Anthology Reviews

Page One

Added February 10, 2003

Bad Boys on Board

Authors: Lori Foster, Donna Kauffman and Nancy Warren
Publisher: Kensington Brava
Available At: Bookstores Everywhere
Publishing Date: April 2003
Genre: Romance: Contemporary
Format: Trade Paperback
Price: $14.00
ISBN: 0-7582-04280-9
Author Email/Website: www.lorifoster.com
Author Email/Website: www.donnakauffman.com
Author Email/Website: www.nancywarren.net
Reviewer: Robin Taylor

Bad Boys on Board continues with its Bad Boys theme by giving us three amazing titles by three well-known names in the romance industry.

My House, My Rules

My House, My Rules by Lori Foster, is the first novella in this fantastic anthology. We meet Sam Watson, an undercover cop on assignment to bust a mugging ring. At the bar he is at, he spies a woman he believes to be his brother's girlfriend. Ariel Mathers is a woman he would like to really get to know. But, her attachment to his brother, plus the fact that he is 12 years her senior makes this impossible.

But, there she is, at the bar. Sam is undercover, so attempts to slip out of the bar unnticed by Ariel. As he attempts to catch the mugger, here comes Ariel to the rescue. Literally thrown together now, Ariel is finally able to tell Sam something she's wanted to tell him for a very long time. Sam, is not quite ready to hear this news. Well, part of him is ready. But, nope, despite his reputation, well, many reputations, he is quite honorable.

Since you already know that this is a romance. I will try not to feel too bad in telling you that Ariel wants Sam, not his brother. And, now that she has him cornered, so to speak, she's not going to take no for an answer. So, Sam decides to play the part of a bastard. First thing: my house, my rules. Sam's number one tenet. He'll push her until she just has to walk away. But, no, our heroine is tough. She'll take anything Sam dishes out, because her feelings for him are so powerful.

What does our Sam do? He gives Ariel what she wants and due to a sudden change in the agenda, decides to take what he wants. It's almost too good to be true. But then, a conflict arises which breaks the couple apart.

Now, the conclusion. My House, My Rules takes us through a quick, but thorough journey to the resolution of Sam and Ariel's situation. But, true Lori Foster style brings us in contact with Sam's family. It's great, really, because while your heartbeat is calming after reading the sex scenes between Sam and Ariel, you get to see the family strength and connectiveness. We briefly meet, but feel connected to secondary characters that Ms. Foster will be using in other books. I'd say, get your orders ready for Bad Boys on Board, because this is the first novella of the anthology that will make it worth money well spent.

Going Down?

Seduction. That's the word that comes to mind when describing Going Down by Donna Kauffman. This story is about Callie Montgomery, an executive assistant who is stranded in an elevator with her boss's business partner, Dominic Colbourne.

Dominic is Callie's everyman. Called the Panther in corporate life, a truly fitting nickname she'd give to him herself. After leaving her abandoned office building, all of a sudden the power goes out and they are stranded in a pitch-dark elevator, for at least six hours until the morning crew get in.

At first silence ensues. But, it is too dark and too quiet and six hours can be a very long time. What else to do but talk? It is almost too tense, too stifling, to do even that. It is because they are polar opposites, right? I mean, the tension in that small enclosure couldn't be anything other than that, right? Okay . . . so there's a little something. Well, a lot of something. But, what's amazing here is that while we watch the sexual tension build between Dominic and Callie, we see the emotional tension being drawn so very tight. Excellent!

Callie is doing well for herself. After a failed marriage and a lot of ensuing uncertainty, she's finally landed a job where a fantastic promotion is just waiting for her. Dominic is a wealthy, global magnate hunk, in Callie's words. Yet, they start talking about relationships, physical vs. emotional. What makes romance work? Is good sex enough to make a relationship successful? What does a man like in woman? Provocativeness? What does a woman look for in a man? Romance?

Oh, these conversations are stimulating! For us, the readers, but most assuredly, for Callie and Dominic! The more they talk and spar, the headier the tension becomes. Callie constantly has to jerk herself back to reality. While, Dominic has to do the same. Now, as we watch this story unravel, we see two kindred souls melding together, and eventually Dominic makes a move. Hooray for us! I mean, them! Because Ms. Kauffman makes this novella true to the title, Going Down? See, the sexual tension became overwhelming, and they, um, had no protection on them, yet they really wanted each other, so... Now, what makes me think you get the picture pefectly? *g* *g* *g*

What these two share is amazing! They melded their souls before their bodies and we are left rooting for them. But, she's a temp about to get the job of her dreams and he's an executive who's got a plane to catch. They are "rescued", and albeit reluctantly, part ways.

I'm going to stop here. Why? Well, for obvious reasons. Read Going Down and I just bet you will love how the story ends. Kudos to Ms. Kauffman!!!

A Fast Ride

An amnesia story done exceptionally well. A Fast Ride by Nancy Warren, is the last novella in the Bad Boys on Board anthology. Wes Doman wakes up and finds himself in a strange bed in a strange house with no idea on earth who he is. Nell Tennant is the person who found him hurt on the road, and while caring for him, decides to take her fantasies up a notch.

He is convinced that she is his girlfriend, and she lets him believe it. They enjoy each other as often as they can. While she feels guilt about using him for sex, he struggles with feelings of uneasiness about the amnesia, and his supposed life-style.

Oh, do I love Nell's description of Wes - 'her own personal rebel without a cause, easy rider, and lone wolf all rolled into one sexually explosive package.' Yowza! Or, should I say, Ms. Warren's description of this hottie. *g* While pretending that Wes is her boyfriend, Nell allows herself to live out a few fantasies as she deals with being at a turning point in her life.

But then Wes meets up with some folks who clue him in to who is is, and even then his own memories don't kick in. Is Wes this bad boy motorcycle gang member? Is there any explanation as to why he feels so firmly that that description and lifestyle just does not fit him? Will he regain his memory before Nell fesses up to her deceit?

Ms. Warren takes this hot, sexy story and weaves an amazing level of intrigue and suspense into it. You have got to read A Fast Ride.

Bad Boys on Board is a wonderful collection of novellas. Whether you want to read about an alpha male with his own set of rules, or about whether or not being stuck in an elevator for two people is really all that bad. Or whether you want to see an amnesia story just remind you that sometimes being at the right place at the right time can just lend a hint of fate to your lists of beliefs, you won't be let down. I have every book by these wonderful ladies, as they all are autobuys. So you must know that Bad Boys on Board goes on my keeper shelf, and that I will always try to be first in line for their upcoming books.

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Added January 2, 2003

Aphrodite's Touch

Authors: Lanette Curington and Joanna Wylde
Publisher: Ellora's Cave
Available At: www.ellorascave.com
Publishing Date: Available Now
Genre: Romance: Erotic/Mythological
Format: Ebook download in PDF/HTML/LIT/Mobipocket
Price: $6.99
ISBN: 1-84360-233-4
Author Email/Website: www.lanettecurington.com
Author Email/Website: www.joannawylde.com
Reviewer: Sharyn McGinty

Immortal Heat by Lanette Curington

Aglaia, one of the graces serving as Aphrodite's personal messengers, had been sent to Lemnos to aid four young lovers. Tebris was to marry Prince Oileus yet loved his cousin, while Oileus loved Tebris' cousin. Fixing the problem should have been easy, except for the bride's mother Queen Eupompe. Determined to have her daughter wed a prince, she resented Aglaia's presence and interference in her daughter's life. Hiring two thugs to throw her off a cliff was the perfect plan.

Hephaestus is happy on his island. The Olympian gods do not bother him, nor do any humans. He is alone with his forge and metal servants. During one of his daily walks, he finds Aglaia's body. As she is an immortal, he knows she is not dead just badly hurt. Deciding to heal her wounds before sending a message to Olympus sounded like a good idea. He didn't plan on falling in love.

Dancing with Dionysus by Joanna Wylde

Sabiniano, priest and son of Dionysus, had neglected his father's people and festivals for several years. During one of the festivals, he senses the presence of an intruder, a woman loyal to Athena. According to the law, anyone on the island during festivals belonged to Dionysus, and therefore his priest. This year, the priest was going to exercise his right.

A servant of Athena, Kalliara wanted no part of Dionysus' festivals and usually stayed in locked in her home. A nymph's mistake placed her in not only mortal danger but also in danger of breaking her vow of chastity. Only with Athena's help would she escape and if death was the only to stay true, she was willing to die. Life in the underworld wouldn't be too unpleasant.

Once he learned Athena had taken one of his followers, Dionysus vowed to make her pay. His descent into the underworld to reclaim Kalliara prompted Athena to ask her sister Aphrodite for help. In a contest of godly wills, would Sabiniano and Kalliara find love? Or are they destined for heartbreak?

Aphrodite's Touch is a remarkable anthology. Both novellas are masterful, filled with incredible detail and unbelievable story telling. Filled with extremely, intense erotic scenes, Dancing with Dionysus is the spicier of the two. Often taking a back seat to the erotic scenes, the love story in Dancing with Dionysus is still very much a visible part of the novella. Immortal Heat is tender and romantic. The characters and their emotions are at the forefront of this novella. Ms. Curington's detailed imagery is incredible, completely immersing the reader in Ancient Greece. All in all, Ms. Curington and Ms. Wylde have earned my loyalty. I look forward to reading more of their work. Not to be missed!

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Added August 15, 2002

I Love Bad Boys

Authors: Lori Foster, Janelle Denison and Donna Kauffman
Publisher: Kensington Brava
Available At: Bookstores Everywhere
Publishing Date: August 2002
Genre: Romance: Contemporary
Format: Trade Paperback
Price: $14.00
ISBN: 0-7852-0134-6
Author Email/Website: www.lorifoster.com
Author Email/Website: www.janelledenison.com
Author Email/Website: www.donnakauffman.com
Reviewer: Cyndi Witkus

I Love Bad Boys has three of the top hot erotic romance authors in the field today. In reading this book, it was impossible to put down with all the hot, sexy romance inside. These authors brought forth fantasies that most of men and women have. Each novella showed passion and romance in ways that we dream of touching and trying.

In Indulge Me by Lori Foster, we see that shy Becky Harte has taken up the gauntlet tossed by her friends, Asia and Erica. She's gone to Wild Honey, the local sex toy shop and set her plan in motion to go out with the first man who has the same interest she does. What she doesn't know is that the man she's had a secret crush on for two years wants to be the one who fulfills all her needs. George Westin has wanted Becky and is more than willing to fulfill her deepest fantasy, even if it means that in the end, he's not the one in charge as he assumes at the beginning. The story was hot beginning to end with not once dropping the romance. To see how they've grown to love each over since the beginning and their willingness to trust each other, it's truly a steamy love story.

Janelle Denison's Naughty by Night delves into the realm of love unrequited. Gabe Mackenzie is back in Chloe Anderson's life. When they were teens, he'd walk away because he thought he couldn't give her what she needed due to an injury. Six years have passed and brought it full circle. However, this time, Chloe wants to show him what Gabe has missed all these years. Giving him a trust that she'd never give to a stranger, she gets him hot and bothered after he loses a poker game to her. Four nights of teasing, taunting and passion culminates in the realization that only with each other are they willing to fulfill any and all fantasies.

For Donna Kauffman's ...And When They Were Bad Allison Walker is at a new private club to accomplish one thing. She wants to let loose her "inner slut" and experience the joys of sensualness. Cameron James IV is there to for once let loose and not save everyone. However, from the first moment he saw Allison in trouble, Cameron couldn't help but save Allie from herself or those who couldn't understand the innate sexiness in the woman before him. Things heat up quickly on this passionate island. The waterfall scene in this novella is to die for. I read this novella grinning from ear to ear. When Allison takes off after her and Cameron make love, will he ever find the wild woman he helped let loose? I won't tell you the end, but it know that love and romance are never far in this book nor are the erotic fantasies created at this hedonistic club.

This anthology raises your blood pressure, raises your libido, and makes you know realize that passion and romance are everywhere you look. From a sex toy shop, to old flames, to a no holds barred resort, love shows its many facets in this exciting book. I highly recommend you read I Love Bad Boys then give it to a friend, a lover, or someone who you think might like thinking outside the norm. All three lovely ladies have done an outstanding job in this anthology that doesn't disappoint.

This page was last updated on January 1, 2008

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