RE’ENEV
Mike Maranhas
Pink Granite, Dec 2006 $14.95, 252 pp.
ISBN: 0977780996

They met in college, knew they were in love and got married. They had an idyllic union until Luke’s brother died in a senseless accident. He withdraws from his wife Meesha, whose insecurities of abandonment turn her into a shrew. Meesha confronts him about a woman named Sandy at work when he comes home smelling of her scent. He goes off on Meesha, telling her the ugly things he feels about her.

When he awakens in the middle of the night Meesha is not in the bed. He finds her in the cellar bleeding from self-inflicted wounds. They work to save their marriage and Meesha gets therapy and they get therapy as a couple as well. To cement their new beginning they fly to the Pacific island of Re’Enev with the blessing of their counselor. Luke persuades Meesha to explore the jungle with him only tragedy strikes on the isolated trail and she is badly injured. Luke tries to get help but he has difficulties of his own; without a miracle, both will die.

Great characterizations, a fast paced plot, an exotic locale and a touch of intrigue make RE’ENEV a novel that will appeal to readers who like mainstream fiction, romance and suspense. The two protagonists are so realistic that readers know people like them. Luke makes some bad decisions and finding a way out of his dilemmas take all the courage and fortitude he possesses, which is plenty, but may not prove enough.

Harriet Klausner

Sons of the Oak
David Farland
Tor, Nov 2006, $27.95, 353 pp.
ISBN 0765301776

When Shadoath in her persona of the One True Master tried to put all life under her control, the One True World shattered into a thousand thosand worlds each a pale reflection of the glory of the One True World. Also lost is the master rune, but on one of the worlds is where the runelords exists the knowledge will be regained and the worlds will join together into one.

The torch-bearer, an immortal reborn as Fallion, the Earth King’s son, doesn’t know his true nature although his sire has some idea. When the Earth King dies, the country of Mystarria is attacked by its enemies. Fallion, his brother and some trusty allies escape and make their way to the docks to find a ship that will take them to Landsfallen which is what Fallion’s father told them to do. Captain Stalker plans to ransom them to the pirate Shadoath but changes his mind when he comes to know and care for Fallion. However, a betrayal causes Fallion and his brother to be captured and only by using his latent powers of fire and have his allies discover where they are do they have a chance of escaping and going inland, giving Fallion a chance to grow into his powers.

This is the fifth book of the Runelands with the action taking place eight years after the events of THE LAIR OF THE BONES. David Farland’s latest work involves the next generation of warriors who must fight the forces of darkness in the form of locus, sentient parasites that attach themselves to people and control them, while bringing light into a world made better by the earth king. Fallion has the seeds of greatness within him but he must be wary of using his power in a dark manner otherwise he will be no better than the evil beings that want dominion over the world. SONS OF THE OAK is a great fantasy with complex and compelling characters.

Harriet Klausner

Devotion Calls
Caridad Pinero
Silhouette Nocturne, Jan 2007, $5.25
ISBN: 0373617550

In Spanish Harlem, Ricardo Fernandez places his hands on ailing people and heals them. He pretends to be a priest in the African-Carib religion Santeria because that is the only way he can help his patients including Sara Martinez’s mother. She is suffering from cancer and he can at least provide her a bit more time with her family without pain.

Ricardo and Sara are attracted to one another, but she senses that he his hiding something from her; she cannot abide liars having been once hurt by one so the two wrestle with their feelinggs Meanwhile a soul sucking blood eating Chupacabra is drawn to Ricardo’s emotions; he demands he uses his power to turn him back into a human. Ricardo knows that is impossible and would be devastating for innocent people so he refuses knowing he will fight this evil, but he will need a specially ally, the woman he loves, whom the monster craves too.

Caridad Pinero is one author readers can consistently rely on to provide a fantastic paranormal romance. The star-crossed lovers are so very much alike, both fear opening their hearts though their reasons differ; she because she does not want it broken again while he is his afraid of rejection. The support cast include vampires and humans with everyone aware of Ricardo, a beacon of light for the unnatural to devour.

Harriet Klausner

Dead Sexy
Amanda Ashley
Zebra, Feb 2007, $6.99
ISBN: 082177834X

Every since the Endangered Vampire Act was passed, it is illegal to kill a vampire; this law caused slayer Regan Delaney to become unemployed. The creatures of the night are confined to areas like You Bet Your Life park that contains condos, shops, and a supernaturally charged force field that keep vampires within. Synthetic blood satiates the hunger, but Joaquin Santiago, former master of the city, can cross the barrier and drink the real thing not this blood lite without killing his prey.

Regan is sent to the park to investigate what looks like a vampire kill, but she has some doubts because the victim’s heart, liver and throat were ripped from his body. Joaquin tells her he believes a werewolf is the predator; an enemy who murdered his wife; furthermore they will attack one another until one is eradicated. Regan is caught in their crosshairs (teeth?) and gets bit by Vasile turning her into a werewolf. She can revert back by killing her “mentor”, something that Joaquin has tried and failed at for centuries.

Whether she is a mortal or a werewolf, Joaquin bares his heart to Regan, who rejects him initially, but soon notices how kind and gentle he is so she cannot help but return his feelings. Both are strong willed people who understand they must first deal with Vante. Amanda Ashley has written a pulse thumping supernatural thriller that keep readers attention with a burning need to know what happens next.

Harriet Klausner

COME THE NIGHT
Angelique Armae
Imajinn Books, Oct 2006, 2006, 170 pp.
ISBN: 193341717X

In 476 Ad near Rome, the desperate widow Octavia introduces her half-breed son Lazerus to his grandfather Romulus the Vampyre. She wants her sire to save his grandson’s life for if he refuses Lazerus will join his father a fallen angel in death or become a demon. Reluctantly as he had not done with his mortal daughter, Romulus agrees to convert Lazerus to a life as an undead under the stipulation that he change Octavia too so she can teach him the way of the Nazarene as he has followed. With an heir, a weary Romulus can enter the sun.
In 1095 Ireland Lazerus is married to a tracker Neomina, keeper of sacred holy icons. Lazerus leads his vampyric New Breed, but he knows the prophecy is coming that his grandfather explained to his mother five centuries ago. The demons that destroyed Rome are back to finish the job with the only hope for Lazerus and his tribe to survive let alone win is his wife, but she remains unaware of her power.
COME THE NIGHT is a delightful paranormal romantic thriller that will give immense pleasure to fans of horror, romance, and suspense. Historical tidbits and religious elements enhance the exciting story line. The cast is deep and the key members so developed that angels, vampyres, trackers, and demons seem almost everyday normal though the adventures are not. Angelique Armae provides a powerful vampyric romance that will fully entertain across the genres.
Harriet Klausner

Hell’s Belles
Jackie Kessler
Zebra, Jan 2007, $15.00
ISBN: 0821781022

Jezebel was until recently the best succubus to come out of Hell as she could seduce almost all males out of their souls. However, now she is on the run on earth as the Underworld has put a bounty on her head. Desperately needing help she turns to Caitlin the witch who has a contract with Hell; they cut one of those golden rule deals in which the human will “mortalize” the succubus to enable her to hide amongst the masses in exchange for a future favor.

After the transition and the constant reminder to breath, Jezebel escapes a demon by pretending to be Caitlin before taking the Amtrak to the one place on earth the denizen of the Underground can feel welcome as New York City is a “Hell of a town”. Doing what she does best she gets work as an exotic dancer at belle’s strip joint, but keeps running into the sexy mysterious Paul Hamilton. While he runs from his past, she falls in love but the demonic horde is closing in on Manhattan in search of the missing succubus who holds the key to prevent Hell going to Heaven in a hand-basket.

The first Hell on Earth tale is a fabulous jocular heated (duh- Hell and Jezebel) romantic fantasy that will have readers finishing it in one 304 page sitting. The story line is fast-paced, but also makes the various “species” roaming the earth seem real. Still the novel belongs to its beleaguered heroine as she struggles with human appetites and desires while doing what she does best erotic seduction though she wonders how Paul is reversing her natural instincts while the audience will wonder who he is. Fans will appreciate Jackie Kessler’s fine tale as THE ROAD TO HELL leads through Manhattan.

Harriet Klausner

Kissing Sin
Keri Arthur
Dell, Feb 2007, $6.99
ISBN 0553588460

On an earth where supernatural species like vampires and werewolves exist, the Directorate of Other Races polices the paranormal and the guardians are the ones who act as judges, jury, and executioner. Rhoan and Riley are fraternal half-vampire-half werewolf twins who work for the Directorate, he as a guardian and she is a liaison. Her boss wants her to be a guardian but she doesn’t want to be an assassin who kills whenthe situation calls for it.

Riley wakes up on what she later learns is a breeding ground where gene manipulation, cloning and creating cross-species is practiced even though it is against the law. They want Riley because she is one of the few cross species that survived. She escapes with the help of a horse shifter and finds herself plunged into the heart of the Directorate investigation to find and stop the people who are conducting such research. She barely escapes with her life after attacks by various species thanks to the vampire, who wants to sire children on her and in exchange gives her information about the people she seeks. Riley is determined to stop them so the attacks on her life will end and she can go back to the normal.

Keri Arthur is one of the best authors of paranormal romances writing today and fans of her works will compare her to Laurel K. Hamilton, and Kelly Armstrong. The heroine is a strong willed woman who accepts her nature and tells men who can’t accept her for what she is to take a hike. KISSING SIN is a fast paced action packed romantic fantasy that takes place on an earth so descriptive readers will feel they must have visited it.

Harriet Klausner

Shooting Star
Colby Hodge
Love Spell, Dec 2006, $6.99
ISBN: 050552628X

One of twenty-one sons of the all mighty all knowing Emperor Rashad DeMarco Monaco, Rubjikhan Benjamin, son of the ruler’s fourth wife, feels honored that his sire is hosting a public birthday party for him. That is until his dad wishes the wrong son a happy birthday leading Ruben to realize his father does not know who he is. He vows to cut all ties with the Emperor as soon as possible.

He becomes an interstellar trader who has nothing to do with empire politics until he learns he is the target of a mass manhunt for apparently committing patricide; the price on his head is 750,000 credits as reported by SNN news. As friends betray him, he suffers strange dreams that his brother Stefan is in trouble, but cannot stop to help him. On the run, Ruben crashes his ship the Shooting Star on a primitive orb where Tess the slave and her six years old son Boone save his life. He recognizes her from his weird dream, but fears something is not right as he senses evil especially with the Circe witches in the middle.

Fans of romantic science fiction thrillers will want to read Colby Hodge’s faster than the speed of light tale, SHOOTING STAR. Ruben is a fascinating lead character who learns a life lesson at his twelfth birthday party. Actually his sire eventually recognized him as the warrior amongst his offspring, but by then even with a gift of a blade Ruben severed all ties until he becomes galaxy-wide headline news for allegedly murdering his father. Ruben makes the story line fun to read as he learns who his friends are as the price on his head is a fortune. Tess is his ideal partner though she has trust issues. The audience will appreciate this entertaining story while afterward stargazing at the skills of this talented author.

Harriet Klausner

Ysabel
Guy Gavriel Kay
Roc, Feb 2007, $24.95
ISBN 0451461290

Renowned Canadian photographer Edward Marriner takes his teenage son Ned with him as he shoots the medieval constructed Saint-Sauveur Cathedral in Aix-en-Provence. Though enjoying their Southern France locale, the male Marinners worry about the females in the family, Ned’s mom and Edward’s wife Meghan, a Doctors Without Borders volunteer, currently serving in the dangerous Sudan.

While exploring a centuries old cathedral without a guide, Ned meets American exchange student, Kate Wenger, a “Wikepedia” of local historical information. The self-proclaimed female geek takes Ned on a tour of the cathedral, but whereas she sees mystery and beauty he sees a mess of old rocks. However at the baptistry, circa 500 AD, a man who does not belong there holding a knife warns them to leave, as this not a safe place for children to play. However, unable to depart, Ned and Kate become entangled in an ancient love triangle that could prove deadly to the two teenage twenty-first century intruders.

YSABEL is a terrific contemporary fantasy with a historical base that grips the audience once the teen explorers meet the man with the knife and never slows down through a series of clever twists until the final event involving two sisters directly related to Ned. The story line is fast-paced and filled with historical depth especially involving the Cathedral and the love triangle, but also contains a strong cast whether they lived in ancient times or today. The final spin will stun the audience as Guy Gavriel Kay ties everything brilliantly together in an enthralling enlightening epic.

Harriet Klausner

The Elysium Commission
L. E. Modesitt, Jr.
Tor, Feb 2007, $24.95
ISBN: 0765317206

On the planet Devanta former military special operative turned private investigator Blaine Donne suddenly finds he has too many clients when before he had none. He is hired to find a missing heiress; look into a scientist’s patent infringement case, uncover the links between entrepreneur Eloi, city planner Maraniss, and the “Elysium”; and finally conduct a background search of Dr. Dyorr, the fiancé of wealthy Marie Antoinette Tozzi. As he starts on each Blaine assumes his cases have nothing in common.

He soon reassesses his thoughts as the scientist who originally hired him is dead and the project he worked on appears to being used for some nefarious purpose by Eloi and Maraniss like perhaps a coup d’etat. He wonders about how the fiancé fit, perhaps via a scientific connection, and why the woman who originally hired him to look into Elysium has no history at least on record. Soon the cases intertwine even further though Blaine begins to think after consulting with his sister and others that he is forcing connections as the Dr. Dyorr inquiry begins to look clean while the rest look like a cat and mouse encounter between the Civitas Sorores oligopoly and the Eloi and Maraniss squad with the sleuth being the cheese.

THE ELYSIUM COMMISSION is a complex science fiction detective tale starring a fascinating individual struggling with his cases. The story line is action-packed as the audience for the most part follows the sleuth as people try to kill him or assist him with information (sort of mindful of Robb’s Eve Dallas mid twenty-first century police procedurals). Readers will enjoy this puzzler as the four investigations seem separate, and then appear to tie together, only to have Blaine’s theory unravel. L. E. Modesitt, Jr. provides a fun futuristic mystery.

Harriet Klausner