Fans of "True Blood" get your fix of Sookie Stackhouse with the new book from Charlaine Harris, "Deadlocked."
Romance never goes smoothly for Sookie, and while her relationship with vampire Eric has been a bit rocky lately, she thinks it's steady. That is until she walks in on a visit from vampire king Felipe and finds Eric drinking blood from another woman. Sookie's hurt, though she knows it's about food and not anything else. But then when the woman in question ends up dead on Eric's lawn, suddenly there's a murder investigation to contend with. Meanwhile, Eric's maker's last wish was for him to marry another vampire - could Eric be considering it? And why is everyone in and out of the Fae worlds suddenly interested in Sookie's Fae grandfather's present to her grandmother? Would someone kill to get their hands on it? Is someone betraying Sookie?
Sookie's life continues to go down a bumpy path in this series, and while it would be a bit boring if she was content, you can't help but want Sookie to catch a break at some point!
The cast of characters surrounding her continue to entertain and the slice of Southern life mixed with the paranormal is a great setting.
"Deadlocked" is published by Ace. It is $27.95 and is 327 pages long.
A werewolf with OCD is the subject of the quirky book "Coveted" by Shawntelle Madison.
Natalya is making a living selling antiques to other supernaturals and meanwhile hoarding holiday ornaments ever since her boyfriend and pack alpha, Thorn, left her. Because of her OCD complications, her pack no longer accepts her and has thrown her out and her family barely tolerates her. When Natalya decides she's finally going to go on a date with a coworker necromancer just to prove she's getting on with her life, she comes across a rival pack that is willing to take her out to prove a point. That's enough to send Natalya into a panic attack and back to her therapy group of anxiety-ridden supernaturals, including a mermaid and a hunky wizard who might actually be interested in her! With friends and enemies lining up on both sides, Natalya may be facing bigger dangers to both her heart and her body.
This is the start of a funny and touching new paranormal series, which may be dealing with supernatural creatures, but gives them all very human problems that make them very relatable. I loved this book and can't wait to see what's in store for Natalya next! The only complaint I had was the cover looks nothing like the subject matter. I think it could use something a bit more quirky and not as everyday for this great book.
"Coveted" is published by Ballantine. It is $7.99 and 291 pages. Look for "Kept" coming soon.
A woman searches for a cure for her boyfriend's madness in "The Impossible Cube" by Steven Harper, a steampunk adventure novel.
Alice Michaels found her world turned upside down when her beloved aunt turned out to be insane with the clockwork plague and her fiancee wanted her for her clockwork skills for "activities" for himself and his friends. Alice since has fallen in love with Gavin Ennock, a musician-turned-adventurer aboard airships, but he has been struck by the clockwork plague, giving him the skills to concoct gadgets beyond the human mind - before the plague eats his brains and turns him into a zombie. Hoping to find a cure inside the Doomsday Vault, Alice and Gavin have turned against the British Empire and are now on their way to China looking for the cure. And they have made strange bedfellows with Dr. Clef, who is looking for the Impossible Cube, which could enslave the world! Can Alice save Gavin without having to sacrifice the world?
This is a cool thriller for steampunk fans with plenty of action and even some romance!
"The Impossible Cube" is published by Roc. It is $7.99 and 366 pages long. Look for "The Dragon Men" coming in November.
Contact Amy Phelps at aphelps@newsandsentinel.com
