Keepers of the Cave by Gerri Hill

Publisher:                   Bella Books

Sometimes an author steps out of the box and writes a book that is different from her others.  This can be stimulating to creativity, but fans of the author may not appreciate what she does.  They’ve come to expect a certain type of book and they find something else disconcerting.  Gerri Hill did not follow her usual formula for Keepers of the Cave and there have been readers who have panned the book for that reason.  Different isn’t always bad though.  Give it a chance before passing judgment.

When a senator’s daughter disappears near Hoganville, Texas, FBI agents CJ Johnston and Paige Riley are assigned to go undercover to see if there is any connection between that case and others going back over fifty years.  CJ and Paige go to work at a correctional school near the town on what appears at first to be a useless mission.  It takes on a new dimension when they realize that the people in the town are just plain creepy.  They appear to be dominated in a cultish manner by the matriarch of the town, Mother Hogan, who is determined to block whatever the agents are trying to do.  As they poke around and make friends with a townswoman who teaches at the school, two things develop.   A sense of foreboding develops about the case and the women have to deal with a growing attraction between them.  Eventually they find themselves in a death race against an element that is the key to everything.

This may be one of the best books Gerri Hill has written.  It tells a fully comprehendible, if bizarre, story while making the readers think at the same time. The characters are fully drawn and complex.  The secondary characters are the ones that provide the real meat of the book.  Mother Hogan, as despicable as she is, is also fascinating as a study in extremism and of someone who will do whatever is necessary to achieve her ends.  The complete obedience shown to her by the rest of the town sets the unique atmosphere of the book.  CJ and Paige provide the romance in the book and the introduction to Hoganville, but they are pretty standard characters.  They are obviously there to satisfy Hill’s romance readers.  It’s the rest of the book that is an unusual type of story for Hill, which is probably why some of her usual readers have reacted poorly to it.

The writing in Keepers of the Cave is tight and well-paced.  There is a supernatural aspect to the story that could be expanded or at least better explained, but this is a page turner.  The story stays interesting from beginning to end and a reader can’t ask for much better than that.  If you’re looking for a regular Gerri Hill romance, this isn’t it.  Hill may be trying her hand at something new.  If that’s true, she should be encouraged.  Any writer should be applauded for expanding her abilities, especially if she does a good job of it.  In this case, Hill did.

Give Keepers of the Cave a chance.  If you approach it knowing what to expect, you shouldn’t be disappointed.

A Question of Ghosts by Cate Culpepper

Publisher:        Bold Strokes Books     

Wow!  Wow!  Wow!

Maybe that’s enough to say for a review, but it would probably be a good idea to explain what brought on the exclamations.

Cate Culpepper has written an excellent paranormal mystery with perfect pacing and terrific main characters.  Don’t plan on reading it if you have something pressing to do, like sleeping, because you’ll want to finish the book first.  The only readers who might be disappointed are those who want lots of romance.  Give this book a chance though.  There is a romance in the story and it’s not like any one you’ve ever read.

Becca Healy accepted a long time ago that she was a person scarred by the circumstances of her parents’ deaths when she was five years old.  Who wouldn’t be when your mother shoots your father and then herself while you’re sitting in the next room?  At least, that’s what everyone has been told happened; however, when Becca hears her dead mother’s voice saying to her “Not true,” she needs to find out what the message means.  That brings her to Dr. Joanne Call, an expert in the collection of ghost voices and interpreting what they mean.  The warm, effusive Becca and terse, distant Joanne make an odd pair as they investigate this mystery and are drawn closer together.  When a series of incidents makes it clear that someone does not want them to discover the truth, survival becomes as important as collecting the information.  Fortunately for the women, Becca’s mother is determined to help them from the grave….or wherever she is.

Culpepper sets her novel in a part of Seattle called Capitol Hill, which is being gentrified and in a state of decline at the same time.  The tone of the story is set by the fact that much of it happens in an old house across the street from a cemetery; the house where the deaths occurred.  One of the interesting aspects is that both of the main characters, rather than being afraid of the cemetery find it a place of comfort, even at night, especially near a memorial statue of a woman and child.  Becca and Joanne frequently retreat there to sort out their thoughts and draw strength from the woman.  The statue actually exists and is featured on the book’s cover, which sets the atmosphere before the reading ever begins.  It’s an outstanding example of how a cover can help establish a book’s theme.

Joanne Call is an intriguing character.  She suffers from a personality disorder that is close to Asperger’s Syndrome and that makes her almost incapable of relating to people or dealing with social situations.  It does give her a laser like ability to focus on her work and to interpret facial expressions.  Putting her together with Becca Healy, who is described by everyone as the most loveable person possible, would seem to be asking for trouble, but Becca has her own problems to cope with.  Watching them play off of each other as Joanne provides strength and stability and Becca provides warmth is skillful character study.  To keep them from becoming too intense though, Culpepper throws in occasional humor to lighten the atmosphere.  These are two characters that it would be fun to follow further to see how they develop.

A Question of Ghosts is a totally enjoyable book to read.  The paranormal aspects seem believable and should not bother those who are skeptics.  The mystery unfolds gradually and the ultimate answer stays unknown until the last pages of the book and offers a surprise.  Giving this book a high recommendation is easy. 

Return of the Raven by Jamie Scarratt

Publisher:         Blue Feather Books

Return of the Raven is the second volume in the Wolf’s Tales mysteries.  Red Wolverton and Evadne Davenport have formed a private investigation firm despite the vast differences in their lives and backgrounds.  Red is still recovering from their last adventure and trying to adapt to the lifestyle to which Evadne has introduced her, but isn’t having a lot of success.  She’s also having trouble determining exactly what her personal relationship with Evadne should be.

In this book the women are asked by a friend of Evadne’s to investigate the strange occurrences at his manor house.  They find themselves dealing with phantoms, ancient prophecies and secret societies.  Their relationship is also tested by misunderstandings and outside forces, including two women who seem intent on drawing the partners apart.  Red and Evadne have to find a way to regain their trust for each other because, according to the prophecy, they are the key to the next battle between good and evil.

This was an excellent book to read.  It was well edited with no mistakes.  The story unfolded at exactly the right pace and the characters were extremely well developed.  Scarratt struck the perfect balance for a book in a series.  She only included enough from the previous story to keep the reader informed about what was happening and what previous events might have influenced the current ones, but she didn’t bog down the book with extraneous information.  If anything, what is revealed in this book makes the first one more plausible. 

One of Scarratt’s real strengths is her ability to use the paranormal aspects of her story in a way that makes them seem normal and possible.  Not much reality has to be suspended for the reader to completely buy into what is happening.  Scarratt also does a good job of keeping the mystery in the mystery.  Even when the reader realizes what is happening, it’s not enough to give away the next steps in the progression.  This is partly because Scarratt isn’t afraid to take her characters into bad places, behaviors that make them look bad or cause them pain.  The reader can’t be sure what is going to happen next.

Return of the Raven is a true paranormal mystery.  Fans of both genres can enjoy this book.  It’s one of the ones that is hard to put down once it’s started.  Those who like romances may be frustrated that Red and Evadne are taking so long to find each other, but there is hope.  Scarratt dangles enough at the end to indicate that there might be a third book and the reader will want to have it.

The Secret of Lighthouse Pointe by Patty G. Henderson

Publisher:       Black Car Publishing

Constance Beechum is in an unenviable position.  She is single and penniless in a time when a woman without any prospects has little hope of respectability.  A letter arrives from her uncle offering her a position as a nurse/companion to Lady Elizabeth Gerard and Constance has no choice but to accept even though she has no experience at doing either.  The trip to Castine, Maine, is dark and spooky, but not nearly as spooky as Edward and Roger Gerard and Edward's wife Catherine.  Constance devotes herself to making Lady Gerard's last days as comfortable as possible, something which doesn't appear to interest her family, but does appeal to the mysterious George Kane.  Constance uncovers a mystery about "Mr." Kane and together they try to battle the evil which seems to be about to engulf them.

Patty G. Henderson has reached into the style of the Gothic novel to tell her story.  She captures many of the most common traits – a brooding old house with secret rooms, a damsel in distress from a tyrannical male, an upstanding hero, supernatural or mysterious events and a heightened sense of emotionalism.  People who read this book have to approach it with an understanding that Gothic is a very particular style requiring characters and the scenery to behave in certain patterns.  What might appear to be stilted or overblown to the modern reader is part of the format that has to be followed.  The characters are somewhat flat, but that could be because they are written according to a template.

Classifying this book for a modern reader is difficult.  Though the main character is lesbian, there isn't a typical "romance" that many require.  The atmosphere is bleak and looming, but the "mystery" never is very mysterious since the answer is apparent almost from the beginning.  Most of the book is predictable from the early chapters.  Followers of Gothic literature will probably find it more satisfying than most typical readers.   However, if the reader is looking for something different and an entertaining story, The Secret of Lighthouse Pointe will do fine.

The Illusionist by Fran Heckrotte

Publisher:              L-Book

The Illusionist is a good example of a book where everything happens too quickly.  There is the good basis for a story, but there are a lot of holes that needed to be filled in to help the reader understand what exactly is going on.  Heckrotte plans a sequel and may have wanted to hold back some secrets for that book.  The problem is there are questions that should have been answered in this book to increase the reader's comprehension of the story.

Yemaya Lysanne is The Illusionist.  She performs around the world astonishing people with what she is able to do.  What her audience doesn't know is that she is exerting power and control over them that they don't realize.  Dakota Deveraus is an investigative journalist who is trying to uncover Yemaya's secrets.  She thinks she's been hired to do an expose on people who perform stunts and doesn't realize that she is actually the tool of a powerful CEO who wants to control Yemaya's power.  The two women are quickly drawn to each other, so there is no hesitation when Yemaya invites Dakota to accompany her back to her homeland Moldova.  This is an actual country that lies between the Ukraine and Romania, generally in that area more famously known as Transylvania.  When Dakota arrives, she discovers a county true to the stereotypes – thick fogs, mysterious houses, and villagers totally loyal to Yemaya and her brother Raidon, who are treated like the ruling royalty.  There are also wolves that have a connection to Yemaya and serve as her protectors and assistants.   

Agents working for the CEO have followed the women home and there is a madman stalking the village, not to mention various spirits and old gods who come to play a part in the story.  Amidst all of this, plus death threats and attempted kidnappings, the two women find themselves falling in love and discovering that they are soul mates.  The question is if they can survive all of the forces attacking them to establish a life together.

Yemaya and her brother are definitely not human (they say so themselves) and she can communicate directly with the wolves, but it's not clear exactly what they are.  The villagers seem typical of what appears in the Frankenstein and Dracula stories, but they see the Lysanne's as protectors against the monsters, not as the monsters themselves.  The book has a dark and mysterious tone, so you certainly expect something to leap out at you.  The spirit of Dakota's ancestor, who was a pioneer woman on the Great Plains, makes frequent appearances and provides some comic relief, but the "dialect" she speaks is nothing but irritating.  Finally, there is the relationship between the women.  They have hardly met when they realize they are totally in love and absolutely devoted to each other.  There is very little development in the relationship.

The Illusionist isn't a bad book.  There is a story to be read in it, but it needed a little more work to be complete.  Another 15-20 pages would have helped the flow of the story.  There is adventure, suspense and romance.  When you finish the book though, you'll feel like you still don't know the whole story.

She Waits by Kate Sweeney

Publisher:               Intaglio Publications

Kate Sweeney introduces a new mystery series with her first book She Waits.  Her heroine Kate Ryan is a klutz.  She doesn't mean to be, but Kate can't seem to do much without having an accident of some sort.  It actually makes her rather endearing.   

Kate was once a private investigator, but, after a horrible incident that is never fully explained, she gave up that occupation to become a very successful wildlife photographer.  When the book opens, she is on her way to Galena, Ill., to spend a peaceful weekend with her sister.  While she is in the area, some friends have asked her to visit a friend of theirs who is having some problems.  Maggie Winfield has had some strange things happen to her and her friends are hoping that Kate can help her figure out what is going on.  Maggie doesn't want anyone else to help her, especially Kate after the way they meet.  Kate is driving down the road and nearly hits Maggie as she crosses the road at a high rate of speed on her horse.  For a while, things go downhill from there.  As the mystery unfolds it is clear that Maggie's rather eccentric family is hiding secrets and that these secrets are related to what is happening to Maggie.  There is a string of unusual deaths, including Maggie's parents and a long time family employee.  Maggie is quite wealthy and her death would make someone very rich.  Then there's the ex-girlfriend Allison who seems to be tied into everything.  Kate has more clues than she knows what to do with and they don't seem to fit together. 

Two of the best characters in the book are Maggie's Aunt Hannah and Kate's dog Chance.  Hannah is the walking definition of blunt, irrepressible and buttinski.  Sometimes it's difficult to tell what interests her more, solving the mystery or getting Kate and Maggie together.  Chance is a gem.  Totally dedicated to her mistress….or whoever will scratch behind her ears, and with a sharp nose that keeps turning up the clues in the case.  Add to these two Kate's sister Teri and her husband Mac and you have the supporting characters that should transfer with this series very easily.

Sweeney has written a well-structured book to introduce a new series.  She Waits contains an interesting mystery that isn't solved until the final pages.  A possible relationship between Kate and Maggie is set up for exploration at a later time and enough hints have been dropped as to what the tragedy was in Kate's life that readers will be encouraged to buy the next book.  She Waits is a very satisfactory introduction of a new character in lesbian fiction.

A Matter of Degrees by Alex Marcoux

Publisher:             Harrington Park Press

How many conspiracy theories can one story accommodate?  After reading Alex Marcoux's work, A Matter of Degrees, it would seem that answering that question was one of her major objectives in writing the book.

A Matter of Degrees brings back Marcoux's heroine Jessie Mercer, a novelist who has the gift of precognition.  Jessie often finds that she writes a story and then it comes true, with her in a starring role.  This time, Jessie's brother Steve, a news reporter, is working with a colleague on a story about the Freemasons and their connections to other secret societies supposedly cooperating for world domination when he suddenly dies.  The police believe it is suicide, but Jessie isn't sure about that, especially when incidents from her brother's life begin to mimic what is in her most recent story.  She decides to assume a disguise as a man and find out what happened to her brother by becoming a Thirty-third Degree Mason.  Television newswoman Rachel Addison, one of Steve's friends, assists Jessie in her quest.  As the story unfolds, Jessie finds herself dealing with the Freemasons, the Council on Foreign Relations, the Trilateral Commission, the Bilderbergers, the Roman Catholic Church, a story similar to the premise of The DaVinci Code, and flashbacks to a previous life in ancient Egypt.   Even the Secret Service is portrayed as a surreptitious hit squad used to enforce the leader's wishes.  She has to contend with all of this while she disappears from her own life for almost a year and keeps her lover songstress Taylor Andrews, who is on a world tour, from finding out what she is doing.  The ending of the story culminates with a totally different conspiracy and puts Jessie in danger of losing her life.

Marcoux's first two books, Facades and Back to Salem, were extremely enjoyable and dabbled in the supernatural in a believable manner.  A Matter of Degrees however stretches creditability well beyond the breaking point.  The book has a slow start, perhaps because Marcoux lays a foundation based on the idea that all of the conspiracy theories in world history, including various assassinations, are not only true, but connected in a confusing pattern created by the people who really control the world.  One conspiracy might seem logical; maybe two if the reader chooses to believe the current theory that says secret societies are linked in the New World Order.  After a while though there are so many theories and suspicious circumstances that occur with no one being the wiser that it becomes impossible to accept the premise of the book.  The end of the book is somewhat flat and predictable.  A character that has been omniscient for thousands of years doesn't have the ability to see what is going to happen next. 

  

Marcoux says on her web page, "As you will soon see, my stories are a bit more complex than my earlier work".   A Matter of Degrees is proof that more complex does not mean the story is better.  

Witch Wolf by Winter Pennington

Publisher:              Bold Strokes Books

Kassandra Lyall is a witch by birth, a werewolf by circumstance and a licensed Preternatural Private Investigator and Paranormal Huntress by choice.  She lives in a world where vampires are an accepted part of society and werewolves aren't. That is why Kass prefers to work alone, but she's often called in by the police to help with cases.   

When mutilated bodies show up, Kass finds herself working on two cases that could endanger her own existence.  It's obvious that there is a rogue werewolf involved in the murders and another werewolf asks her to help find her missing brother.  The cases bring Kass into contact with a world she has tried to avoid and a woman she finds frightening and irresistible, Lenorre Countess Vampire of Oklahoma.  Kass feels the cocoon of safety she's built around herself being ripped apart.  She has to find a way to make her changing paranormal situation, the murder investigation and her complicated relationship with Lenorre come into sync and maintain her identity. 

Winter Pennington fell into a twist on the proverbial stew of biting off more than she should have chewed in Witch Wolf.  It's a first book in a series she intends to write about these characters and she spends more time introducing them and how they fit into the picture than she does in telling a story.  She either should have written more or tried to cover less territory; then what is a passable story would have become a better book.  

The publisher brands this as a romance which only works if that's interpreted in the classic definition of the word.  There's very little development of a love story, which is what most readers will expect from the label.  The mystery that is supposed to tie the characters together never really has much suspense about it and the answer to what is happening is apparent fairly quickly.   

Pennington is trying to create a complex world with complicated characters, but it would have worked better if she had let the different aspects she wants to cover show up gradually in each book instead of trying to pour it all into one.  She makes a reference to something significant that happens to Kass then never mentions it again in the book.  Since the title of her next book has already been announced, it's clear that this situation will be important then, but it has no relevance to this book.

What is interesting about the book is the characters and the potential they show for the future.  Kassandra Lyall is a complicated personality and has a lot more to reveal about the different aspects of her life.  The world of vampires as represented by Lenorre isn't typical and could be an interesting story line by itself. There is a scene about what happens to a vampire at the end of a night that describes a process not usually discussed.  The strength of the series will depend on how Pennington develops the story lines from now on.   

Although the story in Witch Wolf is thin, it will provide a strong platform to launch the rest of the series.  All the characters need are story lines that develop as they do.

The Veil of Sorrow by Crystal Michallet-Romero

Publisher:            P. D. Publishing

Cecilia Dupuin has had a fortunate life.  Though born an orphan, an anonymous benefactor paid for her to attend an exclusive girls school and now she has been hired to work for a wealthy woman who needs someone to help her record her memoirs.  Cecilia finds herself living in a beautiful chateau with some odd people.  Her employer is a charming elderly woman who has a harrowing tale to tell, but it’s when she meets the true mistress of the mansion that Cecilia comprehends the darkness into which she has stumbled.  Cecilia is forced to confront what she has been told about vampires as opposed to the woman she meets and the woman who loves her.  Ultimately, she must decide how much of their story she wants to be part of.

The Veil of Sorrow is written in the style of the Gothic novel with brooding characters, a suspenseful mood, supernatural events and high emotion.  It departs from the usual formula by making the threatening presence a female, but that’s what makes it lesbian fiction.  The book has a modern aspect in that the vampire is more misunderstood than evil, perhaps too much so.  Cecilia doesn’t seem startled at all to find herself the guest of a vampire and, instead of contemplating fleeing from the situation, she’s more interested in transcribing the stories that are being told to her and getting to know the women.  Although there is an occasional show of the beast, most of the time the vampire and her servants are model citizens.  Part of what draws the reader in is the way that vampirism is handled as so “normal,” comparable to having a chronic illness.  If the reader is a fan of more traditional vampire novels, this one may seem very tame; however, it is a lesbian novel told in a different style and mood.  It’s a couple of hours of escapist reading.

The Midnight Hunt by L.L. Raand (Radclyffe)

Publisher:              Bold Strokes Books

Radclyffe, writing as L.L. Raand, enters the arena of supernatural fiction with a book that is full of dangerous creatures and heavy on eroticism.

The Praetern species  - Weres, Vampires, Mages, Fae and Psi – have revealed themselves to the human world and are now fighting for full recognition as citizens with their rights protected.  The leader of the Praetern Coalition is Sylvan Mir, the Alpha of one of the largest packs in North America.  Sylvan is beautiful, charismatic and dangerous.  She will go to any extent to defend members of her pack, which is how she meets Dr. Drake McKennan.  One of the younger pack members is attacked by renegade Weres and Drake tries to treat her in the hospital.  Sylvan warns Drake to stay away from Were patients for her own safety, but inevitably Drake is bitten by one that she tries to help.  As Drake is initiated into the pack, she presents a distraction for Sylvan and a threat.  Sylvan has never mated because she has to focus all of her attention on protecting the pack and pushing through the laws that would protect the Praeterns.  A mate would not only distract Sylvan from doing any of her jobs, but would also be a vulnerable point of attack.  Drake wants Sylvan, but a relationship could cost them their lives.

The Midnight Hunt deals with more than one subplot.  Supernatural creatures are cast as another group that is fighting for civil rights and the reader can't help but draw analogies with the fight other groups have gone through.  There is also the conflict within the Praetern community between those who want to fit into general society and those who don't see a need for that, also reminiscent of real groups.  The focus of the book however is the interaction among the pack members, their hierarchy and casual attitudes about sex.  This book may be presented as speculative fiction, but it's also a work of erotica, to the point of almost overdoing that aspect.  Sometimes the characters are so focused on releasing sexual desires that the reader might wonder how they find the time to do other things.

There is a good story at the center of this book and fans of supernatural fiction will probably find it particularly appealing.  The explanation of Were society is interesting and the book works well as a set up for the later books in the series that the author promises.  She may be writing under a different name, but it shows the solid writing for which Radclyffe is known.

So Dead My Love by Patty G. Henderson

Publisher:            Black Car Publishing


(This was originally published under the title Blood Scent.)

The Karnov legend is that the "chosen one" will come to free Lara Karnov from a curse imposed by her vampire family and then she will rise to lead vampires into a new age. Lara has lain waiting for centuries and the time may have finally come.

Samantha Barnes has always known that she was different from other people. That is one reason why she chooses to live on an island off of the coast of Maine and be a semi-reclusive artist. When she is commissioned to do a mural for the local bank and begins to investigate the history of the island, she finds herself drawn to the creepy old Karnov Mansion. Samantha also finds herself drawn into an existence she never imagined and a love affair with a woman who wants her soul. But there is still a contact who holds her rooted in the "normal" world.

Carmen Montaya loves Samantha and would give anything to be her partner. She knows something is wrong with the strange visitor who has shown up at Samantha's and she's not going to give up Sam without a fight. Samantha is going to have to make some choices. Does she accept eternal life with Lara, bought at a terrible expense, or turn to the dedication and love that Carmen offers her? Is Samantha in fact the "chosen one?" The fact that she's not sure herself adds some suspense to the book.
 
Vampires exist by drinking blood; nothing changes that in So Dead, My Love. When Lara awakens, she has to feed and the island provides ample opportunities for that. The back blurb says that "even among vampires…there is good and there is evil." Where that line falls is not very clear in this story. Lara Karnov performs acts that are decidedly evil and leads Samantha into activities that should have her conscience in a turmoil forever, although there is a twist at the end that might be considered redeeming. This is the first book in a trilogy, so the role of the Karnovs might become more clear as the series progresses. There were a number of editing errors that should have been caught, especially in a book that is a second edition, but they don't detract from the story much. If you're a fan of vampire novels, you might want to give this one a try.

Shadow Point by Amy Briant

Publisher:                Bella Books

Madison McPeake is told to take a three week vacation from her job before she gets fired, then she receives a phone call saying that her brother has died and she needs to come take custody of the five year old niece she's never met.  Things are strange from the moment she arrives in Shadow Point.  Her brother lived on a naval base that buttons up tight from dusk to dawn and his cabin has no television, phone or computer service.  The isolation is complete and accentuated by the bleakness of the area and the cabins provided for the scientists to live in.  The two good points are Katie, who Madison falls in love with immediately even though she's not sure what to do with her, and the only other inhabitant of the cabins, Dr. Alice Piper, known as Pipe.  Madison is intent on wrapping up affairs and getting Katie and herself out of Shadow Point as quickly as possible, but Pipe provides a real attraction to hang around.  Madison is scared though.  Some sort of presence is hanging around the cabins and she has little doubt that it means harm to all of them.  A legend says that those who die there never leave Shadow Point.  Madison is determined that she, Katie and Pipe will not discover the truth of that story.

Briant has crafted a very successful suspense story.  The tension builds gradually during the story and quickly creates the impression that something very dark is lurking just off the page and the reader can definitely feel it.  When Madison says the hairs on her neck are standing up, so will the reader's.  Her rising fear will infect the reader as the story progresses.  Briant also captures Madison's confusion very well as she tries to deal with a child, whatever is going on at Shadow Point and her increasing feelings for Pipe.  Her conflict between wanting to run for her life and being strong for Katie gives the character depth.

Something worth mentioning is the cover for this book.  Often the art work on a book seems to have little if anything to do with a story.  The brooding nature of this cover is perfect however and starts setting the mood before the book is even opened.

The weaknesses in the book are probably due to a new writer who is still developing her skill.  The relationship between Madison and Pipe develops just too quickly, especially as distracted as Madison is with everything.  The only thing missing from their encounter is the U-Haul.  The book also doesn't sustain the suspense very well at the end.  After building the story so masterfully, the end is actually anticlimactic.  The fear factor through the book should have made for a much more daring ending.

Shadow Point is a very strong debut novel for Amy Briant.  It's a good example of how to build a story without rushing to the major points.  For those who love a spooky story, this one is worth reading.

River Walker by Cate Culpepper

Publisher:                Bold Strokes Books

This may be the perfect book.  It's told in a beautifully straight forward manner with no wasted scenes or distractions, the characters are compelling and there are no typographical or editing errors.

Two women are linked by the type of grief that kills the soul and one woman is determined to save them both.  Grady Wrenn is a cultural anthropologist who has come to New Mexico State University to teach.  Grady is haunted by her past and takes long walks along the Rio Grande at night when she can't sleep.  On one of these walks she has two startling encounters.  She meets a woman lying naked in the water and she hears the unbearable sound of another woman moaning and screeching in great pain.  Grady eventually learns that the woman is Elena Montalva, a local spiritual healer, and the suffering soul is a mythical creature known as La Llorona who wanders rivers looking for her lost children and preying on abusive men.  Only these men should be able to hear La Llorona, but because Grady can, Elena sees this as the opportunity she's been looking for to cure the spirit and stop the murderous rampage that always accompanies her visits.  While trying to find a way to confront the ghost, Grady and Elena must deal with hostile people in the town who blame the deaths on Elena and her mother.  If Elena can work the right magic, she can heal both Grady and La Llorona and try to provide a happy ending for all of them.

This is a supernatural story that doesn't feel supernatural.  The story is told so subtly and with such excellent character development that it's easy to believe that all of these individuals actually exist.  The reader is gradually drawn into the story and the spell it weaves becomes as powerful for the reader as for the characters.  The suspense mounts gradually, so that this never becomes a horror story, but there is a sense of horror around what happens to the women and the spirit.  Culpepper uses an interesting technique in contrasting Elena, who believes totally in the spiritual world, with Grady, who has lost her belief in just about everything.  Grady struggles to remain a scientist in the face of something that she can't avoid and she can't resist how Elena makes her feel.  The love story develops slowly and realistically instead of being a mad dash into a bedroom that so often occurs.

River Walker is a story that is simply pleasurable to read.  Even people who may not usually enjoy supernatural stories will find this one is hard to put down.

Survive the Dawn by Kate Sweeney

Publisher:              Intaglio Publications

Survive the Dawn is the sequel to Sweeney’s Away From the Dawn, featuring the characters Sebastian the vampire and her lover Dr. Alex Taylor.  Alex carries a serum in her body that will allow vampires to stay out during the day and is searching for a way to process it so that it will be more accessible to Sebastian and other vampires who think like her.  They travel to England so that Alex can consult with another scientist who is working on the same idea.  While Alex deals with her, Sebastian prepares for the confrontation with Nicolae, who is trying to take over sole leadership of the vampires.  He goes to the extent of resurrecting Leigh a dead vampire destroyed by Sebastian.  Nothing can stop Sebastian from assuming her power though and the lines are clearly drawn for a future conflict.  Will vampires follow the brutal, murderous methods of Nicolae or let Sebastian take them into a new future, possibly in the light of day?  Alex may hold the answer to that question in her blood if Sebastian can keep her alive.

Even people who are not normally vampire fans will likely find this book interesting.  The story is well written, but it’s the details about vampire life that make it different.  Sweeney spends time explaining the history of how the creatures were created and their culture, some of which contradicts commonly held beliefs.  There’s also something intriguing about a character who is trying to battle what is her intrinsic nature to become something better.  Sebastian can’t help being pulled into the violence of her world, but she resists as much as she can and isn’t satisfied when it happens.  Sweeney has created a curious character in the resurrected Leigh.  She comes back from the undead (maybe that should be the un-undead) and is more than a little crazy.   

It’s quite obvious that Sweeney is planning another book in this series.  The reader will have to wait to find out what happens with Alex’s quest for the serum, Sebastian’s battle with Nicolae and just what part Leigh’s insanity will play in the story.

Survive the Dawn was a fun and informative book to read.  The characters stay interesting and that helps to make the book.  This would be a perfect book for an afternoon read.  If you’re susceptible to vampire stories, you might not want to read it at night.