Berkley Heat, erotic romance, August 2009

A decade ago, free-spirited rocker chick Erin Brown had a scorching affair with seemingly straitlaced cop Todd Keenan, but they went their separate ways when Todd couldn't handle his part of their sexual power exchange. Now in the present day, they meet again, both scarred (literally and emotionally) by events in the intervening years.

This time around, though, Todd is more confident and sure of his sexuality, even when his best friend Ben enters his relationship with Erin on an intimate level. But is his new-found confidence enough to tie him, Erin, and Ben together for good, especially in the face of Erin's past and their various families?

I really enjoyed this book. I could not put it down, but at the same time was trying to force myself to read slowly so that it wouldn't end too soon. I loved that Erin was a straight-up, in-your-face kind of woman, sure of who she was and what she wanted, but at the same time, she was emotional and vulnerable. So few authors give their characters both sides of the coin, and I love that Ms. Dane recognizes that even kick-ass females aren't completely invulnerable. Erin certainly isn't. Her emotional turmoil was heartwrenching and her eventual trust in a new life filled with happiness -- happiness she's allowed to have -- was great to watch.

The relationships and power exchanges were tremendously realistic and satisfying. The sex was, of course, off-the-charts hot and chock-full of chemistry. And how decadent that while Todd and Ben were all about lavishing Erin with pleasure, they weren't phobic about each other, either. Good stuff.

If I have one quibble, it's with the practicality of a permanent, formal menage. I've talked about this before with other books. Somehow, for me as a reader, it just seems to work better in a futuristic or some otherworldly setting. When set in our contemporary world, I end up getting caught up in the what-if type questions. That said, it did seem like Todd, Erin, and Ben had a good handle on things, and maybe if more was done with that angle, I'd feel better myself. Having said that, I know Ms. Dane has other books planned for this setting, so maybe I'll be getting my wish in the future. My quibble definitely wasn't enough to put me off; this book is going -- and staying -- on my keeper shelf.

1/2

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)
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Breaking Midnight (July 2009)
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Saving Midnight (August 2009)
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All reviews © 2009 by Riley's Reviews

Berkley Heat, erotica, June 2008
Connections: first in trilogy?

The Art of Desire cleverly relates two romances: the first, in present-day Santa Fe, is that of a somewhat prim museum curator and her bad-boy younger lover; the second, set in the late 1800's, is that of an unconventional female artist and a wanted Native American scout. Museum curator Mandy Cooper is obsessed with the painting of Atacar, the Native scout, which hangs in her museum. She's dying to know more about the alleged romance between Atacar and Catherine Burke, the artist who painted the portrait. Little does she realize that it's because of Catherine and Atacar that she even met Jared Cabrillo, her bad boy. Jared is actually a descendent of the artist and her lover, and he possesses Catherine's diary, the one Mandy is so desperately seeking. But he doesn't tell her. Instead, he seduces her, much the same way Atacar seduced Catherine many years ago.

The two-fold nature of this story is complex and interesting. Readers flash between Mandy and Jared in the present and Catherine and Atacar in the past, courtesy of Catherine's diary entries. But the outcome of neither romance is a foregone conclusion. While it is obvious that Catherine and Atacar are in love, Mandy and Jared's journey is not as clear-cut. Though Atacar is presented as the mystery to be unraveled, it is Jared who is the true mystery: what are his motives? What are his feelings?

Very often, erotica has heat but not heart. This is not the case here. Both couples are readable and relatable even while the pages are scorching with explicitly hawt secks. I bought The Art of Desire completely blind -- i.e., with no recommendations or previous experiences with the author -- because the book just appealed to me. Though I would have liked a little more on Jared's background, the appeal played out into genuine like. I'll be going into Submission less blindly, but with more anticipation.

1/2

Review © 2009 by Riley's Reviews

Grand Central, contemporary fantasy, March 2009
Connections: book #6 in the Kitty Norville series

Though I liked Kitty and the Dead Man's Hand, I felt it wasn't a complete book: there was a lot left hanging at the end, a lot of questions I wanted answers to. Bring on Kitty Raises Hell, and thank goodness, after not too long of a wait!

Kitty Raises Hell has Kitty and new husband Ben back in Denver and teaming up with the city's master vampire, Rick, to deal with the threats from the band of Tiamat, the freaky shapeshifting cult Kitty tangled with in Las Vegas. Though the shifters haven't shown their faces, Kitty's restaurant was vandalized...and then stranger things start to happen, things that seem ghostly or completely unexplainable -- such as pack members spontaneously combusting.

Luckily, the cast and crew of a popular "ghost hunter" TV show, Paradox PI, are in town to do a reading of a supposedly haunted property, and aside from getting them to do a guest stint on her radio show, and vice-versa, Kitty talks them into helping her investigate the Tiamat problem. The gang holds a seance at New Moon...and the kitchen bursts into flames.

It's a race against the clock to discover what is wreaking such havoc, and Kitty's right in the middle, pressured beyond all get-out because she is the Alpha and the rest of the pack are looking to her for guidance and leadership. And on top of this, the estranged brother of her best friend T.J., who died to save her (see Kitty and the Midnight Hour), comes to town demanding answers about his brother's death.

While Kitty and the Dead Man's Hand had nonstop action, Kitty Raises Hell had that and then some -- most importantly, answers, about not only the band of Tiamat, but also about the mysterious Rick. But not just answers -- we get to see Kitty endure trial by fire, literally, and prove that her more laid-back approach to leadership really does work. She's really grown from the first book, and I love how far she's come.

1/2

Review © 2009 by Riley's Reviews

Sourcebooks, historical novel, August 2009 release
Connections: follows The Darcys and the Bingleys

Last year, I was lucky enough to be introduced to Marsha Altman’s wonderful sequel to Pride and Prejudice, The Darcys and the Bingleys. This year, I got lucky again: I scored an advanced copy of the next book, The Plight of the Darcy Brothers. I am happy to report that this book was delightful as well.

The story picks up not terribly long after the previous book ends, and it starts on a sobering note for Darcy, Elizabeth, and readers: Elizabeth has miscarried for a second time. Darcy particularly feels helpless -- this is one situation he can’t fix by throwing around his clout as the master of Pemberley -- so when a scandalous situation with yet another Bennet sister arises, Darcy’s almost grateful, because it’s the distraction his beloved wife needs to bring her fully back into the swing of things.

Together, the Darcys go off to the Continent to avert social disaster for, of all people, Mary Bennet, but on the way, they discover an even bigger scandal in the Darcy family tree. So they really have a lot on their plates.

Meanwhile, precocious Geoffrey Darcy has been left in the care of the Bingleys, where he and his cousins delight in playing pranks (some seriously funny ones, I might add) on Charles, Jane, and pretty much every other adult resident of Chatton. Mary and the elder Bennets wait for the Darcys’ return, fully aware that her reputation and future, as well as Kitty’s, are on the line. Mrs. Bennet persuades Mr. Bingley into hosting the Wickhams as well, taking advantage of the fact that Darcy isn’t around to gainsay her wishes. And over in town, Caroline (Bingley) Maddox awaits her confinement while her doctor husband has an interesting run-in with the Prince Regent himself.

There are a lot of balls flying around in this book, but Ms. Altman juggles them well, with a deft and subtle touch Jane Austen herself would appreciate. As with The Darcys and the Bingleys, Ms. Altman stays true to the characters, but makes them her own, as well as adding her own characters who fit in seamlessly, along with real historical figures in a whimsical but respectful way.

I’m not quite sure what the “plight” of the title is, although the former literary student in me has imagined elaborate metaphors about how the Darcy brothers are at the mercy of their family history, no matter how much they do not want to be, and how each of them ends up is a reflection of their characters.

The Plight of the Darcy Brothers is a solid follow-up to The Darcys and the Bingleys, with a proper Austen-like feel. I do hope this isn’t the final entry in this refreshing take on literature’s favorite couple -- personally, I’d love to see Georgiana Darcy find her happily ever after (hint, hint). If you’re an Austen fan, check Marsha Altman’s series out -- though I advise you to do so in order. You’ll thank me.

1/2

Review © 2009 by Riley's Reviews

Grand Central/Forever, historical romance, May 2009
Connections: book #3 in the Legend of the Four Soldiers quartet

OK, I did 2 less-than-good reviews tonight, and I want to end on a high note -- with Elizabeth Hoyt, I can do that. To Beguile a Beast is a wonderful take on the Beauty and the Beast fable.

Helen Fitzwilliam is the mistress of the powerful Duke of Lister, and had two children by him. Lister is cold and cruel, and Helen takes her children and flees, unable to take it any longer. Her friend Melissande (To Seduce a Sinner), sends her little family to the wilds of Scotland, to be "housekeeper" for Sir Alistair Munroe, a naturalist who became a recluse after he was horribly disfigured in the Spinner's Falls massacre. Really, Melissande is engaging in some subtle matchmaking.

And it works. Alistair is both blown away by Helen's beauty and by the fact that Helen isn't put off by his scars. But he also sees the down-to-earth woman behind the beauty, and that's what thrills Helen. As they explore their feelings for each other, Lister's henchmen close in on them, and Alistair tries to get closer to the answers that remain about the massacre and who among the ranks betrayed the regiment.

As anyone who's followed my reviews knows, I'm not nuts about kids in my romance novels, and Helen's kids aren't an exception, although I did like how Alistair bonded with them, and they did serve their purpose in drawing Alistair out of his self-imposed exile. What I really loved though was Helen opening up to Alistair and vice-versa, and Alistair finally coming to the realization that he didn't have to punish himself for life for the horrible things that happened to him. Their relationship is beautifully drawn, and the over-arching plot of the mystery of the massacre is building up nicely. I definitely can't wait for the final installment!

1/2

Review © 2009 by Riley's Reviews

Jove, contemporary romance, April 2009 (mass-market edition)

So I RUSHED to get this book and read it in time for the made-for-TV movie on Lifetime. I needn't have rushed, given what a crapfest the movie was. Seriously, people who also saw it, how AWFUL was that?!?! Miscast, mis-adapted, missed the mark...OMG, I want those two hours of my life back. It took me slightly longer than two hours to read the book, but those were hours well spent, thank the book gods.

Tribute is the story of Cilla McGowan, a former child star turned house flipper, who buys the Little Farm, her famous late grandmother's country home in the Shenandoah Valley. Her plan is to restore it to its former glory as a tribute (get it?) to the incomparable Janet Hardy and to her paternal ancestors, who owned it before her grandmother. While cleaning out the attic, she finds a series of unsigned love letters to her grandmother that indicate not only that Janet had an affair with a local married man, but that she was pregnant with his child at the time of her suicide. This tidbit weaves a malicious thread through the backdrop of Cilla's new life, and the new love she is discovering with graphic novelist Ford Sawyer.

Ms. Roberts's stand-alone novels still rate very highly in my estimation, and this is no exception. Despite having been famous at one point in her life, Cilla is very practical and down to earth. Ford, despite his own fame, is the same. I love the joke that he's so inept with tools, no one will trust him with them. Ms. Roberts always gets the family dynamic down pat -- I really like how she slowly brings Cilla into a closer relationship with her father and stepfamily and even manages to put a few chinks in the wall between her and her mother. If there was one thing that bugged me about this book it was that the ending was rather abrupt, with little closure. One of Cilla and Ford's closest friends has just suffered an incredible blow, and it's all "whew, we're safe, we'll be there for our friend, the end." Other than that, this was a damn good read. So if you watched the TV movie, don't judge Ms. Roberts on it -- get the book. Trust me.

1/2

Review © 2009 by Riley's Reviews

Ace, contemporary fantasy anthology, February 2009 (trade paperback edition)

Since I know and love the work of five of the authors in this anthology, I figured it would be more than a safe bet, and I was right. My known authors' stories were excellent, and some of the new-to-me authors have been added to my "check their stuff out" list. Without further ado...

"Dracula Night," Charlaine Harris: In telephatic waitress Sookie Stackhouse's world, there's no such thing as an uneventful party, and when she's invited to celebrate Dracula's birthday (a vampire holiday) at Fangtasia, it's no exception. Just like Linus and the Great Pumpkin, Eric is convinced that Fangtasia is the most sincere party, and that this is going to be the year the celebrated vampire makes an appearance at his party. He's somewhat right, with interesting, suspenseful, and amusing results. 5 happy readers.

"The Mournful Cry of Owls," Christopher Golden: This new-to-me author offers the story of Donika, a teenager who begins to have strange longings around her 16th birthday. There's a reason for that, and when her mother finally tells her what that reason is, it's such a fantastical story she's torn over whether to believe or not. This story I would classify as a bittersweet coming-of-age, and rich with metaphor. Good stuff, though I wish some of the details were better filled in. 4 happy readers.

"I Was a Teenage Vampire," Bill Crider: This was actually my least favorite of the volume. Boy bitten and forced to live his eternal life forever a teenager, and he's getting sick of it. Well written, it nails the voice of a teenage boy, but...meh. 2 happy readers.

"Twilight," Kelley Armstrong: Readers are treated to a rare look inside the head of Cassandra, one of the vampires on the Otherworld Council. In Armstrong's mythos, being a vampire is a bargain one makes, and every year, the vampire must make a kill (rather than just drink enough and send the victim on their merry, memory-wiped way). Cassandra's problem is she's growing more and more indifferent to continuing her existence. Can she, or her on-again-off-again lover Aaron, get past this apathy? I really enjoyed this slice of Cassandra's life, and it struck a haunting and melancholy tone that seemed just right. 5 happy readers.

"It's My Birthday Too," Jim Butcher: Full of humor and snark, Butcher gives us a great short story of how Harry Dresden tracks down his half-brother Thomas to give him a birthday gift and finds him, of all things, playing a vampire RPG after-hours in a mall. Chaos, of course, ensues, as it only can in the Dresden-verse. Top-notch, and the perfect appetizer before I start in on the paperback edition of Small Favor. 5 happy readers.

"Grave-Robbed," P.N. Elrod: I've heard of Elrod's work for ages, but this was my first chance to sample it. I'm kicking myself for waiting so long. Undead detective Jack Fleming is a terrific protagonist. I simply loved his voice, and believe me, I am going to track down the full-length books. 5 happy readers.

"The First Day of the Rest of Your Life," Rachel Caine: This entry wanders down memory lane in Caine's Morganville Vampires series. In it, we get to see Eve Rosser's 18th birthday, and the pivotal events that led her to reject vampire patronage and throw herself on the mercy of Glass House. The events are horrifying, even more so when you realize that they're being perpetuated against someone so young. This story goes a long way into explaining Eve's history and her attitude in the current series. 5 happy readers.

"The Witch and the Wicked," Jeanne C. Stein: In this mostly humorous story, witch Sophie accidentally gets possessed (for lack of a better word) by dead-for-good vampire Jonathon Deveraux, due to an experiment with an anti-aging beauty cream formula she was developing. Now she and Jonathon have to coexist in her body. I would have loved to read more about this unusual "partnership," and if Stein writes another story or full-length book about Sophie and Jonathon, I'm there. 4 happy readers.

"Blood Wrapped," Tanya Huff: Reading this reminded me that I need to finish up the Vicki Nelson Blood books and read all the Smoke books. It reminded me of how much I like the world that Huff has built. The running discussion that Henry Fitzroy and his partner Tony Foster have about what to get Vicki for her 40th birthday provide good comic relief to the main plot of finding a missing child. 5 happy readers.

"The Wish," Carolyn Haines: 20 years ago, Sandra was in a car accident and saw Death come for her children. Though she desperately bargained for Death to take her instead, the ghostly maiden was merciless. Now Death is back for her, but Sandra perversely wants to thwart her in revenge for her decades of refusal. This story was haunting, to say the least. 5 happy readers.

"Fire and Ice and Linguini for Two," Tate Hallaway: Seeing this story reminds me that I have Tall Dark & Dead and Dead Sexy in my TBR. I really need to get to them, because this story of witch Garnet Lacey and her vampire boyfriend Sebastian was great fun. It seems that despite Garnet's best plans to end Sebastian's belief in the idea that his birthday is cursed, she only ends up reinforcing them instead. Though I'd not read the books that came before, I was mostly able to follow this story. 4.5 happy readers.

"Vampire Hours," Elaine Viets: Katherine is a fiftysomething woman in an unhappy marriage. Her plastic surgeon husband checked out emotionally when she refused to let him work on her at the age of 35, and since then has apparently been screwing his way through his patients and his twentysomething assistant. When Katherine meets the mysterious Michael, who offers to turn her into a vampire, she has a lot of thinking to do. Her solution, I have to say is creative and deliciously evil -- Katherine has nothing on the First Wives' Club! 5 happy readers.

"How Stella Got Her Grave Back," Toni L.P. Kelner: This is a cute little story about vampire Stella and her "child"-cum-lover Mark, and their trip to her hometown to see her human grave. Except someone else is in it. They then make an effort to discover the identity of the Jane Doe and bring her killer to justice. Kelner's bio says this is her first vampire story, but this story has the feel of a series -- I felt like I might be missing some backstory. Like Stein's story, if Kelner writes more of Stella and Mark, I'll follow. 4 happy readers.

I really enjoyed this whole book -- it was rather interesting to see what each author did with the common theme of birthdays (life) and vampires (death). Though some succeeded better than others, IMO, I'm very glad I read this book.

Averages out to:
1/2

Review © 2009 by Riley's Reviews

HQN, paranormal romance, March 2009
Connections: book #4 in the Atlantis series

You know, in intros to the reissued earlier books, Ms. Showalter hypes up the idea of Layel, the vampire king, as this horrible, bloodthirsty, vengeance-driven manic who wreaks havoc on Atlantis, and how this book is his comeuppance. I was a little skeptical about that claim, since in the three preceeding books, Layel is shown showing mercy (Heart of the Dragon) and building alliances (Jewel of Atlantis and The Nymph King). When Valerian, his ally, and Darius, his enemy, create their own alliance, he doesn't go on a rampage against the nymphs, or anything like that. It was a lot of telling of how evil and awful Layel is, but pretty darn light on the showing. This is not to say I didn't want to read about him, because I could see, even in small glimpses, what a complex character he is. And that certainly turned out to be true, much to my delight.

Readers are given a bit of Layel's ruthlessness in battle as the story opens, with him trying to stir up mischief for the dragons, and delightedly stumbling on the Amazons engaging his enemy in combat. Since the enemy of his enemy is his friend, at least in the short term, he wades right in. In addition to slaying dragons, he also stumbles on one particular Amazon who catches his eye, Delilah, but he has no idea why she so fascinates him.

In the blink of an eye, he, Delilah, and warriors from each race (two of each) on Atlantis are whisked somewhere else. Poseidon, Ares, Apollo, Artemis, and Hestia create a Survivor-style series of challenges to see which race has the strongest warriors, with the winning god regaining unlimited access to Atlantis, which had previously been solely Poseidon's. And to complicate the game, warriors are pitted against their own races, placed on opposite teams.

Interestingly, Delilah and Layel are not placed on the same team, but on opposite ones, which makes their growing attraction and more frequent interactions a problem for everyone else in the game. Just as the gods wonder if each race will help their own or their teams, so too do they wonder whose side Delilah and Layel are really on.

But where this book really gets going is the deep emotional ties Layel and Delilah forge. Layel is determined to fight forever in the memory of his dead mate, so he's constantly pushing Delilah away when he wants to pull her closer, and when the urge for her wins out over what he sees as his honor, the self-recriminations fly. To be honest, it sort of got a little wearing at times...but it served a purpose, because all her life, Delilah has wanted to be loved the way Layel loved his dead mate, so all his angst gives her something to strive for. Despite the heavy hands with said angst, I really enjoyed these two as a couple. Clever play with the title, by the way, as the "bride" in question could be Layel's past...or future.

I also enjoyed the return of Shivawn, the nymph warrior Brenna didn't chose in The Nymph King, and his conflict with Alyssa, the vampire warrior. There was also a tantalizing hint of another potential vampire-Amazon relationship with Layel's man Zane and Delilah's sister Nola. So I hope we haven't seen the last of Atlantis.

Overall, this story was fun and satisfying, and more than makes up for my discomfort with certain aspects of the prior book.

1/2

Review © 2009 by Riley's Reviews

Pocket, paranormal romance, August 2008

I was both excited and leery to read this book. Excited because I'm an Austen addict, and I tend to read any play on her stuff. Leery because, well, I admit it, the cover was a little off-putting for me, giving me a chick lit vibe, and I'm not the biggest fan of chick lit, which, to me, is filled with shallow people gushing about shoes over cosmopolitans. Thankfully, my leeriness did not pay off, even though the opening scene contains an homage to Sex and the City, and I think I'm the one person on the planet who sees no redeeming qualities in that show. My point is, though, that it was good, despite all the warning signs to me otherwise.

To begin with, Flip (short for Phillipa) Allison is an ornithologist at the University of Pittsburgh. I don't know if I've ever mentioned it here, but I'm a bit of an amateur birdwatcher myself, so I immediately bonded with her. A dressed-down heroine covered in bird crap is much more my style than some Manolo-wearing society chick. Anyway, Flip and her friends have a raucous discussion about the more prurient details of Pride and Prejudice, or rather, the prurient details that are missing. Flip's under a lot of stress, applying for a fellowship to Cornell that she's afraid she won't get, since her ex-husband Jed is also applying and he's the better-known name in their field, so when she comes across an ad for a massage parlor, she decides to go.

The masseuse tells her to imagine herself in a favorite book, and though Flip plans to go for the latest steamy romance she's reading, thanks to her recent discussion with her friends, she ends up in Pride and Prejudice, at a point before Darcy meets Lizzy, and has a passionate and public fling with Darcy himself. It's only when she comes out of her daydream and comes across a first edition of the book that she discovers her visit altered the plot.

Magnus Knightley is one of the world's premier Austen scholars, and he disdains all the women in the universe who have a crush on Darcy, preferring to focus on the social commentary in Austen's works. So when Flip comes to him with this wild story, he thinks she's delusional, until he sees the alterations in his prized second edition of the book. Now he and Flip have to travel back into the book and fix the problem within 24 hours, or the book will change permanently. What results is a terrific comedy of errors -- you know those scenes in Scooby Doo that are set to music, with the gang and the bad guys chasing each other, opening and slamming doors and stuff? It's like that, but with outrageously funny results.

Ms. Cready has written an extremely clever story here, somehow remaining faithful to Austen while at the same time giving readers a unique experience of Austen's world. The way she ties in the details about birds with revenge for the characters you most want to see get their comeuppances (in both present day and in the Austen-verse), AND bring two people together while they are in the guise of other people is brilliant. About the only complaint I have about this book is there are a few places where the editing is off, but that's really it.

Fans of time-travel romances, chick lit, birds, Austen, and humorous contemporary romances will all adore this book. As for myself, I'm going to seek out her first book, Tumbling Through Time.

1/2

Review © 2009 by Riley's Reviews

Roc, contemporary fantasy, February 2009
Connections: book #1 of the Outcast Season series; spinoff of the Weather Wardens series

With this series, Rachel Caine returns us to the world of the Wardens, but not from Joanne Baldwin's point of view. Instead, she gives us Cassiel, an Old Djinn who has never taken human form. Because she refused to obey an order of Ashan's, he takes her powers, literally unmakes her, and casts her out of the Djinn and into human form. With the help of David and Joanne, Cassiel is given a new purpose in her new life: she is to assist Earth Warden Manny Rocha in his territory in New Mexico, and in return, Manny will sustain her with his powers.

But then tragedy strikes. Manny and his wife are killed in a drive-by shooting, and then less than a week later, his daughter Isobel is taken right from her bed. Now it is up to Cassiel and Manny's brother Luis, also an Earth Warden, to find Isobel and bring her back.

Cassiel is a fascinating creature. She's fully adult, yet extremely naive about just about everything, from what food tastes like to what passes for acceptable social behavior to how to deal with human emotions. The latter is especially interesting to watch, since she only has the Djinn all-or-nothing perspective to base her reactions on, and when human feeling enters into things, she doesn't know which instinct to follow.

The plot Ms. Caine has set up is complex -- and this is what I found really cool -- yet completely removed (it seems) from the apocalyptic plotlines of the main Warden series. Her vision of the earth is truly chaotic, and the new threat she introduces in this series almost makes the other stuff look tame. Though I wish there had been a tad more resolution to this book, I am very much looking forward to seeing Cassiel and Luis again.

1/2

Review © 2009 by Riley's Reviews

Grand Central/Hachette, contemporary fantasy, February 2009
Connections: book #5 in the Kitty Norville series

In this installment, werewolf/radio talk show host Kitty Norville and her fiancé Ben O'Farrell head to Las Vegas to tie the knot. Kitty figures it'll be simple: she'll go and do a live television broadcast special for her show, and she and Ben will get married in a simple but tasteful ceremony, then have frou-frou drinks by the pool.

Things start off bad and just get worse. To begin with, their hotel is hosting a gun convention, and some of the attendees are hunters from Ben and his cousin Cormac's old crowd: hunters of supernatural creatures, that is. And, of course, some of the hunters begin to actively gun for Kitty and Ben. Then there's Dom, the master vampire of Vegas, who appears to be interested in nothing but partying and blood. Add in a mysterious magician who tricks really seem to be magic and a troupe of performing lycanthropes, and Vegas is a very strange town indeed. And then Ben disappears on their wedding day when he was supposed to be playing in a poker tournament, leaving Kitty to figure out what happened on her own, and things really go to hell.

Kitty spends this book, as usual, bouncing from one bizarre situation to the next, at roller-coaster speeds. Despite the stress she's under, she's at her wise-cracking best. I totally loved how she would snap at people, "And don't say he's left me!" with regard to Ben's disappearance. It's a great addition to the series, but if I have a complaint, it's that it's too short. Some things resolve lightning-quick where I would have liked a better explanation. Other things don't end at all, but that didn't bother me as much, given that the next book comes out soon, and the unresolved stuff was clearly a new thread to follow.

All in all, I can't wait for the release of Kitty Raises Hell.

1/2

Review © 2009 by Riley's Reviews

HQN, paranormal romance, 2005 (reprint)
Connections: book #1 in the Atlantis series

I first encountered Gena Showalter's books with the excellent Lords of the Underworld series -- though I had heard of her before, I just never got around to trying her. Once I met the Lords, I was kicking myself for missing out. So I got Awaken Me Darkly (still in my TBR) and this book, and now I'm happily catching up.

In Ms. Showalter's world, Atlantis really exists, and is inhabited by all manner of fantastic and mythological beings -- shapeshifters and vampires and nymphs, oh my! The shapeshifters are in focus in this book, specifically, Darius en Kragin, de facto leader of dragon shifters. For centuries, it has also been Darius's job to instantly kill any foreigner (i.e., humans) who finds their way into Atlantis. There are two gateways -- Darius guards one, and his old mentor guards the other. In order to slay anyone and everyone without even a trial, Darius has had to shut off all emotions, so much so that his men have bets going to see who can get him to crack a smile.

So when Grace Carlyle stumbles into Darius's cavern gateway, it should mean instant death for her, right? The only thing that saves her is the medallion she's wearing -- Darius needs to know how she came by it. When he hears that her archaeologist brother sent it to her, he realizes that his land and his people are in danger. The hunt is on: Darius is searching for the interlopers, and Grace needs to find her brother, and hopefully talk Darius into letting them both live.

What follows is a fantastical road trip, a wild a crazy romp, filled with battles of wit and terrific chemistry between Darius and Grace. I loved that they were both fish out of water in each other's worlds -- it was great fun, particularly in Darius's case. About the only thing that bugged me was Grace carrying on about her size. I'm so over curvy women moaning about their curves until some hunka hunka burnin' love specifically raves about said curves. Otherwise, awesome.

This book scores high points for sheer entertainment value, and I'm glad I have the other books in the series to look forward to now.

1/2

Review © 2009 by Riley's Reviews

Ballantine Books, historical romance, 2007
Connections: second in the Spice trilogy

Lily Balfour is in London to snare a rich, dumb husband. Rich to support her practically destitute family and restore her family's crumbling manor house, and dumb so that he won't notice she's not "pure." A notorious rake, not to mention half-pay officer, like Major Derek Knight is definitely not part of her plan. But when she meets Derek in a garden folly at a masked ball, the attraction between them is irresistible.

Derek is in London for two reasons: one, he and his siblings narrowly escaped a dangerous situation in India and his commanding officer sent him and his brother Gabriel out of the country until the heat dies down, and two, while he's in London, he's supposed to pursue the much-needed funding that was promised to the army that never materialized. The committee in charge of the monies is clearly stalling him, so he has to investigate what happened. The man he chooses to befriend to get close to the situation, Edward Lundy, also happens to be the man Lily has set her sights on for marriage. So, of course, the two are thrown together quite often, making it even harder to withstand temptation.

What I loved about this book was the emotions that drive both Lily and Derek. They both have very, very good motivations for their actions, which are rooted in deep psychological issues. Not only that, but the two of them possess a unique understanding of each other's emotional needs. So it's chemistry backed by something much, much deeper, which makes a truly believable love story. To top it off, the plot with the money was well-crafted. About the only thing that raised my brow was the fact that Lily and Derek managed to be so unchaperoned throughout the book, but this is a flaw in just about every historical romance out there. I do also wonder a bit about the acceptance of Lundy in society, as he is not only in trade, but also apparently a Cockney.

A sweet love story and a coherent plot, what more could you ask for?

1/2

Review © 2009 by Riley's Reviews

Avon Red, erotica, December 2008

I've mentioned before that I'm a sucker for holiday anthologies, but if you combine that with the Alluring Tales gang, and I'm the biggest sucker on the planet. And with good cause -- each story was a red-hot winner, leaving me a very happy reader.

"Peaches and Cream," Cathryn Fox: the anthology gets off to a great start with the trend of Googling blind dates. When psych student/bartender at a sex club Jennifer Angel Googles herself to see what her blind date, researcher Jack Miller, might find if he had done so, she discovers that she shares her name with a stripper named Peaches. Rather than be mortified at the potential for misunderstanding, she impulsively channels Peaches for their date, leading to a sizzling experiment in exhibition. Though loosely connected with Ms. Fox's Pleasure Games series, this story stands well on its own, and gives newcomers to the series a taste of just how sexy her writing can be. Though under ordinary circumstances, I wouldn't believe in a couple who got so intimate before they barely exchanged hellos, I bought Jennifer and Jack. As erotica, this is top-notch. 5 happy readers.

"Indecent Exposure," Delilah Devlin: When they were in high school, Harmony Wilkins had a huge crush on Dalton McDonough, and her obsession led to an embarrassing incident in which Harmony was caught skinny-dipping in Dalton's family's pool. Now it's 12 years later, and Harmony's back in town, just as determined to get Dalton's attention, but not nearly as shy as she used to be. Her method? To skinny-dip in a judge's pool, knowing that Dalton, as sheriff, would be the arresting officer. This is a completely fun, hot, and engaging tale. 5 happy readers.

"Forbidden Fruit," Lisa Renee Jones: In this story, Laura Cameron is thrilled to discover that her older brother's best friend, Blake Alexander, is back in town. She's always had a crush on him, but now she's old enough to go after what she wants. What she doesn't realize is that Blake returns her feelings, but needs to get over the whole best-friend's-sisters-are-off-limits thing. When Laura convinces Blake to participate in a bachelor auction for charity, then places the winning bid, it's her chance to show him how she feels. This was a sweet and charming romance, which left me sighing happily. 5 happy readers.

"Billboard Babe," Myla Jackson: This is a coworkers-in-lust tale, in which ad exec AJ poses for a sexy billboard to boost company sales during the holiday season...and to attract the attention of her colleague Daniel. She thinks that Daniel didn't notice her until she unleashed her inner vamp, but he's been noticing her all along. This was a slick and heartwarming tale, though I would like to know why, as I've speculated before, why all these women decide they're going to seduce the guy then quit their jobs? I'd like to see just one story where the heroine has the balls to stay. Anyway, it was still fun. 4.5 happy readers.

"Wish Upon a Star," Sasha White: Professional dominatrix Sarah Williams wishes upon a star for her true soulmate to rescue her from what has become a tiresome life, and suddenly, a hunk of burning love appears on the rooftop with her. Commander Nealon Graves is irritated as all get-out to have been summoned by this woman, until he gets a good look at her in action and sees how well she'd fit into his life and society on his home planet. I loved the concept of this story, but some of the execution didn't work for me. There's a rather dominant scene (pun intended) in which Sarah dominates a client with Nealon present, and while I could see the point of the scene, I suppose, it just left me cold. 4 happy readers.

"That Old Black Magic," Sylvia Day: this is a continuation of Ms. Day's story in the first Alluring Tales anthology, about warlock Max Westin and his shapechanger familiar Victoria St. John, but no worries -- even if you haven't read the first story, this one makes sense. For me, it was great to revisit Max and Victoria, and to see some loose ends tied up. I hope to see them again someday. 5 happy readers.

"Silver Waters," Vivi Anna: this is another continued tale from the first anthology, but again, enough backstory is filled in that first-time readers won't get lost. In this tale, mercenary Sangria Silver and her lover Vance Verona are still on the run from her former client's henchmen. They've been hiding out in the Caribbean, but with the threat of their foes still hanging over their heads, they're not completely safe. And when their enemies do catch up to them, they receive help from a most unexpected source. Again, it was fantastic to reacquaint myself with well-liked and familiar characters. 5 happy readers.

So that averages out to:
1/2

Review © 2008 by Riley's Reviews

Zebra, paranormal romance, June 2008
Connections: Book #4 of the Nightwalkers series

Although Elijah wasn't a stellar read for me, there were two key events in that book that play a major role in this one: the first is the discovery of a Nightwalker library, containing volumes from all species, implying a more cohesive and cooperative community in the past, and the second is the death of Mary, the daughter of the Big Bad, Ruth. Her death was due to her mother's own carelessness, but Ruth blames Elijah and Siena for her loss.

These two things are immediately important in Damien, as Ruth kidnaps Siena's sister Syreena as she is taking a break from overseeing the exploration of the library. The whole reason Syreena is outside can be laid at the feet of Damien, the Vampire Prince -- he unnerves her. When Damien follows her, he discovers the abduction, and, with no time to lose, races to her rescue, hoping he's left enough of a trail behind for others to follow.

In the course of their escape from Ruth and her minions, Damien is forced to feed from Syreena. Whether it's the feeding or something deeper, he and Syreena forge a connection that's as controversial as her sister and Elijah's interspecies mating. It's more controversial because although Demons and Lycanthropes mate for life, Vampires are more known for capriciousness, so for Damien to want to settle down is very difficult for his people and his closest friends to accept.

I liked Damien for this very reason -- it's a nice change from all the immediate acceptance of fated mates going on in the other books. Ms. Frank does an excellent job in painting the differences of the Vampires compared with other Nightwalker species...and their similarities, once histories are uncovered. I liked the idea of Syreena being prized by Damien for who she is, and not her genetics or anything else. I liked the twist of Ruth recruiting allies from among the Nightwalkers, in addition to her army of human magic-users.

If there was anything in this book I didn't care for, it was Damien's friend Jasmine. I just didn't warm to her much -- the sheer level of her jealousy of Syreena didn't ring true for me. But otherwise, this book was damn near perfect -- as the fourth installment in a five-book series, Damien gave me a real "coming together, heading towards conclusion" feel, something that made me impatient for the release of Noah.

1/2

Review © 2008 by Riley's Reviews

Harper, paranormal romance/urban fantasy, July 2008


I actually read this several weeks ago, but needed to review it with the copy in front of me, so I could remember all the stories. Without further ado:

"Music Hath Charms," Tanya Huff: I have enjoyed Ms. Huff's work for ages, but I had no idea she could do such off-the-scale heat as she does in this story of an independent music industry executive struggling to sign an extraordinary act to her label over a huge firm. Ali's a fun and spunky heroine, the supporting cast are terrific, and the paranormal aspect is unique. I could have read more, but at the same time, this story was neatly tied up and very well done for its length. 5

"Minotaur in Stone," Marjorie M. Liu: "Haunting" is the best word I can think to describe this story. Told in stark first-person, present tense prose, this tale of outcasts finding each other against all odds gives the Minotaur myth new life. 4

"Demon Lover," Cheyenne McCray: Aeden is an Incubus whose latest mission is to steal Erika's soul. But the problem is, unlike his past missions, he genuinely likes Erika, and doesn't want to condemn her...but at the same time, sparing her sends him to hell. What's a demon to do? Well, a demon with a paranormal writer on his side can do a lot. This tale was hot, fun, and surprisingly emotional. 5

"Equinox," L.A. Banks: This story brings Artemis back to life. She and her handmaidens are out to "heal" the earth, and Vincent D'Jardin and his team are sent to take out this new group of eco-terrorists. Needless to say, neither one is what the other expects. This was an interesting concept, and was carried out very well. 4

"Ride a Dark Horse," Susan Krinard: A wronged woman curses her lover, and her descendent could either lift the curse or leave him miserable forever. A good story, but one I thought might be better fleshed out in a longer form. Nevertheless, very readable, and left me wanting more. 3.5

"To Die For," Keri Arthur: Since this wasn't connected to the Riley Jenson series, it was nice to see Ms. Arthur can do a heroine who doesn't get thrown into moon lust or kidnapped every time you blink. Grace Rioli is tough as nails, but vulnerable too, and Ethan Garrison is a cocky yet likeable and genuine hero. 5

"Curse of the Dragon's Tears," Heidi Betts: This was the only genuinely new-to-me author in this volume, and I have to say I really liked discovering her in this story. Laura Tomescu is investigating the legend of Dougal MacKay, a legend which states that her ancestor cursed him. It's true, of course, and what follows is a delightful Beauty and the Beast type story. 5

"Brother's Keeper," Lilith Saintcrow: This is the only story in the volume that read more like an introduction than a complete-in-itself tale, and of course, I was right about that, as Ms. Saintcrow is now offering the full novel as a serial on her website (for free too, woot!). Anyway, those readers familiar with Nichtvren Nikolai and his consort Selene will enjoy this glimpse into how they became a couple in the first place. A word of warning: it's not a smooth ride, but it's a damn good one (so far). 5

"(Like a) Virgin of the Spring," Susan Sizemore and Denise Little: The best compliment I can pay this story is that it reminds me of Timeline (and I loved that movie). Time travellers are stuck in ancient times, and have to play parts to survive and get back to their own time. This story was a lot of fun, and I would love to see more of these characters and this concept from the authors. 5

"Life is the Teacher," Carrie Vaughn: This story was more than a little bittersweet, as it features a turned vampire who has to learn to let go of her personal feelings to feed. Definitely not a romance, but fascinating nonetheless. 3.5

"Moonlight Becomes You," Linda Winstead Jones: Lighter than some of the other stories, Claire is trying to prove her new neighbor Simon is a vampire. He's not, but he's not human either. This one is sweet and fun. 4.5

"Dirty Magic," Kim Harrison: I love Ms. Harrison's writing, but it has to be said this story is absolutely downright depressing, all about the seemingly tragic love Mia, a banshee, holds for Tom, a human. The prose is beautiful, but man, what a downer. 3.5

I will say, this has to be one of the first anthologies in which I genuinely liked every story -- each was a winner for me in its own way. So it was definitely worth my time and cash -- it should be worth yours too.

Averaging out to:
1/2

Review © 2008 by Riley Merrick

HQN, paranormal romance, May 2008
Connections: start of the Lords of the Underworld series

When Marjorie M. Liu plugged this series, I took notice. I had heard of Ms. Showalter's books before, but they never seemed quite my cuppa. When my pal Jenn and one of the Café members started praising this book, I put it on my must-buy list, because these are people who almost never steer me wrong when it comes to books. And I'm so glad I did. Very intense, very complex, and just the slightest bit wacky is how I would describe the universe Ms. Showalter has created for us.

In ancient times, the Lords of the Underworld were the honor guard of the gods. But their pride tripped them up in a big way when Pandora was chosen over them to escort the now-infamous Box that bears her name to safety. To both express their pique and suck up to the gods, they did something incredibly stupid: they opened the box, with the plan to recapture the demons they would claim Pandora released, and get all the glory. What they got was the worldwide pain and suffering that is the legacy of Pandora's Box, and the gods punished them by making them the living vessels for the demons. Should the Box ever be found and the demons restored to it, the Lords would die—so while many want to find the Box and do just that, the Lords want to find it and destroy it.

The Darkest Night is the story of Maddox, keeper of Violence. His punishment also carries an extra death curse. Because he was responsible for the murder of Pandora when first possessed by Violence, every night, he gets killed in the same fashion and sent to Hell for torture by fire. Every morning, he is restored to his body, only to have to go through it again at midnight. His fellow Lords Reyes (Pain) and Lucien (Death) have to do the execution and escort to Hades, respectively, as part of their curse. The three of them live in a fortified fortress just outside of Budapest with three other Lords: Aeron (Wrath), Paris (Promiscuity), and Torin (Disease).

Ashlyn is a human with a paranormal ability: no matter where she goes, she can hear past conversations that have taken place for the entire history of the place. She works for an institute for paranormal research, where they use her talent to track down paranormal phenomena and creatures and study them. But she hates the voices, and when she hears rumors of men with special abilities, she tries to find them to see if maybe they can help her.

When she meets Maddox in the woods outside the fortress, her wish is granted immediately: for some reason, in his presence, the voices stop. The problem is that none of these men trust her; they keep calling her Bait, something that human Hunters send out to infiltrate the ranks of the Lords. And there are Hunters in the area, for the first time in centuries, which makes Ashlyn's presence even more suspect. Maddox really, really doesn't want to believe that Ashlyn is Bait, because being around her keeps the spirit of Violence within him calm.

To complicate matters even further for all of the Lords, the gods have been overthrown by the Titans, so now the Lords have a new set of bosses, whose motives are completely unknown, but probably not benevolent, since one of their first commands is for Aeron to kill four completely innocent women. On top of that, another faction of Lords, led by Sabin (Doubt) shows up in town. They're tracking the Hunters, and want the Lords to unite again to defeat the Hunters and find the Box to destroy it before someone else finds it and kills them all.

Despite the space devoted to worldbuilding, character introduction (which did get a little dizzying, I admit), and action, this is primarily a romance, and Maddox and Ashlyn definitely did not get lost in the shuffle. They're both complicated and deep and their relationship was filled with a satisfying amount of angst and passion. If there is anything I would have liked to have seen more of with them, it was answers: why are they so attracted to each other? It smacks of the life-mate mythos seen in many paranormals, but there's usually some sort of explanation. There is mention of a possible bloodline issue with the four women Aeron is ordered to kill, so I assumed Ashlyn's suitability might be something along those lines, but I would have liked to know, not guess. Then again, this may be addressed in future books—although Ashlyn and Maddox get their happy ending, this series is clearly just getting started.

On a side note: can I just say that I completely love how Ms. Showalter has exonerated Pandora? Eve ate the apple, Pandora opened the Box, Guinevere betrayed Arthur with Lancelot, and Morgan la Fey was an evil witch...it's great to see modern authors clearing the name of Woman.

If you like Sherrilyn Kenyon's Dark-Hunters, or JR Ward's Brotherhood, or Lara Adrian's Midnight Breeds, this series is for you. It's got the fun tone of Kenyon's books and the intensity of Ward's and Adrian's books (without the lhanghuage issues, I add in my most gleeful tone). The Darkest Night was sheer fun and completely un-put-down-able, and this weekend, I plan to pick up the next two books that are in print.

1/2

Review © 2008 by Riley Merrick

Brava, historical romance, December 2006

I won this book in a contest by the terrific Gennita Low, and now I have a new author to catch up on. Well, she's not precisely new, as I read her novella in the Alluring Tales anthology, but that wasn't a historical. Anyway...

Gerard Faulker, Lord Grayson, finds out he is to be a father, and he does a strange thing: he proposes to another woman, Isabel, the older (but really, not by much) and widowed Lady Pelham. It's to be strictly a marriage of convenience, as Grayson's mistress is already married. So he can continue his selfish, feckless lifestyle and the older and more sophisticated Isabel can have her infamous affairs without any of her lovers trying to trap her into marriage. Then his mistress dies in childbirth, and Grayson flees town to go gods-know-where for some serious soul-searching.

Four years later, he's back, older and wiser...and he wants his sham marriage to be real. Isabel, though, is emotionally scarred from her first marriage, which she thought was real. If she couldn't hold on to Pelham, what makes her think she can hold on to a younger man who has never been known for fidelity?

This is such a deeply emotional love story that I felt torn just as a spectator. Every time Isabel and Grayson would have a breakthrough, there would be a setback. But it was so encouraging to see that they were able to bounce back a little better each time. And the setbacks felt like real roadblocks, not plot contrivances. The whole story had a very genuine feel.

There were some things that didn't work for me. The biggest is that I would have liked to know more about what Grayson's thought processes were while he was in hiding, what led him to the conclusion to come back and pursue Isabel for keeps. Secondly, Isabel's nickname of "Pel" being used by Grayson. I can understand her wanting to use it to serve as a reminder of her past and not to repeat it, but not Grayson. How helpful can it be for him to call her by her late husband's title while he is trying to get her to move on? However, since Grayson requested the removal of Pelham's portrait at the end, I can only assume he'll start calling her a more appropriate nickname. Finally, the age difference. I suppose a woman four years older could have been quite the scandal in those times, but as a modern-day reader, the harping of the age difference didn't ring true -- especially since I'm older than Isabel now, LOL!

There was a sweet secondary romance between Isabel's brother and a bluestocking that I enjoyed quite a bit. The banter between all the characters was witty and fun. I loved when Isabelle's mother said to her, "What else are mothers for than to help their daughters find a mistress for their husbands?" (or words to that effect)

The Stranger I Married was highly emotional and realistic, with a very believable conclusion. Both Grayson and Isabel have their own growing to do, and they do it well, separately and, better still, together. They remind me of something a priest I knew in college once said that will always stay with me: "Falling in love is a feeling; staying in love is a decision." Isabel and Grayson have the feeling, and they make the decision. It's lovely.

1/2

Review © 2008 by Riley Merrick

Dell, paranormal romance, April 2008
Connections: book 4 in the Midnight Breed series

When last readers saw Breed Order warrior Rio, he was in the mountains in the middle of the Czech Republic with enough explosives to hide all evidence of the (worryingly) empty Ancient hibernation chamber the Order members discovered (see Midnight Awakening). When this book opens, it's several months later, and he's still in the cave. So traumatized is he over the betrayal of his Breedmate, Eva, and the extensive injuries he sustained as a direct result of her actions (see Kiss of Midnight), that he is planning to activate the explosives from inside the cave, sealing himself away from the world for all eternity. He just needs to work up the courage and lucidity to get it done.

Meanwhile, tabloid journalist Dylan Alexander is on a hike in the area. She doesn't know why, but all her life, she's seen dead people -- specifically young, seemingly healthy women. And she sees one now, directing her to a mysterious cave, containing weird carvings and what looks like a crypt...and a ragged man who's faster than any human.

Dylan's intrusion changes Rio's plans. Now, he has to protect the Breed, and stop Dylan from publishing the photos she took. But it's not just that. Her scent and tentative care in the cave give him the first glimmer of hope he's had since the betrayal. So he blows up the cave from the outside and goes to track down the leak in the form of the sweet-smelling woman who freed him from a nightmare. And when he does track her down and discovers that she's also a Breedmate, he's stunned and even more conflicted.

Rio was a terrific hero, and Ms. Adrian wrote his slow recovery from staggering physical and mental pain perfectly. He's so complicated; not only does he feel useless with his injuries, but Eva's betrayal hit him on every hotspot he'd ever had from his childhood. Dylan's sympathy (but not pity) and gentle care is an incredible miracle to a battered man who has lost all hope. I really enjoyed watching him open up to Dylan, and in his sharing, how he also came back into the fold of the Order.

Dylan is somewhat less understandable, but no less likable. I'm always a little leery of heroines in Stockholm Syndrome situations, but I will grant that Dylan was intrigued by Rio before he kidnapped her, and she was always more interested than scared (or so it seemed to me). Plus, with her family background, having someone need her was just the path to her heart...and learning that someone could be there for her when she needed them took her from enthralled victim to fullness as a character.

As far as the big story arc, progress seemed almost nonexistent for most of the book, exploding only in the last 50 pages or so. I will warn you now: there are a LOT of loose ends left here. But based on my experiences with Ms. Adrian and this series, they will get answered eventually. I think of it this way: the prior book tied up the Marek thread and revealed a much bigger problem; this book takes that new problem and shows us just how big it really is, or can be, if not stopped in time.

One thing bugs me (behind a cut for spoilers):
( Read more... )

To sum up: this book is a modern-day Beauty and the Beast (with fangs and blood lust), and it works so well.

1/2

Review © 2008 by Riley Merrick