Xenia Navarre Historical Romance

In this urban fantasy set in modern-day California, half-Japanese interior designer Eve Hollis is a happy atheist with a normal life, until a steamy encounter in a stairwell with a familiar stranger transforms her into a Mark, a supernaturally-gifted hunter who’s drafted into working as a demon-slayer for a distant God. Her problems worsen when she learns the sexy stranger in the stairwell is Abel, brother to the dangerous drifter who broke her heart years ago—-who turns out to be Cain…as in, THAT Cain. Pulled between the warring brothers, Eve will need all her strength, her smarts, and her supernatural powers to stay alive, before the Infernals she’s chasing come after HER.

This was a very entertaining and well-written urban fantasy. Day’s vivid and imaginative world revolves around a complex hierarchy of angels and archangels, demons, fairies, and shapeshifters hidden among clueless mortals. (And yes, the appendix for deciphering the bureaucracy of Heaven comes in handy.) The action is fast and furious, Eve makes a likable hero despite her toughness, and the sex—with both heroes—is steamy. In addition, the author does a nice job handling the unusual love triangle among Cain, Abel, and Eve. Within a crowded paranormal/urban fantasy market, the complex angel/demon worldbuilding and the Cain and Abel aspect stand out. The story continues in EVE OF DESTRUCTION and EVE OF CHAOS, both of which are available now.

Set in Victorian England, this historical mystery is written in the tradition of Agatha Christie and Elizabeth Peters. Widowed Lady Julia Grey is attending a holiday house party in an isolated manor, snowed in with her eccentric family, when a guest turns up murdered. Then Julia’s spectacular Grey Pearls disappear, along with her spinster aunt. To solve the mystery, Julia must join forces with her old flame, cynical but seductive detective Nicholas Brisbane—before someone else turns up dead.

This story is a delight that any lover of historical mystery or historical fiction is certain to satisfy. Constant twists and turns continually surprise the reader (and Julia, although Nicholas always seems one step ahead of the game), and the story unfolds with the intricacy of a peeled onion, layer by layer. Multiple villains—all of them colorful, and some definitely more malignant than others—keep the story lively. The chemistry between Julia and a fiercely-resistant Nicholas provides an enjoyable romantic subplot, while quirky characters and a vivid sense of place contribute further fascination. The book is #2 in the Lady Julia Grey mystery series, which debuted with the RITA-winning SILENT IN THE GRAVE.

If you enjoy historical mysteries and the authors I mentioned above, you’re going to enjoy this one. It’s beautifully written, and you’ll savor every sentence. Has anyone out there had a chance to read the first book in the series?

In this delightful Regency historical romance set in rural England, orphaned vicar’s daughter Olivia Sherwood is left to care for her blind sister, giving her no choice but to work as a maid for the brooding, half-Gypsy earl Dominic St. Bride. Like the educated and gently-bred maid who works for him, Dominic knows he belongs nowhere—neither among the nobility nor the Gypsies. Despite his fascination for the lovely and warm-hearted Olivia, she blames all Gypsies for her father’s murder. Her lack of trust keeps the two apart—until a hidden enemy strikes Their only chance at survival becomes the fragile bond between them.

This darkly-toned and sensual Regency romance was penned in the late 90s. Trends in the romance market evolve quickly, and since I read so many of them, I consider myself fairly sensitized to the nuances. In fact, I often prefer a slightly older historical, because there seems to have been greater freedom for an author to use elevated, somewhat sentimental language to tell her story. There didn’t seem to be as great a do-or-die emphasis on one of the “golden rules” in the current romance market, whereby deep point-of-view (POV) is sometimes portrayed as the only correct way to tell the story. Deep POV can be a useful tool–usually leading to a more emotional read, which is suitable to the romance genre. However, I also like the additional flexibility moving out of deep POV gives the writer, the ability to “pan the camera” across the scene, including giving us glimpses of the narrator and a more cinematic feel to the story, as with ONE MOONLIT NIGHT.

In any event, these are not issues that will divert a non-writer in any particular. Fans of the elegant Regency romance will enjoy this read, featuring a highly intelligent and sympathetic heroine, an attractive dark hero, plenty of poignant moments, and a thoroughly satisfying resolution.

This tender medieval romance takes place in England and Wales in 1153. Gentle and kind-hearted, the last Pendragon princess Nicole de Leon has been convent-raised, and appears suitably placid to most. Yet she can’t conceal her suspicions when her childhood rival, charming Welsh bard Rhodri ap Dafydd, arrives unexpectedly to escort her home for a visit. In fact, Rhodri has orders to deliver her to an arranged marriage with a Welsh prince who will fight the hated English. But, as the couple flee the wrath of the English king, Rhodri discovers he’s only willing to see Nicole wedded to one Welsh hero—himself!

Shari Anton’s sincere and warmly-written medieval romances are always an enjoyable read. Although I often prefer a fiery heroine to a gentle one, this story was an exception. This heroine was so genuinely compassionate, wise, and quietly strong that it was immediately apparent she deserved a happy ending. Nicole’s character, along with an intense passion for this tumultuous period of English history, are the reasons I enjoyed this book. Rhodri was attractive and appropriately heroic, but I SO appreciate an intelligent, self-possessed heroine. When I was younger, I preferred the fifteen-year-old spitfires who were sometimes described as “spitting like an angry kitten,” their struggles against those brutal alpha heroes so earnest and adorable. And of course they all tamed their man in the end. That was the fashion in the classic historical romances of the 70s and early 80s, still beloved by many, and they were very fine escapism indeed for the good little Catholic schoolgirl that I was! I believe today’s heroines, in general, reflect more overtly the intelligence and drive of a modern woman.

This book will please medieval romance fans, and those who prefer a less violent and less blatantly sexual romance. Although the story has some sensual moments, the words that spring to mind are tender, a bit innocent, and sweet without being sappy. Sort of like a gleaming red-gold apple waiting to be crunched into. A story set during the meteoric rise of the charismatic first Plantagenet, the oh-so-sexy Henry II (who would himself be tamed by Eleanor of Aquitaine), was an added bonus!

In this sleek romantic suspense, set in Italy and other international settings, renowned Renaissance art restorer Emily Greene barely escapes a killer who breaks into her Florence apartment, and she can’t figure out why the international terrorist cell Black Rose seems to want her dead. T-FLAC counterterrorist agent Max Aries can’t forget his fling with the beautiful artist—even though he screwed it up—and he’s determined to keep Emily safe. When the terrorists kidnap Emily and strap a bomb to her chest in a crypt under the Vatican, Max needs to decide where his true priorities lie: with T-FLAC, or with Emily?

After MONTHS of searching for another romantic suspense author whose glamorous international settings, sexy stories, pulse-pounding espionage plots and sophisticated characters excite me as much as my favorite suspense author Anne Stuart, I have finally found another one in Cherry Adair! There’s a reason she won the RITA for best romantic suspense. Intelligent, fast-paced, intricate stories with plenty of twists and scorch-the-sheets hot sex. The author’s high-tech website at www.t-flac.com is one of the sleekest, smartest, best author sites I’ve seen, and there are MANY T-FLAC books for series fans to enjoy!

Happy reading!
Xenia

In this sexy romantic suspense set in modern-day Tokyo, brainy archeology student Jill Lovitz arrives unexpectedly in Tokyo to visit her sister, and walks right into a nearly fatal trap. Suddenly Japanese yakuza gangsters are trying to kill her, and Jilly has no idea why! Her only protector appears to be tattooed Japanese punk Reno, whom she’s lusted after hopelessly for years. Little does Jilly know that it’s a shadow element in his grandfather’s yakuza family who wants both of them dead. And Reno isn’t nearly as indifferent to Jilly’s charms as he’d like her to believe…

Every book in this sexy, international romantic suspense series by Anne Stuart is HOT. The heroes are sophisticated, dark, and super-dangerous, the settings are glamorous, the sex is scorch-the-page hot, and the suspense-espionage-thriller element is knife-edge sharp. This is one author who can make ANY chilling, cold-blooded killer a sexy savior who falls in love with the heroine very much against his own better judgment. If I were marooned on a desert island and only allowed to read ONE romantic suspense author, Anne Stuart would be the one.

And, to my delight, after several months of INTENSIVE study of the romantic suspense genre, I’ve found another author about whom I am equally enthusiastic, and for many of the same reasons. I’ve been hustling lately to post one book review per week on this blog, since your Xenia is once again saving the world. But having sharply-constrained reading time has made me VERY selective about the books I read and review here!! So watch out for my review of Cherry Adair’s WHITE HEAT, coming soon from

Xenia