Emma Holly, In the Heat of the Night

In the Heat of the Night

Emma Holly

Berkley, Jan 2007, $14.00

ISBN: 0425211355

"Hunting Midnight". They roamed the Scottish forests for centuries until 1370. Ulric, leader of the pack of upyr shapeshifters, is irate that the female he should be protecting, Gillian, selected someone else to be her mate. An angry Ulric leaves the safety of the forest and his pack to wander the streets of Bridesmere to see what the excitement humans are to Gillian. Ulric sees Juliana Batoc as she flees from an arranged betrothal, but instead of his usual taste for human blood, he feels a need to keep her safe due to some weird attraction. He agrees to help her, but soon she knows his deepest secrets and demands he bring her over as he has done with her virginity. He wants nothing more, but first she must meet the pack who must accept her as one of them though one of his members prepares to cause trouble through the human female.

"The Night Owl". In Vermont, pastry chef Mariann likes her rustic life though she is concerned about the new owners of the Night Owl Bed and Breakfast which includes her bakery. New B&B owner French vampire Bastien realizes that Mariann is his lifemate, but fears rejection.

This two-tale supernatural romance book consists of reprints of a terrific novel (HUNTING MIDNIGHT) and a wonderful novella (THE NIGHT OWL) from the HOT BLOODED anthology. Though this reviewer is not sure why these two were combined, especially since the novel CATCHING MIDNIGHT is the predecessor of the longer story, both entries contain strong lead star-crossed lovers who are unacceptable by their respective lovers' species. This makes for two fine paranormal romances.

Harriet Klausner