King Of Assassins-Jenna Rhodes

King Of Assassins

Jenna Rhodes

DAW, Nov 4 2014, $24.95

ISBN: 9780756408848

The Gods were disgusted at the damage that the Mage Wars did so they took the magic away from them and turned their backs on the people of Kerith. The Vaelinar Elfin like beings of magic were thrown into Kerith and over the centuries this long life spanned species entrenched their way into the infrastructure of this world.  Warrior Queen Lariel rules the land, but trusts no one, not even pregnant Nutmeg who carries her baby.

When invincible Kobrer assassins attack Nutmeg and Rivergrace the goddess-touched Vaelinar, the latter’s hybrid lover Sevryn fights to protect the two females with help from injured former warrior turned trader Bregan.  In the heat of the battle, Bregan flees, but instead of killing Sevryn the Kobrer abruptly cease fighting; they tell him their client broke the contract and he should seek the King’s Assassin.  Discussing what happened with Rivergrace, Sevryn considers whether this affront came from outlawed weapons maker Quendius as a first assault by his brutal army or the Queen’s traitorous rival ild Fallen the Vaelinar.  Changing their assumption from Nutmeg as the target to Sevryn leads to a shocking conclusion that forces him and Rivergrace to flee.

After a six year wait for The Elven Ways Book Three (see The Four Forges and The Dark Ferryman), series fans will relish this exciting entry filled with backstabbing (literally) political intrigue, a heroic lead pair on the run and enemies with agendas to gain or retain power.  Loaded with action from the onset, King Of Assassins is a mesmerizing epic fantasy.

Harriet Klausner

Jala’s Mask-Mike Grinti and Rachel Grinti

Jala’s Mask

Mike Grinti and Rachel Grinti

Pyr, Nov 4 2014, $18.00

ISBN 9781616149789

On the Five-and-One Islands, raised by her Bardo tribe family’s thirst for power, Jala expects to one day become a queen.  When Kayet King Azi selects her as his mate, Jala believes her destiny has been fulfilled, but to her surprise her ambitious kin objects to their marriage.  Seeing an opportunity to replace his nephew as the ruler, Azi’s Uncle Lord Inas encourages dissent.

The islander in-fighting ends with the arrival of a magically powered armada from the mainland; filled with the sorcery-driven insane seeking revenge against the Bardo tribe for their magical marauding.  Meanwhile the Fire Mountain sorcerer warns Jala of dire consequences.  The new Queen concludes that the islanders must put aside their petty squabbles for power or face fate’s death.  However her husband, his uncle and her family fear leading the counterattack, which, encouraged by her BFF Marjani, leaves her to fill the void.

This tremendous gender-bending coming of age fantasy enthralls readers with Jala maturing rather quickly while Azi lags behind his spouse.  The sorcery elements like reef-built raiding ships and the invasion fleet are remarkably refreshing and enhance Team Grinti’s exhilarating saga.

Harriet Klausner

Behind Closed Doors... Anne Oliver

Behind Closed Doors...

Anne Oliver

Harlequin KISS, Nov 1 2014, $5.99

ISBN: 9780373179091

Six years ago, twentyish Jack Devlin left his abusive father Gerry and the teenager he loved Cleo Honeywell to become a renowned photographer.  He comes home for the first time since he fled to attend his father’s funeral, but arrives hours after the burial.  Cleo, who cherished Gerry after her dad abandoned her to run away with his wife, accuses Jack of not caring for anyone except his model of the moment.  He conceals that he no .longer does models but instead goes to hot spots and that he left a Rome hospital against the advice of his doctor to bury his estranged dad.

As Cleo inherits everything from Gerry, she hates still being in love with the second man to abandon her.  Jack knows he also still loves Cleo, but like he did when his drunken father’s fists reminded him she was too young for him, he plans to leave if he can just get Goldilocks to stop haunting his two heads.

This is a fun second chance starring two people with relationship phobia after what his mom and her dad did to their families.  Most intriguing is the 180 degree relativity belief re his dad; who Jack recalls as a violent drunk and Cleo remembers raised her after her father left.  Although the animosity before the coming together takes too long, Anne Oliver writes an appealing romance.

Harriet Klausner

Chorus Lines, Caviar, and Corpses (A Happy Hoofers Mystery)- Mary McHugh Kensington,

Chorus Lines, Caviar, and Corpses (A Happy Hoofers Mystery)

Mary McHugh

Kensington, Nov 4 2014, $24.00

ISBN: 9781617733598

In their fifties, believing they needed exercise and loving tap dancing; Perfect Bride magazine Travel Editor Tina Powell, community theater director Janice Rogers, therapist Pat Keeler, housewife Mary Louise Temple and documentarian Gini Miller formed the Happy Hoofers.  The YouTube video of the five fierce friends forever became popular and soon afterward they were hired to dance on a cruise ship sailing from Moscow to St. Petersburg.

The crew of misfits leaves a lot to be desired, but none worse than British chef Kenneth Allgood.  While the fearsome five hoof the Volga, his food is atrocious and he becomes angry when someone tells him so.  Allgood warns Gini to shut up or else and accosts Tina, but passenger Barry Sheldon intervenes.  Soon afterward, the police fish Allgood’s corpse out of the river though his death improved the meals considerably.  When a passenger vanishes, the Happy Hoofers agree they need to stay near each to insure sailing the Volga is not their final curtain call.

The Happy Hoofer’s opening act is a fine friendship drama starring five affable females; who have each other’s back when it matters.  The mystery acts more as a support plot to the appealing storyline’s focus on the boomer buddies cruising Russia.

Harriet Klausner

By Cook or By Crook-Maya Corrigan

By Cook or By Crook

Maya Corrigan

Kensington, Nov 4 2014, $7.99

ISBN 9781617731389

Cookbook publicist Val Deniston left New York for Bayport on Chesapeake Bay to reside with her grandfather following a car accident in which she suffers from amnesia as to what happened.  She manages the Cool Down Café and has begun authoring a cookbook instead of publicity on someone else’s writings.

When she gives Nadia a ride home from the exercise club, the passenger asks her to meet with her in a couple days to discuss a catering gig.  Upon reaching Nadia’s home, they find a wooden tennis racket on fire.  Two days later, Val arrives for the appointment only to find Nadia dead. The prime suspect is Val’s cousin Monique whose husband was cheating on her with the victim.  Knowing her BFF relative would not murder anyone; Val investigates bringing danger to her and her grandfather.

The first Five-Ingredient Mystery is a charming culinary cozy because of a caring heroine, warm family members and five as the magic number (ingredients in recipes and suspects in the investigation).  This is a pleasant amateur sleuth.

Harriet Klausner

Fired By Her Fling-Christy McKellen

Fired By Her Fling

Christy McKellen

Harlequin KISS, Nov 1 2014, $5.99

ISBN: 9780373179107

In London Flash FM radio DJ Tallulah Lazenby avoided the advances her arrogant philandering boss Jeremy “Jez” Whatley-Hume the station manager until in a weak moment she slept with him.  When Tallulah informed him there will be no encores; Jez punished her because no woman says no to him.  He removed her from the Breakfast Show and replaced her with Darla on the Drivetime Show.

Tallulah files a sexual harassment complaint with the Edinburgh station owner Tristan Bamfield.  He knows Jez as the son of a family friend whose father demands Tristan fire the DJ.  At the hotel bar, Tristan and Louise meet and have sex that rocks both their worlds.  However, after she leaves, he realizes Louise lied as she is Tallulah.  The next morning, they both lose their composure leading to Tristan firing Tallulah.  Next he meets with arrogant Jez and decides something is not right; while rejecting a lawsuit, Lula considers a job in Melbourne.  Tristan digs into the books and fires embezzling Jez, but also needs Tallulah to take over the Breakfast Show.  As she negotiates her new contract, they begin to fall in love; but neither handles commitment very well after the role models of their parents.

This is a lighthearted radio romance between an executive and his top DJ; who share in common love and relationship-phobia.  Fired by Her Fling is a pleasurable British contemporary.

Harriet Klausner

The Sword Of Michael-Marcus Wynne

The Sword Of Michael

Marcus Wynne

Baen, Nov 4 2014, $15.00

ISBN: 9781476736891

As the dead man he killed twice chases him into a cemetery, Shaman Marius Winter muses the story of his life is in his hands as he holds the sacred power of Christ’s rosary beads and the profane worldly Glock.  He fires shots into the knees and elbows of the zombie, preventing it from moving before sprinkling holy water on the Dark Force and asking Michael of the Light to cleanse this evil.  Marius now knows the Dark Forces are back and he is a prime target probably because of his Depossession success rate

Hell’s Dark God Belial sends a sorcerer to destroy Marius starting with possessing the souls of those his adversary loves; like his girlfriend Jolene, Avatar to the Goddess.  When Marius learns the fate of Jolene and others he cares about, guided by his triad of spiritual advisors (First In Front medicine man, Tigre the spirit tiger and Burt the spirit raven); he accepts the risks associated with his undertaking to save their souls.  Accompanied by his guides, Marius initially must deal with the hellish sorcerer and, if successful, traverse the circles of Hell to confront Belial in the innermost; losing at any point means the Dark possesses his soul.

With a nod to Dante, the first Depossessionist urban fantasy is filled with plenty of action-packed fighting scenes and some religious philosophizing.  The storyline is at its best when the plot stays focused on the war, but loses momentum with unnecessary, odd power hungry groups joining the fray.  Although the cast, even the hero, is never developed beyond their prime reason for existence, The Sword Of Michael is an entertaining Forces of the Light vs. Minion of The Dark thriller.

Harriet Klausner