Out of Time by Samantha Graves

Out of Time
Samantha Graves
Forever
July 29, 2008
ISBN# 978-0-446-61837-3

From the Publisher’s site:
SHE'S GOT THE SIGHT

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For museum curator Jillian Talbot, her ability to see an object's history is her little secret. She never expects it to land her in the middle of a deadly battle for money and power between dangerous underground elements. The object of their greed: an ancient crystal lens that can unlock mysteries from the past... but only for someone with the sight. The one person who doesn't seem to want her dead is a cynical tomb raider who Jillian can only hope is worthy of her trust...
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HE'S IN TOO DEEP

Simon Bonner has paid the last of his debts and is out of the looting game...until the lens lands on his doorstep. The other half of the crystal's secret is locked inside the eyes of a straitlaced psychic who still believes in doing the right thing. Now he must track the mystery deep into Mexico, where his desire to stay alive and his growing passion for the sexy seer make every move a dance with danger.
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OUT OF TIME

Tomorrow could be history.
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My thoughts:
Simon Bonner thought he was retiring from tomb-raiding until an early morning visitor tells him otherwise. His ex-wife has been kidnapped and will be killed unless he finds a way to convince a woman named Jillian Talbot to help him. There’s a a crystal lens for finding a hidden treasure in Mexico, and somehow she’s the key to locating it.

Jillian Talbot enjoys her job as head curator at the Linden Museum in Harlem. When everyone’s left for the night she can use her special gift and delve into the past of the pieces on display. Her talent for catching glimpses of the past is about to become very valuable to Simon, because without her help as the Seer he has no chance of saving his ex. After the last time Jillian shared her secret gift with the man she cared about, she’s not expecting Simon to stick around once the job is done. Still, an affair with the rugged man might be just the thing she needs.

Samantha Graves weaves a suspense filled paranormal adventure as her characters work against a clock that’s ticking down to murder. Out of Time leads readers to Mexico where the story’s heroine picks up the trail of an ancient treasure. This is a fast-moving and suspenseful read, with fascinating paranormal elements. There’s a nice spark of chemistry between the lead characters, and they manage to conquer their disastrous pasts and move on to a romance that takes root hesitantly. Readers may see the double-cross coming, but there’s a twist in the end that really makes the book worth every page.

To learn more about Ms. Graves and read an excerpt of Out of Time, please visit her website: Here

Kimberly Swan, Darque Reviews

My Wicked Enemy by Carolyn Jewel

My Wicked Enemy
Carolyn Jewel
Forever
July 29, 2008
ISBN# 978-0-446-17823-5

From the back cover:
A desire to be controlled…
Carson Philips is a witch on the run. For years, the notorious mage, Alvaro Magellan, has held her as his psychological prisoner. But once Carson gets a glimpse of the true extent of his evil, she flees Magellan's mansion--stealing a stone talisman of unimaginable power on the way. Her only hope for survival is a demon who ignites a voracious hunger in her she can't deny, a longing she can't resist...
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A hunger that can’t be sated…
Nikodemus is a warlord with a mission: Kill Magellan and his green-eyed witch at any cost. But when he meets the desperate Carson, the pull of her magic takes his breathe away. He's not sure he can trust this tantalizing woman--she is his enemy--and less sure he can keep his hands off her. But Magellan will stop at nothing to reclaim what belongs to him. Can Nikodemus stop him before his desire for Carson destroys them both?
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My thoughts:
Raised by the powerful mage Alvaro Magellan, Carson Philips recently realized what a truly bad man he is when she witnesses a murder. As she runs from the mansion she grabs a valuable artifact, and if Magellan isn’t angry enough over her espcape, he’s fuming when he realizes she’s stolen the talisman. Battling headaches that she’s certain will kill her, and fearing for her life, she’s run to San Francisco and right into the arms of someone who sees her as the enemy.

Nikodemus thought it was his lucky day when he spots Magellan’s witch, Carson, but taking the opportunity to rid his kind of the threat she poses has just gotten complicated. He’s a Warlord, born to be a leader among his kind. Saving his people from a life as mageheld fiends that are controlled by mages and witches is a priority in his life. With Carson on their side, Nikodemus may have found the key to freedom for his kin. Now he just hopes she’ll choose to stick around.

Carolyn Jewel takes readers on a dangerous journey with Carson, an untrained witch who finds strength through Nikodemus. Together they can stop the mage who threatens their existence and fills Carson with fear. My Wicked Enemy unfolds at a steady pace and offers up a host of characters that keep the deadly action flowing. The storyline is fresh, the characters are entertaining, and the romance is delightfully steamy.

Kimberly Swan, Darque Reviews

Marsbound by Joe Haldeman

Marsbound
Joe Haldeman
Ace
August 5, 2008
ISBN# 978-0-441-01595-5

From the Publisher’s site:
Young Carmen Dula and her family are about to embark on the adventure of a lifetime—they’re going to Mars.Once on the Red Planet, however, Carmen realizes things are not so different from Earth. There are chores to do, lessons to learn, and oppressive authority figures to rebel against. And when she ventures out into the bleak Mars landscape alone one night, a simple accident leads her to the edge of death until she is saved by an angel—an angel with too many arms and legs, a head that looks like a potato gone bad, and a message for the newly arrived human inhabitants of Mars:We were here first.

My thoughts:
Carmen Dula isn’t so pleased about her family being chosen from the lottery for a trip to Mars. Six years is a long time away from Earth. With her last hours on Earth, Carmen finds herself sitting on a sandy beach when a man, older than her, appears and introduces himself as Paul Collins, their pilot to Mars.

For the first two weeks they’ll be stuck in the Space Elevator with a few dozen strangers. There’s only one stop before they reach the top where the spaceship waits to take them the remaining five and a half months journey to Mars. Six months is a long time to travel, and for Carmen, an interest in the captain will help pass the time.

It’s not long after arrival that the daily grind begins to wear thin and Carmen manages to make an enemy of Dargo Solingen, the general administrator on Mars. Looking for some time alone, Carmen suits up and heads outside on the planet’s surface for a walk. What follows is the introduction to other intelligent life on Mars and quick changes in Carmen’s life. Her world is turned upside down when she meets Red, the leader of the alien colony on Mars, and she finds herself settling into a new job as the liaison between Earth and the aliens.

Marsbound is set in a future where technology to travel to Mars has been utilized, and members of a research project have begun living there. Carmen is a typical teen starting out on an adventure that she’s been forced to endure, but by the end of the story she’s matured through extraordinary life experience. Mr. Haldeman pens an entertaining and often humorous futuristic tale where tension and conflict abound, the mysteries of an alien race begin to unfold, and romance finds a way to thrive. The protagonist, Carmen, is the most well-defined character throughout Marsbound, and most of the action, adventure and drama revolves around her. While the aliens are a large part of the story, they’re described in a fairly simplistic fashion that works well in leaving the reader open to focus on Carmen and her journey. The author has done a wonderful job in mixing in humor to keep things lighter, and as a whole it forms a very enjoyable read.

Kimberly Swan, Darque Reviews

The First Death by Laurell K. Hamilton

The First Death
Anita Blake, Vampire Hunter
Laurell K. Hamilton
Hamilton – Green – Alves
Marvel
Diamond Comics Distributors, Inc.
March 12, 2008
ISBN# 978-0-7851-2941-7

From the cover flap:
For more than a decade Laurell K. Hamilton’s vampire-slaying heroine Anita Blake has excited fans through a series of heart-pounding novels set in a world where the undead have won civil rights and come out from the shadows, a world where someone has to execute those undead who cling to their murderous heritage. An “animator” by trade, raising the dead for a living, Anita Blake is the person the cops call in when they get a case too macabre for them to handle alone, and the woman the vampires call “the Executioner.” Now, for the first time ever and exclusive to comics, Hamilton pens a tale set before the first Anita Blake novel, Guilty Pleasures, to reveal how Anita’s career began! In a story co-written by husband Jonathon Green, illustrated by Wellington Alves, and with covers by fan favorite Brett Booth, fans can finally read about the first meeting between Anita and the sensuous vampire Jean-Claude, the serial-killer case that began her involvement with the police, and how she became allies with the sinister hitman of all things supernatural, Edward! Whether you are a longtime fan of Anita Blake, or have only just discovered her, join us for the prequel fans have been waiting for, as we pull back the veils on the mysteries of Anita’s origins!

My thoughts:
Anita Blake is a necromancer working for Animators Inc., she raises the dead for a living. She’s also a vampire hunter, licensed to execute them for their crimes, and a consultant for the St. Louis Police Department’s Regional Preternatural Investigation Team (RPIT), that’s run by Dolph Storr.

When Dolph calls Anita to take a look at the victim of a grisly murder, a child, she responds to the scene. It appears that a vampire is preying on children and Anita isn’t about to let the monster go. Their investigation leads them to Jean-Claude, the manager of the vampire strip club Guilty Pleasures, and their meeting is a bit unnerving for Anita.

Just as Anita thinks she and her co-worker Manny have lost the killer’s trail, Edward shows up. He’s an assassin for hire and more than happy to hunt the monsters. Edward believes they’re working the same case, and despite her fear and distrust of him Anita has little choice but to exchange information if she expects to find the vampires responsible for the murders.

The First Death is set near the beginning of Anita’s work as a consultant with RPIT, when hunting vampires and raising zombies filled her days and nights. Anita is tough as nails when it comes to ridding the world of monsters, and she’s not about to let one get away, especially one who’s chosen children as the victims. Ms. Hamilton shares an easy to follow vampire murder mystery that’s co-authored by her husband Jonathon Green. The cover and artwork by Brett Booth, Ron Lim and Wellington Alves throughout this graphic novel are simply amazing. Graphic is the operative word, because the artists have really outdone themselves in capturing every aspect of the characters and the world around them, even the gory bits of The First Death. It’s a quick read, but as a longtime reader of the Vampire Hunter series having a visual of the action had me taking my time and savoring each page. There’s also a Guilty Pleasures Handbook included as part of this book that’s both fascinating and fun to read. Graphic novels are a new experience for me, one that I’ve wanted to try, but hadn’t really gotten the opportunity to before now. I’ll be looking forward to the next in the Guilty Pleasures series that’s currently scheduled to release on July 22, 2008.

Kimberly Swan, Darque Reviews

Pleasure Unbound by Larissa Ione

Pleasure Unbound
Demonica, Book 1
Larissa Ione
Forever
July 7, 2008
ISBN# 978-0-446-40103-6

From the Publisher’s site:
In a place where ecstasy can cost you your life . . .

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She's a demon-slayer who hungers for sensual pleasure-but fears it will always be denied her. Until Tayla Mancuso lands in a hospital run by demons in disguise, and the head doctor, Eidolon, makes her body burn with unslakable desire. But to prove her ultimate loyalty to her peers, she must betray the surgeon who saved her life.

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Two lovers will dare to risk all.

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Eidolon cannot resist this fiery, dangerous woman who fills him with both rage and passion. Not only is she his avowed enemy, but she could very well be the hunter who has been preying upon his people. Torn between his need for the truth and his quest to find his perfect mate before a horrific transformation claims him forever, Eidolon will dare the unthinkable-and let Tayla possess him, body and soul . . .

My thoughts:
Tayla Mancuso witnessed the death of her mother at the hands of a demon and has commited her life to ridding the world of as many as she can. Working with The Aegis as a Guardian, Tayla and her partner, Janet, come up against a Cruentus demon. Janet loses her life and Tayla finds herself in Underground General Hospital, owned and operated by demons. It’s too bad she’s instantly attracted to her doctor, because while he’s definitely the most gorgeous demon she’s ever seen, he’s still the enemy.

Eidolon is a Seminus demon, an incubus nearing one hundread years old. He’s also an emergency room doctor at Underground General Hospital, a hospital he runs along with his brothers Shade and Wraith. With the end of his first century comes a change in his life that will force him into mating with any female he can, demon or human. A mate of his own could curb those urges and help him through his change with his sanity and the ability to continue his job as a doctor intact. Meeting someone like Tayla, who’s an enemy to all demons, was not what he had planned, but now walking away may not be a possibility.

The first in the Demonica series, Pleasure Unbound is an engaging read. Tayla is commited to her job, but something underhanded is going on in the ranks of the Aegis and it could cost her life. With the change coming on, Eidolon’s attraction to Tayla is not the best timing, but she’s about to find her life changing and he may be the only one who can keep her alive. Ms. Ione has created a dark fantasy world that’s filled with intriguing characters, entrancing suspense and fast-moving action. I enjoyed the uniqueness of each demon dependant on their parentage, loved the chemistry that sizzles between hero and heroine and was captivated by the black market mystery unfolding. Pleasure Unbound has found its spot on my keeper shelf and I’m looking forward to Shadow Lover adding more detail to the shadowy world of demon and vampire society. Book two is currently scheduled to release in March 2009.

To read an excerpt and learn more about Pleasure Unbound, visit Ms. Ione’s site: Here

Kimberly Swan, Darque Review

Harmony by C. F. Bentley

Harmony
C. F. Bentley
Daw Books
August 5, 2008
ISBN# 978-0-7564-0485-7

From the back cover (arc):
The world of Harmony, along with its close-knit colony planets, had long ago isolated itself from the rest of the universe. Whether you were of human or alien descent you were not welcome in Harmony space.

But in a universe where the human-based Confederate Star System fleet found itself hard-pressed to stand against ever-increasing attacks by the alien Marillon Empire, the Harmonic Empire couldn’t be left alone. For if the CSS could not win an alliance with Harmony, the Marils would surely find a way to invade and seize control of the invaluable metal which only the Harmonites could produce.Yet invasion is far from the only threat the people of Harmony faced. The very structure of their society was on the verge of crumbling. The population was divided into a seven-part caste system - with one’s lot in life determined by the caste marking they were born with - ruled over by the High Priest and High Priestess of the Crystal Temple. And the gulf between rich and poor, rulers and ruled, was nearly insurmountable. What was even worse was that the planet itself seemed to be becoming increasingly unstable. In this time of crisis one young woman, a member of the working class, yet born with the marks of all seven castes - an unprecedented event - might prove Harmony’s best hope or the catalyst for total collapse.

Could Harmony – and the unique young woman suddenly thrust into the role of High Priestess – survive both the external dangers to the empire and the internal political, social, religious, and ecological upheaval that threatened to tear the world apart?

My thoughts:
Born the daughter of a working class family, Sissy is happy enough with the factory work she does. Different than most, she carries the mark of each of the castes and has hidden all of her life from those who would lock her away as a Lood. When an earthquake hits the city, it’s Sissy’s connection with Harmony herself that saves them all. This young girl, still considered a freak by some, is elevated to High Priestess and quickly learns that the High Council has been acting in their own best interests instead of the interests of Harmony.

As war threatens from both the CSS and the Marils, Sissy accepts the guidance of her personal guard, Jake, to set Harmony on the right path. With his help, history is rediscovered, but what they learn could break their already fragile world. Especially when Sissy unveils the secret that Jake’s been hiding.

Harmony is a well done start to this series. As a world built on religion strays from their beliefs, an unlikely savior arises to protect, lead and deliver the people back to the unity of Harmony. C. F. Bentley builds a world that will capture the attention of science fiction and fantasy readers. The story moves through stages in a steady pace with defining moments in new leadership, discovery and the ever present possibility of war. While there’s no point in this installment that I’d call a big climax, there are twists and turns along the way that set the stage for what should be an interesting opening in the next visit to Harmony.

Kimberly Swan, Darque Reviews

Dead Over Heels by Charlaine Harris

Dead Over Heels
Aurora Teagarden Mysteries, Book 5
Charlaine Harris
Berkley Prime Crime
August 5, 2008
ISBN# 978-0-425-22303-1

From the Publisher’s Site:
Part-time librarian Aurora "Roe" Teagarden never liked Detective Sergeant Jack Burns, but she also never wanted to see him dead—especially not dropped from a plane right into her own backyard. But when other strange things happen around her, ranging from peculiar (her irascible cat turns up wearing a pink ribbon) to violent (her assistant at the library is attacked) to potentially deadly (her former lover is stabbed), she must decipher the personal message in the madness before it's too late.

My Thoughts:
Aurora Teagarden-Bartell, Roe to her friends, set up a lounge chair to relax while her bodyguard finished mowing the backyard. Alerted by the buzz of the plane, Roe looked up just in time to launch herself and Angel out of the path of a falling man. It’s an incident that begins a string of death and mishaps all around them, and a mystery that Roe intends to solve.

Arthur Smith, Roe’s ex-husband, appears to be observing her with hungry eyes every opportunity he gets. Her co-worker has turned threatening because she feels that Roe is not doing her share of the work. Angel has just been given some shocking news from her doctor and her husband, Shelby, is less than understanding. As things heat up, Roe manages to track down leads, rule out suspects and discover the identity of the killer just in time to stop them from taking another life.

This is the fifth Aurora Teagarden Mystery, and was easy enough to follow without having read the previous installments. However, there may have been information in prior books that would help in solving the mystery in Dead Over Heels. Ms. Harris is a creative author who develops interesting characters and a story that will entertain. While this is a fun mystery, because Roe does get herself into some rather compromising situations, there seems to be so much going on outside of the actual mystery that it’s easy to get lost along the way. It may just be that this is a reprint from an earlier time in the author’s career, and I’m accustomed to her advanced skills. If you’re a fan of the series, then do check it out, but if you haven’t read the prior stories in the Aurora Teagarden Mysteries then you may want to get a more detailed introduction of the characters by starting at the beginning.

Kimberly Swan, Darque Reviews

Plague War by Jeff Carlson

Plague War
Jeff Carlson
ACE
July 29, 2008
ISBN# 978-0-441-01617-4

From the Publisher’s site:
Researcher Ruth Goldman has developed a vaccine with the potential to inoculate the world’s survivors against the nanotech plague that devastated humanity. But the fractured U.S. government will stop at nothing to keep it for themselves.

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My thoughts:
Ruth Goldman is a scientist living in a post-apocalyptic world where a nano-tech plague has destroyed anything warm-blooded and living below 10,000 feet. There are few survivors, but Ruth has developed a vaccine that may be their only hope for a future. Against the odds, she and another survivor, Cam, brave the devastation along with Newcombe, a soldier who trained in the Army Special Forces. They pick their way through what was once beautiful land to those who remain alive in the mountains. It’s the only way to spread the vaccine, especially with a government that doesn’t want to see that happen.

Cam Najarro has lost a lot to the plague, but he believes in what Ruth is doing to stop it from destroying what little is left. He’d follow her anywhere, and do anything to keep her safe. There’s no one that they trust more than each other, and despite the government’s protests Cam intends on seeing things through to the end.

This is a sequel to Plague Year and picks up with Ruth and Cam working along with a soldier to spread the vaccine. Despite injuries, immense danger and horrendous conditions, they won’t let anything stop them from doing everything possible to save what’s left of humanity. Mr. Carlson shares a well-written and riveting tale that draws a spark of hope out of the midst of despair. Nicely paced, tension filled, and thoroughly believable, Plague War is easily a worthwhile read.

If you’d like to learn more about Plague War and read the first chapter, you can stop by Mr. Carlson’s site: Here

Kimberly Swan, Darque Reviews