Tiger Eye (Majorie M. Liu)

Title: Tiger Eye
Author: Marjorie M. Liu
Copyright: 2005; 373 pgs.
ISBN: 978-0-06-202015-4
Reissued: 2011 (Avon)
Series: Dirk & Steele #1
Sensuality: Warm
Genre: Paranormal Romance

Delilah ‘Dela’ Reese is on vacation in Beijing. A mysterious old woman sells her a puzzle box — and shortly after, Dela is accosted by a strange man who frightens her. It is the same man who was watching the old woman when she sold the box to Dela. Dela manages to get away from him, but the incident has shaken her. In the privacy of her hotel room, she examines the box. Dela has an affinity for metal — it talks to her. Though there only a small amount in the box’s construct, it tells Dela that the box is at least two thousand years old. She manages to open the box and gets the shock of her life when a man bursts into existence from the the light pouring out of the box.

Hari, a shape-shifter, was cursed by an evil man he calls the Magi. To save the life of his sister, Hari promised to be his servant. The Magi killed her anyway, and when Hari tried to take revenge, the Magi placed a curse on him and banished him to the box. Plus, the Magi stole his ability to shift into a tiger. The curse: Hari is immortal and must serve who ever owns the box as long as that person lives. Through the years, Hari’s had many masters who have used and tortured him, but none have broken him. He loathes Dela at first sight because she is yet another master he must obey. However, Dela refuses to command him and goes out of her way to be kind to him, trying to prove that she would never treat him like a slave. Slowly, Hari begins to have hope, though he doesn’t believe there is a way to break the curse and regain his ability to shift.

Shortly after, Dela is attacked. At first, it seems that maybe the man in the market and the attack are connected, but the story the knives used in the attack tells her a different story. Dela is determined figure out why the old woman sold her the box and find out who is targeting her and why.

Comment: I discovered this book when the hidden object/puzzle game was released. I was curious about the game and liked it enough to pick up the book as well as the Dirk & Steele series. Until I read the book, I had no idea how the story ended because the second part of the game hasn’t been released yet! Now that I’ve read it, I really do what to see how the second game plays out, since the author made changes (from the book) when she worked with the developers for the game.

I liked Dela and Hari. They’re both good, decent people. Hari’s been through a lot, but it never destroyed his core ethics. There were a couple of times I agreed with Hari and the others when Dela seemed to be a bit blasé about her safety — but I also agree with her reasoning, that she couldn’t just hide under the bed all the time either.

I really loved this book. One of the things I wanted to learn about was Dirk & Steele itself: how Dela was connected to it, what was its purpose. The game barely touches on it. I also wanted to know more about Roland, too, but like Charlie from “Charlie’s Angels”, he’s only heard from, not seen.

Once Dela and Hari are back in the States, we’re introduced to several members of Dirk & Steele: Artur, Dean, Blue, and Eddie. I loved these guys and I can’t wait to continue with the series.

(Cross-posted, with some modification, from Good Reads)

Started: 3 September 2011
Finished: 4 September 2011

Rating:

Loved It!

Disclaimer: I purchased this book.

Visions of Heat (Nalini Singh)

Title: Visions of Heat
Author: Nalini Singh
Copyright: 2007 (Berkley); 332 pgs.
ISBN: 978-0-425-21575-3
Series: Psy/Changeling #2
Sensuality: Hot
Genre: Paranormal Romance

From the Back: Used to cold silence, Faith NightStar is suddenly being tormented by dark visions of blood and murder. A bad sign for anyone, but worse for Faith, an F-Psy with the highly sought after ability to predict the future. Then the visions show her something even more dangerous — aching need. . .exquisite pleasure. But so powerful is her sight, so fragile the state of her mind, that the very emotions she yearns to embrace could be the end of her. Changeling Vaughn D’Angelo can take the form of either man or jaguar, but it is his animal side that is overwhelmingly drawn to Faith. The jaguar’s instinct is to claim this woman it finds so utterly fascinating, and the man has no argument. But while Vaughn craves sensation and hungers to pleasure Faith in every way, desire is a danger that could snap the last threads of her sanity. And there are Psy who need Faith’s sight for their own purposes. . .

~&~

1. Reason for choosing this book:
I chose this book for several reasons.  It’s been several years since I read the first book in the series and I’ve been meaning to continue with it.  I made reading this book, plus the next in the series, part of my reading goal for the year (the one I dubbed, “Sweet Sixteen”).  It also met the criteria for a group challenge I was participating in at the time.  Shortly after reading this book, I made it my goal to get caught up with the series by the end of the year.

2. Reasons for liking/disliking this book:
Even thought it’s been over two years since I read Slave to Sensation, I was able to pick this one up without any problems. Though the plots are similar, I really thought this book flowed better because it wasn’t encumbered with all the world-building and character introductions that the first book had.

Like the first book,  it’s about a female Psy (Faith NightStar) and a dominant male Changeling (Vaughn D’Angelo). Unlike Sascha, Faith is considered a valuable asset to her family and her PsyClan. Faith is a foreseer, and her abilities allow her to make financial forecasts. She’s the best. I liked her more than I did Sascha. I thought she was a stronger person than she gave herself credit for, even when afraid. I also liked her interactions with the NetMind.

I do love feline shape-shifters as a whole, and I liked Vaughn. I liked how he interacted with Faith. He knew she was strong and he challenged her, teased her. I also liked where he lived. The DarkRiver leopards live in some very interesting “homes”.

I’m really looking forward to reading this series.

3. Reasons for recommending this book:
I would recommend this book to readers who read the first book and wasn’t sure about reading the next book.  I would not recommend reading this book as a stand-alone.

Started: 10 May 2011
Finished: 12 May 2011

Rating:

Loved It!

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Disclaimer: I purchased this book.

Demon Inside

Title: Demon Inside
Author: Stacia Kane
Copyright: 2009 (Juno/Pocket); 353 pgs.
ISBN: 978-1-4391-5507-3
Series: Megan Chase #2
Sensuality: Warm
Genre: Fantasy

Possible spoilers for the 1st Book!

Previously . . . Three months ago, Megan defeated the Accuser and became the leader of the personal demons.

So, how’s that working out for her? Lousy, thanks for asking. Meg isn’t giving the personal demons the time and attention — and leadership — they expect from their gretneg (ruler); and as a psychologist, part of her isn’t comfortable with letting them run amok, feeding on other people’s misery. Meg has also refused to perform the ritual that will make her a full demon and give her access to greater power. She’s afraid of losing what makes her human. To make matters worse, someone — or something — is killing her demons rather messily.

Huh. So, how’s her practice and the radio show doing? The show? It must be successful, since it’s still on-air. Her practice? Well, not so good. The other partners are questioning her commitment and even she can’t deny she’s been acting oddly lately.

Is anything going right for her? Oh yeah. Her love life. Greyson Dante is still very much her lover. But Meg harbors a bit of doubt about their relationship. Fortunately, she doesn’t dwell endlessly about how long they’ll be together.

Ah, Greyson. Let’s hear more about him. If Greyson didn’t care about Meg, he would have let her flounder on her own when dealing with the demon world. As a gretneg-in-waiting, Greyson is aware of the responsibilities and expectations that come with the job. He wants Meg be a good gretneg. He doesn’t pressure her, though. Greyson advises her to perform the ritual, but it has to be her choice and he leaves it at that. He wishes that she would give up her practice because it interferes with her duties to the personal demons — and not for some alpha, chauvinistic reason. He supports her decisions and helps her the best he can.

A supportive demon lover and exploding minions. Anything else? It’s one of the worse weeks of Meg’s life, and just when she has real plans for Christmas, too. Someone tried to run her and Greyson of the road; and a death in her family brings her back to the place where all her demon problems started. Tagging along for support are the ever-loyal demon bodyguard brothers and Meg’s friends Brian the reporter and Tera the witch. Plus, we meet a friend of Greyson’s.

What I liked: The boys — Malleus, Maleficarum, and Spud. Greyson, of course, and the new character Nick. I liked the fact that Meg is conflicted about her status. It seems more realistic than it would have had she did the ritual just because Greyson said she should. She got dragged into the demon world against her will and it’s only natural that she fight for a normal life.

What I didn’t like: Demon rituals. Ew. What Meg had to do to beat the big bad. Double ew.

Recommended to: Those who read the first book. I would advise reading that one first, to see how they all met and to understand what happened to Meg.

Started: 25 February 2010
Finished: 15 March 2010

Rating:

Liked A Lot

Disclaimer: I purchased this book.

Countdown

Title: Countdown
Author: Michelle Maddox
Copyright: 2008 (Shomi); 293 pgs.
ISBN: 978-0-505-52755-4
Series: N/A
Sensuality: Warm

Who: Kira Jordan and Rogan Ellis

From the Back: Kira Jordan wakes up in a pitch-black room handcuffed to a metal wall. She has 60 seconds to escape. Thus begins a vicious game where to lose is to die. The man she’s been partnered with — her only ally in this nightmare — is a convicted mass murderer. But if he’s so violent, why does he protect her? And stranger still, what is it behind those haunted sea-green eyes that makes her want to protect him?

Comments: One of the great discoveries for me, last year, was the Shomi line from Dorchester. This is the third book by them I’ve read and I haven’t been disappointed yet.

Countdown is set in the near future. Technology had been advancing steadily and a new, life-sustaining world had been discovered. Then a great plague struck, killing millions, and society never fully recovered. Those who could afford the price of transportation left Earth for the new colony. Those still on Earth trudged on, many dreaming of one day leaving it behind, too.

One of the pastimes, for those who can afford a subscription, is “watching” The Countdown, a win-or-die type reality game show. The patrons — subscribers — have computer implants in their skulls, allowing them to view the contest wherever they might be. Since the game is illegal and secretive, the show runners can afford to drop their unsuspecting contestants into public places knowing that nobody would believe them if they tried to get help. The game is divided into six levels. Contestants are given very little information to work with, and even that isn’t always reliable. They are normally criminals, with life sentences, recruited with the promise of freedom if they play the game and win. Rogan Ellis, with his 500-year prison sentence, was given a choice. Kira Jordan was not.

Seven years ago, Kira’s parents and sister were murdered. The killer was never caught. Since then, Kira’s been on her own and on the streets, surviving the only way she knows how. She’s a petty thief, not a hardened criminal, who had stolen a pair of sneakers just prior to waking up handcuffed to the wall. Kira has a talent she calls “flexing” — she’s a psi. She has to be touching the person she’s trying to read and it’s usually very painful to do, so she doesn’t do it very often. Sometimes, she can just sense a person is bad and she uses that to decide whether or not to pick an individual’s pocket — she doesn’t feel right stealing from decent people.

Though Kira initially believes Rogan is guilty of the crimes he was sent to prison for, he doesn’t have that bad guy vibe she usually senses from the criminal set. Since the disembodied show announcer is telling the viewers things that aren’t completely true about her, she begins to wonder how much truth is behind the things said about Rogan and she slowly begins to believe his innocence. Rogan has his secrets and things he’s guilty of, but not mass murder. Four years ago, he was set up and sent to prison. Nobody doubted his guilt, nobody questioned the evidence. They believed what they were told. Four years of life in prison has left him haunted and in despair. Kira is the first person to ever believe he is innocent.

To say much more would give away plot twists. The book is fast paced and easy to follow, and I really liked it. I thought Kira and Rogan were likable characters. Kira is fully capable of taking care of herself, but because of the situation, she must work as a team with Rogan. Her acceptance of Rogan’s innocent was well-paced — not too soon, nor was it dragged out once she got a good read on him.

Started: 3 May 2009
Finished: 11 May 2009

Rating:

Liked A Lot

What Others Have Said:
Tez Says
Bitten By Books
Scooper Speaks
Janicu’s Book Blog
All About Romance
The Good, the Bad, and the Unread

Addendum:
This is a re-post, due to technical difficulties. Comments, if any, were lost. I apologize for the inconvenience. (Aug 09)

KristieJ, 2009-05-26: I really enjoyed this one too. I thought the author did an excellent job with building suspense. I’ve had mixed success with the Shomi line – some, like Countdown, I’ve really enjoyed, others not so much. I was reading at DA a while ago though that they aren’t going to continue this line. They will still be publishing books like this – just not in a separate line.

Me, 2009-05-26: I’ve been lucky, I guess, picking the books that hook me. So far. I think I have them all. Yeah, I noticed. The follow-up to AJ Menden’s Shomi book was/is released this week and it’s published under the Leisure imprint.

Brie, 2009-05-28: Hi Christina, I”ve had a little sucess with the Shomi line, but a few books have been duds for me. After your review, I will be on the lookout for Countdown. It seems like something that I would really enjoy.

Me, 2009-05-29: Hi, Brie! I imagine that I”ll eventually come across some that don”t work for me. They all sound so interesting, though. Earlier this year I picked up “Irreversible” by Liz Maverick, not knowing it was a sequel to “Wired”, and almost wrote it off as a “No go” because I was so confused!

Angie, 2009-06-27: Thanks for this review. It sounds like COUNTDOWN would fit my current mood quite well. It sounds fun! I”ll be on the lookout for a copy.

Me, 2009-06-28: It was a fun read. I hope you enjoy it.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

This is a re-post, due to data loss. (Oct 09)

Shadow Game

Author: Christine Feehan
Copyright: 2003 (Jove); pgs. 323
ISBN: 0-515-13596-8
Series: 1st in the GhostWalkers series
Sensuality: Hot

Who: Dr. Lily Whitney and Captain Ryland Miller

Dr. Lily Whitney’s father, Dr. Peter Whitney, has asked her to consult on one of his classified experiments. The project’s goal is to enhance psychic abilities in a select group of men, all volunteers, to be used as a military weapon. With their extraordinary metal powers, these men could infiltrate enemy territory undetected and carry a variety of covert activities. But something has gone wrong with the experiment. Men are dying in training accidents.

Captain Ryland Miller, the senior ranking “GhostWalker”, falls for Lily the moment he sees her. Her presences is soothing, her own psychic gifts toning down the sensory onslaught. Ryland feels he and his men have been betrayed by Dr. Peter Whitney and Colonel Higgens, the military liaison to the project. He and his men are kept separated from each other and caged like lab rats. The team’s mental abilities have been enhanced to such a point that they can’t turn them off and, without sufficient mental barriers, they can barely function outside a controlled environment. The doctor has tried to reverse the process, but has yet to find a way. Colonel Higgens has made no secret that he wants the enhancement process perfected, not reversed, and views the deaths as acceptable losses.

Lily, too, also feels the instant attraction though she’s at a loss on how to deal with it, having never formed any type of meaningful attachment to a man before. She wants to help him and his men. However, her father did not give her much information about the project prior to asking her to stop by. Shortly after Lily agrees to join the project, her father is murdered, leaving Lily with a lot of unanswered questions and the fate of the project — and the GhostWalkers themselves — in her hands. Since her father didn’t trust Higgens any more than Ryland did, he kept his notes in code and hid them for her to find. Searching for the answers to helping Ryland, Lily uncovers things about her own past.

This is the first book I’ve read by Christine Feehan. One of my favorite aspects of the book is the character relationships. Not just the romantic relationship, but also the friendships and the sense of family between Lily and her household staff, the relationships between the GhostWalkers, etc. I really liked Ryland right from the start. All the normal traits you’d expect to find in the hero — leader, protector — but he isn’t closed off. He readily voices his fears and insecurities to Lily. It took me longer to warm up to Lily — a super-smart heroine who comes across a little too naive gets on nerves.

Overall, it was an enjoyable read. I have books from the author’s other series (Drake sisters and the Leopards), plus I plan to continue with this series.

Started: 28 February 2009
Finished: 10 March 2009

Rating:
TBA

Ace is Wild

Author: Penny McCall
Copyright: 2008 (Berkley); pgs. 308
ISBN: 978-0-425-22298-0
Series: N/A
Sensuality: Warm

Who: Vivienne Foster and Daniel “Ace” Pierce
Where: Boston

This is the second book I’ve read by this author. Though some of the characters and plot elements from her previous books make an appearance, it’s not necessary to read either All Jacked Up or Tag, You’re it! first.

Vivienne Foster is a psychic. No, really, she is. And that’s the problem. Law enforcement types generally don’t believe in her abilities, so going to them with her knowledge pertaining to a hit on an Assistant DA is pointless. No one will believe her that Daniel Pierce is in mortal danger without solid proof — like the identity of the person ordering the hit or the name of the hired gun. Vivi’s visions don’t work that way, so she left with only one course of action — try to get his attention at a bachelor charity auction and hope he listens to her.

Daniel is a former FBI field agent, benched after a near-fatal shooting damaged his leg. Unable to return to field work in any law enforcement agency, he became a lawyer. But even that isn’t enough for guy who’s goal in life was to make the world a safer place. His track record is hardly impressive, mainly because he doesn’t compromise when it comes to his ethics or his integrity. Even though he doesn’t want to believe in Vivi’s talent, he’s willing to accept the possibility there really is a hit out on him. He wants to be actively involved in the investigation, not sitting in some safe house or guarded by federal agents. Daniel is sure that Vivi knows more than she’s letting on — there is something important she’s not telling him. Daniel doesn’t have many “wins” — cases where he sent someone to prison for life or, at least, a very long time. Narrowing down the list of possibilities and investigating them — Vivi doing a reading on them — shouldn’t be so hard, but their progress is hindered by more attempts on Daniel’s life by slightly incompetent and elusive hit men.

Both have trust issues. Vivi, obviously, has a hard time trusting cops and lawyers because they don’t believe her, and she knows that Daniel is only humoring her. Trusting the wrong person got Daniel shot, so it will take a lot of convincing before he’ll trust Vivi. They both also believe in speaking the truth. Vivi doesn’t lie to her customers. She won’t tell them only what they want to hear, unless it’s the truth. Some things — like death — she can’t bear predicting, so she tries to steer her clients away from those types of questions. Daniel is a “the world is black and white” type guy — no gray areas. He sees Vivi being sued by clients as proof she’s a con artist — and therefore a criminal. Of course, Vivi was sued by clients that didn’t like what she told them — the truth.

From the beginning, Daniel and Vivi are physically attracted to each other. Both try to ignore it. At some point, during their running around Boston eluding hit men, — and the cops and Feds who don’t want them involved in the investigation — Vivi starts to fall in love with Daniel. This is bad news because those feelings prevent her from getting a read on Daniel. With his life in danger, this could prove fatal. Naturally, it takes Daniel a little longer to realize what he’s feeling is more than lust.

I really enjoyed this book. There’s a lot of action, so the story moves pretty quickly. Vivi’s a fun character. She’s strong and she doesn’t back down, even when Daniel is biting her head off for one reason or other. She can give as good as she gets. I really liked Daniel. When you first meet him, he comes across as a slick, sophisticated lawyer, but really he’s a jeans-and-t-shirt kind of guy; happier out in the field than behind a desk.

Favorite Quotes:
“If I didn’t trust you and believe in your ability I wouldn’t be asking you to save the day, but you can’t even drum up a halfway credible premonition.”
“Because I love you, you jackass.”
“Uh. . .”
“That’s right, you moron, I love you.”
– Daniel and Vivi, in a tight spot, yelling at each other

“The place was crawling with cops and feds.”
“That’s what happens when you call and tell them you were almost murdered by a high-ranking mob figure.”
– Daniel, Vivi

Started: 19 February 2009
Finished: 27 February 2009

Rating:

Liked A Lot

Slave to Sensation

Author: Nalini Singh
Copyright: 2006 (Berkley); pgs. 334
ISBN: 0-425-21286-6
Series: 1st in the Psy/Changeling series
Sensuality: Hot

Who: Sascha Duncan (Psy) and Lucas Hunter (Changeling)

Sascha Duncan is a Psy who’s talent never manifested itself — or so everyone, including Sascha, thinks — to the level it should have as a cardinal Psy. Psy should not experience feelings, yet Sascha can, and it’s getting harder to keep them hidden. She is assigned to work with the DarkRiver changelings on a housing project. On the surface, it looks to be nothing more than a business arrangement, but things aren’t what they seem.

Lucas Hunter, a panther, is the DarkRiver alpha. He’s investigating the death of a pack mate. Lucas is certain there is a serial killer out there, targeting Changeling females, and that the killer is a Psy. The Psy keep a close hold on their secrets and Lucas needs a way to infiltrate the PsyNet. He believes the best way to do that is to have direct dealings with a Psy. Lucas is intrigued by Sascha, sensing that she isn’t like the rest of her kind, and he comes to trust her enough to confides in her. Sascha is willing to help, but time is running out. A member of the local wolf pack has been abducted and her pack alpha is threatening an all-out attack on the Psy unless Lucas and Sascha can find the culprit. The only way to that could kill Sascha in the process.

I mostly enjoyed this book. The world building, in particular, hooked me and I liked the cast of characters enough that I promptly bought the other books in the series (including a pre-order) before I even finished the first one. However, I did have a few issues with the book.

One thing that bother me was that I felt there were several key incidents that should have been shown, not told. Sascha’s fear of rehabilitation would have had more impact if we’d seen what exactly happens to a Psy — in the Prologue, perhaps — instead of being told what happens. I also never got the feeling that Sascha was in any danger, no matter how many times she told us otherwise. Her mental shields held throughout; she spent much of her time with the Changelings, not the Psy where she’d have to be constantly on guard; and she was able to stall her mother and Enrique rather easily and effectively whenever they demanded information from her. Getting into the mind of the killer — seeing things from his point of view without revealing his identity — would have added a sense of danger if not to Sascha herself, then to show what they were up against.

My other issue, a minor one really, was reconciling Lucas’ past and his present behavior. I wasn’t expecting him to brood darkly throughout, but I thought he’d be a bit more aloof. I thought he’d resist his attraction to Sascha a little longer than he did, given his determination never to mate.

These issues did not change my decision to read the next book in the series. Like I said, the world building is something unique for me, and I am willing to give the series another try.

Started: 16 January 2009
Finished: 24 January 2009

Rating:
TBA

Possessed

Author: Stephanie Doyle
Copyright: 2006 (Harlequin); pgs. 292
Series: Silhouette Bombshell #118
Sensuality: Warm

Who:  Cassandra Allen and Malcolm McDonough
Where: Philadelphia, Pennsylvania

Cassandra Allen is a medium.  She can communicate with the dead.  She has learned to control her gift so that the dead don’t overwhelm her with their attempts to contact loved ones.  However, her quiet, simple life is also very lonely.  Cassandra doesn’t like large crowds and strives to avoid being touched — regardless if it’s a friendly pat on the shoulder or an intimate caress.  She has no social life and her efforts to shield herself have an adverse effect on her ability to keep a job.  Eventually her reserved, standoffish and strange behavior gives her coworkers and boss the creeps, and she is fired.  And if that doesn’t seal her fate, the appearance of a gun-toting and disturbed man showing up at the coffeehouse demanding to speak to her, will certainly do the trick.  To offset her precarious employment situation, Cassandra does consultant work for the local police.

Detective Doug Brody, who lost his beloved wife, is Cassandra’s one friend.  He believes in her abilities and her track record with helping him crack a case is good enough to ensure that the department doesn’t baulk too much when she’s called in.  Her gift allows her to determine if a suspect is guilty or innocent.  Doug asks for her help on a new case.  A young woman, Lauren, was brutally murdered not far from where Cassandra currently lives.  The police have the woman’s brother in for questioning.  The problem is that Malcolm McDonough has connections and any misstep with him could bring the mayor’s office down on their heads.  McDonough has been at the station for hours, without calling his lawyer, and the detective can’t get a good read on him: his icy behavior could either be his way of dealing with the tragedy or he’s a sociopath.

Malcolm is rude and insulting to Cassandra, but that doesn’t stop her from clearing him of suspicion.  Within minutes of meeting him, Cassandra knows that Malcolm is innocent.  Lauren is worried that her brother won’t be able to cope with her death, that he’ll isolate himself more now that he’s all alone.  Lauren was the last of his family and she doesn’t want him to be lonely and unhappy.  Malcolm doesn’t react well to learning how Cassandra knows what she does.  He’s so angry and hurt, he briefly suspects her of having something to do with the murder.

Not only does Cassandra have to deal with Malcolm, something frightening is happening.  She is being attacked, mentally, by a monster.  Since contact with the dead always manifest itself on her body in some way — bloody nose, black eye — the monster’s presence is leaving her beaten and weak.  She doesn’t know who the monster is trying to contact, since the first attack happened when she was alone in her apartment.  The second attack takes place on a busy street, with many people about.  Malcolm saves her from being hit by a car and sees first hand what she goes through.  He’s still skeptical, but that doesn’t stop him from being concerned for her welfare.

Even more frightening than the monster is the possibility that Malcolm is getting too close; that there might be a connection between them that has nothing to do with Lauren.  She’s so afraid of what might happen between them, that she doesn’t even realize that Lauren only contacts her when it’s absolutely necessary.  Lauren’s wants her brother to be happy.  Malcolm is coping with Lauren’s death, for not being able to protect or save her, by trying to help Cassandra.  Regardless of the antagonism that crops up between them, they make each other happy.

I enjoyed this book very much.  I thought Malcolm’s reactions to Cassandra were very realistic.  Over time, as he witnessed what was happening to her, his skepticism is slowly chipped away.  Both are independent, stubborn people who force each other to admit that they are closed off and lonely.  I liked the fact that the monster wasn’t a real one (something supernatural like a demon, for example).  Because the man who died was such a horrible person in life, that is how he is perceived.  It added a layer of mystery to what was happening, since Cassandra couldn’t understand it or cope with it.

Teaser Tuesdays entry.

Started: 15 September 2008
Finished: 22 September 2008

Rating:

Liked A Lot

Personal Demons

Author:  Stacia Kane
Copyright: 2008 (Juno); pgs. 303
Series: Megan Chase #1
Sensuality:  Warm

Who:  Dr. Megan Chase and Greyson Dante

Dr. Megan Chase is a psychologist and a psychic, which comes in handy when treating her patients.  She reluctantly agreed to be the host of “Personal Demons,” a call-in radio show, not wanting to subject the “male Nurse Ratchet of local counselors” on the truly afflicted.  The show promises to help “slay your demons”.  If hosting the show wasn’t bad enough (mostly crank callers and heavy breathers), the station wants her to do an interview — a feature article really — with a reporter from a tabloid-type newspaper.  It will involve a photo shoot and the reporter, Brian Stone, following her around for the “week in the life” part of his article.  Megan is definitely not thrilled by this prospect.  She has patients to take care of and a few things in her own past she wants to stay in the past.

A handsome stranger, looking for all the world like a lawyer, tells her that he represents someone who is very interested in the show — more precisely, her — and would like to discuss a business arrangement.  Too tired and in no mood to talk, Megan manages to shoo Greyson Dante off with a promise not to accept any other offers until they get a chance to speak again.  What she doesn’t know is that demons are real; that the term, “personal demons” wasn’t just a euphemism for psychological problems.  Everyone has a little demon on their shoulder (except, oddly enough, Megan).  It’s one thing to keep the demons at bay with therapy and counseling; it’s something else entirely to offer to “slay” them.  Apparently, the demon world is taking the term literally and they believe Megan is out to get them.

Weird, freaky things begin to happen and Megan’s life is in danger.  Greyson seems sincere in his offer to help her.  Megan is sure he has an agenda, but she smart enough to know that she can’t protect herself against the demons.  She accepts his offer while trying to ignore the attraction.  Greyson flirts with her, making it clear that he’s interested.  He assigns a trio of guard demons to keep an eye on her.  At first, Megan’s uncomfortable with the arrangement but after awhile, she forms a bond with them.

I really liked this book.  I liked the concept of the personal demons and the world building in general.  I liked the characters.  Megan isn’t a kick-butt heroine, but she’s strong in her own way and she has a true desire to help people.  Malleus, Maleficarum, and Spud — the trio — add a touch of humor.

Looking forward to the second book.

Started: 12 September 2008
Finished: 13 September 2008

Rating:

Liked A Lot

Haunted

Author: Lisa Childs
Copyright: 2006 (Harlequin); pgs. 296
Series: Silhouette Nocturne #6; Witch Hunt #1
Sensuality: Warm

Who:  Ariel Cooper (witch) and David Koster
Where: Michigan

Ariel Cooper is  descended for a long line of witches, each who had a different “gift”.  Ariel’s gift is that she can see the dead.  When she and her sisters — Elena, the eldest and Irina, the youngest — were children, they were taken from their mother.  Before that event, Myra Cooper told them the family legend and gave each of her daughters one of the family charms to help protect them.  Ariel and her sisters were separated and she hasn’t see them since.

Life has been rough for Ariel.  Bounced around from foster family to foster family, and thought to be crazy, Ariel has found it hard to get close to people.  Even so, she’s managed to go to college and become an elementary school teacher.  She’s been dating the brilliant and wealthy David Koster for six months, having met when one of her student writing assignments led to him visiting her classroom.  Though she’s had her heart broken before, Ariel can’t help but fall for this kind and generous man.  In the time that they’ve been dating, she’s manage to keep her secret from him, afraid that she’ll lose him.

But all that changes when the ghost of one of her students appears suddenly in her classroom.  Ariel had long suspected that the little girl was being abused, but without proof, she could only do so much.  She sends the police, already knowing it’s too late to save the child.  The incident leaves her wracked with guilt.  For not being able to help the little girl, for keeping secrets from David and for pushing him away when he was trying to comfort her, and for putting his best friend, police officer Ty McIntyre, in danger.

The incident has also made David realize that he’s afraid to lose Ariel.  He loves her, at that frightens her.  Shunned once before by a former boyfriend, Ariel struggles with telling him the truth.  She keeps putting it off, and instead focuses on finding out what happened to her sisters.  The reason for the urgency is that an old enemy of the witches is out for revenge, and several members of Ariel’s extended maternal family end up dead, including her own mother.  The mysterious killer is after the sisters and their charms.

Since this is the first book in a trilogy, the main story threads — the sisters reuniting and confronting their enemy — are not resolved in this book.  The primary focus is on Ariel’s struggle with being rejected all her life.  She was never adopted and her name was never changed, nor did she leave the community she grew up in.  If any of her family had really wanted her, they could have found her easily enough.  She is stunned to learn that a least one of her sisters lives nearby.

This was a quick read, once I had several hours on uninterrupted reading time.  It wasn’t a scary story or very suspenseful.  Since romance books like this must have a happy ending, the author’s attempt to make us believe the hero was actually the bad guy wasn’t very effective.  I never once thought David was the culprit.

Started: 6 September 2008
Finished: 10 September 2008

Teaser Tuesdays post

Rating:

Enjoyed it!