The Devil’s Playground
Jenna Black
Dell, Mar 23 2010, $7.99
ISBN: 9780440244943

Exorcist Morgan Kingsley knows not to be complacent as no one has tried to killer in several months. However, because no one has made an attempt does not mean she should ignore her paranoia. Besides her boyfriend, Brian has issues with her sharing her human body with demon king Lugh.

Meanwhile Lugh ironically may be inside an exorcist, but has not sat back idly. Instead on the Mortal Plain, Lugh has established a royal council. They have evidence that Lugh’s traitorous brother Dougal has set in motion in Philadelphia at the Seven Deadlies demonic nightclub the openings salvo of another fratricide assassination attempt in order to take over as the ruler of all demons. Lugh knows he has no choice but to kill his brother or be killed while his hostess body jumps head first into the fray.

Trust is the key to the latest superb Kingsley urban fantasy as the heroine distrusts everyone except to e a degree Brian and she has no choice with Lugh. The monarch has to rely on the obstinate Morgan to do the right thing for both of them. With betrayal everywhere, Kingsley and Lugh know no one has their back to the delight of fans of this excellent saga as the overarching devilish theme moves forward (except when the heroine pukes in a toilet due to control shifts) to the anticipated war of the brothers.

Harriet Klausner

Out Of Mind
Stella Cameron
Mira, Mar 30 2010, $7.99
ISBN: 9780778327691

Willow Millet strives for a normal life although her family possesses paranormal skills that very few outside of them do. She has the talent but rejects it though she loves her family. Thus she owns and runs the Mean ’nGreen Concierge while her kin manage J. Clive Antiques though some are in London rather than the hometown New Orleans. She met one man of interest to her; Club owner Benedict Fortune who is one of the few outsiders with psychic abilities, but her denial of their talents drove them apart.

Recently, someone or something is killing her customers. NOPD sees one connection, Willow. At the same time Ben wants his Willow to acknowledge their love and their skills. She continues to reject him and their talent, but this time he refuses to go away especially when he believes a malevolent essence stalks his beloved though he is unsure why but has a reasonable guess.

The second Court of Angels urban romantic fantasy (see Out of Body) is tense thriller that grips readers early on due mostly to the French Quarter atmosphere accentuated by the heroine feeling something shadows her. Humor at the right moments enhances the anticipation that something bad will happen to Willow as the evil lurks in her background killing clients and associates of hers. With vividly described degenerate social galas vividly described that add to the sense of doom, fans will appreciate this fine second chance at love with Ben understanding his first mission is to keep his soul mate safe from whoever covets her from the shadows of death.

Harriet Klausner

The Killing Edge
Heather Graham
Mira, Apr 2010, $24.95
ISBN: 9780778327714

A decade ago teenager Chloe Marin attended a party that turned ugly. She was fortunate to survive a mass killing of her friends. The police insist all the cult killers were caught.

That deadly incident triggered her to become a psychologist using art therapy to help survivor victims and as a consultant to the police. Her current assignment is to help locate a swimsuit model Colleen Rodriguez whose employer the Bryson Agency insists she went missing in the Keys for some fun in the sun. Her inquiry leads to British private investigator Luke Cane who is undercover as Jack Smith of Mermaid Designs searching for Colleen also. They soon find leads to the same cult leader who engineered the massacre of Chloe’s friends ten years ago while the ghost of Colleen visits Chloe pleading for help. More homicides occur as Chloe and Luke are attracted to one another, but ending the cult leader’s killing spree supersedes their feelings even as more ghosts visit her.

The Killing Edge is an exhilarating paranormal psychological romantic suspense thriller that grips the audience from the opening Manson-like slaughter and never slows down as Chloe charges head first into the fray while Luke tends to back away until now as he finally has a purpose: keeping Chloe safe. Fast-paced throughout, readers will enjoy this fine tale as the ghosts of past and present urge Chloe on while Luke begs her to reconsider her face first plunges into danger.

Harriet Klausner

Moonshine
Alaya Johnson
Dunne, Mar 2010, $24.99
ISBN 9780312565473

In 1920s Manhattan, Zephyr Hollis is a rare human immune to vampires. The offspring of a demon hunter, she is a social activist who always makes time for the Family Action Committee for Nonhuman Laborers equal rights protests of City Hall (to the chagrin of Mayor Jimmy Walker) and teaches at a Lower East Side night school for underprivileged paranormal.

Considered a softhearted liberal, Zephyr is surprised when her student Amir the djinn suggest she kill vampire mobster Rinaldo. However, Amir never explains why Rinaldo must die, but she agrees as she can use the money he offers. Zephyr turns to the ruthless Turn Boys for insider trading information even as her hunting father prepares to kill them and the bloodsuckers high on a new customized street drug try to dine on her.

Moonshine is a fabulous urban historical fantasy that will have readers believing in a paranormal 1920s New York City though Gentleman Jimmy is probably turning over in his grave. The amusing story line never takes it self seriously even when blood (not always red) flows. Although the city (and somewhat story line) is inundated by the horde of supernatural species, fans will enjoy the Roaring Twenties Manhattan adventures of the Vampire Suffragette

Harriet Klausner

Shadows in the Cave
Caleb Fox
Tor, Mar 2 2010, $24.99
ISBN: 9780765319937

Galayi Tribal War Chief Shonan has banned the use of magic especially by his family ever since the events that shook him and his tribe several years ago (see Zadayi Red). Although he honors the Gods and knows his wife Meli has the power of shapeshifting and her grandmother is a seer who lately seems to talk to herself or some spirit no one else sees, he prefers earthly pragmatism over the mystical. Their oldest children are twin twelve years old, Aku and Salya. A male Aku has the maternal paranormal skill of shapeshifting that he yearns to use, but fears disobeying his father while his female twin ironically cannot.

Unable to resist Aku practices shifting by himself. However, as he begins to become proficient, the Brown Leaf People violently attack the Galayi’s five villages. Shonan and Salya are dispatched to the underworld Darkening Land while his sibling’s body is owned by a monster. There only hope to return to the living is Aku; who must find himself if he is to save his family members.

This is a superb coming of age Cherokee quest fantasy that grips the reader the moment the Brown Leaf tribe attacks. The story line focuses on the young hero whose reflective doubts are his biggest impediments to saving his twin and their father. Fans preferring some action intermingled with major moments of meditative pensiveness will enjoy Aku’s journey into his mind, heart and soul as he traverses the Shadows in the Cave of the Darkening Land.

Harriet Klausner

Firefly Rain
Richard Dansky
Gallery (Simon and Schuster), Apr 6 2010, $15.00
ISBN: 9781439148631

He chose to remain in Boston after graduating from college; disappointing his parents as the visits back to Mayfield, North Carolina grew shorter in length and longer in gap. His father died five years after Jacob Logan finished school and his mother ten years later. Now with his business failing, Jacob retreats to his hometown where his family home has been maintained by his late mom’s creepy elderly friend Carl Powell.

Back home, Jacob finds no peace though he initially assumes it is because he failed to see his parents much after going off to college in New England. However, as unexplained things occur like the theft of his car from his driveway without a sound, Jacob concludes his life and those he still cherishes are in jeopardy although he is unsure from what or why. He must solve the enigma of the townsfolks odd behavior towards him, the spirits of his parents haunting him from their nearby graves, and more so the torrential rain of fireflies that seem everywhere except on or near his estate.

This is an exciting rural regional horror thriller that grips young adult readers from the moment Jacob returns to a home that fails to welcome the prodigal son back. The story line is action-packed, but at times overwhelms the audience with too much unanswered piled on. Still this is an entertaining haunting as Jacob learns you can’t go home unless the fireflies welcome you back.

Harriet Klausner

Demonkeepers
Jessica Anderson
Signet, Apr 2010, $7.99
ISBN: 9780451229571

With a little more than two and a half years to zero date, the clock is ticking down to 12/21/12 when the Mayans predicted that demons will rise to destroy the earth. The only hope to prevent the demonic global meltdown resides with the Nightkeepers warriors who must find their mates to fulfill their magical potential while the Order of Xibalta have other plans to prevent their endeavors.

In Austin, Lucius still feels remorse for being possessed by an evil Makol that has since been exorcised from his body, but not his mental state. He obsesses over atoning for his failures by channeling the Prophet’s magic, but is incomplete without sex magic.

Nightkeeper Jade wants to do more than just be a combat support person, but her clan only provides secondary services. Jade and Lucius are attracted to one another so she decides they both can get what they want through a sexual binding. However, as each denies their love while their attraction grows, their King orders them to hook up and to rescue the sun god from their enemy.

The latest Final Prophesy urban romantic fantasy (see Nightkeepers, Dawnkeepers and Skykeepers) is a fabulous entry that moves forward the overarching countdown while also providing a strong story line. The lead couple makes the plot work as each has powerful ambitions that could be achieved if they would embrace their attraction as being more than just sexual desire. Their “Not in Love” refrains while going to the Underworld to rescue the Mayan deity will have the audience appreciating the skills of master magician Jessica Andersen.

Harriet Klausner

Lion’s Heat
Lora Leigh
Berkley, Apr 2010, $7.99
ISBN: 9780425233801

Director of the Bureau of Breed Affairs Lion Breed Jonas Wyatt knows the only person who could bring him to his knees is his assistant, Rachel Broen. He realizes she is his mate, but refuses to act upon his need as she deserves better than him. Still he wishes he was the father of Rachel’s baby daughter Amber instead of Devon, but is satisfied that the baby recognized his voice when she was still in the womb.

Philip Brandenmore of Brandenmore research kidnaps Amber as he plans to experiment on the infant to foster his goal of using Breeds to slow down aging in purebreds. Jonas rescues the baby, but not before she is injected with some unknown elixir. A raging Jonas, who believes in his soul that Amber is his child, goes berserk with plans of vengeance. However, keeping Amber safe comes first, so he moves his soulmate and “his” daughter into the Breed Sanctuary where he relocates to keep the two females he loves safe.

This is a great entry in the Breeds saga as readers get what we waited for as Jonas no longer can deny his feelings. The key to finally force him to accept the inevitable is not his kick-butt tiny mate, but her daughter; sired by someone else. With a major leap forward in the overarching series as well, fans fully appreciate Jonas turn to accept his mate, but will he also go against what is known of Breed and accept Amber too.

Harriet Klausner

Touch Of Seduction
Rhyannon Byrd
Harlequin HQN, Mar 30 2010, $7.99
ISBN: 9780373774487

Tiger-shifter watchman Aidan Shrader arrives In Lennox Kentucky to protect little Jamie from the Casus. He knows explaining to her ferocious Aunt Olivia Harcourt, the kindergarten teacher, was going to prove difficult as she is willing to die to keep her niece safe. He stuns the protective woman with news that her sister Chloe remains alive but imprisoned by the enemy although Jamie’s mom Monica is dead.

Realizing she cannot keep Jamie safe from evil as every malevolent paranormal wants her niece’s witch blood, Olivia puts her trust and her beloved relative reluctantly in Aidan’s hands. A loner who was once sold into captivity, Aiden knows deep into his primal instincts that Olivia is his eternal soul mate, but he distrust everyone since his days of bondage.

The latest on the “Edge” Primal Instincts romantic urban fantasy is a terrific entry that moves the forward the overarching war between the ancient evils and the Watchmen keeping clans like the Casus in line yet also provides a warm tender love story. Filled with action, readers will enjoy the newest tale as Aidan knows Olivia is his forever, but he cannot cope with a forever; while Olivia knows the enigmatic shapeshifter is her eternal love. Both understand Jamie comes before sorting out their feelings. This is another winner from Rhyannon Byrd.

Harriet Klausner

Reunion
Lindsay McKenna
Silhouette Nocturne, Apr 2010, $
ISBN: 9780373618323

Archaeologist Robert Cramer and Taqe Warrior for the Light operative Aella Palas travel to the Great Spirit Mound in Ohio to obtain the fourth necklace piece. Both understand the importance of their mission as the necklace is the key to overcome evil.

At the site, neither is aware of Atok Sopa, who protects the location from his fourth dimensional realm. However, he recognizes her as his eternal beloved but though she feels an incredible euphoria she is unsure why. He comes to her in her dreams where he explains their past and the test of his powers that split them apart to his remorse and her unawareness. Now Atok wants his wife from their previous lives together back. However, a Tupay dark mage has other plans for the priceless necklace segment and those in the way on the mortal realm forcing a frantic Atok to possess Robert’s body.

The latest Warriors for the Light quest fantasy (see Unforgiven and The Dark Truth) is an entertaining thriller that combines several themes like reincarnation, shapeshifting, and possession in the war between good and evil. Fast-paced from the moment the pair reach Ohio on their mission, Reunion never slows down as the frenetic somewhat hysterical hero risks all to save the woman he will love for eternity.

Harriet Klausner