Future Release: Pride Mates by Jennifer Ashley

On Jan 26, 2010, Jennifer Ashley will introduce her newest series, Shifters Unbound, with Pride Mates.

Twenty years ago, shape shifters of all kinds banded together and announced themselves to the world, only to be shunted to areas no human wanted (“Shiftertowns”). They are forced to wear Collars that control their hunting and fighting instincts (referred to by Shifters as “Taking the Collar”).

Liam Morrissey is currently liaison between the Shifters of Austin, TX, and the humans of the city. Kim Fraser, attorney, finds herself in the unique position of having to defend a Shifter on a murder charge.

She ventures to Shiftertown to seek out Liam’s help, and there stumbles across too many secrets the Shifters want kept secret. The un-mated Liam is forced to protect Kim against the wrath of his clan leader and his own father, and to his surprise he discovers a powerful attraction to the sassy, sexy lady. —Jennifer Ashley’s website

Re-released: Matters of the Blood by Maria Lima

Maria Lima’s Matters of the Blood was re-released recently and you can read the first 65 pages at the Simon and Schuster website. If you didn’t read the first book in the Keira Kelly series, now is the perfect time to check out the series.

Favorite Lines: ” I gasped. It was as if he’d reached in and grabbed me by the crotch. I could almost feel his hand caressing me; intimate in its knowledge of me, parting the fabric of my jeans and beyond.” (p. 130)

Keira Kelly is a half-blood descendant of a strong supernatural family. She is also going through the change, a period when she comes into her full power and learns what she’ll be, shape-shifter, weather witch, ect… To bad her stupid cousin, who she was in charge of, got killed. Now she’s on the hunt to find out what exactly is happening in her small Texas town.

She has to cope with an ex-lover who is still entranced by her despite twelve years and a wife separating them.  Adam Walker, an old acquaintance from London, has also appeared in her town. Is it coincidence? Nobody is what/who they seem in this fantasy novel by Maria Lima.

I’ve read other reviews of this book. One in particular stands out because is said that Maria loved her cousin. She didn’t. It is painfully clear that she feels responsible for his death because he was human and she was in charge of his safety. The story tells over and over again that Keira didn’t like her dead relative. Now that I’ve got that off of my mind, let me tell you what I thought of Matters of the Blood.

It was easy to read, involved interesting characters, and leaves room for a second book. Keira was a supernatural girl who wasn’t afraid to intermingle with the humans. She dealt in reality and was viciously honest with herself and I found it to be refreshing.  The story showed that she was going through her change by displaying different supernatural abilities. One moment she was dreaming of the future and the next she was toughing someone and seeing their past.  You’ll have to read it to discover what, if any, power she receives.

Sexuality is mentioned, but not fixated on. It’s the behind closed doors kind of story. I enjoyed the tension between Adam and Keira. It wasn’t rushed nor was it the focus of the story. The story showcases the supernatural community from the worst to the everyday and that is what made the story for me. Interested in this book? You can buy it at Amazon or Barnes & Noble.