackie Kessler: I have the first of Ms. Kessler's books featuring succubus Jezebel, but I haven't read it yet. Perhaps I would have liked this story better if I'd read the full-length books first, but since I didn't, this was basically a thin plot with lots of sex -- sex that seemed meaningless without a broader context and understanding of the characters. Yes, you've finally heard me say something had too much sex, LOL. This was probably more my bad than Ms. Kessler's, and I'll still be reading the full-length books. 2 happy readers.

"By Valentine's Day," Jess Michaels: this story was the other winner in the volume. Charlotte once made a play for her brother's best friend, and he turned her down. Colin grew to regret his rejection, and now that Charlotte is a widow, he's ready to play for keeps. This story was both charming, heady, and emotional -- this couple is utterly real, learning from the mistakes of their past, and ensuring their happily ever after. I'll be looking for more from Ms. Michaels. 5 happy readers.

To be fair to the other authors in this volume, I'm only going to count 3 stories for my average rating:

Review © 2009 by Riley's Reviews

Sourcebooks, paranormal romance, 2008
Connections: first in series

I found Linda Wisdom via Yasmine Galenorn, but the two styles of writing could not be more different. Both, though, are terrific -- Ms. Galenorn's writing is dark and intense and Ms. Wisdom's writing is lighter, but no less intense for it.

In this book, we're introduced to real-life witch Jasmine "Jazz" Tremaine. She lives in LA with her human (male) roommate Krebs, Irma, the ghost who haunts her classic car, and Fluff and Puff, feral bunny slippers of indeterminate origin. She makes her living as a freelance curse-lifter and a limo driver for otherworldly beings at All Creatures Limo Service, run by a creepy goblin-type named Dweezil.

Jazz's life is turned upside-down (again) when her on-again-off-again lover, vampire Nick Gregory, shows up asking for her help. Every time she sees Nick, sparks fly, danger brews, and she usually ends up in jail -- sometimes worse. One of the "sometimes worse" involved assault at the hands of Clive Reeves, a sick-minded, sadistic human, back in the earlier part of the century. Jazz thought she killed him, but...not so much. Nick is sure Reeves is behind the disappearance of vampires he's been investigating. At first Jazz thinks, so what, it's only vampires, but then she realizes that Reeves might not stop at the bloodsuckers -- who's to say he won't come after the witches of the world too?

Despite the dark tones of a vampire serial killer (serial killer of vampires?), this book was a delight to read. Jazz and Nick have terrific chemistry, rather like Tracy and Hepburn, or a supernatural Nick and Nora Charles. There are so many clever elements to the world that Ms. Wisdom has built, I don't know where to start: the witchy temper tantrums that piss off Mother Nature, the wall mail, the totally sinful idea that witches can eat all they want and not get fat (LOL), the bunny slippers...? I think my favorite, though, has to be that Jazz's personal version of "so mote it be" is "because I say so dammit!" That one line sums up Jazz so well.

There were some klunky parts, though the one thing that really bugged me is if Jazz would make a pun or something, an explanation of it would quickly follow, like the readers wouldn't get the joke otherwise. For example, Jazz once refers to Irma as "Mrs. Loose Lips Sink Ships" and the next sentence is "Nick grinned at Jazz's World War II reference to people giving away secrets." Not being a complete idiot, I don't need the reference spelled out for me like that.

But honestly, other than that, I had so much fun with Jazz and Nick that I was sorry to see them go. So I'm very glad this is the start of a series, because I definitely want to spend more time with them.

Review © 2009 by Riley's Reviews

Berkley Heat, erotic romance, December 2008
Connections: stands alone, though other books are set in this world too

Lauren Dane's been around in smaller press for a few years now, and I've been hooked from the start. Her debut for Berkley is both a stunning departure from her earlier works and huge treat for longtime fans. The world she has created in Undercover is like nothing I have never read before; the setting as is layered and creative as her characters. Plus, I can't believe it, she's got me liking space opera!

In her Federation, powerful Families who came from Earth are the rulers of the Known Universes, but they are under threat by the neighboring Imperialist factions. Family rule may not be fair to all of its citizens, but it's certainly better and freer than Imperialist rule. Unranked (as in not from a Family) soldier Lieutenant Sera Ayers is fiercely loyal to the Federation, even though the Family way of life cost her the Ranked man that she loved over a decade ago. Now, due to her skill with languages, she's been summoned by her commander to be part of an undercover operation to ferret out Federalist traitors. It would probably be a post she would take proudly -- were it not for the fact that Ash Walker, the man she had loved, is in charge of the mission.

To make matters worse, the undercover op is to take place on Nondal, a 'Verse where women don't have a lot of freedom. To join the op, Sera is going to have to pose as a concubine -- the concubine of Brandt Pela, the third member of the undercover team. In Brandt and Ash's cover story and in real life, they have a tendency to share women as well, so there's no escape from Ash. How she's supposed to get any investigations done with one man she used to love and another she's very attracted to is a challenge indeed. How much of their undercover story is just a story, and how much of reality can bleed into their faked lives on Nondal? And how much will what they find on Nondal change their real lives and relationships?

Between the intrigue of the op, the novelty of the new universe, and the emotional dilemmas of the characters, Ms. Dane has provided a very compelling read. I do confess I didn't connect with the characters as much as I would have liked, but then again, it's hard for me to identify with a heroine such as Sera, submissive and in love with two men, LOL. I wonder how they were able to do their jobs AND have the hawt secks all the time AND have enough time for Brandt and Sera to fall in love as well. For Ash and Sera, yes, I could see them having the time to iron out their issues, but for Sera to be able to reconnect with Ash and with another man she'd never met before this short op? A little farfetched. But the resolution of the triad was so realistically bittersweet that I was delighted. And the world so fascinated me that my little quibbles didn't matter in the end.

If you're a fan of space opera, you'll like this book. If you're a fan of erotica, you'll love this book (seriously, some of the hottest hawt secks I've ever read goes on here). I managed to score an ARC of the next book set in the Federation, Relentless, and I will say that Ms. Dane only gets better.

Review © 2009 by Riley's Reviews

St. Martin's Paperbacks, fiction/contemporary romance, March 2008 (mass-market edition)
Connections: followed by Blue-Eyed Devil

I can't imagine why it took me so long to read this book, because I thoroughly enjoyed it. Despite the back cover blurb (a bunch of blather about being torn between two lovers), this isn't really a conventional contemporary romance. Instead, it's a stark, readable narrative with romantic elements.

Liberty Jones grew up in a trailer park in Welcome, Texas. Her life is fairly average -- single mom, kindly neighbors, slightly older boy she has a crush on -- until she's about sixteen, when her mother dies in an accident, leaving her to raise her baby sister Carrington on her own. When Hardy, her crush, leaves Welcome to makes his fortune, he leaves a heartbroken Liberty behind.

Readers then follow Liberty as she gains legal custody of her sister, learns a trade as a stylist, and forms a friendship with Churchill Travis, an older, wealthy gentleman. Churchill offers her a better job as his personal assistant, and she reluctantly accepts, for the chance to give Carrington the chances in life that she never had.

Churchill's family, though, thinks Liberty is a gold digger looking for a sugar daddy -- especially the oldest son Gage. But Liberty's candor and sweetness soon wins him over. Then Hardy comes back into her life, making it clear that he's now ready to give her everything she's ever wanted. He hasn't changed, but has she?

As I said before, this is more memoir-ish than romance; it was clear to me that there really wasn't much conflict in terms of choosing between the two men. Ms. Kleypas's storytelling style here is vastly different than in her historical romances. That's a good thing, though -- it's interesting to see her branch out as an author. Liberty's matter-of-fact first person narration drew me in and kept me interested. I was expecting more of a romance, but that's more the cover blurb's fault than anything else. I enjoyed the Travis clan so much that I jumped right into Blue-Eyed Devil

self-published, romantic suspense, December 2008
Connections: loosely relates to other books in the GLow-verse, but stands well on its own

I don't know if I've ever mentioned this before, but I don't much like modern-day spy novels. James Bond flicks aside, it always drives me nuts that no one is who they pretend to be -- I can never figure out the bad guys. So why did I read this book? Because Gennita Low rocks. Sure, I often get lost among the acronym-laden jargon, but her characters have always made it worthwhile. Big Bad Wolf was no exception.

Killian Nicholas Langley is a covert operative who barely survived an attempt on his life off the Florida coast. Knowing his agency is compromised, he needs to hide where no one will find him. His choice? To pose as a transient worker in construction. What he didn't count on was a hot and intriguing lady boss. But even if he can solve his spy-related dilemma, there's no room in his life for a relationship.

Jaymee Barrows can tell straight off that "Nick" is not an experienced roofer, but thanks to just having fired two slackers, she'll take anyone who can swing a hammer and keep their balance on a rooftop. The fact that he's hot, intriguing, and flirtatious is more a strike against him than anything -- issues with her past and her alcoholic father makes her think she needs to be all business.

Of course, you know that's not going to last long, right?

Big Bad Wolf was Ms. Low's first novel, revamped as a gift for her loyal fans eagerly waiting for the release of her pending book, Virtually Hers. But if I didn't already know that, I would never have pegged this as a first book, revamped or not, which is a testament to just how talented Ms. Low is. The characters are sympathetic, the emotions are real, and the plot is very well-crafted. Jaymee's in a rough spot, but she's not into self-pity. She's tough as nails, but also vulnerable. I liked keeping time with her. Killian's an uber-spy, but he's also human, flawed, and kind -- he's great hero material. Together, they really do complete each other -- it sounds corny, but it's true.

Fans of Ms. Low's later books will be tickled to see the first appearance of Jed -- still seemingly cold as ice, giving nothing away, playing head games with almost everyone. Another reason why I can't wait for Virtually Hers -- publishers, get on the ball, dammit! Another big thing I love about Ms. Low's spy guys is they talk like real men -- the banter, especially between Jed and Killian, and Jed and his daughter Grace, flies fast and hard, and adds to the fun.

Maybe another reason I liked this book so much is that it is a wee bit lighter on the spy stuff -- it's definitely more romance than suspense, but it will most certainly still satisfy readers looking for suspense.

As I mentioned, Big Bad Wolf is self-published. You can get it through Amazon.com, but if you want to be even nicer to Ms. Low, order it through Createspace.com -- she gets a better cut through direct ordering.

Review © 2009 by Riley's Reviews

Pocket Star Books, historical romance, November 2008

Have I mentioned before that I'm a sucker for holiday-themed anthologies? *g* Without futher ado...

"A Holiday Gamble," Jane Feather: I haven't read Ms. Feather in years, and I can't imagine why not; I really like her style and even when I can't totally buy the HEA she presents, I enjoy what I've read. Such is the case here. Younger son and now-titled gentleman Ned Vasey is forced by a storm to rely on the hospitality of a neighboring estate when he comes home to Northumberland after years in India. Although he plans to propose to another neighbor's daughter, while he's at Selby Hall, he meets Georgiana Carey and is almost instantly captivated. There are undercurrents surrounding Georgie and her cousin/ward and her brutish "fiancé," and although Ned tells himself he shouldn't become involved, of course he does. This was a delightful story for the most part; about the only thing I couldn't believe was that Ned and Georgie fell in love with each other in the span of the twelve days of Christmas. I felt like they were more in love with the idea of love than actually in love, but who am I to say? It's just the vibe I got, but it didn't stop me from being entertained...and I've decided I have to pick up a Jane Feather book again. 4 stars.

"When Sparks Fly," Sabrina Jeffries: this author is the reason I picked up this anthology. I can't think of one of her books that isn't on my keeper shelf. This little story is connected to the School for Heiresses series, but other than the letters between headmistress Charlotte and the mysterious "Cousin Michael," it stands alone quite well. Elinor Bancroft, her aunt, her cousins, and a child named Charlie Dickens (yes, him) have a carriage accident and are rescued by Martin Thorncliff, the "Black Baron," called so because Society believes he killed his brother to gain the title. Ellie, however, doesn't know this, and thinks the appellation is because he works closely with the mine he owns and is always covered in soot. Martin was never social to begin with, but when Society branded him the Black Baron, he retreated completely, and has been perfectly content alone on his estate, experimenting with ways to make blasting in mines safer. He has no time for a woman, until he meets Ellie. But even though he wants her, and may even love her, he won't risk her safety by bringing her into his life. Though this story also featured two people falling in love awfully fast, I believed it more. There was more of a depth of emotion between the two characters, both of whom had been treated unfairly in their social circles. Though I found the characters of the children annoying at best and the inclusion of Dickens superfluous, this story was my favorite in the volume for the believable love story. 4.5 stars.

"Snowy Night with a Highlander," Julia London: In this story, Fiona Haines, who has spent almost a decade in London Society, has to rush off to the Highlands to find her brother Jack, who is being simultaneously hunted by the Prince Regent and encouraged to hide by the King. For some unfathomable reason, rather than let Jack stay in the Highlands without disturbing him, or merely sending some sort of message, doesn't occur to Fiona, and off she goes. She is forced to rely on escort from a Highland laird she loathes, Duncan Buchanan, but little does she realize that the scarred and taciturn man serving as her protector is Duncan himself, who both aches to tell Fiona who he is and is terrified of her reaction when she finds out. I found this to be a touching story; Duncan truly had changed his ways, and it was lovely that he realized his old self was an idiot to have dismissed Fiona out of hand. Again, this was a love story I could really believe. 4.5 stars.

Averages out to:

Review © 2008 by Riley's Reviews

Kensington, contemporary romance, October 2006 (mass-market edition)

I love holiday-themed anthologies, and I love straightforward contemporary romance. Holiday-themed anthologies are very often straightforward contemporary romances, so it's all good as far as I'm concerned. And this collection didn't disappoint. I'm just sorry I didn't come across it sooner. I'd only even heard of two of the authors -- Foster and McCarthy, but I'm glad I gave the others a shot.

"White Knight Christmas" by Lori Foster: Parker Ross, a detective in his late 30's who hates Christmas, is attracted to his mid-20's neighbor Lily Donaldson, who happens to love Christmas. This is a short but sweet story in which Lily teaches him that age is just a number and Christmas can be special. 4 happy readers.

"Snowed Under" by Erin McCarthy: This one features another age-difference theme -- Claire Robbins has a thing for Justin Fairbanks, her older brother's best friend. What she doesn't know is that Justin has a thing for her too, but back when she was 18, it was wildly inappropriate. But now she's in her 20's, and she still wants him. I love Erin McCarthy's characters; they're sympathetic and fun, and this was no exception. 4 happy readers.

"Ms. Humbug" by Jill Shalvis: This was a really fun story, about uptight city planner Cami Bennett and mayor Matt Tarino. Watching Matt ruffle Cami's feathers was terrific, and when they dug down into real emotion, it was touching. My only complaint about this is the motives of the bad guy, which I will explain if anyone wants to know. But otherwise, I'd definitely read something by Ms. Shalvis again. 4.5 happy readers.

"I'll Be Home for Christmas" by Kathy Love: This one was, hands-down, my favorite in the volume, featuring reunited lovers Erica Fetzer and Rob Marsten. The coincidental circumstances under which they met again were believable, as were the reasons for their breakup years ago. The emotion and chemistry between them was incredible. I totally bought them as a couple, and I was so glad Rob realized what a dink he'd been back then and how he made things up to Erica in the now. I definitely want to read more from Ms. Love. 5 happy readers.

"Seducing Scrooge" by Katherine Garbera: In this story, Krista Miller sets out to seduce her workaholic boss, Jackson Peterson. While it was a great concept, it came across a bit disjointed and rushed. Apparently Krista's vajayjay is magic, b/c right after sex, Jackson decides not to be such a workaholic any more. Then later, he proposes with Korbel. Korbel? Really? Maybe I'm just a wine snob, but propose with real champagne, dude. Still, I was entertained. 3 happy readers.

"The Good Girl's Guide to a Very Bad Christmas" by Kylie Adams: This story features aspiring actress Peri Knight, who works as a barista while waiting for her big break, and Chase McCloud, a successful actor who is one of Peri's regular customers. Without realizing it, they've both had crushes on each other this entire time, but it takes Peri auditioning for a part on Chase's show to bring them together. This one was cute and sweet. I liked Ms. Adams's voice and I will see what else she's written. 4.5 happy readers.

Just a side comment: what is it with all these women deciding to seduce colleagues or bosses, and if it doesn't work, they'll leave the firm? I keep coming across this theme!

So, that averages out to:

Review © 2008 by Riley's Reviews

Berkley Prime Crime Mystery, May 2004 (mass-market edition)
Connections: book #4 in the Lily Bard series

In this installment, cleaning lady and karate student Lily Bard stumbles across the body of one of her clients, Deedra Deen. Deedra's body has been left, naked and violated, in her car just off a dirt track in the woods. Since Deedra was "loose," no one seems surprised that she was killed, or under these circumstances. There's certainly no end of suspects; nearly every single, widowed, or separated/divorced man in the region has been with her. Lily discovers two things that seem odd to her: the first is that Deedra's purse is not among her belongings scattered around the crime scene, and the second is that when she helps Deedra's mother clean out her apartment a few days later, there is no TV Guide, and she knows Deedra was obsessive about where she kept the magazine. Another interesting development is that the county sheriff's brother is also a suspect.

I really enjoy the Lily Bard series. The prose is stark yet descriptive, and Lily is a practical, matter-of-fact, and shrewd heroine. Charlaine Harris doesn't pull any punches with regard to the crimes or Lily's past. The mystery itself in this book is very well-crafted; I almost didn't figure out whodunnit or why until Lily did.

I only had one tiny issue with this book: the general attitude towards Deedra, particularly from Lily. Everyone seems to think that Deedra would eventually be harmed or killed because she was promiscuous, and that because she was promiscuous, she might have deserved her fate. The fact that Lily, a rape survivor, who was abducted right off the street at random, can have this attitude as well was a little jarring to me. There is no why or wherefore when it comes to rape; meek women who lead the safest of possible lives can be raped just as much as a woman who walks down the street wearing a short skirt. Deedra was promiscuous, yes, but nothing was said about her taking strangers into bathroom stalls or anything like that, so I fail to understand everyone's judgmental attitude, unless it's just part of the small-town, Bible Belt setting, in which case, I get everyone but Lily.

At any rate, I devoured this book and am hopping straight into the final book in the series, Shakespeare's Counselor.

Review ©2008 by Riley's Reviews

Berkley, paranormal mystery, October 2008 (mass-market edition)
Connections: Book #3 of the Harper Connelly series

With An Ice Cold Grave, Charlaine Harris really mixes up Harper Connelly's world in a few ways that will never be the same again. Harper and her stepbrother Tolliver have been called to a small town in rural North Carolina. Over the past several years, more than a few local boys have gone missing, labeled by the old sheriff as runaways or suicides whose bodies were never found. The new sheriff doesn't believe that, nor does she believe in Harper's ability to find bodies and relive their last moments, but the families of the missing boys have pooled together money to hire Harper.

As she's being taken around to the sites at which the lost boys were thought to have been, Harper discovers much more than she ever bargained for – a mass grave and residual memories of torture so intense she actually blacks out. Now that the bodies have been found, the Feds come in to take over, and, of course, eye Harper and Tolliver with suspicion. Then Harper is viciously attacked and has to be hospitalized. Due to their enforced stay in the town, Harper and Tolliver get to see more of the case than they normally would (or would want to), and get sucked down into the grief and sensationalism the murders have created.

Despite its macabre crime scene, I really enjoyed this book. I liked how Harper cannot simply find the body and move on this time. I was intrigued that, after years of using her special talent, Harper has never before found a serial killer/mass grave, and I liked that even after all her years of experience, she can still be floored by her findings. I really liked how I couldn't figure out whodunit – I was guessing almost until the end, right along with Harper. If there's one nitpick I have about the case it's that we get the who, but not much of the why. I guess when it comes to serial killers, their motives are inscrutable, but still, I would have liked to know more about why this happened.

Harper's personal life takes an interesting turn too, one I'd actually heard about beforehand and pretty much saw coming after Grave Surprise (though I didn't expect it to come this quickly). There's been a bit of controversy in various book groups over the radically changed relationship between Harper and Tolliver. Is it weird? A bit – for them as well as for readers. Is it wrong? No. I liken it to if Greg and Marsha Brady hooked up – odd, but definitely not any kind of moral violation.

So I'm all caught up on the Harper Connelly books – when is the next one coming out; does anyone know?

Review © 2008 by Riley's Reviews

Ace, contemporary fantasy, April 2008
Connections: book #2 in the Kate Daniels series

In Andrews's alternate Atlanta, when the magic is up, technology fails. And every seven years, there's a "flare" -- when the magic comes up more frequently and stays up longer. During flares, all bets are off: magical creatures experience control issues due to the power surges, and, even more dangerous, the power can be high enough to resurrect gods into this reality.

That's what Kate is faced with this time: a simple job to catch an out-of-control magic-using human turns into investigating the disappearance of an entire coven of witches, the theft of important maps belonging to the Pack of shapeshifters, and trying to stop an ancient Celtic power from entering the world and wreaking havoc. In the course of events, Kate comes across a young girl, whose mother is one of the missing witches. She takes it upon herself to protect the girl, which adds even more danger to every move she makes.

There was so much I liked about this book, and I am definitely hooked on Kate and her world. Kate's attitude is fantastic -- she reminds me a little bit of Harry Dresden, who is also one of my favorite fictional characters. Curran, the Beast Lord, is still super-arrogant, but goddess help me, he's starting to grow on me. The bit about the significance of him giving Kate food was utterly priceless. The plot also thickened with regard to the mystery of Kate's bloodline -- I now have a completely different theory than I had after reading Magic Bites...which means both my guesses are probably wrong!

There was only one hitch in my reading stride: ( Read more... )

So the only question I have left is when the heck is the next book coming out?!

Review © 2008 by Riley's Reviews

Ace, contemporary/urban fantasy, March 2007
Connections: book #1 of the Kate Daniels series

I have to say, Ilona Andrews packs some complex worldbuilding and a great deal of action into a relatively slim volume -- I was very impressed.

A brief rundown: this series is set in Atlanta, in a sort of post-apocalyptic-type world, in which the inherent magic in the world is slowly but surely beating down technology. When the magic is "up," anything manmade stops working (phones, cars) and starts to decay (buildings). In this new world, vampires (the People) and shapeshifters (the Pack) live openly alongside humans, both magic-using and not. There are different classes of human magic users: the Order, an almost feudal, organized group seeking peace and protection for all, and the Mercenaries, who take jobs on a paying basis.

Our protagonist, Kate, is a Mercenary. When her mentor and guardian Greg, the Order's knight-diviner, is found murdered and the evidence is clouded, Kate volunteers her services to the Order to find his killer. She realizes they probably only accepted because her in-your-face attitude and actions are likely going to distract from the real investigators, but she takes the chance anyway. What she discovers is that someone is trying very hard to pit the People and the Pack against each other in a war -- but why, and who?

She meets some fascinating characters in the course of her investigation, not the least of which is Curran, the Beast Lord -- the head of all shifters in the Atlanta region -- who seems both put off by and fascinated by her. The vampires in this world are not the charming seducers in many other novels; they're grotesque, and some of their characteristics are new lore to me. The plot is superbly crafted, with tons of action and unexpected twists, along with touches of wry humor.

My one little nitpick is behind the cut for spoilery reasons: ( Read more... )

To sum up, I like Kate, I'm fascinated by this world, and I am definitely getting Magic Burns.

Review © 2008 by Riley Merrick

Leisure/Dorchester, paranormal romance, August 2008
Connections: book #8 in the Dirk & Steele Series

I think that to get a decent grasp on the events in The Wild Road, you need to have read Soul Song and the story in Dark Dreamers. Well, you really need to have read all the Dirk & Steele books, because this is not just a series you can pick and choose with, but the aforementioned books directly impact this one.

Anyway, gargoyle Lannes Hannelore is having a nice time visiting an old friend in Chicago when, one night, he comes across a barefoot and bloody woman trying to steal his car. The woman has no idea who she is or why she woke up in a hotel room with three dead men, covered in blood, with a note attached to her jacket that said simply, "Run." Lannes has a bit of a knight in shining armor about him, and he is determined to help this woman figure out who she is, what she did, and why she needs to run, whether she wants him to or not.

What follows is a pretty wild road trip (get it? heh), in which Lannes dubs the woman Lethe, and they discover that not only does she have someone else residing in her mind with her, but her enemy can pull the same trick, taking over the mind of anyone nearby and ordering that person to try to kill Lannes and Lethe. It's a fascinatingly complex tale, during which readers will discover much about the founding of Dirk & Steele itself.

There was more "run" than romance in this book, but that's not necessarily a bad thing. Ms. Liu does action and adventure extremely well, and I was on the edge of my seat for several scenes. She does romance believably as well -- I definitely buy Lannes and Lethe as a couple by the end. One big thing I give Ms. Liu major kudos for is writing Lethe's point of view scenes -- for more than half the book, she's "the woman," which gave her a chilling anonymity and drew me into her confusion as well.

The Wild Road was a welcome addition to the Dirk & Steele canon, and I can't wait to see where we go next in this series.

Review © 2008 by Riley Merrick

Ace, urban fantasy, June 2008
Connections: introduced in "Hunter Kiss" in the Wild Thing anthology

Last week, when I reviewed Cry Wolf, I commented that it would be really helpful to read "Alpha and Omega" first. The Hunter Kiss series also begins with a novella, and I would classify reading the novella first as imperative. There is background information in the novella that is vital to the series and not spelled out or easily inferred in the book.

Maxine Kiss is the latest in a long line of Hunters: warrior women whose job it is to exorcise demons from the world and guard the veils between human and demon dimensions. Aiding her in her quest are five little (in size, but not power) demons, who live on her skin as tattoos (serving as armor) by day and coalesce into flesh and blood companions at nightfall. Maxine has pursued her vocation in single-minded solitude for years, but that has changed (see "Hunter Kiss"). Her lover, Grant Cooperon, is a former priest and has his own special talents: he has synesthesia, and he can see auras...not only see them, but influence them with his music. That means he believes he can "reform" demons and spare Maxine having to exorcise them. He is both a liability and a strength to Maxine, as all good partners should be.

As this story opens, so has the veil between dimensions, and something really nasty has slipped through, setting off a chain of events that will challenge and confuse Maxine, making her wonder about the very nature of her being. A whole host of characters step in, offering to "help" her, and she needs to figure out just who she can trust -- especially when she discovers that her own personal demons are keeping secrets from her.

Ms. Liu has set up a completely fascinating and complex world with these stories, with a considerably darker tone than her Dirk & Steele books (which is really saying something). Maxine does seem to spend a lot of time chasing her tail in this book, bringing readers right along with her in the confusion, but I think that's due to the fact that she doesn't know as much about herself as she needs to in order to survive what's coming next. First books in series such as these can often be more about setup than progress, but Ms. Liu gives us both a huge setup and a satisfying wrap-up to at least one or two small plot points, leaving the field wide-open for the next book to provide some more answers.

Having read both the novella and this first book, I'm reminded of the Doctor Who episode, "The Christmas Invasion." The novella was sort of like a pilot fish, warning of "biggers coming," and The Iron Hunt gave us one of the "biggers" and gave us a peek as to how vast and powerful the things to come are. The story that Ms. Liu is weaving is so incredibly layered and complex that I may need to re-read it more than once to fully grasp everything she's trying to say -- but that's not a bad thing.

I can honestly say that I am already addicted to the world of Maxine and Grant and "the boys," and am very much looking forward to the next release (whenever that will be).

Review © 2008 by Riley Merrick

Zebra, paranormal romance, June 2007
Connections: second book in Nightwalkers series

In this installment of Jacquelyn Frank's addicting series about the elemental-powered Demons and the other nocturnal supernatural beings, mysterious Ancient, healer, and Body Demon Gideon and Magdalegna, a Mind Demon and the King's sister, are the focus.

The tale picks up almost six months after the events in Jacob, when Legna was Summoned, but not Transformed, by necromancers right in the middle of Jacob and Isabella's wedding. Beltane is approaching, and Legna is disturbed by a few things: the memories of the Summoning that the rescheduled wedding might bring up, the new powers and less even temper that she seemed to acquire after the Summoning, and the presence of Gideon, who, a decade earlier, rejected her and ended up getting into trouble with Jacob over moon madness and a human woman.

Gideon is the oldest living Demon at one thousand years, and he had a different reason for rejecting Legna than she thinks, on that he really doesn't want her to know. But now that he's out of his self-imposed exile, his position as the Ancient and his reliance on a Mind Demon for teleportation means that he and Legna are exposed to each other more often than he would like.

Both Demons are taken completely by surprise when Gideon realizes that his strange reaction to Legna and hers to him means that Fate has stepped in and declared them Imprinted, or destined, mates. Legna wonders if without the compulsion of Imprinting Gideon would want her, and Gideon is terrified that Legna's growing power as a Mind Demon will uncover all his secrets.

Although Gideon and Legna and their blooming romance are the center of this book, Ms. Frank advances the overall story arc quite deftly. The main plot point related to the arc in this book is a brutal—and almost fatal—attack on Isabella and her unborn child. Through the investigation into this crime, readers meet Damien, the Prince of the Vampires, and Siena, the Queen of the Lycanthropes, and learn a lot more about the world of the Nightwalkers. And because Gideon and Legna are two Imprinted Demons, rather than a Demon and a Druid hybrid, we get an even closer look at the intricate culture of Demonkind as well.

In comparing the two books of this series I've read so far, I think I like the plot advancement in this book best, but the relationship between Jacob and Isabella better. They were attracted to each other but didn't know why and thought it was forbidden. Gideon and Legna's realtionship felt a little contrived, a sudden headsmack moment of "We're uncomfortable with each other, so it must be Fate!" that didn't really resonate with me, although once I got past that, and they got used to the bond, they worked.

One thing that amused me about the Gideon-Legna pairing is the almost human reaction of Legna's brother, the whole He's Too Old for You routine. Of course, Noah is also hiding deeper concerns, but that tickled me for some reason. As a human, it does seem a little weird, falling in love with a guy you've previously known as somewhat of a father figure, but at the same time, this is the Demon world, and Gideon is the oldest by a couple hundred years, so he's known ALL of the Demons their whole lives. Heh.

I loved the wordcraft in Gideon as much as I did in Jacob; it managed to be both stark and elaborate, although I will say the main love scene did get a bit of a purple tinge as it went on and on and onnnnn. But otherwise, I was very satisfied with this book, and look forward to reading the rest of the series.

Review © 2008 by Riley Merrick

Avon, historical romance, June 2008

In this delightful book, we are introduced to a somewhat unconventional pair of leads: a spy and a courtesan. James Cordier is a spy for England working in Italy. He's tired of the game, and longs to return home to nice, calm England, where he can marry a nice, innocent debutante. But his new assignment is about to turn his world upside-down.

Francesca Bonnard is a courtesan at the top of her game and the toast of Venice. But she wasn't always a fallen woman—she was a happily (or so she thought) married aristocratic lady until her cheating hypocrite of a husband divorced her in a great scandal. But she gets the last laugh in the end, because before she left, she stole valuable and incriminating papers. Her former spouse is now fairly high up in the government, and these papers can ruin him, but how does she know that anyone who comes for the papers is to be trusted?

James needs to get these papers before the crazy, illiterate, jewel-obsessed assassin sent by Francesca's ex-husband finds them and kills Francesca. And any thoughts James cherished of a demure miss in England vanish when he meets the vibrant and challenging Francesca.

I was thoroughly entertained by this book. James and Francesca absolutely sparkle in every scene, as do Francesca's friend Giuletta and her suitor Luzerne. The dialogue is like a tennis match of witticisms, or like a Spencer Tracy-Katherine Hepburn film—fast-paced and fun.

I absolutely love that Francesca is an actual courtesan. Usually in historicals, you'll find a virgin masquerading as a courtesan for one reason or another. Francesca, on the other hand, is wonderfully genuine. Cast aside by her spouse and society, who clearly expected her to die penniless and broken in the requisite gutter, Francesca's sheer grit helped her to not only survive, but also thumb her nose at her ex by becoming successful and hobnobbing with the elite whose company he always wanted to cultivate.

James is equally enthralling. In an interview I read, Ms. Chase likened him to James Bond. I would modify that to include some Scarlet Pimpernel, because James Cordier has a gleeful quality and joie de vivre that James Bond lacks. I was really amused by his throwing around the desire for a normal life when it's obvious he would have been bored to tears by convention. I took his comments, particularly those directed at Francesca, as tongue-in-cheek flirtation. James is a delightful rogue, and if there is anything I felt was lacking in him, it was the tantalizing hints of his background that never materialized into a full picture. He's sketchy as a spy, and he remains so as a leading man, and I wanted more.

About the only other thing that jarred me a bit about this book was the jewel thief assassin, Marta: she was more than a little over the top, and I thought she could have worked just as well with the crazy turned down just a tad. The same goes for the almost fairy-tale quality to the ending. One other character I need to mention isn't even a person: the city of Venice. Ms. Chase does such a superlative job with the setting that when I would look up from my reading, I was actually a little surprised not to find myself in Venice.

Nitpicks aside, Your Scandalous Ways was absolutely ripping great fun, and time well spent. Incidentally, we discussed this book at the Café last month, and Ms. Chase herself made a gracious and informative appearance (via proxy).

Review © 2008 by Riley Merrick