York's latest werewolf tale has a touch of the supernatural

Fans get to meet yet another Marshall boy in Rebecca York's latest novel about the werewolf clan, "Shadow of the Moon" ($6.99, Berkley Sensation).

This time it's freelance reporter Lance Marshall and he's scented out a story on an very exclusive D.C. establishment that he's heard rumors about, the Eighteen Club. While lurking outside the club one night in wolf form, Lance spots another lurker, Savannah Carpenter. Savannah is caught taking pictures of the club's clientele as they enter the building.

Lance, against his better judgment, helps her get away from the guard and rescues her confiscated camera. In human form, Lance tracks down Savannah, curious to know what she was doing outside the club.

Savannah's sister is in the hospital in a coma, but unlike the police, Savannah doesn't think her sister wound up that way by accident. Savannah knows Charlotte had a secret and she knows her sister frequented the Eighteen Club. What she doesn't know is how exactly Charlotte wound up in the coma.

But she intends to find out. In the meantime, Savannah seems to have acquired a stalker and she's not so sure she can trust Lance.

Eventually, Savannah and Lance decide to team up to check out the club.

What they find is something they won't be able to handle on their own, so Lance will have to ask his family for help. In a family of alpha werewolves, that's not so easy to do.

As if werewolves, psychic abilities and lifemates aren't enough, York adds yet another element to her werewolf series in "Shadow of the Moon." It makes for excellent reading.

"Extreme Bachelor" needs a clue

Julia London's "Exteme Bachelor" ($7.99, Berkley Sensation) is the second book in the Thrillseekers Anonymous series. While an OK read I didn't think it was as good as "The Wedding Survivor," the first in the series.

In "Extreme Bachelor," ex-CIA operative Michael Raney's company has hired on to teach stunts to the actresses in "Soccer Mom," a film about suburban soccer moms who divide into two factions and go to war against each other. What Michael doesn't know is that the love of his life, Leah Klein, is one of the actresses in the film.

While Michael is happy to see Leah, Leah doesn't want anything to do with the man who dumped her -- out of the blue -- five years ago and sent her into a tailspin of depression that derailed her acting career. Michael, however, is determined to win back Leah's trust and love.

The two main characters in "Extreme Bachelor" are mildly irritating. It takes Michael five years to figure out dumping Leah was the totally wrong move. For such a smart guy, he's a little slow. And Leah, get over it already. If you still love Michael, and it seems obvious that you do, then just forgive him.

On top of his woman trouble, Michael has other trouble. Unbeknownst to him, an old enemy is gunning for him and that enemy plans to use Leah to get to Michael.

Mallery keeps up interested in "The Marcelli Bride"

Fans of Susan Mallery's Marcelli sisters trilogy will definitely want to check out her latest book, "The Marcelli Bride"($6.99, Pocket Star Books).

We get to visit again with Marco and Colleen Marcelli, Grandpa Lorenzo, Grandma Tessa, Grammy M and sisters Katie, Francesa, Brenna and Mia.

This time out it's Joe Larson's story -- brother to the Marcelli sisters. Joe, a Navy SEAL, is put on baby-sitting duty guarding Darcy Jensen, one of the president's daughters. Joe is not looking forward to the detail, as Darcy has a reputation for being difficult. He's also not too crazy about the "safe" location where Darcy will be hidden away.

Darcy is not too crazy about the situation either. She was out shopping, minding her own business, when she's kidnapped out from under of the nose of her Secret Service detail. After being manhandled, tossed into the back of a dirty van and taken to a warehouse, the kidnapper's leader shows up and chastises them for taking the "wrong" first daughter. They'd been after Darcy's sister, Lauren, the popular and beloved sister of the first family. Loaded back into the van, Darcy is taken back to the mall from where she was snatched and dumped.

Darcy and Lauren are immediately taken into hiding, at separate locations, until the kidnappers can be identified and rounded up. Lauren's destination is somewhere in the Midwest, while Darcy is headed for the California wine country and the Marcelli Winery.

Joe has issues with his "family." Darcy has issues with her father and her public life. But just maybe they can work out their issues together while managing to keep Darcy safe and maybe falling in love.

"The Hunt" is on for serial killer

In Allison Brennan's "The Hunt," Miranda Moore has been obssessed with the serial killer known as The Butcher for the past 12 years.

When she was 21-years-old, Miranda and her best friend, Sharon, were kidnapped by The Butcher. Kept chained, the girls were tortured and raped for seven days befor the Butcher finally frees Miranda and Sharon. But only lets them go so he can hunt them after giving them a two-minute head start.

Miranda survived the hunt, Sharon didn't. In fact, Miranda is the only victim of the Butcher's who managed to escape him. Kept blindfolded throughout her abduction, Miranda can't give the authorities of a description of the Butcher.

The Butcher has continued to hunt coeds from the local college. Over the years, the authorities have attributed at least eight murders to him, but by the time the bodies have been found, the elements and the local wildlife have pretty much gotten rid of any clues that the Butcher might have been left behind.

But this time they have a break, the Butcher's latest victim has been found only hours after her death. And, called in to assist in the investigation by the local sheriff is top-notch FBI agent Quincy Peterson.

Quinn Peterson was part of the Butcher investigation all those years ago when Miranda was abducted, before his the few leads they had dried up and he was pulled from the case. He and Miranda have a history, but it's been 10 years since they've seen each other. Miranda, a former FBI trainee, holds Quinn responsible for getting her kicked out of Quantico just before her graduation 10 ten years ago.

It's a race against time to find the Butcher before the Butcher finds his next victim. Is Miranda up to the task? Will Quinn finally get Miranda to listen and understand his actions 10 years ago? And will the Butcher finally get what's coming to him? Read "The Hunt" to find the answers.

MacAlister's latest Beloved novel a winner

Meet Paen Scott of "Even Vampires Get the Blues" by Katie MacAlister ($6.99,Signet Eclipse). Paen is a Dark One, a vampire born without a soul. He's damned unless he can find his Beloved and his three younger brothers (vampires all, but with a soul thank you very much)want to help him, sending every available female they can find to Paen's door.

Well, Paen is sick of it. He doesn't need a woman to save him because for the last 25 years he's been searching for the "Simia Gestor Coda." The "Coda" is an ancient manuscript that supposedly explains the origins of Dark Ones and a way to undo the curse binding a Dark One.

Well, Paen's search for the "Coda" is interrupted by one Caspar Green who appears, literally, in Paen's library to tell him that Paen must fulfill a debt to the demon lord Oriens that Paen's father incurred during the search for his Beloved (Paen's mum). Paen, as the oldest son, must locate the statue of a monkey god called the Jilin God -- if Paen doesn't do this, then Oriens will call in the collateral used to secure his services. The collateral just happens to be Paen's mother's soul and, oh yeah, the debt comes due in five days.

Caspar Green forbids the other Scott brothers to help in the search so one of Paen's brothers recommends a Diviner he heard about who is just opening up a private detective business.

Only half-elf Samantha Cosse is not exactly a Diviner since the Order asked her, politely, to leave. However, Sam is still very good a finding things so she agrees to take the case.

Looks like Paen might need a woman in his life after all, at least to help him save his mother.

If you like your paranormal romances with a dash of wit and a large pinch of humor, check out "Even Vampires Get the Blues." You'll be glad you did.