CHILDREN · FICTION
Ali Sparkes
Also known as: Ali Sparks
Alison Sparkes (born 1966) is a British children's author. She is best known for her Shapeshifter book series.
Gedanken, or thought, experiments are tests of hypotheses that take place in the imagination rather than the laboratory.
— from Out of this world
Most acclaimed
Unleashed
"Bond of Silver" by Rebecca York. Alexander and Claire meet on a psychic plane where he tells her they are destined to be soul mates. Though both can conjure up objects with their minds, he must find the way to enter the real world. "Red Skies at Night" by Diane Whiteside. NYPD Detective Travis hunts down the killer of his former partner Frank. His clues lead to Gillian, a vampire who loathes cops though each is instantly attracted to the other. "Come Moonrise" by Lucy Monroe. Ty knows that humans and werewolves must never mate as tragedy is the only outcome. However, he hides how much he desires the human Frankie, who has always loved him. He also has hidden his werewolf heritage that is until they are stranded in a remote cabin during a blizzard. "Beyond Limits" by Susan Kearney. Ian loves realtor Samantha, but has made no progress in persuading her they belong together. Desperate he tricks her by having her co- pilot his plane until he takes her to his home, New Atlantis and informs her he is Ari, deeply in love with her.
Out of this world
Although this anthology features some of the most popular names in futuristic and paranormal romance, it reads more like a catalogue than a cohesive book. Robb's "Interlude in Death," featuring Lieutenant Eve Dallas, kicks off the collection and is the strongest of the four entries. The story's suspense is as well drawn as the romance, and readers won't have to be familiar with Robb's In Death series (Betrayal in Death, etc.) to enjoy this futuristic thriller. Hamilton's "Magic Like Heat Across My Skin" finds Vampire Hunter Anita Blake in an S/M club with her two lovers, a Master Vampire and a werewolf king. As one might imagine of such a setting, the sensuality is dark and intense, but this will be no surprise to fans of Hamilton's Vampire Hunter novels (Obsidian Butterfly, etc.). "Kinsman," Krinard's (Touch of the Wolf) tale of two telepaths who try to prevent an interspecies war, falls victim to its own exposition and draws to a conclusion that is steamy but familiar. Shayne's "Immortality" features Puabi, a Dark Witch of Sumer who is reincarnated to right an ancient wrong. Each of the works in this anthology is solid and should please current fans, but as a whole, the stories are only loosely connected and would have benefited from a stronger theme to tie them together.