MaryJanice Davidson, Susan Grant, Gena Showalter and P.C. Cast, Mysteria Lane

Mysteria Lane

Mary Janice Davidson, Susan Grant, Gena Showalter and P.C. Cast

Berkley, Oct 2008, $7.99

ISBN: 9780425222942

"Disdaining Trouble" by MaryJanice Davidson. Thad Wilson spent his first twelve years in Mysteria, Colorado, but moved away as his father re-enlisted with the air force. Fifteen years later he is back in town avoiding the troublesome teenage Desdaine triplets (Derisive, Scornful and Withering). An incident with a mailman leads to Withering falling down a wishing well as her frustrated mother wishes she would grow up. Five seconds later a Lizard Man leaves the well followed by a beautiful warrior woman who turns out to be an adult Withering who says she spent a decade trying to come home.

"The Nanny From Hell" by Susan Grant. Luther assigns Demon Shay to destroy the child of former demon Damon and his human wife Harmony; he also warns her to stay away from the Mysteria wishing well. Shay obtains a job as the child's nanny, but the well turns her human while demon hunter Quel comes to kill her.

"A Tawdry Affair" by Gena Showalter. Witch Glory Tawdry loves Falcon, but he does not apparently reciprocate. Outraged by her unrequited love and in possession of a magical pen, she begins to scribe her sexual fantasies with and vengeance on the hunk who rejected her.

"It's in His Kiss" by P.C. Cast. The new teacher in town, Summer is a vegetarian. At a Romeo and Juliet art exhibit she meets Colin the vampire who wants to change her diet.

The return to 'Mysteria' (by the same writing quartet) is filled with four amusing lighthearted paranormal romances.

Harriet Klausner