Play With Fire

Title:  Play With Fire

Author:  B.J. McCall

Publisher:  Changeling Press

Publisher URL: http://www.changelingpress.com

ISBN/BIN:  07769-02506

Genre:  {M/F} Paranormal, Urban Fantasy

Rating:  3.5 Nymphs

Literary Nymphs Reviewer:  Amethyst Nymph

Being an obligation was not what Princess Raen had in mind, but that was how things were turning out.  Her whole life changed when her parents were murdered and her kingdom was taken.  Raen only felt safe in the presence of one man, but that man was off limits to her.

Arsdon is a dragon who served his queen well, and he vowed to do the same for Princess Raen.  If it was revenge the princess wanted, Arsdon was determined to help her get it.  If that meant being separated from Raen, then he would do it.  Time might help her adjust, but it was doing nothing to cool down Arsdon’s feelings. 

Play With Fire is the third installment in the Set in Stone series, and it opens with lots of emotion.  Immediately my heart went out to Raen because of the loss of her family.  Being a princess didn’t make her soft. I felt it actually made her stronger and more down to Earth.  She adapted so well to the sudden changes in her life and I admired that.  Arsdon’s loyalty made me like him, even though I was a little bent out of shape about the length of time he lived apart from her.  The proposal scene was the cutest thing and it caught me by surprise.  I think readers will embrace this love story with open arms.

A Dandelion for Tulip

Title: A Dandelion for Tulip

Author: R. Cooper

Publisher: Dreamspinner Press

Publishers URL: https://www.dreamspinnerpress.com

ISBN/BIN: 978-1-63477-314-0

Genre: {M/M}, Urban Fantasy, Series        

Rating: 4 Nymphs

Literary Nymph Reviewer: Critter Nymph

David has been in love with Tulip almost from the moment they met.  But Tulip is a fairy and, even if he wasn’t straight, David does not believe he is good enough for the other man. 

A Dandelion for Tulip is the sixth book in the Being(s) in Love series by author R. Cooper.  This new book pairs a human with a fairy once again. In this story, our human is David.  A student struggling to get his PhD in the study of Beings so he doesn’t have time for a relationship.  That does not stop him from falling in love with longtime friend, Tulip.  Since Tulip is straight, however, David knows all he will ever have is his friendship.  I liked David.  The author did a good job bringing this character alive in a way that you could easily picture this slightly nerdy young man, who is a little on the socially awkward side, try to come to terms with his feelings for a friend. 

Our fairy is Tulip.  Tulip has been around for a while and during that time, he has been rejected in a way that has left its mark.  To protect himself, he guards his feelings well so it is no wonder that David does not know the real Tulip.  Even though Tulip is older than he looks, he still has a bit of innocence about him.  I felt a little bad for him a time or two as he tries to keep from falling in love with David.  But the more Tulip rejects David, the more David begins to feel unworthy of love. 

While A Dandelion for Tulip is not an angst-driven story, there are a few misunderstandings that cause bad feelings between the characters.  The author has done such a good job making this story come alive that it is easy to feel for the characters and, more than once, I wanted to tell them to stop being so careful and go after what they wanted.  

This story was a great addition to this series.  While each story can stand alone, I would recommend that you read the books in order as it will give you a clearer understanding of the world the author created.  If you have not yet tried any books by R. Cooper, I would strongly suggest that you start with this series.   

Hunting for Spring

Title: Hunting for Spring

Author: Katherine McIntyre

Publisher: Loose Id

Publisher URL: www.loose-id.com

ISBN/BIN: 978-1-68252-060-4

Genre: {M/F} Paranormal; Urban Fantasy

Rating: 5 Nymphs

Literary Nymphs Reviewer: Rose Nymph

It’s lonely being a hunter, but it’s the only life Conor knows. His father taught him that duty always comes first, and Conor has dedicated his life to cleaning up the Philly streets of all things supernatural. On a hunt for a wight, he meets the mysterious Brenna, a beautiful woman who proves she has no problem taking action when duty calls. But Conor works alone – forming attachments will only compromise the mission.

Brenna is on a quest to locate a very special item of hers that has been stolen and the trail leads her straight into the path of a hunter. She’s always stayed away from those who spend their time sniffing out the monsters of the world – they have a tendency to shoot first and ask questions later – but this guy seems to have a smart, and extremely handsome, head on those broad shoulders. And as much as she hates to admit it, she could use his help.

They’re wary of each other, but agree to team up in the hopes of targeting those behind the recent influx of nasties. As they fight their growing attraction, they focus on digging deeper into the sick underbelly of the city, with shocking results. Loyalties will be questioned and sacrifices will need to be made…

Hunting for Spring is an exciting read, fast paced and full of suspense. I was enthralled by the sizzling chemistry between Conor and Brenna. The author teases as tension between the two characters builds, but the wait is justified by a strong story that demands attention. It’s a slow burn but the passion is definitely there and delivers very satisfyingly. Conor and Brenna are strong characters whose shared insecurities and heartache made me desperate to see them happy. To see them both start to believe that they are meant for more than this life of painful solitude is a joy to read.

There is an engaging plot – dysfunctional families, secrets, emotional baggage – all set against a vivid paranormal backdrop, as well as a couple of surprising twists to keep the readers on their toes. The author has created a world that is frighteningly realistic at times. I recommend fans of the genre find out for themselves just what might be going on in the back alleys of a city near you…

Stronger, Better, Faster, More

Title: Stronger, Better, Faster, More

Author: Katey Hawthorne & Carlin Grant

Publisher: Loose Id

Publishers URL: http://www.loose-id.com

ISBN/BIN: 978-1-68252-057-4

Genre: {M/M}, Urban Fantasy, Paranormal          

Rating: 4.5 Nymphs

Literary Nymph Reviewer: Critter Nymph

Beau is working hard to make a good life for himself.  He’s got more to overcome than most, since Beau hasn’t always been known as Beau.  He’s also picked up a few new traits and he’s not sure what is going on.  While he’s out one night he gets a surprise, in the form of Vel, his high school crush.

Stronger, Better, Faster, More is the new book by co-authors Katey Hawthorne and Carlin Grant.  This story is one that fans of superheroes are sure to like.  The main characters, and even a few secondary ones, suddenly find themselves with a few unique characteristics that they didn’t have before.  While the way they received their ‘superpowers’ are similar, the powers themselves vary.  For Vel it is speed, while Beau’s is super-endurance. Both men have been using their new gifts to help others and it is during one of those moments that the two run into each other.

Beau and Vel know each other from high school soccer, however, at the time Beau was on the girl’s league.  When they meet up again, the crush Beau had on the other man comes back full force yet, because of all the obvious changes in his life, he’s afraid to tell Vel.   The connection between the two men grows as Vel moves in with Beau and they start looking into why they suddenly have superpowers. 

It is fun to watch the romance grow between these two young men and once they come together, they really heat up the pages.  But the story isn’t just about the two coming together, it also looks into why Beau and Vel have developed superpowers.  This part of the story is going to surprise some of the readers, especially the part when Beau and Vel meet the main bad guy.  Without giving too much away, the bad guy is a bit of a creep and I am surprised that he was able to get away with what and how he did it.  

I was not sure how I would like this story, but the blurb really grabbed me and I needed to see how the story would go.  Once I started to read Stronger, Better, Faster, More I was pulled into the world created by these authors and could not put the book down until the end.  Fans of the authors are sure to like this new story and I, for one, will be checking out their backlist.

Betwixt and Between

Title: Betwixt and Between

Author: Alexis Duran

Publisher: Loose Id

Publisher URL: www.loose-id.com

ISBN: 978-1-62300-939-7

Genre: {M/M} Urban Fantasy Series

Rating: 4 Nymphs

Literary Nymphs Reviewer: Chocolate Minx 

Ian Evers grew up surrounded by magic and secrets until Ezekiel Stormshadow, a dark elf, reveals the truth about Ian’s family.

Betwixt and Between is the first book in the Edge of Night series. The setting is Seattle, Washington. The plot centers on the dark and light realms of Earth. The dark realm practices magic for stealing the light from the soul because evil cannot nourish a soul, it can only destroy the soul as well as the person.

Ian believes in magical creatures.  This is the main reason he works for a tabloid newspaper that feature unbelievable stories. His job is to search out the mythical creatures hiding among humans and take a picture of them. Ian is protected from evil by wearing a moonstone infused with a magical spell.

Ezekiel is a slave to the dark queen; his job is to lure people underground to feed the evil queen and her minions, but it is getting harder to find light sources strong enough to strengthen the entire dark realm.   

Betwixt and Between is an impressive as well as enjoyable saga. The battle of love against evil along with the revelations of the character’s histories is fascinating.  

Pets

Title: Pets

Author: Mychael Black

Publisher: Changeling Press

Publisher URL: http://changelingpress.com/

BIN: 07017-02260

Genre: {M/M} Urban Fantasy

Rating: 4.5 Nymphs

Literary Nymphs Reviewer: Chocolate Minx 

Ian Bishop found love where he least expected to find it, in the arms of Terian Thunderhoof.

Pets is an enchanting short story romance. The characters inspire a warm happy feeling in the area of the heart as well as a smile on your face.

Ian is a man of integrity who values all life.

Although on opposite sides of the war, Terian is drawn to Ian whom he suspects is a compassionate man. A few months after the war ended, Terian’s suspicions about Ian are proved correct when he claimed Ian as his pet. 

Mychael Black has created a very enjoyable snippet that is an ideal break from the daily routines.      

Shadows of Fate

Title: Shadows of Fate

Author: Angela Dennis

Publisher: Samhain Publishing

Publisher URL: www.samhainpublishing.com

ISBN/BIN: 978-1-61921-927-4

Genre: {M/F} Urban Fantasy Series

Rating: 4.5 Nymphs

Literary Nymphs Reviewer: Dragon Minx

Brenna Baudouin was banished to Earth for using her Shadow Bearer powers to kill the people responsible for her husband’s death. She’s spent nine decades protecting others against supernatural creatures who’ve reached Earth through the veil separating the planes. On returning from an exorcism, Brenna learns she’s been assigned a new partner…one she doesn’t know and doesn’t trust.

Getting close to Brenna is part of Gray Warlow’s plan for revenge but it forces him to use a glamour to keep his identity secret. As they work together to determine how more demons are getting to Earth, Gray learns Brenna isn’t the woman he was lead to believe. As their attraction increases, so does the danger, and they have to find a way to completely trust each other or it could spell the end of them and everyone on Earth.

Shadows of Fate is the first release in the new urban fantasy series, Shadow Born, by Angela Dennis. As a fan of this genre, the premise sounded fascinating. The story grabbed my attention at the start and kept it until the end. I didn’t want to stop reading and easily read it in one day.

Brenna’s a great character. What happened in her past changed her—has made her tough. She’s not the same person she was when she was banished and the author has done a great job developing her personality and creating a rich background with depth and details. Gray’s character is equally well constructed but I had trouble liking him at the beginning because of his deception. It definitely helped that the story is told from both points of view so I knew what he was feeling, allowing my opinion to change as the plot progressed. 

There are so many things that make this story well done. The creativity in world building is top-notch. The details of what’s happened to the Earth since a devastating war make the story come alive. And I love the mix of paranormal races the author brought together to fill the newly changed world with. There’s a fast pace, magic, action, danger, betrayal and a complex storyline with a nasty villain that’s guaranteed to keep the pages turning. If you enjoy books in the paranormal or urban fantasy genre I suggest you give this one a try. I’ll be watching for the next book in this creative and entertaining series. 

Born of Stone

Title: Born of Stone

Author: Missy Jane

Publisher: Samhain Publishing

Publisher URL: www.samhainpublishing.com

ISBN/BIN: 978-1-61922-023-2

Genre: {M/F} Urban Fantasy Series Recommended Read

Literary Nymphs Reviewer: Dragon Minx

Release Date: 05-27-2014

Orestes and his twelve gargoyle brothers were magically created by the King’s wizards to protect the realm and its people and for seventy years, he has served them well. He has little contact with the human inhabitants of the kingdom, but that changes the night a petite serving woman catches Orestes’s eye. It’s obvious Astrid’s frightened but Orestes doesn’t know why. When he learns the castle overseer has beaten her, he and his brothers are furious. He takes Astrid to his room to care for her injuries and then makes love to her.

Despite her attachment, Astrid believes her new liaison with Orestes is temporary.  When he’s called away for a few days, evil enters the castle and she’s kidnapped by a traitor. Their bond is much stronger than either realizes. Can Orestes find Astrid before it’s too late?

Born of Stone is the first release in the new series by Missy Jane, Gargoyle Masters.

Wow. I’m always cautious with an unfamiliar author but when I discovered gargoyles were the paranormal shifters featured here, I knew I had to read it. Frankly, I didn’t know what to expect from Ms. Jane’s writing when I started, but I’m happy to report she exceeded my expectations. The premise is intriguing, the pace steady, and the plot complicated which kept my interest until the end. It’s also filled with interesting secondary characters and the world building is, in my opinion, top-notch. The descriptions are vivid, pulling you into the story immediately, and the details of the life and culture of the time period really brought Born of Stone alive. Even the villain of the story is interesting. And yes, the problem with him is resolved a little abruptly but you can tell by the ending that this guy isn’t finished causing trouble, and I can’t wait to see what he does in the next release. So yes, look for an ongoing story line in this series. 

Now to Orestes. What we’ve learned about him, his brothers, and their creation is an interestingly different slant on how gargoyles are usually handled in paranormal romances. It’s a definite creative flair I really enjoyed and all the little surprises really added to the overall reading enjoyment. Orestes’s also just an intriguing guy in his own right—and I like him. Add in downtrodden Astrid, and their new and growing relationship and you have a story I couldn’t stop reading. I for one can’t wait for the next release in this well written and entertaining series. Watch for it. I will be.

Rise of the Blood

Title: Rise of the Blood

Author: Lucienne Diver

Publisher: Samhain Publishing

Publisher URL: www.samhainpublishing.com

ISBN/BIN: 978-1-61921-654-9

Genre: {M/F} Urban Fantasy Series

Rating: 4 Nymphs

Literary Nymphs Reviewer: Dragon Minx

Life isn’t going smoothly for Tori Karacis and being linked by the tabloids to Apollo Demas isn’t helping. It’s making her cranky and her honey, Detective Nick Armani isn’t happy either. Things get worse after she learns Zeus and Poseidon have escaped from jail—and then Tori receives several death threats. Getting her and Nick out town for her cousin’s wedding in Delphi can’t come fast enough, but the plane isn’t a safe place to be. It’s almost jerked out of the sky by an angry god. But being on the ground in Greece isn’t any safer than the air. A long forgotten cult attempts a blood sacrifice and accidentally awakens Rhea, a mother goddess who has long been dormant. Now she’s back in the world, angry and out of control. What else can go wrong at the wedding? Rhea tries to awaken the titans.

Rise of the Blood is the newest release in Lucienne Diver’s paranormal series, Latter-Day Olympians. Due to the ongoing story line and recurring characters, the books should be read in order. 

There’s a lot going on in this story. It’s really pretty much non-stop action of one type or another from beginning to end. Along with it you get a smooth plot flow, nice imagery, a unique locale, lots of interesting characters and great bantering dialogue. That’s not to say there aren’t serious moments too, because there’s plenty of danger once Tori and Nick get on the plane. Relationships are evolving and changing, we learn more about the various gods and there’s even betrayal, earthquakes and a trip to Hades as part of the plot. What more could you want? It really has a bit of everything. And you get a funny, kick-ass heroine too. My only big complaint is the abrupt ending, which I found jarring.  

Blood of an Ancient

Title: Blood of an Ancient

Author: Rinda Elliott

Publisher: Samhain Publishing

Publisher URL: www.samhainpublishing.com

ISBN/BIN: 978-1-61921-427-9

Genre: {M/F} Urban Fantasy Series

Rating: 4 Nymphs

Literary Nymphs Reviewer: Dragon Minx

Release Date: 10-22-13

Beri O’Dell needs to get her lover Nikolos back from where he’s been imprisoned in a level of hell. It’s a dangerous mission and before she can go after him, Beri has to fix her friend Blythe’s broken magic and find the blood of an ancient. Neither task is quick or easy, but that’s not all she and her friends have to deal with. Something evil is sucking the life out of people and the land, witches are being enthralled, and somehow a messed up spell is transporting Beri to Nikolos—right into hell, every time she goes to sleep.  Beri will need to use every trick at her disposal if she wants to retrieve Nikolos before he forgets who he is forever.

Blood of an Ancient is the second release in Rinda Elliott’s Beri O’Dell series. It takes up shortly after the first book left off, so they should be read in order.

The world Ms. Elliott has created just keeps getting better. The depth of her descriptions and the variety of characters continue to amaze me—and she somehow manages to weave them into a complicated plot and have it make sense. I mean who would have thought that astral projection, demons, be-spelled witches and a sprite vampire would actually work together, but it does and that’s just some of the components in this well written story.

Personality development of the characters is all top-notch. The pace is fast, there are plenty of baddies and I’m happy to say we get to learn a little more about Beri’s mysterious and dangerous family. I also can’t forget that there’s lots of action and danger as she and her friends attempt to mount a rescue of Nikolos. As you can probably tell there’s just a lot going on in this story—really too much for a review to do it justice. I suggest you give this series a try and see for yourself. Be aware—it ends on a cliffhanger that will be resolved—I assume in book three. I look forward to the next release.

A Little Bit More

Title:  A Little Bit More

Author:  Amanda Vyne

Publisher:   Loose Id, LLC

Publisher URL:  www.loose-id.com

ISBN/BIN:  978-1-62300-423-1

Genre:  {M/F}, Paranormal, Urban Fantasy, Series

Rating:  4.5 Nymphs

Literary Nymphs Reviewer:  Amazon Nymph

Kel is sure that Gabe is ashamed of her and doesn’t want a child with her.  Gabe knows Kel is his heart.

The latest story in the Arcane Crossbreeds series, A Little Bit More, picks up the story of Gabe and Kel about a year after the first book, More Than Blood, ends.  Even though they both love each other and have bonded, there are some misperceptions that neither really tried to talk out. 

While Kel is a strong woman, she is very insecure within her own society because of the way she was raised, due to her being a crossbreed.  The fact that Gabe is a purebred from one of the major houses doesn’t help. 

I like this fast paced short story as it also gives the reader a glimpse of possible future stories as the various Arcane societies try to learn to live in the modern world.  I am looking forward to reading more about the various societies, especially the Drachon.

Dweller on the Threshold

Title: Dweller on the Threshold

Author: Rinda Elliott

Publisher: Samhain Publishing

Publisher URL: www.samhainpublishing.com

ISBN/BIN: 978-1-61921-426-2

Genre: {M/F} Contemporary Urban Fantasy

Rating: Recommend Read

Literary Nymphs Reviewer: Dragon Minx

Beri O’Dell’s six feet tall and stronger than most men. She has long, white-streaked hair that glows in the sun and moonlight—and doesn’t have a clue what she is. Growing up in foster care left her feeling alone but her relationship with her one-time foster-sister, Detective Elsa Remington, is her one constant. Beri’s in Florida when she gets word Elsa’s in a coma. It seems a paranormal creature is stealing souls and Elsa’s a victim.

Determined to save Elsa, Beri heads to the city to track down whatever is responsible. Helping Beri is her two spirit guides, a witch and a fussy necromancer. The last member of their group is Nikolos, an ancient Minoan warrior, who know exactly who they need to find.  It’s a creature he fought millennia ago and just barely won—so it’s bad. But they have to try—no matter what the cost—or the Dweller on the Threshold could destroy everything.

Dweller on the Threshold is the first release in Rinda Elliott’s new urban fantasy series, featuring kick-ass heroine Beri O’Dell.

New authors are always an uncertainty but I was so enthralled by the premise of this book I had to give it a try, and I’m glad I did. Not only is Beri a complicated and well developed personality but the world building in this first release is top notch. Yes, I admit that it’s complicated and at times a bit confusing but that’s because there are so many layers, interesting secondary characters and vivid details that almost paint a picture of Beri’s world. So yes, that means you need to pay attention.

Don’t think that it’s all doom and gloom. There are some lighthearted moments and even a few chuckles because of the snarky digs and comments between some of the characters—it’s really pretty amusing. There’s some pretty intense chemistry between Beri and Nikolos too, but the love element takes a backseat to the urban fantasy part of the story, all without shortchanging it. Well done, Ms. Elliott.

I really couldn’t get enough of this wildly creative story and was disappointed when I got to the last page. I didn’t want it to end. I wanted more. Be aware that this is an ongoing story arc and several of the plot threads are left dangling to be dealt with in the next book. Look for Blood of an Ancient coming in October. I can’t wait.

Community Service

Title: Community Service

Author: Vaughn R. Demont

Publisher: Samhain Publishing

Publisher URL: www.samhainpublishing.com

ISBN: 978-1-61921-448-4

Genre: {M/M} Urban Fantasy Series

Rating: 3 Nymphs

Literary Nymphs Reviewer: Chocolate Minx

Release date May 7, 2013

James Black is a young man fleeing an abusive lover, is recued from death and decreed by fate to be the next sorcerer. His old life is erased from existence and his new life is indebted to the powerful god of the underworld. Spencer Crain is a coyote trickster, along with being James’s friend. James is given an assignment to find an escaped evil spirit, as well as return him to Hades.

Community Service is the third book in the Broken Mirrors series. James was sentenced by Hades to two hundred hours of community service for breaking into a secure facility and ending the world; this is James’s first assignment. Spencer and other friends fail at pulling off a con involving a rich vampire, leaving Spencer completely broke, forcing him to seek food and shelter from James. The plot meanders between chapters by characters, which made it somewhat difficult to follow. The mention of the game Dungeons & Dragons is perhaps the key to the storyline, however, I am not familiar with the game and failed to comprehend the story’s entire concept.

Overall, Community Service is an illustration of the character’s depressing existence intermittent with periods of bittersweet memories. Nevertheless some readers may find this story enjoyable. 

Lightning Rod

Title: Lightning Rod

Author: Vaughn R. Demont

Publisher: Samhain Publishing

Publisher URL: www.samhainpublishing.com/

ISBN: 978-1-61921-084-4

Genre: {M/M} Urban Fantasy Series

Rating: 4.5 Nymphs

Literary Nymphs Reviewer: Chocolate Minx

Publication Date: 10-09-2012 

James Black is hurled into a role he neither asked for nor desired. However, fate has declared James will be a sorcerer and so his magical training journey begins.

Lightning Rod is the second book in the Broken Mirrors series. The intricate mystery plot features a number of mythical creatures; wizards, dragons, gods, goddesses, coyote shifter as well as zombies. There is also a great deal of dangerous confrontations with the ex-boyfriend who refuses to die along with the other creatures, all of whom seek to kill James. The characters are creditable. James is a passive college student who finally escapes his abusive live in boyfriend only to end up in the grips of death. Saved by destiny and a god, James is delivered into the hands of his new caretaker, a dragon named Dave. Confused regarding his purpose as well as grieving the lost contact with his family, James goes in search of magical help. Rescued from yet another attempted murder by a powerful sorcerer named Cale, James becomes Cale’s apprentice as well as his lover.

Vaughn R. Demont has created an absorbing and enjoyable fantasy with an unexpected happy for the moment finale. 

Bad Blood

Title: Bad Blood

Author: Lucienne Diver

Publisher: Samhain Publishing

Publisher URL: www.samhainpublishing.com

ISBN: 978-1-60928-492-3

Genre: Urban Fantasy, Series

Rating: 4 Nymphs

Literary Nymphs Reviewer: Dragon Minx 

Everyone’s bloodline is a little mixed up but Tori Karacis’s family is more unusual than most, since hers can be traced back to the god Pan and one of the immortal gorgons. Using the family secret of temporarily freezing someone with a glance comes in handy when Tori takes over her uncle’s P. I. business, when he unexpectedly leaves town. Tori’s reduced to looking for a missing dog and delivering a message to a Hollywood agent, Circe Holland, and ends up witnessing her murder by a scaly, web-fingered monster.  

It’s hard to believe but it looks like all the family stories Tori always thought were nonsense are coming true, and then Apollo…who’s been working as a film star, shows up in her office. Now there are gods and goddesses coming out of the woodwork and the danger surrounding Tori is only getting worse. She also has to contend with her growing attraction to hunky Detective Nick Armani, while trying to keep from getting killed by a small group of the old gods bent on taking over the world. 

Bad Blood is the first in the new series Latter-Day Olympians by Lucienne Diver. It’s classified as an urban fantasy but I don’t know that designation really fits as the setting isn’t dark and gritty and Tori isn’t a kick-ass, uber-martial arts chick as is usually seen in books of that genre. Instead, she’s more of an irreverent smart-mouth who doesn’t know when to keep quiet and the book’s set in ordinary modern day LA…with a few ancient gods and goddesses thrown in.  

There are plenty of twists and turns, lots of action, a couple of near-death experiences, several threats, plenty of action and a mystery to solve as Tori and Nick try to save the city from being destroyed. There’s also a bit of a romance triangle between Tori, Nick and Apollo, mixed in with some humorous dialogue and quirky secondary characters. It’s all added together into a fast paced, complicated plot that makes for an entertaining read.

Ghost Soldiers

Title: Ghost Soldiers

Author: Keith Melton

Publisher: Samhain Publishing

Publisher URL: www.samhainpublishing.com

ISBN: 978-1-60928-498-5

Genre: {M/F} Urban Fantasy, Series

Rating: 4.5 Nymphs

Literary Nymphs Reviewer: Dragon Minx 

Life for vampire hit-man Karl Vance isn’t easy. It got tougher when he’s forced into a contract on a rogue sorcerer, who’s building an army of enslaved paranormal creatures in Eastern Europe. It doesn’t matter how difficult the odds. If he fails to kill his target, the self-righteous Order of the Thorn will kill his vampire lover, Maria Ricardi. Then when he gets in a no-win situation behind enemy lines and there’s no way to fulfill his hit, the people holding his leash still refuse to call off the mission and he’ll be lucky to survive. 

Back in Boston, Maria’s having dreams of Karl in danger and they’re driving her crazy, but it’s just another thing to worry about. There are traitors within her mafia family, FBI agents breathing down her neck, angry crime families from New York threatening her, and creatures under the control of the sorcerer Corjocaru trying to get her to join him. To make matters worse, Maria learns Karl is walking into a trap, and it doesn’t appear there’s anything to do to help him. 

Ghost Soldiers is release two in Keith Melton’s Nightfall Syndicate series and since it follows characters and situations introduced in Blood Vice, I recommend reading it first. This urban fantasy is fast paced with a well written, complicated plot, and it’s filled with plenty of creative twists and turns, and numerous well developed and intriguing characters. It’s non-stop action from beginning to end and take it from me, you need to pay attention to what’s going on or you’ll get lost.

Karl is still as dark and brooding as ever and while he still has a code he tries to live by, he’s now trapped in a dangerous position that limits his own honor. Yes, he’s a vampire assassin and while you might think who and what he is might make him unlikable, that couldn’t be further from the truth. He’s still a man of principle, trying to do the best he can under terrible circumstances to protect the woman he loves. There’s a lot of action going on throughout the story, both in Romania where Karl is for the majority of the story and Boston, where Maria is struggling for control of her mafia family. In both locations, there are numerous secondary characters that add interest and flair to the story, and there are a few scattered paranormal creatures for added flavor. Take note that this isn’t a romance or a lighthearted read, so if that’s what you’re looking for, the series isn’t for you, but if you’re looking for an intense and riveting read, give it a try.

Resistance

Title: Resistance
Author: Selena Illyria
Publisher: Changeling Press
Publisher URL: http://changelingpress.com/
ISBN: 978-1-60521-607-2
Genre: {M/F} Paranormal, Urban Fantasy, BDSM, Series
Rating: 4 Nymphs
Literary Nymphs Reviewer: Amethyst Nymph

Life is so good when Katrina takes a chance and lets Braydon into her heart. But, things get confusing when he disappears for weeks. Katrina’s insecurities surface as she wonders if Braydon has been playing games with her. Receiving no word from him leaves Katrina torn between anger and worry.

Braydon knows he’s in danger of messing up his relationship with Katrina if he doesn’t get home soon but locating his brother is taking longer than expected. After the weekend they’d spent together, there is no way Braydon plans on letting Katrina leave him.

Katrina and Braydon are on the verge of starting their happy life together when circumstances rip them apart. Katrina has no idea what’s going on because Braydon hasn’t corresponded with her. She tries hard to give him the benefit of the doubt, but Katrina keeps imagining that Braydon found someone else. And of course, that couldn’t be farther from the truth. Braydon was doing everything in his power to get home to her before another suitor tries taking his place.

Resistance is futile in this erotic story, because Braydon puts his foot down. He knows when to push the issue, and when to let Katrina have control. There are moments when everything seems to go wrong and I feared Katrina would never give Braydon a chance to explain. Once or twice, I found myself getting angry at Katrina for doubting Braydon. Under the circumstances though, I couldn’t blame her. In the end, Katrina grows stronger and I was pleased. The passion between Katrina and Braydon, plus the interesting supporting characters has made me curious. I was sucked into this installment of the Dragon Kin series, so I look forward to reading backwards and discovering how things began between this couple. If you enjoy hot paranormal men who know how to make a girl scream, then this book if for you. Selena Illyria has done a great job of leaving readers hungry for more.

Trammel

Title: Trammel
Author: Anah Crow, Dianne Fox
Publisher: Samhain Publishing
Publisher URL: http://www.samhainpublishing.com/
ISBN: 978-1-60928-458-9
Genre: {M/M}, Urban Fantasy, Shape-shifter
Rating: 4.5 Nymphs
Literary Nymph Reviewer: Critter Nymph

To be published May 24, 2011

Lindsay and Dane have settled into a relationship that just about passes as normal for them. Yet, before they can get too comfortable Cyrus stirs things up, first with the introduction of Noah, and later with his dire predictions.

I would strongly suggest that if some time has passed since you last read Tatterdemalion, the first book in the Foundations of Magic series, you do so before starting Trammel. Trammel, the second book in the series, picks up some time after the end of book one and draws you right back into the fantasy world created by these two wonderful authors. The story is more fantasy than romance; however, the connection between Dane and Lindsay is just as strong as before. I did worry how things would work with the introduction of Noah, a young mage who came into his magic late as a result of a tragedy. It soon becomes easy to see that Noah in no way interferes with the men’s relationship and, in some ways, makes things easier for Dane.

When a young girl comes into her powers, old villains show up. This allowed the authors to throw everyone’s lives into a tailspin. There are many twists and turns, some you would least expect that keep you glued to this book, but leaves you wondering what will happen in book three. For those who enjoy the urban fantasy genre, Trammel will be a great addition to your library but remember to read Tatterdemalion first or you will be lost to what’s going on.

Darkling Lust

Title: Darkling Lust
Author: Marteeka Karland
Publisher: Changeling Press
Publisher URL: http://www.changelingpress.com/
ISBN: 978-1-60521-412-2
Genre: {M/F}, Urban Fantasy
Rating: 4 Nymphs
Literary Nymphs Reviewer: Amazon Nymph

Mary reads about Darklings and doesn’t believe what she has read. Two days later, Drykin comes to claim her and she realizes that not only are they real, but what she has done by reading the book.

Darkling Lust is the second book in The Darkling series. In this fast paced book, Mary has some decisions to make after she realizes Darklings actually exist. The chemistry between Drykin and Mary is good, but the emotions both feel and have to overcome are very realistic when confronted with new and frightening situations. The additional interactions with the two secondary characters add an interesting element, especially between Drykin and his brother.

The concept the author has created with the Darklings is interesting, especially about reading a book to find your mate and the possible scenarios that invokes. I am looking forward to future stories about the Darklings.

Valhalla

Title: Valhalla
Author: Mandy M. Roth
Publisher: Samhain Publishing
Publisher URL: http://www.samhainpublishing.com/
ISBN: 978-1-60928-145-8
Genre: {M/F} Urban Fantasy
Rating: 4 Nymphs
Literary Nymphs Reviewer: Mystical Nymph

Living in Odin’s heavenly paradise of Valhalla sounds like a walk in the park but for Linnea, one of the Valkyrie, it’s anything but. Even though she’s always followed the directives of the Elder Valkyries, she’s not happy about many of the things she needs to do to fight the evil looming on the horizon.

Her newest assignment makes her particularly unhappy. Now she’s leaping through time into the most important battles of time trying to get warriors with any supernatural powers to join the Valkyries’ cause. Unfortunately she’s in a battle against time. The vampire demons the Valkyrie maidens are fighting against are after the same warriors and she has to get to them before the bloodsuckers can attack and turn them.

Her quest brings her in contact with Kerr Laochailan and the love she’s desired for years. When it looks like her heart’s desire is within her grasp, Kerr is ripped away from her. Despite her deep emotional pain—her mission must go on—and she’s alone.

Valhalla is the second book in Mandy Roth’s Valkyrie series. She’s done a nice job with the characters from Norse mythology, but used her own unique creative twists and come up with a concept that’s new, fresh and original. Linnea is determined, dedicated and willing to do just about anything to fight the evil threatening the world, even if she doesn’t always like the way she has to go about doing it. She does have men in her life, many men, and some become important to her. Kerr is strong and powerful and their relationship is the most special in her life, influencing her actions for centuries. He is by far my favorite.

The world of Valhalla and its people are vividly described, leaving the reader with a good sense of the vast beauty of their surroundings and the fight against evil that drives them. Linnea is a great character and the author does a nice job moving her in and out of various time periods and countries, making her fit into each era seamlessly. Unfortunately, it’s also the part of the plot where it got confusing. There are just so many people added to the plot and different eras in the last portion that I got a little lost.