Reviews

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The Prince Of Frogs
Annaliese Evans
Tor, Sep 2009, $6.99
ISBN: 9780765361677

In 1750 in the Kingdom of Myrdrean, after kicking the butt of an ogre mob (see NIGHT ROSE) Rosemarie is happily married to the vampire Lord Gareth. Still in spite of her marital bliss, she misses her dear friend and long time Fey de la Nuit partner and advisor for the past century fey Ambrose Minuit. Through her dreams however Mother demands she kill her spouse.

Recently, though she loves her mate and misses her best friend, Rosemarie still waits for the happily ever after while knowing she should have known better having been awakened from a century nap without the required kiss. She knows her spouse is hiding something from her and she wants to know what it is. Gareth wants to tell but cannot as he still hopes it will go away although he knows deep in his heart it will not leave unless he and all he loves especially his cherished Rosemarie are dead.

The continual adventures of Rosemarie is a charming historical romantic fantasy as Gareth tries to protect Rosemarie from his past, but like many males (vampire, human or otherwise) fails to understand the courage and obsessive need to get involved with his mate. He should have known better that Rosemarie by her nature (of being a female and not just a Fey de la Nuit) would get into the middle of the action; all he had to do was ask the ogre crowd. Fans will appreciate Annaliese Evans' lighthearted Georgian era frolic as Rose has to kick butt of his bloodline heritage if the newlyweds are to stay wedded (and alive) as it takes a woman to do the ancestral cleansing. Harriet Klausner

Darkness Rising
by Elissa Wilds
Love Spell, Sep 2009, $6.99
ISBN: 9780505527929

The Light God Mobius is head of the Divine Council, but his current concern is the safety of tough Balancer Aurora. Besides the fear that the Umbrae forces of the dark or the Finders want their enemy dead, he believes she is the reincarnation of his love. He decides to protect her so he travels to earth.

They team up in an effort to identify who is actually behind the persistent attacks on her. However Mobius hides from Aurora that he also investigates her to ascertain whether his strong hunch about her past life is true. As they dig with the help of her coven, he may be a God, but is distracted so he misses the betrayal is from within; if he fails to learn who is betraying them, death will arrive.

The sequel to the complex Wilds’ world (see BETWEEN LIGHT AND DARK) is a super save the earth thriller starring an alleged reincarnation and the God who believes he has loved her once before. The story line is fast-paced from the moment that Mobius strips away his doubts about whether Aurora is or is not his reincarnated love by deciding to protect her until he knows for certain. Fans will enjoy this complex look at love and relationships as even Mobius like the Memorex commercial wonders whether he loves his memory or the present real person. All this occurs while they battle betrayal and evil. Harriet Klausner

Dark Legacy
Anna DeStefano
Love Spell, Aug 25 2009, $6.99
ISBN: 9780505528193

Twin sisters Maddie and Sarah Temple inherited something paranormal that neither understood and their mom hid behind a facade of denial. The siblings had each other though they were opposites as Maddie was light and Sarah was dark. However, a horrific accident shatters the family as their dad dies and Sarah becomes comatose.

Maddie and her mom move on. However after a decade of not hearing Sarah’s voice in her head, Maddie begins to hear her twin. Her mom lied to her re Sarah and now Maddie knows her sister has been part of a government experiment to deploy psychic skills as a weapon. Their effort has released the dark side of Sarah without Maddie’s light to mute the evil. Maddie vows to save her sibling and overcome the DARK LEGACY curse that passed through generations of her ancestors including her mother; her boyfriend, Jarrod Keith vows to save both twins.

This is a great twisting thriller starring twins who are yin and yang to one another and a hero willing to die to keep his beloved safe while helping her find her sibling, who is more in the shadows that mute the dark. The story line is fast-paced from the onset especially once Maddie knows the truth about her DARK LEGACY compounded by her mother’s betrayal and desertion. She and Harrod make a strong team, but their fight against those who have experimented with Sarah seems like climbing Mt. Everest in high heels (even if we have come a long way). Harriet Klausner

Mercy Thompson Homecoming
Patricia Briggs; Francis Tsai and Amelia Woo
Del Rey/Dabel Brothers, Aug 25 2009, $22.95
ISBN: 9780345509888

Shapeshifting human walker Mercedes “Mercy” Thompson can shift into a coyote. However, having just graduated from college, Mercy just wants a job. Thus the Oregonian goes for an interview in the nearby Tri-Cities, Washington.

However, minding her business and having her nerves on edge seem not to matter for Mercy. She must deal with vampires, werewolves, and her mom as well as the interviewing horde. Just another normal day for a college grad seeking employment with the worst terrorist being her lecturing mother telling her she is ruining her life. Mercy is not sure whose life mom is referring to in her latest diatribe.

This is a terrific graphic comic with a strong Patricia Briggs’ story line that occurs before the Mercy novels take place and with vivid powerful illustrations by Francis Tsai and Amelia Woo. Fans of the saga will relish this new direction that showcases the heroine just after her college graduation while newcomers will find this a wonderful bridge into the world of Mercy Thompson. Harriet Klausner