The Gilded Pen

By Liz Maverick
Publisher: Dorchester Shomi
ISBN: 9780505527240
Genre: Paranormal Romance
Published: July 3, 2007

Reviewed by: Amber Barth
Rating: 3/5

Some people take walking down to their local gas station for granted. But for L. Roxanne Zaborovsky, a freelance techy, this is no simple ten-minute walk. The fact that it’s 2:00 am and dark are the least of her problems as two men–the familiar and handsome Mason Merick, and the sophisticated and sexy Leonardo Kaysar–literally come to blows over her. If only that where the end of her problems. Between confusing leaps through time, high-speed car chases, and an emotional play of cant-and-mouse, Roxanne must come to a conclusion. Both men want the code that’s in her head and are willing to woo or kill to get it; it’s up to her to decide who’s the enemy and who’s the lover.

With an action packed and griping story line, Maverick weaves a story of adventure and self-growth as we fallow a confused Roxanne through layers and layers of alternate realities. It’s hard for Roxanne and the reader to tell exactly what reality they are in as space and time shift around her, but that doesn’t distract from the story line. The appearance and disappearance of random items as the plot twists and turns adds thrilling depths to a dynamic narrative. The slow explanations and Roxanne’s distractions and over evaluations, on the other hand, tend to drag the story off course until you want to kick Roxanne in the tush and remind her that her very existence hangs in the balance.

The manga-style cover is interesting. The art is neither exceptional nor horrible, though the premise seams a little misleading and tends to show Roxanne as more kick-ass than she is depicted in the book. The story in no way resembles a manga or light novel and has no Asian influence what-so-ever. And while Wired is marketed as an ‘Action Romance’ there is little in the way of a romantic relation. A hot go against the wall and some heated touching and kissing are about it. Very little explanation into the characters emotional feelings is ever mentioned.

All in all I would suggest this one to those of you who enjoy a high-speed tale with twists and turns, but tend to shy away from pure romances.

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October ‘08

By Heather Graham
Publisher: Mira
ISBN: 9780778324867
Genre: Romance/Paranormal
Published: July 1, 2007

Reviewed by: Amber Barth
Rating: 4/5

Things hunted in the night. Dark, malevolent things with little or no regard to humanity.

For Lauren, Heidi, and Deanna, their time in New Orleans was suppose to be fun: Heidi is getting married soon and this is her one last fling before she becomes a Mrs. So when Heidi decides to visit a fortune-teller Lauren has no chose but to agree despite any bad feelings she may have. Heidi and Deanna quickly have their fortunes read, each given a vague predictions of love. Last in the group, Lauren is ushered into a dark tent to sit before a crystal ball. Even as she sees the face appear in the ball and hears the words “I’m coming to get you” repeated, she’s not wholly sure it’s nothing more than some elaborate setup. Still, the fortune-teller’s warning to leave sends a chill down her spine that she just can‘t shake. Desperately in need of a drink, the three head to one of the many local bars where Lauren runs into tall dark and handsome Mark Davidson, literally.

Mark is stunned. The woman before him is a spitting image of his late fiancé, Kattie, even down to her smile. But Kattie has been dead for a long time, killed by the sadistic vampire Steffen. Still, the woman’s resemblance to Kattie is so striking, Mark is sure Steffen will be after her shortly, if he isn‘t already. Protecting Lauren becomes more and more paramount as their relationship grows. Steffen’s sadistic sense of humor has set the community of New Orleans reeling as body after body of headless women appear in the waters of the Mississippi, and even Heidi and Deanna are not immune to his charm. Friends and allies quickly appear in the most unlikely places as Mark learns that there is more to New Orleans than he remembers and Lauren learns that not everything that goes bump in the night is bad.

Heather Graham has a remarkable talent of combining suspense and the paranormal into a virtually seamless plot line. For the most part, characters are well developed and realistic, practically coming alive on the page. Some information is rushed and others repeated within pages of each other, but the overall flow of the story is strong and exhilarating. The atmosphere of New Orleans is palpable as it comes alive in a vivid portrait of activity and excitement, and the struggle between good and evil in a city rife with superstition and legend is as engaging as the city its self.

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