Harriet's Reviews

Some more interesting reviews from Harriet.

High Crimes on the Magical Plane
Kris Neri
Red Coyote, Oct 2009, $16.95
ISBN: 9780976673354

Samantha Brennan is a con artist from a long line of grifters; at the moment she is doing a psychic medium gig as she dresses the part of a gypsy. Her client is Dodie Drake who lives in the luxurious apartment in the Bonne Chance. As she goes to her client’s home, Samantha sees a car filled with clowns whom she assumes are the stalkers of another tenant actress Molly Crane. Being a good neighbor Sam purloins a keycard and enters the actress’ penthouse where she finds a dead male and Molly missing.

Sam goes to the FBI and talks to Special Agent Annabelle Haggerty. The two women enter the penthouse together while discussing the clowns probably abducted Molly. A task force is formed with Annabelle demanding Sam be on it. Soon afterward someone tries to kill Sam, but Haggerty saves her life and brings her into her home. Sam soon realizes her protector is a Celtic goddess who has visions that she sends to Sam so she can tell others concerning Molly. This way Annabelle can hide her alterego. Sam falls in love with a god and realizes brownies, gnomes and elves exist. Something dark and evil is coming to Los Angeles causing riots and gang warfare in its malevolent wake. Sam knows Haggerty is in trouble when this malevolence arrives; so she refuses to leave her friend alone.

Sam and Annabelle are the oddest couple with the former wanting to be what the latter is and the latter wanting to be what the former is. Confusing not at all as each envies the life of the other. Annabelle just wants to be an FBI agent as her goddess duties at times is overwhelming while Sam the shyster ponders what she could get away with if she had the goddess powers. This pairing make for a wonderful combination of a lighthearted yet also deep spellbinding urban fantasy mystery. Harriet Klausner

Lucan
Susan Kearney
Forever, Sep 2009, $6.99
ISBN: 9780446543316

Humanity’s future appears to be extinction as sterility is the norm on Earth. Archeologist and Avalon expert Lucan Rourke is sent to planet Pendragon on a top secret mission to find the Holy Grail that he believes will save mankind.

On Pendragon High Priestess Lady Cael is the only female dragon shapeshifter. She and her colleagues are also seeking the Holy Grail believed hidden in Avalon, surrounded by impregnable energy barriers at a time when the surface is breaking apart. Lucan joins the top secret project, but even as he finds a way through their first obstacle, the military frames him and Cael for murdering two of their compatriots as they want the Grail for their own use.

This is an interesting blending of science fiction, Camelot mythos, and romance although the Arthurian fantasy elements seem somewhat out of place. Lucan knows his mission has no time for love, but he finds it difficult to stay the course after meeting Cael. The High priestess understands her mission, but has the same issues as Lucan has after their first encounter. Although somewhat overwhelming with the Camelot in space theme as earth is infertile, fans will enjoy the first Pendragon Legacy thriller while looking forward to the escapdes of Lucan’s sister Marisa and Rion of planet Honor. Harriet Klausner

Passion Untamed
Pamela Palmer
Avon, Sep 2009, $6.99
ISBN: 9780061667534

The malevolent demonic ones have forced kindhearted witch Skye to kidnap Immortal Feral Warrior Paenther. In the Blue Ridge Mountains to his chagrin, she has him chained; the second time he has been captured by a mage. However, this time he plans to escape to complete his mission to find and rescue Vhyper, but first he must escape his captivity. He seduces his bewitching adversary, but vows vengeance against bewitching mage-woman who has somehow enchanted him.

However, for him and his mates especially Vhyper to escape the trap, Paenther must depend on the witch who already possesses his heart although he fears her betrayal. Skye vows not again; as she plans to keep the Feral Warrior who owns her heart and his associates’ safe even tif hat means the cost of her soul.

The third Feral Warriors “untamed” romantic fantasy (see DESIRE UNTAMED and OBSESSION UNTAMED) novel is fast-paced and exciting from the moment an irate Paenther finds himself chained by a beautiful mage and never slows down as his limbs may be unchained but his heart remains chained. The story line contains plenty of action and passion yet also tells somewhat Paenther’s back-story of how he became a rookie Feral Warrior in 1738 Virginia. Fans of the saga will fully relish this entry as star-crossed love means to trust with your life, which (no pun intended) is easy, but trusting your band of brothers is hard. Harriet Klausner

Thirteen Chances
Cindy Miles
Signet, Sep 2009, $6.99
ISBN: 9780451227829

Eight centuries ago, Christian of Arrick by the Sea and Emma fell madly in love. However a spell was muddled leaving him a ghost and her dead. She is reincarnated every seventy-two years only to die almost as soon as she finds her true love.

Christian has new hope after numerous failures. The three Ballaster white witch sisters have taken up the cursed lovers’ cause hoping to find a way to end the misfortune. Twelve times so far they have come together only each time has ended tragically. The spell is dangerous and failure means no more future hopes.

This is a terrific reincarnation romance starring two likable protagonists whom the audience will root for making it this time. Added to the excitement of a strong urban romantic fantasy are the tie-ins to the Miles pantheon as characters from MACGOWAN’S GHOST, SPIRITED AWAY, INTO THIN AIR, and HIGHLAND KNIGHT are linked in some way to the hero; though this is clearly a stand alone. The witches have one chance to mate the souls while the cursed couple has one last chance for their souls to mate as the bond of love so far has proven futile; this is extreme pressure. Cindy Miles provides to her fans another super thriller. Harriet Klausner