Surviving Demon Island

I've read Jaci Burton before, so I decided to try the first book in her latest series. Surviving Demon Island turned out to be a very nice read: 4 out of 5.

What's America's top female action star doing on a tropical island shrouded in secrecy? To Gina Bliss, competing in a survival-type reality show is a nice change from fending off on-screen villains. Until she meets real-life action hero Derek Marks. A survival specialist in a tight black T and sexy stubble, he's arousing every bad-boy fantasy she's ever had . . . and testing her survival skills to the max.

Martial arts, jungle warfare--Derek's done it all. But his latest mission is more dangerous than a stick of dynamite. Try telling that to the sexy, adrenaline-pumped acress who's got his libido racing off the charts. As the heat rises between them and real-life violence erupts, suddenly Derek and Gina are on the run . . . and when they uncover a secret so explosive it could blow the lid off their so-called reality show, these two unlikely heroes are about to discover what surviving's really about . . .

In a subgenre--paranormal romance--where you see a lot of the same old thing, Surviving Demon Island offers a fresh look at a demon world. The book starts out simply enough: Gina is offered a chance to participate in a new reality series. We see her desire to do something new and exciting. What she gets is a world different than she ever expected, one that's turned inside-out.

She also gets Derek.

It's clear from the beginning that Derek is in on the secret, that he knows what's going on behind the scenes. There's also the classic man-and-woman-at-odds attraction between them. Still, the story offers some interesting surprises: two in particular toward the end notch up the conflict. And I loved the way Derek and Gina's relationship heats up. :)

This is my favorite of Burton's books (those I've read, anyway), and it's built on a fascinating premise. I'm very excited to read the next book in the series.

Lover Awakened

Long time no write . . . yes, I know. I'm still reading, but now that I'm writing more often, writing reviews sometimes seems like a chore. So I'll just keep on plugging along, doing my thing, and posting when I have the desire to post.

I read J.R. Ward's Dark Lover a while ago and quite enjoyed it. Since then, the hype this series gets has made me a little reluctant to read more. It's almost like reading about the books makes me less interested in reading the books themselves? I don't know. In any case, Zsadist interested me in the first book, so I decided to skip Lover Eternal and go straight to Lover Awakened.

A former blood slave, the vampire Zsadist still bears the scars from a past filled with suffering and humiliation. Renowned for his unquenchable fury and sinister deeds, he is a savage feared by humans and vampires alike. Anger is his only companion and terror his only passion--untl he rescues a beautiful female from the evil Lessening Society.

Bella is instantly entranced by the seething power Zsadist possesses. But even as their desire for each other begins to overtake them, Zsadist's thirst for vengeance against Bella's tormentors drives him to the brink of madness. Now Bella must help her lover overcome the wounds of his tortured past and find a future with her . . .

I loved the main story. Bella and Zsadist--both are terrific. In fact, Zsadist is immensely compelling. I loved every moment he was on the page, and I thought Bella was certainly his match. The singing scene was awesome.

The rest of the story, though . . . I found myself skimming the lesser scenes. There's too much from that POV and not enough of it interested me. Perhaps that's because of my tendency not to like to get the villain's POV.

As for another subplot, I wasn't as affected by it as I could have been because I knew what was coming. This made it a sad development, but I was a bit detached, too. I wonder what I would have thought if I hadn't known about it. Actually, reading that part would have been worse. I tend to like my stories nicely tied up at the end, so knowing what was coming helped in that regard.

I enjoy Lover Awakened, and give it 4 out of 5, but I don't find myself desperate to read the other books. So I guess I'd call myself a casual reader of the Black Dagger Brotherhood series rather than an avid fan.

Did I mention that I love Zsadist? I just wish I'd loved the rest of the book as much as his story.

You Had Me at Halo

I won Amanda Ashby's You Had Me at Halo in a recent contest. When I read it, I discovered it was a real treat: 4 out of 5.

Holly Evans has just seen her own body laid to rest, and if it had been up to her, she wouldn't have chosen that particular dress for the event. Still, she could live with that (so to speak), if it guaranteed a quick jump to Level 3 of the afterlife, which she hopes will feature both reruns of Friends and reunions with long-lost loved ones.

But Holly has some mortal baggage to unload first, starting with the matter of how she died. Yes, she drowned in her bathtub under suspicious circumstances, but she did not kill herself. Holly had too much to live for, from her recent promotion to taking the next big step in her relationship. OK, her life had a few loose ends, but whose doesn't? Holly's heavenly shrink isn't buying it. He says she has to return to Earth to staighten things out. The problem is, she'll need to borrow someone's body to do so, and the body in questiion to none other than computer geek Vince Murphy. Oh, and although Vince was supposed to have vacated the premises, he apparently never got the memo.

Now Holly has forty-eight hours to resolve her issues while sharing arms, legs, and . . . other things with a guy she barely noticed when she was alive. But the real surprise is what life has to offer when you have only two days to live it.

You Had Me at Halo is a delightful story about Holly's search to discover what happened to her and her struggle to resolve some of the things in her life. As the blurb and cover suggest, this is a story with a lot of humor. The scenes where Holly, in Vince's body, has to convince her friend that she's still alive. Sort of.

There's definitely some humor about what happens when two people share a body. And Vince . . . I simply adored him. What a sweetheart! He's a wonderful illustration of the idea that still waters run deep. He helps her throughout her search for answers.

You may wonder if a happy ending is possible in such a scenario. Wonder no longer: it is. I was generally pleased with the ending (spoiler ahead), although I wished Vince hadn't lost his memory of their time together in the process.

Ashby has created a story that's sweet and fun. I'm looking forward to seeing what she comes up with next.

Guest Appearance

I'm making a guest appearance at Paperback Reader with a review of Nalini Singh's Caressed by Ice. Enjoy!

Visions of Heat

After reading the first two books in Nalini Singh's paranormal series, it's safe to say she's become an autobuy.

Used to cold silence, Faith Nightstar is suddenly being tormented by dark visions of blood and murder. A bad sign for anyone, but worse for Faith, an F-Psy with the highly sought after ability to predict the future. Then the visions show her something even more dangerous--aching need . . . exquisite pleasure. But so powerful is her sight, so fragile the state of her mind, that the emotions she yearns to embrace could be the end of her.

Changeling Vaughn D'Angelo can take the form of either man or jaguar, but it is his animal side that is overwhelmingly drawn to Faith. The jaguar's instinct is to claim this woman it finds so utterly fascinating, and the man has no argument. But while Vaughn craves sensation and hungers to pleasure Faith in every way, desire is a danger that could snap the last threads of her sanity. And there are Psy who need Faith's sight for their own purposes. They must keep her silenced--and keep her from Vaughn.

I hesitated to read this when it first came out because I feared it wouldn't live up to the previous book, or that it would be too similar. Once I got it at July's RWA conference, I couldn't resist reading it. As often happens, I needn't have worried. This is no mere rehash of Slave to Sensation; Vaughn and Faith are strong characters in their own right. Now that I've read Visions of Heat, I'm not sure how I managed to wait before buying it.

The danger to Faith is a real one. The dark visions threaten to engulf her, so she goes to Sascha (the heroine of Slave to Sensation) for advice. In the process, she meets Vaughn. He responds to her on a visceral level, and I liked seeing the animal side of him. It's mentioned that he's closer to his changeling side than many of the others, and you definitely see that.

I also like that Faith's discovery of and integration into the changeling world doesn't come easily. As a Psy, she's been trained not to feel emotion. Vaughn pushes her to feel, but it's not a smooth transition. This is portrayed realistically and makes for a compelling story.

Singh does an amazing job of blending romance and suspense in this book. Romance may be a little stronger, but that's the way I like it. :) With an intriguing hero and heroine, Visions of Heat rates 4.5 out of 5.

Wired

After reading a blog that started as an interesting discussion about costumes at book signings and turned into a dogpile, I vowed to read the first two Shomi books: Wired by Liz Maverick and Marianne Mancusi's Moongazer. I read Wired a few weeks ago and am glad I did: 4 out of 5.

Seconds aren't like pennies. They can't be saved in a jar and spent later. Fate seeps through cracks and shifts like fog. Pluck a second out of time or slip an extra one in, the consequences will change your life forever. Is the man you love really the man you think you know, or is there a version of your life in which he's your enemy? If you didn't know who or what you were before, would you take a chance on becoming that person again?

L. Roxanne Zaborovsky is about to discover fate is comprised of an infinite number of fires, filaments that can be manipulated, and that she's not the one at the controls. From the roguishly charming Mason Merrick--a shadow from her increasingly tenebrous past--to the dangerously seductive Leonardo Kaysar, she's barely holding on. This isn't a game, and the pennies are rolling all over the floor. Roxy just has to figure out which are the ones worth picking up.

This is one of those books that took a little while to get into. Maybe because I wasn't sure what to expect, and it's not always clear what's happening. The reader is basically in the same position as the heroine--thrown right in and trying to figure out what is going on.

By the time I got a third of the way through the book, though, I was engaged in the story, curious about how it would play out, and starting to form my own theories. I was right about one part of it, but it's complicated.

As I reread the back cover blurb, I realize it's a bit vague. I'm not going to try and describe the plot, as it's a bit complicated and I think it's best appreciated when you just read the story. The label on the spine calls this an action romance. The action takes center stage with the romance staying firmly in the background. I typically like more romance, but it worked for this story.

Wired was fascinating, different from anything I've seen out there in a while.

All Together Dead

All Together Dead is the seventh book in Charlaine Harris's Southern Vampires series. I loved the first four books, liked the next two. This one, though it doesn't stand alone all that well, I loved: 4.5 out of 5.

Being surrounded by all varieties of undead, changeling, and preternatural beings has gotten to be nothing out of the ordinary for Louisiana cocktail waitress Sookie Stackhouse. Still, even she has her limits. Betrayed by her longtime vampire love, Sookie must now not only deal with a possible new man in her life--the oh-so-handsome shapeshifter Quinn--but also contend with the long-planned vampire summit in Rhodes.

The summit, which has attracted undead power players from all over the central U.S., is sure to be a tense situation. The vampire queen of Louisiana is in a precarious position, her power base weakened by hurricane damage to New Orleans. And there are some vamps who would like to finish what nature started. With secret alliances and backroom deals the order of the day--and night--Sookie must decide what side she'll stand with. And her choice may mean the difference between survival and all-out catastrophe . . .

All Together Dead offers an intriguing glimpse into vampire politics. The wedding and court cases are interesting. Harris does a wonderful job of world building. The mystery is good, too, multilayered. I picked up on the significance of the luggage pretty early, but there are several other nice surprises.

The relationships also take an unusual turn in this book. Sookie's relationship with Quinn deepens. I wasn't sure I liked him in the previous book. In this one, I have to admit I'm warming up to him a little. I like him, but I'm still an advocate for Eric.

Speaking of which, Sookie and Eric's relationship also gets a boost, although it's not in a way I expected. It should be interesting to see how that affects things in different books. I'm a little nervous that something bad to come might be foreshadowed in this book. I'm not sure I can take the thought of it right now. So I'm taking comfort in this recent interview Q&A with Harris.

MediaBlvd> Will Sookie’s unresolved issues with her former vampire lover, Eric, continue to come up, and do you see there ever being any resolution to their issues?
Charlaine> He is certainly going to be in the series, and he’ll keep on being in the series, at least for the foreseeable future. But, I’m not sure how their relationship is going to develop. He has a lot more issues with it than she does.

Now it's a wait for the next book in the series . . .

Demon's Delight

Demon's Delight is an anthology I picked up at RWA. It's a solid read, though I found myself wishing a couple of the stories were longer.

From MaryJanice Davidson . . . Can a witch and a witch-hunter find common ground . . . without killing each other first?

From Emma Holly . . . A beautiful scientist in the realm of the Demon World falls in love with a human male she has experimented on--and is changed forever . . .

From Vickie Taylor . . . Zane is hell-bent on danger--the more he eludes death, the bigger the rush. Then he awakens from a near-drowning not only alive, but in the caring arms of a beautiful angel. But the ethereal Rosemary is driven by her own desires--and full of surprises.

From Catherine Spangler . . . Meet Rachel, hooker and vampire, plying both trades after hours until she meets Gabriel on the night shift. He's an angelic emissary on a mission to prove Rachel still has a sould, and to save it. But she offers him a mortal temptation he never expects . . .

I loved the concept of MaryJanice Davidson's story, "Witch Way." The hero and heroine are destined to battle each other until both die. Unfortunately, neither one wants to do it. The premise is intriguing, and I enjoyed the interaction between Chris and Rhea. However, the story could have used another 20 pages or so to make the romance more convincing. I was a bit disappointed in the love scene as well.

The next story is Catherine Spangler's "Street Corners and Halos." It was lovely to watch the wounded Rachel heal. Her backstory was intriguing, which made her a character I wanted to read about. The resolution did seem a bit too easy; however, I liked spending time with the characters, and I plan to see what else Spangler has written.

Emma Holly's "The Demon's Angel" comes next, and it's set in the same world as the story I loved in Hot Spell. "The Demon's Angel" is plenty hot, and I loved the hero. Once again, though, I would have liked to see what Holly would have done with another 20 pages. Harry and Khira have such a complex relationship simply because of the way they meet. I would have liked to see this dealt with a bit more.

My favorite story was Vickie Taylor's "Angel and the Hellraiser." Rosemary is an angel who is set to save Zane . . . if she can. At first, he appears to be a classic troublemaker; it's soon clear that there's more to him than that. Rosemary has a lot to offer him. In a nice reciprocity, she needs to learn something from Zane as well. This story brought tears to my eyes at one point. It was very nicely done.

Demon's Delight was a quick read with a nice variety of stories. They averaged out the book to be 3.5 out of 5.

Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince

Although I've had J.K. Rowling's Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince since the day it was released, I only read it this month. I didn't read it immediately for a couple of reasons: (1) No air conditioning, so sitting to read a long book didn't sound at all appealing. (2) I was a bit turned off by book 5, which vexed me because of who was killed at the end. I also thought it could have used some editing. Desperately.

This month I finally had the urge to read it, so I did. It was quite good (4.5 out of 5), even though the only development I didn't know before reading was the identity of the Half-Blood Prince. I knew who died this time around--really, who else could it have been? I guessed even before a coworker accidentally let it slip.

Anyway, I'm not going to do a summary, because the Harry Potter books are so well known. I'll just discuss a few things. I imagine I am among the last to read this book, so I'm not going to do the highlight the spoilers thing. So, if you want to avoid spoilers, stop reading.

I thought book 5 could have been condensed quite a bit to be more effective. I felt that way a little with book 6, though not nearly as much.

I liked the bits with Dumbledore. It's nice that Harry (along with the reader) is finally starting to get some answers. The Horcrux idea is fascinating, and it should be interesting to see Harry find and destroy them in the next book. Might Harry also be a Horcrux? It can't be ruled out at this point, and that would certainly add a dramatic touch to book 7. I suspect there will be plenty of dramatic elements in the book.

I was not surprised by Dumbledore's death, or even by the manner of it. In book 5, the one person I didn't want to die was the person who did. I expected this to be the case of book 6 . . . and it was. Dumbledore was clearly next in line.

Not sure what I think of Snape. He's so smarmy and petty, plus killing Dumbledore is not the act of a good person. But it's clear that what he's doing at the end is telling Harry how to defeat Voldemort.

"Blocked again and again and again until you learn to keep your mouth shut and your mind closed, Potter!"

And Snape prevents the Death Eater from killing Harry as well, although he says it's because "Potter belongs to the Dark Lord--we are to leave him!" (More evidence of Harry being a Horcrux?) I don't like Snape, and I'm not sure he's supposed to be likable. But I suspect he will be a crucial part of helping Harry defeat Voldemort.

Harry takes some important steps in this book: standing up for what he believes with regard to the Ministry of Magic; helping Dumbledore retrieve a Horcrux (sort of); making the decision at the end to do whatever it took to defeat Voldemort. I like watching him grow up.

I had originally planned not to read the next book in the series until someone else who read it could confirm that Harry doesn't die in it. But I don't think I'll be able to wait that long before reading it.

The Object of Love

Eeek! I planned to post this more than a week ago. Problem is, when I'm writing, I'm not doing much reading--or writing about reading, for that matter. Well, I'll just keep stumbling along, doing my back and forth thing. Enough about that.

I discovered Sharon Cullars when I read Again for The Romance Reader. I enjoyed it, so I bought The Object of Love when I saw it in the book store. I liked this book even more than Cullars' debut: 4.5 out of 5.

It's been five years since Lacey Burnham saw Sean Logan, and in that time her son Calvin's best friend has turned from a surly youth into a handsome, self-assured young man. Crushed with grief over Cal's sudden death, Lacey offers Sean a place to stay when he's in town--an innocent proposal that quickly becomes anything but. Lacey is stunned and confused by the yearning he ignites with a single kiss . . .

Beautiful, warmhearted Lacey Burnham was a haven of comfort in Sean's troubled youth. Now, against every shred of logic she possesses, Lacey is falling hard for Sean and for a heady carnal bliss she's never experienced before. But the ghosts of the past are waiting. And sooner or later, every shadow must face the light of day . . .

As I mentioned, I liked Again; The Object of Love blew me away. It's full of emotion, drama, and sensuality, and I loved every minute of it. I'm a fan of older women/younger man stories, and this one works really, really well. Sean is the same age as Lacey's son, so we're not talking the five-year (or less) gap we often see in such stories. There's a bigger age difference here, but Cullars does a wonderful job of showing that these two can make it. Sean still has some growing to do, I think, but I am optimistic about their relationship.

Lacey is easy to relate to. Her pain over her son's death is very real, and it makes her very sympathetic. As for Sean . . . well, he's terrific. He's loved Lacey for years, and he finally has an opportunity to show her. I'm not sure how she resists for so long. There's a marvelous scene near a waterfall where you see everything he's feeling. The Object of Love is easily one of the best erotic romances I've read.

Calvin plays an interesting role in the story. I wasn't sure I liked him, but he grew to be sympathetic as well. The resolution to that story is perfect. I enjoyed the way the story unfolds a little at a time.

I was sorry to hear that Cullars has no more books contracted with Kensington. I hope that changes. If it doesn't, though, I'll read her books wherever they end up.

Anyway, I'm hosting a contest with this book, The Object of Love, as a prize. Just post here and tell me about a book you read by a new-to-you author that you enjoyed. I'll select a winner on June 11.

No Humans Involved

When I discovered Kelley Armstrong's books last year, I rapidly devoured them. I've been waiting for the next book in the Otherworld series, No Humans Involved, for a long time. When it finally arrived, I dropped everything to read it: 4.5 out of 5.

It's the most anticipated reality television event of the season: three spiritualists gathered together in one house to raise the ghost of Marilyn Monroe. For celebrity medium Jaime Vegas, it is her best shot at the celebrity holy grail: a TV show of her own. Because, unlike her colleagues, who are more show than substance, Jaime is the real thing.

Reluctant to upstage her fellow spiritualists, Jaime tries to suppress her talents, as she has done her entire life. But there is something lurking in the maze of gardens behind the house: a spirit without a voice. And it won't let go until somehow Jaime hears its terrible story. For the first time in her life, Jaime Vegas understands what humans mean when they say they are haunted. Distraught, Jaime looks to fellow supernatural Jeremy Danvers for help.

As the touches and whispers from the garden grow more frantic, Jaime and Jeremy embark on an investigation into a Los Angeles underworld of black magic and ritual sacrifice. When events culminate in a psychic showdown, Jaime must use the darkest power she has to defeat a shocking enemy--one whose malicious force comes from the last realm she expected . . .

One reason I've been looking forward to this book is the fact that it features Jeremy, the mysterious werewolf alpha who was introduced in Bitten. From Elena's perspective, Jeremy is kind, logical, and often inscrutible. I wondered how he would be perceived from another perspective, and No Humans Involved provides a fascinating glimpse.

Jaime made her first Otherworld appearance in Industrial Magic, but this is the first time we get her point of view. She's a thoughtful, less action-oriented heroine than we've seen in previous books, but these traits don't make her less compelling. I enjoyed the opportunity to spend time with her.

The suspense aspect is terrific. I liked trying to put the puzzle pieces together and see where they led. And I loved the plot twists along the way.

As for Jaime and Jeremy . . . sigh. Some great moments. Truly wonderful moments. The hangman scene was nicely done. Then there's the balcony . . .

As an avid fan of the Otherworld books, I loved getting glimpses of past characters. I asked myself once or twice if a new reader would feel lost. I don't think so; most references had minor impact on the main story. There might be some sense of "Oh, something happened before," but that's often the case in a long-running series.

The next book in the series is told from Hope's perspective. I thought she was set up nicely here, and I loved the scenes--however brief--with Hope and Karl. How am I going to wait a year for the next one . . .

Pleasures of the Night

Like most readers, I have a list of autobuy authors. Sylvia Day is one of them. Reading Pleasures of the Night reminded me why.

In the Twilight between sleep and consciousness, a battle rages between Dream Guardians and Nightmares. Captain Aidan Cross is a legend, as skilled in fulfilling erotic dreams as he is with the glaive that kills his enemies. Women see Aidan as part of their fantasies . . . except Lyssa Bates. Exquisite, desirable, enigmatic Lyssa perplexes this immortal seducer because she sees him as he really is. And as he attempts to unravel her secrets the unthinkable occurs: Aidan Cross falls in love.

Lyssa has been having the most incredible dreams about a man whose blue eyes hold the promise of decadent pleasures and tempting intimacies. And then he appears on her doorstep! This intoxicating stranger is just as irresistible as the man of her dreams . . . but with her surrender there is also grave danger . . .

Because Aidan is on a mission, and the passion that consumes them body and soul could have dire consequences. Loving the mortal woman prophesied to destroy Aidan's world is not only impossible . . . it is forbidden.

Let's get this out of the way. The Alyssa mentioned in the acknowledgements? That's me. Now, here's what I thought of the story.

I love the Dream Guardian world--I think it's interesting and original. Sylvia's got a terrific idea here, and she pulls it off well. Aiden is completely believable as a disillusioned captain who yearns for something more. He finds it in Lyssa. I love their first meeting, where Aidan is intrigued by her no-nonsense attitude. Lyssa's history is also interesting. Though she sleeps a lot, she doesn't really rest.

The story intensifies when Aidan leaves the dream world and comes to Lyssa in the flesh. Day does a great job of showing Lyssa's conflicting confusion and trust when this man she doesn't know appears in her life. Watching their relationship develop was fascinating, and it leads to an amazingly poignant scene toward the end of the book.

I already knew Sylvia wrote wonderful historicals; Pleasures of the Night confirms her position as a leader in paranormal romance: 4.5 out of 5.

Should be interesting to see how the larger story of the Dream Guardian world unfolds.

The Nymph King

Now that I've posted an interview with Gena Showalter, it's time to write a review for her latest book, The Nymph King. I loved it: 4.5 out of 5.

Females young and old, beautiful and plain crave Valerian's touch. None can resist his blatant sensuality and potent allure . . . until he steals Shaye Holling from a Florida beach and holds her prisoner in his underwater kingdom.

The cynical Shaye wants nothing to do with the mighty warlord, but she's inexplicably drawn to him. For underneath the warrior's arrogant beauty lies a complex and powerful man. A man whose caress is like fire . . .

Now Valerian must fight for the privilege of claiming her as his own. Because there's one thing Shaye doesn't know . . .

That when a nymph discovers his true mate, she's his for life.

The Nymph King includes two components I don't necessarily love in a story: kidnapping (it's not a secret if it's on the back cover, right?) and the "true mate" idea. Showalter not only makes both these scenarios work, but creates an unforgettable love story.

I've praised Showalter's world-building before, but I have to say it again. In this book, she provides readers with a fascinating glimpse into Atlantis. It's portrayed so vividly that I could easily picture it, and it also provides insight into Valerian and the other nymphs.

Valerian is wonderful. Yes, Shaye turns out to be his mate, but that doesn't make things easier for him. In fact, he doesn't want a mate. Once he accepts that she's the one for him, he strives to win her--and I do mean win her. He has to work at it, and this results in some wildly romantic moments, such as the one that occurs when she asks him to tell her one thing he likes about her.

Shaye's a slightly less memorable character, but I loved the way she made Valerian work for her love. And her anti-greeting card idea is terrific. An example: "Congratulations on your new promotion. Before you go, would you mind taking the knife out of my back? You'll probably need it again."

I've mentioned before that there is a character in this book named Alyssa because I won a contest. Her role is short but sweet. LOL! Speaking of short and sweet, there's also a terrific secondary romance in this book.

Haunted

I've been looking forward to Silhouette's new Nocturne line since I first heard about it. Lisa Childs's Haunted is my first read.

Ariel Cooper is about to marry her soul mate, but she has a secret. She can see ghosts.

For years Ariel's resented her gift, believing it a curse. She's been hiding it from her powerful, brooding fiance, David, afraid that he wouldn't understand. But now she has to tell him. Twenty years ago, she and her two sisters were separated to protect them from a man who had vowed revenge on the women in her family. And someone has resumed the hunt.

Ariel knows she must warn her sisters before it's too late--the killer is closing in and his power is growing stronger. With David's help, they begin the search. But the closer Ariel comes to finding her sisters, the more secretive he becomes. Can she trust the man she plans to spend eternity with? Or has he been waiting for the perfect moment to destroy her?

I thought the premise was interesting, and I wanted to like the book. It didn't quite work for me, though. Childs's writing style is nice. However, I wanted to see more romance. I think it would have helped if Ariel's emotional tie to David had been clear from the beginning. What was clear was that they were engaged, but I wasn't quite feeling the love. They argue in their first scene, then she runs away. The rest of the book sees her coming back to him, wondering if she can trust him, analysis of his suspicious behavior, running away. Repeat.

The trouble was since I hadn't seen David and Ariel happy together, I wasn't terribly invested in their romance. This needed to be established for the story to work for me. Haunted gets a 2.5 out of 5, but I might try the next book in the series. Elena intrigues me, so I'm curious about her story.

Jacob

I received a copy of Jacquelyn Frank's Jacob at the RWA conference, where editor Kate Duffy called it the project she'd been most excited about. Naturally, this piqued my interest, although I didn't read it until this month. Duffy's praise is a lot to live up to, but I liked the book: 3.5 out of 5.

Since time began, there have been Nightwalkers--the races of the night existing in the shadows. For them, anything is possible, except love with a human. Ancient law denies these impossible pairings that can end only in destruction. For those who waver there is Jacob, the Enforcer.

For 700 years, he has commanded the element of the earth, resisted temptation, and brought to justice those who have fallen prey to their lust for humans. Immune to forbidden desires, Jacob's control is total . . . until Isabella. Then, the conflict begins.

The concept for this book (and series; there are more books to come) is excellent. I was intrigued by the world Frank creates and found myself wanting to know more about it. The relationship between Jacob and Isabella evolves in a natural and interesting way.

I did wish there'd been more depth to the story. I felt like I knew some things about Jacob and Isabella but didn't really know who they were on a deeper level. It didn't help that Isabella is a bit of a cliche at first, an inexperienced librarian. She evolves quite a bit, and I thought she ended up a more interesting character by the end of the book. Still, I would describe this as a pleasant read rather than a particularly riveting one.

Gideon is the hero of the next book; it looks interesting.

Hunted

I've been reading Amelia Elias's work since her first book, Three Wishes. I own most of them, though I haven't read everything. This week, I read Hunted.

Explosions, car wrecks, assassins, escaped murderers, and a kidnapping . . . arranged marriages can really take their toll on a vampire.

Witness to a brutal murder, Sian Lazuro didn't count on the killer escaping moments after his conviction. Three years later, she's learned the hard way there's only one person she can trust--herself. When she wakes up in bed with a gorgeous stranger who claims to have saved her life, she's understandably wary.

Diego Leonides is like no one she's ever met before. Sensual, mysterious, and clearly delusional, he insists not only is he a vampire, but she's now his eternal mate.

Diego never dreamed he'd find his mate by getting hit by her car, and she's no happier about their sudden bonding than she is. The only survivor of a massacre that wiped out his entire Clan, he's spent the century avoiding taking a mate. Now he finds himself stuck with a woman running from a murderer just as the descendants of the vampire slayers who killed his family arrive in San Francisco to finish the job with him.

Arranged marriages are hard enough on a vampire without having to convince his mate that the real bloodthirsty fiends are the mortals . . .

Elias is one of those authors I think should get a NY publishing contract. Any day now. I give Hunted 4.5 out of 5.

One of Elias's strengths is in her characterization. I love Diego's protectiveness even as he wants to fight his growing feelings for Sian. Once he realizes what he feels for her, though, he doesn't hide it from himself or from her. There's something wonderful and sexy about that.

Sian's a strong character as well, a rare heroine who truly can take care of herself . . . at least in most circumstances. The world of vampires is an unfamiliar one for her, and I thought she dealt with the knowledge in a realistic way. She makes a frustrating choice toward the end of the book (just talk to him, OK?), but I still liked her overall.

Hunted is the first book in a series, and I'm looking forward to reading Outcast, the next book, which is out now.

Magic Study

Maria Snyder's Poison Study was one of the most memorable books I read last year. The sequel, Magic Study, is quite good too: 4 out of 5.

With her greatest enemy dead, and on her way to be reunited with the family she'd been stolen from long ago, Yelena should be pleased. But though she has gained her freedom, she can't help feeling isolated in Sitia. Her Ixian background has changed her in many ways--and her newfound friends and relatives don't think it's for the better . . .

Despite the turmoil, she's eager to start her magic training--especially as she's been given one year to harness her power or be put to death. But her plans take a radical turn when she becomes involved with a plot to reclaim Ixia's throne for a lost prince--and gets entangled in powerful rivalries with her fellow magicians.

If that wasn't bad enough, it appears her brother would love to see her dead. Luckily, Yelena has some old friends to help her with all her new enemies . . .

It was nice to revisit Yelena's world and see how she handled new adventures. She is progressing nicely as a character, and I enjoyed seeing her cope in situations where she had more control. In Poison Study, Yelena's actions are restricted by her circumstances; here, she has more freedom. She does make some choices that seem a little reckless when I look back on them, but Snyder does a good job of making these decisions seem logical for the story and the character.

And Valek. He's terrific. I just wish he'd been in the story longer. The man is dynamic, and I loved every page that included him.

Snyder also introduces some elements in this book that make me curious about how they will play out in the future. Now, I just have to wait for Fire Study, the next book in the series.

Must Love Dragons

Stephanie Rowe's Must Love Dragons is the next book in the series that started with Date Me, Baby, One More Time. It's a good story, even if I didn't enjoy it quite as much as the first book: 4 out of 5.

Theresa Nichols is a red-blooded young woman--trapped in a red-hot dragon's body. Until the chance for a real-live date with her cyber boy toy Zeke sends her running to Satan to strike a deal. After all, when you've gone without sex for over two hundred years, a night of good lovin' is worth your eternal soul, right?

Zeke Siccardi is a private detective trying to live a normal life--and outrun his dragon-slaying past. Not easy to do when his sexy online paramour turns out to be a dragon with a contract out on her life. Now Zeke has to protect a woman he was born to kill. But for the love of a fire-breathing sexpot, how hard could it be?

A book about a dragon and dragon hunter offers an instant and intriguing conflict. So why didn't I like this book as much as its predecessor? For me, it was Theresa. Her emotions seemed to vacillate constantly, which made her character not as strong as it could have been. This made the book a little less compelling for me.

I did like Zeke, and I thought he and Theresa had good chemistry.

Satan continues to amuse me. He's hilarious! He's so egotistical and yet brought to his knees by his love for a woman. The next book is apparently about his Rivka. I'll be interested in seeing how that story plays out.

Dark Dreamers

Dark Dreamers is an anthology by Christine Feehan and Marjorie M. Liu.

Dark Dream
She's known him since she was fifteen. Every night, he is with her: his face, his voice. Tonight, Sara Marten will meet the man who is both angel and demon, salvation and temptation: Falcon--the Carpathian, the banished hero. Tonight, Sara will meet the dark-eyed destroyer destined to be her mate.

A Dream of Stone & Shadow
There are those who do terrible things in this world, and those who simply watch. Charlie would do neither. Imprisoned, his only release is through his own destruction--or through Aggie Durand. Sweet as a kiss or a rescued child, she is the one dream he does not dare desire. As an agent of Dirk & Steele, she could be his salvation. Today, Charlie's dream is waking.

I must admit I've read only a few books by Christine Feehan. In general, I thought they were OK, but they didn't make me want to seek out all of her work. In fact, "Dark Dream" is the first Carpathian story of hers I've read; I actually read books from two different series. I thought the premise of this one sounded interesting. I liked the "known him since 15, but don't know who he is" angle. However, I ended up sticking with my "OK, but not terrific" opinion.

My main reason is this: there's not much character conflict. There's a quick introduction and some initial distrust on Sara's part, but this is dispatched quickly. From almost the beginning, there's very little to keep Falcon and Sara apart. Sure, there is an evil vampire who comes after Sara, but there's very little else to the story.

If you like the Carpathian series, though, you might enjoy it more. There are other Carpathian characters as well, who I'm guessing were featured in previous stories. They help the external plot along, and if you've read the previous books, it's probably nice to get this glimpse of how the couples are doing now. Overall, this story rates 3 out of 5.

"A Dream of Stone & Shadow" is the shorter and stronger of the two stories. Liu has a knack for creating interesting situations and original characters, and she does it well in this story. I don't want to say anything more about the plot than the blurb gives away, because I want to avoid spoiling the story. Suffice it to say I thought it struck a nice balance of action and romance. The ending in particular was terrific.

The story transported me back to the magic of Tiger Eye, which I loved for its unique premise and emotional story. "A Dream of Stone & Shadow" struck me in a similar way. Aggie is a wonderful heroine. Charlie fascinated me, and I wanted to know more about him. This story rates 4.5 out of 5.

Cupid Inc.

Michele Bardsley's Cupid Inc. is one I brought back from RWA. It's a quick, if not completely satisfying, read: 2.5 out of 5.

It's not easy to fall in love . . . especially in Sin City. Nobody knows this better than Greek deities Psyche and Eros, who keep a wonderful eye on the mortals in Las Vegas. With a little divine intervention from Aphrodite and the rest of the gods and goddesses, Psyche and Eros set out to fulfill the sexual desires of their clients, hoping to turn lust into love . . .

Wrong office. Right man. A clerical error sends an adventurous woman to the incorrect address, but the accountant she surprises decides this is one appointment he wants to keep in "The Accountant and the Virgin."

In "The Stars in Her Eyes," a wedding planner wins a date with her favorite movie star--and gets a lot more than his autograph.

In "One Mile Up . . . a Little to the Left," two journalists researching a story about a luxury airliner give "flying the friendly skies" a whole new meaning.

In "The Spy Who Rubbed Me," a former jewel thief and a lonely waitress team up for an ecstasy-filled adventure that gets their adrenaline racing and their pulses racing.

Each of the stories is framed with short segments about Psyche, Eros, and Aphrodite. I think this just ended up being a little too "cute" for me. Or maybe I've just read a few too many Greek mythology reworkings. If this isn't the case for you, you'll probably like Cupid Inc. more than I did. I just kept wanting to get back to the other stories.

The four main stories focus on couples who take advantage of the dating service. The novellas are fast paced, quick to read, but they aren't particularly memorable. The short length of each story might be partly to blame--it's hard to develop characters in the space they're given. For fun and light reading, though, you may want to give it a try. The stories are plenty steamy.

My favorite story in the book is "The Stars in Her Eyes." The chemistry between the characters is great, and I enjoyed reading the story. I liked it enough that I'd definitely try Bardsley again if I liked the blurb.