Review - Night Shadow by Cherry Adair

Night Shadow
T-FLAC/psi Trilogy, Book 3
Cherry Adair
Ballantine Books
November 25, 2008
ISBN# 978-0-345-49973-8

Book Blurb:
The passion and suspense of Cherry Adair’s latest killer trilogy, begun in Night Fall and continued in Night Secrets, now reaches its explosive conclusion in Night Shadow, as mismatched international agents take on evil head-to-head–and each other heart-to-heart.

Aside from working for the international anti-terrorism agency T-FLAC (and having the same last name), Lexi Stone and Alex Stone are polar opposites, right down to Lexi’s mere mortality and Alex’s paranormal powers. While straight-arrow Lexi pushes paper at an Internal Affairs desk, renegade Alex is busy pushing the envelope as he pursues the most dangerous global criminals. And though Lexi disdains his rule-breaking bravado and cowboy tactics, she can’t deny Alex’s skills when it comes to getting his man (not to mention any number of women)–just as she can’t ignore how his roguish charm makes her heart race and her temperature rise.

But Lexi’s secret desires clash head-on with her duties when suspicions arise that Alex is poised to switch sides–and join forces with a European terrorist cell. Tapped for her first field mission, Lexi finds herself assigned to shadow Alex’s every move, and if necessary, terminate him. Despite her feelings, Lexi’s willing and able to carry out her orders, as long there’s proof that Alex is a traitor. But getting the goods–and the drop–on her superagent quarry becomes an even tougher task when Lexi and Alex suddenly find themselves partners on an emergency mission in Russia.

When terrorists seize a busy Moscow railway station for ransom, then abruptly massacre their hostages and vanishinto thin air, the agents realize they’re facing adversaries possessing of the same paranormal abilities as Alex’s elite T-FLAC/psi unit. But after Lexi kills an armed suspect during a breathless rooftop chase, she makes a series of shocking discoveries about the enemy T-FLAC is facing, the troubling truth Alex has been concealing, and the terrifying plot of a treacherous mastermind that could spell the downfall of T-FLAC’s most powerful and valued operatives. To save precious lives and stop the rise of a superhuman terrorist threat, Lexi and Alex must work as a well-oiled team in a race across the globe–and against time–with lethal shadows looming behind them, and no one to trust but each other.

My thoughts:
A part of Lexi Stone’s first T-FLAC field assignment is to keep an eye on Alex Stone and determine whether or not he’s gone rogue. The agents may share a last name, but there’s no blood relation between them. Working together is about to bring them closer than ever.

Terrorist attacks around the world are increasing. It’s clear that not only are those that are carrying them out are more than human, but they’re considered expendable by their leader. Tracking down the mastermind behind the activity will be a difficult task for T-FLAC, and when the leader is discovered it will shock the wizards to their core.

This is the third installment in the T-FLAC/psi Trilogy. Ms. Adair wraps up this trio of books with a fabulous mix of action, magical elements and a delicious new romance. While each of the books in this trilogy is centered on a different couple, they should be read in order to enjoy the full impact of Night Shadow.

To learn more about Night Shadow, please visit Ms. Adair’s website: Here

Kimberly Swan, Darque Reviews

Review - Zen and the Art of Vampires by Katie MacAlister

Zen and the Art of Vampires
Dark Ones, Book 6
Katie MacAlister
Signet
December 2, 2008
ISBN# 978-0-451-22560-3

Book Blurb:
White picket fences can be dangerous to vampires.
Sometimes a woman's gotta choose...

Pia Thomason doesn't have a typical life, but she wants one. The husband, the kids, the house in the suburbs...With her fortieth birthday looming, she decides to do something drastic, and takes off on a singles' tour through romantic Europe. But the few guys on the trip leave much to be desired - unlike the two men Pia sees in a small Icelandic town. Handsome, mysterious, and very dangerous…Just the sight of them puts her in a dither. When their paths cross again, Pia knows one thing for certain: Where vampires are concerned, love isn't the only thing at stake.

My thoughts:
For Pia Thomason, living in a town outside of Seattle offers little in the way of dating. She’s decided to add a little spice to her otherwise dull life and take a romantic tour of Europe with a singles group. While their group has few men to choose from, Pia meets up with some gorgeous men who appear to be visiting as well.

What starts out as time spent with a handsome stranger, plunges Pia into the midst of an ongoing battle between vampires known as Dark Ones, and an order whose goal it is to cleanse the world of their existence. To complicate things, both sides believe that she’s someone Pia is sure that she isn’t. The quiet life she lived such a short time ago will never be the same.

This is the sixth book in the Dark Ones series. Ms. MacAlister introduces readers to an average woman who is suddenly dropped into the extraordinary world of vampires and those who would see them destroyed. Zen and the Art of Vampires has all of the paranormal action, romance and humor that fans of the author look for in her books. This is a fast moving read with sizzling chemistry and a touch of suspense.

To learn more about the Dark Ones, please visit Ms. MacAlister’s website: Here

Kimberly Swan, Darque Reviews

Review - The Devil's Due by Jenna Black

The Devil’s Due
Morgan Kingsley, Exorcist, Book 3
Jenna Black
Dell – Spectra
November 25, 2008
ISBN# 978-0-440-24492-9

Book Blurb:
Possession was never this much fun

Trust me or die…That’s the choice Morgan Kingsley, exorcist, is given by the gorgeous rogue demon who’s gotten inside her. The truth is, Morgan has dozens of reasons not to trust anyone, from the violence that torched her house and killed her father to a love life that’s left her questioning her relationship with her erstwhile boyfriend, Brian. But Lugh, a king among demons, won’t take no for an answer. He’s prying into her body, her mind, even her sex life. And he’s just pulled Morgan into a power struggle that could have devastating consequences for both the human and demon worlds.

But Morgan still has a job to do: investigating the highly bizarre possession of the son of a wealthy Philadelphia couple. That hunt leads Morgan into a realm of sexual depravity, then a terrifying kidnapping.… Now a woman who makes her living prying demons from their hosts finds her day job colliding with the night: a darkness that is attracting demons of the damnedest sort, including the one who’s about to demand his ultimate due.…

My thoughts:
Possessed by the king of the demon world, Morgan Kingsley fights to stay in control. The longer Lugh remains within her, the more apt he becomes at breaching her defenses and taking over her body. She refuses to give in without a fight.

When a distraught mother pleads with Morgan to exorcise the demon who possessed her son, she finds herself investigating the case. Exorcising Tommy Brewster when the evidence points to it being a legal possession would have Morgan brought up on the charge of murder. As she gets deeper into the case, what she discovers is much more than she ever bargained for.

This is the third installment in the Morgan Kingsley, Exorcist, series. As the storyline moves steadily forward, Ms. Black fills the pages with more deliciously dark and dangerous action than ever. There’s rarely a pause as readers follow Morgan’s latest adventure in The Devil’s Due, it makes for an intensely wild ride. Fan's won't want to miss this newest release.

To learn more about the Morgan Kingsley series, please visit Ms. Black’s website: Here

You can read Chapter 1 of The Devil’s Due: Here

Kimberly Swan, Darque Reviews

Review - Behind the Shadows by Patricia Potter

Behind the Shadows
Patricia Potter
Berkley Sensation
December 2, 2008
ISBN# 978-0-425-22490-8

Book Blurb:
Some secrets are meant to stay that way.In a race against time to save her mother's life, Kira Douglas is stunned to discover that the woman who raised her is not her biological mother. Kira was switched at birth by someone with a mysterious motive. Untangling the clues, Kira finds herself face to face with a handsome, ruthless man who is either Kira's darkest nightmare-or her greatest destiny.

My thoughts:
Kira Douglas wants nothing more than to see her mother saved from the certain death that waits without a kidney transplant. Eager to donate her own, Kira is tested and finds that not only is she not a match, but she’s not Katy’s biological daughter.

With the help of Chris Burke, a longtime friend of the family, Kira uncovers a decades old secret that managed to go unnoticed. The discovery affects far more than Kira’s family, and someone has begun working hard to prevent the truth from coming out.

Ms. Potter weaves an emotional story as her characters fight for their lives, accept surprising truths, and learn to fall in love. Behind the Shadows offers readers a suspenseful tale as the mystery surrounding babies switched at birth is brought into the light. Fast moving, with a touch of romance nicely blended into the storyline.

To learn more about Behind the Shadows, please visit the author’s website: Here

Kimberly Swan, Darque Reviews

Review - Blood Bargain by Maria Lima

Blood Bargain
Blood Lines, Book 2
Maria Lima
Juno
November 29, 2008
ISBN# 978-0-8095-7305-9

Book Blurb:
Keira Kelly is coming into her unexpected and unexpectedly awesome powers... and Rio Seco, Texas ain't ever gonna be the same! Keira just wants to be left alone without many responsibilities to her supernatural clan and, lately, spend some time with sexy Adam Walker - a vampire trying to get his brethren to give up human blood - on his luxurious Wild Moon ranch. But trouble and her paranormal family keep intruding - Gigi, Keira's great-great-grandmother and the chief of the clan has sent Tucker, Keira's 1,200-year-old shapeshifter brother to keep an eye on her!

My thoughts:
As she awaits the Change that will manifest her power, Keira Kelly concentrates on her boyfriend’s fading health, and on a collection of missing persons from their Texas town.

Adam Walker is a king among vampires, and Keira’s concern for him is genuine. As his symptoms worsen, and those around him fear for his undead life, Keira sets out to prevent their grim thoughts from becoming fact.

With her brother Tucker by her side, Keira hunts for a mysterious enemy. What she uncovers is a startling part of her family’s past.

This is the second release in the Blood Lines series, and is best read after Matters of the Blood. Ms. Lima spins a suspenseful tale and packs it with paranormal elements that will hold the reader’s attention to the end. Blood Bargain is fast moving and reveals answers to many of the questions that fans have from book one. Romance is a strong factor in the heroine’s actions, and adds to the building emotion in the storyline. Readers will be anxious to see where Keira’s next supernatural adventure will lead.

To learn more about Blood Bargain, please visit Ms. Lima’s site: Here

Kimberly Swan, Darque Reviews

Review - The First Vampire by Alicia Benson

The First Vampire
A Novel of Samson & Delilah, Book 1
Alicia Benson
Virtual Tales
October 13, 2008
ISBN# 978-0-9801506-8-1

Book Blurb:
Some journeys take more than one lifetime. Ever since Delilah used a devilish brew from Lilith to turn him into a vampire and then turned him over to the Philistines, Samson has been plotting revenge against his former lover and arch nemesis.

When he finally catches up to the reincarnate Delilah in modern day New York, it seems as though he has all the time in the world to see that the last chapter of their sordid saga is finally written. But much like old enemies, old passions die hard, and Samson is forced to make a surprisingly hard choice. Does he want her dead more than he wants her back in his bed?

Intelligent and deeply erotic, THE FIRST VAMPIRE cleverly weaves the past into the present in a captivating tapestry of suspense, intrigue and betrayal.

My thoughts:
For nearly three thousand years Samson has wanted revenge on Delilah, the woman he loved and whose actions turned him into a vampire. The oldest of his kind, Samson has the strength and skill to get anything he wants, except the woman who haunts his memories. When a chance meeting brings them face to face once more, Samson will be forced to decide which of his strong emotions will rule his future.

In the midst of divorce, Ariana Chambers leaves New York to help a new client in London, and quickly finds that the life she once knew is changing with each passing hour. The man she’s agreed to work with, Ash Samson, claims that she once wronged him and he plans to see that she gets what’s coming to her. What Ash says, and what he does, soon become two separate things. Ariana has little choice but to accept the existence of vampires, but she has no intention of paying for a betrayal that happened thousands of years ago.

This is the first book in the Samson & Delilah series, and is the author’s debut novel. Ms. Benson pens a fascinating tale that blends classic vampire elements with her own fresh twists. The First Vampire is engaging, the characters are charming, and the romance takes a surprising turn. I’ll be looking forward to the next installment in the Samson & Delilah series.

To learn more about The First Vampire, please visit Ms. Benson’s website: Here

Kimberly Swan, Darque Reviews

Promo - Blood Dreams by Kay Hooper

Blood Dreams
A Bishop/Special Crimes Unit Novel
Kay Hooper
Bantam Dell Books
December 2, 2008
ISBN# 978-0-553-58925-3

Book Blurb:
New York Times bestselling author Kay Hooper takes readers on a terrifying manhunt for a serial killer even the Special Crimes Unit may not be able to stop.

Dani Justice knows all about monsters. They haunt her dreams—and her life. But she never expected to find herself on the trail of a real flesh-and-blood predator so cunning, he’s eluded the best law enforcement could send against him; so deadly, he doesn’t hesitate to kill even a senator’s daughter. Or a cop. Dani doesn’t want to hunt this killer. But she doesn’t have a choice. She alone commands a weapon powerful enough to stop him. And she knows something even Bishop of the FBI’s Special Crimes Unit doesn’t know. Dani knows how the hunt ends. It ends in fire. And blood. And death. What she doesn’t know is who will survive.


You can read my review of the hardcover Blood Dreams release: Here

Kimberly Swan, Darque Reviews

Promo - Queen of Dragons by Shana Abé

Queen of Dragons
Thief Series (Drákon), Book 3
Shana Abé
Bantam Books
December 2, 2008
ISBN# 978-0-553-58806-4

Book Blurb:
They are the stuff of glittering legend, supersensual creatures able to shape-shift from human to smoke to dragon. Now they face an enemy determined to destroy their dazzling world of magic and passion.

Queen of Dragons

It’s a stunning claim: the existence of a lost drákon tribe. And it comes from an intriguing source: a woman calling herself Princess Maricara of Transylvania. Alpha lord Kimber Langford, Earl of Chasen, can’t ignore the possibility. For whoever this unknown princess may be, she’s dangerous enough to know about his existence—and where to find him. And indeed, it isn’t long before Maricara breaches the defenses of Darkfrith and the walls around Kimber’s heart. Yet the princess arrives with urgent news: a mysterious serial killer is targeting the entire drákon race. To save their kind, Kimber and Mari must ally themselves body and soul in a battle that can spell their salvation, their extinction…or both.


You can read my review from the hardcover release: Here

Kimberly Swan, Darque Reviews