Early Review of Immortally Yours (Monster M*A*S*H #1) by Angie Fox

• Title: Immortally Yours
• Classification: Adult Fiction
• Genre: Paranormal Romance
• Format: Paperback, 320 pages
• Publisher: St. Martin's Paperbacks; First Edition edition (August 28, 2012)
• ISBN-10: 0312546661
• ISBN-13: 978-0312546663
• Author's Website:  http://www.angiefox.com/

"How about a real case next time, Horace?"..."Just give me something interesting." Or at least the chance to save somebody. We'd lost three patients today. Maybe they'd have died on my table, too, but I owed it to these soldiers--and myself--to try to make a difference.

A war has been raging for centuries. The younger gods had declared war on the older ones and the two had been  battling for control ever since. Both are stubborn and determined to win. Everyone else is caught in the crossfire. There is one ray of hope, however. A prophecy handed down by the Oracles says a healer will put an end to the war. The first of three prophecies states, "A healer whose hand can touch the dead will receive a bronze dagger."

Little did Petra know her innocent request for a more interesting case would bring about the beginning of the end. Prophecies come in three and this was only the beginning. The first prophecy had just been set in motion when a new patient was set before her. Sometimes you need to be careful what you wish for because you just might get it...

_________________

I loved the world Ms. Fox created and the humor she infused within her story. There are minor gods in need of appreciation, a Kraken set loose in the bathroom, and sea serpents multiplying like rabbits. If you're looking for a serious read this is not it. This is a crazy, zany, lovable read that had me laughing, grinning, and shaking my head from start to finish.

Petra, a mortal who is half Fae, is a doctor working in a MASH unit for the new gods. She'd been drafted to work for them just as she was getting her paranormal clinic off the ground. She'd only been given one hour to sort out her affairs and close up shop before she found herself transported to the wastelands of Limbo where she'd been for the last seven years and would probably spend the rest of her life. Once drafted, you were pretty much theirs for the keeping because the commitment lasted until the end of the war and there was no end in sight.

Petra's is a fun character. She's got a good sense of humor, loves  books (she has a collection which includes books by Lora Leigh, Charlaine Harris, and Sherrilyn Kenyon ), and is very loyal. Despite the hopelessness of her situation she has a positive attitude and makes the most of the hand fate has dealt her. She's cool under pressure, which makes her a good doctor and able to handle crazy situations. The main thing about Petra, however, is she's been hiding a secret. She can see and talk to the dead. That is something she could be killed for so she guards that secret well. When she saves a handsome commander using her forbidden talent, she worries she's just signed her own death warrant and hopes he won't remember.

Galen of Delphi is a lovable character. He's Petra's deepest fantasy and darkest fear come to life. He's a demi-god described as being like a "Greek statue come to life. Only he was more. Much more." He's fiercely loyal to those he loves and a natural born hero. He's also a commander in the army and when he literally dies on her operating table she uses her ghostly ability to pull his soul back into his body. At first Petra fears he'll tell her secret and she'll lose her life, but it quickly becomes clear it might just be one particular part of her she might lose--her heart.

I love the relationship that develops between Galen and Petra. While Petra tries not to fall for the seductively handsome demi-god, it is fun to see his attempts to persuade her to take a chance and trust him in more ways then one. In this relationship Petra is the one who surprised me most. I didn't expect her to end up being quite as bold as she was with Galen when she finally gave in to his charm.

Some of my favorite quotes/moments:
- 'Both armies liked to poison their weapons. They usually used the blood of Medusa, or spittle from Cerberus, the three headed dog of the underworld. I'd even seen them use Britney Spears perfume. We actually preferred the last one. It smelled nice and it wouldn't kill any mortals on staff.'
- 'Galen moved toward me with all the grace of a predator. He knew I'd be back. His manner said it all."..."Blueberry?" he asked, lifting the bowl to me like he was offering the apple from the forbidden tree.' 
-  "Of all the immortals in limbo, you had to show up on my table."

Overall, I gave this one 4 out of 5 roses. This was a flirtatiously fun read that had a fast pace and a comical edge to it. It definitely contained my kind of humor and I truly enjoyed it. I loved the atmosphere Ms. Fox created amongst the MASH personnel which was reminiscent of the camaraderie and spirit I recall seeing while watching the TV series M*A*S*H years ago. I liked Petra's werewolf roommate who missed his wife and kids, and her vampire roommate who could never get enough privacy. Additionally, I think the series name, Monster M*A*S*H, is cute, clever and befitting. Petra encounters a number of monsters which she needs to escape from. On the Lisarenee Romance Rating Scale, this one scored a STEAM rating--too hot for a fan, but you still have a handle on things. You should use extreme caution when reading a book with this rating in public. People may inquire as to why you looked flustered and flushed.