Archive for Paranormal Romance
My Big Fat Supernatural Wedding - Fantasy Book Anthology
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If you’ve ever planned a wedding, gotten married, or even just been a wedding guest, you’ll appreciate the twisted tales in this nuptial-themed collection of short stories from a host of top-notch paranormal authors.
Spellbound by L.A. Banks
Odelia Hatfield and Jefferson McCoy, of the infamous families, fall in love as college sweethearts and battle their disapproving relatives as they plan their wedding, with a little magic thrown in, of course.
Something Borrowed by Jim Butcher
Werewolf Billy is ditched at the alter by Georgia, but when his best man Harry investigates, he discovers that someone has placed Georgia under a spell. Now he must figure out how to break it before it’s too late.
Dead Man’s Chest by Rachel Caine
A wedding aboard a pirate ship might seem like a dream, but Cecilia Welles’ fiancee has more than romance in mind for her, as does the pirate captain Lockhart. Will she make it out of her honeymoon alive?
All Shook Up by P.N. Elrod
Frankie Foster is catering a wedding for Santiago and Trinidad, and impersonator Elvis makes an appearance. But something tells her these two should not be getting married, and there’s something a little off about this Elvis.
The Wedding of Wylda Serene by Esther M. Friesner
Spoiled little princess Wylda is determined to have her wedding at the exclusive Club, although it has a history of strange events. But she refuses to listen to reason, and sheer chaos ensues.
Charmed by the Moon by Lori Handeland
Does true love really exist? This sweet story explores the concept with werewolf hunter Jessie, who’s set to marry professor Will when she discovers a love charm. Now she has to figure out if they’re really in love, or if the charm has blurred reality.
Tacky by Charlaine Harris
Harris works her magic again with this short from the Southern Vampire series. The impending wedding of vampire Taffy and werewolf Don has fangs out and fur ruffled since vamps are not supposed to marry outside of their race.
A Hard Day’s Night-Searcher by Sherrilyn Kenyon
The Dark Hunters return in this suspenseful story involving the love between a squire and one of the immortal warriors who spend eternity protecting the world from supernatural enemies.
…Or Forever Hold Your Peace by Susan Krinard
A wedding in Victorian England is rife with mystery, a disappearing bride and supernatural complications. Can Lady Olivia Dowling and Christopher Meredith sidestep the obstacles and solve the mystery?
Overall this was a thoroughly enjoyable book that gave me some exposure to a few new fantasy book writers. My Big Fat Supernatural Wedding is now On Sale at Amazon!
Fantasy Book Review - Spider’s Bite by Jennifer Estep
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Spider’s Bite, by Jennifer Estep, tells the story of Gin, a top assassin in a Southern town run by Elementals who rule with their magic. Gin works with Fletcher, her handler and mentor, at a barbeque restaurant called The Pork Pit. When he’s not serving barbeque, Fletcher is handing out jobs for Gin, nicknamed The Spider, to perform. In addition to being the best-trained assassin east of the Mississippi, she’s also a Stone elemental, which gives her the ability to manipulate and manage stone - a good skill to have in your back pocket when you’re operating in a world populated by Fire, Ice and Air elementals.
Fletcher has just handed Gin a new job: taking out an embezzler for a nice $5 million dollar payday. Gin is nervous about this “easy” job because quite frankly, it’s just too easy. However the tidy fee associated with this job would guarantee her ability to get out of the killing business for good. But Gin soon finds out that there’s truth in the statement “if it’s too good to be true” when she ends up targeted by another assassin during the commission of this job.
Heading back to the safety of Fletcher and the Pit, she comes upon a horrific discovery: the tortured body of Fletcher. Clearly someone wants Gin very badly and they killed Fletcher trying to find her. Now Gin has a new mission – find and avenge the death of her handler.
Teaming up with Fletcher’s son they proceed to find out who killed Fletcher and why Gin was set up to take the fall for his murder. Initially pursued by smoking hot police detective, Donovan Caine, Gin ends up surprising him by making a unique proposition - work with them to find the people who set her up and they’ll help him find out who’s dirty in his department. Unfortunately, Donovan has personal reasons to despise Gin; this coupled with his attraction to her serves to notch up the tension between the two of them even more.
With Spider’s Bite, the first book in the new Elemental Assassin’s series, Jennifer Estep has given us a story of action, mystery and complicated attraction as the team of three works to avenge Fletcher’s death and unravel the conspiracy. I love urban fantasy books with strong, smart women who protect the ones they care about and at the same time give the bad guys exactly what they deserve - a full measure of revenge with all the venom contained in a spider’s bite.
Fantasy Book Review - Shadow Blade by Seressia Glass
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Seressia Glass’ new novel, Shadow Blade, tells the story of a young woman, Kira Solomon, who is an elite warrior, working diligently to keep the balance between Light and Shadow. The story takes place in Atlanta with the normal, human world mixing in with a parallel world of magic and ancient rituals. Kira works for the Gilead Commission as a Shadowchaser – someone who ensures that the world is protected from the worst of the Shadow creatures who want to bring chaos into our reality.
The fun begins when Kira is introduced to a mysterious dagger, brought to her by her friend, Bernie Comstock. He wants her to touch it and tell him its story. Kira always wears gloves when she does this because she can’t touch an object without seeing everything that previously touched it (a real problem when trying to eat meat - ugh!). When she touches people, it just drains the energy out of them, leaving them in a coma. However, since she wants to help her friend she takes her gloves off and touches the dagger, seeing an ancient world, ancient and modern battles and lots and lots of magic. What’s shocking is that all of her visions feature the same tall, fierce warrior. It’s clear that a single man has carried this dagger for the last four thousand years. By the time Kira jerks her hands away from the dagger she realizes that this mysterious stranger clearly wants it back.
After her friend Bernie meets a fatal end Kira goes all out to avenge his death. It’s not helping that the four-thousand year old warrior, Khefar, has caught up to her and is only focused on getting his magical knife back. Apparently, this knife can undo all of creation if it falls in the wrong hands, such as Shadow hands. Kira simply wants him out of her way since she’s got work to do. That is, until he reaches out and grabs her arm - and nothing happens! He’s the first person to touch her in years that isn’t affected by her power. The gods must like her since the first person to be able to touch her and survive is a tall, muscled, gorgeous Nubian warrior. We should all be so lucky . . .
Kira and Khefar end up working together to find out who killed Bernie and to protect the dagger from the Shadow forces. Kira has to learn to trust this man who has inserted himself into her life while Khefar needs to see Kira as a partner, not just a soldier in his army who he orders around. The attraction between the two of them helps with this effort - it’s hard to kiss someone if you think of them as a soldier in your army!
With Shadow Blade, Seressia Glass, a Romantic Times Reviewer’s Choice Award winner, has written an urban fantasy tale with all the elements that I like in a good story: magic, deception, redemption, romance and victory - a solid formula for a very entertaining read. I’m certainly looking forward to the next installment in the adventures of Kira and Khefar.
New Fantasy Books for March 2010
Posted by: | CommentsI love finding new fantasy books!
There a TON of new fantasy books being released in March 2010. I’ve narrowed the list down to urban and contemporary books since that’s what I review at the site. Notice that there are a good number of vampire books on the list as well as a few werewolf books. Hurrah!
Let’s get started!
Silver Borne by Patricia Briggs
When mechanic and shapeshifter Mercy Thompson attempts to return a powerful Fae book she’d previously borrowed in an act of desperation, she finds the bookstore locked up and closed down.
It seems the book contains secret knowledge-and the Fae will do just about anything to keep it out of the wrong hands. And if that doesn’t take enough of Mercy’s attention, her friend Samuel is struggling with his wolf side - leaving Mercy to cover for him before his father discovers his problem and decides he’d be better off dead.
All in all, Mercy has had better days. And if she isn’t careful, she might not have many more to live . . .
Werewolf Smackdown by Mario Acevedo
Vampire private investigator Felix Gomez finds him caught between alpha werewolves battling for supremacy in sunny Charleston, S.C. When a high-powered werewolf attorney tries to hire Gomez to kill his rival, Gomez refuses. The last thing he wants is to be the guy responsible for breaking the “uneasy truce” that exists among supernatural entities. But as soon as Gomez dodges that metaphorical bullet, someone tries to put a real one through him. Finding the answers will bring Gomez up against an estranged old lover and an old enemy, and just might get him killed.
Shift by Rachel Vincent
Being the first female werecat enforcer isn’t easy. Scars accumulate, but I’m stronger in so many ways.
As for my personal life? It’s complicated. Choices worth making always are. Ever since my brother’s death and my father’s impeachment, it’s all I can do to prevent more blood from spilling. Now our Pride is under attack by a flight of vicious thunderbirds. And making peace with our new enemies may be the only way to get the best of our old foe.
With the body count rising and treachery everywhere, my instincts tell me to look before I leap. But sometimes a leap of faith is the only real option . . .
Shadowglass by Erica Hayes
Welcome to a secret world hidden behind shadowy fairy glamour, where thieving spriggans rob you blind, beautiful banshees mesmerize you with their song, big green trolls kick heads at nightclubs and vampire Mafiosi rule the streets. Here a seductive magic mirror lies hidden deep in a demon’s lair, with a simple warning: don’t stare at the glass…Ice is a light-fingered fairy who can’t resist a look at the powerful mirror. The mirror offers her a chance to achieve everything she’s ever dreamed of. But when she pilfers it, she discovers that its power comes with a price: the mirror is a gateway to obsession and madness…and it will take every trick in her arsenal just to survive.
Roadkill by Rob Thurman
It’s time to lock, load, and hit the road . . . Once, while half-human Cal Leandros and his brother Niko were working on a case, an ancient gypsy queen gave them a good old-fashioned backstabbing. Now, just as their P.I. business hits a slow patch, the old crone shows up with a job.
She wants them to find a stolen coffin that contains a blight that makes the Black Death seem like a fond memory. But the thief has already left town, so the Leandros brothers are going on the road. And if they’re very, very lucky, there might even be a return trip . . .
A Local Habitation by Seanan McGuire
Toby Daye-a half-human, half-fae changeling-has been an outsider from birth. After getting burned by both sides of her heritage, Toby has denied the fae world, retreating to a “normal” life. Unfortunately for her, the Faerie world had other ideas…
Now her liege, the Duke of the Shadowed Hills, has asked Toby to go to the Country of Tamed Lightening to make sure all is well with his niece, Countess January O’Leary. It seems like a simple enough assignment-until Toby discovers that someone has begun murdering people close to January, and that if the killer isn’t stopped, January may be the next victim.
Dominion by Fred Saberhagen
When two ancient, ruthless beings, locked in a struggle for the ultimate magic Weapon, bring their blood feud to New York, Vlad Tepes (a good guy vampire) races to hide the coveted weapon.
Deep In The Woods by Chris Marie Green
With the female master of the London Underground in her hands, stuntwoman-turnedvampire hunter Dawn Madison must fight off her followers, a vicious pack of undead teenage girls who put the vamps Dawn had to deal with in Los Angeles to shame . . .
Born To Be Wild by Christine Warren
Josie Barrett brings out the animal in men. Literally. As the local veterinarian in a town that’s approximately seventy percent Others—mostly shapeshifters—Josie deals with beastly situations all the time. It’s practically part of her job description. But when the werewolves of Stone Creek, Oregon, start turning downright feral, Josie smells a rat—among other, more dangerous critter.
Teaming up with the ferociously sexy Eli Pace, a full-time sheriff and part-time were-lion, Josie tries to contain the shapeshifting problem before it spreads like a virus. But when more shifters get infected—and stuck in their animal forms—the fur really begins to fly. Josie and Eli have to find the cause, fast, before the whole town goes to the dogs. But first, they have to wrestle with a few animal urges of their own.
and Falling, Fly by Skyler White
In a dark and seedy underground of burned-out rock stars and angels-turned- vampires, a revolutionary neuroscientist and a fallen angel must put medicine against mythology in an attempt to erase their tortured pasts…but at what price?
Olivia, vampire and fallen angel of desire, is hopeless…and damned. Since the fall from Eden, she has hungered for love, but fed only on desire. Dominic O’Shaughnessy is a neuroscientist plagued by impossible visions. When his research and her despair collide at L’Otel Mathillide-a subterranean hell of beauty, demons, and dreams-rationalist and angel unite in a clash of desire and damnation that threatens to destroy them both.
Abraham Lincoln: Vampire Hunter by Seth Grahame-Smith
When Abraham Lincoln was nine years old, his mother died from an ailment called the “milk sickness.” Only later did he learn that his mother’s deadly affliction was actually the work of a local vampire, seeking to collect on Abe’s father’s unfortunate debts.
Using The Journal of Abraham Lincoln as a guide, the true life story of our great president is reconstructed for the first time—all while revealing the hidden history behind the Civil War, and uncovering the massive role vampires played in the birth, growth, and near-death of our nation.
The Midnight Mayor by Kate Griffin
One by one, the protective magical wards that guard London are falling. This is not good news. An array of supernatural defenses - a mix of international tourist attractions and forgotten urban legends - formed a formidable magical shield around the city, one that could protect London from the greatest threat it has ever known. But what could be threatening the safety of the entire city?
Against his better judgment, Matthew Swift is about to find out. And if he’s lucky, he might just live long enough to do something about it . . .
Mind Games by Carolyn Crane
Justine Jones has a secret. A hardcore hypochondriac, she’s convinced a blood vessel is about to burst in her brain. Then, out of the blue, a gorgeous man named Packard peers into Justine’s soul and invites her to join his private crime-fighting team. It’s a once-in-a-lifetime deal. With a little of Packard’s hands-on training Justine is able to fight some of the worst criminals in the city.
But there’s more to Packard than meets the eye. Soon, while battling her attraction to Packard and a handsome police chief, Justine plunges deeper into a world of wizardry, eroticism, and cosmic secrets, and discovers a reality more frightening than her worst fears.
The Devil’s Playground by Jenna Black
Morgan Kingsley, a kick-ass exorcist, can deal with Lugh, the super-sexy demon living inside her, but does he have to moan softly during her intimate moments with her mortal lover? Understandably, Brian is reluctant to share the pleasures of Morgan’s flesh with a gorgeous rogue from the Demon Realm.
But personal matters will have to wait when the opportunistic owner of The Seven Deadlies demon club in Philadelphia enlists Morgan’s help in heading off a crisis: It seems that demons have started showing up at the hot spot in alarming numbers and in the unwilling bodies of rough trade club-goers. Morgan is sure that Dougal, Lugh’s sworn enemy, is behind this, but why? To find out Morgan must summon every ounce of power at her command—or risk becoming just another casualty in an all-out demon war.
Never Cry Werewolf by L.A. Banks
The last fight between the werewolf clans spilled onto the streets of New Orleans—and now the whole city’s on red alert. Martial law has gone into effect. Mediums, ghost hunters, and other supernatural pundits have taken over the media, swarming the Big Easy to expose the hard truth about lycanthropes. And to make matters worse, a beastly killer is clawing up humans…
Secret government operative Sasha Trudeau doesn’t like what she’s seeing—a series of brutal and bloody slayings that appear to be wolf-like attacks. It might be the work of a copy cat killer - a vampire or fae. But while Sasha races to find suspects and motives, the panic level is rising—and the city’s human population is clamoring for an all-out wolf hunt . . .
Master Of None by Sonya Bateman
Gavyn Donatti is the world’s unluckiest thief. Just ask the partners he’s lost over the years. And when he misplaces an irreplaceable item he was hired to steal for his ruthless employer Trevor, well, his latest bungle just might be his last. But then his luck finally turns: right when Trevor’s thugs have him cornered, a genie appears to save him. Unfortunately, this genie - who goes by the very non-magical name of “Ian” - is more Hellboy than dream girl. An overgrown and extremely surly man who seems to hate Donatti on the spot, he may call Donatti master, but he isn’t interested in granting three wishes. He informs Donatti that he is bound to help the thief fulfill his life’s purpose, and then he will be free. The problem is that neither Donatti nor Ian has any idea what exactly that purpose is. At first Donatti’s too concerned with his own survival to look a gift genie in the mouth, but when his ex-girlfriend Jazz and her young son get drawn into the crossfire, the stakes skyrocket. And when Ian reveals that he has an agenda of his own - with both Donatti and the murderous Trevor at the center of it - Donatti will have to become the man he never knew he could be, or the entire world could pay the price . . .
Key To Justice by Talia Gryphon
Psychologist to the paranormal Gillian Key has a new patient. He is a vampire who calls himself Csangal, but he is also a creature hiding his true motives-and his true identity: Dracula.
Embers by Laura Bickle
Anya spends her days as an arson investigator with the Detroit Fire Department, and her nights pursuing malicious spirits with a team of eccentric ghost hunters. Anya, who is the rarest type of psychic medium, suspects a supernatural arsonist is setting fires in order to summon a fiery ancient entity that will leave the city in cinders. The spell will soon be complete unless Anya - with the help of her paranormal investigating team - can stop it.
This time Anya’s risking everything important: her city, her soul, and a man who sees and accepts her for everything she is. Keeping all three safe will be the biggest challenge she’s ever faced.
Death Blows by D.D. Barant
FBI profiler Jace Valchek was pulled into this parallel realm to hunt for Aristotle Stoker, a human serial killer who preys on vampires and werewolves. Now she works for the National Security Agency of the Unnatural States of America—and her boss is a vampire.
At a bizarre crime scene, Jace finds a bloodsucker murdered by magic, fried to the bone and dressed in the costume of the comic book hero the Flash - a character who isn’t supposed to exist here. Comic books have been outlawed for their powers, including crossover spells like the one that transported Jace to this world. Soon, she’s following a trail of dead bodies into the sinister underworld of black-market comics—where a deranged madman gives new meaning to the term “super-villain” . . .
Can’t Teach An Old Demon New Tricks by Cara Lockwood
Don’t get an east Texas girl good and mad - there might be hell to pay!
Rachel Farnsworth doesn’t believe in the paranormal—she can find plenty of evil forces right in Dogwood County, like the Mega-Mart that’s driving her family’s hardware store into the ground. Then there’s her own little hell-raiser - a rowdy toddler who can turn his birthday candles into a blazing inferno with just one breath. But when her marriage goes up in smoke, Rachel discovers her husband, Kevin, isn’t just a deadbeat, he’s also a demon (a sloth demon, no less, which explains why he never helped around the house). Then there’s a renegade bounty hunter - a fallen angel named Sam - who’s chasing down a powerful secret Kevin has kept for a millennium or two.
Sam’s downfall was a beautiful mortal woman . . . and now, the heavenly attraction she feels for Sam has Rachel believing in celestial magic. But will it be enough to save her and her son from the dark forces Kevin unwittingly unleashed on Dogwood County?
Succubus Shadows by Richelle Mead
Georgina Kincaid has formidable powers. Immortality, seduction, shape-shifting into any human form she desires, walking in heels that would cripple mere mortals–all child’s play to a succubus like her.
Helping to plan her ex-boyfriend’s wedding is a different story. Georgina isn’t sure which is worse–that Seth is marrying another woman, or that Georgina has to run all over Seattle trying on bridesmaid dresses. Still, there are distractions. Georgina’s roommate, Roman, is cluttering her apartment with sexual tension. Then there’s Simone, the new succubus in town, who’s intent on corrupting Seth.
But the real danger lies in the mysterious force that’s visiting her thoughts, trying to draw her into a dark, otherworldly realm. Sooner or later, Georgina knows she’ll be too weak to resist. And when that happens, she’ll discover who she can trust, who she can’t–and that Hell is far from the worst place to spend eternity. . .
So, that’s 21 NEW BOOKS to check out! Some of these look really good and I’ve already placed several of them in my shopping cart.
Fantasy Book Anthology - Unusual Suspects
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This fantasy anthology serves as the sequel to Powers of Detection and features works from bestselling and award-winning authors such as Simon Green and Sharon Shinn. This series contains twelve original short stories starring supernatural investigators solving mysteries in the fantasy world. From a little bit of the traditional to the more out there, this anthology has a story for every taste.
Quick summary of stories in the book:
Lucky by Charlaine Harris
Charlaine Harris does it again. Sookie Stackhouse investigates another mystery, which involves some break-ins at an insurance agent’s office. She and her friend, Amelia Broadway, do some detective work, but they are in for a ride. Lots of magic is involved, as well as couple supernatural beings, namely vampires.
Bogieman by Carole Nelson Douglas
The year is 2013, and the story takes place in Las Vegas. Vampires, werewolves, zombies, and other freakish monsters roam the streets freely. But they aren’t real; they are simply actors from Hollywood! Paranormal Investigator Delilah Street investigates Sam Spade’s death. With a fast-paced plot and intriguing characters, this short story is a charmer.
Looks Are Deceiving by Michael A. Stackpole
A dwarf mage tries to find the King’s killer. But the King isn’t actually dead; he just remains in a spell. There are numerous twists and turns in this story, and Stackpole’s fantasy world is believable and wholly interesting.
The House of Seven Spirits by Sharon Shinn
Erica thinks she is just renting a small house with some history, when she seeks somewhere to do her summer writing. But she has seven roommates in total that she had no idea about beforehand. And they aren’t human…Erica is a strangely likeable character, and the ghosts are as silly as they are funny.
Glamour by Mike Doogan
Alf finds himself between a rock and a hard place after his daughter’s disappearance when nobody knows where to look. Alf finally locates her with the help of a complete stranger. But he is shocked when he realizes where she ventured off to. Doogan really makes this story come alive with his unique sense of humor.
Spellbound by Donna Andrews
Gwynn finds himself in the middle of a great mystery. As a young apprentice to a great wizard, he takes it upon himself to figure out what is happening when things start to go awry at a school magic gathering. Gwynn tries to escape love spells in his own chamber, so that he does not fall in love with the obsessive witch. Humor and romance make Spellbound an adventurous read.
The Duh Vice by Michael Armstrong
Armstrong’s short story stands out as it is the only science fiction story in the bunch. In this futuristic world, wasting energy is a punishable crime, and so when an officer gets a call-in about a case of excessive resource wasting, he goes out to investigate and deal with the criminal. Twists and turns abound. This story will encourage some thought as to where the current world is headed, in terms of energy use.
Weight of the World by John Straley
For those of you who have wondered what Santa Claus is up to after his world trip on Christmas Eve, this story will answer your question. Mystery abounds in this story with a murder case and a missing valuable. Santa Claus isn’t all we cut him out to be, and he too has problems!
Illumination by Laura Anne Gilman
This short story starts with Bonnie and her mentor J, who are looking for Bonnie’s missing father. Things are not looking good, when they bump into a cave dragon. After this chance meeting, Bonnie learns a few things about her past as well as what is to come. Gilman combines suspense and light-hearted humor here to make for a great story.
The House by Laurie R. King
There is an old house on the outskirts of town that is known for strange disappearances and other occurrences. A group of teenagers decides to research the house as part of their school project. Then one group member suddenly vanishes. The story as a whole is entertaining and amusing.
Appetite for Murder by Simon R. Green
Sam is a detective in the Nightside part of London. It is filled with all sorts of dark creatures and nasty monsters, and so it comes as no surprise when a serial killer starts killing off some of its citizens. Sam takes it upon himself to find the killer, but not without the help of a sexy counterpart named Ms. Fate. Strange name? This short story is well-worth the read.
A Woman’s Work by Dana Stabenow
Seer and Sword are two smart detectives, and they are both females. They are sent by the King to Pylos to investigate the heir’s death in a strictly male-dominated kingdom. In this short story, they are not doing just detective work, however. Stabenow piles up the suspense in this story, and there is plenty of magic to go around.
Overall, this anthology was a wonderful read. The stories were well-written, with quirky characters (which I love) and plenty of mystery and suspense. Get Unusual Suspects from your favorite online retailer; it’s currently on sale at Amazon!
A Match Made in Hell by Terri Garey
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A Match Made in Hell, a novel by Terri Garey, is the second in a series of urban fantasy books that describe the life and adventures of Nicki Styx, the owner of a haute couture thrift shop who, after having a near death experience, can now “see dead people”. The fact that the doctor who saved her life, Joe Bascombe, wants to start a serious relationship with her only adds complexity to an already complicated life.
The story starts out with Nicki being visited by a female ghost named Lila who’s desperate to find her daughter. You see, although Lila is now dead, her daughter Kelly is still alive (barely) and trapped at the scene of the car accident that killed Lila. Time is of the essence of course because it’s unknown how long her daughter can survive being seriously injured and trapped inside the wrecked vehicle.
Nicki does find the girl but there’s a twist: Kelly (the girl trapped in the car) is Joe’s ex-wife and Nicki’s long-lost twin sister. And the ghost Lila is actually Nicki’s biological mother.
Say what?
Okay, don’t worry. Terri Garey writes in an easy-to-follow style that makes this moderately complex storyline flow seamlessly!
As the two sisters work to acquaint themselves with one another and explore the mysteries surrounding their past, Nicki has to deal with her feelings about Joe’s previous relationship with her twin sister. Imagine having a boyfriend that was once married to your twin sister – think of the problems that could present. On top of that, a demon named Sammy has started stalking her. Okay, he’s not bad on the eyes (he looks like Billy Idol), he quotes classic literature, and he can be charismatic. They might have possibilities as a couple if he just wasn’t so damned intent on stealing her soul!
Terry Garey has given us a great story with strong characters that pull you in and make you feel like you’re experiencing the story with them. The scenes between Nicki and Sammy are great fun and keep you looking forward to their next run-in. Additionally, the book’s dialogue and characterizations are very realistic - never strained or contrived. As such I found myself identifying with more than one character in this book.
So:
• Will Nicki and Kelly find answers to the questions about their past?
• Will Joe have trouble staying with only one twin?
• Is Sammy what he claims to be?
• Will I lose 10 lbs. by my birthday? Okay, even I don’t know this answer.
Read “A Match Made In Hell” to get answers to the rest of the questions - you’re going to love how it all turns out!
Great Fantasy Book - Deadtown by Nancy Holzner
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Boston is a melting pot of supernatural creatures. Vampires, werewolves, shifters and zombies all co-exist within the city walls – that is, in one small section cordoned off from the humans. This quarantined zone is called Deadtown.
That’s where our heroine, Vicky Vaughn lives. She slays demons for a living, in particular, ones that infiltrate people’s dreams. Vicky enters the person’s dreamscape, kills the demon(s) there, and leaves the client with a promise of happy shiny dreams for the rest of his/her life.
After finishing one such job and packing up her things Vicky detects a slight presence of evil nearby. Apprehensive about dealing with another supernatural entity, Vicky blames her uneasiness on a lack of sleep and quickly corrals her teenage zombie assistant (who’d unexpectedly crashed Vicky’s demon slaying party) and heads home.
But Vicky can’t run from this particular evil. The next day she’s escorted to the police station and informed that her client died after her departure - but not of natural causes:
“He was . . .cooked. From the inside out. The body looked perfectly normal, even felt cold to the touch like you’d expect in a corpse. But when the paramedics lifted the victim onto the gurney, his mouth fell open. A jet of steam shot out and scalded one of the EMTs.”
“Ice cold skin but boiling inside.”
And just like that, Vicky’s world comes crashing in. You see, the detective has just described a Hellion, a badass demon of the worst caliper. Hellions exist to destroy on a large scale; earthquakes, plagues, and events of mass destruction are their specialties. Since Hellions almost never go after individuals it’s clear that a sorcerer (and a powerful one at that) must have directed the Hellion to attack her client.
Additionally, in order to get the Hellion inside Boston the sorcerer had to breach the city’s magical protective shield, previously erected by Boston’s white witches. But there’s a catch 22 to repairing the shield outright – sealing the shield means the Hellion is trapped inside the city and can’t be banished back to Hell.
But when the Hellion appears at the scene of Vicky’s next job and delivers a personal threat she realizes that her options for solving this problem are limited; she’s got to quickly hunt down and kill the Hellion (and find a way to banish it) before it starts a killing spree.
To complicate matters, her love life is on the skids, her closest family member is having identity issues and politics surrounding the upcoming gubernatorial race has prompted the press to shine a spotlight on her once private lifestyle.
Deadtown is the first in what I hope will be a long running fantasy series about Vicky’s life as a PA (Paranormal Americans) in modern day Boston. Nancy Holzner has created a plausible world in which humans and the supernatural co-exist, in particular, the political backdrop surrounding the story is dead on. Think about it: if we discovered that supernatural races had been living among us for centuries, the politics surrounding their legal and civil rights would dominate the airwaves. And can’t you just see our public servants making this issue a big part of their political platforms? All of this adds to the believability of Holzner’s storyline.
I thoroughly enjoyed Deadtown and eagerly look forward to the next installment in the series.
