Holy Smokes by Katie MacAlister

Asling Grey returns in Katie’s latest Guardian novel to finally Drake Vireo the wyvern of the green dragons. But the road to the wedding is cluttered with missing grooms, missing brides, warring dragons, angry demon lords, and just about every other type of otherworldly creature with a grudge. Will she make it this time or just end up damned to Hell for the rest of eternity.

This story is very satisfying in that most of the unresolved conflicts spanning the last several books reach satisfying conclusions. If you’ve read her previous stories in this stories, this is definitely a must read book.

Details: Signet, November 2007

Excellence Rating: Very Good

The Last of the Red-Hot Vampires by Katie MacAlister

Portia Harding’s education as a physicist left her skeptical of all things supernatural, which made her a natural companion for her friend who loves to investigate spooky houses and visit graveyards looking for ghosts. Even when an ethereal virtue passes her powers to Portia, she remains an unbeliever. That is until she runs into Theondre North. Theo isn’t merely the handsome man he appears to be, he’s also immortal. When the Court of Devine Blood tests Portia’s new powers, Theo stands by her side while she undergoes the trials to demonstrate her ability to become a virtue. Then after a brief encounter with the devil himself, Theo finds himself without a soul and needing blood for sustenance. But soon they find themselves caught up in a much bigger plot. Now can Portia and Theo find a way to save the themselves or will then find themselves banished from the world for all eternity?

Set in the same universe as the Asling Grey books and Even Vampires Get The Blues, this story unveils more about the Katie’s supernatural universe. I loved the way she brought back some of the minor characters you may have met in her previous novels. And while I think she rushed the ending a little bit, I believe it’s a story that Katie’s fans will enjoy – and something tells me, we’ll see more of these characters in future novels.

Details: Signet, April 2007

Excellence Rating: Very Good

Steaminess Factor: Yummy

Hot Dish by Connie Brockway

In the 20 years since Jenn Lind represented Fawn Creek, Minnesota in the Buttercup pageant, she managed to parlay her short lived fame into a nice career in television fueled mostly by her desire for a secure future. Now a brand new television network wants to move her into the big leagues as the next Martha Stewart, but they want her to go back to Fawn Creek as part of its launch. Now Jenn is worried that someone in the town will betray her checkered past and force the network to fire her before her first broadcast. To make things even more complicated, Steve Jaax arrives – a man she’s dreamed about since the Buttercup pageant. Now will Jenn’s dreams disrupt her plans for a secure future, or will they bring her a happiness she hasn’t known since childhood.

This is a cute story dealing with the workings of a small town. While there’s a bit of hokey humor from time to time, it really feels like Connie spent a lot of time as a newcomer in a small town. There's an element of romance to the story, but it's mostly chick-lit as Jenn’s struggles drives the plot forward. All in all, a nice read, especially if you ever lived in a small town.

Details: Signet, November 2006

Bottom line: A very good book