The Phantom of the Bathtub
Eugenia Riley
Love Spell, Aug 2006, $6.99
ISBN: 0505526522

In 1896 Savannah, Viveca Stanhope moves into her new home, Hangman’s House, an old mansion with a reputation of being haunted by its first owner Alex Fremont. Viveca meets the ghost, but wonders if he might be a pervert as he seems to only appear when she is taking a bath and insisting on joining her in the tub. More troublesome to the new owner then her ghost is the staff that came with the mansion; their performance leaves Viveca to wonder if she should fire all of them.

However, the perverted ghost and her incompetent staff are nothing compared to her arrogant neighbor Maxwell Bleecher. He drives her into a temper on the one hand and worse compels her into wanting his kisses. She is not sure if she hates him or loves him or both. However, she must concentrate on one thing at a time starting with helping Alex and his beloved Loreli make it to the next stage, then improving the performance of her servants, and finally confronting her heart about Maxwell.

Readers obtain two romances for the price of one book as Eugenia Riley primarily focuses on the relationship between the new battling neighbors Viveca and Maxwell, but ably supplemented by the ghostly pairing of Alex and Loreli. These four and an eccentric support cast predominantly the inept servants make for a humorous story line. However, the key to this fun historical is that Ms. Riley insures her audience not believes in ghosts, but also trusts that love is eternal.

Harriet Klausner

Eternal Nights
Patti O’Shea
Love Spell, Aug 2006, $6.99
ISBN: 0505526522

On Jarved Nine, Captain Kendall “Bug” Thomas has uncovered a smuggling ring that is stealing artifacts from the ancient alien pyramid in the middle of the Old City. However, she lacks hard evidence as required by her superior Lieutenant Colonel Alex Sullivan so she plans to risk her life to obtain the hard proof.

Peer Captain Wyatt “Marsh” Montgomery decides that the time is right for him to pursue Kendall, the woman he loves as he has in at least one past life that he knows of which also bugs the hell out of him by her obstinate denial. Kendall tries to avoid Marsh, but he refuses to go away. Instead once he realizes that she is on a dangerous case that lacks official sanctioning, he joins her rejecting her insistence that he stay away. As they work together to prevent the looting of priceless artifacts, Bug soon knows why she has avoided Marsh as she now realizes she loves him. However, they must put their feelings aside because the case must come first. She will then figure out what to do about the swamp man that bugs her.

This sequel to RAVYN’S FLIGHT is an excellent science fiction romantic detective tale that stands alone though some of the key players from the first novel provide critical support to ETERNAL NIGHTS. The story line insures the audience believes that the planet and its ancient alien presence seem genuine and the previous life scenario plausible though that it somewhat subtracts from the sci fi focus. The pairing is a pleasure as the heroine fails in her efforts to elude the man who desires her but insists on protecting her though she is tough and capable on her own account. Readers will appreciate this strong outer space thriller.

Harriet Klausner

The Cobra Trilogy
Timothy Zahn
Baen, Jun 2006, $14.00
ISBN: 1416520678

“Cobra”. Early in the twenty-fifth century, the Troft militia easily conquers Earth’s colonial worlds Adirondack and Silvern leading to Earth’s leaders concluding that the Troft has space superiority. To keep from succumbing to the enemy’s superior force, guerilla ground force Cobra with special technological implants is created to battle the adversary using whatever it takes. Jonny Moreau is Cobra to his core, but he will learn that even a dedicated hand picked band has traitors ready to sell out.

“Cobra Strike”. The Cobras ultimately won the war with the Trofts, but to Jonny’s chagrin, the enemy is now a trading ally though he is not as forgiving having seen many gallant friends die in combat. However, his son Justin, a chip off the old block as a Cobra, joins a Troft led expedition against an unknown species launching an attack against the Troft with the human sector to follow.

“Cobra Bargain”. Aventine Governor Corwin Moreau knows his family rule has led to ill will towards them from the Cobra Worlds Council that negatively impacts his niece Jasmine desire to become the first female Cobra. To achieve her goal she must overcome the jealousy and antipathy towards her surname in order to be the first woman to attend the academy. A dangerous mission in whom she is the perfect operative might prove the avenue that is if she lives so long.

Obviously the three 1980s Cobra novels have been put into one big volume. The tales are fun as they follow three generations of the First Family of Cobra into combat. Though this reviewer doubts the Trofts loss to Cobra (bigger upset than Douglas over Tyson), fans of military science fiction thrillers will enjoy this trio especially since the technology seems plausible and the lead protagonists in each entry a likable champion.

Harriet Klausner

Tempting the Wolf
Lois Greiman
Avon, Aug 2006, $6.99
ISBN: 0060783982

Over the centuries ever since he disobeyed the sorceress siren that made him pay the price of his refusal to murder a friend, O’Banyon has been a favorite of the ladies. Though he cherishes them as much as they do him, he hides from his horde of females and for that matter everyone because he was cursed and at times is more wolf than man. He has few delusions of ever escaping from his plight so he enjoys it with the ladies.

However, in 1818 his feelings are about to change when “The Irish Hound” as he has been called for hundreds of years meets Antoinette “the woman in white” Desbonnet. For some reason he wants her in away that has never occurred to him before. He courts her even as she welcomes his lure though she knows she should flee. As they fall in love, he wonders if she is his salvation as she tames the beast in him, but soon becomes concerned for her as an old adversary decides to teach him a further lesson by destroying his beloved.

TEMPTING THE WOLF is a wonderful Regency romantic fantasy. Readers will root for the two lead protagonists to find a way to overcome their deadly adversary. As the author did with TAMING THE BARBARIAN, Lois Greiman provides her fans with a delightful action-packed romantic fantasy.

Harriet Klausner

The Grail King
Joy Nash
Love Spell, Aug 2006, $6.99
ISBN: 0505526832

In 130 AD Britannia, someone is bringing a veil of darkness over the island. Few, if any, have the skills to prevent this unknown sorcerer from succeeding; of those who might succeed, none seem willing to try.

Owein remains trapped inside a self exiled wall of griefe caused by guilt over his wife’s death. He welcomes the darkness with the only light he allows in being a vision of a Roman woman whom he desires. When that female Clara appears in person, Owein battles himself over wanting her and wanting her to leave. She pleads with him to help her dying father by regaining the Holy Grail so that her dad can sip its healing liquid. Though hesitant to leave his shelter, the hermit agrees to fulfill her request, not realizing that if the Druid Celts and the legions of Rome fail to unite, the darkness will engulf them both.

THE GRAIL KING is a fantastic Ancient Druid Britannia romantic fantasy from the moment that a bewildered Owein’s vision turns from all blood to the siren and never slows down until the final altercation. Owein is a champion who struggles with the demands placed on him including that of love while Clara proves she has a spine of steel. Readers will follow their escapades wondering whether Kernunnos the Horned God, some other deity, a druid or another enemy has invaded his isolated bleak mountains as the lead couple finds strength in their love for one another. Readers will sing joy to the world for this superior tale.

Harriet Klausner

Lady of Serpents
Douglas Clegg
Ace, Sep 2006, $23.95
ISBN: 0441014380

When Aleric the Falconer was converted into a Vampyre many of his peers believed he was the hero who would lead them to the Promised Land as the savior ready to battle the likes of Enora the sorcerer and her minions. However, Aleric failed at his destiny when Enora captures him like she has done to so many other Vampyres. Humiliated and demeaned, he must survive by entertaining his captor by fighting in her arena; refusal means a horrific death.

Aleric knows his race is losing hope so he must find a means to escape his incarceration. If he manages that impossible task, Aleric concludes her cannot defeat the sorcerer or the power behind her reign, an unknown alchemist’ he needs to obtain help from to destroy Enora. He knows the only individual who can provide that, his enemy who seduced him into becoming an undead, Pythia, the Lady of Serpents.

LADY OF SERPENTS is a fascinating Vampyricon tale starring a wonderful unsure hero struggling with the need to overcome his latest round of mistakes in order to achieve what most believes is his destiny. In many ways Enora is the more fascinating character with her evil use of prisoners as slaves, “entertainers”, and cannon fodder, but will admires the filled with doubts Aleric still trying against all odds. Fans of vampire epics will appreciate this enjoyable fantasy while seeking out the Aleric’s previous tale THE PRIEST’S BLOOD.

Harriet Klausner

High Stakes
Erin McCarthy
Berkley, Aug 2006, $13.00
ISBN: 0425210138

Las Vegas casino owner Ethan Carrick is running for reelection as the President of theVampire Nation, but his chances don’t look good. His campaign manger suggests he needs to show family values to the voters because the casino and being a sexy bachelor does not provide the proper image; he needs a mate at least through the election.

For over nine centuries, Ethan has had a thing about clean teeth and his dentist is sweet (not just her blood), pretty and intelligent so he decides that Dr. Brittany Baldizzi is perfect. However, to his chagrin he finds he is attracted to her thorny abrasive sibling Alexis the prosecutor who happened to not only save his life (make that save his undead), but seems willing for a one night coffin though she has doubts beyond that tryst.

This amusing often biting vampire romance stars a likable hero and an aggressive in your face heroine. Sub-genre fans will relish the humorous story line as Ethan decides sour supersedes sweet as he enjoys the sassy retorts of Alexis. The reelection campaign takes a real bite at American politics with its get reelected at all cost philosophy. HIGH STAKES is a fun lighthearted supernatural romantic romp worth reading.

Harriet Klausner

Wolf Tales II
Kate Douglas
Kensington Aphrodisia, Jul 2006, $12.95
ISBN: 0758213875

Young police officer Lucien Stone kills the rogue wolf preying on humans when he saw her next to a child Tia. Ulrich Mason is raging in anger and grief over the murder of his were-mate; he is ready to rip the throat open of the culprit until he looks into the eyes of his wife’s killer and realizes Lucien is a Chanku like him, his late spouse and their daughter, but unlike Ulrich he is clueless about his heritage.

Ulrich becomes Lucien’s mentor as he brings him into the small pack he runs. As Lucien learns to control the beastly side of his persona, he also vows to his teacher that he will protect the pack especially Tia. She remains ignorant that she is part wolf though she has erotic dreams about her and Lucien carousing on four legs (well five on his part) as well as two (make that three on his part) while he dreads the day he must tell his beloved he killed her mother.

Readers will agree that Lucien is a SEXY BEAST as he mentors his soulmate Tia on being a Chanku especially during the WILD NIGHTS. The support cast as always is the case in a Kate Douglas thriller is top rate and insures the audience believes in shapeshifters. Fans of erotic supernatural romances will appreciate this torrid sequel with the twist of their intertwined past.

Harriet Klausner

Hags, Sirens, & Other Bad Girls of Fantasy
Edited by Denise Little
Daw, Jul 2006, $7.99
ISBN: 0756403693

This twenty story anthology focuses on just what the title states: the bad females of fantasy and fairy tales. Normally stories containing Pandora or Isis, etc. they play the villainess secondary character; in this collection these notorious bad girls play the lead role so the audience sees how they perceive their persona, public image, and the encounters that make characters like Cinderella’s stepmother become the connotation of parental abuse. Though for the most part well written, much of the bite of being the malevolent one is taken away as several of the ladies insist they are misunderstood. Still fantasy fans who enjoy their villains to be hardened women will find this compilation of all new stories fun and will follow the frolics of these fatal fatale females mostly of Greek mythos.

Harriet Klausner

Midnight Moon
Lori Handeland
St. Martin’s, Sep 2006, $6.99
ISBN: 0312938497

Cassandra lived in Southern California happily married to her soulmate and raising their five year old daughter Sarah who loved ballet. That was then and this is now as she has become Priestess Cassandra, a voodoo practitioner in the French Quarter of New Orleans though she has not reconciled the religion’s theory that all deaths have a purpose with her daughter’s murder. She blames her drug dealing ex-spouse for that and testified against him before vanishing into the Witness Protection Program.

However, her objective for turning to Voodoo may be at hand as she is in Haiti hoping to find Master Jacques Mezareau, who it is rumored, resurrects the dead. Cassandra will pay him any price if he can resurrects her daughter unaware that he is an outlawed Egbo, a punisher and controller of slaves. She hires Devon Murphy to guide her to Mezareau’s remote village. However, , Cassandra soon learns first hand how and why Mezareau raises the dead, but is unable to control this new power she has obtained, which if unchecked will destroy her loved ones, Devon and Sarah, once the MIDNIGHT MOON reaches its acme.

The latest Lori Handeland’s lunar romantic fantasy (see CRESCENT MOON, DARK MOON, HUNTER’S MOON, and BLUE MOON) is a terrific entry in a strong series. The story line is action-packed but it is the fixated Cassandra, who needs to bring back her beloved Sarah just to begin living again, who makes the thriller work. Readers will feel her loss that’s he still grieves and her quest that has taken her to the realm of voodoo in New Orleans and Haiti. With fabulous twists that impact the mental balance of the heroine, Ms. Handeland provides another enchanting novel that will send her elated readers howling at the MIDNIGHT MOON.

Harriet Klausner