Dragons of Bourbon Street by Deanna Chase

Hello!  The Mint Julep Murders by Angie Fox comes out tomorrow.  It is the eighth book in The Southern Ghost Hunter Mysteries.  On a Summer Tide by Suzanne Woods Fisher (first book in Three Sisters Island series) will be released on April 30 with Staging is Murder by Grace Topping (I will feature on May 9) and Murder in the Reading Room by Ellery Adams.  

Dragons of Bourbon Street by Deanna Chase takes us back to New Orleans, Louisiana.  Jade Calhoun is seven months pregnant, and she is ready to take it easy the last few months of her pregnancy especially since it is extremely hot outside.  Jade and Pyper Rayne are shopping for party favors for Kat’s upcoming bachelorette party at Hollywood Hustler when Madame Tempest, leader of the Witches Council, along with two flunkies, enter the shop.  They arrest Harper Spelling and quickly take her away.  A little puppy darts out and roars fire.  Jade quickly scoops him up and takes him home with her.  That evening, Pyper and Jade are pulled over and taken in by two thugs from the Witches Council.  It seems that Harper disappeared from her cell.  The Witches Council had confiscated a notebook from Harper with Jade’s name in it with the label “dragon leader”.  Madame Tempest is forcing Jade and Pyper to track down Harper and return her to the Witches Council.  They then learn that dragons are waking up all over the city and Jade needs to stop them from taking control.  Jade has the additional responsibility of helping Kat with her wedding and its related responsibilities plus figuring out where the fire breathing puppy came from and keep him (Flame) from burning down her home.  And Jade thought she would spend her third trimester relaxing (aka napping), cuddling with her husband and eating all the food that she craves.  It is a good thing that Jade has close friends that will assist her.

 

Dragons of Bourbon Street is the ninth entertaining installment in A Jade Calhoun series.  All our regular cast of characters are back plus we get introduced to Flame, Elijah and his familiar Trevor, and Harper Spelling and her cousins.  Even Ida May makes an appearance.  The Witches Council seems determined to mess with Jade even though she is seven months pregnant.  Of course, they fail to understand the needs of someone in her condition which includes access to a bathroom and plenty of food (crackers do not count).  Deanna Chase has a distinctive writing style (I mean this in a good way).  Her casual writing style drew me into the story along with her quirky characters and laugh-out-loud moments.  The mystery is full of twists with illusions, a Cajun familiar breeder, and someone deadly (and mentally challenged) running the show.  Jade has a great group of friends with unique abilities that she can count on to help her with challenging situations.  The take down is one-of-a-kind and jaw dropping.  At the end, Jade and Kane’s daughter makes an appearance and Kat has a very special wedding day.  I suggest reading A Jade Calhoun series in order.  The books build upon each other as the character defeat foes, form bonds and develop as individuals.  It is even advisable to have read A Pyper Raine series (they work together).  I do want to let you know that there is foul language and intimate scenes.  One of my favorite lines is from Jade “my insides felt like they were being ripped right out of me.”  I felt that was a very accurate description of labor.  Dragons of Bourbon Street is a delightful paranormal mystery/romance with dragons, an evil adversary, a tenacious Witches Council, a ghost dog, good friends, a wedding, plus a cuddly fire breathing puppy and other interesting familiars.  You do not want to miss out on this fast paced, action packed and humorous tale.

 

Pyper Raine has a new story coming out soon which is Spirits, Spells and Wedding Bells.  I will let you know the release date when I have it.  Love of the Witch is the sixth book in Witches of Keating Hollow series and it will be available on June 6.  Thank you for dropping in today.  Tomorrow I am reviewing Gone Too Soon by Melody Carlson.  It is a novel about a family that loses someone they love and how they recover.  I hope you have a spirited day.  Take care and Happy Reading!

Kris

The Avid Reader