Local writer Jill Myles is the author of the Succubus Diaries series, paranormal books about a succubus named Jackie Brighton and her two sexy boyfriends/masters Noah and Zane. Yeah. Masters. It takes a vampire and an angel to make a succubus, so Jackie’s saddled with both of them, which comes in handy when it’s time to scratch her Itch. Succubi Like It Hot is the second book in the series, and it’s a fun, snarky romp of a read.

Jackie’s still pretty new at the Sucking business, but she’s having some issues. First her craving gets stronger—and much more frequent. Next she knocks the pizza boy unconscious with her touch. One little deal with a demon later, and Jackie has the answer: she’s cursed. Too bad neither of her boyfriends are speaking to her right now. So, it’s off with her “adult movie” star best friend Remy, to New Orleans, to find Delilah, the oldest succubus in America, and the only one who might be able to help get rid of the curse.

But their road trip is plagued with bad luck from the start. Remy is periodically demon-possessed. Jackie has a stalker, albeit a handsome, charming one. Throw in the creep factor of Remy’s newest “co-star,” and this isn’t quite the vacation Jackie had in mind. After a bloody warning at a hotel, things take a turn for the worse. Soon Jackie’s fleeing for her life, alone and helpless—sort of. Even when she reaches Delilah, the answers don’t help matters. The curse is destined to kill her if she doesn’t get rid of it. But more important than finding out who wants her dead is finding out which one of her lovers placed the curse on her.

With most Metroplex schools closed for almost a week, there were a lot of bored kids out there. Next time the kids are stuck at home, why not give them a good book to read? There are a lot of options available, with e-books being the quickest. An e-reader isn’t even necessary, as both Amazon and Barnes and Noble have free e-reader downloads for PCs and other devices. Some books that have been out for a few years are now available for the first time as e-books. One of these is Raising Dragons, by Bryan Davis. This book is filled with fantasy and faith, as the author weaves together Arthurian legends with Bible quotes in an adventure-filled tale about a boy who learns he’s half-dragon. While marketed as a young adult book, this books seems to be most appropriate for younger teenagers looking for excitement.

High school is hard enough without being known as “Dragon Breath,” but that’s Billy Bannister’s new nickname. He doesn’t know what’s going on, but things have changed, and his super-heated breath is just the first sign. When the school troublemaker frames him, he has his first encounter with the odd new principal, Mr. Whittier, who has a fascination with dragons and knights. Then he’s rescued by the new girl, Bonnie, who never takes off her backpack. No matter what. Billy’s day gets worse when he overhears his father talking about being a dragon. Reeling from the shock, Billy doesn’t know what to think. If his dad has lied to him all these years, can he really be trusted?

Then Whittier attacks Bonnie, and when Billy rescues her, he discovers what her backpack hides. Soon Billy’s family and Bonnie are running from Whittier, who’s really a dragon-slayer descended from one of King Arthur’s knights. A housefire, a plane crash, and being lost in the snowy wilderness are just part of Billy and Bonnie’s adventures. Aided by Billy’s best friend and an eccentric teacher, the two struggle to beat the dragon-slayer and fulfill an ancient prophesy foreseen by Merlin himself. Will Billy’s faith be strong enough to withstand the trials?

With the wintry weather still gripping North Texas—which currently resembles the frozen North—staying warm with a good book continues to be a good idea. While you’re sipping something warm in toasty comfort, try discovering the world of Maggie Stiefvater’s Linger, the second book in The Wolves of Mercy Falls series. Set in frosty Mercy Falls, Minnesota, these books explore a unique take on the werewolf mythos.

Although the first book, Shiver, might be a more appropriate reaction to current temperatures, Linger delves deeper into Sam and Grace’s tale. Sam, after surviving a harrowing cure, is no longer a werewolf, but now he must deal with a future as a human—something he never thought to have. Grace, his true love, is at his side, but she has a secret of her own. Dealing with headaches and fever, Grace doesn’t tell Sam that she’s sick, that something inside her wants out. She’s afraid of what’s coming, of what she’s becoming, and Sam has enough worries. Not only is he getting used to being human, but he still has to take care of his pack—which has new members for the first time in years, including the mysterious and ever-changing Cole. Cole is a rock star, and discovery of his whereabouts would cause a media feeding frenzy. The last thing the wolves of Mercy Falls need is more attention. They face another threat, for someone in town wants the wolves dead, and after the death of a boy and the disappearance of one of Grace’s friends, the townspeople are up in arms, ready and willing to destroy the wolves for good.

What’s the best thing to do on a snowy day? Curl up with a good book and try to stay warm. With the current weather in North Texas, a good book is just the thing. And if you happen to like the current weather and would like to read more about a winter wonderland…why not try Entice, by Carrie Jones? Set in the winter woods of Maine, it’s bound to make anyone feel better about our paltry two inches of frozen precipitation. The third book in the Need series, it’s about pixies…but not the cute little Tinkerbell-esque creatures most people think of when they see the word “pixie”.

Bedford, Maine isn’t exactly a hotbed of…well, anything. It’s cold. It snows a lot. It’s surrounded by woods. And those woods are full of all sorts of creatures from legend. Pixies. Wolves. Shapeshifters. Even the occasional elf. Despite all that, the inhabitants of Bedford manage to get along. Until a group of evil pixies moves in, and teenagers start disappearing. It’s enough to give pixies a bad name.

As usual, Zara is right in the middle of things. Her friends don’t trust her anymore because she’s been pixie-kissed…and not just by any pixie, but by pixie king, Astley. Her soul mate, Nick, is dead. Well, sort of. He’s been taken to Valhalla, a place for warriors that’s right out of legend, and Zara and her friends don’t know if they can get him back. With the end of the world looming on the horizon, and war imminent, Zara knows she has to find her warrior and bring him home. With Astley at her side, she sets out to find Valhalla and rescue Nick. There’s just one little problem: Nick hates pixies. Will he even want to leave Valhalla when he realizes what she’s done to save him?

P.S. Isn’t this the greatest cover ever?