|
|
|
Publisher:
Red Sage Publishing
Release Date:
December 2008
Genres:
Anthology
Erotic
Contemporary Romance
Paranormal Romance
Vampire
Science Fiction
Futuristic
ISBN:
eBook
9781603100052
Print
9781603100052
Bookmark Rating:
Reviewed by
Jennifer Ray
Review Posted:
August 2008
|
|
It is no secret that Red Sage Publishing consistently nabs some very talented
romance authors for their popular series of SECRETS anthologies.
SECRETS VOLUME 25 continues that trend admirably, with four
wonderful novellas by some great writers.
~BLOOD HUNT by Cynthia Eden~
Take one bad boy bounty hunter who is down on his luck and turn him loose on one
irresistible vampiress with an insatiable hunger. The combination makes for
one dangerously sexy story that is sure to please lovers of paranormal romance.
Slade was hired to track and capture a serial killer by the name of Nema. He is
more than willing to bring the murderess down. Then he meets her. Suddenly,
everything isn’t quite so clear cut, and his gut tells him this woman is no
killer. He begins to suspect that he is being set up.
Nema was turned only six months ago, then abandoned by the vampire who made
her. Since then her ‘life’ has been a struggle to keep her blood hunger at bay,
stay one step ahead of the evil scientists trying to capture her, and figure out
how to navigate her new life as a vampire.
When Slade enters her life, she finds he stirs both her blood hunger and her
sexual lust, and she can’t resist him. But can she trust him, or will he betray
her at first opportunity?
Cynthia Eden has become a name that I look for on a book cover, and I knew I
wanted this anthology the moment I saw she had a story in it. BLOOD HUNT
will undoubtedly build her reputation as a talented author of paranormal
romance even further.
I felt the chemistry between Nema and Slade from the very beginning, and ached
for them to consummate their attraction as soon as possible. I didn’t have to
wait too long – that’s the beauty of a short story – and the passion this pair
experienced together was more than satisfying.
Even more satisfying was the connection they made outside of the physical. The
moment they meet, they both feel the pull, and the growing bond is more than
sexual. Neither of them hesitates to protect the other when the situation calls
for it, and each is willing to sacrifice for the other.
~SCANDALOUS BEHAVIOR by Anne Rainey~
Tess is a butterfly waiting to break free from her cocoon. Her secret lust for
her boss Kevin finally reaches critical mass, and she resolves to finally spread
her wings and take a chance on the man who never seems to notice her the way a
man does a woman.
Kevin has more than noticed Tess. In fact, he tries hard not to. Even with
those drab wool suits, he can’t seem to stop thinking about what she is hiding
under those boring clothes. But his position as her boss prevents him from
acting on that attraction.
When she shows up in his office dressed to kill and intent on seduction, he is
powerless to resist her allure. One short tryst will never be enough, but can
this confirmed bachelor convince Tess that he wants more with her?
Anne Rainey is another author I follow, and the other reason I snatched this
anthology up as soon as possible. I would recommend any of her stories so far,
and SCANDALOUS BEHAVIOR is at the top of my list of favorites from
Ms. Rainey.
When the story begins, Tess presents herself as a dowdy, no-nonsense
professional, hiding behind ugly, shapeless clothes. She admires Kevin from
afar, even while working closely with him day in and day out. Her growing
attraction for him finally reaches a point where she must make a change. Being
a take-charge person, she opts for a make-over.
This reaction makes Tess a woman we can look up to. She isn’t the sort to
wallow in her own self-doubt. Instead she works to effect a major change for
the better in her own life, a wonderful example for us all. It is no wonder
Kevin falls for her…
As for Kevin, I have to say it was absolutely delicious watching this man fall
under Tess’s spell so completely. Yeah, he tried to deny that he was in love,
but it is definitely a losing battle. Oh how the mighty do fall, and how we do
enjoy reading it!
~ENTER THE HERO by Sedonia Guillone~
Kass and Lian have lived their lives in captivity under the new government
regime. They fell in love when they were still children, and every plan they’ve
made since then has been with the intention of staying together. An attempted
escape lands them in sexual slavery, forced to perform at any time, for anyone,
and with anyone.
Be it Fate or Luck, somehow they manage to stay together even in this den of
iniquity, finally able to consummate their love physically, even while they must
hide the fact that they actually have feelings for each other. As their sexual
performances together gain them popularity, they soon have another chance to
escape to Paradise, outside the clutches of their captors. But if they don’t
succeed in escaping, the sentence will surely be fatal…
Sedonia Guillone paints a gloomy picture of a futuristic world in which one
diabolical pair has somehow seized power and reshaped society to suit their own
depraved desires. This new world caters to the wealthy even more than before,
and those without money are quite literally slaves to those who do have it.
You would think that such a life would erode any hope that the lower citizens
might have for a better life, but love truly does conquer all. With the bond
that forms between Kass and Lian in early childhood, they both find someone to
live for, to make a better life with. That love pushes them each to persevere
where they may have given up had they only themselves to consider.
No matter what obstacles are thrown in their path, this pair forge on – always
together. They fight so hard for their love and freedom that you become fully
invested in their plight. When they finally do reach that happy ending, it as
satisfying as if it were your own.
~UP TO NO GOOD by Natasha Moore~
Allie came to town with one goal in mind – find and interview the elusive Simon
MacKenzie, the writer who abandoned a highly successful and influential career
to disappear into anonymity.
A hot lead on his current whereabouts land her in the middle of the Jolly Roger,
a neighborhood bar owned by the sexy ‘Mac’, with whom she clashes from the
get-go. But their banter is a thin disguise for the attraction simmering
between them.
But Mac turns out to be none other than THE Simon MacKenzie, the subject of
Allie’s article. Will they give in to their mutual desire? Can Allie convince
Simon to divulge the secret that made him abandon his writing? Will Allie’s
pursuit of his secrets drive Simon away for good?
Until this anthology, I had never read Natasha Moore, but she is an author I
will definitely be reading more of soon! I was very impressed with her novella,
UP TO NO GOOD. The title itself intrigued me, and the story was
just wonderful.
The banter between Allie and Mac is fantastic – I couldn’t get enough of it.
This pair will certainly keep each other on their toes for the rest of their
lives.
Allie is delightfully irrepressible – a fact that simultaneously intrigues and
worries Mac. He can’t wait to see what she comes up with next, but he also
fears she will not rest until she exposes his dark secret. Her penchant for
ordering sexy bar drinks from him wreaks havoc on his libido, and leaves the
reader laughing with each double entendre exchanged.
Mac is simply a great guy. Misguided, sure, but a really stand-up friend. He
lets his past rule his present, and tries to keep himself apart from others,
afraid he will be betrayed again, or worse, they’ll discover his secret and know
the truth about who he is. Of course, Mac, like many of us, is much harder on
himself than anyone else would be. It takes Allie’s unique perspective to help
him overcome that past.
UP TO NO GOOD is a fun little romance whose lightness compliments
the real depth of the story. I would bet that Natasha Moore finds herself with
quite a few new fans after this gem releases.
|
|
Buy the eBook at
Red Sage
Publishing:
Buy it in Print
at
Amazon :
Buy it in Print
at
Barnes & Noble
|
|
|
