The Werewolf Upstairs

December 13, 2010
In this stand-alone sequel to 2010's Strange Neighbors, disillusioned attorney Roz Wells moves into her new Boston digs, an apartment building full of witches, shape-shifters, and a nosy ghost. Roz and sexy werewolf Konrad Wolfensen instantly hit it off and embark upon sexual adventures and cute-couple antics. A skimpy side mystery about a long-ago museum robbery is the only discernible plot device, giving Konrad a sudden need for his new girl's lawyerly abilities. For the most part the tale genially and somewhat aimlessly bounces along as it examines Roz and Konrad's search for meaningful career paths and ever more mutual pleasure. Stilted, often unnecessary dialogue ("I can't believe you saved that child without getting killed.... You were so brave and so selfless") and entire superfluous scenes pepper the pages as the story meanders toward a predictably sweet ending.

January 1, 2011
Public defender Roz Wells moves into a Boston apartment building filled with odd inhabitants, including shapeshifters, a couple of witches who make a noisy living with their phone sex business, a vampire, a ghost, and other paranormal beings. Rozs new neighbor, the tall and exquisitely built Konrad Wolfensen, who sports flowing golden locks, is friendly and kind, sympathizing with her over her disappointment in her career choice. He claims to work in security, but they meet up again when he is assigned to her caseload for allegedly lifting a fully loaded commercial freezer, something beyond human capabilities. When Roz and Konrad start a steamy relationship, they decide to try out a series of possible careers, from bartending to jumping out of planes, but something always goes hilariously and catastrophically wrong. Then, when they try to help a neighbor witch and a ghost who is haunting the Isabella Stewart Gardner Museum, Konrads freedom and secrets are put in jeopardy. Readers who like play-by-play sex scenes and dont worry about plausibility will enjoy Chases romp.(Reprinted with permission of Booklist, copyright 2011, American Library Association.)