The Darkest Kiss
Gena Showalter
Harlequin HQN, Jun 2008, $6.99
ISBN: 9780373772322

In the Budapest stronghold where the Lords of the Underworld warriors reside Lucien regrets he opened Pandora’s Box allowing the demons to escape. The Gods punished him millennia ago by placing the demon Death inside him. The warriors search for the box to keep it safe; praying they will be able to return the demons inside it.

He and his friends host a party when Anya Goddess of Anarchy crashes it. Anya has been invisibly stalking Lucien while eluding Cronus the Lord Titan who demands she hand over her treasure; heeding her father’s advice, she refuses. Now she obsesses over Lucien. He recognizes her odor as that of the person stalking him. He wants her, but knows his facial scars makes him too ugly for a pretty woman like Anya is. Anya kisses Lucien and tells him she wants his penis. Lucien rejects her again, which hurts her.

Cronus arrives as Anya flees. He orders Lucien to kill Anya or his pals will suffer. Warrior Reyes tells Lucien that Anya is cursed by Themis, but not sure how or why. Lucien traces Anya and tells her Cronus ordered him to kill her. Lucien says he will obey. He catches her and they kiss leaving both confused and fleeing each other. Later Anya tells Lucien that Cronus wants the box to place the Greek Gods and demons inside it. Though he wants her, he tells her to leave as no woman will ever desire him; but she wants him although she knows Themis’ curse means any man who takes her owns her forever.

Although a stand alone, some threads continue from the previous Lords of the Underworlds tale (see THE DARKEST NIGHT) so it behooves the audience to read that entry first. This excellent romantic fantasy enables readers to believe the fantasy species and the hunters are genuine and the paranormal earth real. Filled with plenty of action, the pairing of the lead couple makes the tale; still the other Lords of the Underworlds warriors have distinct personalities and with a “traitor” enhance the plot.

Harriet Klausner

Wicked Game
Jeri Smith-Ready
Pocket, May 2008, $14.00
ISBN: 9781416551768

Con artist Ciara Griffin has decided to leave behind the life of a cheat and become legal and morally above board. To accomplish her objective, Ciara obtains work at small radio station WWMP where no one cares about your résumé, your past, and your lack of conventional morality as long as you accept the stinky pay.

However, she soon learns a fascinating sidebar about her new place of work; all the night DJs are vampires who are expert musicologists on the era of their respective conversion. However, a huge conglomerate tries to buy the station with plans to change the format. Ciara worries about her night friends losing their link to humanity, especially she is concerned about grunge rocker hunk Shane who she desires. Trying to save her pals by saving the station, Ciara tells everyone listening that the night DJs are bloodsuckers knowing no one would believe her. She was thinking about human disbelief on the subject, something she is familiar with; Ciara failed to consider an ancient vampire might object to her exposure in daylight scheme.

WICKED GAME is a brilliant vampire thriller in which readers will believe in magic of the supernatural as Jeri Smith-Ready makes everyone seem genuine. The concept of vampires stuck in a time warp is ingenious leading to quite a variety in music. Fans will enjoy this fun tale even if “It’s Only Rock and Roll”, blood dining, the infamous Griffin curse that rivals Greek mythology and sex, but we like it.

Harriet Klausner

The Brass Bed
Jennifer Stevenson
Ballantine, May 2008, $6.99
ISBN: 9780345486684

Chicago is being overwhelmed by magic seemingly being blown everywhere. The mayor orders his subordinates to conceal what is going on insisting he fears a panic. Chicago Department of Consumer Services investigator Jewel Heiss is unhappy with her boss; with all the goings-one he assigns her to perform surveillance of his wife, who happens to be her best friend.

Her surveillance introduces Jewel to Clay Dawes, who claims his magical brass bed will cure all female sexual problems by simply taking a nap in it. Jewel is upset with the scoundrel who charges an exorbitant fee, but takes him up on his challenge of testing the bed free of charge as long as he is in it with her. However, his brass bed also contains an incubus cursed in the nineteenth century for being a crappy lover while a genie is turning the city into a magical mystery mayhem tour.

The speed is hectic from the onset, but fans of urban investigative romantic fantasies will hop onto THE BRASS BED for the wild ride. Though at times wordy, the lighthearted story line has a lot going on so it bewilders the audience as it does the investigative heroine; who must decide between sexual curse and sexual fraud; either way she wants to test first her hand (and a few other body parts).

Harriet Klausner

Legend of the Treasure
J. Michael Squatrito, Jr.
iUniverse, 2006, $22.95
ISBN: 0595390080

Over a millennium ago, the Overlords simply vanished. Throughout the lands of Gammoria, Arcadia, and Ontarian Territory as well as disputed area, smaller semi independent states and unclaimed deserted patches, this powerful civilization left behind metal plates allegedly with clues to a hidden bounty that over the centuries has become known more as the legend of the TREASURE OF THE LAND concealed in the Seven Rooms.

In Aegeus, Arcadia off the Serpent Sea, Harrison Cross persuades some of his friends that they can find the mythical treasure and bring it home so their town can prosper. Even as they follow the clues of the plates along the way, the trek proves dangerous as the Scynthian race wants all humans dead so they attack them without mercy. At the same time the ruthless Governor of neighboring Concur Lord Nigel Hammer and his malevolent horde want the treasure for selfish reasons and killing a few rivals is no problem for them.

This engaging quest fantasy reads like a cross between the game Dungeons & Dragons and the cult movie Fillard Millmore. Findings from a dead ancient civilization are marveled over as if they were once magical and still are if you can figure out how to use them; sort of like a caveman seeing electricity. Although the villains are two dimensional either as ruthless and or Lady Macbeth ambitious, readers will fully enjoy traveling with heroic fully developed Harrison and his companions as they face danger every step of the way, but courageously continue on their mission in a land vividly described by J. Michael Squatrito, Jr. so it seems real.

Harriet Klausner

Forbidden The Revolution
Samantha Sommersby
Linden Bay, Mar 2008
ISBN: 9781602020917

Dominie Byron Renfield asks his preternatural Special Forces detective son Dell to learn whether police officer Alexandra Sanchez is the lost Chosen one stolen twenty-five years ago. He needs DNA to learn the truth and his offspring, still marveling how his dad arranged the transfer from Chicago to Los Angeles, promises he will obtain and send a sample.

Dell and Alex are attracted to one another, which should make it easier to go undercover in Las Vegas as a couple to prove that casino owner Raif is laundering drug money. In Vegas they obtain work at Raif’s casino, but Dell is stunned that the man is a vampire and holding Rita a sexual prisoner Rita who is a friend of his father. As the couple falls in love, she explains she remains a virgin because of a protective spell that does not allow anyone to mount her.

FORBIDDEN THE REVOLUTION is an exciting erotic paranormal romantic suspense in which the story can stand alone though newcomers like this reviewer will seek the previous entry FORBIDDEN THE AWAKENING. After a great foreplay buildup, the Vegas escapade is blown away too easily ending without much of a climax except in the boudoir (even with the spell these are clever touches by Samantha Sommersby who keeps the heat on) and no closure to the drug ring. The return home is thrilling and complemented with a couple of terrific spins as the past comes home to roost. Sub-genre fans will appreciate Samantha Sommersby strong entry as a vampire who has never drank blood from a human jugular and the probable chosen one who remains a virgin due to a succubus’ protection spell fall in love.

Harriet Klausner

Don’t Hex with Texas
Shanna Swendson
Ballantine, Apr 29 2008, $14.00
ISBN: 9780345492937

She left Manhattan and her position at Magic, Spells & Illusion, Inc. because Katie Chandler fell in love with her boss Owen Palmer, who apparently does not reciprocate her regard and besides she fears for his safety due to her hex appeal. She goes home to the family farm in Cobb, Texas where she knows no major magical lines exists and ergo assumes there is a slim to none chance of an enemy arriving.

As she works at the family owned Chandler Agricultural Supply store, Katie finds her hometown boring after living an enchanting life in New York. Everything changes when her mom tells her she witnessed some eerie happenings that no one else apparently noticed. Katie wonders if a rogue mage has come to town but that seems ridiculous as the lack of a power source makes it impossible. Still she informs her other former boss Merlin who sends Sam the gargoyle to investigate. Meanwhile Katie notices a magical advertisement in a local magazine in which Phelan Idris offers an online course to those who can read his ads. Owen comes to Texas to help out, but his arrival only tells Katie she still love him. Her mom realizes he is the one and insists he stay at the farm while Idris assigns his horde of amateur wizards to destroy Owen.

The fourth Chandler-Palmer romantic suspense fantasy (see ENCHANTED, INC, ONCE UPON STILETTOS and DAMSEL UNDER STRESS) is a terrific entry in an entertaining series. The story line is fresh as readers meet the parents while the magical battle takes place in Texas. Still as with the previous three enchantments, it is the odd fascinating relationship between the lead couple that makes this a fine entry as the villains learn what most people in the Lone Star State already know: DON’T HEX WITH TEXAS unless you want a mess of trouble.

Harriet Klausner

The Prefect
Alastair Reynolds
Ace, Jun 2008, $25.95
ISBN 9780441015917

Panoply Prefect Tom Dreyfus is a highly regarded law enforcement official whose beat is the Glitter Band habitats that surround Yellowstone planet. His superior Jane Aumonier assigns him to investigate the shocking destruction of Ruskin-Sartorious Bubble habitat that left over nine hundred dead in a mass murder attack. Tom understands the signifcance of the motive is not just to help identify the culprits, but to understand why so as to prevent more assaults on innocent people.

At the same time that Tom begins his inquiries into the horrific case, Deputy Field Prefect Thalia Ng works on programming to prevent fraudulent voting following an incident at the House Perigal in which six died. As Tom works his case and Thalia tests her patch, Jane is removed from duty at a time she is considered critical by field prefects. Tom believes an unknown person or group has put together a clever diabolical plot to take control of the entire Glitter Band.

The latest Revelation Space thriller is an excellent science fiction police procedural as Dreyfus is at his best uncovering a conspiratorial scheme one clue at a time. The story line is fast-paced as the Prefects investigate several goings-on besides the prime mass murder case; interestingly Alastair Reynolds cleverly uses the cases to provide some history and geography enough for newcomers to understand the Glitter Band and for long term fans not to be irritated. Although the conspirators remain for the most part behind the scenes so never flushed out beyond their objective, fans will appreciate this excellent whodunit in Outer Space.

Harriet Klausner

The Last Wish
Andrzej Sapkowsi
Orbit, May 2008, $6.99
ISBN: 0316029181

Geralt de Rivia enters Vizima where after a barroom brawl in which he leaves three dead, he meets the king’s castellan Velerad, whose monarch King Foltest needs his help. Seven years ago, recently crowned as the ruler, Foltest impregnated his sister. She and their opffspring died during childbirth. Now his daughter has awakened as a striga mass killing anyone in her way. Foltest say he will kill Geralt if he harms his daughter, who if she fails to return to her coffin within three rooster crows she will become human. However, if she remains a striga he is to kill her with his silver sword that slays magical beings.

THE LAST WISH is actually a compilation of six “Voice of Reason” short novellas (“The Witcher”, “A Grain of Truth”, “The Lesser Evil”, “A Question of Price”, “The Edge of the World”, and “The Last Wish”) that served as the base to the Witcher video game. The above paragraph is the opening gamut to the adventures of Geralt de Rivia the Witcher with each subsequent tale building from previous escapades. Geralt is consistent throughout as a cold blooded killing sorcerer whose adventures are fun to follow due to his strange code of ethics while hunting monsters many of whom hide as beatific humans afflicting his plane with their evil.

Harriet Klausner

The Sorceress of Belmair
Bertrice Small
Harlequin HQN, May 2008, $14.95
ISBN: 9780373772957

Being the offspring of two extremely powerful parents especially his mother Lara, the Domina of Hetar, Dillon is not surprisingly a very potent magic practitioner. He also understands his duty when the dragon of Belmair directs him to marry headstrong but beautiful mage Princess Cinnia; after that he is to rule Belmair.

Dillon and Cinnia prove much attuned to one another especially in the bedroom and even when they work royal dealings. Dillon uncovers a strange but powerful connection between Belmair and Hetar that concerns him, but not as much as the sudden serial disappearance of young women. The newlyweds diligently investigate in order to prevent any more vanishings, hopefully rescue the ladies, and stop the unknown culprit before further harm comes to the kingdom.

The latest World of Hetar tale (see THE DISTANT LORD, A DISTANT TOMORROW and LARA) is a fantastic romantic fantasy mystery as Bertrice Small shows her skills by effortlessly combining the genres. The amateur sleuth investigation into a world filled with magic strengthens the already robust passionate ties between the lead couple. Fans of the series will especially appreciate this excellent entry as murder, love, and magic mix perfectly together by master sorceress Ms. Small.

Harriet Klausner

The Darkest Night
Gena Showalter
Harlequin HQN, May 2008, $6.99
ISBN: 9780373772469

In their Budapest fortress, Maddox of the Immortal Warriors, as part of his punishment by the Greek Gods, dies every night at the hand of his friends, Lucien and Reyes; Lucien then takes him to Hell to complete his punishment. Every morning Maddox wakes up chained to his bed and healing. He thinks back over the millennium when out of anger and jealousy they defied the Gods and attacked Pandora. The box broke that she guarded and demons freed. The Gods intervened by placing a demon inside each of the warriors. Maddox knows that he shares his body with Violence.

Torin shows Maddox on their surveillance monitor a female intruder is coming their way; he calls her Bait based on a time long ago when a woman betrayed them leading to one of them dying and his demon freed. Maddox goes out to kill Bait and the four hunters following her.

World Institute of Parapsychology audiologist Ashlyn Darrow hears voices in her head. She hopes these angels or demons in the fortress can give her a respite. Maddox kills the hunters, but leaves Ashlyn alive. She is stunned as she has blessed silence. Ashlyn clings to Maddox who calls her Bait even as he wonders why she seems tormented and his demon wants her tortured and dead. At the keep he tells Lucien to keep Ashlyn safe as she belongs to him. He and she find needed respite as they fall in love, but a betrayal and reconciliation leaves both wondering about the future.

The fantasy species especially the band of brothers with their internal demons and the obsessed hunters seem genuine. The lead couple is a terrific pairing while the support immortal Lords of the Underworlds warriors have distinct personalities helping to establish the paranormal earth. Although the lead couple has sex too soon after she nearly died (even with a rationalization provided for her incredible miraculous recovery), fans will appreciate Gena Showalter excellent opening act in what looks like will be a great romantic fantasy saga.

Harriet Klausner