RELIC

Author: Ellen Ashe, Celia Ashley, Annalee Blysse, Tracy L. Ranson ISBN: 1586088084 1/2006 ANTHOLOGY/PARANORMAL Publisher: NEW CONCEPTS PUBLISHING

Merlin’s Eye by Ellen Ashe... Unscrupulous book dealer, Roger Brinckworthe has made a fortune buying and selling antiquated medieval manuscripts. Following a lead on an ancient Druid Book of Verses he travels to England’s famed witch country to find that the mysterious heiress, Victoria Elwell, has her own agenda, and that Devon’s witchcraft is not confined to the pages of history. Sixth Day of the Moon by Celia Ashley... Trial by fire is not just an expression for Moira Delaney. Struck by lightning while on an archeological dig, Moira is transported thirteen hundred years into Ireland's past. Forced to seek the protection of a young warrior prince from the violent impulses of his brother, she discovers the price of guardianship is a night of pleasure, while the outcome of treachery is a soul destined to search for another through time. Lord of the Night by Annalee Blysse... Camille didn’t believe her grandfather’s claim the relic she found proved there was life on other planets. Yet, she believed that she was falling for a shape shifting jaguar. But could she trust her heart when Merrick admitted his brother claimed her first? She’d never been successful with men, so what on Earth would she do with two jaguars? Curse of the Cat’s Pawby Tracy Ranson... Some myths are real, others legendary... Sinister legends and deadly forces shroud Jamie, keeper of the mysterious mummified cat's paw, on her journey to the misty moors of Scotland. Once there, she hopes to right the wrongs of the past, counting on everything to go smoothly. What she doesn't count on is the sexy as hell Scotsman, Ian Munro. Can she return what is rightfully his without sacrificing her heart?

RRAH's THOUGHTS AND PONDERINGS:

In Merlin's Eye, Roger Brinkworthe stumbles into more than he bargained for when he is invited into Victoria Elwell's house and the secrets that cram the big old mansion from top to bottom. Provocative and alluring, this one is an absolute keeper of a book.

Sixth Day of The Moon is my favorite novella in this anthology. When Moira is struck by lightning in picturesque County Galway, Ireland, she is whisked back in time to 1200 years earlier and a man named Padraic that her soul recognizes from the first second. A story of tragic love, loss and redemption, this novella had me in tears and extremely happy with the ending.

With Lord of the Night, I will say that I loved the entire premise of the book. It is edgy, imaginative, with brilliant writing that had me thinking that this was going to be my favorite of all the books. I am all about a shape shifter and these beautiful, sleek men and women from the planet Marehet that shape shift into jaguars. Very sexy. Until the last ten or so pages, I was very into this book. This is the part of the book that became sticky for me. There is a threesome involving the h/h and to me, threesomes are not romantic, they are erotica and that was not what I was expecting or going for with this one. Ms. Blysse could have knocked one out of the park with me if not for the last chapter or so.

Curse of the Cat's Paw is very creative and I absolutely have to applaud Ms. Ranson on the great premise of this book. When Jamie goes to Scotland to relinquish her control over her inheritance, she never dreams she will have anything in common with the dreamboat living on her family's estate. Very upbeat, sexy and well written, Ms. Ranson's books could most definitely become a must have for me.

All together, RELIC just does it for me. It is a great read—fast paced, imaginative and a book that will go on my keeper shelf despite my one little upset.

Kristal Gorman