Reviews from Harrriet

The Accidental Genie
Dakota Cassidy
Berkley, Dec 4 2012, $15.00
ISBN: 9780425253243

The OOPS (Out in the Open Paranormal Support) 800 help line team take a paranormal girls’ day off to go shopping while one of them Marty persuades her brother-in-law Sloan Flaherty to work the phone. He finds the job tedious until caterer Jeannie Carlyle calls from her cell phone asking if OOPS is real as she is trapped inside a bottle. She explains to Sloan that she opened an old bottle at the request of a client only to become trapped inside as someone else popped outside; making matters worse is her ancient looking harem garb.

Sloan comes to the rescue by finding the bottle and rubbing it. Freed from her glass prison Jeannie calls her savior master. The OOPS quartet and Sloan struggle with truly liberating Jeannie but know nothing about djinn as their genie companion keeps granting wishes.

The latest Accidental romantic fantasy (see The Accidental Werewolf and Accidentally Dead, Again) is a fast-paced amusing tale starring an engaging lead couple and the return of the previous stars. Lighthearted, fans will laugh at the scenarios that the OOPS squad confronts due to Jeannie’s out of control wishes. Harriet Klausner

My Lord Eternity
Alexandra Ivy
Zebra, Nov 27 2012, $7.99
ISBN: 9781420128611

Over two centuries ago, Nefri, the most powerful vampire, used the magic of a Medallion to create the Veil that separates the world of mankind from the realm of the undead. Recently Nefri fears an undetermined threat that could destroy both planes. Knowing the Medallion is the avenue for the evil ones, she breaks it into three parts before hiding them amidst three young mortal ladies unaware of what they possess. However, Nefri realizes three avaricious vampires plan to take the objects; so she sends trustworthy vamps to protect them.

The vampire Great Council assigns Lucien Valin to protect Jocelyn Kingly who possesses one of the three parts of the powerful Medallion used by Nefri to create the veil separating their realm from the mortals. Though he knows dangerous rogue vampires target Jocelyn to obtain her amulet, he looks forward to the task as he prefers field work to musty tomes. Jocelyn helps the unfortunate but is short funds so she takes in Lucien as a renter as a series of brutal murders rock the neighborhood. Lucien knows his evil enemy is closing in on Jocelyn who already owns his heart.

This reprint of the second Immortal Rogues vampire romance is an entertaining thriller starring a strong human female, a bewildered arrogant vampire and a vile villain. Fast-paced even though the storyline reads somewhat similar to My Lord Vampire, paranormal fans will enjoy this engaging tale. Harriet Klausner

Captain Vorpatril's Alliance
Lois McMaster Bujold
Baen, Nov 6 2012, $25.00
ISBN: 9781451638455

Unlike the rest of his family, the ambition gene skipped Captain Ivan Vorpatril. He enjoys working as an aide to General Desplain in the Barrayaran military on Komarr as that planet keeps him away from his mother Lady Alys and other imperial relatives. Barrayaran civilian Byerly Votrrutyer visits Ivan to ask a favor of him. She wants Ivan to take out Akuti Tejaswini Jyoti ghem Estif Arqua on a date. By fails to inform Ivan that Tej is in hiding from a change in power on Jackson Whole in which her House Cordonah fell; her companion Rish is her bodyguard.

However, when Ivan arrives at Tej’s house, Rish welcomes him with a stun gun before tying him up. Two men invade the apartment, but Ivan’s warning enables Rish to stun them. They flee to his home while he calls the police about the intrusion. When Komarran immigration authorities demand he hand over the women to them, Ivan marries Tej instead and hires Rish to protect her. His mother rejoices at the news, but his attempts to annul their marriage are disallowed while Tej’s House welcomes the dupe their style.

The latest Vorkosigan Saga science fiction (see Cryoburn) is a fabulous fresh frolic due to the comedic missteps of the hero; as mellow Ivan is the polar opposite of his heroic cousin Miles. Lois McMaster Bujold captures Ivan’s intrigue avoidance laid-back personality as the antihero just wanted a “Blind Date”. Harriet Klausner