What a Demon Wants

December 7, 2009
Adorably naïve and introverted half-demon author Ellina Kostova finds herself sharing her New Orleans home with vampire-werewolf bodyguard Jude Anthony, hired by her brother to protect her from a mysterious stalker. Mutual attraction blossoms, but arousal causes Ellina to sprout embarrassing horns and shiny red scales, while Jude is afraid to mix business and pleasure. Love (the Young Brothers series) sadly neglects the potential in the setting, where demons, vampires, and werewolves mix, humans can become supernaturals, and an immortal has mourned his family for 2,000 years. With a hunky bodyguard as a main character, readers will be disappointed by the lack of good supernatural fights, and the mystery also falls flat. The romance is cute and well paced and the principals are warm and engaging, but that can't compensate for the glaring flaws.

April 1, 2010
Ellina Kostova hides away from her disapproving family in her New Orleans home and in the best-selling fantasy novels she creates. But someone has been disturbing her sanctuary by breaking into her home. Her one familial advocate, her brother Maksim, decides to hire Jude the bodyguard for her, whether Ellina wants him around or not. And she doesnt, until, oddly enough, he doesnt seem to want to guard her. Theres nothing odd about her sizzling reaction to him, except that she takes her demon form when aroused. Loves latest demon tale, following Demon Cant Help It (2009), is a quick, pleasing read with a well-balanced plot shaped by her distinct blend of suspense elements and romantic comedy, and her signature offbeat characters.(Reprinted with permission of Booklist, copyright 2010, American Library Association.)