Susan Grant (1) (1954–)

MYSTERIA LANE is a paranormal romance anthology, though I would add humor to that description as all the stories in the collection are sure make you chuckle occasionally. MYSTERIA LANE, like its predecessor MYSTERIA, is set in a mystical town called Mysteria where it's not unusual to see a lady dressed in the latest fashions beheading some wicked demon from another plane of existence.

The fun of MYSTERIA LANE is that the four authors—MaryJanice Davidson, Susan Grant, Gena Showalter and P.C. Cast, four recognizable authors of the paranormal genre—have created an endless resource for which they can make stories about. There are enough secondary characters and characters with the briefest introduction to create several more stories. For instance, the Desdaine triplets from MJD's story, Disdaining Trouble, are familiar pranksters from the first anthology and are mentioned in the other three stories as well.

The only trouble I had was time relativity from one story to the next. The stories aren't told in Story A first, Story B second, etc., but from various times scattered about. This can get confusing. especially when the events of Disdaining Trouble, the first story of the anthology, aren't referenced in the other stories. As something rather big happens to the characters therein, this was surprising. I'm not sure if this was intentional to avoid giving away details of each individual author's story, or if it was merely overlooked for the grander picture.

However you look at it, the anthology is an enjoyable read. Fun, witty characters make Mysteria a town everybody would want for their own—even with temperamental wishing wells and horny ghosts.… (meer)

“Dark Descent” by Christine Feehan

In book 9.5 of the Dark/Carpathian series, ancient warrior Traian Trigovise is going home to the Carpathian Mountains at the behest of the prince after countless centuries away. While en route, he runs across four vampires in an extensive ice cave and attacks them. Unfortunately, he’s injured, and the vampires take him captive.
Joie Sanders is a telepathic human bodyguard and is damn good at her job. Joie, her brother Jubal, and her sister Gabrielle go spelunking in some ice caves in order to find the mysterious man Joie has been psychically talking with. After she and her siblings free Traian, they soon realize vampires are very real and that there’s something not quite right about the caves.
Joie and Traian are kickass characters. They’ve been mentally communicating for weeks, so they already know each other before they officially met. Romance blooms fast between them, but it’s believable.
I love the introduction of the mages. The ice caves are beautifully described, but since this is a novella, the rest of the scenery and the subplots aren’t over the top as in other books.
Jubal and Gabrielle are great additions to the series. Gary returns as the prince’s emissary, and there’s definitely a romantic spark between him and Gabrielle (too bad that doesn’t play out later in the series).
Since this story is so short, the writing is tighter and the characters, especially the women, are stronger than usual.
4.5 Stars

“The Star Queen” by Susan Grant

Three generations ago, warlords decimated the planet of Sienna. The survivors sought refuge underground and are now living in caves, fighting back and struggle to survive as best they can.
Taj Sai lives her life around work and has forsaken the typical duties of women. As the rebels’ bombmaker, she creates bombs with exact precision and has never had a device malfunction. The rebel commander, Romjha B’kah, once lived a careless life of apathy but changed his ways and now leads his people in successful raids. A foreign ship then crashes on the planet and a group of outsiders bring hope and idealistic views to the people of Sienna. Romjha wants to join them and fight a large-scale war for peace, but Taj fears all-out war will lead to slaughter.
I found this story confusing, but midway through, I finally understood what was going on. Romjha and Taj have secretly wanted one another for years, but never acted on their desire until the outsiders came and Romjha planned to leave. This story ends with a HEA, but it took ten years to reach it and the H/h were separated for most of that time. I liked the characters, but not the long-term separation, that was of course off-page.
3 Stars

“Sacrilege” by Susan Squires

For almost two centuries, vampire Madga Ravel has repented her sins and learned abstinence at the Mirso Monastery. Though she wants to takes her Vow and live there forever, her friend and mentor, Brother Pietr, insist she rejoin the human world. She believes she’s evil and unworthy, and doesn’t want to give in to her blood addiction and start killing again. Her sire and former lover, Julien, takes responsibility of her, but she doesn’t feel like she belongs in the modern world.
Pietr Vladamiroff has loved Magda for years, but his Vow forbids strong emotions, so he lets her go. But when a vampire elder targets Magda for death, Pietr must go against a thousand years of scripture and beliefs in order to save her life.
I haven’t read the other books in the series, so I felt a little lost with this novella. Apparently, Magda was the villain in the previous books, but now is a reformed heroine getting her own love story. I like that twist, but I wish I knew more about her villainous character.
Magda was often vulnerable and unsure of the people trying to help her, but I liked her for the most part. Pietr was strong and stoic, but full of so much passion, more than to be expected from a vampire monk. The scene when Magda is driving a car for the first time was hilarious, and the Buffyfest was great too. I liked this story, but I think reading the series in order is best.
3.5 Stars

Book Overall – 4 Stars… (meer)

A Tawdry Affair by Gena Showalter
I adored this contribution about a chubby witch named Glory who has been devastated by Falon's rejection. She is insecure and hurt and thinks she is unattractive. Falon is actually really hot for her but uncomfortable with his feelings so he pushes her away. This had my favored elements of a chubby insecure heroine, and a hero that rejects and hurts the heroine (a foil for a plot revolving around the hero soothing the angst and convincing the heroine of her beauty and his love). On top of this, it is my favorite genre! A definite win, going on my recurring reads shelf. Loved it. (4.5 stars)

I'll come back to the other stories.




Disdaining Trouble by MaryJanice Davidson

Nanny from Hell by Susan Grant.

It's in His Kiss by P. C. Cast… (meer)