I’m sorry to tell you all that after writing only one review for us, our new staff reviewer and my very good friend, CatLady, had a terrible horse back riding accident and has passed away.
 
CatLady loved animals, especially cats and horses, so she was doing something she loved during her last conscious moments. She will be sorely missed.

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Shifter is a collection of short stories by four of the hottest current paranormal authors. It includes four stories, all with a theme of shape-shifting:
 
- Mad Dog Love by Angela Knight
- A Jaguar’s Kiss by Lora Leigh
- Shifter’s Lady by Alyssa Day
- Sea Crossing by Virginia Kantra
 
As with all such collections, I liked some stories more than others, but I’m happy to report that in this particular collection all four stories were very strong and while I may have my favorite, I really  enjoyed them all. One aspect I found unique about this collection is that most of the stories were told more from the hero’s point of view than from the heroine’s, where most romance books are the opposite, which I found refreshing and absorbing. Here are my reviews of each, for your enjoyment.
 
 
Mad Dog Love by Angela Knight
 
This story is full-on science fiction, set in a distant futuristic alternate world. Pretty much everybody uses “nanobots” to help them out, and of course, the richer you are, the better your nanobots. Although the author never really delves into a technical description of the nanobots, my perception was that they are microscopic little computer systems that are injected into people to enhance their abilities, skills and sometimes, physical attributes.
 
Mad Dog is a Werewolf - or would that be “nano-Wolf”? His nano system allows him to transform into a much larger, werewolf-like creature with enhanced senses, strength and fighting abilities. A quick reference is made to the origin of this system - he comes from a very challenging planet where such abilities are needed to survive. Alas, Mad Dog was captured by slavers and his nano system is being controlled by someone else. Despite constant torture, Mad Dog remains defiant and determined to escape.
 
Enter our heroine - an Empress in disguise with a souped up military nanosystem who wants to buy a bodyguard. Adventure - and a steamy romance - ensues.
 
This author does a very good job of giving the basics needed to visualize and grasp the setting and situation she has created, without bogging down in the technical details as is the downfall of many science fiction stories. Instead, you are caught up by the story and intrigued by the well developed characters. Both the hero and heroine are distinctive and interesting and one can certainly understand why they would be attracted to each other. The story is engaging, and wraps up admirably in the short space provided by this venue.
 
I don’t know if this was a one-time use setting or if we’ll be seeing more of this environment in future books - but I hope so. I thought it was a fresh and creative take on the use of nano technology and shape shifting. The story itself was in turns intriguing, adventurous and steamy - all contributing to a solid, satisfying read.
 
 
A Jaguar’s Kiss by Lora Leigh
 
This is one of the many Breed stories by this author. I’ve read a few others so far - a couple of novels and at least one other short story - and I thought this was one of the best ones yet! Lora Leigh is a master at creating sensual tension and heat and this story doesn’t disappoint.
 
The hero, Saban, is a Breed. Genetically engineered with the enhanced senses, and some other traits, of a jaguar. On top of that he’s a Cajun with a sexy name - he is sizzlin’!
 
His prey - er, heroine - is Natalie, the first non-Breed approved to be a teacher to the Breed children. Saban has been assigned to escort her to her new position and ensure her security. One whiff is all it takes for Saban to know she’s his destined mate.
 
Saban is a perfect Alpha male hero - gorgeous, studly, and dominant, yet he struggles to control his desires in order to win his mate’s love. He suffers in torment for months while he tries to win her over with traditional wooing. Natalie is resistant, due to her recent divorce from an overly controlling man. Poor Saban, he’s got his work cut out for him.
 
Ms. Leigh did an excellent job combining her trademark white-hot sexual scenes with a sweet and tender love story. And let’s not forget the intrigue. All within a short story! Wow. If you’ve enjoyed previous Breed stories - or if you haven’t gotten to them yet - I highly recommend this one. It’s one of the best in the series and a great stand alone story, to boot.
 
 
Shifter’s Lady by Alyssa Day
 
This is another short story connected to a larger series - The Warriors of Poseidon series. The author doesn’t take a lot of time to explain the main premise of the series, but I don’t think this would detract from this story, even if you haven’t read the other books.
 
Marie is the First Lady of Nereids in Atlantis. As such, she’s pretty well tied to her job. But with her brother having finally found his lady love, she’s decided it’s time to get away. She’s going to go visit her new sister in law (who happens to be a shifter) and get a little vacation at the same time. Little does she know what awaits her in the Land Above!
 
Ethan is the Alpha of the pack that Marie’s new sister belongs to. She’s had lovers, but they’d always been the gentle, scholarly type. She’s not quite sure how to deal with this strong, sexy Alpha male who’s not shy about letting her know he’s interested.
 
Our lovers barely get to say hello before danger threatens and Ethan is forced to deal with it in order to protect his panthers as well as his new love interest.
 
This story is told from a different direction than most of the Warriors of Poseidon stories. We’ve met Marie before as a minor character, but suddenly she’s front and center and we are reminded that everyone has their own story. The author packs a lot of story into a short few pages, but still manages to keep it cohesive, interesting and sexy. She wraps things up satisfactorily, while leaving options for more stories and even hinting at some developments in the main series. I would venture to say we will be seeing Ethan and Marie again.
 
Although I think the reader will enjoy this story more if they’ve read the others in the series, first, it’s not absolutely required. Shifter’s Lady is a welcome addition to this collection.
 
 
Sea Crossing by Virginia Kantra
 
I believe this is the first story I’ve read by this author and it was enough to make me go out and look for more. Sea Crossing is a little different than the other three stories in this collection because it has an historical setting instead of contemporary or futuristic.
 
Emma is a school teacher - or rather, she was, until she was “ruined” by an unscrupulous man who played her for a fool. Now she’s got nothing to look forward to but an unknown future in another country, as she indentures herself for a year of labor in exchange for passage to Canada.
 
Fortunately for her (although she doesn’t realize it), her ship sinks during a storm at sea! Miraculously, Emma wakes up warm and dry (and naked) in a strange man’s bed. Understandably wary, Emma quickly discovers that Griff is a simple, but honorable, man who does his best to make her feel comfortable. It turns out that the island where she awoke is in need of a teacher - how convenient! She just doesn’t know yet that the students - and the other residents - are mythical shape changing Selkies.
 
At first I wasn’t sure if this story was going to work for me; the tone and pacing are so very different from the other stories in the book. But as I read on, the story, the characters, the setting, all began to grow on me. Griff is warm and caring despite his reserved and sometimes gruff manner and the author skillfully portrays him as a strong, virile and attractive man without the usual descriptions. By the time you get to the end, you’ll be wishing you could find a Griff of your own.
 
This may have been the first Virginia Kantra story I’ve read, but I think it won’t be the last. Sea Crossing was a surprising and pleasurable finale to a very good book.
 
Overall, this was a very good anthology that introduced me to some new characters and authors and reacquainted me with some familiar ones. I enjoyed every story, but I think my favorite was A Jaguar’s Kiss (or maybe Sea Crossing…) - it’s hard to pick! Which one did you like best?

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Seeing as how we’ve got a brand-spankin’ new year just starting off (well, okay, it started a while ago, but who’s counting?), I thought, wouldn’t it be nice to talk about some other new things. We all know that there are lots of excellent, well-established paranormal authors out there. But they all had to start somewhere! So today, we’re going to highlight some new paranormal authors who are publishing their first book this year. Who knows - maybe one of these will be the next Christine Feehan, Sherrilyn Kenyon or Nora Roberts! Besides, if you’re like me, your favorite authors can’t write fast enough to keep up with you, so finding new favorites is key to keeping the addiction fed. Hopefully, this list will help:

 
Jamie Leigh Hansen
First Book: Betrayed
Released January 2, 2008

 
This sounds like a complex storyline involving past lives, curses, and something about a “stone prison.” Is there a gargoyle thing going on, or is it an actual prison? If you’ve read this - let us know!

 
 
J.D. Warren
First Book: Bedlam, Bath and Beyond
Released January, 2008

 
Who hasn’t sometimes thought (or maybe wished) that their life was some kind of elaborate hoax? Apparently, that’s what happens to the heroine in this story. Could be a fun romp, complete with demons and shapeshifters. Have you read it? Tell us about it!

 
 

Anna Windsor
First Books:
Bound by Shadow
Release Date: June 24, 2008
Bound by Flame
Release Date: July 29, 2008
Bound by Light
Release Date: August 26, 2008

 
This one’s a mystery! This author appears to be releasing an entire trilogy this year, and as far as I can tell they are her first publications, but I cannot find any information about her anywhere! No descriptions of the books are to be found either. I love the covers… but what are they about? Anybody have a lead?

 
 
Nancy Haddock
First Book: La Vida Vampire
Release Date: April 1, 2008

 
Living forever sounds good, but what if you were locked in a coffin for over 200 years? Gives immortality a whole new spin, doesn’t it? La Vida Vampire tells the story of just such a person.. er, vampire.
 
Who’s on your “to watch” list?

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Even vampires, witches and werewolves gotta have some holiday fun, right? The holiday season is here in full swing and for that rare moment during this crazy season when you actually get a chance to sit down and read, here are some new holiday themed (still, of course, paranormal!) romances you might enjoy.
 
Holiday with a Vampire
by Maureen Child and Caridad Pineiro

‘TIS THE SEASON TO TAKE A WALK ON THE DARK SIDE…
 
Silhouette Nocturne is proud to present these two sensual, heartwarming tales of love during the holiday season. True, the heroes may not wear red suits or be very jolly. But tall, dark and handsome, with the unusual power to thrill, can sometimes be the best gift of all.

 
In Christmas Cravings by Maureen Child, a vampire finds himself in need of a miracle, and discovers it on the doorstep of his childhood home in the form of Theresa Franklin.
 
Most women dream of being swept off their feet by a man—not whisked away by a devastatingly handsome vampire. But for Connie Morales in Fate Calls by Caridad Piñeiro, Hadrian’s tempting kisses make her long to deliver the gift of life to a man who thinks he has no soul.…
 
A Highlander for Christmas
by Sandy Blair

Welcome To My World

‘Tis the season to be jolly—but Boston antiques dealer Claire MacGregor isn’t looking forward to a solo Christmas, or cocoa for one, or trimming the tree by herself. But company’s coming. Claire is fooling around with an old puzzle box and when it opens…a gorgeous, studly laird appears. Thumbs down: Sir Cameron MacLeod is centuries old. Thumbs up: he doesn’t look it. And Cameron is tall, dark, and lusty—very lusty.

Come Away To Mine

Who is this lovely lass? And where is he? Before awakening in the 21st century in Claire’s bedroom, the last thing Sir Cameron MacLeod remembers was readying for war with a rival clan. Despite her strange clothes and odd ways, Claire is bonny and brave. He’s about to find out that love is a many-splendored thing indeed..

 
Holidays are Hell
by Kim Harrison, Lynsay Sands, Vicki Pettersson, Marjorie M. Liu

This holiday, spend quality time with family and loved ones—living and dead . . .
 
There’s no place like home for the horrordays—unless you’d prefer a romantic midnight walk through a ghost-infested graveyard . . . or a haunted house candlelight dinner with the sexy vampire of your dreams. The (black) magical season is here—and whether it’s a solstice séance gone demonically wrong with the incomparable Kim Harrison, a grossly misshapen Christmas with the remarkable Lynsay Sands, a blood-chilling-and-spilling New Year’s with the wonderful Marjorie M. Liu, or a super-powered Thanksgiving with the phenomenal Vicki Pettersson, one thing is for certain: in the able hands of these exceptional dark side explorers, the holidays are going to be deliciously hellish!

 
Dark Celebration: A Carpathian Reunion
by Christine Feehan

From the uninhibited imagination of Christine Feehan comes a sensual adventure of her beloved Carpathians-one of undying passion, astonishing fantasy, and eternal love.
 
They are the Carpathians. For years, they have been persecuted by their enemies, and have struggled against all odds to preserve their species. Now, a new insidious plot has been devised-one that would slaughter Carpathian females and bring an end to all that the Carpathians have worked for.
 
Even with his own lifemate, Raven, and their daughter Savannah, in danger, Carpathian king Mikhail believes that all is not lost. Gathering all of his people together [for Christmas], he will forge a new bond of strength, joining their powers in a celebration that will bring light even in this dark time.
 
So tell us, what’s your dark holiday fantasy?
 

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Did you realize that anyone can add a review to Digigirl’s Library? That’s right - anyone! All you have to do is sign up for FREE and start reviewing books to your heart’s content. Not only that, but you can vote for other reviews, too. Those votes are automatically tallied and you can see who the most highly rated reviewers are at any time by visiting the Top Reviewers page.

 
Today, we’d like to take a moment to recognize aprilp999 - our current #1 Reviewer! aprilp999 jumped right into the spirit here at Digigirl’s Library, and has added 6 reviews already.

 
Please enjoy aprilp999’s latest review, and then take a look at the rest of her reviews here. Thanks aprilp999!

Beg For Mercy

 
Pros: I loved the setting… Balboa, California.
Cons: The characters didn’t seem developed enough.

 
The basic storyline of this is book is good. Mercy Hollings is a normal, fairly introverted person who just happens to have the ability to compel people to do what she wants. She calls it ‘the press’. She was adopted and doesn’t know that she is a telepath. Even though I enjoyed reading the novel, her character is a little flat. For example: she tries to ‘only use her powers for good’. Its understandable but in real life no one is either good or bad but a combination of both and frankly the concept is a little overdone.

 
Mercy then meets the ‘bad guy’ Dominic, another telepath, who instantly realizes what she is. There is some attraction between them but the author doesn’t explore it. Dominic then tries to blackmail Mercy into helping him, by kidnapping her friend. Mercy then has to get her back. While this is happening Mercy is creating a love connection with Sam, the new guy in town. The opportunity for there to be this great love triangle, that everyone craves, is there. Dominic (the bad guy that you hate to love) Sam (the genuine good guy both extremely hot.) Mercy in the middle, however that doesn’t happen. Even though Dominic is a drug dealer, if there isn’t going to be a spark then I thought he should have been more of a villain.

 
Overall, I thought the ending was a little bit of a flop. I loved the beginning but the climax of the book was not as exciting as it could have been. The second book in the series ‘Angel of Mercy’ is coming out May of 2008. I’m hoping now that all the ‘players’ are known, this next book will really throw caution to the wind and get exciting.
 
 

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Digigirl’s Library is growing! Lucky for us, CatLady has agreed to join us as a regular staff reviewer. I’ve known her for years and I think you’ll find she’s clever, witty and articulate and I’m certain her reviews will be just the same!

 
Click here to see CatLady’s profile (and her cute kitties)

 
Click here to read CatLady’s fist review of Cast in Stone

 
Welcome to Digigirl’s Library, CatLady!

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I was lucky enough to be sent a preview copy of this fourth novel in Deidre Knight’s Midnight Warriors series, which is not due to be released until December. Of course, since I hadn’t read the previous books in the series, I *had* to run out and read them first.

As you’ll see by my reviews of those titles, this is a stellar series in more ways than one. The author has created an exciting and unusual storyline with strong science fiction roots - aliens and time travel right here on present day Earth. Parallel Desire continues the series admirably.

Parallel Desire is the first romance novel I’ve ever seen where the hero from a previous book got a second story - and a new heroine! Now, don’t shake your head! It’s not what you think. The author has found an incredibly creative way to handle this challenging concept.

In Parallel Seduction, we met Scott Dillon and Hope Harper. And, in that book, we also met Jake Tierny. Jake is another version of Scott Dillon from an alternate timeline, who comes back in time to try to stop some bad things from happening. Because the timeline has changed from the one he originally knew, he gets a second chance at life in Parallel Desire.

You see, Jake is Scott Dillon - and yet, he isn’t. He’s a Scott who has seen and done horrible things, watched his wife and unborn child be murdered and has no real hope of love in his life. As you might expect, this makes him a different person than the Scott in the previous book, who gets to keep his woman (as far as we know).

Scott and Jake can’t be in the same area, since they are basically the same person, so Jake strikes out on his own on a mission away from the base. Jake has a different body than Scott (you have to read the books to find out why), so he looks different, too. Personally I found him quite sexy - big, bad and tattooed!

Refarian Medic Shelby Tyler ends up going after Jake to bring him back to the base when Scott is assigned elsewhere. She had the hots for the original Scott all along, and finds that Jake is even better. But she’s got some baggage of her own that makes their relationship difficult.

As the two of them navigate their own romantic difficulties, the war continues on around them, providing lots of other challenges as well. It’s a difficult road, but the story keeps you pinned to the book to find out what’s going to happen next. Jake is so wounded, the reader can’t help but want to make him feel better, so of course we’re rooting for Shelby to get in there!

This story is not for the faint of heart - there are some hot, steamy scenes in there, as well as some sweet, emotional ones. This author really knows her stuff and doesn’t hesitate to manipulate the reader’s emotions.

Once again, Deidre Knight has produced a wonderful, sweeping tale of romance and adventure in an exciting and innovative science fiction setting. Don’t hesitate, if you haven’t read the first three books, start now - you’ll want to be ready when Parallel Desire hits the shelves in December!

 
Click here for more information on this book

Here are links to reviews of the previous books in this series:

 
Book 1 - Parallel Attraction
Book 2 - Parallel Heat
Book 3 - Parallel Seduction

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We’re new, so we’re still working out a few little bugs here and there.

There have been some glitches with our syndication feed recently - some duplications, etc. - as we try to get it working the way we’d like.

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The Internet is a great place for readers these days. Information sharing is at the core of what the Internet is about, and there is a lot of great information being shared for the paranormal romance fan!
 

Authors are beginning to realize that their web sites are an effective way to connect with fans and to gain new readers. Consequently, you can find background on your favorite characters and worlds, deleted scenes, free reads, contests and more.

To get you started, here are web sites for 5 of the hottest paranormal romance authors on the market today:

 
 J.R. Ward is the author of the hugely popular Black Dagger Brotherhood series. Find deleted scenes, character profiles and fan forums on her site.
 

 

The Dirk & Steele series is Marjorie M. Liu’s very creative contribution to the paranormal romance market and what an amazing contribution it is! You’ll find links to her free wallpapers, interviews and tips on writing on her site (which she creates and maintains herself!).
 

If we’re talking hot paranormal romance authors, we have to include Sherrilyn Kenyon, author of the extremely popular Dark-Hunters series. Her site is chock full of goodies for readers - podcasts, chat, news and lots of info on your favorite Dark-Hunter characters.
 

And then, of course, there’s Christine Feehan, grand-dame of the vampire genre. She’s the prolific author of the Carpathan (Dark) series, which is on #18 and counting. Fans can find lots of information on her site about series reading order, character background and even games (registration required)!
 

Finally, Nalini Singh is a relative newcomer, but she arrived with a bang! Her Psy-Changelings series is a very original and welcome addition to the paranormal romance genre. You’ll find book trivia, author facts, book “behind the scenes” details and writers’ tips on her site.
 

Visit our Authors section for links to all your favorite Paranormal Romance authors’ websites, blogs, book tour schedules and more.

Do you know of an amazing author website? Tell us about it!

 

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