Book Review: You Slay Me by Katie MacAlister

Having recently received a copy of You Slay Me for Christmas I poured over it and finally turned the last page after only a day and a half. Needless to say, it is a page turner that I just couldn't put down. I needed to find out what was going to happen next. Now I can't wait to pick up the next book in the series.

The book starts out with the main character, Aisling Grey (pronounced Ash-ling. It's Irish) speaking with a French customs officer about her courier job to deliver an ancient gold dragon statue to it's buyer, Mme. Deauxville, in Paris, France. Upon her arrival at her destination, she finds the woman murdered and has the dragon statue (aquamanile) stolen by a very sexy, green eyed man named Drake Vireo, who claims to be an Interpol agent.

Having been caught by the French police at the scene of the crime, Aisling is now considered the number one suspect in the murder of Mme. Deauxville and must try on her own to discover who really killed Mme. Deauxville and later the Venediger (the head mage of the Otherworld).

In her search for evidence to prove the guilt of the true murderer, Aisling learns that Drake is actually the head of the green Wyvern sept in Paris and that she is destined to be his mate, as only she can withstand his fire within. In addition, she also learns that she is a Guardian (of magic portals) and with the help of her outcast demon, Jim, in the form of a large black Newfoundland, an Occult shopkeeper named Amelie, and her taxi driver, Rene, she learns who the real killer is, finally freeing herself from the clutches of the French Police; All the while learning what her job as Guardian entails and keeping out of reach of a very sexy dragon.

I'm normally not one to read paranormal romance books, as this one is classified, and was slightly apprehensive about how the romance scenes would play out but I have to say I was pleasantly surprised. There was nothing over the top, nothing to explicit. Katie MacAlister sets the scenes and with the heat from a green wyvern, makes things hot without going where some romance books just shouldn't go. Don't worry about any of the love scenes being inter-species or anything like that. Everyone is human form.

The characters are all well thought out and well written. Katie MacAlister did a wonderful job with character creation and development. Each person (or demon) has a distinct manner about them which flows well with the other characters. Aisling is out of her element jumping into dealing with the Occult, Jim is the grumpy demon who is comic relief, Drake is the handsome sexy love interest whose heat would make your toes curl.

There is a fair amount of French spattered throughout the book (it is set in Paris, France), but most everything is translated for you if it isn't obvious so you don't have to drag out your French to English dictionary that you haven't used since high school.

It you haven't had the pleasure to read any of Katie MacAlister's books yet, you should really stop by your local book store or library and pick up You Slay Me or any of her other novels. I don't think you'll be disappointed.