The Down Home Zombie Blues by Linnea Sinclair

Jorie Mikkalah is hunting a group of biomechanical organisms also known as zombies who’s sole purpose is to destroy living beings. She’s tracked them to a village on a backward planet called Earth and finds herself and her team pursued not only by the zombies, but by Bahia Vista police detective, Theo Petrakos. Theo and Jorie team up after he finds a mummified body and Jorie loses touch with her ship and working together sends off all kinds of sparks between them. But while Jorie is really attracted to Theo, can she open up her heart knowing than their love is forbidden?

Another great book from Linnea Sinclair. This one offers a familiar setting for readers who do not enjoy stories set in a completely different universe. I really liked how she handled the language differences between Theo and Jorie, it made the story much more believable. If you like action and paranormal books, then you really should give this one a try.

Details: Bantam Spectra, December 2007

Excellence Rating: Great

Holidays Are Hell by Kim Harrison, Lynsay Sands, Marjorie M. Liu, Vicki Petterson

Four short stories from the masters of bizarre, including two of my favorite writers (Harrison and Sands). Unfortunately some of these stories tend to be a bit on the dark side, but otherwise a great paranormal read.

Details: Harper, November 2007

Excellence Rating: Great

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

Sealed with a Kiss by Carly Philips

The sequel to Cross My Heart is a fun romp, featuring the two characters you’d knew deserved their own story. Carly delivered a great story with a lot of conflict between the characters as well as a nice mystery for them to solve. I highly recommend this book.

Keywords: Details: HQN, November 2007

Excellence Rating: Great

Confessions of a Werewolf Supermodel by Ronda Thompson

Lou Kinipski is a supermodel who has it all. Her only problems are her mysterious past and her her furry tail when comes and goes on it’s own schedule. But when a serial killer’s victims bear an uncanny resemblance to her, Lou finds herself in a live-or-death struggle and even worse, the murders appear to be tied into events from her past. Now can Lou find the killer and save herself or will she be the next body on the killer’s hit list?

I have to confess, I waited a long time for this book to arrive in print and I wasn’t disappointed. If you’re looking for a funny paranormal book with really cool characters, check this one out.

Details: St. Martins Press, October 2007

Excellence Rating: Great

Your Coffin or Mine? By Kimberly Raye

Kimberly’s latest volume in the Dead End Dating series features another funny story about Lil Marchette, owner of a dating service for vampires and other creatures. This time the story revolves around Lil’s attempt to find new clients by going to auditions for Manhattan’s Most Wanted, a dating reality TV show. In addition to handing out her business cards, Lil finds herself on the show itself when all she wants is to spend time with the sexy vampire, Ty Bonner. Unfortunately danger abounds and if they’re not careful, they’ll be erased with the first daylight.

A worthwhile read and one that will definitely bring a smile to your face.

Details: Onyx, October 2007

Excellence Rating: Great

Over Hexed by Vicki Lewis Thompson

Every woman in Big Knob, Indiana wants to have sex with Sean Madigan, so Dorcas and Ambrose take it upon themselves to use their magical abilities to make Sean less appealing. But when Maggie Grady sails into town she sets her sights on a lot with and old Victorian house as the best place to put a brand new SaveALot mega store. Unfortunately that house is the one Sean where grew up and he’s almost saved enough money to but it. But when he tries to charm her out of the house, he learns his sex appeal is gone and now has to do it the old fashioned way.

Vicki managed to carry her popular nerd franchise into the paranormal world with this cute story. If you’ve liked her stories in the past, but are afraid of paranormal books in general, you should give this one a try. It’s everything that a normal paranormal isn’t, except for a little light magic.

Details: Onyx, October 2007

Excellence Rating: Great

A Touch of Minx by Suzanne Enoch

Samantha Jellicoe is back and this time she’s searching for some missing antiques for the Metropolitan Museum of Art. Plus it give her a good excuse for avoiding the sparkling piece of jewelry Rick’s been carrying around in his pocket. However this time the thief most dangerous man she’s ever encountered and Samantha’s put herself and Rick’s lives in great danger.

A great plot with enough sex and danger to keep you turning pages as fast as you can. This almost (I repeat almost ) makes up for the fact that I had to wade though a historical story to get to another Samantha Jellicoe story. Highly recommended.

Details: Berkley, October 2007

Excellence Rating: Great

Ain’t Myth-Behaving by Katie MacAlister

Two tales of the otherworld make this book enjoyable. In Stag Party, Dane Hearne – an Irish fertility god much choose a bride before the annual celebration or forfeit his powers. He believes he’s found his soul mate in the form of Megan St. Clair, a travel writer, but Megan refuses to become involved with such an ego-centric individual. Now can Dane convince Megan to marry him, or will Dane be forced to give up his godhood as well as his life.

In Norse Truly, the hero is cursed to sail his Viking ship along the same stretch of Scandinavian coastline forever. However when Alrik Sigurdsson finds the only woman who could possibly save him, she doesn’t believe his improbable story

Both stories are cute and funny, and both are written in first person. But this is the first time I’ve read a complete story, showing only the hero’s point of view. If you love Katie’s other books, I’m sure you’ll love this one.

Details: Pocket, October 2007

Excellence Rating: Great

Games of Command by Linnea Sinclair

Filled with action and adventure, Linnea introduces a heroine who finds herself serving underneath a cyborg, with whom she previously fought against during the war. Now a more insidious enemy invades their universe forcing the couple together. Can love be far behind.

Great story with a complex plot and very believable characters. A must read if you like science fiction and romance.

Details: Bantam, March 2007

Excellence Rating: Great

Driven by Eve Kenin

Interesting story which takes place in a futuristic world filled with danger and suspense. I love the blend of science fiction with romance that the Shomi books offer and I’m looking forward to reading more of those stories.

Details: Shomi, September 2007

Excellence Rating: Very Good

Total Control by Pamela Britton

Pamela Britton + NASCAR = Great story. ‘Nuff said.

Details: HQN, September 2007

Excellence Rating: Great

I have a lot of mixed feelings about this book. While I love the Samantha Jellicoe stories, this one is half historical and half modern with a common

Imagine being raised in family where assassination is a tradition and children are raised to be ruthless to be deadly killers. But when the heroine falls in love with someone charged with protecting her latest target, the situation explodes – literally.

This story doesn’t take itself too seriously and it filled with lots of humor and interesting situations. While the publisher is noted for it’s chick-lit stories, this particular one ends with a happily ever after. I’m definitely looking forward to her next book.

Details: Making It, August 2007

Excellence Rating: Great

Exit Strategy by Kelley Armstrong

This is the best book I’ve read all year. The heroine is a hitman (or should I say hitwoman {laughs} ) who teams up with her mentor in search of a crazed killer. While the romance angle is not as strong as in some books, you’d be amazed at how you sympathize with the hero and heroine.

Details: Bantam, July 2007

Excellence Rating: Excellent

Fanged & Fabulous by Michelle Rowen

A funny sequel to Bitten & Smitten, featuring the same set of characters.

Details: Warner, July 2007

Excellence Rating: Very Good

A Hoboken Hipster in Sherwood Forest by Marianne Mancusi

A sequel to A Connecticut Fashionista In King Arthur’s Court, featuring the original heroine’s friend. Yeah, I didn’t realize Robin Hood lived at the same time as King Arthur either.

Details: Love Spell, February 2007

Excellence Rating: Great

A Connecticut Fashionista In King Arthur’s Court by Marianne Mancusi

A cute time travel story where the heroine finds herself in Camelot.

Details: Love Spell, May 2005

Excellence Rating: Great

Moongazer by Marianne Mancusi

Highly recommended if you love both science fiction and romance.

Details: Shomi, August 2007

Excellence Rating: Great

Motor Mouth by Janet Evanovich

Someone has found a new way to cheat on the stock car circuit and Barney and Hooker are pissed they didn’t think of it first. So they steal a car transporter to figure out how they cheated and they stumble across a dead body. Soon find themselves involved in an international conspiracy. Now will the supergirl mechanic and the hunky stockcar driver manage to stay alive long enough to unravel the mystery or will the bad guys manage to insure that they never race again.

I enjoyed reading the sequel to Metro Girl, but for some reason it didn’t quite live up to the first one as the characters started and ended in the same place. While I guess this is true of the Stephanie Plum books too, at least the secondary characters do seem to change in each story. Also the details about NASCAR are way off base, when compared to Pamela Britton’s books. But if you ignore those issues, this story is funny and hot and full of action and danger. If you love Evanovich’s other books, I’m certain you’ll love this one too.

Details: Harper, August 2007

Excellence Rating: Great

Steaminess Factor: Yummy

How To Lose an Extraterrestrial in 10 Days by Susan Grant

Unlike her siblings, Evie Holloway can’t stand the thought of a life of public service. She’s content to focus her energies on raising her children after her divorce and her new chocolate dessert business. When Evie’s sister decides that Evie’s house is the best place to hide the Reef now that the devices that turned the normal man into a killing machine were removed, Evie thinks her sister is crazy and bets her that he’ll be gone in ten days. Unfortunately her sister took the bet and now Evie is stuck with the alien. At first Evie was worried Reef would break her bones if he stays, but now that he wants to return home she’s worried he’ll break her heart if he leaves.

This story is a sequel to My Favorite Earthling and Your Planet or Mine? and these books should be read first to fully appreciate everything included in this story. As usual, Susan did a great job with the characters, giving them enough conflicts to keep things moving along at a fast pace. Given the way the story ended, I really hope I get to read more about this universe. Recommended.

Details: HQN, July 2007

Excellence Rating: Great

Steaminess Factor: Yummy