Darque Reviews

The Accidental Demon Slayer by Angie Fox

2008-06-27T03:38:00.003-04:00

The Accidental Demon Slayer
Demon Slayer, Book 1
Angie Fox
Love Spell
July 29, 2008
ISBN# 978-0-505-52769-1

From the back cover:
It’s never a good day when an ancient demon shows up on your toilet. For Lizzie Brown, that’s just the beginning. Soon her hyperactive terrier starts talking, and her long-lost biker-witch Grandma is hurling Smuckers jars filled with magic. Just when she thinks she’s seen it all, Lizzie learns she’s a demon slayer—and all hell is after her.

Of course, that’s not the only thing after her. Dimitri Kallinikos, a devastatingly handsome shape-shifting griffin, needs Lizzie to slay a demon of his own. But how do you talk a girl you’ve never met into going straight to the underworld? Lie. And if that doesn’t work, how dangerous could a little seduction be…?
-
My thoughts:
All Lizzie Brown wanted for her thirtieth birthday was a night out with her friends. What she got instead was a surprise visit from a spell-casting grandmother she never knew, and Xerxes, the demon who appeared on her toilet. If that wasn’t the shock of her life, finding out that she’s a demon slayer coming into her powers was enough to make Lizzie want to run in the opposite direction.

With demons hot on her trail, Lizzie has little choice but to hop on the back of her grandmother’s Harley with her dog, Pirate, and ride for the safety of grandma’s coven. Unfortunately, the road becomes a very dangerous place and they’re forced to take the help of Dimitri, a gorgeous man who has been making plans of his own when it comes to Lizzie.

Dimitri Kallinikos is a shape-shifting griffin in desperate need of Lizzie’s help, a fact he doesn’t share with her when he offers training and protection. Training is slow going and often dangerous for anyone in the general area, but Dimitri isn’t about to give up when it’s the lives of people he cares about on the line. What starts out as a plan to seduce the slayer into helping him, quickly changes the griffin’s life as the two join forces and stand against a whole lot more than they bargained for.

This is the first book in the Demon Slayer series, and a fabulous beginning it is. From a demon slayer with ties to a coven with a penchant for road-kill, to a shape-shifting griffin, there is non-stop action from page one. Ms. Fox details her world with colorful characters that have mysterious pasts, and keeps readers engaged with humorous mishaps, blossoming romance and spells gone awry. The Accidental Demon Slayer is a fast moving good time that will quickly gain fans looking for book two.

Kimberly Swan, Darque Reviews

Giveaway Winners - Real Vampires Get Lucky by Gerry Bartlett

2008-06-26T01:27:00.001-04:00

Thanks to all who stopped by to comment for a chance to win one of the four copies of Real Vampires Get Lucky by Gerry Bartlett.

The winners are….

ChariDee

LadyVampire2U

Wendy

Tetewa

Please email me at DarqueReviews @ gmail . com (minus the spaces of course) with your snail mail address and I’ll get your books in the mail.

A big thank you also goes to Ms. Bartlett’s publicist at Berkley Books who was kind enough to share these books.

Kimberly Swan, Darque Reviews

Bound by Shadow by Anna Windsor

2008-06-24T12:37:00.004-04:00

Bound by Shadow
The Dark Crescent Sisterhood, Book 1
Anna Windsor
Ballantine Books
June 24, 2008
ISBN# 978-0-345-49853-3

From the back cover:
Falling for a demon can be hazardous to your heart.

Riana Dumain is a fully trained Sybil, a warrior priestess battling evil whose practical magic keeps her grounded in earthly science–and desires. She knows that gorgeous NYPD detective Creed Lowell is dangerous, and possibly a foot soldier of the evil Legion cult, using his badge and drop-dead looks to consolidate demonic power.

Creed’s low-profile Occult Crimes Unit pulls Riana and her two sister Sybils into the case of a politician’s son, murdered in a ritualistic sacrifice. Soon, Riana’s instincts prove true. Creed, the hottest half-human she’s ever known, a demon in bed and out, is guarding a trapdoor to hell. And unless Riana can find a way to tame her mystery man’s treacherous inner self (and her heart), all of Manhattan may be enveloped by darkness.
-
My thoughts:
Riana Dumain was raised as a Sibyl in the fight against the Legion, a dangerous group after power at any cost. She and her triad sisters, Cynda and Marilee, spend much of their time battling Asmodai, demons created by the Legion. When a fellow Sibyl finds herself arrested for the death of a young boy she was there to protect, they all pull together to discover the truth behind the murder in order to get her freed.

Creed Lowell and his partner Andrea ‘Andy’ Myles work for New York’s Occult Crimes Unit, OCU. Having become friends with Riana, Andy believes she could help with a case they’re currently investigating and takes Creed along to meet her. The women sense that Creed is something other than human and he soon finds himself a forced guest of the triad while Riana studies him to discover what exactly he is.

As the Legion closes in and an evil plan for control is revealed, the Sibyls will need all of the help they can get to stand against the wave of Asmodai that’s been unleashed on them. More powerful beings have been created, and because of Creed’s Other, his help becomes invaluable. He only hopes that when the danger has passed he’ll learn control over the Other he carries within, and his feelings for Riana will be returned.

This is the first book in The Dark Crescent Sisterhood. The chemistry between Riana and Creed crackles from the moment they meet, but Sibyl training prevents Riana from fully trusting in him while he continues to battle his beast within. Ms. Windsor begins her series with a light introduction to her warring characters and fills the pages with supernatural action. Bound By Shadow takes readers on a mystery packed journey to expose the murderous members of the Legion, and softens the darkness with a sizzling romance that blossoms from lust. I’ll look forward to future stories with Riana and her triad sisters. Bound by Flame will release on July 29th, followed by Bound by Light on August 26th.

You can learn more about The Dark Crescent Sisterhood and read excerpts by visiting Ms. Windsor’s site: http://www.annawindsor.net/

Kimberly Swan, Darque Reviews

Rites of Spring (Break) by Diana Peterfreund

2008-06-24T12:27:00.004-04:00

Rites of Spring (Break)
Ivy League, Book 3
Diana Peterfreund
Delta
June 24, 2008
ISBN# 978-0-385-34193-6

From the back cover:
From “witty and endearing” to “impossible to put down,” the critics have given elite marks to Diana Peterfreund’s Secret Society Girl and Under the Rose. Now, in a wildly captivating new novel, Amy “Bugaboo” Haskel and her fellow Rose & Grave knights are trading cold, gray, hyperintellectual New Haven for an annual rite of spring (well, early March) in Florida.

For Amy, a week of R&R on her secret society’s private island should be all fun in the sun—and an escape from an on-campus feud with a rival society that’s turned disturbingly personal. But along with her SPF 30 and a bikini, Amy is bringing a suitcase full of issues to remote Cavador Key. Graduation from Eli University looms, not to mention buckets of unfinished business with a former flame and—most pressing of all—the sudden, startling transformation of a mysterious Rose & Grave patriarch from sheerly evil to utterly…appealing?

Just when Amy thinks Spring Break can’t get any less relaxing, a wacky “accident” puts everyone on edge. And that’s only the beginning, as Amy starts to suspect that someone has infiltrated the island. With some major Rose & Grave secrets to be exposed, and the potential fallout enough to take down one of America’s most loathsome figureheads, what she can’t know is that the party crasher is deadly serious about making sure “Bugaboo” doesn’t get back to Eli alive….
-
My thoughts:
When the members of Dragon’s Head identify Amy “Bugaboo” Haskel for some retaliation that she and her fellow members of Rose & Grave carried out, she alone becomes the target of their vicious pranks. Graduation is just around the corner, and Amy’s tired of living in constant worry of what the rival group may do next. She’s counting down the days until she accompanies Rose & Grave to their private island, Cavador Key, in Florida’s warmer climate.

With a near-death experience along the way, the group arrives to what should be their tropical paradise. While the current Rose & Grave have learned to accept the co-ed group that had once been only men, its alumni isn’t nearly as ready to acknowledge that the change is for the good. When things begin going wrong it’s easy to blame it on the women they feel are so untrustworthy, but when the women become the target even the hardcore alumni will have to step back and take another look.

As things heat up and turn dangerous, Amy finds herself in the arms of someone she never expected. What starts as a swimming lesson might turn into something more if they can all just manage to survive their island vacation.

In this third installment of the Ivy League series, a week of fun in the sun quickly turns threatening. As graduation looms in the near future, Amy and her friends think to their futures and try to survive their time on Cavador Key. Ms. Peterfreund offers fans a well-detailed world, and packs her latest book with non-stop danger and mystery. There’s a delicious bit of romance added to the mix that will both surprise and delight. Rites of Spring (Break) is a dose of campus life with secret societies that readers won’t soon forget.

Kimberly Swan, Darque Reviews

Lamplighter by D.M. Cornish

2008-06-23T23:51:00.003-04:00

Lamplighter
Monster Blood Tattoo, Book 2
D. M. Cornish
Putnam
May 1, 2008
ISBN# 978-0-399-24639-5

From the publisher’s site:
Orphan Rossamünd Bookchild has been sworn into the Emperor’s service—his duty is to light the lamps along the Emperor’s highways and protect travelers from the ferocious bogles that live in the wild. But he’s found it no easier to fit in with the lamplighters than he did with the foundlings—always too small and too meek—and his loneliness continues no matter how hard he tries to succeed.

-
But when a haughty young girl, a member of a suspiciously regarded society of all-women teratologists— monster hunters—is forced upon the lamplighters for training, Rossamünd is no longer the most despised soul around. As Rossamünd begins to make new friends in the dangerous world of the Half-Continent, he also seems to make more enemies, finding himself pushed toward a destiny that he could never have imagined.

-
My thoughts:
Having left Madam Opera’s Estimable Marine Society for Foundling Boys and Girls, Rossamünd Bookchild traveled to Winstermill to begin his apprenticeship to become a Lamplighter. Having arrived a week late, he began his time there with the name Master Come-lately, given to him by Grinrod, his Lamplighter Sergeant. With that, any hope that Rossamünd had to begin his time as a lamplighter with many friends are quickly dashed, so he begins his new job of lighting the lamps and battling monsters.

After helping to save the Lady Dolours group of teratologists from an attack, the lamplighters learn that one of the young girls, Threnody, is insisting on becoming a lamplighter. Lamplighter-Sergeant Grinrod does his best to be confrontational and refuse the addition of a female prentice, but in the end Threnody, who comes from a noble family, remains.

With little choice, Rossamünd is forced to keep Threnody close. A torturous beginning for him, but as they train along with the other prentices a friendship begins to form. Her rude and forceful behavior eventually softens to some degree, and Rossamünd finds himself opening up about some of his moments prior to arriving at Winstermill. Thenody of course finds it hard to believe, especially when Europe, the Brandon Rose, pays a visit.

As they endeavor to do their job while fighting the monsters continues, the loyal Rossamünd makes a few unlikely allies, some powerful enemies and continues to mature with his responsibilities.

This is the second book in Monster Blood Tattoo, and is as wonderfully fascinating as the first. D. M. Cornish does an amazing job of building this creative fantasy world and sharing that vision with readers. The characters are well-defined and are made more so by the drawings within the book. The scenery throughout is vividly described, and the storyline is multilayered and edged in mystery. Lamplighter is an enchanting journey filled with monsters, dangerous adventures and a young man finding his own niche in a world that may have otherwise passed him by. Written with young adults in mind, the Monster Blood Tattoo series will easily be enjoyed by adults as well.

Kimberly Swan, Darque Reviews

The Last Vampire by Patricia Rosemoor & Marc Paoletti

2008-06-23T23:22:00.002-04:00

The Last Vampire
Patricia Rosemoor & Marc Paoletti
Del Rey – Ballantine Books
June 24, 2008
ISBN# 978-0-345-50104-2

From the back cover:
Spawned of alchemy and blood, he was the last of a brutal, ancient line. Now he has just been reborn.

Deep in a Texas cave, the military unearths a five-hundred-year-old corpse, its desiccated flesh teeming with mysterious DNA that can transform mortals into beings of unimaginable power.

Captain Scott Boulder, leader of a Black Ops unit that has been endowed with these superhuman abilities, is among the first to benefit from the find. But when, with the help of a voodoo priestess, the creature is conjured to life, unleashing an ancient evil bent on reinstating its poisonous kind on earth, Scott knows he must return the monster to the grave. But this is no ordinary vampire. Once a brutal torturer in the Spanish Inquisition, it can bend the laws of science and magic in horrifying new ways.

Powerless to fight this evil alone, Scott grudgingly seeks the aid of reclusive anthropologist Leah Maguire, an expert in the mystical rituals of the past. To keep humanity from entering a new Dark Age, Scott and Leah will battle unspeakable horrors and will sacrifice everything they hold dear–perhaps even their own humanity–to destroy the last vampire.
-
My thoughts:
It’s been years since Leah Maguire lost her father and brother to a vicious creature they disturbed in a Texas cave. She couldn’t stop what happened that day, but now she’s an expert in her field and able to practice ancient rituals if she’d give herself half a chance.

When the government comes knocking with a request for her professional help, Leah has no intention of getting involved. They’re not about to let her off that easily because it seems that the same creature that once destroyed her family is on the loose and she may be the only one who possesses the knowledge to stop him.

Scott Boulder leads a unique unit of men whose talents are kept secret from the general population. Each of his team members have been enhanced through the introduction of the supernatural DNA from a centuries old corpse. Their covert group has been compromised and despite Scott’s protests they’re about to call in help.

The government’s five-hundred year old vampire has just received a wake-up call from a voodoo priestess who will let nothing stand in the way of her goal. The evil they’ve carefully controlled has been set loose on an unsuspecting community. Scott and Leah are humanity’s only hope of stopping the creature as it cuts a bloody path on his way to immortality.

With their own twist on the vampire legend, Patricia Rosemoor and Marc Paoletti have created a storyline filled with murder and mayhem. An evil that’s powered in blood, and formed by alchemy, reenters the heroine’s life and manages to turn the hero’s existence upside down. While I expected more romance, and would have liked more detail about the Black Ops team and Leah’s professional background, I found The Last Vampire to be both interesting and entertaining.

Read the prologue to The Last Vampire by clicking on the book cover: Here

Kimberly Swan, Darque Reviews

The Bearskin Rug by Jennifer Stevenson

2008-06-23T23:06:00.003-04:00

The Bearskin Rug
Book 3
Jennifer Stevenson
Ballantine Books
June 24, 2008
ISBN# 978-0-345-50024-3

From the back cover:
THE MAGIC: A live-in sex demon sure keeps a girl up at night

But for Jewel, a fraud cop leery of commitment, Randy could be too much of a good thing.

THE MISCHIEF: Hinky and kinkySomething seriously weird is going on at an erotic film studio. Jewel and her sexy partner, Clay, take the case–and Randy finds an outlet for his special skills.

THE MAN TROUBLE: Two hotties and a hard decisionIf Jewel’s the luckiest girl in Chicago, how come she’s sleeping alone so much?
-
My thoughts:
Jewel Heiss continues her job as a fraud investigator for the Chicago Department of Consumer Services tracking down hinky crimes. She finally has a new partner at work in Clay, the ex-con. Randy, the sex demon, who became bound to her in the Brass Bed, still shares her bed.

When Consumer Services is called to investigate a complaint made against the Department of Inspectional Services, Jewel, Clay and Randy visit the home and search for traces of a pocket zone, a patch of unreality. This spurs a new investigation as the team begins following a paper trail to find who could be benefiting by purchasing and selling property in the area.

Jewel goes undercover as a secretary at Baysdorter Boncil, a real estate development firm that’s recently had an unexpected and inappropriate meeting in the boardroom. It’s obvious from the start that the women employed by the firm are being sexually harassed by their bosses, but the problem runs much deeper than that. Something very hinky is going on.

In the midst of it all the team visits a business where Randy has decided to make a stand for his own independence, and takes on a job. It’s a job that Jewel not only finds disturbing, but it’s one that could end their relationship beyond friends. A sobering thought for Jewel, and one she’d rather not entertain.

This is the third book in the series, and continues the tale of Jewel’s hinky and erotic adventures. As magic sweeps the nation, Chicago has strict rules in not acknowledging the bizarre goings on. It’s Jewel’s job to stop the hinky stuff in its tracks, and lucky for her she has Clay and Randy there to help her. Ms. Stevenson takes readers on a madcap adventure that’s as fast-moving as it is humorous. For fans that have followed the heroine’s progress and the role she plays in their sexy love triangle since The Brass Bed, you may be very surprised at how The Bearskin Rug ends.

Kimberly Swan, Darque Reviews

Undead and Unworthy by MaryJanice Davidson

2008-06-20T16:40:00.004-04:00

Undead and Unworthy
Queen Betsy, Book 7
MaryJanice Davidson
Berkley Sensation
June 24, 2008
ISBN# 978-0-425-22162-4

From the inside cover flap:
Betsy Taylor thought entering the world of the undead was a big adjustment. Being a new bride isn’t much easier. The blush has only been on for two months, and Betsy has a lot to do: set up the new house, finish writing thank-you notes, and raise BabyJon, her half brother and legal ward. Just another happy American family adjusting to marital bliss.
-
Betsy's husband, Sinclair, has been perusing The Book of the Dead, and Betsy's visited by a ghost who's even more insufferable, stubborn, and annoying in death than she was in life. She not only blames Betsy for her condition but insists that she fix it. It’s all just a prelude to the fun and games awaiting Betsy and Sinclair when a pack of formerly feral vampires, hungry for blood and power, pays a visit to the happy couple.
-
My thoughts:
Betsy Taylor died and woke up as the queen of vampires with a future king ready to tie the knot. Now she can’t quite catch a break on having an easy or quiet life. As the queen, her responsibilities are endless, but her personal life brings just as many unexpected obstacles. Balancing it all and raising her baby half brother is nearly more than she can handle, so it’s a good thing she has so many others around her to help.

While Betsy’s powers continue to grow and surprise her, a new ghost demands her attention and offers no real clue to what she wants beyond making her life miserable. Then there’s Detective Nick Berry, the man who hates her for who she is and what she’s done to him the past. Now he’s insisting she help him solve a case.

Eric Sinclair remains faithfully by Betsy’s side when he isn’t sneaking off to read The Book of the Dead. It seems that the Queen and her King are busy keeping a few secrets, and one day those secrets might come back to bite them.

With life at the mansion being as crazy as ever, they’ve forgotten about the Fiends they have tucked away in Alice’s care. It’s too bad that the Fiends haven’t forgotten them, or that Betsy’s at the top of their list.

This is the seventh book in the Queen Betsy series and is a fast-paced and humorous as the previous installments. Ms. Davidson has her own brand of wit and shocking surprises that makes her vampire series one of a kind. From characters you grow to love or loathe, to the non-stop paranormal action that’s completely believable within this urban fantasy world, Undead and Unworthy is one that fans don’t dare miss.

Kimberly Swan, Darque Reviews

Giveaway - Real Vampires Get Lucky by Gerry Bartlett

2008-06-18T23:17:00.004-04:00

How would you like to win a copy of Real Vampires Get Lucky by Gerry Bartlett? Thanks to Ms. Bartlett’s awesome publicist at Berkley Books, Darque Reviews has 4 copies to give away!

If you haven’t had an opportunity to get caught up with Glory St. Clair and her friends, here’s your chance. All you need to do is leave a comment on this post anytime over the next week before midnight Wednesday, June 25th. I’ll announce the winners on Thursday morning (June 26th), so be sure to check back to see if it’s you!

From the publisher’s site:
When a female loan shark named Lucky is attacked and left for dead, vampire Glory St. Clair turns her into one of the undead to save her—but eternity would have been safer without her. Vamps prefer a low profile, and that's not Lucky's style. She prefers to flaunt her sexy rock-star ex-boyfriend and great shoes. Trouble is, her flamboyant behavior is not only drawing every vampire hunter within miles—it's bringing her would-be killer out of hiding, too.

-
(Glory St. Claire, Book 3)

Berkley Trade, June 2008

368 pages ISBN: 0425221547

Trade Size$14.00

You can see a review of Real Vampires Get Lucky: Here

Visit Gerry Bartlett: Here

Read more about the author and her books at Berkley Jove Authors: Here

Visit Penguin Group: Here

Good Luck and Happy Reading!

Kimberly Swan, Darque Reviews

His Forgotten Forever by Michele Hauf

2008-06-17T18:57:00.007-04:00

His Forgotten Forever
Bewitching the Dark, Book 3
Michele Hauf
Silhouette Nocturne
July 1, 2008
ISBN# 978-0-373-61791-3

From the back cover:
Truvin Stone no longer remembered his victims…

Or his enemies. As he fought for survival, the only person Truvin could trust was an outsider to his world, an innocent foolish enough to nurse him back to health.…

Truvin's past was one story Lucy Morgan couldn't stop chasing, even after she discovered he was a vampire. Drawn in by his dark side, Lucy was one bite away from feeling the true power of his embrace—and his eternal curse. Standing in the midst of a new war, Truvin was the key to tipping the balance between vampire and witch. Yet returning to his old, evil ways would destroy Lucy… and deliver to him a fate worse than death.
-
My thoughts:
Truvin Maximilien Stone becomes aware of his surroundings in a wet, slushy alley and has no memory of how he got there. There’s a lump on his head, no wallet in his pocket and nothing more than a note telling him were to go. His memory is gone, and now he finds himself on the run from strangers who want to see him dead. Dashing in front of a car and putting distance between him and the strangers in pursuit may have saved his life for the time being, but now he’s involved an innocent woman, Lucy, in the mess he’s forced to call his life.

Lucy Morgan is tired of interviewing people who claim they’re vampires for the show Myth: Confirmed. After two years of chasing myths she’s lost her enthusiasm for making the stories fun. Just as she comes to the realization that she wants something more, a stranger carjacks her in desperation and entangles her in a life he can’t remember. Drawn to a good mystery, Lucy soon finds herself immersed in Truvin’s life, a dangerous place for her to be.

This is the third book in the Bewitching Dark series, and written to enjoy as a stand-alone. When Lucy went looking for something more out of her life, finding herself with a devastatingly handsome, amnesiac vampire hadn’t entered her thoughts of possibility. Truvin provides her with everything she could have hoped for in excitement and a whole lot more. Ms. Hauf pens an action filled adventure with an intriguing mystery, and turns up the heat with chemistry soaked romance. His Forgotten Forever is fast, entertaining and sexy as sin.

You can read the first chapter of His Forgotten Forever: Here

Kimberly Swan, Darque Reviews

All Soul's Night by Jennifer Armintrout

2008-06-14T22:18:00.004-04:00

All Souls’ Night
Blood Ties, Book Four
Jennifer Armintrout
Mira
June 1, 2008
ISBN# 978-0-7783-2537-6

From the back cover:
I have reached my breaking point. And now I will not, cannot be stopped. With the Soul Eater on the verge of god status, it's time for me to take a final stand, even if it means losing everything I love. Even if it means losing my life.

-
I've got plenty of power on my side, and some I didn't know I could count on in the first place. But it's nothing compared to the army of the undead the Soul Eater is building up. And time is running out.

-
They say that good always triumphs over evil. I hope that's true. Because the odds aren't in our favor, and the fate of the world is in our hands.

-
My thoughts:
Having come a long way since she survived the turning point in her life that left her a vampire, Carrie still finds herself up against her worst nightmare, the Soul Eater. His goal to consume the souls of those he sired has not wavered, because in doing so he’ll become a god. Nathan, the man Carrie loves, is on the Soul Eater’s list of vampire children and he’s looking to bring his son home. There are more surprises in store when she realizes that people she believed dead are actually living at the Soul Eater’s whim.

Nathan has survived the loss of his first love and of his son, but he’s certain that he can’t live through losing Carrie as well. He’s her sire, but it’s much more than a blood bond that he feels for her and he wants more than anything to keep her safe. With Max back in town and the possibility of help from the werewolves there may be a chance to defeat the Soul Eater. He’s gathering an army of his own to protect him, so that when his change to a godly state begins there will be nothing to stop its process. Time is running out, and if they don’t act now there will be no stopping the madman from achieving his evil objective.

This is book four in the Blood Ties series, and it has many surprises in store for fans. Carrie is determined to finish things with the Soul Eater, despite the real danger of it ending her life. Her love for Nathan is stronger than ever, and for Nathan’s part he’s finally come to terms with his own feelings where Carrie is concerned. Ms. Armintrout wraps up her series with a final showdown and an ending that will stun fans of the series. The action will keep readers on the edge of their seats as the ongoing fight reaches its peek. Entertaining and often steamy romances run parallel to the supernatural action without dominating the pages. All Souls’ Night ends on a most unexpected, but thoroughly creative scene.

Kimberly Swan, Darque Reviews

Eternal Pleasure by Nina Bangs

2008-06-11T16:37:00.007-04:00

Eternal Pleasure
The Gods of the Night, Book 1
Nina Bangs
Dorchester
July 1, 2008
ISBN# 978-0-843-95953-6

From the back cover:
The Eleven—an alliance of ultimate predators. Primal, lethal, irresistible. The Prophecy—an ancient Mayan prediction that the world will end on 12-21-12. The Prey—where can you hide from pure evil?

Kelly Maloy opens her car door to much more than a great looking stranger at the Houston airport. Terror, desire, and a horrible truth climb in with him. She’s only supposed to drive Ty Endeka around the city for a few weeks. Too bad no one tells her that once day fades she’ll become part of a battle fought in the darkened streets with an enemy that isn’t human. And the sensual man who feeds her fantasies hides a soul that gives new meaning to animal magnetism.

Eleven Gods of the Night… The only creatures more deadly are the ones they’ve been summoned to destroy.

My Thoughts:
When Kelly Maloy is offered a well paying job as driver, she jumps on the chance. It’s in her best interest, at least financially, to take the time off from school and earn a paycheck. She figures this job will be a piece of cake. Then she meets Ty, the dark and dangerous man who she’ll be driving around town and life as she knows it is changed. Kelly finds herself thrust into the middle of an ongoing battle between the Eleven, the group Ty belongs to, and the nine immortals and their leader that they must stop.

Ty Endeka finds himself in a new time, sixty-five million years after the life he remembers, to fight the immortals who are once again trying to destroy humanity. The current time period will end on December 21, 2012 and at that time the cosmic clock will reset to begin a new cycle. The enemy must be eliminated before then, or all will be lost.

The battle between good and evil rages on, and it’s a theme that most readers know and love, especially in fantasy. It’s a part of what grabs our attention in a story, but we also need a well written storyline, interesting characters, and originality for a book to really stick in our memories. Ms. Bangs delivers on every count and adds so much more to this first installment of The Gods of the Night series. Differing in her previous work with a less humorous approach, Eternal Pleasure offers original characters, a unique storyline, supernatural action, a cosmic countdown and a soul deep romance. This is a brilliant start to what should be a fabulous urban fantasy series, and I’ll be eagerly watching for the next installment.

Kimberly Swan, Darque Reviews

Evernight by Claudia Gray

2008-06-10T01:46:00.005-04:00

Evernight
Claudia Gray
Harper Teen
May 27, 2008
ISBN# 978-0-06-128439-7

From the jacket flap:
Bianca wants to escape.

She's been uprooted from her small hometown and enrolled at Evernight Academy, an eerie Gothic boarding school where the students are somehow too perfect: smart, sleek, and almost predatory. Bianca knows she doesn't fit in.

Then she meets Lucas. He's not the "Evernight type" either, and he likes it that way. Lucas ignores the rules, stands up to the snobs, and warns Bianca to be careful—even when it comes to caring about him.

"I couldn't stand it if they took it out on you," he tells Bianca, "and eventually they would."

But the connection between Bianca and Lucas can't be denied. Bianca will risk anything to be with Lucas, but dark secrets are fated to tear them apart . . . and to make Bianca question everything she's ever believed.

My thoughts:

Bianca Olivier becomes the outsider in a new school when her parents take teaching positions at the Evernight Academy and she’s forced to leave her old life and friends behind. As classes are about to begin for the school year she meets a boy, Lucas, who is as different from the other students as one could be. They become close friends, but each of them is protecting a secret that could change more than just their relationship, it could put their lives in jeopardy.

Lucas Ross has done as his mother insisted and enrolled in the Evernight Academy, but he’s less than happy to be there. Living in a dorm, he’s gotten a decent roommate in Vic, but the majority of students treat him like the outsider he is. Meeting Bianca is the best thing to happen to him, but the past is about to catch up to the present.

Like many of the young adult vampire reads in the past few years, Evernight takes place at an academy designed for our fanged friends. Set during a time when a number of humans are being allowed to attend the school, the story takes readers on a journey of discovery for both the heroine and her hero. While Evernight starts out slowly, Ms. Gray captures the reader’s attention with a surprising twist and the story picks up the pace from there until the climactic end. Suitable for teens, but may be enjoyed by adults as well.

Kimberly Swan, Darque Reviews

Dragon Wytch by Yasmine Galenorn

2008-06-05T20:31:00.004-04:00

Dragon Wytch
Sisters of the Moon, Book 4
Yasmine Galenorn
Berkley
July 1, 2008
ISBN# 978-0-425-22239-3

From the back cover:
We’re the D’Artigo sisters: savvy—and sexy—operatives for the Otherworld Intelligence Agency. But being half-human, half-Fae short-circuits our talents at all the wrong times. My sister Delilah shapeshifts into a tabby cat whenever she’s stressed. Menolly’s a vampire who’s still getting the hang of being undead. And me? I’m Camille, a wicked-good witch, trying to juggle faulty magic, gorgeous men, and the demonic war in which we're embroiled. Sometimes, it’s hard to know just who we can trust…

The Equinox is coming, and mayhem rules. A crown-prince unicorn offers us a legendary gift, but it vanishes. Goblins and trolls swarm the streets of Seattle. And now Smoky, the sexiest dragon alive, decides to stake his claim--on me. Overshadowing it all, the third spirit seal surfaces and Shadow Wing's after it. But I've discovered a secret that could change everything. A new power is rising—a dangerous force from the past--one that intends to restore balance to the worlds…whether we like it or not.

My thoughts:
Searching for a way to battle the unwelcome Otherworld denizens that are pouring through the portals into Seattle, Camille D’Artigo has been offered a way to help boost her talents by adding a different type of magic. As she struggles to manage her own unpredictable gifts with her mixed human-fae blood, she’s happy to accept the offering from Feddrah-Dahns, a crown price unicorn. The third spirit seal is about to become known, and they’ll need every advantage they can manage to stand against those who side with their demon lord enemy, Shadow Wing.

Smokey is collecting on the bargain he struck with Camille for a week to do with her what he pleases. He’s patient for a dragon, but even he has his limits, and while Camille feels protected in his presence she still has a level of fear. As the battle heats up all around them, and the D’Artigo sisters find themselves in the midst of OW and Earthside chaos, Camille will find that bargains may be all that can save everyone she loves.

As readers have learned in the previous Sisters of the Moon installments, Ms. Galenorn has a great gift for spinning a compelling story. The supernatural action is a great blend of both fresh and familiar, the characters are each charming in their own way, the heroine’s love-life is scorching and the worlds they all live in are well-defined. Dragon Wytch is the fourth book in this urban fantasy series and while some threads in the storyline are wrapped up, many more will emerge to keep fans in suspense.

Kimberly Swan, Darque Reviews

If Wishing Made It So by Lucy Finn

2008-06-05T09:43:00.004-04:00

If Wishing Made It So
Lucy Finn
Signet Eclipse
July 1, 2008
ISBN# 978-0-451-22459-0

From the back cover:
Sometimes love needs a touch of magic...

Once voted the girl most-likely-to-succeed, Hildy Caldwell is now the one in the biggest rut. She has let her world get very small: a tiny cottage in rural Pennsylvania, two cats, and a ho-hum job. As for love? Nobody has ever measured up to her football hero high school sweetheart. If only she could meet him again . . .

Knowing that's wishful thinking, Hildy splurges on a summer rental on Long Beach Island, one of the Jersey shore's prettiest spots. There, she hopes the wind might blow a handsome man her way. Instead, she finds an abandoned bottle-with a two-thousand-year-old, meddlesome genie inside! Magic and mayhem follow, along with what Hildy's been wishing for: a meeting with the man she has never stopped loving.

With the genie's help, Hildy's dreams might come true. But spells and enchantment have a dark and dangerous side. And Hildy could lose everything-unless she finds out that true love is the best kind of magic.

My thoughts:
After a recent break-up confirms her bad luck with men, Hildy Caldwell packs her suitcase and heads to the Jersey shore for her summer off from teaching. Her ten year class reunion is quickly approaching, and Hildy’s realized that she’s still hung up on her high school sweetheart. Finding a genie in a bottle might be fun, and making a wish to be with the man you love could be perfect, but sometimes what you wish for is a far cry from what you may get. Hildy’s treasure turns troublesome when its previous owner wants it back and has no plans to walk away.

This was the first book I’ve read by Ms. Finn, and it was such a good time that it won’t be my last. If Wishing Made It So is an adventure brimming with non-stop action and the magic of discovering true love. The heroine is your average twenty-something reevaluating her life when magic flips her quiet world upside down. This fast-moving read has danger, humor and a fairy tale romance that’s sure to entertain.

Kimberly Swan, Darque Reviews

The Darkest Pleasure by Gena Showalter

2008-06-04T18:52:00.003-04:00

The Darkest Pleasure
Lords of the Underworld, Book 3
Gena Showalter
HQN
July 1, 2008
ISBN# 978-0-373-77310-7

From the back cover:
He can bear any pain but the thought of losing her…

Reyes is a man possessed. Bound by the demon of pain, he is forbidden to know pleasure. Yet he craves a mortal woman, Danika Ford, more than breath and will do anything to claim her—even defy the gods.

Danika is on the run. For months, she’s eluded the Lords of the Underworld, immortal warriors who won’t rest until she and her family have been destroyed. But her dreams are haunted by Reyes, the warrior whose searing touch she can’t forget. Yet a future together could mean death to all they both hold dear. . .

My thoughts:
Along with his fellow warriors, Reyes is bound by an ancient curse. As punishment for opening dimOuniak (Pandora’s box) he lives each immortal day with a demon who thrives on pain. In this third book of the Lords of the Underworld series, Reyes will do everything he can to win Danika’s trust. Her presence in his life may bring him salvation, but protecting her could bring his death.

Ms. Showalter takes readers on an engaging adventure where demons thrive on death and destruction, and hope burns eternal. From passion filled moments to visions of the gods, questions are answered while others are formed. There’s a scene in The Darkest Pleasure that may be viewed as a bit more disturbing than most, but it makes sense for this particular character. Readers should be satisfied with this installment, but will be hungry for more from this talented author.

Kimberly Swan, Darque Reviews

Fall With Honor by E. E. Knight

2008-06-02T14:05:00.002-04:00

Fall With Honor
Vampire Earth, Book 7
E. E. Knight
ROC
July 1, 2008
ISBN# 978-0-451-46210-7

From the back cover:
Freedom is on the march as the rebellion against the Kurian Occupation of Earth takes the offensive. David Valentine has recruited an ad hoc company of former Quisling soldiers and puts them through a trial by fire with a successful raid against an enemy armory. Now, they’re ready to join forces with a guerilla army planning to establish a new freehold in the Appalachian Mountains.Valentine knows that a permanent outpost near the East Coast would provide a strategic victory over the Kurians—and he believes that only his old ally Ahn-Kha could be leading the guerillas. But nothing could prepare Valentine’s fighters for what awaits them at the end of their journey.

My thoughts:
In a future where Earth is occupied by an alien enemy, David Valentine is a strong presence in the fight against the Kurian Order. This is the seventh book in the Vampire Earth series and is often the case Valentine quickly works his way up through the ranks to assist in leading a surprising mix of soldiers against their enemies.

Mr. Knight has a fabulous writing voice and his futuristic world, as well as the characters that live and die there, are well-defined. While there is plenty of movement throughout the story and lives lost in the battles along the way, the tension and fast action come near the end. If you’re planning to start this series, don’t start with Fall With Honor or you’ll find yourself lost. You’ll want a better understanding of David Valentine, his allies and his enemies, to fully appreciate Vampire Earth. Reading the previous books is recommended.

Kimberly Swan, Darque Reviews

The Touch of Twilight by Vicki Pettersson

2008-06-01T14:23:00.001-04:00

The Touch of Twilight
Sign of the Zodiac, Book 3
Vicki Pettersson
EOS - HarperCollins
May 27, 2008
ISBN# 978-0-06-089893-9

Born of equal parts Light and Shadow, Joanna Archer was ripped from the life she knew and forced to take on the identity of Olivia, her deceased sister. Living as a member of Troop 175 in Las Vegas, she’s the Archer of the Zodiac agents of Light. To the public eye she’s a spoiled socialite, the daughter of Xavier Archer. Her identity as a super hero who happens to appear in comics is something not even her ex-boyfriend and love of her life, Ben Traina, knows.

A doppelganger has ripped its way through to their world and has designs on becoming corporeal. Unfortunately it has set its sights on Joanna’s image and will hound her until it gets what it wants or they find a way to stop it. The Tulpa has offered to help Joanna defeat the doppelganger, but in order to have that help she’ll be forced into taking a deal. He’s not yet given up the hope of encouraging Joanna’s Shadow side to rise and rule beside him.

The time for the third sign of the zodiac is upon them, and those around her wonder if the Archer’s Shadow side is about to take over her Light. The battle continues between Shadow and Light and Joanna finds herself in the middle trying to right some wrongs and land on the side she’s destined to serve.

In this Third Sign of the Zodiac, Joanna’s ongoing struggle continues as she fights for the Light and refuses to give up the man she’s always loved. Ms. Pettersson shares another well-imagined tale with engaging characters and action filled scenes. While Joanna’s first love continues to fill her thoughts, the chemistry she shares with Hunter increases to scorching proportions. The Touch of Twilight is an entertaining read that fans of the series shouldn’t miss.

Kimberly Swan, Darque Reviews

Hidden by Eve Kenin

2008-06-01T01:09:00.001-04:00

Hidden
Eve Kenin
Shomi – Dorchester
July 2008
ISBN# 978-0-505-52761-5

It’s the year 2093 and Tatiana is searching the Northern Waste for Tolliver, the man she believes responsible for the creation of a deadly plague. Having been held captive and genetically altered was a nightmare for her, but she was learning that the changes she’d under-gone enabled her to survive what others would not. She could withstand the bitter cold temperatures without heavy protection, read most people’s thoughts, and quickly heal her wounds. The strength Tatiana had gained, allowed her to stand against most any enemy.

Tristan is a man whose life holds secrets that not even he can fully explain. When he sees Tatiana for the first time he’s drawn to her. It’s not until they meet again that things change and Tristan has no choice but to bring her back to their compound for her own sake and for those living in the Northern Waste. As a team they may be able to finally set things straight and make their world just a little bit safer.

In this second visit to the Northern Waste, a young woman searches for a man she believes is a monster and discovers something entirely different. Ms. Kenin gives readers a tale that’s easily as solid as its predecessor. With equal parts action and romance, this well-defined futuristic world is an easy one to get lost in. While the temperature may be freezing, the inhabitants produce plenty of heat between them to singe the pages. Hidden can be read as a stand-alone, but the characters and their surroundings will have a stronger impact if Driven is read first.

Kimberly Swan, Darque Reviews

The Velvet Chair by Jennifer Stevenson

2008-05-28T20:14:00.001-04:00

The Velvet Chair
Book 2
Jennifer Stevenson
Ballantine Books
May 20, 2008
ISBN# 978-0-345-48669-1

Working as a fraud investigator in Chicago keeps Jewel Heiss busy with bizarre crimes. While she’s not fond of the department she’s stuck in, she’s finally been given a partner. Clay being an ex-con might not have been her first choice, but his checkered past comes in handy more often than not.

When Clay Dawes refuses to help his father’s girlfriend he and Jewel find themselves going undercover in his father’s home. What they’re after is the Venus Machine, a chair reported to intensify beauty making the subject who has used it irresistible to those around them. Their job is to investigate the fraud and shut down any talk of magic.

Randy, the sex demon, is still by Jewel’s side and hoping for a permanent release from his curse. He also manages to get them all into some pretty risky situations. Between the three of them they’ll have to prevent public knowledge of the Venus Machine and find a way to prove that its magic is really just the power of suggestion.

In this second Jewel Heiss installment, Jewel returns with Clay and Randy in an undercover adventure that’s sometimes dangerous, often laced with sexual tension and always filled with magic. Ms. Stevenson gives readers a wonderful follow-up story, turning up the heat with more lusty moments and humorous escapades. The Velvet Chair is a steamy romp and a great time with this amusing trio. Book three, The Bearskin Rug, is scheduled for release on June 24, 2008.

Kimberly Swan, Darque Reviews

The Brass Bed by Jennifer Stevenson

2008-05-28T20:12:00.002-04:00

The Brass Bed
Book 1
Jennifer Stevenson
Ballantine Books
April 29, 2008
ISBN# 978-0-345-48668-4

Jewel Heiss works for the Chicago Department of Consumer Services where she investigates fraud and tries to keep a lid on the magical things that go on around town. Her boss thinks his wife, Nina, is cheating on him and wants Jewel to find the proof. Not the kind of case she wants to be involved in, but in the process she’ll investigate the sex therapist Nina’s seeing because Jewel is sure he’s a con.

Giving in to her friend’s demands, Jewel agrees to a session with Clay, the therapist. What she gets out of the experience is Randy, a demon lover who attaches himself to her as her sex slave.

When his mistress used her magic and cursed him for being a lousy lover, Randy found himself trapped in a brass bed. He’s been stuck there since 1811. The deal is that he has to satisfy 100 women to gain his freedom and it’s taken him nearly 200 hundred years to get there. He was lucky that someone like Clay finally came along and made good use of the bed or he may have been stuck forever. Still, something hasn’t gone as planned and Randy has little choice but to rely on Jewel to help him work things out.

This is the first book in a new fantasy series with Jewel Heiss and while the over-all plot was enjoyable there were a few points that were difficult to get past. The biggest were Jewel’s boss who cheats on his wife, and the wife who accepts the cheating as a relatively tolerable part of life. While they were secondary characters their presence was strong enough that it cast a dark shadow over what is otherwise a lighthearted and humorous read. Ms. Stevenson has created an interesting world for her characters and the storyline for The Brass Bed is basically a fun one. Jewel, Clay and Randy are an entertaining trio that share chemistry, lust and crazy capers. I’m looking forward to their next adventure in The Velvet Chair.

Kimberly Swan, Darque Reviews

The Iron Hunt by Marjorie M. Liu

2008-05-27T21:20:00.001-04:00

The Iron Hunt
Hunter Kiss, Book 1
Marjorie M. Liu
Ace
June 24, 2008
ISBN# 978-0-441-01606-8

Maxine Kiss is a demon hunter and the last of her kind. Her body is covered in tattoos that provide her with armor during the day, but when the sun sets the demons she wears on her skin separate and become living creatures. Bound to protect and fight by her side, they’ll be together until the day that Maxine passes them on with her death. For now they’re the closest thing to family that she’s ever known.

Grant, a former priest who runs a homeless shelter, is Maxine’s boyfriend. While that’s something she never thought she’d have, their relationship is as close as she’s come to trust with someone other than the ‘boys’. Grant also has a supernatural talent of his own, one that’s powerful enough to offer some protection from the demons.

The Veil has weakened through the years, and something new has been freed from the prison to walk the earth. Humans made zombie by the demons using their skin are fairly common to see, but an entity wearing a familiar face has appeared and it’s unlike anything Maxine was prepared for. Angry after so long imprisoned, the avatar has plans to regain what was taken from her and to take so much more. Maxine’s job is to prevent that from happening at nearly any cost.

This is the first novel in the Hunter Kiss series, but there is a prequel with the series name in Wild Thing, a Berkley anthology, and this may explain a slightly disorienting feeling at the beginning of the story. Ms. Liu does a lovely job in getting readers up to speed and preparing us for the high-speed action in her demon filled adventure. A creative and well-written storyline provides a strong backbone for this new urban fantasy series, and the unique characters in The Iron Hunt will charm, tempt and surprise readers into coming back for more.

Kimberly Swan, Darque Reviews

A Match Made in Hell by Terri Garey

2008-05-26T22:19:00.002-04:00

A Match Made in Hell
Nicki Styx, Book 2
Terri Garey
Avon Books
June 24, 2008
ISBN# 978-0-06-113616-0

When a heart condition nearly took her life, Nicki Styx came back with a gift she’d rather not have. She can see the spirits of people who haven’t crossed over, and each of them need her help. This time around an accident victim, Peaches, leads Nicki to answers from her past and the family she didn’t know existed.

Joe Bascombe, the emergency room doctor who saved her life, is her new beau. More often than not his time is spent by her side, especially during the times that she needs him most. He’s adjusted to Nicki’s gift rather well, so when she finds herself chasing down family ghosts it’s no surprise that Joe takes a few days off from the hospital to join her.

A surprise visit from a family member leads them both to the home they knew nothing about. Once there, family secrets are revealed, spirits are set free and Nicki finds herself fending off some tempting attention, the price of which could cost her soul.

This is the second novel in the Nicki Styx series. Nicki’s family background is revealed and it’s as much a surprise for her as it is for fans. Ms. Garey adds many twists to this installment, and keeps readers on the edge of their seat until the last moment. With some new and intriguing characters added to the mix, the trouble in A Match Made in Hell intensifies, a strong romance is put through more than one test and souls are in danger. The chemistry is scorching, looks can be deceiving, and Nicki’s life is about to get a lot more complicated.

Kimberly Swam Darque Reviews

Real Vampires Get Lucky by Gerry Bartlett

2008-05-24T19:33:00.005-04:00

Real Vampires Get Lucky
Glory St. Clair, Book 3
Gerry Bartlett
Berkley
June 3, 2008
ISBN# 978-0-425-22154-9

When Gloriana St. Clair and her shapeshifter bodyguard, Valdez, find a nearly dead woman in the alley behind her building, she does something she’s never done before. She changes Lucky Carver, a loan collector, to vampire. Now she’s responsible for teaching Lucky the ropes. Her mobster father is grateful for Glory saving her life, but he still wants answers and he’s more than willing to pay for what he wants. Her good deed is about to turn around and make life much more complicated.

Not being the type that takes orders from anyone, Lucky ignores the need for secrecy of her new life as vampire and attracts attention in a very big way. She’s just been given an immortal life that she plans to lead in any way she wants, and her first order of business is to take revenge on a guy who jilted her years ago. There are two sides to every story, but Lucky has no interest in giving him a chance to speak his peace and soon more trouble lands in Glory’s lap.

Jeremiah Campbell is Glory’s on again, off again, vampire boyfriend. If it were strictly up to him, he’d have married her long ago, but luckily for Glory he hasn’t given up hope. He does all he can to protect her, but she still manages to get herself into bad situations. This time around, Jerry has some troubles of his own.

This is the third installment in the Glory St. Clair vampire series, and Glory’s humorous escapades will keep readers glued to the pages. Ms. Bartlett pens an inventive urban fantasy tale with engaging characters, an intriguing mystery and a storyline kept light with witty dialogue. Real Vampires Get Lucky is filled with twists, turns and temptation that will keep readers coming back for more.

Kimberly Swan, Darque Reviews

Cluck: Murder Most Fowl by Eric D. Knapp

2008-05-22T00:31:00.002-04:00

Cluck: Murder Most Fowl
Eric D. Knapp
Book Surge
December 10, 2007
ISBN# 978-1-4196-8264-3

A rooster hatches and begins his life on a farm. While he’s larger, stronger and more intelligent than the rest, he doesn’t know what fate has in store for him. He connects with Helena, a hen that has hatched at the same time. They become favorites of the farmer, and he treats them just a bit better than the rest. When the rooster dies, he suddenly finds himself alive again, or undead as the facts may be. The zombie rooster evolves from the pleasant soul he was, to the Rooster King who now has an army of rotting zombie chickens to do his bidding.

Arnold is born to parents who are amazed by his intelligence. While most children would take years to learn the basics, Arnie swiftly masters them. When he starts seeing auras and souls, his mother sends him to Father Beaumont who recognizes his gift for what it is. He soon shuffles Arnie off to The Order in France where his talents can be utilized. Once there, he has a mentor who eventually passes on The Charge to him. There are other members of The Order, but Arnie finds himself with the knowledge and the responsibility for fighting the evil chickens.

After years of fighting to stay alive against the foul chickens that have invaded his farm house, Bobby Garfundephelt is slowly going crazy as he does his best to avoid the traps and ambushes the chickens set for him. Arnie’s appearance could mean his survival of the horror he’s been through, or it could mean something else entirely.

From the supernatural life of a rooster, to the paranormal talents of a boy, Cluck: Murder Most Fowl is beyond anything you might imagine when you pick up this book. Mr. Knapp entertains readers with a well-written and detailed world that has many twists, turns and horrors to experience along the way. While zombie chickens may not be at the top of your list of interests, the bizarre nature of this story will keep readers turning the pages to see where it will lead. It’s an unusual tale that falls more on the light side of horror than anything else, and it’s one that anyone who reads it won’t soon forget.

Kimberly Swan, Darque Reviews