Before I Wake by Kathryn Smith

Before I Wake
The Nightmare Chronicles
Kathryn Smith
Avon Books
July 29, 2008
ISBN# 978-0-06-134027-7

From the back cover:
You may call it a dream job . . .
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And in some ways, you'd be right. I actually get paid to study people's dreams. It comes much easier than my employers at the Sleep Center suspect; after all, I, Dawn, am the daughter of the king of the dream world, and I can roam the dreams of others, battling the nightmares that plague them.
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I call it a nightmare . . .
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Honestly, I could use a good night's sleep. But ever since I met Noah Clarke, I'm even more torn between the two worlds: smart, sexy, and able to control his own dreams, Noah could be my perfect man—except he's being stalked in his sleep by an unearthly evil, hell-bent on destroying him . . . and the entire world.
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My thoughts:
Dr. Dawn Riley works as a specialist of sleep and dreams, but she was born a Nightmare. With a human mother and a father who’s King of the Dreamkin, Morpheus, Dawn is cursed to straddle both our world and the world of dreams. In her human form she hides her ability to enter and alter dreams, but when a patient believes he’s being hunted and will be killed within his own dreams, Dawn has little choice but to help Noah in any way she can.

Noah Clarke is an artist with a fertile imagination, and he’s always been a lucid dreamer who could maintain some control over his dreams. Now something in his dreams is fighting him, and he fears that the goal is his death. His only hope is his doctor, Dawn, but he’ll have to let her in beyond the walls he’s erected, and that’s something he’d much rather not do.

Kathryn Smith has created a fabulous world for her characters, and added unrest among the ranks of the Dreamkin to fuel the plot. This fast moving tale has all of the right details that make it a captivating read that’s difficult to set down. Before I Wake will have readers eager for the next in The Nightmare Chronicles. This is a book that I’d happily recommend.

To learn more about The Nightmare Chronicles and to read an excerpt from Before I Wake, please visit Ms. Smith’s site: Here

Kimberly Swan, Darque Reviews

Weddings From Hell - Anthology

Weddings From Hell
Anthology
Harper
May 27, 2008
ISBN# 978-0-0614-7268-8

‘Till Death by Maggie Shayne – When Kira Monroe receives a call requesting she attend the reading of her great-aunt’s will, she finds herself heading to Scotland to meet the relatives she never knew she had. She also meets the handsome Ian Stewart who captures her attention from the start. It seems there’s a family curse on the women of her mother’s line, and Kira’s convinced there’s a way to break the curse and set the ghosts free. It could be her only chance at love.

Happily Never After by Jeaniene Frost – Isabella Spaga is being forced into marriage with Robert Bertino, a local mafia boss with big plans. Her brother Frazier has disappeared, and Bertino claims to be holding him until their wedding. All is not lost because Chance arrives to honor his sire’s request in stopping Bertino. Once he lays eyes on Isa he’s in it for a whole lot more. Now he’ll just have to convince her that what he is doesn’t make him a monster.

Ghoul’s Night Out by Terri Garey - When Nicki Styx got a call from her cousin, Debbie, she did the right thing by agreeing to be in her wedding. Even if it meant that she had to dress like the Chiquita Banana lady. It’s not long before a ghost pays her a visit and clues her in on how she became a bride’s maid. Someone among the group of Debbie’s friends has intimate knowledge of a murder. Now she just has to get a confession to prove it before the killer strikes again.

The Wedding Night by Kathryn Smith – If Violet Wynston-Jones wondered why she wasn’t happy to be marrying her handsome fiancé, she need only think of Payen. It had been five long years since the night he ran away and never looked back. His sudden reappearance may push her into doing the right thing, but Payne is a vampire child of Lilith, and convincing him to stay is going to take a lot more doing.

With stories from four fabulous authors, Weddings From Hell offers something for everyone who enjoys a good urban fantasy or paranormal read. From ghosts to vampires, sweet to steamy, these strong heroines know what they want in a man and are determined to get it. A fast, fun and entertaining time.

Kimberly Swan, Darque Reviews