Maria Lima

Although I would have liked just a touch more action (and okay, a lot more romance), overall this was right up my alley. I especially liked the author's world building. Very thorough. And since the book was set around the outskirts of Austin, I felt an immediate connection to the setting and the characters. What really impressed me was the author's knowledge of Texas. I thought for sure she lives there, but no, apparently she's from Washington D.C. She must have really done her research, because the in-depth descriptions of the setting were spot-on. Very impressive. Recommended. (A)… (mere)

Keira and her companions are back in Texas... as the co-ruler of all the non-human entities in the region. Of course things will get interesting pretty fast. The book is the preparation for the big meet-up where everyone should come and introduce themselves to the rules and finishes with the meeting. But the preparation goes anything but calm -- there are entities that do not like them, some other have secondary motives, Tucker turns berserk for a while (and for a good reason), Nico gets himself in a big problem, apparently Tucker and Nico managed to marry in Canada and Texas (or at least the part where they live) is not exactly the most progressive state for such things and both of them do not bother to hide their feelings (not that they had ever done it... but before that book they were rarely being shown in front of normal humans) and things just get from bad to worse for everyone. A lot of dead bodies (anyone surprised?), some old characters are back with new problems and the sidhe are here to screw up everyone's good time of course.

The book ends up with a huge cliffhanger - which kinda sets the premise for the next book (or so it seems - I won't be surprised if Lima resolves that in 2 chapters or off books and then do something else). So we will see.

PS: And anyone having issues with alternative marriages (because in addition to Nico/Tucker, we also have the twins that kinda like to share everything in their life - including a wife) is in the wrong series. The book does not have heated sex scenes though -- the whole series is pretty clean (not children suitable but clean enough anyway) short of the visual Keira got somewhere in book 1 or 2 when she was having her change...… (mere)

This volume contains fifteen stories about a variety of mayhem written by some of my favorite authors and some writers new to me that I will definitely read more of. Represented among others are G.M. Maillet who writes the St. Just mysteries and more, Marcia Talley who writes the Hannah Ives Mysteries and other members of Sisters in Crime.

One of my favorite stories was Sandi Wilson's The Blond in Black which takes place in Georgetown an historic section of DC.

Another was by Peggy Hansen entitled Death in The Aegean which had an exotic flavor.… (mere)