PREY

Author: Melina Morel ISBN: 9780451225412 9/2008 PARANORMAL Publisher: NAL/Signet Eclipse

Evil Stalks the city that never sleeps... Vivian Roussel prefers to keep a low profile—she is, after all, a werecat, descendant of an ancient demigoddess, and highly regarded in Manhattan's nightworld. But when she's robbed of a priceless icon, she has only one recourse for protection. Surveillance expert and werecat Pavel Federov never gets personal with his clients. But he's drawn to Vivian. Pavel soon discovers that the thief has something far more dangerous in mind—for he's marked Vivian as his next target.

RRAH's THOUGHTS AND PONDERINGS:

PREY by Melina Morel is an amazing adventure, a glimpse into a world where werecats walk the streets with humans. If action-packed urban fantasy featuring fully fleshed (and, um... furred!) characters is your thing, PREY is going to put a song in your heart. This book has it all... characters who (literally!) leap from the page, plot twists that keep the reader guessing until the very last page and enough sizzling romance to satisfy every craving. I loved this book, for so many reasons.

Vivian and her brother Marc are members of the Maine Coon clan. The leader of the clan is determined to have Vivian for his wife, but their clan rules stipulate that she can choose her own mate—and she doesn't desire Leader John Sinclair. She especially doesn't want anything to do with him when his true nature is exposed. When Vivian and Marc become targets for some werecat thugs, they hire Russian Blue werecat Pavel Federov. He is smart, strong and very much attracted to Vivian. Their feelings for each other grow, but the world around them seems to have gone crazy. A revered Russian icon, an assassination and a kidnapping are only a few of the things that the pair must struggle through. There is action and adventure at every turn, and, honestly, I was never sure how this would end.

But end it did, and I've got to admit I was sorry to reach the final chapter. The characters in PREY are other-worldly, of course, but they are also so cleverly written that their emotions and thoughts are all easy to understand and identify with. I loved Vivian; she is smart and courageous, knows what she wants and is determined to get it. Who wouldn't love a heroine like that? And Pavel... werecat or man, he is one hunky hero! I hated to say good-bye to everyone, hated to close the book. But PREY is one for my keeper shelf; I know I'll revisit the werecats and enjoy this story time and again. Beautiful storytelling! Ms. Morel has a winner with PREY!

Kay James