Born Of Fire-Sherrilyn Kenyon

Born Of Fire

Sherrilyn Kenyon

St. Martin’s, Nov 3 2009, $7.99

ISBN: 9780312942311

 

With the deaths of their parents, as the oldest Sharara “Shay” Dagan takes responsibility for her two younger sisters and brother.  She has fed them and put roof over their heads by being a free-tracer bounty hunter.  However, with bills still to pay and her sibling Tessa hospitalized, she needs to make money fast or the government will refuse medical treatment.  She accepts a contact to bring in accused rapist killer C.I. Syn, a friend of her sister Caillen.  They know each other and he has been kind to her family, but a job brings in needed cash.

 

Shay pursues Syn as only she can.  He is on the lam struggling with the betrayal by his wife and his son and knows his pursuer is a legend in bringing in criminals.  However, when Shay catches up to Syn, she fears her attraction to him may be coloring her belief he is innocent; but she prays she is right because she is taking a chance that could harm her sister.

 

The second Ichidian Universe League futuristic fantasy romance (see Born of Night) focuses on two people who know each other, but his past has made him a semi-loner as expected of an assassin while she remains responsible for her siblings.  Fans will enjoy this rewriting of an e-book as this is the ultimate cat and mouse gender war between a take no prisoners tracer and an assassin felon as only Sherrilyn Kenyon can describe.

 

Harriet Klausner

The Lost-J.D. Robb, Patricia Gaffney, Mary Blayney and Ruth Ryan Langan

The Lost

J.D. Robb, Patricia Gaffney, Mary Blayney and Ruth Ryan Langan

Jove, Nov 24 2009, $7.99

ISBN: 9780515147186

 

“Missing in Death” by J.D. Robb”.  A tourist disappears from a ferry in which she did not leap from but is no longer on board; neither are a dead person and a killer.  NYPD Lieutenant Eve Dallas leads the investigation.

 

“The Dog Days of Laurie Summer” by Patricia Gaffney.  The accident left the mom in a coma, but now the workaholic awakens; but her world is similar yet not quite what her memory recalls as she sees things from the view of a dog.

 

“Lost in Paradise” by Mary Blayney.  The nurse arrives at an island fortress giving hope to the man locked inside by an ancient curse that she is the key to his freedom.

 

“Legacy” by Ruth Ryan Langan. The grieving woman travels to the castle in Ireland where she uncovers a family secret buried on the estate.

 

Though four radically different scenarios, readers will not feel lost with this fantasy-science fiction quartet as each author hits a home run.

 

Harriet Klausner

 

Rion-Susan Kearney

Rion

Susan Kearney

Forever, Nov 24 2009, $6.99

ISBN: 9780446543323

 

Humanity has been saved from extinction due to the magic elixir of dragon blood (see Lucan).  No longer sterile, mankind still struggles with adjusting to the byproducts like shapeshifting.  In demand are telepaths like Marisa Rourke who can keep people calm, which enables the avoidance of panic attacks.

 

Rion of the Chivalri has come from space because he believes Marisa’s gift can save his people enslaved by the Unari.  Having his own paranormal skill, Rion’s precognitive ability warns him time is running out.  Not wanting a debate, he kidnaps an outraged Marisa.  However, once she understands the plight of the Chivalri and the danger of the Unari to his people and her, she is a willing ally.  Falling in love just strengthens their regard.

 

The second Pendragon legacy continues the search for the Holy Grail with a spin in space to an enslaved planet desperately trying to obtain freedom before extinction.  Readers will consider places like colonized Africa as the Tyranizer and the Unari suck out the essence of Chivalri leaving nothing behind except an economy in ruin.  Fans will appreciate this enjoyable outer space romantic fantasy.

 

Harriet Klausner

Obsidian Prey-Jayne Castle

Obsidian Prey

Jayne Castle

Jove, Aug 25 2009, $7.99

ISBN: 9780515146899

On the planet Harmony, humans were not the first people to live there as an ancient race lived and traveled in underground buildings, tunnels and catacombs that cross the entire orb.  The former inhabitants were strong in ESP and also left behind strong residual PSI that had the effect of brining out similar previously latent powers in humans.

Lyra Dore is one of the few who can work amethyst amber and has found a lode of amethyst strong in PSI in an underground rain forest.  The Amber Inc CEO Cruz Sweetwater went undercover and worked on her until she told him about the find.  He steals her lode.  Three months later, he walks back into her life because his psychic powers have made him realize who his true love is.  Cruz knows he must convince her that he will never betray her again as he loves her, but her distrust is strong even when someone threatens to kill him and kidnap her.

Whether she writes historical, contemporary or science fiction, Jayne Castle also known as Amanda Quick and Jayne Anne Krentz can be depended on for providing her readers with a blockbuster romance. Her myriad of fans can be counted on to buy any of her titles regardless of milieu and author name.   Her latest return to Harmony affirms her writing skills as the planet is a great place to explore with Ms. Castle as the guide taking her devoted audience to the caverns filled with sizzling PSI energy.  Lyra is wonderful as an independent prospector who learns from being burned; while intriguingly he does not regrets his actions but is burned more so as his obsidian and her amethyst is a fiery PSI heart and soul matching .  This is another winning romance from a writer comfortable in several sub-genres.

Harriet Klausner

Make Me Yours-Betina Krahn

Make Me Yours

Betina Krahn

Harlequin Blaze, Jul 2009, $4.99

ISBN: 9780373794836

In 1887 English widow Mariah Eller owns and runs the Eller-Stapleton Inn.  When nobles to include Bertie the Prince of Wales get drunk at her inn and start causing problems, Mariah calmly outsmarts them.

Bertie is hooked by the brave intelligent tavern owner and orders her to be his royal mistress.  The only way for her to avoid Bertie is with a husband.  She once gain outwits the male aristocracy when she decides to go after Bertie’s loyal friend Jack St. Lawrence.  He wants her, but fears the reprcussions of stealing the Prince’s propsed next mistress and worse worries how his family will react to her occupation.  He underestimated the force of his Mariah.

MAKE ME YOURS will be on the best of the year list of historical romances as this is a great jocular late Victorian with a great fresh concept.  Mariah is fantastic as all she wants is preventing the drunks from wrecking her tavern, but consequently must deal with the unwanted adulation of the royal; as one thing leads to another and another, etc.  Jack is caught between a hard place and an even harder place as he is in love with the tavern owner who is supposed to be the prince’s woman not his; and of course he expects the scorn of his aristocratic family if he chooses Mariah.  However soon the prince, Jack who knows nothing, and even a pauper will learn not to mess with the wind they call Mariah.

Harriet Klausner

Seduce the Darkness-Gena Showalter

Seduce the Darkness

Gena Showalter

Pocket, Jun 30 2009, $7.99

ISBN: 1416531645

Targonia Royal House Prince Devyn de bon ci Laci had spent what seemed several lifetimes being in trouble with his royal father for his womanizing of any female of any species in spite of his being betrothed to Princess Mika since birth.  Now he is an agent of AIR (Alien Investigation and Removal).

Bride McKellis grew up on the streets rather fast during the Alien-Human war, but now almost eight decades later the vampiric survivalist lives in New Chicago.  She smells a special odor that reminds her of her long time friend Aleha Love whom she has not seen in sixteen years.  She chases after the aroma, which leads her to the egomaniacal Devyn, still a womanizer and tries to pick her up though he is Targon and she is human; and he takes her underground so she can meet more.  He also knows her blood is critical to save some friends of his, but he to his shock is falling in love; she fell in love when they were still on the streets of New Chicago.  As Bride begins to comprehend who she truly is, she fears she must choose between love and her destiny to save the world.

SEDUCE THE DARKNESS is a super futuristic romantic thriller that takes an interesting urban fantasy spin from the previous Alien Investigation and Removal science fiction entries (see the Alien Huntress and Teen Alien Huntress saga).  The story line is fast-paced but it is the pairing of Devyn and Bride that makes the tale fun to read as ironically the womanizer has finally met his woman, but she is destiny’s darling.  Gena Showalter fans will enjoy her latest New Chicago tale that twists the series into a wider range of future possibilities.

Harriet Klausner

Intimate Beings-Jessica Inclan

Intimate Beings

Jessica Inclan

Zebra, Oct 2008, $13.00

ISBN: 1420101145

 

San Francisco kindergarten teacher Claire Edwards has always felt like the outsider, but lately that depressing feeling has been overwhelming.  Her job is boring her and the dates she does have are even more tedious.  Her only fun is renting films from Netflix.  However, the dreams are what scare her; as how many adults sleep with a spaceship in their head.

 

Darl James has felt the same way about his life as has Claire.  However, he knows why as he has learned they are not of this earth.  Darl seeks his soulmate Claire because together their special skills enhanced by love make them a formidable force.  Claire can think herself to any place while Darl can think himself home from anyplace.  When they meet, each feels whole for the first time and soon seek other hidden aliens, but instead find themselves trapped in a galaxy war as a bellicose race that destroyed their home planet focuses on earth.

 

This is a fun science fiction romance that ironically even with the potential destruction of the earth and the already annihilation of other planets and species is a lighthearted romp.  The story line is faster than a speeding space ship, but never goes deep into any of the alien races.  Still Jessica Inclan provides an engaging try to save the world by alien residents (without green cards) especially the heroine who leaves behind the crayon drawings of kindergarten artists.

 

Harriet Klausner

Knight’s Fork-Rowena Cherry

Knight’s Fork

Rowena Cherry

Love Spell, Oct 2008, $6.99

ISBN: 0505527405

 

Volnoth Queen Consort Electra loves her mate Viz-lgerd, but knows they are checked when it comes to siring a child.  She chooses Rhett as the sperm pawn for her offspring.  However, she is unaware of two key facts about the pawn she has chosen.  First he is the son of Volnoth’s greatest enemy  Ala’Asrer-Djalet, who is better known as the Saurian Dragon of the Djinn family; second he adheres to his vow of chastity.

 

Electra and Rhett are surprised by finding themselves attracted to one another.  However, her brother Prince Tarrant-Arragon assumes they are having an affair.  He insures they are trapped together on their way to earth.  As they fall in love, his amoral father and her outraged family insist something must be done to the assumed lovers.

 

The latest chess futuristic romance (see FORCED MATE and INSUFFICIENT MATING MATERIAL) is once again a strange but well written and fascinating tale.  The story line is character driven as Electra tries to checkmate her reluctant knight.  Fans will enjoy the latest sci fi romance from the creative Rowena Cherry as  she has aliens falling intoa  taboo love which makes make for an intriguing albeit weird but entertaining saga.

 

Harriet Klausner