Daniel S. Palter

Margrit (Grit) Knight's habit of taking nightly jogs through central park had always been dangerous, but she'd had no idea that there was someone, or something, watching her. With a rash of murders, young women killed in and around the park who all look a little like Margrit, that watcher steps fully into her life.

But Alban Korund isn't human; he's a gargoyle. One of the five old races that still inhabit the planet, though one (the Selkies) are believed to have died out.

Margrit is thrust into the midst of an investigation, torn between protecting Alban - who has been described/named as a suspect - and continuing her work as a public defender. Work that also puts her in a head to head situation with Daisani, a powerful man within the city of New York - who just happens to be a vampire, in order to prevent the destruction of a building where numerous squatters live.

Her every day world is now filled with beings no one else apparently knows about. Gargoyles, Vampires, Selkies, Jinn, and Dragons - and with the murders continuing Grit must find the killer and protect Alban before she ends up in the morgue herself.

A lovely twist on the urban fantasy/paranormal setting. I have to admit the narrator did a wonderful job, pulling me into the story each night.

The first of the Emberverse books by S.M. Stirling.

I'd originally read this novel a few years ago, but I'm re-reading/listening to them not just because of the story, the quality of the books, but because I'm part of the team working on the Emberverse RPG and any review might well be considered biased.


I love the premise of the series, the way all tech, and explosives, cease to work in the blink of an eye. No one knows why this occurs, though there are several stories about Alien Space Bats - where characters discuss possible ideas behind the change and name the power behind it 'Alien Space Bats'.

Trying to survive in a world where everything you relied on suddenly stops working, is a challenge. Some make it, some devolve into cannibals, and others use it as a means to grab power.

If you enjoy post-apocalyptic settings this is a must. It's a well written series with engaging characters. The balance of personality types and the research that has obviously gone into the series, all combine to make the book shine.

I've listened and read to the previous two Egyptian books that Ms. Moran had written, and had high hopes for Cleopatra's Daughter. Ms. Moran didn't disappoint.

Following the story of Cleopatra Selene - starting only a day or so before the death of her parents - the tale follows through her time in Rome until her marriage. From the start Selene's life is one at risk, as is that of her twin brother. Caught in the middle of the political games of Octavian, neither twin knows how long they will be in Rome, if they will die, or what will eventually become of them.

A beautifully written story, and as an audio book it worked very well indeed. The narrator kept the feel of the story and didn't distract from it at all.

I'd have to say that so far this is one of my favorite's in the dark series. Jolie is a strong, confident woman who doesn't suddenly back down to her lifemate. Instead she fights and works with him all the way. We also get to meet Gary again, who originally appears in Dark Magic, and we meet a family of telepath's which sets up more possibilities for the series.

When a narrator puts me to sleep there's a problem. There was no depth to this and I found myself wondering if the book would 'go' anywhere. Don't get me wrong, I love the Dark series but between the extremely poor pacing in this one AND the narrator's slow and ponderous method, I deleted the book from my player after listening to the first half.

Jaxon's life has been one of fear and danger since early childhood when her father was killed in action. The man who stepped into her life to become her step-dad turned out to be a monster, ready to kill anyone who might get between them - starting with her father, mother, and brother. As an adult she has kept herself apart from others but Lucian, an ancient Carpathian, has other ideas.

She is his life-mate and more of a handful than he ever expected.

The ancient Carpathian and the young police officer make an interesting pair. Jaxon isn't the sit back and let Lucian take care of everything, her sixth sense is one that has helped to keep her alive and she's determined to help Lucien despite his instincts to protect her. Even though she understands that he won't walk away from her, that he isn't human (and she struggles with such a concept), she won't let him handle either vampires, or her human stalker on his own.

A good addition to the Dark series. Jaxon is a strong character, a fighter, and in the end even Lucian eventually adapts to the idea of Jaxon fighting along side of him.

Juanita Parker, as a narrator for this audio book, stumbles in a few places, but she doesn't grate on my nerves, and the irritating rustle of paper isn't as prevalent as it was in previous recordings.

Lacey Graham has always enjoyed her work as a photographer, and even though she's recovering from an abusive relationship that has left both physical and emotional scars, she's tried to not let that hit her work. But when she's hired to shoot the calendar shots for Bliss Magazine and is confronted by a sexy Texas Ranger, she's torn between her fears and her desires for Jarod Wyatt.

When someone starts interfering with the shoot, disrupting the schedule and even going so far as to break into Lacey's apartment, she can't help but wonder if her past has caught up with her.

A sexy story of strength and redemption, well written and enjoyable.


The only problem I had with this was the narrator. Although I loved the story, the narrator grated on my nerves, and I struggled to get past the way her voice just didn't fit the story at all for me.

I've listened to this one several times and I always laugh, shaking my head, as I am a parent with very stubborn kids. They always seem to know exactly when to wake up!

When the wrong costume is sent to Gina Thomas, she almost backs out of her agreement to dig her sister out of trouble. But with a little persuasion she heads off to the party being held by Mason Scott, determined to grab the pictures and then get out of there. However, when she arrives she's mistaken for the singer and thrust into the limelight.

The sparks between Mason, a divorce lawyer, and Gina a food critic are instant and undeniable, although Gina tries putting it down to the costume and the persona she 'dresses' in for the situation.

Their world, however, is turned upside down when the man in her the photographs with her sister, turns out to be a career criminal and he wants those pictures back before they focus too much attention on him. And he's willing to kill and threaten whoever it takes in order to get them. Including Gina and her sister.


A sensual romance with a nicely written thriller as a background to the story. The second in the Dressed to Thrill series that I've listened to so far and I look forward to listening or reading more in the series.

Sierra Donovan has everything a woman could want, at least from the outside. She's a successful career woman, she has good friends, and she's determined to take her business all the way.

Only her business partner knows her secret. For sometime she's been on the receiving end of badly edited, fake, and very sexual photograph's staring herself. Some were so bad that the stalker had put her head on backward, but the constant pictures have left Sierra a nervous wreck. But when her business partner hires Reece Carter to get to the bottom of things (albeit initially as a means of keeping a contract they've both worked hard to get), Sierra faces a problem.

Not only does she know Reece, but there's a sexual chemistry between them that she really doesn't need right now. So when she makes it clear this is strictly business he agrees not to make a move on her, but also makes it clear that the agreement doesn't prevent her from making a move on him.

A romantic thriller, heavier on the sexual tension (It's a Blaze after all) than the thriller. The villain is obvious by halfway through the book, at least to me, but it was an enjoyable read or rather listen.

Alana, after a call from her sister about the new man in her life, decides to drop by the family home before she moves to Florida to look after her grandparents. Her sister has rotten tastes in men at the best of times, and Alana is determined that she's not going to leave for Florida with another bad choice living in their old home. Only her sister isn't there when she arrives and she ends up crawling into bed in her own room, which has been stripped of everything that marked it as hers.

During the night she dreams of a man who orally pleasures her, a dream so vivid that she orgasms, something she's never done before from a dream. Except when she wakes up the dream lover is lying in bed next to her. Even worse he turns out to be Sawyer, the very man her sister claims she's going out with.

Things go from bad to worse until Melanie admits that she isn't going out with Sawyer, she just was hoping to fall for him. Which leaves Alana with a dilemma. Does she explore her growing feelings and already deep attraction for Sawyer, or does she get out of dodge and head for Florida.


A lovely romance, and a nice twist with the sister not in love but hoping to fall in love with the same man. The side story with Melanie is nicely written, and adds to the story rather than detracting from it. The narrator did a good job, her performance was smooth and enjoyable, and I look forward to reading more from Ms. Sharpe.