 
| Wraithsong by EJ Squires Desirable Creatures Series Book I Genre:Paranormal, Fantasy, Young Adult, Romance |
17yo Sonia has always known that she was different but it isn't until her senior year of high school that she learns exactly how much. Her mother has the uncanny ability to control people and Sonia has inherited this ability, but with it takes a lot of responsibility and consequences when used unwisely.
 
| Vic: Mongol by Jerry Gill Second book in series Genres: Action Adventure, Fantasy |
Vic Challenger is back for another exciting adventure. Set in the 1920's, a time when women were expected to only yearn for marriage and babies, Victoria Custer breaks the mold and sets her own standards. A courageous sharp shot who is just at home hunting a wolf and skinning it herself as she is playing with her guide's cute little twin girls.
 
| The Black Lion by Anthony Karakai Genre: Intrigue, Action Adventure |
A team of super-secret agents, that don't officially exist, come together to learn that what had originally seemed like a simple case of a missing civilian has incredibly dark roots as they investigate further into a young woman's disappearance. The story is told from the perspective of one of the agents who has gone undercover and infiltrated the band of thugs thought to be responsible for the girl's abduction.
 
| Birthright by Nora Roberts Genres: Romance, Suspense, Romantic Suspense |
Callie Dunbrook is an archaeologist. She is passionate about her work and loves digging up the past, literally. While on her latest dig site, she is forced to deal with her own past. The anthropologist assigned for this job is her hot super hunky ex-husband Jake. Callie prefers to hold onto her anger towards him rather than admit that she still goes weak at the knees with the mere sight of him. As if this wasn't enough stress in her life, a strange woman shows up at Callie's motel room claiming to be her mother. Callie finds out that not only had her parents never told her that she was adopted, she was in fact the baby that had been kidnapped from this small town as an infant. As Callie digs into her past she turns up a black market kidnapping/adoption ring that someone wants left buried and is willing to kill in order to deter Callie from uncovering more information.
 
| Runaway Heart by Claudy Conn Genres: Historical Romance, Romance |
Poor Chelsea had been orphaned twice. Left in her beloved uncle's care after losing both of her parents, it was an equally large blow to lose her uncle and for her guardianship to be passed to her vain aunt. Chelsea flees from school and finds that her godmother wishes to chaperone her debutante season and is quickly surrounded by interested eligible men. Chelsea, of course, falls for the man that isn't easily attained.
The author is so faithful to her historical setting that it was quite easy for me to feel as though I was reading a classic novel written during the late 1800's until I ran across torrid love scenes that would never be found in Victorian novels. More that just romantic fluff in a historical setting there is also a bit of action and intrigue as well. Very entertaining and highly recommended, especially if historical romances are your cup of tea.
4 stars!
 
| The Phantom of Valletta by Vicki Hopkins Fan Fiction Sequel Genres: Romance, Mystery |
It is almost tempting to say that Erik has mellowed as he has gotten older. But then I remember that this book was not written by the original creator of the character and is Hopkins's interpretation of the Phantom. I must say that he is a much more likeable fellow with fewer cruel tendencies and the presence of a conscience.
Afraid of arrest for his misdeeds in the final chapters of The Phantom of the Opera, Erik flees to Malta where he has heard of an opera house that was severely damaged by fire. He decided to buy the building and haunt again. Ironically the opera house has another ghost already in residence amongst its halls that performs several acts of sabotage. While the sequel does have a bit of intrigue as to whom the new ghost is, it is more of a love story that a mystery.
 
| The Phantom of the Opera by Gaston Leroux Genres: Classic, Romance, Intrigue |
While Gaston Leroux never wrote a sequel to his original story, many writers have written fan fiction sequels. Even though it technically is not a series, I decided to review the original novel along with two sequels as this month's Serial Sunday selection.
I had never read this nor seen any of the movies or plays so went into this book blind, so to speak, with just the barest idea of the story line. The Phantom is a tragic character. His disfigurement gave him a face that not even his mother could love. His plea to be loved for himself tugs at the heartstrings as long as you don't think about it too deeply. If you take away looks and want to be judged on your personality, heart, or soul ... well Erik's just not a very nice person if one is completely honest about the fact. With some of the things that he does, I think he would find it difficult to find a wife even if he was gorgeous. But maybe not, women marry good looking abusive husbands all the time.
