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: Angie Fox
Number of pages: 308

The wild and wacky life of Lizzie the Demon Slayer wouldn’t be complete without a trip to Las Vegas to keep her Fairy God Uncle from marrying a succubus.

Intrigued? You should be. This paranormal universe is unlike any other on the market. The character is more Kindergarten teacher (her former profession) than Vampire Slayer, and the loony trail of Biker Witches that help her are unlike any other leather-clad sidekick. But the true side-kick award goes to little Pirate, who’s plucky-dog-sense gets him a bit of demon pant leg and a whole lotta trouble.

But before you despair completely, there is a shiny-bad-boy griffin (he looks like a greek yum yum model so it’s bonus time!) who rides along side Lizzie, giving her the support and lovin’ every Demon Slayer needs.

Overall book rating: 8

with Lora Leigh, Erin McCarthy, Nalini Singh, Linda Winstead Jones

While loosely based on a theme, this anthology really isn’t as cute as the title or cover relates. Of course, the tip off should have been Lora Leigh’s name on the cover.

HOT romance with cats.

Really. or Really?

Best story, Christmas Heat. Leigh delivers. Overall: 6.5

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 Julianne Lee

The third in a powerfully detailed and surprisingly unformulated series, Knight’s Lady brings back Lindsay and Alex MacNeil and their lost son Trefor. Frankly, this is a series that shouldn’t be passed over because it doesn’t follow the rules of romance. There is too much inside the cover to miss out on.

Between the history and the mythology, Lee has her homework handed in with an A plus. A must read for geeks like me that don’t always expect a happy ending. Hopefully, the series won’t end here and we get to read more about Trefor.

Overall: 8.4 Amazing.

by Shanna Swendson

Frogs, Wizards, Fairies complete with wings…just another typical day in New York City. Small town Texas gal Katie Chandler is trying very hard to ignore all the weirdness in New York City, but when MSI Corp wants to recruit her things get REALLY interesting.

Her special talent of having NO talent is valuable. Just how valuable is proven in the high-jinx and mayhem that ensues. Side-rippingly funny. Don’t miss the frogs, they steal the show.

Overall: 8.8 Sweet ending, but not HEA. Stay tuned for more books it should prove to be an interesting series.

(anthology) with Angela Knight, Lora Leigh, Alyssa Day, and Virginia Kantra

With heavy erotic romance writers on the billing of this book I knew it was going to be one of “those” books. The Leigh and Knight stories were classic fare that their fans can expect. Leigh’s “Breed” story “Jaguar’s Kiss” was just as hot, steamy, squicky and disjointed as her books. We are hit right in the middle of the story and there is a lot of back story that needs to be told to us as the “romance” progresses. This detracts from the overall work unfortunately. 5.1

Angela Knight’s story was a bit of a surprise to me as it is a futuristic were story. No longer are the wolves confined to the castle (Where wolf, there wolf…) or the forests, but now are slaves in a interstellar meat market similar to Spartacus. It’s a must read of the book for any geek that’s seen Ep. IV of Star Wars more than twice. Of course, if Indiana Jones is more to your liking than Han Solo there are other stories in this book you might like. 7.2

Especially warm and wonderful was Sea Crossing. Not only Hamilton can do Roans. This paranormal meets regency is an eye-opening genre crosser that sparkles like sunlight on the ocean. The hero is fantastically not human and the writing above standard. The story’s uniqueness was the main draw though. It hearkened to ancient tales of lost ships and siren call that draws people to look longingly at the vast sea. 7.6

Filling out the book was Alyssa Day’s latest addition to her Atlantean series. This short isn’t as rushed as the last full length novel she produced in the series and the plot is much better. There are still too many loose ends as we are left with missing Mer-warriors and more questions about who is pulling the evil strings. 6.7

Overall: It rates much better than the last anthology I read with Virginia Kantra in it. 6.7

by Katie MacAlister

This fun little duet of twisted myths picks up where stoic Greek legends don’t dare tread. The first story, “Stag Party” deals with a jilted Irish fertility god, wacky druid cultists, an American travel writer and some oddball deities thrown in to make life very interesting for the poor Stag. Will he end up solo? A snortingly funny story with just enough grown up humor.

The second story “Norse Truly” was a bit darker but no less humorous. Poor Alrik Sirgudsson has been playing the Ancient Mariner for too long. Only by finding the right witch/Valkyrie can he and his men be free to cease their sea-faring ways. Again, the poor Yank doesn’t see what’s coming.

Overall: While not a meal, just enough sweetness and yummy heroes to make it tasty. 6.75

by Eileen Wilks

I really think I read this book’s prequel, but for the life of me cannot be certain because the writing style/voice is so unique that I should have recognized it.

Wilks spins such a hefty web of world building and paranormal camp plot that the novel cannot be put down easily. That’s a good thing, right? I’m not sold. The non-geeky part of me was simply overwhelmed by the shear size of Night Season’s universe. Much like a newbie Tolkein fan I simply could not grasp much outside the Shire.

Overall: Masterful writing, complex storyline, compelling concept but not affiable characters. 7.5

by Jim Butcher

Normally I’m too cheap to buy hardcover. I’ll admit. I’d rather wait an additional six months to a year to get my hands on a paperback than shell out twenty plus for a book. That is SOOOoooo bad on so many levels (especially since someday I’ll be one of those authors begging for people to buy my books in hardcover). But once in a while there are books (especially if you can get them with the Borders discount card ) that are WORTH $23.95 USD. Small Favor is one of them.

There have been complaints that the hero of this series snarls too much. Yes there were at least two snarls in this one but it doesn’t detract from the overall joie de vivre that is Chicago’s foremost Wizard/detective/warden. Small Favor continues the snarling adventures of Harry (He’s in the book…) Dresden as he is called upon by the queen of the Winter Court for a favor he owes. What is this favor, you ask? He has to save gangster Gentleman Johnny Marcone from the clutches of an even evilier foe. Hum? Conflict of interest? The romp brings back the Carpenter family with a very poignant opening scene that contrasts clearly with the rest of the book. There is a reason Harry continually gets beat up for things that he doesn’t have to stick his nose in. We see that view of the world and at least one more time of the normalcy that is threatened when magic couples with malice. These insights have us cheering Harry and gang and crying along with them.

A very powerful, yet fun book.

Overall: Amazing despite the snarls. 9.9