Under the Rose by Diana Peterfreund

Under the Rose (An Ivy League Novel)
Diana Peterfreund
Delta – Random House, Inc.
July 3, 2007
ISBN# 978-0-385-34003-8

Amy Haskel is a senior at Eli University and a member of Rose & Grave. When the Diggirls, the female knights of Rose & Grave, each receive bizarre emails they quickly realize that their society is being targeted. Worse, someone is selling their secrets to a website bent on exposing them in any way they can. Sure that there is a traitor among them they set out to reveal the culprit’s identity. What Amy and her loyal Diggers soon discover is that there is more going on than someone breaking the oath of secrecy.

When their traitor suspect disappears, Amy is sure that a select few of Rose & Grave’s patriarchs are responsible. After all, it was them who were against their all male society changing with the times to allow the Diggirls in. Time is running out, and if they don’t solve the mystery soon, not only will the current club be destroyed but the very history of Rose & Grave could be as well.

Under the Rose is the second book in the Ivy League series. Amy is a spunky character who, although she questions her worth in Rose & Grave, never questions her oath to the society or her willingness to do the right thing. Ms. Peterfreund has developed an intriguing storyline filled with mystery, friendship, sizzling romances and the fascinating secret society she’s created in Rose & Grave. The characters have a wide variety of personalities and their future interests vary, but each are tied together through their Digger brotherhood. Readers will be watching for more in this fun cloak-and-dagger series with its fabulously witty edge.

Kimberly Swan, Darque Reviews

Dragon Heat by Allyson James

Dragon Heat
Allyson James
Berkley Sensation
July 03, 2007
ISBN# 978-0-425-21589-0

After an unpleasant divorce and the death of her grandmother, Lisa Singleton is finally getting her life back together. With her best friend Caleb, the beautiful golden dragon enslaved by witches to protect her, Lisa always has company at home. Still, she’s beginning to get lonely and missing the attentions of a man in her life. When a black dragon becomes a threat in her life, Caleb implores one of his captors to change him into a human male so he has a better chance of protecting Lisa. She does, at a great price to her own strength, leaving a gorgeous and gloriously naked male warrior in Lisa’s apartment. Together they fight the black dragon and witches who threaten to harm them, and continue to protect the orb whose presence has been kept secret for centuries. If the orb falls into the wrong hands and its immense power is used, it could mean the end of earth as well as Dragonspace.

Being forced into the role of protector would not have been a choice Caleb would make. Only a witch who knew his true dragon name could keep Caleb like a pet that’s made to follow orders. He would like nothing more than to be free from the witches, but only when none remain who know his true name can he enjoy that freedom. Dragons aren’t supposed to have emotions, but Caleb has developed them through the years. When Lisa comes into her powers and the threat to earth has been neutralized she may no longer need Caleb, and that heartbreak may be the one thing the strong warrior can’t survive.

Dragon Heat is a sizzling paranormal romance. Lisa and Caleb are fascinating characters thrust into a responsibility neither of them chose. Raising the stakes is a powerful witch who seeks more power at any cost, and a black dragon exiled on earth in human form who wants nothing more than to fly free in Dragonspace. Ms. James pens a riveting story that’s brimming with action, sinfully sexy characters and the beautiful gift of love. A magical and thoroughly enchanting read.

Kimberly Swan, Darque Reviews

Burning Bridges by Laura Anne Gilman

Burning Bridges
Laura Anne Gilman
LUNA – Harlequin Books
June 2007
978-0-373-80274-6

Wren Valere is a Talent, someone labeled other than human with the ability to channel current. Making an income as a Retriever, Wren locates and brings in that which her clients have paid for. Her partner, Sergei, sets up the agreements and researches the jobs. There’s much more to their relationship now, and what Wren shares with him may very well be causing Sergei harm. There’s a war brewing, and as the variety of nonhuman Fatae murdered expands to include all magic users, the Fatae and lonejack communities come together as an organized group. Taking a united stand in an attempt to stop the killings, their efforts may be the end of them all.

Sergei Didier is a former member of the Silence, or as close to being separated from the group as he can get. Once a part of the group sworn to protecting humans, there is no real escaping, but Sergei has done his best to limit his contact with them. When his relationship with Wren grew from strictly professional to something more personal, his priorities changed. Marked as being caught somewhere in the middle between the Silence and those like Wren, it’s not an easy, or healthy, position to be in. With a battle raging, Sergei’s side has already been chosen, and that alone could cost him his life.

Burning Bridges is the fourth book in the Retrievers series and remains as wonderfully unique as the previous installments. Ms. Gilman has woven an exceptional world, unlike any other in her genre. Each character and group of beings has been developed with the same detailed care as the action-packed storyline. This intriguing series continues to draw readers in with Wren’s amazing and ever advancing journey, and will certainly leave you craving more of the same.

Kimberly Swan, Darque Reviews

Key to Conflict by Talia Gryphon

Key to Conflict
Talia Gryphon
Ace – The Berkley Publishing Group
June 2007
978-0-441-01503-0

Dr. Gillian Key is a Paramortal psychologist as well as a Special Forces Operative. Her current work takes her to Romania and deep into the Carpathian Mountains where Count Aleksei Rachlav, a centuries old vampire, needs her professional help. While there she’ll counsel a second client, a ghost who has some issues of his own. Despite her seemingly full workload, Gillian’s also on a special ops mission to gather what information she can about Dracula. A war is about to begin among the vampires, and Gillian is right smack in the middle. With the protection of Aleksei and his allies Gillian must stay in the country until the threat has passed, but when Aleksei’s brother Tanis goes missing Gillian refuses to wait around. With the help of some old friends Gillian plans to bring Tanis back, because in her line of work no one is left behind.

Count Aleksei Rachlav has come to a point in his long life where living no longer holds the interest it once did. Calling upon Dr. Key for some much needed professional advice, Aleksei never expects the instant attraction he feels for her. Not that he could act on his interest, because along with their professional relationship comes the rule that prohibits Gillian from getting romantically involved with a patient for a full year after the patient is discharged from her care. With the threat of war, Aleksei’s position in the vampire community could be threatened, and those who he protects would be in great danger. Aleksei will do whatever it takes to defeat Dracula, and hope that someday he’ll have the chance to claim the woman whose presence brought meaning back to his life.

Key to Conflict is a refreshingly new facet in the paranormal genre, and wonderfully well-written. As Gillian embarks on her journey deep into the vampire world, the last thing she expects is to be caught in the middle of a war. As the tension rises with the impending battle the chemistry between Gillian and Aleksei reaches sizzling heights. Ms. Gryphon has woven a gloriously fascinating tale and carved a niche in this well loved genre to call her own. This is a delightfully entertaining read.

Kimberly Swan, Darque Reviews

No Humans Involved by Kelley Armstrong

No Humans Involved
Kelley Armstrong
Bantam Spectra – Random House, Inc.
May 2007
ISBN#978-0-553-80508-6

Jaime Vegas is on a set in L.A. with two fellow spiritualists. They’re planning to attempt contact with the ghost of Marilyn Monroe for an upcoming television special. Not only is Jaime a necromancer who can raise the dead, but she sees and hears the dead as well. Things begin to take a bad turn when Jaime can’t quite get a fix on a number of ghosts in the garden of the home they’re shooting at. Never having encountered this before she seeks advice and answers to the strange haunting, but in her effort to gain knowledge she’s quickly getting herself into deep trouble.

Jaime enlists the help of Jeremy, an alpha werewolf, a half chaos demon named Hope, and Eve, her guide from the other side. Together they set out to find the cause of the weakened ghosts in the garden and set them free. The more she learns, the more threatened her life becomes and not even Jeremy watching over her will keep trouble away. Jaime will do everything in her power to keep everyone around her safe while she continues to help the dead, and one way or another she plans to make things right.

No Humans Involved is the seventh novel in the Women of the Otherworld series, with an additional short story included in an anthology. In this installment readers get a deeper look into Jaime’s life as she narrates and demonstrates her powers as a necromancer. Ms. Armstrong’s skills as an author shine through and make Jaime’s story well worth the read. Powerful characters capture the reader’s attention, while their unique abilities grow in clear detail and their quirky personalities keep you entertained. Filled with equal parts of action, adventure and a dark mystery, this story is also sprinkled with a delicious dose of lustful interest.

Kimberly Swan, Darque Reviews

Magic Bites by Ilona Andrews

Magic Bites
Ilona Andrews
Ace – The Berkley Publishing Group
April 2007
978-0-441-01489-7

In a world that fluctuates between technology and magic, Kate Daniels is a mercenary who deals in magical problems for the Guild. When her guardian is murdered Kate sets out to track down his killer and finds herself in the middle of an ongoing feud between the necromancers who control the vampires, and the organized shapechangers known as the Pack. Each side blames the other for the mysterious killings that are occurring in the Atlanta area, and Kate is sure that someone knows more than they’re telling.

Curran, as alpha of the Pack, takes the deaths of his shapechangers personally. Joining in an uneasy alliance with Kate, they work to solve the mystery behind the murders. As the body count grows so does the danger involved, but Curran is willing to put himself at risk to save the members of his Pack.

Nick works for the Order, the same organization that employed Kate’s Guardian. With skills that show his own strengths, Nick will join the fight and hope to destroy those responsible for the brutal killing spree.

With some big help from some tentative new friends, Kate follows leads until she finds the truth. Staying alive may prove to be more difficult than she originally thought, and keeping everyone else alive could bring her own life to an end.

Magic Bites is a magical place to visit, where ready or not, life around you can change in the blink of an eye. Ilona Andrews pens a fabulously well detailed world that smoothly slips between magic and technology for the reader. Well imagined with clearly drawn characters, this is a book that fantasy and paranormal lovers are sure to enjoy/

Kimberly Swan, Darque Reviews

The Becoming by Jeanne C. Stein

The Becoming
Jeanne C. Stein
Ace – The Berkley Publishing Group
December 2006
0-441-01456-9

Anna Strong’s life as a bounty hunter requires her to be tough enough to deal with the criminals she brings in. On a job with her partner she’s assaulted by the man she’s been paid to take into custody. For her troubles Anna is bitten and turned against her will. She wakes in a hospital with no recollection of what happened, but as the night in question filters back into her memory Anna is more shocked at her own behavior than that of her assailant. Now with a little help from Avery, Anna pursues the renegade vampire who took her human life.

Avery is a doctor as well as a Night Watcher, a vampire who keeps an eye on their community. When Anna is brought in to the emergency room Avery knows exactly what has happened to her and it’s his duty as a doctor as well as a Night Watcher to keep her under observation. Anna’s boyfriend Max is away for the most part, so seducing her is an easy enough task. Avery will do everything in his power to push Anna into leaving her mortal life behind, but she’s not so easily swayed and it may just turn into a fight to the end.

The Becoming has all of the key elements needed to make it an intriguing and powerful start in this first installment of the Anna Strong Chronicles. Ms. Stein pens a well-built paranormal world for Anna’s introduction into the vampire ranks, and gives readers a taste of the dangers that come along with Anna’s new found immortality. Deliciously sexy and delightfully seductive, it will keep you riveted and craving more.

Kimberly Swan, Darque Reviews

Kitty Takes A Holiday by Carrie Vaughn

Kitty Takes a Holiday
Carrie Vaughn
Warner Books
April 2007
978-0-446-61874-8

Kitty Norville hosts a radio show and happens to be a werewolf. She’s currently taking a break from her show and from life in general. Agreeing to write a book, Kitty finds a cabin in the mountains to suit her needs for some peace and solitude. When someone begins leaving sacrificed animals on her porch, Kitty figures the locals don’t want her around, but when Cormac shows up at the door with her injured lawyer Ben, things are turning downright ugly. Livestock are dying, someone is trying to curse her and Kitty has two arguing men to deal with, without having to worry about the evil that’s waiting for her out in the dark. When it finally makes its move, Kitty will fight with all she has, but sometimes even her wolf’s strength isn’t enough.

Cormac Bennett is a bounty hunter who spends his time tracking and killing the things that most people don’t believe in. When a particularly difficult case gets Ben injured, he goes to Kitty for help. With part of his case left unsolved, Ben barely alive, and Kitty’s life in danger, Cormac calls in a friend to help make sense of the evil that’s actively stalking them. Discovering what it is wasn’t so difficult, but actually finding a way to stop it will be something entirely different. They’re going to need a whole lot more than luck to survive this one.

Kitty Takes a Holiday is fantastically action filled as Kitty’s adventures continue. With some help from her friends, Kitty manages to find herself up against some of the darkest evil she has ever had to face. Ms. Vaughn has developed another fabulous edition in Kitty’s paranormal world. Running off at the mouth and flying by the seat of her pants, Kitty will catch readers up in the chaos that’s her life and keep them riveted until the end.

Kimberly Swan, Darque Reviews