Author takes reader to "The Edge of Danger"

In "Edge of Danger" by Cherry Adair($6.99,Ballantine Books), Gabriel Edge has a problem. A T-FLAC operative in the psi division of the anti-terrorist organization, Gabriel's latest mission is to use his telepathic power to "read" scientist Eden Cahill.

It's a matter of national security, but in order to get the information from Eden's mind, Gabriel has to get close to her which he refuses to do.

You see, along with being wizards, Gabriel and his two brothers are also under a curse put upon their family by the witch Nairne. If the Edge brothers marry for love instead of duty, nothing they do will be able to protect their Lifemate from certain death.

Gabriel's not saying that Eden is his Lifemate, in fact he adamantly refuses to believe she is, but he can't deny she affects him like no other woman he's ever met. So he thinks the smart thing to do is avoid any physical contact with her. Unfortunately for Gabriel, Eden is strong-willed and Gabriel can't access her mind.

Eden has information on a device that has been stolen by terrorists. T-FLAC needs to know just how much damage the device can do in the wrong hands and Eden hasn't exactly been forthcoming.

Gabriel has no other choice. He kidnaps Eden, both to get the information he needs and to protect her from the same people who took the device.

Fans of Cherry Adair can look forward to another thrilling novel of suspense in "Edge of Danger," the first in new trilogy about the Edge brothers.

Mary Jo Putney ensorcels readers with "The Marriage Spell"

It's winter in 1813 in Mary Jo Putney's"The Marriage Spell" ($24.95, Ballantine Books), when Jack Langdon, Lord Frayne, is mortally wounded during the hunt in the English Midlands.

Devastated, Jack's friends take him, reluctantly as to the home of the local wizard -- Sir Andrew Barton -- reputed to be a great healer. The nobility are disdainful and distrustful of magic, but desperate circumstances call for desperate measures.
Unfortunately, Barton is not home. But fortunately for Jack his daughter, Abby, a healer also, is in residence at Barton Grange.

With Jack a death's door, Abby thinks she can save him with the aid of a healing circle. Her price is Jack's hand in marriage. Jack agrees to her terms.

Abby manages to save his life and though she tries to release him from their bargain, Jack decides he wants to marry her. He finds Abby kind, intelligent and honorable and if he marries her he won't have to endure the marriage mart.

But for a man repelled by magic to the point that he denies his own nature, Jack and Abby won't have an easy time of it. Plus, there's the matter of braving London Society which won't treat his wizard wife kindly and then reclaming Langdale Hall, Jack's family seat, from his evil stepfather.

"Tall, Dark & Dead" leads heroine into trouble

In "Tall, Dark & Dead" by Tate Hallaway ($14, Berkley Books), Garnet Lacey has given up magic. She's also trying to change her propensity for being late.

If she hadn't been late, she wouldn't have arrived after her coven had been slaughtered by Vatican assassins and if she hadn't arrived after the fact to see the assassins still there, sprinkling her coven's remains with holy water, then she wouldn't have called into herself the Goddess Lillith.

When Lillith came, she took over and after she's gone, Garnet wakes up to the slaughter she has wrought -- to the Vatican assassins.

Garnet leaves Minneapolis in a hurry, gives up magic, lands in Wisconsin and is just trying to live her life by avoiding the Vatican Witch Hunters.

Until tall, dark and dead walks into her magic shop. Magic shop? Well, Garnet it's the perfect cover.

No self-respecting real witch would be caught "within a mile of this New Age, Warlock-wannabe haven." At least she hopes that's what the Vatican will think anyway. Then she meets Sebastian Von Traum who comes into her shop.

Garnet is attracted to Sebastian, but she can't quite figure out what he is. She does know that since he's missing an aura, he's dead. She figures there's no future in dating him and that's that.

Until Garnet realizes that there's a Vatican killer on Sebastian's trail. She decides she has to warn him before he ends up like her coven -- permanently dead and unanimated.

Hallaway's Garnet Lacey is an interesting character so I hope we see more of her in future books.

Two new releases get summer reading off to great start

Up first is "Over the Line"($6.99, St. Martin's Paperpacks), the next book in Cindy Gerard's series The Bodyguards.

Former Army Ranger Jason Wilson's first job as a personal securities specialist for E.D.E.N Securities Inc. is to protect bad girl rock star Sweet Baby Jane Perkins. Expecting a hard partying, drugged-out diva, Jason is pleasantly surprised.

Turns out Sweet Baby Jane really is sweet. Jane doesn't do drugs, she doesn't even drink. And, she treats those around her with the same respect that she expects to be treated with.

For a first assignment, this would be the perfect job -- only someone really is out to get Jane.

It could be: The man who stalked her years ago who has recently been released from prison. Her real jerk of a drummer who want more from Jane than she's willing to give. The filmmaker who is documenting Jane's current tour and who makes Jase uneasy. The person or persons unknown who killed Jane's mom.

"Over the Line" should be near the top of your sumnmer reading list.

At the top of your list, I'd put "Killer Dreams" by Iris Johansen ($26, A Bantam Book).

Tightly woven, fast-paced and full of suspense, "Killer Dreams" introduces us to Sophie Dunston and Matt Royd, two individuals who are seeking vengeance for all the right reasons.

I really don't want to give anything away, but I highly recommend this book.

As always, Johansen's characters are fascinating and Sophie and Matt are even more so than usual. Plus, we get a chance to see how Jock Gavin (from "Countdown") is doing and revisit MacDuff's Run.