Dragon Wytch by Yasmine Galenorn

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

50 Ways to Hex Your Lover by Linda Wisdom

50 Ways to Hex Your Lover
Linda Wisdom
Sourcebooks, Inc.
March 1, 2008
ISBN#978-1-4022-1085-3

Jasmine Tremaine was banished by the Witches’ High Council and has been on her own for close to 7 centuries. With each offence comes time added to her banishment, and the Council is more than happy to remind her.

Driving her classic T-Bird, complete with a ghost named Irma, Jazz makes most of her money as a Limo driver for Dweezil, and picks up extra cash by removing curses. She has a very human roommate, Krebs, a hungry pair of bunny slippers, and a thunderous temper. Then there’s Nikolai Gregorivich, the sexy vampire who has been in and out of her life for nearly 300 years. Theirs has been anything but a smooth relationship.

When vampires start disappearing, Nick seeks Jazz’s help. After decades of being apart the spark between them is stronger than ever, and staying focused on the task at hand becomes more and more difficult. When an old enemy they believed dead resurfaces, the possibility that he’s responsible for the missing vampires quickly becomes the most likely answer. Now Jazz and Nick will have to find a way to stop him without losing their own lives along the way.

50 Ways to Hex Your Lover is the first in a new series. Ms. Wisdom carves her niche in paranormal romance with unique characters, a sizzling romance, and a supernatural mystery to solve. With a strong magical element and a nice touch of humor, when push comes to shove there’s no stopping this witch from getting things done. Readers can look forward to Hex Appeal, coming this fall.

Kimberly Swan, Darque Reviews

Howling at the Moon by Karen MacInerney

Howling at the Moon
Tales of an Urban Werewolf, Book 1
Karen MacInerney
Ballantine Books
February 26, 2008
ISBN# 978-0-345-49625-6

Working as an auditor at Withers and Young, Sophie Garou doesn’t often receive packages. When the first box arrives she assumes it’s from her boyfriend, Heath, but what’s inside is most definitely not something he’d be sending. Whoever it is has discovered a secret that Sophie has kept well hidden, and as the packages grow increasingly worse it’s clear to Sophie that there’s someone out to ruin the normal life she’s worked so hard at maintaining. Living life as a half-blood werewolf is about to be much harder than ever before.

When the assistant from her mother’s store calls to inform her that her mother, a witch and psychic, has been arrested, Sophie rushes out to see what she can do. On the way there she passes a werewolf, but unlike herself this gorgeous male is a full blood and recognizes what she is as well. Gazes locking, Sophie tries to shake it off and continues on her way.

The fight to clear her mother’s name continues, and the sexy werewolf she saw on the street shows up once again and soon begins dating her friend Lindsey. Sophie has had a great relationship with Heath, but something about the werewolf, Tom, draws her in. She’ll have to take his warnings about the local pack seriously if she expects to survive, because once they’ve discovered her, the quiet life she’s led away from a pack will be shattered forever.

Howling at the Moon is the first book in the Tales of an Urban Werewolf trilogy. Sophie’s walked a fine line living a normal life and staying below the radar where other werewolves are concerned. Now that someone has deliberately set her up as a target her life can never be the same. With humor adding its magic touch, Ms. MacInerney pens an entertaining mystery that will keep readers guessing at the true identity of the killer. The storyline provides plenty of action while the dialogue and banter between characters keep it fun. I’ll be eagerly awaiting the second installment to see where Sophie’s life leads now that she’s been exposed.

Kimberly Swan, Darque Reviews