Review: A nice revisit to old friends
Rating: 4 out of 5
Date: 03 2, 2014
4.5 StarsThe town of Harborsmouth is like most small tourist towns, picturesque, welcoming, and friendly.  It’s also a haven for all things that go bump in the night, chock full of elves, vampires, demons, ghosts, goblins, and ghoulies.  If one is of the paranormal variety, where do you go when you want a little action - legal or non?  Why Club Nexus, of course, it’s the most happening place in town, never a dull moment, and always a good time.Club Nexus is a series of four short stories, each told from a different POV about one night at Club Nexus.Story one - Iced.A member of the Unseelie court has been tricked by the seelie fae Puck (of Shakespearean fame), the manager of Club Nexus, into what amounts to slavery as a bartender.  Seven foot tall, slender figure, and pointy ears mark her as highborn, for all the good that does her now.  Miserable and plotting a way out, she sees her chance when she notices Puck and a vampire whispering about ice and humans and secret rooms.  She will learn there is one more than one way to be free.Story two - DustedBeing a vampire is not always glamour and good times. The Vampire Council has rules that aren’t always easy to follow, especially if one tends to like to play with one’s food before eating.  Rules were made to be broken, hence the birth of Bite Club.  A moving location helps to keep illicit activities off the radar and helps to add to the excitement.  Puck has hosted a number of meetings at Club Nexus.  A bored southern vampire with a penchant for torture is going to find out that sometimes it’s best to play by the rules.Story three - JinxedJinx and her BFF and partner, Ivy Granger, decide that a visit to Club Nexus is just what Jinx needs to get over her newest breakup.  Jinx plans to dance the night away, maybe find a nice guy and attempt to keep her mind of one hunky, frustrating, maddening demon lawyer named Forneus.  So what’s a girl to do when said demon appears at her side and one cute, but slightly off putting fae comes on to her?  Leave it to Jinx to live up to her nickname while just trying to have a little fun.Story four - DemonizedForneus has it bad for Jinx, she aggravates him and turns him on all without even trying.  Forneus takes it upon himself to follow Jinx and Ivy as they go to Club Nexus, just to make sure Jinx doesn’t get into any trouble.  Jinx being Jinx and Forneus being Forneus, nothing is easy, especially when there are unseelie fae acting strange, vampires slipping away, and Puck flirting with Jinx.These four short stories are all quick and easy to read, full of Ms. Stevens’ offbeat humor and beings that are just a little different, they all flow seamlessly flow one into the other.  While they could be read as standalone stories what would be fun in that?  Each story brings its own version of the big picture, Iced begins the tale with a great setup, Dusted is a little dark and mysterious, Jinxed brings the humor back to the table, and Demonized brings up the end with a touch of violence, a touch of romance, and a sprinkle of humor.  For fans of Ivy Granger this is a nice offering to hold us over until we get the next installment.  For those who haven’t read the Ivy Granger series, this is a nice introduction to Ms. Stevens’ world of Harborsmouth.Member of the Paranormal Romance Guild Review Team