Anniversaries and Lots to Read!

The leaves have turned to beautiful shades of red, orange and gold among the green, and some are starting to fall to the ground as seasons change in Kansas. As the spooks and goblins are put to rest for another year, we anticipate getting together later this month with family and friends to celebrate all that we are thankful for in our lives. Of course, great books to read are high on my list, as well as the many friends I’ve made through the love of books and writing.

Sorry to say, but I have no personal recommendations this month, since all of the reading I did in October was ARCs for reviewing purposes. I also didn’t have as much free time, since Allen and I were busy planning a big celebration for our 40th anniversary, which took place October 18. I hope to have more time this month, since the books are again piling up faster than I can read them. But isn’t that always the case?!

Bonnie Vanak’s ENEMY LOVER (Silhouette Nocturne), is available November 1, 2008. This is Damian Marcel’s story, from THE EMPATH, Bonnie’s first Nocturne release. Overwhelming arrogance demands that Damian claim Jamie Walsh, since she’s the only woman who can sate his powerful, untamed hunger. However, Jamie believes Damian is the Draicon werewolf who murdered her brother. Even though she fights him every step of the way, she only succeeds in binding herself to him. But the same magick that links them together is slowly killing Jamie, for she’s infected with a spell that’s turning her to stone. As they race against time to find a cure and ward off attacks from the evil Morphs, Damian hopes that Jamie will finally accept him as her lover.

On November 4, 2008, Kate Kingsbury is ushering in the holiday season at the Pennyfoot Hotel with RINGING IN MURDER (Berkley Prime Crime trade), the newest book in this delightful cozy mystery series. As Cecily Sinclair Baxter makes preparations for the holiday meal, she’s providing a special treat at each guest’s table setting – a handmade Christmas cracker. Most contain a paper hat, a joke or a trinket, but one lucky guest will discover a sparkling pearl brooch. When two crackers go astray, things turn less than jolly. A mysterious fire breaks out in an upstairs room, killing the mood – and a guest. And scraps of paper at the scene indicate a Christmas cracker may be to blame. Cecily is determined to solve this mystery before another deadly present turns up.

Laurell K. Hamilton’s newest novel, SWALLOWING DARKNESS (Ballantine hardcover) goes on sale November 4, 2008. Meredith Gentry’s existence and her rightful place on the throne have long depended on her ability to produce an heir. Now, finally, after many failed attempts, the attentions of her royal guards have enabled her to become pregnant. She carries not one, but two babies, and she knows the children have different fathers. However, her big news is cast into shadow by the loss of her beloved Frost.

Set for release November 4, 2008, is ANY GIVEN DOOMSDAY (St. Martin’s), the first book in a new urban fantasy series dubbed The Phoenix Chronicles by Lori Handeland. Psychic Elizabeth Phoenix is a former cop tending bar at a local hang-out. When her foster mother, Ruthie, is brutally murdered, Liz’s world comes crashing down. With her dying breath, Ruthie gives Liz the unexpected gift of sight. In that instant, Liz becomes the untaught leader of the Foundation, a collection of seers and demon killers. Ruthie’s death also plunges the world into a supernatural war of good and evil. Leading the charge is Jimmy Sanducci, Liz’s friend and former lover, a man she discovers isn’t all he seems to be, as he helps her learn about and accept her psychic gifts.

Jordan Summers kicks off a new urban fantasy trilogy November 4, 2008, with RED (Tor). War is brewing in a near-future world where murder is all but unheard of and the existence of creatures known as the “Others” has yet to be proven. Gina Santiago is a member of an elite tactical team in charge of protecting the world. While following one of the most vicious criminals ever, her trail leads to a gritty, tight-knit town on the fringes of society, where everyone’s a suspect – even the sexy sheriff. The closer Gina comes to catching the predator and discovering the town’s secret, the more fearful she becomes – for she realizes she also has a secret that could make her the killer’s prey.

DARK TEMPTATION (Signet Eclipse), set to go on sale November 4, 2008, is the second gothic novel of Blackheath Moor by Allison Chase. Exiled to Cornwall, Sophie St. Clair knows something is wrong in the village of Penhollow. Mysterious lights and phantom ships seem to indicate smugglers are once again plying their illegal trade. Or have the spirits of long-dead pirates returned? The answers will lead her to both danger and desire, as the tortured Chad Rutherford, Earl of Wycliffe, returns to his family estate near Blackheath Moor. Will the spirits of darkness hold them both forever – or can Chad and Sophie vanquish the evil and claim their future together?

CASTING SPELLS (Berkley trade) is the first book in a new paranormal series set in the small Vermont town of Sugar Maple that’s inhabited with warlocks, sprites, vampires, witches and an ancient secret. This series is a charming departure for contemporary author Barbara Bretton. With a release date of November 4, 2008, CASTING SPELLS features Chloe Hobbs, owner of the local knitting shop Sticks & String – and a sorcerer’s daughter. In her search for Mr. Right, Chloe thinks she’s finally found him in Luke MacKenzie, a cop investigating Sugar Maple’s very first murder. The only problem – Luke’s 100% human, which may not mix well with her paranormal attributes.

Eloisa James’ WHEN THE DUKE RETURNS (Avon) is the fourth installment in her Desperate Duchesses series and set for release November 25, 2008. When a long-absent duke finally returns, he’s in for the shock of his life. Wed by proxy at the age of 12, Lady Isidore has waited 11 years for her husband, the Duke of Cosway, to return to England. When he arrives straight from the wilds of Africa, he shocks her with the declaration that he will not consummate their marriage until he’s convinced she’ll be a suitable wife. So the battle lines are drawn between this feisty firebrand and the man who survived warring tribesmen, fierce lions and hungry crocodiles.

UNTAMED (Leisure), the second book in Pamela Clare’s exciting MacKinnon’s Rangers series, goes on sale November 25, 2008. Amalie, a young French-Métis woman raised in a convent, is given the task of caring for Major Morgan MacKinnon, leader of the dreaded MacKinnon's Rangers, when he’s critically wounded and taken captive by the French. But it distresses Amalie to learn that the French commander wants Morgan to survive so he can interrogate him. She hates that she's saving a man's life so he can be tortured – and then executed. Amalie tries to find a way to spare Morgan’s life, not realizing her actions will have terrible consequences for them both.

Set for release November 25, 2008, is Gayle Callen’s NEVER DARE A DUKE (Avon), the second book in her Sons of Scoundrels series. To increase circulation of her father’s floundering newspaper, Abigail decides to uncover a scandal and write a sensational story that will entice people to buy the paper. Instead, she gets caught in a game of one-upmanship with a dashing duke who’s hiding a devastating secret. The sexual tension of their attraction is elevated as they grapple with the lies between them.

Also set to go on sale November 25, 2008, is Eve Silver’s DEMON’S HUNGER (Forever), the second book in her Compact of Sorcerers, a brotherhood sworn to protect the wall between the human and demon realms. Forensic anthropologist Vivien Cairn’s libido has kicked into overdrive, and she's blacking out, leaving hours of her life unaccounted for and no memory of where she's been or what she's done. When a sexy stranger rescues her from a demon attack, she realizes there's more than just her sanity at stake. A seductive killer is luring victims, and Sorcerer Dain Hawkins finds himself walking a precarious line between duty and desire when the brotherhood begins to suspect that her mysterious symptoms may connect her to the crimes.

Kathryn Caskie begins her Seven Deadly Sins series November 25, 2008, with TO SIN WITH A STRANGER (Avon). The Sinclairs of Scotland are known throughout society as the Seven Deadly Sins. When an anonymous bet is placed at White’s that Isobel Carrington will marry Sterling Sinclair, Isobel believes she can turn the bet into an advantage for her charity and plays along. As bets are placed and the entire populace tries to manipulate the couple, their courtship romp becomes an exciting adventure – until it becomes more serious for one of them.

The second Divorced & Desperate novel by Christie Craig, DIVORCED, DESPERATE AND DATING (Love Spell) goes on sale November 25, 2008. As a mystery writer, Sue Finley murders people on paper. In her personal life, she has a real penchant for picking losers in the man department. After breaking up with a bank robber and divorcing a cross-dresser, she’s given up men for good. That is until sexy Detective Jason Dodd comes into her life after she starts getting death threats.

The Blood Sword Legacy continues November 25, 2008, with MASTER OF TORMENT (Pocket Star), the second installment in Karin Tabke’s fierce and fiery medieval series. Wulfson of Trevelyn, trusted knight of William the Conqueror, has never met a man he could not master. But he may have met his match in the tempestuous young widow Tarian of Trent, known as the Lady Warrior. Ordered by the king to eliminate Tarian’s traitorous bloodline, Wulf captures her only to fall captive to her seductive charms.

Karen MacInerney delivers her second Tale of an Urban Werewolf on November 25, 2008, with ON THE PROWL (Ballantine). Werewolf Sophie Garou is a master at taming her inner beast. With a big promotion at work and a hunky boyfriend, Heath, she’s deliriously happy. But when Heath starts spending long nights at the office with his sexy new associate, Sophie smells trouble. And when her professional relationship with a big new client begins to sizzle, she wonders if her animal instincts are leading her in the wrong direction. Just when it seems things can’t get any more complicated, the Houston werewolf pack sniffs Sophie out. Unless she can be convincing that she’s loyal to them, she may not see the next full moon.

The third Cape Weathers Investigation mystery by Tim Maleeny, GREASING THE PIÑATA (Poisoned Pen Press hardcover) is set to go on sale December 1, 2008. This time, Cape asks his deadly companion, Sally, trained by the Hong Kong Triads, to watch his back when he stumbles onto a conspiracy that leads from corporate boardrooms in San Francisco to strongholds in Mexico. Miles from home, Cape manages to get kidnapped, steal from the mob, piss off the DEA, alienate the local police, confound a computer genius, and somehow lose the client he’s been protecting. This novel entails family, politics and the devastating effects of tequila on a PI’s investigative abilities.

On December 1, 2008, Cara Summers brings back the Angelis family for one last time to tell Dino’s story, COME TOY WITH ME (Harlequin Blaze). Navy captain and special ops agent Dino’s latest assignment is toy store owner Cat McGuire, who’s a suspect in a smuggling ring. In need of a fake fiancé for the holidays, Cat figures Dino is the perfect choice – this is until she discovers his true motives.

The second book in Wendy Roberts’ eerie Ghost Duster mystery series, DEVIL MAY RIDE (Signet), hits bookshelves December 2, 2008. After the crime scene tape comes down, Sadie Novak's job is to clean up what's left. While she mops up the blood, the dead talk to her. This time, Sadie and her sexy partner, Zack, are in an abandoned meth lab when they come across evidence of a chilling cult ritual. This brings Sadie up-close-and-personal with an evil spirit unlike any she’s ever encountered before. When a large bundle of stolen cash is found at the next crime scene she’s cleaning, Sadie knows somehow there’s a connection. Finding out what it is could endanger her life.

Former U.S. Justice Department agent turned rare-book dealer Cotton Malone returns December 2, 2008, in Steve Berry’s THE CHARLEMAGNE PURSUIT (Ballantine hardcover). Since he was a child, Cotton has been told his dad was killed in a submarine accident in the North Atlantic. When his own son starts inquiring about his grandfather, Cotton feels obligated to investigate further into the incident. Cotton asks his ex- boss, Stephanie Nelle, to acquire the secret military files for him, but what he finds stuns him – his father’s sub was a secret nuclear vessel lost on a highly classified mission beneath the ice of Antarctica. However, it turns out that Cotton is not the only one looking for the truth in this matter. Twin sisters, whose father died on the same sub, are fighting for the fortune their mother has promised to whichever of them learns the truth about what became of their father. So the three of them embark on a dangerous quest to finally learn the shocking truth of what really happened all those years ago – and why someone wants to keep it hidden forever.

Next month will find us getting ready for the festive holidays and the end of another year. Can’t wait to see what books are being offered for our entertainment (and escape!).

So stay tuned...Tanzey