Shapeshifters and Vampires

Sentinels: Kodiak Chained
Doranna Durgin
Harlequin Nocturne, $5.50
ISBN: 9780373885602

“Kodiak Chained.” Ruger James the Kodiak bear shifter was a Sentinel warrior and Healer. When Atrum Core’s ambush leaves him severely wounded, he cannot heal himself quick enough before another attack will finish the assassination. Using her olfactory sense, Sentinel black bear shifter Mariska Banks rescues him. They team up in search of an experimental lab that conducts vicious tests on animals in order to discover the way to eradicate the Sentinels. As they face an amoral enemy, each knows the other is his life mate, which in these dire circumstances may not be a good thing. The latest Sentinels romantic fantasy (see Tiger Bound) is enjoyable entry due to lead pair as each has the other’s back while battling Core evil.

“The Gatekeeper” by Heather Graham. In Las Vegas, Elven detective Saxon Kirby investigates which werewolf went rogue and left behind a chewed up corpse at a tourist attraction. The inquiry leads to hybrid elf-werewolf dancer Calleigh McGowan, who hunts the same killer. The short story prequel to the upcoming Keepers saga is an engaging investigative romance. Harriet Klausner

Holiday with a Vampire 4
Susan Krinard, Theresa Meyers, Linda Thomas-Sundstrom
Harlequin Nocturne, $5.50
ISBN: 9780373885596

“Halfway to Dawn” by Susan Krinard. The hostilites between humans and vampires heat up while Special Forces Captain Fiona Donnelly and fugitive vampire slave Jonathan Kane team up to protect a negotiator trying to end the war.

“The Gift” by Theresa Meyers. In Pennsylvania Vampire Cullen McCormack needs the locket that Angelica Edwards recently inherited and wears around her enticing neck if he wants his existence to continue.

“Bright Star” by Linda Thomas-Sundstrom.Heaven sends Dylan McCay to keep human astronomer Savannah Clark from finding the Christmas Star that will lead to the mortals learning immortal angels and fallen exist.

Each tale is a refreshing romantic urban fantasy starring fascinating protagonists who make the paranormal seem real though the respective storylines end abruptly. Additionally the anthology contains a short story “The Gatekeeper” by Heather Graham in which Elven detective Saxon Kirby and hybrid elf-werewolf dancer Calleigh McGowan hunt a killing werewolf as the prequel to the upcoming Keepers saga. Harriet Klausner