BAD MOON RISING by Sherrilyn Kenyon

Bad Moon Rising
by
Sherrilyn Kenyon
St. Martin's Press
Hardcover Release
August 4, 2009

BAD MOON RISING is the long awaited for story of Fang, the wolf were-hunter, and Aimee, the bear were-hunter.

Die-hard Kenyon fans have been waiting for this book for a long time. In many ways it lived up to expectations and in many ways it fell short.

If you are a Kenyon fan and you have read all of her books, you have already read half the book. It begins at the beginning. (Literally and figuratively speaking.) Once again the reader is given the legend of how the were races were created in the Prologue. This is a good thing to include. Those who are familiar with the series can skip over it, those who are new to it can read the history if they choose. Then chapter one begins with a pack of were-hunters breezing into New Orleans, pre-Katrina, to visit the other worldly bar Sanctuary. The book is chock full of many characters the reader met in the earlier Dark Hunter and Were Hunter books, at least the books that took place in New Orleans.

Lady Mischief found it refreshing to have the previous books updated for her in BAD MOON RISING. She has read many a series that have traversed years, decades even, and many of the names are so similar that even when the author provides you with a genealogy chart it is difficult to keep all the players apart.

That being said, the material from past books seems to take as much space in this tome as the new material does.

Bad Moon is more bridge than edifice. New dimensions, new gods, new demons are introduced while old friends are fading into the background.

With the introduction of both Varyk and Thorn Lady Mischief found herself quivering in anticipation of future delights. Both have promise of being the tortured hero Ms. Kenyon has made her own.

Unfortunately Lady Mischief's favorite tortured hero, Acheron, only made a token appearance. It probably has something to do with that totally unworthy woman who became his wife. She seems to be sapping all the godliness out of him. Totally unworthy!!!

Looking at this book as a bridge, and grateful not to have to read the other books again, Lady Mischief gives this book a rating of:

four (4)

Yours forever between the covers of a book,
Lady Mischief

Fury Calls by Caridad Pineiro

Fury Calls

The Calling
by Caridad Pineiro

Silhouette Nocturne
March 2009
Contemporary Paranormal Romance

Blake Richards led a hard life as a poor Welsh coal miner. Existence as a vampire wasn't much easier and it was a lot lonelier.

Former all American College Girl, Meghan Thomas really hated Blake for what he had done to her. First he turned her on and then he turned her.

Blake couldn't stay away from her. Her warmth drew him. She was the answer to his soul's question and she may not want to admit it, but she needed him as much as he needed her.

These are two of the most likable characters to have appeared in a Nocturne, yet. But, they have to travel through hell before they can even think about sharing time together.

Lady Mischief is going to issue a warning here. I try very hard not to throw any spoilers into my reviews, but sometimes there are things that readers need to be prepared for. If it is something they will not be comfortable with they must be made aware, then they will be able to make an informed decision. They can either skip over the offensive part or just not read the book at all. Otherwise it could cause a perfectly good book to become a wallbanger and an excellent author to be placed on the do-not-read list.

Anyway, that's my rationalization for revealing this "oh, oh". There are a few scenes where Blake is remembering his childhood and how he had to go to the nasty old wealthy man's house and do vile things with him in order to obtain money for food for his family. That is until he was old enough to go down in the mines and do a man's work even though he was still a child. This is horrible, but real. Children have been forced to endure treatment like this throughout the history of the world, and unfortunately they still are. It's not pretty and not what we are use to finding in a romance book, but since Sherrilyn Kenyon tortured the young "Acheron" it is appearing in more books.

The second "oh, oh" is about male-on-male rape. I know this has become a rather popular plot devise used in books such as Angela Knight's "Jane's Warlord". But in "Jane's Warlord" we are told that it happened and we do not have to live through the experience. The way it is used in "Fury Calls" makes it a crucial part of the story, not just added for prurient interest or for shock value, neither is it done to a main character. But it is done and we get to read all about it. More than once.

In a Silhouette book.

I buy all the Nocturnes (all two of them) when they are on my local store shelves every month. I don't bother to see who the author is or what the book is about until I get home. I like Nocturnes and I want to make sure they do not go the way of the Dodo, Silhouette Shadows, or Silhouette Bombshells. I would have bought this book even if I had read the back of it. The story is wonderful and part of a series with continuing characters.

Caridad Pineiro is a delightful writer. She wrote a story with bold material. She pushed the envelope that Harlequin/Silhouette usually doesn't want to soil it's lily white gloves on. She created a book which the reader will not soon forget.

In spite of any potential controversy over the man-on-man action there are two very vulnerable, very likable characters that have a need to either find a way to be together or to vacate one another's life. Permanently.

This is an emotionally appealing story and rates:

Four (4) ice treats,

Yours forever between the covers of a book,

Lady Mischief