by: Mario Acevedo

Number of pages: 368

This was another new author challenge book.

Usually modern vampire stories are written by women, but Acevedo brings a unique twist to the standard. Ex-Operation Freedom vet, now vampire, Felix Gomez has turned to “normal” life as a detective.

His vamp powers add a twist and provide an edge to the standard detective. He’s called to Rocky Flats, Colorado, by an old friend to investigate the cause of an outbreak of nymphomania.

Really, nymphomania… that’s a problem, right?

Before you think this is an erotic romance, think again…it is a detective story with an edge and a lovely one at that.

Gomez bumbles almost as badly as Columbo, but, like Columbo, has a method and it works.

What works better is Acevedo’s writing. It is brutally honest, direct, and poetic. Where else can you get a line like this:

No mistress of the dark, she looked more like a matron of the refrigerator.

I LOVED it! Thanks to Jackie from LE for turning me on to this author.

Overall book rating: 9.75

by: Christine Feehan

Number of pages: 361

Wow!

Feehan has a delicate touch, and has mastered it with this book. Despite the focal pair being literally torn apart, they have truly two of the most complete character developments I’ve read. The slayer, Ivory Malinov, has every right to be a vicious animal with no remorse. Yet her character shines with warrior valor. (no wimpy heroine in this one folks!)

And her leading man, Razvan, is the true balance to Ivory’s steel. His quiet strength and self-sacrificing nature creates a harmonic that blends into brilliant writing. The love story is not hurried, the big-bads chasing the pair aren’t bloated and pompous, the supporting characters aren’t overly saccharine. This is one of the best books of this series. It should appeal to both lovers of the Dark Carpathians, and newcomers to Feehan’s unique gentleness.

Lovely, tough, and satisfying.

Overall book rating: 8

by: Angela Knight, Diane Whiteside, Emma Holly, and Lora Leigh

Billed as “Four stories of limitless desire…” Beyond the Dark promises near-erotic romance with a bite of paranormal exoticy.

By far, Holly’s story was the most unique. Instead of being rooted to this world and the limitations of standard paranormal fare, the mix throws in aliens, ancient Egypt, erotic god powers and a steamy story line.

Leigh’s installment of the breed series ties up a few loose ends and opens the door to better heroes. Instead of being entirely ruled by the mating heat, the leading man allows his captive intended a choice.

Dragon Dance by Angela Knight was amazing and had great potential as a jumping off point or introduction to a promising series.

Whiteside’s story would appeal to Regency lovers who desire a bit of magic.

Overall book rating: 7.5625

by Kat Richardson
pages: 352
(part of the Literary Escapism New Author/League challenge)

In overview, my introductory step into the Grey was engaging, and an act of will power since I kept getting pulled away to do the mundane normal world stuff like work and help with the grand-baby. By the time the big build-up climaxed, I was distracted and left standing on the outside looking in, rather than being immersed in the story.

On the back cover:

Harper Blaine was your average small-time PI until a two-bit perp’s savage assault left her dead—for two minutes, to be precise.

This simple incident leads to a series of increasingly bizarre encounters. At first, Harper blames it on the knock to the head she received, but as things get weirder, she fears (like most of us would) she is going crazy. On the dubious advice of a doctor, she seeks out Ben and Mara Danzinger who tell her what she is seeing is what they call “the Grey.” Or in other words, the world between this reality and the afterlife.

Harper’s world gets more bizarre after a routine missing person case she is working on unveils yet another connection to the Grey.

In classic Hammett-noir fashion, the cases Harper pursues, and the connection to the mysterious increase. The stakes get higher, and the characters get darker. The reader starts to doubt the motives along with the detective and the drama rises to a deadly level.

Wonderfully engaging, and the beginnings of a great series.

8.5 out of 10

by Jacquelyn Frank

Demon king Noah finds his mate. And she’s got superpowers. Yawn. Even the sex scenes were boring. Ms. Frank should have left the leading lady dead, it would have been more interesting.

score: 6…barely

Mary Janice Davidson, Susan Grant, Gena Showalter, and PC Cast

Paranormal meets Desperate Housewives, with strange behavior as the norm.

Disdaining Trouble : good story, drew you into the atmosphere. Was the best one of the book even if it did stretch believability. 7.8

The nanny from Hell: not as good as the first story but sweet enough to give you satisfaction: sub-character arcs not developed. 7.1

A Tawdry Affair: too much going on. The story opens with so much backstory unwritten it is very hard to follow.5.2

It’s in his kiss: cute, but not noteworthy. Romeo and Juliet and contrivance. 6.4

by Lori Handeland

Elizabeth Phoenix used to be a police officer, but left because her “gift” of seeing things through touch caused the death of her partner. Now she is drawn into more intrigue as her foster mother is brutally murdered. And the main suspect is her ex-boyfriend and enigma, Jimmy Sanducci.

Drawn into an underworld of paranormal war, she must choose to follow her destiny and avenge her foster-mother’s death and pick up the mantle of leadership she left behind.

Grade: writing: 8.6

by Dakota Cassidy

This chick-lit foul-mouthed paranormal fantasy is the second of the accidental series by Dakota Cassidy. The plucky heroine is Jersey gal all the way who inadvertently, or accidentally gets made into a vampire. Mayhem and madness ensue within a well-toned book that skips from page to page with just enough “aw” factor to wow the reader.

While stereotypical of the new genre, this book has substance in character growth. HEA’s don’t come easy or emotionally cheap here. Good read.

by Mary Janice Davidson

Latest Queen Betsy the vampire book, features shoes (in a limited capacity) and mayhem. By far the most pronounced change from prior Betsy books is the cover art, the forward by the author (which foreshadows changes and explains the cover art), and the last section of the book.

Betsy is growing up.  These former romantic tales are crossing over into Urban Fantasy.

Other books this week: Razor Girl(another Shomi title) by Marianne Mancusi…with all the hype on this list over Shaun of the Dead and zombie books, this one is a MUST read. It’s zombie camp with attitude wrapped up in a nice little thriller / zombie / apocalypse / romance. Weird combo, huh? It scores at least an 8 out of 10 on the Amy meter (hard grader, no curve, no mercy…I’m one of _those_ “critics”)

Also read and recommend: I read “Because Your Vampire Said So” by Michelle Bardsley. A VERY cute installment of the single mom vampires of Broken Heart, Oklahoma. One thing I forgot/didn’t remember about this series, is that each book deals with a different single parent. So I got confused. Is that a bad thing? Not really. This little romp has demons, ancient vampires, teenage boys smoking pot…you know… the usual mess we clean up, right?

LOL! Sometimes I wish hot, hunky, were creatures would pop into my backyard for me, JUST ME…! At least a 6.5-7.5 because it was entertaining. But don’t expect substance.