Wild Thing

Title: Wild Thing
Author: Maggie Shayne, Marjorie M. Liu, Meljean Brook, Alyssa Day
Publication Info: Berkley Sensation
Genre: Paranormal Romance Anthology
Rating: <3 <3 <3 <3

This book is a must read. Why? Because a) “Hunter Kiss” is the prequel to THE IRON HUNT, b) Meljean Brook is in it, and c) Ms. Shayne’s story is freakin hot. Lucky you, Wild Thing is going to be released in Mass Market Paperback in January 2009.

Four all-new stories of feral passion.

Wild passion, yes. But feral? Makes me think of “rabid dogs” for some reason. Ha. But moving on…

ANIMAL MAGNETISM by Maggie Shayne

Macy McNamara is a veterinarian with a dirty little secret: she can communicate with animals. Humans are a different matter, earning her an unfortunate reputation. Detective Jay Harris is a player. Women fall at his feet with little work on his part, so when he comes face-to-face with Macy’s cold shoulder, he finds a challenge impossible to resist. A victim’s dog is shot at the scene of a rape, and Jay brings the poor animal to Macy. She not only saves the dog’s life, but finds out details about the crime that only the dog knows. She must trust Jay with her secret and convince him to believe her if the serial rapist is to be stopped.

The verbal sparring between Macy and Jay is fresh and sharp. They make sparks, both inside and outside the bedroom. I love how neither is afraid to demand exactly what he or she wants from the other. Jay is a true gentleman: hot, chivalrous, protective. Yummy. “Animal Magnetism” was my first taste of Maggie Shayne, who is a finalist for this years RITA award in the paranormal category. I am definitely going back for more. This is why I love anthologies – I always find new-to-me fabulous authors!

PARADISE by Meljean Brook
Series: The Guardians, Book #3

Lucas Marsden is the leader of the vampire community in Ashland, Oregon. A string of vicious murders claims Olivia, his blood partner. Feeling overwhelming guilt at not being able to save her, he refuses to find a new food source and slowly begins to go mad. Selah, a guardian charged with protecting the world from demons, travels to Ashland on the trail of the killer. She teams up with Lucas to stop the murders, discovering that a demon is attempting to open a gate to hell by sacrificing the vampire victims. Selah is the perfect guardian, but perfection has a high price. She learns that compromise might bring her more happiness than that impossible-to-reach goal.

The beginning of this novella was slightly confusing, but the world building, as usual, was great. The love is hot. Lucas is a great hero, honorable, hot, considerate, hot, self-sacrificing. Did I mention hot?

HUNTER KISS by Marjorie M. Liu
Series: Hunter Kiss, PREQUEL

Maxine Kiss is a demon hunter, slaying those who possess humans and feed on misery. The Hunter’s job is to catch and kill demons who escape the prison veil to pray on humans on earth. She is protected by five small demons that appear as tattoos on her skin by day, and materialize at night. These protectors, her “boys,” have been passed down mother to daughter for generations. When they switch from mother to daughter it is a death sentence for the mother. Maxine’s own mother was murdered on Maxine’s 21st birthday. The boys ensure that the Hunter will have a daughter, by any means necessary. They are her only family, her life, and her death.

In Seattle Maxine comes across an unusual occurrence: possessed humans, which she calls zombies, are congregating, when they usually avoid each other. She finds the object of their concentration is a man with a flute. Grant is a former priest who can see and change the auras of people – he can even change demons, freeing them from slavery to their demon queen, Blood Mama, who lives beyond the prison veil. Some of the demons resent his power and are trying to kill him. Maxine saves his life, but Blood Mama tries again.

Told in the first person, this is a paranormal romance novella that is a prequel to an Urban Fantasy series. The love story between Grant and Maxine is not a part of the plot in The Iron Hunt. Grant is a wonderful hero, caring, understanding, compassionate. Falls in love in one day, and when told “even if we use contraception, I’m most likely going to get pregnant with a daughter, which will one day result in my death,” he says “cool. I like kids.” A unique guy, to say the least. lol.

WILD HEARTS IN ATLANTIS by Alyssa Day
Series: Warriors of Poseidon, Book 2

Bastien is a warrior for Atlantis, sworn to protect humanity against all threats, especially the vampires and shapeshifters. Kat is a half-shifter who cannot shift because her “gift” keeps her calm at all times, and aggression is needed to shift. When Bastien is sent as an ambassador to the shifters to convince them not to ally with the Vampires, his contact is Kat. They met before briefly, and both were struck by unrelenting passion. When they meet again, the passion sparks to life. Intensely. With much roaring. The villian is named Organos, and for the life of me I couldn’t stop calling him Oregano. Spices are evil. Mwuhahahaaha.

Explore posts in the same categories: Book Recommendations, Booklust

Tags: Alyssa Day, anthology, book review, Demons, Maggie Shayne, Marjorie M. Liu, Meljean Brook, Paranormal Romance, shape-shifters, vampires, Wild Thing

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