Trust Me by Astrid Amara - 3.5*
Dark Waters by Nicole Kimberling - 3.5*
Such Heights by Ginn Hale - 4* ( )

Hell Cop 2 by Astrid Amara, Nicole Kimberling, and Ginn Hale is a 279-page collection of paranormal novellas set one year after events in the first Hell Cop collection. Here the three couples face the possible break-up of their relationships. Parmas City is the setting with its sorcerer capitalists, exploited demon underclass, and the hell cops who are trained in combat and magic.

Trust Me by Astrid Amara has hell cops Brian and Jay arguing over Brian’s dangerous ability to absorb the supernatural powers of others, including Jay’s talent for channeling fire. Meanwhile, several recent murders seem to implicate Brian. Who is framing him and why?

Dark Waters by Nicole Kimberling sends demon professor Michael and hell cop Argent to a trailer park where two demon species live in mutual incompatibility. The two argue when Argent suspects an illegal purpose beneath the upcoming religious ceremony Michael intends to document.

Such Heights by Ginn Hale opens after investigative reporter James and hell cop Morgan have broken up over James’s perilous career. James journeys to the floating Storm Palace high above Parmas City where he witnesses a murder. Morgan goes undercover to join him and unmask a malevolent sorcerer.

If you love your m/m romance with a strong dose of the supernatural, then Hell Cop 2 is a must-buy. The urban flavor of the setting, the sophisticated interactions of the characters, and the hot sex scenes give it the contemporary edginess of the best paranormal romance. The fantastic world-building and far-reaching implications of the exploitative class-system put it on level with the most visionary science fiction.

I’m especially fascinated with the demons of Parmas City. They arrive, sometimes against their will, through inter-dimensional portals. They fit into the ruthless capitalist hierarchy as slaves and sometimes even as commodities to be harvested for their internal organs which power the expensive technologies invented by the sorcerers. Was there ever an underclass more ready for revolution? They have nothing to lose.

The hell cops themselves occupy an intriguing middle ground in that they are the scions of the rich sorcerers and the opponents (and sometimes the lovers) of the oppressed demons. These novellas by the three immensely talented writers continue to deepen their exploration of this fascinating world and strengthen the crossties that bind their shared characters together.

Here is an example of the fine writing and vivid descriptions to be found here. From page 222 in Such Heights by Ginn Hale, James explores the servants’ ghetto located deep within the sub-basements of the floating Storm Palace which sails high above Parmas City.

“As James moved farther into the crowds, he noticed open doors, offering views of small cots, alcohol burners, and the prone, half-naked bodies of sleeping humans and demons alike. The place smelled like old shoes, cooking oil, and hot metal. Two young men laughed at each other under a spurting water spigot, and directly in front of James, a large red demon appeared to be soaping a small camel while a woman collected the animal’s droppings in a copper bucket. Cramped stalls displayed bright banners and raucous music poured from barred windows high up in the walls. Sooty little birds swept past, flying between the tangled pipes running overhead.”

I’m greatly looking forward to seeing how the Hell Cop series develops over the years. Readers, you can’t go wrong with Hell Cop 2, which is my top m/m romance pick for September.

Val for AReCafe ( )

The first Hell Cop was incredibly enjoyable and something just that little bit different. In this 2nd book they’re building on already established relationships and reading it was like visiting with old friends. God. I am such a sap. But it was just so good!Trust Me, by Astrid Amara, has Jay and Brian a year down the track. Jay still delights in being able to touch someone and Brian is growing into his own skin after the revelations’ in the previous book. The growth of the characters relationship was beautifully done and the hook of Brian’s lack of control was an engaging one. He begins to realize that his ability to touch Jay does not exclude him from being left and his need to learn to control his power, or risk loosing his lover, becomes paramount. A sexy, perceptively written story that does not just look at the surface of a relationship, but delves deeply into its workings.In Dark Waters, by Nicole Kimberling, the world building is tight and I like her attention to little things that make for vivid reading. The balance of power in a relationship, knowing when to listen and when to argue, brought a warmness to the story. Michael is such a professor and I like how out of his comfort zone he is with Argent at times, when he cannot use his mind reading powers. Parts were also surprisingly funny and had me laughing out loud. I think Bert’s - a bunch of drunken goat-legged midgets and that poor, maligned turtle were rather amusing. hehe. Finally, in Such Heights by Ginn Hale, dark and broody Moran returns on another case with his blond and gorgeous journalist lover James. Moran is still determined to resist till the last and I think there is nothing more satisfying than reading about this cop being brought to his knees. So to speak. O-o The floating palace was a very cool world with tentacle like spells and enslaved demons, which made for a cool backdrop for the characters.Freeloading, hippie mermaids, large bovine like creatures, pocket demons and castles that travel about in the air. These 3 authors write books that I want to read. Get it here from Loose Id. Also, check out Hell Cop 1 here.PS. I would seriously like some fan art. Commissions I wonder??http://sharrow.wordpress.com/2009/07/06/hell-cop-2-by-astrid-amara-nicole-kimberling-and-ginn-hale/ ( )

The first Hell Cop was incredibly enjoyable and something just that little bit different. In this 2nd book they’re building on already established relationships and reading it was like visiting with old friends. God. I am such a sap. But it was just so good!

Trust Me, by Astrid Amara, has Jay and Brian a year down the track. Jay still delights in being able to touch someone and Brian is growing into his own skin after the revelations’ in the previous book. The growth of the characters relationship was beautifully done and the hook of Brian’s lack of control was an engaging one. He begins to realize that his ability to touch Jay does not exclude him from being left and his need to learn to control his power, or risk loosing his lover, becomes paramount. A sexy, perceptively written story that does not just look at the surface of a relationship, but delves deeply into its workings.

In Dark Waters, by Nicole Kimberling, the world building is tight and I like her attention to little things that make for vivid reading. The balance of power in a relationship, knowing when to listen and when to argue, brought a warmness to the story. Michael is such a professor and I like how out of his comfort zone he is with Argent at times, when he cannot use his mind reading powers. Parts were also surprisingly funny and had me laughing out loud. I think Bert’s - a bunch of drunken goat-legged midgets and that poor, maligned turtle were rather amusing. hehe.

Finally, in Such Heights by Ginn Hale, dark and broody Moran returns on another case with his blond and gorgeous journalist lover James. Moran is still determined to resist till the last and I think there is nothing more satisfying than reading about this cop being brought to his knees. So to speak. O-o The floating palace was a very cool world with tentacle like spells and enslaved demons, which made for a cool backdrop for the characters.

Freeloading, hippie mermaids, large bovine like creatures, pocket demons and castles that travel about in the air. These 3 authors write books that I want to read. Get it here from Loose Id. Also, check out Hell Cop 1 here.

PS. I would seriously like some fan art. Commissions I wonder??
http://sharrow.wordpress.com/2009/07/06/hell-cop-2-by-astrid-amara-nicole-kimber... ( )