Rite of passage. Passage of rights. Both are dangerous. In 1900, Mama Cats gave birth to a daughter and named her Toledo. Now Toledo is 21 and Mama Cats has done all she can to raise her to be a good woman and a midwife. On a clear night in March 1921, Mama Cats decides it's time to tell Toledo the truth about her birth and reveal her plan to join Toledo's father. Her mama's confession and the events that follow leave Toledo with more questions than answers; more grief than joy. But just as she is worrying about how to tell her long-time soul mate, Hanover Fist, about what happened, a knock at the door reveals a man with glowing red eyes. Meanwhile, at the New Orleans police precinct, Hanover Fist stops by to see Duncan O'Malley after a long hot day walking the beat. O'Malley is hard at work trying to solve the case of a negro child found comatose from severe burns. The only clue they have to go on is a tattoo newly inked onto the child's skin and the fact that the child was found not far from Ring of Life Herbs and Charms, a shop belonging to Mama Cats. Although Hanover doesn't believe that what she does is voodoo, there are some on the police force who call it that. Could Mama Cats actually harm a child? Hanover doesn't believe so, but he also knows he might have a hard time proving it unless he can discover who is responsible. The Reunion is the Book 2 in the main story arc of the Dime Store Novel series, an urban fantasy novella about a world that appears normal unless you look close enough to see the fairies and the goblins. The story happens 21 years after From the Gator's Mouth. If you haven't read From the Gator's Mouth, you can start the series with The Reunion and then go back and read the prequels. The prequels in the Mama Cats story arc are:

• Rips in the Weave
• The Desert Rose

About the Author: Rachelle Reese has been making up stories for over 40 years. Her earliest stories were acted out by Barbie, Skipper, and Ken. Now her stories are acted out by the voices in her head. She has an MA in English from San Jose State University, where she wrote poetry and fiction. She ran the Art @ 8 open poetry readings and performed frequently at galleries and other venues. She is a self-taught programmer and was the first student at SJSU to complete her thesis as an interactive work of fiction. After meeting her husband and frequent co-author, John E. Miller, she began role-playing. Many of their story ideas and characters emerge during a game of Dungeons and Dragons, Call of Cthulhu, or World of Darkness. However, the mythos of their world is their own. Rachelle writes fantasy, paranormal urban fantasy, and a bit of horror. She and John are the authors of two short story collections: Bones of the Woods and Mind of a Mad Man. They are also the authors of the Dime Store Novel urban fantasy series. Rachelle has published several short stories in anthologies. Her latest was "The Rescue," published in The Bitter End: Tales of Nautical Terror. Rachelle also writes training courses and certification prep materials for programmers, network administrators, and computer support professionals. Rachelle lives with her husband in rural Missouri. They raise cattle and donkeys. They are devoted to their dogs...who pretty much run the household. She enjoys a good dry wine, immersing herself in a book, dancing, and long walks in the woods. She has recently taken up quilting. She blogs at http: //rachelleandjohn.blogspot.com. The Dime Store Novel characters blog at http: //dimestorenovel.blogspot.com