HEAT OF THE NIGHT

Author: Emma Holly ISBN: 0425211355 1/2007 PARANORMAL Publisher: BERKLEY SENSATION

In Hunting Midnight, the leader of a pack of shapeshifting immortals is betrayed by his longtime lover. Consumed with fury, he ventures recklessly beyond the borders of the Scottish forest-and into the desperate arms of a merchant's daughter. In The Night Owl, a member of the same pack has been sent to America where his power can grow unimpeded. In a small Vermont town, his desire for a local baker makes him believe he has found his mate-and he'll do anything to claim her.

RRAH's THOUGHTS AND PONDERINGS:

HEAT OF THE NIGHT contains Holly's 2003 novel Hunting Midnight and her 2004 novella The Night Owl. They are set in the same shapeshifter universe though in very different times.

Hunting Midnight is set in 1370 Scotland. The upyrs are a cross between werewolves and vampires. They suck blood, can only tolerate limited sunlight, are exceptionally beautiful and have the power to thrall, but behave like wolves in many ways. They live in small bands around the world and are immortal.

One such upyr "king" is wandering through a British town, depressed over the loss of his "queen" when he meets young townswoman Juliana. She is so taken with him that she loses her virginity to him in the street, then flees with him to escape her hateful fiancé. Should she become an upyr too or find some other kind of life? The Night Owl is set in the modern day U.S. Upyr Bastien has finally decided to become a "king" himself and finds a sexy baker to be his "queen."

Holly writes a very sensual novel, and I see much to praise in her writing, but unfortunately I didn't find the upyrs to be particularly sexy creatures. Their mythology seemed greater than their behavior and I thought they were kind of childish and petulant. I think part of my problem is I'm so used to reading paranormals set in the present and I expect immortals to do better than live in caves and inns! Plus, when I see the word "king" I expect serious leadership.

Heather Hiestand