Books and Needlepoint: Masked by Moonlight

Thursday, July 22, 2010

Masked edited by Lou Anders - Book Spotlight

Shared by Kristi

Masked

edited by Lou Anders

Publisher: Gallery Books/Simon and Schuster

Superheroes have come a long way since the "Man of Steel" was introduced in 1938. This brilliant new collection features original stories and novellas from some of today's most exciting voices in comics, science fiction, and fantasy. Each marvelously inventive tale shows us just how far our classic crusaders have evolved -- and how the greatest of heroes are, much like ourselves, all too human.

In "Call Her Savage, " Marjorie M. Liu enters the dark heart of a fierce mythic heroine who is forced, by war, to live up to her own terrible legend.

In "A to Z in the Ultimate Big Company Superhero Universe (Villains too)," Bill Willingham presents a fully-realized vision of a universe where epic feats and tragic flaws have transformed the human race.

In "Vacuum Lad," Stephen Baxter unveils the secret origins of the first true child of the space age -- and disproves the theory that "nothing exists in a vacuum."

In "Head Cases," Peter David and Kathleen David blast through the blogosphere to expose the secret longings of a Lonely Superhero Wife.

In "The Non-Event," Mike Carey removes the gag order on a super-thief named Lockjaw. . . and pries out a confession of life-altering events.

Also includes stories by Mike Baron, Mark Chadbourn, Paul Cornell, Daryl Gregory, Joseph Mallozzi, James Maxey, Ian McDonald, Chris Roberson, Gail Simone, Matthew Sturges. . . and an introduction by Lou Anders, "one of the brightest and best of the new generation of science fiction editors" (Jonathan Strahan, The Best Science Fiction and Fantasy of the Year).

Masked
Publisher/Publication Date: Gallery Books, Jul 20, 2010
ISBN: 978-1-4391-6882-0
400 pages

Saturday, June 19, 2010

Masked by Moonlight by Nancy Gideon (Book Review)

Shared by Kristi

Title: Masked by Moonlight
Author: Nancy Gideon
Publisher: Pocket Books

My synopsis/thoughts: This story revolves around Charlotte Caissie, a New Orleans detective and Max Savoie, the right hand man of mob boss Jimmy Legere - the man Charlotte believes is responsible for her father's death.

Charlotte has always kept men at an arm's length - due to an assault that she suffered with her best friend Mary Kate when they were still in high school. Mary Kate was an orphan living at St. Bart's and Charlotte spent much time there when her father went undercover or had to be gone nights as a police detective. At seventeen they were snatched off the streets by some of Jimmy Legere's men and assaulted and raped to try to get information. Charlotte would not break and stayed by Mary Kate's side. She never knew who rescued them or how. Mary Kate did though.

Max Savoie was the only one that Charlotte let get in her personal space. Even though he was a suspected murderer who worked for Jimmy Legere, she always felt strangely comfortable and comforted in his presence. Max was drawn to Charlotte in much the same way. Max had been abandoned with his mother (who had been murdered) in the swamps. Jimmy Legere had found him and taken him in. He had raised him and given him love and shelter, despite what he was. See, Max is a shapeshifter. Not knowing how he became one, or if there are others, he has only Jimmy to answer to - and he is loyal to a fault. Unfortunately this put Charlotte and Max on opposite sides of the law. Then Jimmy gets killed and leaves his entire fortune and business to Max. Will he be able to become the new mob boss and still claim the woman he loves?

I enjoyed reading this book - You could feel the attraction between Charlotte and Max, but it was not rushed or over the top. Both characters were very strong and very loyal to their beliefs - with much internal struggle where their feelings for one another were concerned. It was one of the quickest books that I have read lately as I did not want to put it down! I can't wait for the second book in the series - Chased by Moonlight which is due out at the end of the month.

~I received a copy of this book in exchange for my review from Pocket Books.~