Romantic Times magazine has named Venom a Top Pick and given it 4 1/2 stars for October. Huzzah! I’m super-excited about this because this is the first Top Pick that I’ve ever gotten from the magazine. Here’s what the review by Jill Smith says:

Estep has really hit her stride with the gritty and compelling Elemental Assassin series. She surrounds her fascinating and complex heroine with a cadre of supporting players, each of whom are intriguing in their own right. Brisk pacing and knife-edged danger make this an exciting page-turner. Kudos to Estep, who is rapidly heading toward the top of the urban fantasy genre!

Having recently killed an ally of the deadly Fire Elemental Mab Monroe, former assassin turned restaurant owner Gin Blanco is trying to stay under the radar. Seventeen years ago Mab murdered Gin’s family, and only recently did Gin learn that her sister Bria also survived.

Police Det. Bria Coolidge has just transferred to Ashland, but considering their conflicting occupations, Gin doesn’t reveal herself. Gin has long-range plans to take down Mab, but things get complicated as Mab’s main enforcer, the giant Elliot Slater, is stalking vampire Roslyn Phillips with deadly romantic intent. To save Roslyn, Gin may have to put her life, and her plan for vengeance, on the line. (POCKET, Oct., 390 pp., $7.99)

Huzzah! I’m still doing the happy dance over this. Thanks so much to Jill and the folks at RT for taking the time to read and review the book.

The book is out on Sept. 28. I hope everyone has as much fun reading it as I did writing it! 😉