Plethora of Good Reads in 2009

The last month of 2008 was cold, icy, snowy and windy in my part of Kansas. I spent a lot of time indoors reading (of course!) and have several personal recommendations. I picked some great books and will tell you about four of them.

BLUE SMOKE AND MURDER (Wm. Morrow hardcover, 5/08) by Elizabeth Lowell involves more operatives of the secretive St. Kilda’s Consulting. As a part-time consultant for St. Kilda, Zach Balfour’s expertise involves gathering and analyzing information. So he’s not sure he’s the right man to act as a bullet catcher for Jill Breck. But one of the premier operators of the firm owes Jill for saving his son. He’ll do whatever it takes to protect Jill when a mysterious fire kills her aunt and threats are made on her life. This is an excellent addition to this series that’s had some highs and lows as far as featured characters are concerned. I recommend this one highly.

In PLAY DIRTY (Pocket, 7/08), Sandra Brown has written one of the most compelling and thought-provoking thrillers I’ve read by her. Disgraced Cowboys quarterback Griff Burkett, newly released from federal prison for betting on and throwing games, has no prospects for a job or of renewing old friendships. He’s a pariah, so when a rich, childless couple, Foster and Laura Speakman contact him with a highly generous offer, he’s more than eager to listen. But even he’s not prepared for what they suggest, and he’s not sure he can fulfill the terms of the Speakman’s contract. You see, Griff is supposed to impregnate the beautiful Laura, since her husband is unable to do so. And it has to be done the normal, natural way and not through any artificial means. Well, you cannot begin to imagine where all of this leads or how it ends. I could not fathom how this book was going to progress and eventually culminate; it was full of many surprises for me. That’s why I loved it so much and could not put it down. Wow!

DARK OF THE MOON (Berkley, 9/08) by John Sandford is the first thriller featuring the spin-off character Virgil Flowers from Sanford’s best-selling Prey crime series. Virgil is a hot-shot cop who kicked around at a lot of things before settling down three years ago with the Minnesota Bureau of Criminal Apprehension headed by Lucas Davenport. This time, Virgil is in a small rural town dealing with something that’s weirder than anything he’s ever handled before. But handle it he does, in expert fashion. Virgil has been a favorite character of mine from the Prey books, and I really enjoyed him as the lead person in this interesting crime suspense.

HEAT LIGHTNING (Putnam hardcover, 9/08) by John Sandford continues the Virgil Flowers saga with the savvy cop dealing with a serial killer who wedges lemons in the mouths of his victims before posing them near veterans’ memorials. As he investigates, Virgil becomes convinced that someone is working from a specific list of names that has a connection to incidents from the Vietnam War. This riveting plot kept me hooked as the clues were meticulously uncovered by this intelligent and likable cop. I highly recommend this one, too.

Amanda Scott’s 50th novel, BORDER MOONLIGHT (Forever), goes on sale January 5, 2009. This book culminates her medieval-era Scottish Borders trilogy, which includes BORDER WEDDING (3/08) and BORDER LASS (9/08). Lady Sibylla rejected the first three suitors her father chose, which included Lord Simon Murray, who did not take the rejection lightly. When they meet again under dire circumstances, they are surprised at their mutual attraction. However, their burgeoning love must overcome some very strong obstacles before a future together is realized.

January 6, 2009, is a big day for lots of new books to go on sale. Here’s just a small sampling of some of the titles:

Full-figured vampire Glory St. Clair returns for more surreal fun in REAL VAMPIRES DON’T DIET (Berkley trade), the fourth installment of Gerry Bartlett’s charmingly hilarious Real Vampires series. Nothing seems to go right for poor Glory. On New Year’s Eve, she gets stood up by her long-time boyfriend, then a moonlight boat cruise with a rock star, who’s a newly-made-vampire, turns deadly when they encounter a Siren in the lake intent on trapping vampires. With her best friend mad at her and a big storm brewing in the area, as well as other surprises, Glory has her hands full this time.

Cathie Linz recommends that SMART GIRLS THINK TWICE (Berkley Sensation) when it comes to dangerously sexy men. Emma Riley is back in her hometown for both her sisters’ weddings. With her job in jeopardy, she’s even more depressed with the entire situation. Thinking that the success of her research project is in the hands of sexy Jake Slayter, Emma pursues him. But Jake doesn’t want to have anything to do with Emma or her project. Just who will get their way?

The battle begun in Jessica Andersen’s first Final Prophecy novel, NIGHTKEEPERS (Signet Eclipse, 6/08), continues in DAWNKEEPERS (Signet Eclipse) as the countdown to the end of days has begun. Ancient Mayan prophecy states that demons from the underworld will emerge on 12/21/2012. Only the Nightkeepers, mortal descendants of an ancient race of magical warrior-priests, can stop the demons. When Nightkeeper Nate Blackhawk is forced to work with his ex-lover and nemesis Alexis Gray to recover antiquities inscribed with vital clues before the demons do, they have to deal with their personal pasts to save the future.

Joey W. Hill follows up her exceptional novel A MERMAID’S KISS (Berkley Sensation, 11/08) with A WITCH’S BEAUTY (Berkley Sensation). When angel David is dispatched to protect mermaid Mina, she is resistant to his help. However, they have more in common than either can know, and a bond is formed as passion is realized. Reviewer Mandy Burns says A WITCH’S BEAUTY is “full of riveting storylines and complicated relationships in a world where everything is possible.”

The fifth installment in Yasmine Galenorn ’s Otherworld series, NIGHT HUNTRESS (Berkley), continues the Sisters of the Moon saga. The sexy, savvy D’Artigo sisters are half-human/half-Fae operatives for the Otherworld Intelligence Agency. Delilah, a werecat who’s one of the Autumn Lord’s Death Maidens, has to fight off the demon general who stole the third Spirit Seal and is now out for blood.

THE MYSTIC ARTS OF ERASING ALL SIGNS OF DEATH (Ballantine hardcover) by Charlie Huston hits bookstore shelves January 13, 2009. In a departure from his excellent Joe Pitt vampire novels, this stand-alone thriller packs a punch with dark humor, gritty violence and bizarre, foul-mouthed characters. Former LA school teacher Web Goodhue was traumatized by a terrible incident with a bus full of his young students. Now, he’s without a job and mooching off his best friend while he tries not to deal with his horrific past. When an acquaintance offers Web a job as a crime scene cleaner, he figures why not, what’s the worst that could happen? He soon finds out when he gets into tons more drama and death than he ever imagined – but he finds he loves the work and doesn’t want to give it up! I just finished reading this book and could not put it down, even with all the really rank (yet realistic) language that’s used by all the characters involved. For fans of hard-boiled crime fiction, this is a must-read.

The sixth book in Kresley Cole’s Immortals After Dark paranormal series, KISS OF A DEMON KING (Pocket), goes on sale January 20, 2009. When seductive Sabine, Queen of Illusions, traps demon king Rydstrom Woede in her lair, he fights hard to resist her erotic charms and escape. Once he breaks free, he turns the tables and abducts her, vowing to keep her no matter what. Sabine struggles hard to deny her attraction to this battle-scarred warrior, but they both know it’s fruitless to deny their hunger for each other. But a sinister enemy stands between them. Who will make the ultimate sacrifice to keep the other safe?

January 27, 2009, is the next release date for an abundance of new titles:

In her new medical mystery, WARNING SIGNS (Jove), C J Lyons takes us back to Pittsburgh's Angels of Mercy Hospital where student Amanda struggles to finish medical school while dealing with mysterious symptoms that have been affecting her performance. When a patient with the same symptoms dies and another slips into a coma, Amanda knows her own survival is at risk. With the help of friends Gina, Lydia and Nora, Amanda races to solve this medical mystery before she becomes a victim.

DARKNESS UNKNOWN (Pocket Star) by Alexis Morgan is the fifth entry in her Paladins of Darkness series presenting warriors who are born to defend mankind in the relentless battle against the Others. When Gwen finds a warrior bleeding to death near her farm, she’s shocked when Jarvis heals overnight. Gwen’s teenage half-brother also has this ability. She’s not happy when Jarvis reveals the reason why and that he is duty- bound to introduce the lad to the Paladins' dangerous lifestyle.

Monica McCarty starts a sexy new historical series with the hot Highlanders of Clan Campbell in HIGHLAND WARRIOR (Ballantine). This first book in her back-to-back trilogy tells the story of Jamie Campbell, the ruthless enforcer of the clan. In order to expose treason, he poses as suitor to a rival clan’s daughter – and gets much more than he bargained for when the distinction between duty and pleasure becomes unclear. Then watch for the next two titles: HIGHLAND OUTLAW (on sale 2/24/09) and HIGHLAND SCOUNDREL (on sale 3/24/09).

Julianne MacLean’s popular Pembroke Palace series comes to a close with WHEN A STRANGER LOVES ME (Avon). When an injured lord regains his memory will he still love the woman who saved him? Julianne tells me this is her last book with Avon. She’s recently signed a new contract to write a Scottish Highlander trilogy for St. Martin’s Press. She tells me, I don't have release dates yet, but I'll keep you posted. I'm hard at work on the first book now, and I'm really enjoying the change in setting. I spent a big chunk of the spring and summer doing research, and the first book in the trilogy is about a super-savage alpha male who just happens to be…you guessed it…a MacLean.

Tina Wainscott is writing under a new pen name, Jaime Rush, and debuts this new pseudonym with the release of A PERFECT DARKNESS (Avon), the first book in a unique paranormal series dubbed Offspring. Twenty years ago, the government isolated a group of civilians with extreme talents and tried to turn them into human weapons. The chemicals used caused dangerous side effects, so the project was terminated. Now, after learning that the Offspring of those subjects are more powerful than their parents, the government is reopening the project – regardless of the risks.

Vampires and werewolves collide in a new urban romantic fantasy series penned by a “guy’s guy.” BLOOD BLADE (Eos) by Marcus Pelegrimas is the first book in the Skinners series and touted as “a man’s take” on this paranormal genre usually written by women authors, such as Kim Harrison and Laurell K. Hamilton. Billed to be “darker, more violent and full of action,” BLOOD BLADE stars videogame producer Cole Warnecki, who ends up in the world of vampires and werewolves. Cole finds himself paired with a Skinner named Page fighting against the supernatural.

DARK OF NIGHT (Ballantine hardcover) is the 14th Troubleshooters novel by Suzanne Brockmann. Former Navy Seal Lawrence Decker joins forces with FBI agent Jules Cassidy when hits are ordered on Decker and former CIA agent Dave Malkoff. Decker’s unlikely team also includes Tess Bailey, Sophia Ghaffari and the unpredictable receptionist Tracy Shapiro. A surprising romantic encounter catches Decker off guard when he meets a woman who actually understands him. Suan Wilson states in her review, Brockmann can still produce surprises in the characters’ relationships. I did not see this one coming, making it probably the most enjoyable storyline yet.

Jana DeLeon creates a new series called Ghost-in-Law with TROUBLE IN MUDBUG (Love Spell). Maryse Robicheaux is definitely feeling the heat of the Louisiana bayou as she contends with being hounded by the wise-ass ghost of her mother-in-law, a too-sexy-for-his-own-good fellow office worker, as well as a killer on the loose. In rare form, Deleon delivers another of her laugh-out-loud Southern mystery romances chockfull of delightfully quirky characters.

THE SINS OF LORD EASTERBROOK (Dell) by Madeline Hunter is the fourth and final book in the Rothwell Brothers series. Christian, Marquess of Easterbrook, is reunited with a woman from his past, Leona Montgomery. Seven years ago, Christian awakened Leona to a sinful sensuality that immediately reignites when they meet again.

I can honestly say I’m glad that 2008 is finally behind us. And I’m hopeful that 2009 will be a much better year – in many aspects. So stay tuned… Tanzey