Anthology Reviews

Page Nine

Added September 26, 2005

Secrets Volume 13

Author: Rachelle Chase, Amber Green, Charlotte Featherstone and Calista Fox
Publisher: Red Sage Publishing
Available At: Bookstores Everywhere
Publishing Date: July 2005
Genre: Romance: Erotic/Anthology
Format: Hardback
Price: $9.99
ISBN: 0975451634
Reviewer: Aline de Chevigny
Rating: 9 Gargoyles

Out of Control by Rachelle Chase

Astrid Thomas is a successful businesswoman. An event planner that prides herself in always being in control. A control she finds slipping all too easily through her fingers. During an interview with Erik Santos, she learns that her best friend has slipped him the response to a personal ad they had written in jest, along with her resume.

When Erik offers her the post of Trophy Wife for the weekend she feels both disgusted and tempted by it. Which emotion will she allow to win out?

I found Rachelle Chase's first novella Out of Control to be filled with intrigue. The opportunity she gives Astrid to lose control is a powerfully erotic situation, and she uses to its full advantage in this story. This was a wonderful story that is highly recommended.

Hawkmoor by Amber Green

Mary Alison Hawkmoor wasn't aware of her ancestry. Now she's resurfaced and been found by Darien Hawkmoor. He wasn't about to lose his mate again. The chase she leads him on only fuels his desire to have her back in his life and his clan.

Caught in a firefight and captured by his enemies, Darien must do everything in his power to save Mary Alison from Lia's mind control and clutches. Will Mary Alison succumb to her role as the Lady of Hawkmoor and his charms, or will she succeed in her escape?

I truly enjoyed Amber Green's tale of Hawkmoor. The fine balance between the paranormal and reality was artfully balanced. I found the interaction between Darien and Mary Alison passionate yet playful. The way he helps her come to terms with her destiny makes you love him even more. Yet, you enjoy every moment of her defiance. You can't help but wish for this story to never end.

Lessons in Pleasure by Charlotte Featherstone

Lady Lily Farrigton fought long and hard to forget Saint and his betrayal. She would do anything to prevent her friend's husband from dying in a duel with Saint. Even give in to Saint's demands for his co-operation and giving herself to him for three nights.

Will Saint get back what he has always longed for, or will Lily give in to her emotions and open her heart to him?

Lessons in Pleasure by Charlotte Featherstone was passion start to finish. Saint's roguish charms both entice and attract you while wishing you could be Lily for one night and receive his undivided attention. This was a fabulous foray into the world of historical regencies.

In the Heat of the Night by Calista Fox

Nick Moretti knew when he accepted the assignment that the hardest part would be keeping a professional distance from his new charge. Molina Toscano he knew from experience was beautiful, sexy and headstrong. She always got what she wanted.

Molina wasn't as surprised as she should have been when after five years of absence Nick made an appearance in her life. Especially since her cousin had just succumbed to the Vienti curse like all other Vienti's did at the age of thirty. Since her thirtieth birthday was just around the corner, according to the curse she was the next to die.

Or could Nick do the impossible and rescue her from her fate, giving her a chance at life and happiness?

In the Heat of the Night by Calista Fox was a sensual murder mystery that kept you enthralled. It kept you routing for Nick to break through Molina's defenses while in the same breath routing for Molina to succeed in seducing him. The heat between Nick and Molina scorches the pages, while the sensual imagery she uses keeps you glued to the story eager to find out what's going to happen next.

I highly enjoyed all the novellas in this book. Secrets Volume 13 is full of heat and passion from start to finish. This book is a definite must read.

Return to top of page.

Added May 26, 2005

Hard Candy

Author: Sheri Gilmore, Morgan Hawke and Angela Knight
Publisher: Loose-Id, LLC
Available At: www.loose-id.net
Publishing Date: February 2005
Genre: Romance: Erotic/Futuristic/Paranormal/Nontraditional Sexualities
Format: Ebook download in PDF/HTML/LIT
Price: $6.99
ISBN: 1-59632-066-4
Author Email/Website: www.angelasknights.com
Author Email/Website: www.darkerotica.net
Author Email/Website: www.sherisecrets.com
Reviewer: Lisa Lambrecht
Rating: 8.5 Gargoyles

Three of today's talented authors come together to bring us stories that are exciting and romantic.

HERO SANDWICH by Angela Knight

Meg decides to break up with her boyfriend, who was always off on secret missions. Afraid they might be illegal missions, she decides to play it safe and end it with him.

Coming from a background of crime, Meg many years later decides to change her life and uses her the suit her father invented legal things. In the evening hours she puts on the suit, becomes invisible and flies through the sky capturing pictures of some other local hero's capturing their evil prey.

Meg has always been attracted to Cougar and when she sees him alone on a rooftop and decides to steal a quick kiss since she's still invisible. Unbeknownst to her, Cougar and his partner Lynx (each with enormous powers of their own) lie in wait for her, hoping to capture her and teach her a lesson. Her pictures of them have caused talk and speculation to run rapid.

Captured by Cougar and Lynx, Meg should be scared but is more turned on than anything. She soon learns she might just enjoy their form of punishment.

Hero Sandwich by Angela Knight is a very enjoyable and well-written hot read. The plot is very unique, the heroes are hot and the heroine a brave woman. The sex scenes will scorch you in their intensity. Ms. Knight has the ability of bringing her readers to a sensual high and leaving them very satisfied. A definite must read.

CANDY FOR HER SOUL by Sheri Gilmore

When Natalie was younger she had a crush on David, a high school jock. All through school the local bad boy Nico picked on Natalie. Back then, Natalie had braces, was shy and awkward and had a stuttering problem. These boys broke her heart.

Years later and after a disastrous relationship, Natalie decides to move back home to live with her grandmother. She finds that David and Nico still live in her hometown and they both want her. She is flattered, thrilled and with the help of an outside entity Natalie finds that her dream of having them both just might come true. But will Nico and David be able to share her? Will she be able to share them with each other? And what about this outside entity? Will there be a price to pay in order to see her dreams come true?

Candy For Her Soul is a very well written and a super hot story by author Sheri Gilmore. Ms Gilmore has the power to make her reader feel the emotions (pain, confusion, happiness) that the characters are feeling. This is a memorable story and one I gladly recommend.

FORTUNE'S STAR by Morgan Hawke

Luxi has very unique, very strong powers. When she uses these powers to help her employer, she knows only did she lose her job (because of her strong powers) but she made a powerful enemy in the man she saved her employer from.

Luxi takes off across the galaxy hoping to find a new life. While it will be a new life, her powers show her it won't be a happy one unless she trusts in her powers and changes the course of her life.

At a stopover at an outstation, her powers reveal here is where her life can change. She meets a sexy cyborg and he brings her to heights of pleasure she's never known. With this man she knows her path could change. That is until she meets his employer who also has strong powers of his own and evokes strong emotions in her as well.

Somehow these two handsome men have the power to change her unhappy life into one of happiness. These two men both need her; they both want her. Will Luxi take what they offer her? Will they be able to stop the evil enemy stalking her?

Fortune's Star is a wonderful futuristic story filled with romance and much adventure. The plot is unique and the characters likeable. Ms Hawke takes her readers on a wild, sensuous ride that they won't want to get off of. Very well written and a very enjoyable read.

Return to top of page.

Added January 5, 2005

Bad Boys with Expensive Toys

Authors: MaryJanice Davidson, Karen Kelley and Nancy Warren
Publisher: Kensington Brava
Available At: Bookstores Everywhere
Publishing Date: November 2004
Genre: Romance: Contemporary
Format: Trade Paperback
Price: $14.00
ISBN: 0-7582-0586-4
Author Email/Website: www.maryjanicedavidson.net
Author Email/Website: www.authorkarenkelley.com
Author Email/Website: www.nancywarren.net
Reviewer: Lisa Lambrecht

Women love bad boys. They play a big role in many women's fantasies. Is it the naughtiness they project? The sinful thoughts they encourage and inspire in women? The sexiness that pours off of them? Or maybe it's because those bad boys aren't afraid to go after what they want. Three wonderfully talented authors come together to give us tales about sinfully sexy men and their expensive toys. Men our mothers have always warned us to stay away from.

The Fourteen Million Dollar Poodle by Nancy Warren

Vincent Elliot Grange, the Fourth's (aka Bulldog) very rich, great-aunt Marjorie recently passed away. Vince was called to the estate for the reading of the will along with his two money hungry cousins Jonathan and Esme. Vince didn't want anything from his great-aunt. He worked for a living at a job he loved, lived alone in a small apartment and was happy with his life.

All his peace was thrown to the way-side when he learned Mimi, his great-aunt's precious and spoiled poodle, was to inherit the bulk of Marjorie's estate and money. And Vince inherited the care of the small fluff of fur. At the time of her natural death, then Vince would receive the money. If Mimi died unexpectedly by foul means then the money would go to his cousins. What was a big man like Vince going to do with the little ball of fur like Mimi? A dog who only understood French, a language he knew nothing about. In dire straits, he did the only thing he could think of: hired a French nanny for Mimi. Of course, the fact the French nanny was sexy and beautiful was an unexpected bonus. Oooh, la la.

The Fourteen Million Dollar Poodle was a wonderfully written story by author Nancy Warren. The hero and heroine were down to earth, lovable people. The dogs were quite fun characters in themselves. The romance simmered throughout the story. All in all this was a quick, exciting read that I enjoyed very much.

The World Is Too Darned Big by MaryJanice Davidson

Doctor Benjamin Dyson was an exceptionally bright, smart young man. He invented and made special little gadgets for the CIA and other government agencies for a big price. But some how he became bored with his life. He wanted to be a James Bond character for once instead of Q. He wanted action. Field work. Instead of just sitting in his boring garage, um, I mean lab, inventing new gadgets.

They say be careful of what you wish for, something Ben learns firsthand. From the moment the punk-like young woman walked into his garage, he was intrigued. From her skull and crossbones shoes, black leggings, cherry red baby tee up to her pierced nose and closed cropped white-blond hair everything about her screamed sexy to Ben. Well, except maybe the big rat she was holding in her arms. Ewwwww.

Tara told Ben the invention he'd just sold to the people he believed to be CIA were actually a big crime syndicate. Well, that just wouldn't do. Ben only invented things for the good guys. Together they go steal back his invention. He hoped between his brains and Tara's brawn and experience with guns and things, they'll not have any problems. He quickly learns life in the field is not always as glamorous as it seems.

The World Is Too Darned Big written by the very talented MaryJanice Davidson is one hilarious, exciting and adventure-filled story. While I was reading this story, I knew that the hero and heroine were in a dangerous situation but I couldn't help but laugh at the exchange between them. Ben is a genius when it comes to gadgets but give him a situation dealing with the real world and all it's quirks and he becomes clueless. The heroine Tara is a tough looking and acting woman but you find a soft spot in your heart for her because deep inside she wants what every woman wants: to love and be loved. This is a wonderfully fast paced, exciting story that I heartedly recommend.

Anything You Can Do by Karen Kelley

Alex was a man who had no problems getting women in his bed. He was a handsome man and a player. At his sister's wedding he sees one of the most gorgeous women he has ever come across. Unfortunately, this goddess was his new brother-in-law's best friend and his sister made him pinkie swear not to touch or hurt her. Ah, the things brothers do for their sisters.

While his sister was on her honeymoon, Alex was going to stay in her apartment to finish designing his new computer program before meeting with potential buyers. Unfortunately his brother-in-law hired his best friend Keagan, "the goddess", to redecorate his new wife's apartment. Say goodbye to well-laid plans.

There was no way Alex could stay in the apartment with Keagan and not touch her. Especially when she wants him just as much as he does her. Will Alex be able to find the willpower to resist Keagan and keep his promise to his sister? Not if Keagan has anything to say about it. The battle of wills is about to begin. She was going to throw every sinfully, sexy trick she has at him. What she doesn't realize is that Alex has a few tricks of his own.

Anything You Can Do is a sinfully, sexy romance story Karen Kelley. This talented author has a wonderful way of pulling her readers in, keeping them in suspense with every word written. You could feel the sexual tension between the hero and heroine as it built higher and higher throughout the pages. The teasing, sexual innuendos will bring delicious tingles through your body. Making you wonder if you will break before the hero and heroine. Grab a bag (yes a BAG) of ice, set it down next to you and be prepared to read one of the hottest short stories written today.

Bad Boys With Expensive Toys is one anthology that I highly recommend. The stories are hot, the heroes are yummy, and the heroines are women you can admire. Authors Nancy Warren, MaryJanice Davidson and Karen Kelley pulled no punches in bringing their fans what they look for in a story, a story worth reading over and over. This one is definitely staying on my keeper shelf.

Return to top of page.

This page was last updated on January 1, 2008

This page and all its contents are Copyright© 2002-2008 In the Library Reviews and the individual reviewers. Except where noted, all graphics are Copyright© Eos Development and are used with permission. All book covers are Copyright© their respective publishers and are used with permission. The In the Library Reviews logo is Copyright© 2002 by In the Library Reviews/Sharyn McGinty. Site maintained by In the Library Reviews.