Venture into a world beyond the ordinary, where the dark passions and voracious appetites of vampires, werewolves, demons, and a few undaunted mortals combine to unleash a potent…Hot Spell.
The Countess’s Pleasure: Emma Holly
The widowed Countess of Ware, Georgiana DuBarry, is in the exotic city of Bhamjran in search of something she’s never experienced before, however the staid restrictions of her station in life forbid such indiscretions as taking a lover. Fortunately, Georgiana has money and a mind of her own, and she’s more than willing to spend it for the company of a male consort. After seeing him in a ladies’ club, Iyan Sawai is perfect for her. She proposes a bargain for two nights of service from the Yama…but she ends up more than she bargained for. Review: Set in the same alternate world of THE DEMON’S DAUGHTER, I found this one more sensual than its full-length predecessor. When Georgiana meets Iyan for the first time, let’s just say I’ve yet to run across such an unusual, erotic, and heart-stopping encounter. I expected no less than excellent from Emma Holly, and again she delivers.
The Breed Next Door: Lora Leigh
Headstrong, contrary Lyra Mason met her mate… err, match when Tarek Jordan moves in next door. She just didn’t know it yet. Drop-dead gorgeous with an edge of danger, but he’s a royal pain and she’d rather cover up her attraction with an attitude. But when an intruder tries to break into Lyra’s house in the middle of the night, Tarek’s true nature shows through. Tarek isn’t the boy-next-door. He’s the lion next door, a Breed born and trained as an assassin. And he’ll go to any length to protect his mate. Review: another heart-stopper but for different reasons. Given the current trend of big cat shifters in the paranormal genre these days, the author could have taken it over the top with too much detail. However Tarek isn’t a shifter, but a man with big cat tendencies…and very aggressive when it comes to his mate, Lyra. Looking forward to more from this author.
Falling For Anthony: Meljean Brook
Anthony Ramsdell has been in love with his best friend’s twin sister, Emily, since he was fourteen years old but any chance of a match is quashed by his station in life. When he catches her in a fit of pique, cursing any dream of true love, he is unable to resist intervening…only to have the meeting end in a perfunctory liaison on her father’s couch. Promising Emily he will one day make her happy again, Anthony goes off to minister to the soldiers on war’s front line but it does not end well. He is stricken dead by what looks to be a demon. At the last second he is met by Michael, guardian angel, and offered a once-in-a-lifetime choice. The catch? He will never see Emily again. Love is not lost, though. Anthony must return to earth when demons and vampires target Emily and her family in their search for a precious relic. Review: Very different from the norm, with the angels and demons theme. Unlike the other three heroines of this collection, Emily is not a virginal heroine. And Anthony is not a perfect angel. These two flawed people, together with an unusual secondary cast, make this a wonderful read. Looking forward to the full-length novel, Demon Angel.
The Blood Kiss: Shiloh Walker
Roman Montgomery, alpha of Wolfclan Montgomery, is in New Orleans to retrieve his brother, Steven, from imprisonment by the vampire House of Capiet. Whiling away time and waiting for word from his spies, he sees a gorgeous black-haired street painter and attraction is instant…for him. But he soon finds Juliana is off-limits and technically an enemy, as she is the blood daughter of Eduard, head of the clan of vampires. Fortunately, she isn’t a vampire just yet and Roman is determined to take Stephen back home…and take her as his mate. Review: Like most werewolves, Roman is an aggressive alpha male, both in his ruling of the pack and his sexuality, although he does have his tender, thoughtful moments. Juliana is headstrong and determined to live her own life, and her hissy fit is completely understandable when Roman is forced to make a life-altering decision for her. I haven’t read Shiloh Walker before but if this is any indication of her deftness in crafting a fast-paced, erotic tale, I’ll be hunting up more of her work.
Taken together, it’s an excellent blending of four unique and talented styles and a fine collection for lovers of erotic, sensual delights with a paranormal twist.
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Paperback: 352 pages
Publisher: Berkley Sensation (November 7, 2006)
ISBN: 0425212882
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