For the reader who likes a bit of the "otherworldly," here are a few new books that would be great stocking stuffers!
Tami Dane returns to her FBI agent series in "Blood of Dawn."
Sloan Skye works for the FBI's Paranormal Behavioral Analysis Unit, along with hunky agent JT and her ex-boyfriend, Gabe. Sloan has had more than coworker feelings for JT, though he has had a very strange relationship with another coworker. And she's been busy trying to find a bride for her would-be fiance, Elmer, an undead prince, who wants to marry her for her elvish blood. And she has her own gorgeous beau, Damen, who wants to "court" her. While Sloan is trying to deal with all of these strange romantic complications, another strange case lands on her plate - teenage girls are being found drained of blood. Is there a vampire sucking down teen blood? In order to find out, Sloan must go undercover back to high school, a nightmare in itself, to find a killer.
I really enjoy the police procedural aspect of this series, the "Law and Order" with a paranormal twist. The characters take their cases seriously and there are real consequences to all of the actions. It's what X-Files should have been. And Sloan's dealings with Elmer are always funny or a bit scary. The only aspect of this series that makes me truly annoyed is the Sloan/JT relationship. He is interested in her, makes sure she knows he's interested in her, leads her on that he might be available, and then is also in a strange relationship with another coworker, which has continued through the other two books. He comes off as a user, but yet Sloan is still into him, which isn't exactly appealing.
Overlook the annoying Sloan/JT relationship, and enjoy the police procedural/paranormal aspect of this great series.
"Blood of Dawn" is published by Kensington. It is $7.99 and 327 pages long.
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An OCD werewolf attempts to get back into her pack's good graces in Shawntelle Madison's "Kept."
Natalya stood up for her pack, and with the help of her therapy group, may be getting a handle on her OCD. She hasn't exactly been welcome back with open arms by her pack, but is making headway there. But then, her father goes missing, captured by the Russian werewolf mafia, and Natalya is willing to stand up and fight for him again, along with the help of her gorgeous ex-boyfriend, Thorn, who is now engaged to another woman.
But Natalya has interest of her own, a member of her therapy group and wizard, Nick. Can she save her father? Will Natalya and Thorn rekindle their old flame?
I really enjoy this series with an eccentric heroine who isn't perfect and has her own problems to deal with like everyone else. Her therapy group is full of great characters and she's still ready to kick butt if need be.
"Kept" is published by Ballantine. It is $7.99 and 304 pages long.
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A teen girl with strange powers moves to live with her father in the hopes of a new life in Corrine Jackson's "Touched."
Remy has been used to living with her abusive stepfather and protecting her mother the only way she knows how - by taking her wounds as her own. Remy has the unique power of healing people with a touch, but must live with the injuries herself. When she ends up in the hospital again, her estranged father finds out, and takes her to live with him, her stepmother and her sister.
At her new school, Remy is drawn to Asher, a brooding teenager that seems to understand her powers. He's not just a brooding bad boy, he's a Protector, and he's determined to keep Remy safe from those that would hurt her - or possibly kill her.
This dark teen romance will please "Twilight" fans wanting something a little different.
"Touched" is published by Kensington. It is $9.95 and 343 pages long.
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A girl who suffers from seizures just wants someone to believe her that they are time travel loops in "Flutter" by Gina Linko.
Emery is tired of being a lab rat to her father and his colleagues, who want to help her by discovering the cause of her seizures and also make a name for themselves in the process. They refuse to listen to her when she says these are time travel loops instead.
The only person willing to listen is her best friend, Gia.
But when Gia shows skepticism, Emery feels truly alone. Until she meets Asher, a brooding boy who seems to want to help people in order to make up for something in his past. What is he hiding?
Why are the two drawn together? And what will happen to Emery?
This blend of science-fiction and romance comes to a powerful conclusion that will leave readers breathless.
"Flutter" is published by Random House. It is $16.99 and 342 pages long.
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Contact Amy Phelps at aphelps@newsandsentinel.com
