WOLFSBANE
AND MISTLETOE Coming October 7,
2008 /Hardcover
short stories by:
Charlaine Harris, Toni L.P. Kelner, Patricia Briggs, Keri Arthur,
Carrie Vaughn, Donna Andrews, Dana Cameron, Karen Chance, Alan Gordon, Simon
Green, JA Konrath, Nancy Pickard, Dana Stabenow, Rob Thurman and Kat
Richardson.
The only thing Hannah wants for Christmas is a good time with her
family--what she gets instead is a vampire intent on bloody rampage, and a
werewolf determined to make up for mistakes made Christmas past.
Kim Harrison, Keri Arthur, Marjorie M. Liu, Susan Krinard, L. A. Banks, Linda Winstead Jones
PREORDER - WILL BE MAILED WHEN RELEASED
Beyond the boundaries of the everyday is an unseen realm
where anything you imagine is possible. Your demon lover is waiting for you
in the shadows, ready to fulfill your secret wishes and most dangerous
fantasies. Here passion has a face and form both titillating and
terrifying—and love has teeth and claws. Get ready to give in to your
craving for something exquisitely dark . . . and different.
Hotter Than Hell gathers together a baker's dozen of today's boldest and
best authors of supernatural fiction and paranormal romance in a
breathtaking anthology that blends black magic with red-hot desire. From the
tantalizing tale of a conflicted psychic vampire driven by a powerful,
savage love to the strange saga of a Greek warrior woman battling to save
the world, these are stories outside the limits, as hypnotic as the full
moon . . . and hotter than the sun.
DESTINY KILLS [Myth and Magic #1]
List Price $6.99
BI PRICE: $5.60
When Destiny McCree wakes up beside a dead man on an Oregon beach, she knows
only this: she has to keep moving, keep searching, and keep one step ahead
of the forces that have been pursuing her from the heart of Scotland to this
isolated spot. Why? The death of her lover has left her alone, with little
memory of her past. A glimmering serpent-shaped ring is the one clue she has
--- and a bargaining chip in a most dangerous game…
Enter Trae Wilson, a master thief with a sexy, knowing grin and a secret
agenda of his own. Destiny and Trae both have powers far beyond the human --
and both are running for their lives. Together they’re riding a tide of
danger, magic and lust…but with killers stalking their every move, they must
use any means necessary, even each other, to survive -- until the shocking
secret of one woman’s destiny finally unravels…
THE
DARKEST KISS
[Riley
Jensen Guardian #6]
by Keri Arthur
Riley Jenson hunts evildoers-and does it with a style all her own.
With vamp blood coursing her through her veins, and a werewolf's uncanny
instinct for danger, Riley wears snakeskin stilettos and pure, in-your-face
attitude when she plunges into her latest case: Hunting down a killer whose
victims are high-society strumpets-and the rich and powerful men they've
dated.
But for Riley, the case takes a chilling turn when a second killer starts
trailing mutilated bodies of his own: a crazed young vamp choosing victims
from a past marked by tragedy. Riley knows she's got the skill and cunning
to catch two serial killers at once.until one of them strikes inside her own
tight-knit clan -- and a sexy beast of a vampire re-enters her life to aid
in the hunt. His name is Quinn. He's lived forever, shed blood and shared
pleasure.and he's the only man over whom Riley has absolutely no control.
EMBRACED
BY DARKNESS
Riley
Jensen Guardian #5]
by Keri Arthur
Part vamp, part werewolf, Riley Jenson plays by her own rules, whether
it's her stormy love life or her job as a guardian. But when her family's
alpha demands that she solve the mystery of a vanished girl, Riley can feel
a trap closing in around her. Because the job comes with a catch: if Riley
fails, her own mother will die.
Now the stakes are raised, the hunt is on...and when more women vanish,
Riley is caught between a lover who demands she give up her work, a serial
killer who knows no boundaries, and a club where humans and supernaturals
mix--at their own peril. Thrust into a realm of seduction and violence
unlike any she could have imagined, Riley has to battle to save everything
she holds dear. But the ultimate hunt has only just begun...
Dangerous Games
[Riley
Jensen Guardian #4]
by
Keri Arthur
List Price $6.99
BI PRICE: $5.60
- Riley has her hands full with her first case as a full-fledged
guardian – and it’s a nasty one.
Dead women are turning up in warehouses all over Melbourne, and it’s up to
Riley to find out why. But it’s not until Riley’s gorgeous on-again,
off-again lover, Quinn, turns up that she realizes how unusual this case
is….
And soon, a shocking mystery begins to unravel—one where Riley herself
becomes the ultimate object of desire...
Tempting Evil
[Riley
Jensen Guardian #3]
by
Keri Arthur
List Price $6.99
BI PRICE: $5.60
- In a world of sorcery and seduction, the nights bring out the
beautiful, the damned, and the desired. Here, Riley Jenson is on her
own—half werewolf, half vampire, working for an organization created to
police the supernatural races. Trusting her superiors and lovers barely more
than she trusts her worst enemies, Riley plays by her own set of rules. Her
latest mission: to enter the heavily guarded pleasure palace of a criminal
named Deshon Starr—a madman-scientist who’s been messing around in the gene
pool for decades.
With two sexy men—a cool, seductive vampire and an irresistibly hot
wolf—vying for her attention, Riley must keep focused. Because saving the
world from Deshon Starr will mean saving herself—from the trap that’s
closing in around her. . . .
Kissing
Sin[Riley Jensen Guardian #2]
by
Keri Arthur
List Price $6.99
BI PRICE: $5.60
- From Melbourne’s gleaming skyscrapers to its throbbing nightclubs,
Riley Jenson’s world is raging with danger and desire. A drop-dead-gorgeous
werewolf—with a touch of vamp coursing in her blood—Riley works for an
organization created to police the supernatural races. But when she wakes up
naked and bruised in a barren alley, she knows only that she must run for
her life.
Within moments Riley collides with the sexiest man she’s ever seen: steely,
seductive Kade, who is fighting a life-and-death battle of his own. With old
lovers and enemies gathering around her, Riley knows she is being pursued by
a new kind of criminal. Because in Riley’s blood is a secret that could
create the ultimate warrior—if only she can survive her own dangerous
desires….
Audio CD [ABRIDGED] List Price $27.50 BI Price $22.37
dark urban fantasy
A rare hybrid of vampire and werewolf, Riley
Jenson and her twin brother, Rhoan, work for Melbourne’s Directorate of
Other Races: an organization created to police the supernatural races—and
protect humans from their depredations.
While Rhoan is an exulted Guardian, aka “assassin,” Riley is merely an
office worker—until her brother goes missing on one of his missions. The
timing couldn’t be worse. More werewolf than vampire, Riley is vulnerable to
the moon heat, the week-long period before the full moon when her need to
mate becomes all consuming…
Luckily, Riley has two willing partners to satisfy her every need. But she
will have to control her urges if she’s going to find her brother…. Easier
said than done as the city pulses with frenzied desire, and Riley is
confronted with a very powerful—and delectably naked—vamp who raises her
temperature like never before.
In matters carnal, Riley has found her match. But in matters criminal, she
must follow her instincts not only to find her brother, but to stop an
unholy harvest. For someone is doing some shifty cloning in an attempt to
produce the ultimate warrior—by tapping into the genome of non-humans like
Rhoan. Now Riley knows just how dangerous the world is for her kind—and just
how much it needs her.
[The Guardian Series continues:
Kissing Sin & Tempting Evil coming in 2006/2007] Top
of Page
Savannah Grant once had the
reputation for being the wild sister—but no one, not even her twin, knew
just how wild Savannah had once been.
Now that past has come back to haunt her. Someone is murdering humans in
Ripple Creek, and the murders are eerily similar to those she’d witnessed
nearly ten years ago. Worse still, the man sent in to help with the
investigation is the one man Savannah had hoped never to see again. The man
who had taken her trust and her heart, and smashed them both.
Cade Jones is in Ripple Creek to catch the killer who’d escaped his noose
ten years ago. What he doesn’t expect to find is the woman who had very
nearly caused his death. A woman who knew far more than she’d ever let on. A
woman who’d slithered from his grasp as easily as the killer. This time,
Cade has every intention of discovering what she knows—and every intention
of holding her to the promises she’d made long ago.
As the murders continue, it becomes evident that the killer isn’t murdering
at random, that it’s all part of a larger plan—revenge. In order to survive,
Savannah finds herself having to trust the one man she’d swore never to
trust again.
But can Cade unravel the clues left from the past and the present in time to
save them both, or will a killer’s need for bloody revenge snatch away his
hopes of a future yet again? Top of
Page
On the werewolf reservation of Ripple Creek, a
killer is on the loose. Three women are dead, their bodies mutilated and
faces slashed. A fourth, Neva Grant’s twin, lies in the hospital, fighting
for her life.
Psychically linked, Neva shared the horror of her twin attack and makes a
silent vow by her sister’s hospital bed. She’ll hunt down the killer, if
Savannah finds the strength to live.
The Rangers believe the killer is a member of the Sinclair pack, but Neva
knows the Sinclairs will never talk to an outsider. To begin the hunt, she
first has to seduce a Sinclair---and then she has to keep him interested
long enough to find the killer. The only Sinclair not under suspicion is a
wolf with a hard drinking, hard loving reputation. But has she got what it
takes to attract a man with such experience? Neva doesn’t know, but for her
sister’s sake, she has to try.
Duncan Sinclair has been called back home to find a killer, and he wants
nothing more than to complete his task and get out of the town for which he
has no love. Then he’s approached by a wolf who obviously has more than
seduction on her mind, and he finds himself ensnared in a growing web of
desire and deceit.
As the murders continue and the killer’s shadow draws ever closer, Duncan
and Neva find themselves having to trust each other in order to survive. But
can they trust the emotions flaring between them? Or will the lies of the
present, the deeds of the past, and a killer’s bloody intentions tear them
apart? Top of
Page /Return to Keri
Agent Sam Ryan has had enough. She
wants out, and she wants out now. She’s sick of putting up with Gabriel’s
crappy attitude, sick of seeing nothing but paperwork and the inside of her
small office. But most of all, she is sick of feeling lonely. It’s time to
take control and get a life outside of work.
But Stephan, the man in charge of the SIU, isn’t about to let her go
easily. Offered the choice between guarding a clone and probable enemy of
the country, and remaining stuck in her shoe box, Sam reluctantly accepts
the former, even though she suspects Stephan is not only withholding
information from her, but he’s using her as bait to draw out the one man he
and the SIU are desperate to capture. The elusive and dangerous Sethanon.
Gabriel is relieved to discover he’s finally shaken Sam as a partner,
until he learns her new assignment is guarding Wetherton, the clone
replacement of a government minister. Both he and Stephan know Wetherton
could only have come from one place—Hopeworth. The military base has been
involved in DNA experiments for decades and was more than likely the place
where Sam was created. But there is a growing likelihood that the military
base is also the home of Sethanon himself.
Determined to protect her, Gabriel is quickly drawn into the mission. All
too soon he discovers the connection between him and Sam is far deeper than
anyone could ever have imagined. Because what lies in her DNA also lies in
his, and it might just mean that everything he’d believed about his past and
his ability to love was nothing but a lie.
As the assignment begins to unravel around Sam and her past begins to
reveal itself in her dreams, she fights to stay alive and find the truth
about herself, about the men in her dreams, and about the connection between
her and Gabriel.
But the military is closing in, and they want their creation back. And
the only person standing between her and them might well be the enemy of all
mankind.
A serial killer striking every
twelve hours.
A Kite monster murdering at random.
Though neither event seems related,
Agents Sam Ryan and Gabriel Stern quickly discover a link between the
two—the military base known as Hopeworth. But are the serial killings a
military cover-up that has gone dangerously wrong, or is there a deeper,
more personal reason behind the murders of the red-headed adoptees? And are
the so-called random attacks of the Kites nothing more than a methodical
clean-up of a past mistake?
As the investigation continues, Sam
discovers a connection between herself and the murder victims, a connection
that implies a link to Hopeworth itself. But if she is a product of the
military, why does Hopeworth appear to know nothing about her?
With the killings escalating and the
danger drawing closer to home, Sam not only has to battle to bring a killer
to justice, but to save Gabriel’s life.
And the one person who seems to hold
the key to what is going on, as well as what has happened in Sam’s past, is
the mysterious man who saved her life. But does she dare believe his words
or the dreams she seems to share with him?
Because this mystery man may not be
just her enemy, but the enemy of humankind itself.Top of
Page
For Sam Ryan, life began at the age of fourteen. She has no
memory of her parents or her past. All she has is a crayon drawing of a
woman with the word "Mommy" scrawled underneath in childish handwriting.
For the ten years Sam’s been with the State Police, she’s used their
resources to search for any clues to her identity. But it’s as if all
mention of her family has been deliberately wiped off the system, and no one
seems to know why.
Everything changes the night she agrees to meet her missing partner,
Jack, and barely survives his attempt to kill her. Charged with his murder
and suspended from the force, Sam finds herself accepting help from Gabriel
Stern—a shapeshifter with secrets of his own.
As Sam delves into her partner’s death, she discovers more than she ever
bargained for. Because not only is her partner very much alive, but he’s
involved in an organization that plans a war on the human race. Worse,
someone knows the truth about Sam’s past, and it appears that they’d rather
see her dead than have her uncover it.
The deeper she digs, the more the danger grows. It soon becomes clear
that the key to surviving the present lies in unraveling the threads of her
past—and in discovering not just who she is, but what she is .
. Top of
Page
Arthur, Keri.
KISS THE NIGHT GOOD-BYE
Nikki and Michael #4
Trade Paperback (SRP $13.75 ) BI Price: $12.38
Sometimes
the past not only haunts, but destroys...
One hundred years ago, Michael Kelly hunted down and
killed the sorcerer responsible for murdering his lover. Now the brother of
that man is out for revenge, and he intends to destroy all that Michael
holds dear in the process.
Nikki James wants nothing more than to pass the
Circle’s strict entry exams so she can get on with the business of planning
her wedding to Michael. But when one of the testers attempts to kill her,
she realises buying a wedding dress is the least of her worries.
Especially when Michael is shot and kidnapped.
The trail leads her to the ghost town where Michael had once killed
a madman. She’s not surprised to discover that Weylin Dunleavy, the brother
of that long ago murderer, has set in place events that will mirror the past
in order to raise his brother’s spirit from hell. Nor is she truly surprised
to discover that a barrier of magic surrounds the old town, leaving her to
battle Weylin with only her wits, strength and the one psychic gift she
cannot fully control.
The one thing that does surprise, the one thing she cannot accept,
is the fact that Michael no longer remembers who she is...Top of
Page
Four wealthy women kidnapped.
Three ransoms demanded and paid.
Two bodies returned, mutilated and drained of blood.
One man determined to avenge the wrongs of his past.
Nikki James is in San Francisco at the request of her partner and best
friend, Jake. The wife of an old friend is missing, and Jake intends to find
her--whatever the cost. While the authorities believe the kidnapping’s to be
the work of a sick mind, Nikki knows it is something much worse. Vampires.
Six of them. And they who she is, and why she’s there.
Michael Kelly has just returned from a vampire hunting expedition in his
homeland, wants to spend some much-needed relaxation time with Nikki. But
when he discovers she’s gone to San Francisco to pursue the vampire gang
currently terrorising the city, he has no choice but to follow. Not only to
keep her safe from the gang, but because he fears the psychic talents she’s
beginning to develop. Abilities she should not have and cannot control.
The chase takes them through the sewers and tunnels of San Francisco. As the
body count begins to rise, so too does the danger. Michael isn’t the only
one aware of Nikki’s new abilities, and she becomes a target. But Nikki has
no intention of obeying Michael’s demands that she leave. She’s tired of
playing it safe, and wants him to realise it’s all or nothing. She’s either
a full partner in his life, or she’s out.
But nothing prepares her for the price she has to pay for her
stubbornness--the life of someone she loves. Top of
Page /Return to Keri
Arthur, Keri.
HEARTS IN DARKNESS
Nikki and Michael #2
Trade Paperback (SRP $13.75) BI Price: $12.38
Life has never been so insane for Nikki James.
There’s another teenager missing. She has another vampire to contend with.
Her partner and best friend Jake is in the hospital dying. And a madman is
kidnapping the wealthy.
Just when it seems nothing else could possibly go wrong, Michael returns—but
not for her. This time, however, Nikki has no intention of running from
either the case or from what still lies between her and Michael. And she
isn’t going to let him run, either.
The last thing Michael Kelly needs is a confrontation with Nikki—especially
when his control over his bloodlust is still so tenuous. But when a
kidnapper steps up his agenda to murder, he’s forced into a partnership with
Nikki to keep her safe. Soon Michael discovers the biggest danger he faces
may not be from his need to "taste" her, but from his desire to make her a
permanent part of his life—a life that is sure to get her killed.
Nikki is determined to make Michael see that life apart is worse than death.
But before she can make him see the light, a specter from Michael’s past
rises that could destroy any hope she has of a future with him. Because this
time the threat isn’t physical. It’s a matter of the heart.
Arthur, Keri. DANCING WITH THE DEVIL
Nikki and Michael #1 SEE REVIEW
Trade Paperback (SRP $13.75) BI Price: $12.38
Private Investigator Nikki James grew up on the tough streets of Lyndhurst
and believes there's nothing left to surprise her. All that changes the
night she follows teenager Monica Trevgard into the shadows-and becomes a
pawn caught in a war between two very different men. One fills her mind with
his madness, the other pushes his way into her life-and her heart. Nikki
knows how dangerous love can be, but if she wants to survive, she must place
her trust in a man who could easily destroy her.
Michael Kelly has come to Lyndhurst determined to end the war between
himself and another brother of the night. For 300 years he has existed in
life's shadows, gradually learning to control the life from death cravings
of a vampire. Nikki not only breaches his formidable barriers with her
psychic abilities, but makes Michael believe he may finally have found a
woman strong enough to walk by his side and ease the loneliness in his
heart. But will his love be enough to protect her from a madman hell-bent on
revenge? Or will it drive her into his enemy's deadly trap?
Only together can they overcome the evil threatening to destroy them both.
But the secrets they keep from each other might prove to be the greatest
threat of all. Top of
Page /Return to Keri
Arthur, Keri. CIRCLE OF DESIRE
Damask Circle #3 SEE REVIEW
Trade Paperback (SRP $13.75) BI Price: $12.38
Four children kidnapped. Two found dead, their
tiny souls ripped from their bodies... In ten years of working for the
Damask Circle, shapeshifter Katherine Tanner has never come across anything
that goes after kids the way that this monster does. Has never met anything
that does to them what this thing does. And it’s not something she wants to
confront. But with the Circle’s resources stretched to the limits, she’s
given very little choice. The last thing she needs is interference from a
cop who has no idea what he’s up against.
Ethan Morgan’s niece is one of the missing children and he has every
intention of not only defying the odds and bringing her back alive, but of
catching the monster behind these kidnappings and bringing her to justice.
Even if he has to break every law in the land to do it. And he will use
anyone and everyone to achieve those aims--even a crazy woman who claims to
be a witch. Forced to join forces, Ethan and Kat struggle to uncover clues
that will lead them to the monster’s lair, all the while battling a
seemingly endless supply of zombies and other dead things determined to stop
them. But time is ticking away and both know the monster rarely keeps her
victims alive for more than seven days. Four of those have already gone. But
the greatest threat to Kat might not come from the forces of darkness
gathering around them, but from the man she is beginning to love. Because
Ethan is a werewolf...and the full moon is rising... Top of
Page /Return to Keri
In one, vicious night, Kirby Brown’s world is torn apart. Her best friend is
dead, killed by the madman who is now after her. And she has no idea why.
Doyle Fitzgerald has been sent to Melbourne, Australia, to
hunt down a killer. What he doesn’t expect to find is a circle of witches
capable of controlling the elements--and a sorceress determined to take that
power for herself. And he certainly isn’t expecting to play bodyguard to a
woman who is more than she seems.
When the police prove incapable of protecting
her from the monsters that chase her, Kirby has no choice but to place her
safety in Doyle’s hand. And while she finds herself inexplicably drawn to
him, she fears to trust--because of the magic that lies in his soul.
It quickly becomes evident that the reason
behind the killings lies in her past. But it is a past she has no wish to
remember.
Because Doyle isn’t the only one with magic in his soul.
Only hers was capable of destroying a world. Top of
Page /Return to Keri
Sixteen teenagers taken from their homes. Eleven bodies recovered, each
completely drained of blood. Some believe vampires are responsible, but Jon
Barnett knows it’s something far worse. To stop the killers in Taurin Bay,
he becomes enmeshed in a web of black magic and realizes he needs help. But
fate gives him only one choice in the form of recluse Madeline Smith.
Madeline Smith has retreated to an isolated farmhouse, afraid of the psychic
abilities she can’t control—abilities that have killed. But when "ghost" Jon
Barnett brings a warning of danger and her nephew disappears, Maddie has to
leave her haven. She also has to learn to control the abilities she fears
and place her trust in Jon Barnett, a man who is neither human nor ghost.
But as the search for the teenagers becomes a race against time, and the
noose of sorcery threatens to kill Maddie and Jon, the greatest danger to
them both could be the feelings they have for each other—feelings that they
refuse to acknowledge. Top of
Page /Return to Keri
Eryn James was a medical secretary, not a police officer, but when the
police came calling for her assistance in tracking down a killer, she jumped
at the chance. Not because she had any real desire to hunt down a killer,
but because the task involved playing bait in Lifemate Connections--one of
the most exclusive and expensive bars in town.
In a world where men outnumbered women ten to one, and long-term
relationships were frowned upon, bars like Lifemate provided a safe
environment for women and men to meet and ‘test drive’ possible suitors
without the initial risk of taking them home. Only five patrons of the bar
had recently been murdered, and as a shifter with a keen sense of smell, it
was now Eryn’s task to track the killer down.
But no matter how much she trusted her nose to get her out of trouble, she
wasn’t about to go in there alone. The club was full of security, and there
were cops sitting in a van outside the club, listening to her every word and
move.
How dangerous could playing bait actually be?
Then she met Grey Stockard…a man who oozed sex appeal and danger with every
movement.
A man she wanted with every ounce of her being.
A man she just might end up dying for.
"An exciting, action-packed paranormal romance" Riley Jenson and her twin brother, Rhoan, are werewolf- vampire hybrids
who work for the Directorate. The Directorate of Other Races polices the
supernatural races and protect the humans. Rhoan is a Guardian, which is
another name for assassin. He deals justice to the supernatural beings who
become uncontrollable and break the law. On the other hand, Riley is a
liaison - she aids Guardians but isn't involved in the violence.
Unfortunately, Riley's life changes when her brother disappears and an
amnesiac, naked vampire shows up at her door looking for him. On top of all
this, the full moon is approaching and Riley must have all her sexual needs
met or go into a blood lust. She has two mates that should satisfy all her
needs, but are they involved in her brother's disappearance?
Ms. Arthur pens an enjoyable paranormal with romantic elements and an
exciting, action-packed plot. FULL MOON RISING is a gripping tale which
grabbed my attention from the very beginning and didn't let go until the
very end. I must warn readers that this book is violent and erotic at times,
but that is to be expected from the subject matter. While there is a budding
romance between Riley and one of the other characters, it is just the
beginning of a romance. Hopefully, Ms. Arthur will continue to develop this
romance in the next book, because I'm interested to see if Riley has found
her soul mate. I highly recommend FULL MOON RISING to paranormal readers.
"Multiple plot twists will keep werewolf lovers in
suspense"
Keri Arthur creates a werewolf culture that is sensual and powerful. In this
world, Werewolves live on reservations and the four Colorado wolf packs have
strict control so their culture won't overwhelm humans. For the most part
they receive the same respect as human beings, but when there is a serial
killer on the loose, there are no limits or boundaries.
Women attending the 'MOON DANCE' were being killed. Neva Grant's twin
sister, Ranger Savannah, was a critically injured during her investigation
of the serial killer and as she was psychically linked, Neva shared the
horror of her twin's attack. Neva plans to infiltrate the Sinclair Pack by
seducing the leader's third son, Duncan who she is sure cannot be the killer
but will get her 'inside the pack'. Duncan changes the rules when he claims
her through a mystic bond for a week. Now although they distrust each other,
both must work together. Is it only moon lust or is there something more?
Can Neva look beyond the Pack to see the man Duncan is? Will they both be
able to overcome pack and personal prejudices to find the killer and
possibly find a way to love and live together?
BENEATH A RISING MOON is a sensuous (actually erotic), suspense-filled story
that most werewolf fans will enjoy! Neva is a strong-willed woman with
psychic powers and Duncan as an alpha male who has been away from the pack
for a time. Multiple plot twists keep you reading in anticipation until the
story ends. I hope Ms. Arthur will be able to share other stories from this
werewolf culture in future books.
Reviewed by Cy Korte
"Fast pace and very sexy alternate werewolf culture!"
Let me just take a deep breath, because that was one steamy, suspense-filled
book! Keri Arthur knows how to write a sexy werewolf novel. The sensuality
is definitely high in this book and combined with the mystery at hand as
were-partners are being murdered in this alternate culture she has created
in Ripple Creek.
Beneath a Rising Moon revolves around a culture of werewolves and their
packs/families. Like any werewolf novel, these are people that are affected
by the moon, as it helps to initiate their change and it definitely
stimulates their sex drive. But like all good plots you can't have one with
out the other. Thus there is a pack that walks in the light of day and also
rules the town; just as there is a pack that lives and parties by the light
of the moon. Those of the night are driven by their sexual tendencies as the
moon reaches its peak. The dark werewolves gather in both human and wolf
form to celebrate their uninhibited sexuality in what they refer to as the
Moon Dance. But they must do this within the confines of the Sinclair
Mansion as the Golden wolves that live by day wish not to be apart of such
debauchery.
Neva, a golden wolf, is on a mission. Her twin sister has been viciously
attacked, and almost killed by another unknown werewolf while trying to
solve the murder case. All they know is there is a big silver wolf preying
on the women at the Sinclair Mansion during the wee hours of the Moon Dance,
but they do not know who the person or werewolf is. Driven by the anger of
her twin sisters near death, Neva dares to go against her values she was
raised with and goes to the Sinclair mansion to partake of the Moon Dance in
hopes to find the real killer. It is Neva's hope to be claimed by Duncan
Sinclair for the week of the moon's rising. He is the only one ruled out as
a suspect because he has been out of town, therefore a safe target, however
he is known as the wildest of the Sinclair brothers.
Duncan has returned to Ripple Creek at the request of his family. They need
his help in solving this case and help clear the Sinclair name. There is a
werewolf out for revenge but the primary target remains somewhat illusive.
Everyone is suspect in this case and he will protect his pack / family at
all costs, even if it means his heart.
Neva succeeds in hooking up with Duncan for the week and finds her nature is
far more passionate and wild in his presence. She chalks it up to the
influence of the moon while he wonders about the reasons an innocent has
dared to come to the Sinclair mansion for a forbidden moon dance. As the
book progresses the doubts and questions mount in Duncan's mind. All of this
helps to generate great chemistry and frustration between our primary
characters, which in turn results in some very hot loves scenes.
This book is a very fast read. I totally recommend this very sexy, very
suspense-filled novel. And I truly hope Keri has every intention to continue
this wonderful series, as I would love to return to Ripple Creek on a full
Moon for one last Moon Dance.
Reviewed by Mindy Lobaugh
For Book Isle & PNR REVIEWS
"Howling at the moon takes on a new meaning"
For Neva changing into a wolf is who she is. She is also a woman bent on
trying to track down the wolf that tried to kill her twin sister. And to do
so, she bonds for the duration of the moon dance with Duncan Sinclair; the
long absent son of the family that throws the moon dances where her sister
was attacked. However, Neva quickly looses control of the situation as
Duncan is trying to solve the same mystery, because in addition to Neva's
sister's attack, several women were killed.
Wow - so I've never read a werewolf novel like this. I think I've always had
the misconception that werewolves were humans that turned during the three
days surrounding a full moon and where discontent with the existence because
they turned into mindless killers. (TV I guess...) Keri Arthur has woven
together a very sensual love story with a well-written mystery.
In a Colorado that has accepted the paranormal, the moon dance will have you
rethinking the term casual sex. While Neva and Duncan have a mystery that
threatens more than the women attending the nightly dance, the focus of the
book is trusting your heart, rather than just what you know as fact. Duncan
was a playboy in every way. Can he reform or more to the point, has he
reformed so that he could be happy with only one mate? Neva represents
tradition where although she believes in a life mate, fears breaking the
mold set by her parents.
This is a fabulous story that will accelerate your heartbeat both from the
characters radiating sensuality and the mystery surrounding Duncan's family.
I was worried that the book would be too scary for me (I'm a wimp). I was
amazed that while it is a mystery, I wasn't traumatized as a reader so this
was awesome! BENEATH A RISING MOON is a werewolf novel you won't want to
miss! I hope Ms Arthur writes the story of Neva's sister, Savannah.
Reviewed by Cynthia Eckert
For Book Isle & PNR REVIEWS
"Wanted by 2 vampires - one for her powers, the other for her love"
Private Investigator Nikki James grew up on the streets and believes there's
nothing left to surprise her. Her Psi- powers have been a help and the curse
of her life. While on a case following teen runaway Monica, she becomes a
pawn caught in a war between two very different men... or should I say
vampires. Suddenly she is finding that her only hope is her powers and
determination -- and aid from someone she is not sure she should trust, but
easily could love.
Michael Kelly has come to Lyndhurst determined to end the war between
himself and Jasper. He plans to use Nikki as bait, but eventually comes to
respect her and her powers, but his control over his bloodlust is tenuous.
He cannot afford to fall in love with her.
Romantic vampire fans MUST read this tale. DANCING WITH THE DEVIL is in a
contemporary setting with traditional vampire lore accepted which made for a
very comfortable read. The lines of good and evil are clear and the violence
as the two adversaries battle is graphically shown but would not offend most
romance readers. It left hope of varied experiences in the sequels to this
story, as does the ending that opens a world of speculation for the future
relationship of the Nikki and Michael.
There seems to be a varied group of enforcers from the paranormal realm as
shown by Michael's brief conversation with the witch Seline. Personally, I
am glad I was able to have the next book available to read immediately as I
was impatient to continue in this world with these characters.
"Psi-power and love grow as Nikki & Michael face danger"
Michael Kelly is a vampire and he works for The Damask Circle; two things he
feels obstruct his relationship with Nikki. Private Investigator Nikki James
is Michael's true love and became linked to him for life when he gave her
his blood to save her life. Because of her Psi-powers and his blood bond,
she now has unknown powers of her own.
Michael arrives home after an assignment for the Damask Circle anticipating
time with his true love; instead he finds that Nikki has gone to help her
former partner Jake. Michael joins her in San Francisco and together they
learn that the killer is a vampire out to settle some old scores from his
high school days. The wife of Jake's old friend and Jake's wife are among
those who knew the killer in his human days.
CHASING THE SHADOWS is the third in this vampire series (Nikki & Michael)
which dovetails nicely with Ms. Arthur's other paranormal series, The Damask
Circle. All are 'stand alone' stories but the enjoyment of the book improves
if you have read all the series and can fully appreciate the development of
the characters and relationship of Nikki and Michael. The relationship
between Nikki and Michael develops further as he helps heal the horror she
has to face with his love and understanding. Full of action and suspense,
the story unfolds with some unexpected turns. Nikki will learn what Michael
already knows, grief and death are as much a part of living as love and
supernatural powers cannot change that fact of life. Who will live and who
will die? And what new powers will Nikki become aware of as this case
develops?
I am looking forward to the next adventure with Nikki and Michael and until
then will be happy to read of the adventures of other Damask Circle, the
worldwide group of paranormal protectors.
"Gift of Fire burns away fear and brings love to stubborn Shapshifter"
Madeline Smith waited in fear for the 'ghost' of Jon Barnett to appear
again. Her psychic powers were something her family and deceased husband had
impressed upon her as undesirable. But when Jon mentioned that her nephew
was in danger, she put aside her fears and went to Jon's aid.
Jon's contacts with the Seline [witch mentioned briefly in DANCING WITH THE
DEVIL] are brief, but it is mentioned that he is part of a worldwide group
of protectors known as the Damask Circle. 16 teens were known to be missing
with Madeline's nephew number 17. As a member of the Damask Circle, Jon was
here to battle the evil magic and end the terror. After receiving Madeline's
help, he wanted her gone somewhere safe but she refused to leave while her
nephew was in danger. So together they used whatever they could to rescue
the 2 teens that only had until the new moon to live.
Jon believes that he should spend his life separate because anyone
associated with him would be in danger from his enemies. When the evil
sorceress uses Madeline against him, his belief is reinforced. He battles
his feeling of love with duty.
This Paranormal adventure has an undercurrent of romance, but most of the
story is the drama of the battle of good and evil with Madeline coming to
learn to accept herself and her special gifts. Madeline's love and need to
help her nephew open the door to her growth and her love for Jon completes
the circle. I am looking forward to other appearances of Seline and stories
in the Damask Circle.
"a unique romantic suspense that will captivate you"
Kirby Brown and Helen Smith are roommates and as close as sisters since
being raised together in an orphanage. Although Helen practiced her powers
as a witch, Kirby has not practiced her powers since childhood and after
Helen's murder suddenly finds herself helpless. She would have been killed
if shapeshifter Doyle Fitzgerald hadn't appeared on assignment for the
Damask Circle. He dispatches the vampire and monsters that comes after them,
but they must continue on the run because someone is after Kirby.
Kirby and Doyle join forces to help her face and fight an evil from her
past. They must revisit her childhood at the orphanage hoping to trace who
and learn how to end this threat. Although there are some traumatically
emotional topics, they are handled with sensitivity. This suspenseful tale
builds from the first paragraph and keeps you reading -- you will find all
you wish for in this story and some unexpected twists. Ms Arthur presents
mix of uniquely talented and compelling characters with some very human
failings and adds the fact that love comes when it may -- even during the
battle of good verses evil.
The much awaited second story of the worldwide group of paranormal
protectors known as the Damask Circle was even better than the first. Each
book stands alone; so grab whatever tale you can find and read it... you
won't be disappointed. Knowing the potential for intrigue and variety
offered with the Damask Circle, I am looking forward to seeing more tales of
the powerful protectors whose assignments bring them danger and reward them
with love. Ms Arthur has impressed me with her tale-weaving skills in past
books and has earned a place on my "must read" author list.
THE
Dangerous G
Kissing
S
