Book Beginnings on Friday November 30, 2012

Book Beginnings on Friday is a meme hosted by Gilion at Rose City Reader. Anyone can participate; just share the opening sentence of your current read, making sure that you include  include the title and author so others know what you're reading.


"Thud! My head hit the sidewalk."

This is the start of Gunmetal Magic by Ilona Andrews.  (A Novel in the World of Kate Daniels)  It does not sound good for whoever is hitting the sidewalk.

I have been out of town and am late posting.  Of course nothing is going right so this is all you get this week.

Wildcat by Cheryl Brooks

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Science Fiction

Wildcat is book 9 in the Cat Star Chronicles and the story is still going strong.  Here is the Goodreads summary:

ONLY ONE WOMAN CAN TAME HIM
When horse breeder Sara Shield encounters Jerden Morokovitz riding bareback and naked, she's stunned by the magnificence of both man and stallion. But Sara came to Terra Minor to get away from men.

IF SHE CAN GIVE UP HER FEAR...
The murder of Jerden's lover by a deranged woman has left this former star attraction of the Zetithian Palace brothel shattered in mind and body. Jerden is sure Sara can heal his anguish—but not unless he can find the key to her heart.

I loved both of the main characters in Wildcat.  Sara Shield is so independent and does not think she needs a man, especially one like Jerden.  Jerden, on the other hand, is thought to be dangerous and a little insane.  Living like a hermit he does not think he will ever respond to any woman again.  When Sara shows no reaction to him as a man it really catches his attention  The more they are together the bigger their attraction to each other grown.

This is a good story line.  The opening scene with Jerden riding Sara’s missing stallion, Danuban, bareback and nude is priceless.  The addition of the black leopard running at Jerden’s side makes it perfect. The way Sara just ignores the lack of dress and the leopard gives a good insight into her character.  I just knew with that beginning that I was going to love the story.

Nathan Wolmack makes a good bad guy.  It takes awhile to find out what he wants from Sara but I knew from the beginning he was up to no good.

Most of the characters from the previous books make an appearance in Wildcat.  It was great to see Jack and Cat again.  I loved how the beginning of the first book was worked into the story.  It was great to also see all the rest of them again.  I think I saw the star of the next book.  Look and see if you agree that there is a new main character making an appearance.

On a recent trip to another blog there was a question about what male character I would like to see come to life.  My Answer:  Any one of the Zethithian’s in Cheryl’s books but preferably one I could call my own.

Wildcat is another book that will not be released until February of 2013.  Put Wildcat on your wish list or go ahead and pre-order.  I received Wildcat as an ARC from Netgalley.

Sourcebooks will publish Wildcat by Cheryl Brooks in 2013.

Ghost Planet by Sharon Lynn Fisher

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Science Fiction/Science Fiction Romance

Goodreads Summary:

"Psychologist Elizabeth Cole prepared for the worst when she accepted a job on a newly discovered world—a world where every colonist is tethered to an alien who manifests in the form of a dead loved one. But she never expected she'd struggle with the requirement to shun these "ghosts." She never expected to be so attracted to the charming Irishman assigned as her supervisor. And she certainly never expected to discover she died in a transport crash en route to the planet.

As a ghost, Elizabeth is symbiotically linked to her supervisor, Murphy—creator of the Ghost Protocol, which forbids him to acknowledge or interact with her. Confused and alone—oppressed by her ghost status and tormented by forbidden love—Elizabeth works to unlock the secrets of her own existence. 

But her quest for answers lands her in a tug-of-war between powerful interests, and she soon finds herself a pawn in the struggle for control of the planet…a struggle that could separate her forever from the man that she loves"

Oh my goodness.  All I can say is Ghost Planet is great, great, great.  I loved the concept, the story, the characters and the writing.  This is Science Fiction Romance at its best.

The twist at the beginning of the book sets the tone for the rest of the story.  Elizabeth does not realize she is a ghost.  She feels the same, looks the same and reacts the same as before.  Here are the two beginning sentences:

"The tarmac was deserted.  Foggy and disoriented, I wondered how long I’d been standing there, listening to the evergreens groan in the wind and dreading my first encounter on this new world."

When you read this after reading the book you can see the foreshadowing of Elizabeth’s real status.  Then you meet Grayson Murphy and see the interaction between the two before he realizes that Elizabeth is a ghost.  It is a great set up for the rest of the story.

The world building is unusual and very realistic.  You can see the connection between the Ghost Planet and Earth.  You can also see how everything is changing because of the interaction or lack thereof between the colonists and the ghosts.  All of this matches the plot and helps keep the story moving.

Science Fiction Romance fans buy this book.  I checked Sharon Lynn Fisher’s web page to see what she had in store for us next.  This seems to be her first published book.  It could be a stand-alone or it could lead to more stories about the Ghost Planet and Elizabeth and Murphy.  I for one would love to see both of them again. She is working on another book but it seems to be in an entirely new universe.

Tor Science Fiction published Ghost Planet by Sharon Fisher in 2012.

I received an ARC of Ghost Planet from Netgalley.

Teaser Tuesday November 27, 2012

Teaser Tuesdays is a weekly bookish meme, hosted by MizB of Should Be Reading. Anyone can play along! Just do the following: 

• Grab your current read
• Open to a random page
• Share two (2) “teaser” sentences from somewhere on that page
• BE CAREFUL NOT TO INCLUDE SPOILERS! (make sure that what you share doesn’t give too much away! You don’t want to ruin the book for others!)

Share the title & author, too, so that other TT participants can add the book to their TBR Lists if they like your teasers.

My teaser this week is from Walk with me Through Time by Jennifer Conner.  This is a short story from the Dimension Keepers Series. Here is my teaser:

"He could never tell anyone what his job truly was, since he wasn't sure himself.  Dimension Keeper? Time-Watcher? Space Guidance Counsellor?"

Here is the Goodreads summary: 

"An enchanting time-travel romance for fans of Jude Deveraux and Diana Gabaldon.

Hadley Easton has a family legacy to uphold as a Time-Keeper. He guides people forward -or back- who feel they were born into the wrong time.
Samantha turns his world upside down when she arrives through the front door of the London bookstore. No one arrives through the front door: it’s the time portal. On top of that, she informs him she’s from the year 2012, over a hundred years in the future.

When Hadley learns the truth, he realizes his time is running out.. "

  

Musing Mondays (Nov.26)

There are a lot of books being made into movies, these days (“Anna Karenina“; etc). So, this week’s musing — courtesy of http://abookandashortlatte.wordpress.com — asks…
Have you ever read a book after watching the movie/television version only to find that you don’t like the book as much as the adaptation?

This one is a short answer.  No, I have always felt the book was better.  I w ill say that in some instances watching a movie after reading the book has made the movie better. 

Stacking the Shelves, November 25, 2012

Welcome to my Stacking The Shelves post!  Stacking the Shelves is hosted by Tynga's Reviews so follow the link and check out what other stacked on their shelves this week.  

Stacking The Shelves is all about the books I am adding to my shelves each week letting me share with you my excitement for my newest books.

This is a holiday week and I have been traveling so I do not have that many new books on my shelves.  While I was away from home Marlene Harris (Escape Reality/ Read Fiction) and I were in the same city and met for coffee.  It was fun to met someone whose blog I follow.

Here are the two books I got from the library this week.

Hiss and Hers  by M.C. Beaton (An Agatha Raisin Mystery)
Dark Storm by Christine Feehan (A Carpathian Novel)

And here are the two audio books I got from the library this week.

Judgment Call by J.A. Jance (A Joanna Brady Mystery)
The New Year's Quilt by Jennifer Chiaverini (An Elm Creek Quilts Novel)  

  

The Bridegroom Wore Plaid by Grace Burrowes

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Historical Romance

Goodreads Summary:

Burrowes’ acclaimed Regency series following the children of the Duke of Moreland has been called “captivating” and “marvelous”. Now, first in an exciting new Victorian romance series, Burrowes brings a new world of historical detail and lush romance to the Scottish Highlands, where a penniless earl falls in love with the wrong woman in The Bridegroom Wore Plaid…
In an effort to preserve the family estate, Ian MacGregor, the Earl of Balfour, must marry for money. When a promising match emerges in the form of a rich English heiress, Ian devises a plan to woo her: by impressing this heiress’s poor cousin and chaperone, Augusta Merrick. But after spending time with Augusta and falling for her quirky charms, Ian begins to question whether or not he’s willing to forfeit his heart to save the family name…

Augusta has had it with being a spinster, and when the Earl of Balfour decides to become her friend, she decides that he could be a temporary love affair before she finally tries to settle down. But as they spend more time together, Augusta begins to wonder if there is anyone else that can captivate and entice her in the way Ian does… and Ian uncovers a deep family secret in Augusta’s past that could change everyone’s lives forever.
 

Grace Burrowes writes a good book and The Bridegroom Wore Plaid is no exception.  This is the first in a new series, The Macgregor Trilogy #1.  After reading the book I have no clue who will be featured in book #2.

I did enjoy all of the characters in The Bridegroom Wore Plaid.  Ian MacGregor kept trying to make the noble sacrifice for his family.  His mind kept overruling his heart.  Augusta Merrick was a wonderful character.  She is the perfect match for Ian but feels she must also make the noble sacrifice and ignore her heart.  It was fun to watch their interaction and how they finally came together. 

There was a lot of action in the book.  Everything kept moving and of course there was a mystery in the background.  It was great to see so many HEA’s in the book.  More than Ian and Augusta found their true love.  Thus my puzzlement about who will be featured in the next book.
 

I received an ARC of The Bridegroom Wore Plaid from Netgalley

Sourcebook published The Bridegroom Wore Plaid by Grace Burrows in

Book Beginnings on Friday, November 23, 2012

Book Beginnings on Friday is a meme hosted by Gilion at Rose City Reader. Anyone can participate; just share the opening sentence of your current read, making sure that you include  include the title and author so others know what you're reading.


My Book Beginning this week is from Dumpiter by David Fletcher.  I received an ARC for Dumpiter from NetGalley.  I had a hard time finding it listed anywhere.  Goodreads did not have it and Amazon listed it as out of print but available as a Kindle book.  It is the first book in a trilogy so I hope I can get the other two.  Here is the beginning:

"Renton had never, in his life, painted a woman.  Never had he unscrewed a pot of 'Champagne Glitter', (slightly warmed in accordance with the maker's instructions), dipped his brush into it, and then set about the skin of a nubile young lady with its charged bristled tip."

Here is the Amazon Summary:

Renton Tenting is the protagonist of Dumpiter and the ultimate unlikely hero - who, early into the story, is plucked from a carefully planned life and cast into a challenging and disturbing adventure, played out against a backdrop of space travel and distant worlds. In the future, mankind has populated much of the universe and is well on its way to screwing it all up. Renton is exposed to all manner of ridiculous oddities - the inside of a giant milking machine, a cult whose members live their lives on their hands and knees - and ultimately Dumpiter itself. This is where the real mess is, and where there are real problems for Renton...

Going Postal by Terry Pratchett

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 Fantasy

Last Wednesday was the regular meeting of the Science Fiction Book Club at my local library.  The book this month was Going Postal by Terry Pratchett.  This was another book everyone liked.  Why?  Here are the reasons.

1.  The dialog.  Much of it is so tongue in cheek.  That provided plenty of chuckles and fit right into the tone of the story.

2.  The names:  Names like Moist, Dearheart, Reacher Guilt and Mr. Groat just to name a few helped build the identity of the characters.  Not that they always fit, many times they did not but they were clever and fun.

3. The places:  The library was everyone’s favorite.  Who would not want a library that held everything and took up so little room.

4. The story:  It seemed like an impossible task but that served to keep everyone’s interest.

5. The characters:  They fit the story and like the names added to the fun in the book.

Here is Goodreads summary of Going Postal:

Arch-swindler Moist Van Lipwig never believed his confidence crimes were hanging offenses - until he found himself with a noose tightly around his neck, dropping through a trapdoor, and falling into...a government job?

By all rights, Moist should have met his maker. Instead, it's Lord Vetinari, supreme ruler of Ankh-Morpork, who promptly offers him a job as Postmaster. Since his only other option is a nonliving one, Moist accepts the position - and the hulking golem watchdog who comes along with it, just in case Moist was considering abandoning his responsibilities prematurely.

Getting the moribund Postal Service up and running again, however, may be a near-impossible task, what with literally mountains of decades-old undelivered mail clogging every nook and cranny of the broken-down post office building; and with only a few creaky old postmen and one rather unstable, pin-obsessed youth available to deliver it. Worse still, Moist could swear the mail is talking to him. Worst of all, it means taking on the gargantuan, money-hungry Grand Trunk clacks communication monopoly and its bloodthirsty piratical head, Mr. Reacher Gilt.

But it says on the building Neither Rain Nor Snow Nor Glom of Nit...Inspiring words (admittedly, some of the bronze letters have been stolen), and for once in his wretched life Moist is going to fight. And if the bold and impossible are what's called for, he'll do it - in order to move the mail, continue breathing, get the girl, and specially deliver that invaluable commodity that every human being (not to mention troll, dwarf, and, yes, even golem) requires: hope.

This was my first Discworld novel.  Going Postal is #33 in the series but that did not matter.  It worked fine as a stand alone book.  If you have not read any of Terry Pratchett’s books you have missed a treat.  Pick one up soon.

Harpertorch published Going Postal by Terry Pratchett in 2004.

Teaser Tuesday, November 20, 2012

Teaser Tuesdays is a weekly bookish meme, hosted by MizB of Should Be Reading. Anyone can play along! Just do the following: 

• Grab your current read
• Open to a random page
• Share two (2) “teaser” sentences from somewhere on that page
• BE CAREFUL NOT TO INCLUDE SPOILERS! (make sure that what you share doesn’t give too much away! You don’t want to ruin the book for others!)

Share the title & author, too, so that other TT participants can add the book to their TBR Lists if they like your teasers.

My Teaser this week is from   Furious,  Kris Longknife # 10 by Mike Shepherd.
I finished the book yesterday and loved it.  It is a little different from previous books as there are no big space battles.  Kris and Jack do finally get together, at least for a little while.  It is a bridge novel between book 9 and what will be book 10 so hold on for more action.

Page 67 - "The Yellow Comet of the Comet lines.  Her captain, Sam Tidings, owes you.  You rescued his daughter."  

Here is the Goodreads summary:

Having used unorthodox methods to save a world—and every sentient being on it—Lieutenant Commander Kris Longknife is wanted across the galaxy for crimes against humanity. For her own safety, she’s been assigned to a backwater planet where her Fast Patrol Squadron 127 enforces immigration control and smuggler interdiction.

But Kris is a Longknife, and nothing can stop her from getting back to the center of things—not when all hell is breaking loose. Now she’s on the run, hunted by both military and civilian authorities—and since the civilian authorities happen to be her immediate family, Kris soon finds herself homeless, broke, and on trial for her life on an alien world. 

Musing Mondays, November 19, 2012

This week’s musing asks…

Do you read the ending before you start a book? Do you ever skip ahead to read the ending?

I don't think I ever read the end before I start a book but sometimes I do read the end after I have started the book.  This is not something I do on a regular basis.  I think it ruins the book if I know the end.  There are times I just wonder where the author is going with the story because nothing is making sense.  That is when I skip to the end. Often when I do that it is a book I do not finish.

The Best of All Possible Worlds by Karen Lord

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Science Fiction

“Karen Lord won the Frank Collymore Literary Award for 2008 with the manuscript of the fantasy novel Redemption in Indigo and again for 2009 with the science fiction manuscript The Best of All Possible Worlds. She was nominated for the John W. Campbell Award for Best New Writer (2012).”  The quote is from  her Goodreads page and here is the Goodreads Summary of The Best of All Possible Worlds.

"A proud and reserved alien society finds its homeland destroyed in an unprovoked act of aggression, and the survivors have no choice but to reach out to the indigenous humanoids of their adopted world, to whom they are distantly related. They wish to preserve their cherished way of life but come to discover that in order to preserve their culture, they may have to change it forever.

Now a man and a woman from these two clashing societies must work together to save this vanishing race—and end up uncovering ancient mysteries with far-reaching ramifications. As their mission hangs in the balance, this unlikely team—one cool and cerebral, the other fiery and impulsive—just may find in each other their own destinies . . . and a force that transcends all.

“This fascinating and thoughtful science fiction novel breaks out of the typical conflict-centered narrative paradigm to examine adaptation, social change, and human relationships. I’ve not read anything quite like it, which it makes that rare beast: a true original.”—Kate Elliot, author of the Crown of Stars series and the Spiritwalker Trilogy."
 

I have not read Redemption in Indigo so I cannot compare the two books.  I can say that I really enjoyed The Best of All Possible Worlds.  This is a very different Science Fiction. 

Worldbuilding:  The story is set on Cygnus Beta, a world where various pioneers and refugees settle.  There are several branches of the human race.  Earth is only one of the several.  People from the various human branches who are displaced from their homes often end up on Cygnus Beta.  Each branch has certain unique abilities.  All of this information is worked into the story line and provides a great framework for the story.

Characters:   This is a very character driven story.  Dllenahkh is one of the Sadiri who have come to Cygnus Beta after their home world was destroyed.  He is logical like other Sadiri’s. in fact is logical to a fault.  Delarlua is his contact on Cygnus.  She is much more intuitive and much less structured.  Their developing relationship and how each has to change is at the heart of the story.  There are some well developed side characters that add much to the story.

Plot:  This is hard to define.  The story develops around a trip to see other settlements.  When the Sadiri’s arrived it was an all male settlement.  They want to find wives but wives who will accept their way of like.  The trip helps define the difficulties between cultures and to see ways to bridge those differences.  During the trip you see each character grow and change.

Writing:  All I can say is that it is very well written.  Although the story is very low key the story flow kept my attention.  There were surprise elements as well as expected events.  All in all this is a wonderful and entertaining story that deals with some very complex issues.

I received an ARC of The Best of All Possible Worlds from Edelweiss. This will not be released until February of 2013.  Go ahead and put it on you wish list or even better pre-order.

Del Rey will publish The Best of All Possible Worlds by Karen Lord in 2013.

Stacking the Shelves November 17, 2012

Welcome to my Stacking The Shelves post!  Stacking the Shelves is hosted by Tynga's Reviews so follow the link and check out what other stacked on their shelves this week.  

Stacking The Shelves is all about the books I am adding to my shelves each week letting me share with you my excitement for my newest books.

From Amazon:

Tricked  by Kevin Hearne
The Clone Sedition by Steven L. Kent
Immortally Yours by Angie Fox
The Final Battle  by Graham Sharp Paul
The Creative Fire by Brenda Cooper

Won:

Murmur of the Lonely Brook by Debashis Dey
 

Book Beginnings on Friday November 16, 2012

Book Beginnings on Friday is a meme hosted by Gilion at Rose City Reader. Anyone can participate; just share the opening sentence of your current read, making sure that you include  include the title and author so others know what you're reading.


My book beginning this week is from Unclaimed Bride by Lauri Robinson.  

"Wyoming Territory
November, 1877

The bitter wind that whipped the leather curtains covering the stage windows and snuck beneath the buffalo robe now piled on the hard seat could easily have stolen her breath away, but Constance Jennings's first glimpse of her destination already had her lungs locked tight."

This is a historical romance.  I loved  the Quinter Brides series by the same author.  I am about finished with Unclaimed Bride.  For me it bogged down some in the middle but is picking up again as I near the end.  I do love the characters, especially the young daughter, Angel.  Here is the Goodreads summary:  

Running from the past… she bumps into her future! Mail-order bride Constance Jennings steps off the stage in Cottonwood, Wyoming, and waits for her husband-to-be. But he never shows up, and instead several other men are vying to take his place!

Single father Ellis Clayton must be the only man in town not looking for a bride. But his young daughter's habit of rescuing wounded critters means he ends up offering Constance a temporary shelter.

Having a woman around the house again is all too easy—especially seeing her bond with his daughter—but Ellis can't seem to let go of the past. Problem is, neither can Constance. And hers is about to catch up with her….

How Beauty Met the Beast (Tales of the Underlight #1) by Jax Garren

Paranormal

While this is a beauty and the beast story don’t expect it to follow the fairy tale exactly.  Beauty does meet the beast but the beast is a veteran whose scars are from burns.  Her father has nothing to do with their meeting, but he may be one of the bad guys.   Beauty is Jolie Benoit and the Beast is Wesley Hauk.  They have to work together to rescue Jolie’s niece.  Although Hauk’s looks scare Jolie at first she comes to trust him and consider him a friend.

This is a new world and quite a bit of world building has to be done to set the stage for this series.  The Underlight is a worldwide organization that fights The Order of Ananke (They want to control everything in the world).  In Austin, Texas the Underlight lives in a community located underground.  Jolie learns of the Underlight and The Order of Ananke when Hauk saves her from kidnappers and takes her into the Underlight.

This is a good start to a new series.  The writing is very good and the plot is well planned and executed.  I loved both Jolie and Hauk.  They were both well-developed characters.  There were several secondary characters that added to the book.  There was not HEA for this Beauty and this Beast but maybe in the next book.  I can only hope as I wait for the next book in the series.

Carina Press published How Beauty Met the Beast by Jax Garren in 2012.

Teaser Tuesday, November 13,2012

Teaser Tuesdays is a weekly bookish meme, hosted by MizB of Should Be Reading. Anyone can play along! Just do the following: 

• Grab your current read
• Open to a random page
• Share two (2) “teaser” sentences from somewhere on that page
• BE CAREFUL NOT TO INCLUDE SPOILERS! (make sure that what you share doesn’t give too much away! You don’t want to ruin the book for others!)
• Share the title & author, too, so that other TT participants can add the book to their TBR Lists if they like your teasers.

 My teaser is from Lord's Fall by Thea Harrison.  This is book 5 in the Elder Races series.

"Nobody wanted to talk to Dragos these days.  No doubt it had something to do with him being so snarly."


If you read Dragon Bound (book 1 in the series)  you know that Dragos is often snarly so why is it important in this book.  Here is the Goodreads summary:

In the latest Novel of the Elder Races, two mates find themselves on different paths, torn between their duty to the Wyr and the passion that binds them…

Before she met Dragos, half-human/half-Wyr Pia Giovanni was alone and on the run. Now she’s mated, pregnant and heading south to repair the Wyrs’ frayed relationship with the Elves. Being separated from Dragos is painful, but for the good of the Wyr demesne they need to figure out how to be partners—in more places than just the bedroom.

In New York to preside over the Sentinel Games, Dragos is worried about his mate, but knows that finding two replacement sentinels is essential to show the rest of the Elder Races just how strong and brutal the Wyr demesne can be. But as the Games heat up, Pia’s negotiations with the Elves take a turn for the dangerous, straining her bond with Dragos and threatening everything they hold dear.

I just got the book from Amazon and am almost finished.  It is not my favorite but it is a good story.  Thea Harrison has a new series comeing out in 2013.  There is a preview in the back of  Lord's Fall.  I hope that it does not mean she is through with the Elder Races series.
 

Musing Mondays November 12, 2012

For this week’s Musing Monday, I’m going to give you the option to answer any of the following questions — or, if you prefer, you can answer them all! Have fun! {questions were supplied by my readers when asked for suggestions}

• If you had to choose only 3 books to read forever, which ones would you choose? {source}
• Is there a character that you absolutely love but that you cannot get a good mental picture of? {source}
• Make a plea for your favorite book. Make others wanna read it! {source}
• If you could create a soundtrack for a book you’ve read recently, which songs would you use and why? {source}
• Do you read outside your preferred genre? Has your preferred genre changed? {source}
• Do you have a favorite book/movie combination? {source}
• Name a book that you thought you wouldn’t like much, but you ended up loving. {source}
• If you were Book Czar of the world, is there one book you would like to require every kid to read? {source}

I am going to answer only the question in bold print.  I do read outside my preferred genre.   I love Science Fiction Romance but the books in that genre are often few and far between.  My favorite SFR aauthors do not publish that often and one even lost her contract with her publisher.  So what do I read when not reading my favorite genre.  I read Science Fiction (a close second to my favorite), Paranormal, Steampunk, Romance, Mystery and the occasional non-fiction.

Hunters Season by Thea Harrison

Paranormal Romance

Hunter’s Season is a novella set in the Elder Races Universe.  That deck of Tarot cards that have appeared in the two previous novellas show up again.  I just knew when I saw them again that an HEA was in the works.

Here is the Goodreads summary:

Duty. Devotion. Desire. When fate brings two isolated people together, love is in the cards.

As a palace guard and assassin for the Dark Fae, Xanthe always wore a mask, hiding her emotions to do her duty. But when her identity is compromised, she trades undercover work for guarding Queen Niniane—a position that often brings her in contact with Chancellor Aubrey Riordan.

Aubrey’s trust is shattered. A year ago his wife tried to assassinate their new queen in his name, a betrayal of everything he believes in. And now an attack on his life is proof the dark conspiracy is not yet over. Although injured and weak, Aubrey can’t help but be drawn to this shy assassin and loyal protector. Xanthe is everything Naida wasn’t, and the passion she stirs in him is something he thought had long passed him by.

Warning: Take a man recovering from an assassination attempt, the assassin sworn to protect him, add in a magical Tarot card deck and an isolated cabin, and watch the sparks fly!

Xanthe and Aubrey are both great characters and I was pulling for them to get together.   Xanthe has admired Aubrey for a long time but would never act on that admiration.  When he is injured Niniane notices Xanthe’s concern for Aubrey and acts.  Niniane can be very sneaky why she wants to.

Look for a small cameo character.  Mouse was created by the winner of the “Create am Elder Races Character” contest and has a small part in the novella.

I needed an Elder Races fix and Hunter’s Season fit the bill. Lord’s Fall, the next novel in the series, came out several days ago so I will get another big fix soon.

Samhain published Hunter’s Season by Thea Harrison in 2012.