LOVE IN THE TIME OF DRAGONS by Katie MacAlister

Paranormal Romance
Signet Sensuality rating: Spicy
ISBN# 978-0-451-22971-7
352 pages
$7.99
Print Paperback- Available Now

Rating: 5 Enchantments
Tully Sullivan is surrounded by crazy people. She wakes up after a 5 week slumber with people telling her she is a dragon. Are they crazy or what. She is a middle aged wife and mother who is a mage apprentice. She would know if she is some legendary dragon. Wouldn’t she?
Baltic is the dreaded and feared Wyvern of the black dragons. At least he used to be until he died. Now he is just dreaded and feared simply because he is dead. That and the fact that he seems to pop up and disappear as no other dragon can do and he leaves a trail of bodies behind him. Is he really alive or is he just the ghost of the once great and powerful wyvern.
LOVE IN THE TIME OF DRAGONS is the first book in the light dragons series. Although this is a new series it, like all the other dragon series, tie together so it is best to read the books from the first green dragon book, YOU SLAY ME. The hero in this book is anything but a hero. He is the ex-wyvern of the black dragons. He slayed hundreds of dragons in the wars, and is even currently responsible for dozens of deaths in present day. He had no equal and nothing could take him down. That is until the death of his beloved mate Ysolde. It was her death that caused him to get a moment of weakness and ultimately he paid in his life. That was hundreds of years ago, so how is it that he is alive and kicking now?

Tully Sullivan, mage apprentice, has mysterious dreams. In these dreams there is one who is so dark and mysterious he feels so real. But she is not scared of him. She has moments in time where she passes out, often for weeks at a time. But her memory seems to falter. Could these dreams be memories coming back to the surface? Who is this mysterious man and why does she have a connection to him when other people seem to even curse his name?

This is the book I have been waiting for! Katie MacAlister has outdone herself. Each of her books seem to be better than the rest but this one is by far my favorite. Of course when the next one in the series comes out I will probably think that one is the best too.

Baltic is a hero unlike any of our other heroes. Drake is a grumpy dragon set in his ways, Gabriel is a loving and kind dragon, and Baltic is a bad boy. He never tries to make excuses for his actions and he never apologizes for them. He has a lot to atone for and he is willing to. He steps up and takes on the role of father quite well. In fact that is a part that I did not really like. He went from complaining about Tully’s son to the next page making him call him dad. I just expected a little more resistance.

Tully, or Ysolde, is completely opposite of Baltic. She is just a big mess. I am still not sure why she passes out for weeks at a time, but I am hoping that the other books will explain that. She also went from thinking everyone was crazy, to thinking she was crazy, to all of a sudden accepting it all. She is a big mystery but I am sure each of the books in this series will help to reveal a little more about her. Brom is a character that I think has more to him than meets the eye. I am expecting a big surprise by the end of the series.

Overall this book was great. There is very little I think I would change. I am so happy that Mrs. MacAlister keeps all of her past characters involved in her current books. I am thinking that each dragon set will end up having a series. The Blue dragons will be interesting, and the red dragons are completely mysterious but the black dragons are a group that I am dying to read about. Kostya is a character that seems has yet to be fully developed. He is an active part of these books, after all he was Baltic’s second in command and best friend, and I hope his character keeps revealing more of himself. One thing Katie MacAlister does is keep you wanting more.

Katie MacAlister is the author of several paranormal, historical and contemporary series. She even has a young adult series that she writes under the name Katie Maxwell. To find out more about her and her amazing books please visit her website at http://www.katiemacalister.com/

Jennifer
ENCHANTING REVIEWS
April 2010

SINFUL by Charlotte Featherstone

Historical Romance
Harlequin Spice
Sensuality Rating: Sizzling
ISBN #978-0-373-60543-9
$13.95
336 pages
eBook & Trade Paperback—Available Now

Rating: 4.5 Enchantments

Jane Rankin's only goal in life is to be respectable. Her past has shown her what happens to those without such a goal, and she refuses to put herself into that position. She's a paid companion by day, and a nurse by night. Her job as a companion has placed her on the edge of the aristocracy. She began nursing to fulfill a debt, but in it she has found respectable work that she enjoys and can envision herself to continue on into the future.


Matthew, Earl of Wallingford, is a disreputable rake. He would rather debase himself with scandal than become a respectable hypocrite. He suffers from a secret that he can never divulge. Something so shameful that he could not it bear to be known. He cannot open himself up to the vulnerability of emotion.


When Matthew is beaten and left for dead, he awakens to the touch and sound of an Angel. Jane makes him yearn for her in a way he's never felt about anybody. Jane is drawn to Matthew's forbidden touch. Can either of these lost souls learn to trust and love one another?

****

SINFUL by no means follows any standard formula for historical romance. I was enthralled by Jane and Matthew's actions and emotions in reaction to their painful life experiences. While the last ¼ of the book ticked me off, I could still appreciate the unconventional Happily Ever After. I really liked this story, I just didn't care for how some of the predicaments where handled.

I hated the situations Jane and Matthew were forced into, as their choices were abysmal, but that is also what made this book so good, as it forced the characters to move on into directions that I wouldn't have foreseen. I'll be honest, part of my reason for reading romance is that awful situations can be easily solved by the authors stroke of a pen. I commend Ms. Featherstone for NOT doing that. In her writing she brought forth so many emotions. The sizzling heat of passion between Jane and Matthew kept the pages fairly smoldering, and I could feel the pain and hate that Matthew and Jane faced.

This was my first experience with Charlotte Featherstone, but it will not be the last, as she has shown me that she can write a HOT romance with some very enticing characters and interesting plot twists, that I don't see coming.

Aemelia
Enchanting Reviews
July 2010

DOPPELGANGSTER (an Esther Diamond Novel) by Laura Resnick

DOPPELGANGSTER (An Esther Diamond Novel)

LAURA RESNICK
Urban Fantasy
Fantasy DAW
ISBN# 978-0-7564-0595-3
Sensuality Rating: Sexy
400 Pages
$7.99
Paperback—Available Now
Rating: 5 Enchantments

When out-of-work actress Esther Diamond turns part-time waitress at Stella’s, a restaurant favored by some of NYC’s most powerful mob families, she couldn’t expect that it would be any more dangerous than usual. Besides, she’s dating Lopez, a cop, and that should be enough to keep some of the touchy-feely types at bay. Yet Lopez’s warning to be careful comes true when Esther witnesses the hit on Chubby Charlie at her table up close and personal. Suddenly, she’s on the cover of every tabloid in the city. Lopez wants her to quit her job and Lucky, the aging hitman wants her help in solving the case before the cops.

Within a few pages, DOPPELGANGSTER quickly became one of my favorite Urban Fantasy reads! Filled with unique and fun characters from Esther to Lucky, the aging hitman, to the mysterious 350 year old mage, Max and his new familiar Nelli, it was easy to slip into the world Ms. Resnick created.

The mystery of whose behind the mysterious death of Chubby Charlie gets deeper when Johnny Be Good is found dead, followed shortly later by another. Suddenly not only Esther’s in danger, but so is Lucky, Max and Lopez, who’d still rather keep Esther out of his investigation. There was so much going on, with twists and turns over who was behind the deaths, who was targeted next and how were Esther and company going to figure things out before it was too late that I had to read the book in one sitting, it was just that good.

It’s hard to pick a favorite scene to highlight for the review, but one that sticks out in my mind is when Lucky organizes a sit-down between the two families shortly after Johnny Be Good is found dead and Max and Esther have to come to the meeting, dressed to fit in. It's hilarious and gives the reader more questions than answers on who could be next and whether or not the real killer is in that room with them.

Fans of Urban Fantasy looking for a fresh read should definitely pick up DOPPELGANGSTER. With its humor and mystery, it has earned a spot on my keeper shelf. Look for the next Esther Diamond novel, UNSYMPATHETIC MAGIC on sale August 3, 2010.

Visit Ms. Resnick online at www.lauraresnick.com to learn out more about this series, including excerpts, and info on the reissuing of the first book in the series.

Lisa
Enchanting Reviews
June 2010

SOUL DANCER by Aurora Rose Lynn

Science Fiction Romance
Resplendence Publishing, LLC
Sensuality Rating: Sizzling
ISBN# 978-1-60735-140-5
Pages 49
$3.50
E-book April 2010

Rating: 5 enchantments
Jamar, the second born male of an affluent Jaquill family on the planet Manitee-a, is involved in actions that might negatively affect his relationship with his parents, older brother Bara, and most importantly the laws of his society: bedding with a kattanee slave.


Kierra, Jamar's object of obsession fears reprisal from all parties, especially from the law. The penalty is death if anyone was ever to discover her affair with her master, Jamar.


Their society has put a wedge between them and has clearly established the nature of their relationship. Katanees are the white slaves of the Jaquill, the dominant black class of the planet.

Prior to reading this novel, I had a preconceived notion of sci-fi romance weird and difficult to pronounce names and places. However, I breezed through this story without stumbling. The romance between the Kierra and Jamar was touching, while the sex scenes were awesome to the point were you could actually feel their pain and anguish as the story evolved. I am definitely looking forward to reading another story by Ms Lynn.

Victoria
Enchanting Reviews
June 2010