Through The Zombie Glass-Gena Showalter

Through The Zombie Glass


Gena Showalter

Harlequin Teen, Sep 24 2013, $18.99

ISBN: 9780373210770



On Alice Bell’s sweet sixteenth birthday, Zombies killed her family and destroyed her innocence. Filled with remorse, grief and revenge, Alice found allies and a boyfriend when bad boy Cole Holland and his friends rescue her (see Alice In Zombieland).



Recently Cole has become distant from her and his friends; and refuses to explain why. Worried about her beloved, Alice has new concerns following the latest Zombie assault as she feels different inside. Voices insider her head scream at her to do horrific things and she fears her brain may have gone over the edge as objects come alive. Concluding she must eradicate the zombies and learn what is going on with Cole before she can figure out her tsuris, Alice with Kat having her back begins her quest.



The second White Rabbit Chronicles is an exciting teen urban fantasy starring a terrific protagonist whose entire life keeps changing in nanoseconds. The support cast is fully developed and their discussions witty while the Zombie threat palatable. Although the overdone dysfunctional relationship between Alice and Cole decelerates the thrilling plot and his behavior radically different than in the first tale (even accounting for PTSD), readers will enjoy Alice’s latest adventures as seen Through The Zombie Glass.



Harriet Klausner

Lying In Your Arms-Adam Mansbach

Lying In Your Arms

Leslie Kelly

Harlequin Blaze, Sep 17 2013, $5.50

ISBN: 9780373797714



After losing his Floridian childhood friend costume designer Candace Reid to a winery groundskeeper hunk (see Waking Up to You), Tommy “Superstud” Shane turns to her twin as his fiancée. Screenwriter Madison agrees to pretend to be his woman in order to protect his being gay. She becomes a media darling.



However, Tommy decides to end the sham engagement. Madison insists on being the SOB as his fans worship him; so she pretends to an affair that has her hated by all. To escape her unwanted notoriety she flees to Costa Rica. Also there on his honeymoon without a bride is recently dumped Chicago firefighter Leo Santori. They become a heated entry, but Hollywood stands in their way once they leave the tropics for the States.



The second “Powerpuff Girls” Forbidden Fantasies contemporary is an enjoyable heated romance starring two protagonists on the “rebound”. Although the premise of Madison taking the cheat heat feels unreasonable, fans will appreciate this fast-paced tale with a Santori (see Don’t Open Until Christmas and Overexposed) cousin as the lead male.



Harriet Klausner

Command Performance-Sara Jane Stone

Command Performance

Sara Jane Stone

Harlequin Blaze, Sep 17 2013, $5.50

ISBN: 9780373797745



Her friend Olivia persuades military history professor Maggie Barlow that chocolate will not cure her break up blues or the ennui that comes across in her boring writings even on important subjects like enemy surveillance; she needs a one night heater filled with orgasms. Maggie chooses Army Ranger Chief Warrant Officer Hunter Cross. They share an incredible evening, but both recognize there can be no morning after.



Hunter is Maggie’s contact on a book she wants to write that will bring her accolades and probably a promotion. However, he is assigned to “control” what she writes to make the Rangers look good and distract her from learning why his last mission failed. Following that first night tryst, W.O. Cross knows who has Command Control in this relationship.



This Uniformly Hot! military romance is a wonderful heated affair due to the protagonists as he obeys orders but she makes it difficult for him to follow them. Readers will enjoy Sara Jane Stone’s delightful tale of love between the soldier and the historian.



Harriet Klausner

The Outcasts-Kathleen Kent

The Outcasts

Kathleen Kent

Little Brown, Sep 24 2013, $26.00

ISBN: 9780316206129



Several years after the Civil War ended, in Fort Worth, Texas Lucinda Carter the prostitute escapes from the “prison” brothel taking part of her madam Mrs. Landry’s gold with her. An epileptic that makes her an outcast, Lucinda plans to reunite with her beloved Bill McGill in Houston. However, two Rangers (Deerling and Dr. Tom Goddard) and lawman Nate Cannon pursue the murdering McGill; so the outlaw directs Lucinda to continue on to Middle Bayou to search for Lafitte’s buried treasure; he swears to her will catch up to her.



In Middle Bayou, Lucinda cleverly locates the island where Lafitte allegedly buried his treasure. McGill arrives, but his womanizing behavior upsets loyal Lucinda. Meanwhile the three law enforcement officials follow the ruthless killer to Middle Bayou where they plan to catch McGill and his woman.



The Outcasts is a thrilling late nineteenth century Americana with a strong cast and twisting ties. Though faster than a gunslinger can draw, the fabulous historical storyline is character driven from the moment Lucinda flees from the worst little whorehouse in Texas until the anticipated key cast convergence clash.



Harriet Klausner

The Dead Run-Adam Mansbach

The Dead Run

Adam Mansbach

Harper Voyager, Sep 24 2013, $25.99

ISBN 9780062199652



Jess Galvan works the lucrative cash crops trade that flows back and forth across the Tex-Mex border. He, like many locals, understands the risks of being caught on either side of transporting illegal goods, but Jess takes his chances as he needs money to pay for the best lawyer in the state in order to gain custody of his daughter Sherry from her religious nut mom Melinda Richards.



In Mexico, he sits in a bar waiting for his latest shipment to deliver to El Paso. He observes two patrons with a stoned teen who makes him think of Sherry. Though Jess knows to sit quietly until Pescador arrives with bearer’s bonds, he intercedes. One of the thugs is the Chief of Police so Jess is sentenced to ten years in prison for attempted murder. Unbeknownst to Galvan, Sherry vanishes and hysterical Melinda calls Del Verde County Sheriff Nichols as she fears her former cult grabbed her daughter. At the same time Tenochtitlan High Priest El Cucuy mentally takes control of Galvan and orders him to deliver a special package to Seth. If he fails to complete his mission he will dwell in hell; if he succeeds humanity will reside in hell on earth.



This exciting Aztec urban fantasy uses the Tex-Mex border as a bridge between the supernatural and the trafficking that goes both ways. Although the key cast is stereotyped, El Cucuy brings freshness with his Aztec beliefs and his ability from a distance to destroy enemies. . With a nod to the FX TV show The Bridge, this taut tale contains a believable (for the most part) paranormal plot, as Adam Mansbach uses Tex-Mex nation to spin an entertaining supernatural thriller.



Harriet Klausner

Releasing The Hunter-Vivi Anna

Releasing The Hunter

Vivi Anna

Harlequin Nocturne, Sep 3 2013, $5.75

ISBN: 9780373885787



Demon hunter Ivy Strom waits in the club for the arrival of Sallos the degenerate Great Duke of Hell known for hunting girls here. Her plan is to end his reign of terror that have left seven dead in San Francisco, but not before she extracts information on her missing brother Quinn. Her plan fails as he recognizes her and leaves while she chases him only to crash into a patron Ronan Ames who she believes is a demon. To her shock her anti-demon melting remedy fails against this Cambion who explains he is a rarity having some demon blood but also insists he wants Sallos dead.



Reluctantly Ivy agrees to allow him to team up with her as long as he keeps his high school desires sheathed. As they stalk the demon and search for her sibling, they fall in love. However when she learns his true agenda Ivy no longer trusts the Cambion who owns her heart.



Releasing the Hunter is a super action-packed romantic urban fantasy that grips the audience from the opening encounter between the protagonists. The exciting storyline never slows even when the readers learns the history of the Strom demon hunting family; mindful, as Vivi Anna states, of the Winchester duo in Supernatural.



Harriet Klausner

The Lost Wolf’s Destiny-Karen Whiddon

The Lost Wolf’s Destiny

Karen Whiddon

Harlequin Nocturne, Sep 3 2013, $5.75

ISBN: 9780373885770



Fifteen years have passed since Lucas Kenyon last saw his father, Church of Sanctuary Preacher Jacob Gideon, but he recognizes the voice on the news even without seeing the screen. He thinks of dearest dad hunting him and killing his sister Lilly for being shapeshifting abominations needing to die.



Now his devout murdering dad promises to save Blythe Daphne and heal the defective heart of her young daughter Hailey, but Luke realizes what Jacob has in mind for the pair; as his inner wolf knows Blythe is in trouble once she goes inside Sanctuary. Jacob will kill this female Shape-shifter and probably her cub. Luke vows to rescue mother and daughter from his righteous homicidal father.





The latest Pack romantic urban fantasy (see The Wolf Prince) is an engaging tale that builds from the premise that a mother will enter hell to save the life of her child. Although there is a lack of background re the Pack to anchor the storyline, series fans will agree that the fast-paced The Lost Wolf’s Destiny is an entertaining read.



Harriet Klausner