Dark Secrets Anthology

MARION, MISSING by Rachel Caine 

Valentine is a detective with two major problems: he's been offered a kidnapping case that will probably get him killed, and his partner won't let him turn it down. He owes her that much … since his partner's a ghost, and he's the one who killed her. 

FEMME FATALE by Cynthia Eden 

PI Mick Swayne has seen it all—his clients have included liars, thieves, and even killers. He thinks he can handle anything and anyone. Then she walks into his office. Savannah Moreau is beautiful, seductive, and…a vampire? The gorgeous vamp hires Mick to help her track down a killer who is hunting in Chicago, but as Mick slips deeper into Savannah’s paranormal world, he wonders if he can really trust his new client… 

DANCE WITH THE DEVIL by Megan Hart 

Kathleen Murphy has sold her soul to the devil. Fame, fortune, success...everything she's ever dreamed of is hers, and all she has to do is the devil's bidding. When love comes knocking, the last thing in the world she wants to do is involve Jake in her twisted world, but the devil's started up the jukebox and Kathleen has no choice but to learn the steps. 

THE CONSORT by Suzanne Johnson 

Faulkner Hearne, the captain of the ruthless Fae Hunters, finds his duty at odds with his heart when he’s ordered to capture the consort of Faerie’s cruel Prince of Summer when she flees across the veil into modern New Orleans. Can Faulk turn Liandra over to a certain death at the hands of the prince, or will he risk a war with Faerie in order to save her? 

HEART’S BLOOD by Jeffe Kennedy, a Twelve Kingdoms novella 

Nix is nothing. The Princess Natilde—her former waiting woman—attacked her on the journey to wed Prince Cavan, stripping her of everything and taking her place. With no serving skills, Nix becomes a goose girl. Perhaps if Nix keeps her promise never to reveal who she really is, Natilde won’t carry out her vile threats. Prince Cavan entered his arranged marriage determined to have a congenial, if not loving relationship with his future queen—for the sake of both their kingdoms. But, his wife repels him more each day and he finds himself absurdly drawn to the lovely Nix. 

THE DJINN IN THE MIRROR by Mina Khan, a Djinn World novella 

Dahlia, the step-daughter of a power hungry wizard, promises to free a djinn trapped in a mirror if he rescues her from impending death. But Ashmael the djinn has his own agenda: to trick & seduce his way to freedom. The only problem is he ends up falling for Dahlia. Can he win his freedom and save the girl? 

My thoughts:

A few short stories/novellas with darkness in them.

Marion missing by Rachel Caine 

PI Val tries to find who killed his partner Tilde. Mystery murder and darkness. Good. 

Femme fatale by Cynthia Eden

A vamp and a PI. Kind of boring. I started skimming, even though it was only a novella.

Dance with the devil by Megan Hart

It started off a bit meh, but turned interesting. The devil is cruel.

The consort by Suzanne Johnson

A fae running from a fae prince. I liked this story

Heart's blood by Jeffe Kennedy

It was really good and all, but I just read another retelling of the goose girl, so I was never surprised.

The djinn in the mirror by Mina Khan

I liked the djinn world the best. Would love a book about that. The rest of the story was good, but not as good as the djinn world.

Conclusion:

Some I liked more, some I likes less. But that is the thing with anthologies. There are always the ones you like more, and the ones that might not fit your style. The 3 last were my favorites. Must be because of the fantasy elements.  You all know I love that.

Kindle Edition, 300-400?
Expected publication: September 29th 2015
Anthology UF/paranormal/fantasy
For review

River Road - Suzanne Johnson

Hurricane Katrina is long gone, but the preternatural storm rages on in New Orleans. New species from the Beyond moved into Louisiana after the hurricane destroyed the borders between worlds, and it falls to wizard sentinel Drusilla Jaco and her partner, Alex Warin, to keep the preternaturals peaceful and the humans unaware. But a war is brewing between two clans of Cajun merpeople in Plaquemines Parish, and down in the swamp, DJ learns, there’s more stirring than angry mermen and the threat of a were-gator.

Wizards are dying, and something—or someone—from the Beyond is poisoning the waters of the mighty Mississippi, threatening the humans who live and work along the river. DJ and Alex must figure out what unearthly source is contaminating the water and who—or what—is killing the wizards. Is it a malcontented merman, the naughty nymph, or some other critter altogether? After all, DJ’s undead suitor, the pirate Jean Lafitte, knows his way around a body or two.

It’s anything but smooth sailing on the bayou as the Sentinels of New Orleans series continues. 

My thoughts:

I am a bit torn. It was a good book, but, here comes the but. I do not really feel like reading more. Let me try to tell you why.

There are worse books in a series that I have continued. Cos I am stupid. And this book was good, but still at times it went down to just ok, and I felt it dragged somewhat. I would not buy it at a time like this because I follow sooo many series, sooo many! And there are so many more I want to follow and sometimes I just feel all meh. But if the library had it I would borrow it at once. So conclusion is, if I have read all the other books I want, maybe I can move on to book 3.

Drusilla is cool.....

But omg how many guys does she have after her? First there is Alex, then there is his cousin, then there is the pirate of course, then there was this merman, I mean come on. I can take a triangle if done right. But here is just feels like man after man is thrown after her.

I should stop writing, it feels the more I write, the more I want to change the good to ok...hm....that does not sound promising...

cover

Good

Paperback, 387 pages
Published November 22nd 2012 by Headline
Sentinels of New Orleans #2
Urban fantasy
Own

Royal Street - Suzanne Johnson

As the junior wizard sentinel for New Orleans, Drusilla Jaco’s job involves a lot more potion-mixing and pixie-retrieval than sniffing out supernatural bad guys like rogue vampires and lethal were-creatures. DJ's boss and mentor, Gerald St. Simon, is the wizard tasked with protecting the city from anyone or anything that might slip over from the preternatural beyond. Then Hurricane Katrina hammers New Orleans’ fragile levees, unleashing more than just dangerous flood waters.

While winds howled and Lake Pontchartrain surged, the borders between the modern city and the Otherworld crumbled. Now, the undead and the restless are roaming the Big Easy, and a serial killer with ties to voodoo is murdering the soldiers sent to help the city recover. To make it worse, Gerry has gone missing, the wizards’ Elders have assigned a grenade-toting assassin as DJ’s new partner...

My thoughts:

Yes this seems to be a promising start to a new series. Likable characters, interesting place, and story. Fingers crossed for a new series to enjoy.

The book takes place during hurricane Katrina. And while New Orleans suffers Others come through from the beyond. It's Dj's job to keep everyone in check as humans can't know about everything that is out there. She is a wizard and sentinel of New Orleans.

Dead pirates, vampires, shifters, Gods, you name it. This world had a lot to offer. And I liked that it took place during Katrina. It showed the catastrophe and what a disaster it was. Also, how it should not happen again.

Drusilla aka DJ was cool. She was not perfect at everything, now she failed sometimes and picked herself up again. While trying to maintain order she will get help from a hunky guy named Alex. Aye I hope that turns into something. 

Conclusion:
The hunt for a murderer, trying to find the man who raised her, taking down supernaturals. This book knows how to keep up the pace. I enjoyed it.

Cover

ok

Paperback, 336 pages
Published April 10th 2012 by Tor Books
Sentinels of New Orleans #1
Urban fantasy
own