Swimming Without a Net by MaryJanice Davidson

The half-mermaid, half-human, Frederica aka Fred is back in the second volume of the Sleeping with the Fishes series. In this story Fred is summoned to speak at a meeting where the undersea folk will decide whether to let the upper world know about their existence. At the meeting she’s torn between her hunky marine biologist Thomas who was granted permission to watch the meeting from his undersea submarine, and the handsome Prince Autur, son of the king of the sea. Now which one will Fred choose, or will she just panic and decide to run away from everyone?

I love MaryJanice’s sense of humor and the weird characters and settings she creates. She’s an automatic buy for me and worth reading for anyone that enjoys humor in a paranormal story.

Details: Jove, December 2007

Excellence Rating: Great

Under Cover by MaryJanice Davidson

Sweet Strangers – Renee Jardin’s job is to protect the secrets of her employer not steal them. One day she learns that someone planted an experimental medicine worth a billion dollars on her and her employer is willing to do anything to get it back. But when she turns around and kisses one of the men after her prize, she realizes she’s in a lot more trouble than she thought.

Lovely Lies – Peter Random loses his job when his employer goes bankrupt after Renee turns over the medicine to the government. But his life takes an unusual spin when he finds a drunk girl curled up in the backseat of his car. His protective skills take over when someone attacks her and soon he finds himself with a temporary job as her bodyguard. But then he begins to wonder who is going to protect him from her.

Delightful Deception – despite her brilliant mind, Thea Foster never realized how many problems would come from sneaking the experimental medicine she created into Renee’s bag. But her biggest problem is dealing with the new owner of the company and soon after their first kiss she realizes that his plans have nothing to do with her research skills.

The three short stories are cute and somewhat connected. While not as extreme as some of her stories, all three feature MaryJanice’s quirky brand of humor and sensuality. If you love her other stories, I’m sure you love these too.

Details: Kensington, October 2003

Excellence Rating: Very Good

Steaminess Factor: yummy

Hello Gorgeous! by MaryJanice Davidson

Caitlyn James wakes up figuring she partied a little too much with her sorority sisters, but then she slowly remembers the terrible accident and learns that someone injected her with nanobytes which turned her into a modern version of the bionic woman. Soon she meets the man who paid for her upgrades, and who new wants her to work for him as his special agent. While Caitlyn resists, her boss soon convinces her to go after the most dangerous man in the world. When they meet she learns two things, first he’s an absolute hunk and second, he’s the only other person who possesses her nanobyte enhancements. Now she’s forced to choose between her boss who controls her future and her new friend who’s the only person in the world that can understand her.

This book is part chick-lit and part romance, but mostly it’s an absolute riot. The only bad thing about this book is that the story it’s too short. To give the book a little more length, MaryJanice added a cute little story called Ten Little Idiots. While it was an okay story, Hello Gorgeous more than makes up for it. If you like slightly offbeat stories, then this one is for you.

Details: Dorchester, May 2007

Excellence Rating: Great

Steaminess Factor: Yummy

Valentine’s Day is Killing Me by MaryJanice Davidson, Leslie Esdaile, Susanna Carr

Cuffs and Coffee Breaks by MaryJanice Davidson: Julie Kay About learns the pitfalls of a Valentine’s Day blind date when she shows up at the restaurant, only to find her date being lead away in handcuffs and a dead body lying next to the table.

A “No Drama” Valentine’s by Leslie Esdaile: After a string of bad dates, Jocelyn Jefferson arranges a Valentine’s party for her friends, where no men were allowed. But when her friends choose dates over her company, Jocelyn goes through with her party anyway, only to watch it spin completely out of control landing her in jail.

Valentine Survivor by Susanna Carr: Last year, Shanna Murphy decided she can’t rely on a man to give her what she needs on Valentine’s Day, so she arranges everything herself, just in case she finds the right man before the appointed day.

Valentine’s Day isn’t killing me, this book is (okay, I couldn’t resist). None of the three stories really worked for me. Each story had a different set of problems, either lame characters, incoherent story or just poor writing. Even though the book did have problems, I do plan to give the authors a second chance in the future, as it’s quite possible that they had trouble meeting the theme for this book. But if you haven’t read this book by now, I’d save it for next Valentine’s Day where it may be totally forgotten in your to-be-read pile.

Details: Kensington, January 2007

Excellence Rating: Good

Steaminess Factor: Yummy

Sleeping with the Fishes by MaryJanice Davidson

Dr. Fredrika Bimm loves her job at the New England Aquarium. Swimming in the main tank with the sharks, sea turtles and the fish is like a dream come true for the half human, half mermaid woman – a secret Fred must protect all costs. But a serious problem brings two powerful men into her life: Dr. Thomas Pearson who is a visiting professor specializing in water pollution and Artur, High Prince of the Black Sea, who was ordered by his father the King of the Seas to stop the pollution. Now Fred must find the source of the pollution before the men can breathe a word about her secret, or she’ll end up in her own tank at the museum - as an exhibit.

I loved this story. Fred is a very unique character with a um…, unique personality and a um… unique problem. I liked the fact that Mary Janice created a unique story instead of just another vampire book and I enjoyed the very believable reality she created for Fred. While both guys wanted to drag Fred into bed, but somehow she managed to avoid both of them. The ending leaves everything open so you there’s going to be a sequel. And I can’t wait to read it.

Details: Jove, December 2006

Bottom line: A great book