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Publisher:
Berkley Sensation
Release Date:
November 1, 2005
Genres:
Shape Shifter
Erotica
Vampire
Sci-Fi
Contemporary Romance
ISBN:
eBook
ISBN
Print
9780425212882
Kindle
No
ISBN
Bookmark Rating:
Reviewed by
Jennifer Ray
Review Posted:
May 2008
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Demons,
Aliens, Werewolves, Vampires, and genetically engineered beings. Berkley’s
Hot Spell anthology is sure to have something to
satisfy every lover of Paranormal Romance!
~The
Countess's Pleasure by Emma Holly~
All the
Countess of Ware was seeking was one night of discreet, yet earth-shattering
passion. Securing the services of an exotic Yamish dancer seemed just the
thing. All Georgina thought she wanted was pleasure, but what she found with
Iyan was so much more…
I’ve previously enjoyed Emma Holly’s contemporary romance and her fantasy
romance, but in The Countess’s
Pleasure, Holly delivers an intriguing blend of historical
romance and science fiction that I found more than pleasing.
Iyan’s alien race is known for their control, their unwillingness to give in to
emotion. Even still, it isn’t difficult to see how Georgina stirs him, as his
precious control wavers time and again with the lovely widow.
Georgina is the perfect match for Iyan, despite being human. Practical and
shrewd outside of the bedroom, the passion she exhibits behind closed doors with
Iyan charms him as effectively as those other qualities so valued by his people.
As can be expected with any Emma Holly story, the love scenes are decadent and
plentiful, certain to liven even the most dormant libidos!
~The
Breeds Series: The Breed Next Door by Lora Leigh~
Tarek’s
current mission places him right next door to none other but his own mate,
although he doesn’t realize that is who Lyra is to him at first. No, that
critical piece of information isn’t revealed to him until living next door to
her for months threatens to push him past his breaking point. When Jonas Wyatt
explains the Breed Mating Heat to him, Tarek is more than eager to claim for his
own the sassy little bread-baker who has unwittingly tormented him for so long.
But Tarek’s mission threatens his new Mate’s safety, and Tarek will protect her
at any cost.
The Breed Next Door
is the first of Lora Leigh’s Breeds
series to really drive home in no small way the fundamental differences in the
way the Breeds grew up versus humans. As entranced as he is by the scent of his
little Mate, Tarek is equally captivated by the scents of the homemade bread she
bakes – something he has never experienced before, and something most of us take
for granted.
Indeed, watching Tarek enjoy new experiences such as clumsily mowing his own
lawn, enjoying the taste of freshly baked bread, and trimming his yard is
simultaneously heart-rending and joyous. While your heart breaks for what he
has missed in his life, you cannot help but find his zeal for these things
infectious.
Which is the very reason Lyra finds it impossible to stay mad at him, no matter
how bonkers he drives her. Well, that and this crazy attraction she feels for
him. Still, Lyra gives him hell every chance she gets, in a way she has no idea
turns the incorrigible Tarek on.
What Lora Leigh story would be complete without a healthy infusion of love
scenes guaranteed to make your own knees quiver in excitement and induce some
very sweet dreams for the reader… And Ms. Leigh delivers all of that and more in
The Breed Next Door!
~The
Guardians, Book 1: Falling for Anthony by Meljean Brook~
Anthony
and Colin have long been best friends, despite their differences in social
class. But while those differences do not prevent their friendship, they
certainly prove an obstacle to Anthony being able to court the woman he loves,
Colin’s twin sister Emily.
When Anthony is struck down by a Nosferatu, the Guardian Michael offers him the
chance to become a Guardian himself. Normally, such an offer means the new
Guardian is prevented from returning to Earth for the first hundred years of
their service, to avoid any contact with those who knew them before their
death. When the Nosferatu that killed Anthony targets Colin & Emily’s family
for death, Michael breaks the rules, and assigns Anthony to the mission to save
his friends.
Falling for Anthony
is the first in Meljean Brook’s The
Guardians series, and is very closely connected to both
Demon Angel (Book 2) and
Demon Moon (Book 4). This novella tells the tale of when Colin (Demon
Moon’s hero) and Hugh (Demon
Angel’s hero) met when Anthony, Hugh, and the demon Lilith (Demon
Angel’s heroine) saved Colin’s life and quite possibly his very
soul. I read the second and fourth books in this series prior to the first, and
regardless of the timeline and connected events, I had no trouble understanding
any of the stories.
It was very interesting to finally see what exactly transpired so long ago that
made Colin what and who he is today.
Of course, that bit of Guardian
history is juxtaposed against the tender romance between Anthony and Emily.
Believing he can never be with the woman he loves the way he wishes, Anthony
settles for whatever he can have of her. When fate returns him to her side
after his mortal death, he knows he should resist her charms, but finds he
cannot, even though he is bound to his role as a
Guardian for the rest of
her life. But there is always a loophole, isn't there?
~The
Blood Kiss by Shiloh Walker~
When his
brother is unjustly held captive by the dastardly Master of the House of Capiet,
Roman determines to break him out of the vampire’s clutches without delay. He
never expects to meet his mate in the process, nor does he expect to find her in
the form of the Vampire Master’s own daughter, the beautiful Julianna.
Kidnapping the lovely heir to the House of Capiet seems the perfect revenge.
But doing so not only threatens the outbreak of war between the vampire house
and his own werewolf clan, but promises Julianna’s destruction at the hands of
her own people.
I ashamed to admit that while I have owned
Hot Spell for more than a year, I have only just read
this particular story. My only excuse is that I had just discovered author Lora
Leigh at the time I bought it, and my frenzy to read all of her work right away
caused me to skip any but her stories in the anthologies I purchased then.
Little did I know that a fantastic story featuring two creatures I adore –
vampires and werewolves – was languishing away on my bookshelf just begging for
my attention. And Shiloh Walker’s
The Blood Kiss definitely grabbed my attention at page one and
held it until I finished the last word in this sexy paranormal tale.
In a romance faintly reminiscent of ‘Romeo and Juliet’, Walker introduces us to
Wolfclan Montgomery and the House of Capiet, who have engaged in some barely
disguised feuding. Of course, this little story includes some very sexy
paranormal creatures and some of the most beautifully primal love scenes between
Roman and Julianna.
Although the ending to this story left me more than satisfied, I found myself
wanting more of this intriguing world and its characters. I will definitely be
searching for any related stories penned by this talented author.
Note: This review was originally
written by Jennifer Ray for another review site. It is being reposted at
Wild on Books. |
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