Highland Beast
Misunderstood vampires roam historic Scotland (12th century in one story, 16th in the others) in three novellas. Each of the authors builds a credible paranormal world and sets up a satisfying confrontation. Howell starts off with The Beast Within, wherein passion flares when Gybbon MacNaughton, trying to find lost members of a dying vampire tribe, finds near-feral Alice Boyd hiding in the woods. In The Vampire Hunter, Grothaus (The Warrior) presents a strong heroine in a likable witch and tavern keeper, Beatrix Levenach, who fights ravening vampires to protect unappreciative villagers. Dahl (To Tempt a Scotsman) introduces serving-wench Kenna Graham, saved from a demon by a laird who then demonstrates a few devilish qualities of his own, in Laird of Midnight. Fans of Howell'sHighland ThirstandHighland Vampirewill find this equally enjoyable.(Sept.)Copyright © Reed Business Information, a division of Reed Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.