Dirk And Steele

I began reading a new series of books by a rising new author of Paranormal Romances. Although I feel she has more paranormal than romance, I do enjoy her stories.
This series circles around a detective agency named Dirk & Steele. It is no ordinary detective agency. All the members here possess some unique ability like telekinesis or they might be shape-shifters.

"Tiger's Eye"

All Dela wants is a vacation, but when she buys an odd little box from a Beijing market, she finds much more than that — she gets a djini: a shape-shifter, a warrior, the last of his kind. Hari has been used and abused for millennia, but upon his release from the riddle box, he sees his new mistress is different. In Dela’s eyes he finds hidden power. If only he dares protect, where before he has savaged; love, where before he has known hate. For Dela, he will dare all.

Shape shifters are introduced in this book. Hari is aTiger and is cursed as a djini. His got lucky that weapons expert Delila or Dela is the one to open his box. Dela's Aunt is head of the NY office of Dirk & Steele. Her powers are wielding metals. This first book grip you to read the rest of the series.

"Shadow Touch"

Elena Baxter can work miracles with her fingers. She can coax bones to knit, flesh to heal. She can mend the soul. She has been doing such work for almost all of her twenty-eight years. That is why she will be taken. But salvation awaits. it exists in a form least expected: a dream of a face, a brush of a mind, the hint of a kiss, and finally, at long last, a shadow touch.

One of Dirk & Steele agents, Artur Loginov is missing. He and others with talents are taken by a rival organization who also have agents with talents. He meets Elena who is a healer. They also rescue other shape shifters. This book is not one of my faves.

"The Red Heart Of Jade"

When grisly murders bring ex-cop and clairvoyant, Dean Campbell, to Taiwan, he finds a shocking truth -- and a woman he thought long dead. What follows is an adventure far more deadly than any that has been foreseen, a threat heralding immortal evil.

I first thought it was long and dragging because the stories are jumping from one thing to another. Mummies, arsonists, Taiwanese Super Stars, Red Jades, then dragons. What ties it all up? What does Dean and Miri have to do with all these?
Then the ending is a killer! The Jades are like books. They are passed from generation to generation and gets reborn into people's hearts. These Jades are actually like the book of Death. They can unleash their powers to mankind. But the maker of the book made a precaution that nobody can use it on its own. He chopped it in half and put it in one girl and one boy. For some reason, every generation, they will be born lovers.

"A Dream of Stone and Shadows"

There are those who do terrible things in this world, and those who simply watch. Charlie would do neither. Imprisoned, his only release is through his own destruction — or through Aggie Durand. Sweet as a kiss or a rescued child, she is the one dream he does not dare desire. As an agent of Dirk & Steele, she could be his salvation. Today, his dream is waking.

What, do you ask, is Charlie? He's a Gargoyle. Strange name for a gargoyle right? He can't really die. when he does, he lingers as shadow until he heals. In his shadowed state, he learns the plight of a little girl who is hidden in a basement and is used in a kiddy porn. He looks for a warrior who can do what he can't. He finds Aggie.
I like the story. Aggie is strong and like Dela, she likes to annoy Roland Dirk. Charlie is actually a modern Gargoyle. He doesn't stay ancient. he keeps up with the times. I love how Aggie saves him and his brothers.

To see more of Liu's books:
http://www.marjoriemliu.com/