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Dark Bites by Sherrilyn Kenyon – An Anthology review

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Dark Bites by Sherrilyn Kenyon – An Anthology review

 

Dark BitesLinks to order Dark Bites:  Amazon / Barnes & Noble / Kobo / The Book Depository


Description:
For years, eager fans have been clamoring for an all-in-one collection of #1 bestselling author Sherrilyn Kenyon’s novellas. At their enthusiastic behest, we have delivered this brand-new short story collection, including stories previously exclusive to Sherrilyn’s website, as well as an all-new, never-before seen story!

Sherrilyn Kenyon takes readers from the Dark-Hunters to the demigods, from Dream-Hunters to demons, and everything in between.  Dangerous and exciting, each story is one thrill ride after the next, proving time and again how Sherrilyn has captivated millions of readers worldwide.  Now, readers are invited to go deep into Kenyon’s rich and imaginative world and experience the heart-racing moments that never stop coming!

Included novellas:
From the World of the Dark-Hunters:
 Phantom Lover (V’Aiden),  Winter Born(Dante),  A Dark-Hunter Christmas (Gallagher)  Until Death We Do Part (Velkan),  A Hard Day’s Night Searcher (Rafael),  Shadow of the Moon (Fury),  Where Angels Fear to Tread (Zeke),  Fear the Darkness (First Time in Print),  House of the Rising Son (First Time in Print)

Unrelated Stories:  Love Bytes, and Santa Wears Spurs


Review:
As many of you know, I’m a huge fan of anything Kenyon, especially when it comes to her Dark Hunter series, and The League series.  So when I heard she was putting together this anthology I was stoked.  Let me just say, this is a perfect anthology to add to your Kenyon collection.  I thoroughly enjoyed having all my Kenyon novella’s at my fingertips in one collection.  No need to go scrounging around anymore to find them all to add to my ever growing Kenyon collection.  This was a wonderful treat for me to read and re-visit some of my favourite characters who aren’t focused on much in the other main stories.  For any Kenyon Menyon(nickname she calls her fans) this anthology is a must buy.  I promise, you won’t be disappointed. 

Now to keep this review at a decent length, I decided to review the two first time in print novella’s along with one other novella that was originally written as a thank you to fans. The other novella’s have all been published in other anthologies over the years, but all can be found in this long awaited edition. 

Here’s a brief commentary/review those three novella’s;
House of the Rising Son(1st time in print)
Since this is a new novella in this anthology here’s a little description from Kenyon’s website on the hero and heroine;

Aricles-Hero
The eldest son in a family of three boys, Aricles had no desire to be a soldier, even though his fighting skills were among the best in the world. He was more than content on his small Atlantean farm, living a quiet, uneventful life. But when his brother is determined to don a soldier’s uniform, Aricles joins him with a promise to their father to bring his brother home in one piece. What he never counts on is how much their new lives will forever change them, or what the risk of a forbidden love will ultimately cost him.

Bathymaas-Heroine
The first and original goddess of justice, Bathymaas was created to keep Set grounded and on the side he’s supposed to be on. Due to her justice duties, she believes herself incapable of feeling. Something that causes her to run afoul of several gods, including Leto who can’t forgive her for not punishing Hera for Hera’s curse against her and her children. But when a bitter, ruthless betrayal costs her everything, Bathymaas becomes humanity’s and the gods’ worst nightmare.

This novella about Aricles and Bathymaas is basically a prequel to Styxx.  Ms. Kenyon gives us the chance to see just where Styxx and Bethany’s lives began and then how they came to be in Styxx.  We get to see how Aricles and Bathymaas meet, fall in love and then are torn apart through treachery at the hands of that bastard Apollo.  Man that god never changes, I hate him as much as I hate his twin the heifer goddess as Simi calls her(Artemis).  Kenyon does a superb job of creating and writing her villians.  I really enjoyed this one, as there were so many parallels to Styxx’s story, and I was making certain connections from the past to the present.  Kenyon does a great job once again weaving her tale and carrying us along a fast paced story, that flows seamlessly from page to page.  When I got to the last sentence, I was very tempted to pick up my copy of Styxx and start all over again.  This is a lovely addition to the Dark Hunter series. 

A Dark Hunter Christmas
This is the special Christmas story that features the gangster Gallagher and Simi when Gallagher is temporarily relocated to New Orleans to help battle Daimons. Written as a gift for DH fans, it originally appeared in the back of the first edition of Dance with the Devil.

In Gallagher’s story, we learn of his past(being a gangster) and happily married to the love of his life.  However, one fateful night everything changes for him. While rushing to his wife’s side as she’s delivering their son, the cops show up to arrest him, and kill him on the spot.  Thus, he becomes a Dark Hunter, but is not able to have any contact with his wife and son.  It’s hard for him being a Dark Hunter knowing his family is still alive, but thanks to the Squire’s Council his wife and child are well taken care of.  Now it’s 70 yrs later, in New Orleans, and Gallagher rescues a female being attacked by Daimons, brings her to the hospital and meets his great granddaughter and isn’t allowed to let her know who or what he is now.  With this meeting all his memories of his wife and past life resurface.    Poor Gallagher is having a hard time dealing with everything, especially since his wife had just passed a way a year ago, and Ash went to tell him the news.  Feeling like he has nothing and no one Gallagher refuses to stay and celebrate Christmas with the Were’s and other Dark Hunters at Sanctuary. However, thanks to Simi, Gallagher develops a different outlook on life and families, and winds up celebrating Christmas with everyone at Sanctuary. This is a sad but sweet story.  Sherrilyn shows us just how hard it can be for a DH, and what they deal with every day regarding their emotions and existence.  The scenes with Simi and Gallagher are just so sweet and loving, and actually brought a few tears to my eyes.  I only wish the story were longer and that Gallagher would’ve found a new love at the Sanctuary Christmas party.  Who knows, maybe we’ll run across him in a future novel, here’s hoping. 

Fear the Darkness(First time in print)
This was originally done as a special thank you to readers for all the great years and was available only as a digital download. It’s a small story about Nick’s homecoming to New Orleans after his mother’s death and after Katrina.  I knew from the beginning what was going to happen to Nick. I wanted the reader to see the birth of a Dark-Hunter, only to have it with a twist. And even though I knew what was going to happen, I still cried when I wrote the scene.

When Nick finally returns to New Orleans after becoming a Dark Hunter, it’s a year after Hurricane Katrina.  Kenyon not only shows the fans how Nick is dealing with not only his ‘death’, but his mom’s death, and also the destruction done to his beloved city.  Nick is very angry and pretty much wants to lash out at anyone and everyone, especially Ash.  His emotions are so strong they just pour off the page and make your heart break for him and everything that he’s lost in his young life.  This is a heart breaking yet touching novella.  The scene with Nick at his mom’s grave, running into Menyara and chatting with her just tore me apart.  It also helps to set the stage for future events regarding Nick in the DH series, as we see that he’s made a pact with Stryker and the Daimons to go against Ash, and we also get a little insight into the fact that Nick is more then just a DH. A little hint dropping at his powers of the Malachai.  This was a very nice thank you to all her fans, and I can see why Ms. Kenyon cried while writing it.  She had me tearing up a few times in this short, yet touching story of Nick.  I can’t wait to read his full length DH story when it finally comes out in the future. 

To sum up my review, I enjoyed this anthology, and being able to going back and read about characters I don’t get to revisit with in her full length novels.  The other two short stories are fun and totally Kenyon, with your alpha males and quirky fun heroine’s.  Oh and let’s not forget that classic Kenyon humour.  Even though some of these short stories are more dark and serious, she still manages to strategically place that humour of hers in each story to lighten the mood at just the right spot.  If you are a Kenyon fan like I am, I’m telling you now, don’t wait, go out and get this anthology, it’s a must to have in your collection. 

Until next time, happy reading.

Reviewed by Marcie

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Stranded with a Hero (Anthology) – a Review

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Stranded with a Hero (Anthology) – a Review

 

Stranded with a Hero (Anthology)
Authors:Karen Erickson, Coleen Kwan, Cindi Madsen, Roxanne Snopek
Release Date: November 11, 2013
Stranded with a HeroLinks to order Stranded with a Hero:
Amazon / Barnes & Noble / Kobo

Description:
“Getting snowed in never felt so good as boundaries are crossed, opposites attract, and friends discovering more, promise a Christmas no one will ever forget.”


Reviews;

This was a very nice anthology of short and sweet romance stories.  It’s the kind of book you can take and make a nice Sunday afternoon out of, while snuggled up by a roaring fire and glass of wine in hand.  I enjoyed all four stories, all were short, fun reads.  All the characters are easy to like and make you want to see them wind up with their HEA in the end.  Each and every story has it’s own flare and flavour to it, and had me getting more and more into the holiday mood, and made me want to bake up a batch of gingerbread cookies myself, and trim my tree all over again.  For anyone who’s looking for quick, fun reads, with sweet holiday romances thrown in, then this anthology is definitely for you.

Here’s a little recap on all four stories. 

Loving Mindy, By Karen Erickson
“Mindy can’t believe she’s stuck with her ex–best friend—and the man whose heart she broke years ago—for the holidays, though the tension between them is more than enough to keep them warm. Josh Powers never forgot Mindy, but he can’t risk his heart a second time.”

This is a short, sweet, and endearing read.  It’s about two friends who had grown apart over the years, loosing their special friendship, only to finally find love during the year’s worst snowstorm.  The story picks up a number of years later and Josh is still hung up on Mindy, but now Mindy’s divorced and raising her kids.  Josh has tried to keep away from Mindy as much as possible since returning home, but thanks to Mindy’s wandering cat, poor Josh winds up crashing his truck into a snowbank outside Mindy’s house. Thanks to Mother Nature, the weather is so bad he can’t get a tow truck.  Josh and Mindy wind up getting snowed in for a few days, and over the course of those days, rekindle their friendship and realize there’s more then meets the eye in regards to the two of them.  It’s fun to see them reunite, become friends again and realize they do have real feelings for each other and that they were meant to be.  Their scenes together are fun and flirty and having it take place around the holidays is just the perfect touch.  Both characters are likeable and their conversations are heartfelt and warm. The emotion in this one hits all the high spots and had me grinning along and wishing I were stranded in a snowstorm with Mr. Right.  

White-Hot Holiday, By Coleen Kwan
“Naomi’s sworn off men like Aaron—rich, cocky, and dismissive of holiday traditions. Aaron decided to spend Christmas in sunny Australia to avoid snowy New York, not to fall for the woman his best friend warned him away from. But when a volcano grounds him, Aaron and Naomi’s relationship becomes eruptive.”

This is another short, fun and flirty read.  Being a Northern Canadian, and being used to being surrounded by snow at least 5 months out of the year had me wondering what it would be like to be someplace like Australia at Christmas time with no snow.  I found myself sympathizing with Aaron whenever he’d be missing the snow and cold from back home.  Who knew it would take being halfway around the world and in balmy Australia for our hero Aaron to realize just what he has back home during the holidays.  It was fun to see his interactions with Naomi, and watch him go from a Ba-Humbug as she calls him, to Jolly ol’ St. Nick over a matter of days. I really liked this story, and enjoyed Naomi and Aaron. I felt they were well suited for each other and the sparks between flew from their first scene.  Their interations and conversations are real and charming and watching him do things he otherwise would never have considered doing before were quite fun.  The scene where they went to find a new Christmas tree, and then when he actually went and helped her at work(selling Christmas gifts) were priceless, yet charming. Oh the things a man will do to impress the girl he’s attracted to. Aaron is definitely a keeper and Naomi realizes this, but can she let go of her past breakup and take the plunge once again.  Thankfully Aaron is very persuasive, and in the end they both get what they are looking for in their HEA.

An Officer and a Rebel, Cindi Madsen
“  The last person police officer Nate Walsh expected to discover in a snowstorm is his brother’s ex and former town rebel, Kelsey Cooper. She’s his complete opposite and totally off-limits, but as they wait out the storm together, all he can think is how he wishes she’d stay forever.”

To keep the flow of fun, flirty and quirky going in this anthology Ms. Madsen hits all the high spots in this one.  You can’t help but love Nate and Kelsey, two polar opposites pretty much, but there’s no denying the chemistry between the two of them. Even though Nate is trying to do the right thing and keep things light between the two of them because she used to date his brother Derek, Nate can’t help his feelings. I felt so bad for Nate, that at one point I started talking to my Kobo telling Nate;”to hell with your brother, go for it already”.  You see Nate was always the golden boy of his family, and town, you know the boy next door, never gets into trouble kinda guy.  So here he is trying to do the right thing till he talks to his brother, but Kelsey’s not having any of it. She’s attracted to Nate, and knows he’s attracted to her, plus he’s pretty much let the cat out of the bag by kissing her and flat out telling her he’s always had a thing for her since highschool. Oh Nate what a tangled web you’ve woven for yourself.  😉   Watching Nate deal with his feelings and with Kelsey is comical at times. I especially enjoyed their snowmobiling scene, poor Nate trying to keep his mind off his feelings for Kelsey while waiting for his brother to text him back, but Kelsey has other plans.  She’s holding on tight, pinching his butt, basically torturing him.  I was LOL at that scene and couldn’t have agreed more with her tactics.  This story had me LOL at times, and other times wanting to slap Nate silly for being the well behaved, good mannered boy next door. All in all, this was a quick, and quirky read. I really enjoyed both characters, and any man who would beg his friend to fly him in his helicopter on New Years Eve to get the woman he wants definitely has my vote for Mr. Right. 

Saving the Sheriff, By Roxanne Snopek
“Frankie Sylva was determined to free the reindeer cruelly held for a holiday roadshow, even if it meant risking her own life. Deputy Sheriff Red LeClair set out to save a stranger in a snowstorm, never expecting he’d be the one to be rescued.”

Once again we have another fun and quirky read with this one.  I found myself smiling and laughing most of the time thanks to Frankie and her sense of humour, antics and ability to just break out into song for almost anything. I’ve never before seen or heard of someone confessing to a crime by breaking out in song.  LOL!!  Well, maybe only in musicals 😉  Frankie is such a quirky character you can’t help but love her.  She is the perfect woman for Red, especially after the hand he’s been dealt by his ex.  Thanks to his ex, poor Red is miserable and pretty much sworn off women, so when he happens upon the whirl wind that his Francesca(Frankie) Slyva, his life gets expectantly turned upside down.  Since Red is currently divorced and not in a Christmas mood, he decides to play housekeeper for his friends and look after their Wild Mustang Santuary, and winds up meeting Frankie. She’s taken a trailer of Caribou and decided to rescue them from a meat packing plant and set them free on the Mustang Santuary property without anyone being the wiser.  However, as luck would have it, Mother Nature has other ideas.  Thanks to a nasty storm that’s moved in, the trailer gets stuck and she has nowhere to go, enter our Sheriff Red LeClair.  While they are waiting out the storm, Red finally learns the truth behind Frankie’s actions, and can’t blame her for what she did.  As they try and work out a plan, to help her, things begin to heat up between the two, and before you know it, they both realize they’ve fallen for the other.  It’s a rather sweet story, with some rather humourous moments, but at other times serious and endearing.  It’s a well balance story with well written characters who just compliment each other to a ‘t’.  I really enjoyed this one, it had me laughing and at other times had me swooning.  Frankie and Red are two wonderful characters who you can’t help but come to love and want to see make it to their HEA.  Along with Frankie and Red, we also meet some secondary characters who wind up adding a little more spice and fun to the story.  I really enjoyed these characters, and now want to go back and read their stories.

All in all this anthology is a winner in my books. I enjoyed each story.  They all had their own special moments and had me rooting for each couple.  Every single one of our hero’s is very swoon-worthy and makes me want to get stranded in a snowstorm and find my Mr. Right.  As for our heroine’s each one is different, but has her own quirks and fun little personalities that bring a nice balance to the relationship.  Like I said earlier, this anthology is perfect for a lazy Sunday afternoon curled up by the fire with a glass of wine. 

Until next time, Happy Reading everyone! 

Reviews by Marcie

Copy provided by Publisher

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Heating Up The Holidays Anthology by Lisa Renee Jones, Mary Ann Rivers and Serena Bell-a review

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HEATING UP THE HOLIDAYS anthology by Lisa Renee Jones, Mary Ann Rivers and Serena Bell-a review

Heating up the Holidays Banner

Amazon.com / Amazon.ca / Amazon.uk/ Barnes and Noble / KOBO /

 

ABOUT THE BOOK: REVIEW: Release Date October 28, 2013

As leftover turkey and stuffing give way to stockings and little black dresses, this tantalizingly sexy eBook bundle offers up holiday-themed novellas from a trio of beloved romance authors. Lisa Renee Jones gives a dedicated reporter and a powerful businessman a chance to count their Thanksgiving blessings in Play with Me; Mary Ann Rivers presents Snowfall, the story of a woman who confronts a life-changing event—hopefully with a special man by her side—just in time for Christmas; and in Serena Bell’s After Midnight, an explosive New Year’s kiss leaves two strangers wondering whether they’ll ever see each other again.

PLAY WITH ME by Lisa Renee Jones

Kali Miller has spent three years reporting fluff stories, waiting for the article that will launch her career to new heights. When she suddenly finds herself forced to take a job as an executive secretary at a Vegas casino, Kali meets the subject of what will surely be a shocking exposé: her boss, Damion Ward, the arrogant and undeniably sexy CEO. But after Damion invites her to help him plan a Thanksgiving charity event, Kali begins to see another side of the man. And when she surrenders to the exhilarating tension simmering between them, Kali hopes her story will have a happy ending.

SNOWFALL by Mary Ann Rivers

Jenny Wright can’t get enough of her erotic conversations with someone she knows only as “C.” Flirting online helps Jenny temporarily escape confronting the changes to her life as she slowly loses her vision. Jenny’s occupational therapist, Evan Carlisle-Ford, is helping her prepare for the challenges ahead, but the forthright, trustworthy man can no longer ignore his growing attraction to his fiercely intelligent client. Now Jenny must choose between the safe, anonymous “C”—or the flesh-and-blood Evan, whose heated kisses can melt snow faster than it can fall.

AFTER MIDNIGHT by Serena Bell

The clock is ticking down to midnight on New Year’s Eve, and all Nora Hart and Miles Shephard can think about is kissing each other—even though they met just minutes before. Then, as fast as Miles enters Nora’s life, he’s gone . . . and she never even gets the name of the man she thinks might just be “the one.” One year later, Nora and Miles are reunited. The chemistry between them is just as strong as they remember. But Miles broke her heart once before—and this time around, Nora’s not sure whether she can give love a second chance.

••••••••••••••••••••••••••••

REVIEW

PLAY WITH ME by Lisa Renee Jones is the first storyline in the HEATING UP THE HOLIDAYS anthology. The premise focuses on Vegas casino CEO Damion Ward and Kali Miller.

It is a couple of weeks before Thanksgiving and we find Kali Miller starting a new job as secretary to the very sexy and very busy Damion Ward. But before the week is through, Kali will discover that there is more to the man and the job than meets the eye. Damion is a man possessed and he wants Kali for his very own.

The storyline is one of forbidden love and a building relationship. Lisa Renee Jones pulls the reader into a sensual and erotic storyline about two people who will fall in love over Chinese food, secret pasts and, personal and business betrayal.

The characters are as colorful as the world in which they work-it’s Vegas, baby and no where is there a more interesting collection of employees with axes to grind and secrets to reveal. And you will fall in love with Damion and Kali as they wind their way through a maze of potential heartbreak, embarrassing revelations and falling in love.

PLAY WITH ME is another wonderful short story that will make you believe in fairy tale endings and happily ever afters.

_______________

SNOWFALL by Mary Ann Rivers

SNOWFALL (written by Mary Ann Rivers) is the second storyline in the HEATING UP THE HOLIDAYS ANTHOLOGY and one that addresses a difficult subject-retinitis pigmentosis-an inherited disorder of the eye and one that will eventually lead to complete blindness.

The storyline focuses on two people, who under any other circumstance would never have met had it not been for their connection to medical research and Jenny’s slide into the dark. It is a story of forbidden love; the thrill of the unknown; and a glimpse into the future for two people who have more in common than they had ever thought possible.

The reader watches as one woman discovers the true identity of the man with whom she is falling in love and the reality of her waning sight. The relationship develops slowly; the sex is passionate, hot and forbidden but in the end, it is just what the doctor ordered.

The storyline is detailed in medical language and at times gets lost in the descriptive nature of the disorder but overall, Snowfall is a wonderful look at the possibilities for two people to fall in love.

________________

AFTER MIDNIGHT by Serena Bell

AFTER MIDNIGHT is the third storyline in the HEATING UP THE HOLIDAYS ANTHOLOGY and one that takes place from one New Year’s Eve to the next. Miles and Nora meet at a New Year’s Eve party-there is great chemistry between the two-but no one bothered to exchange names and it would be months later before Nora discovers that someone has been looking for the woman from the year end party.

Miles Shephard has been charged with embezzling and he has spent the last year caught between proving himself innocent and deflecting accusations. Innocent of the crime, Miles will soon discover that not everyone is one hundred percent sure of his innocence including the woman with whom he is falling in love and the heartbreaking realization will find Miles confronting the reality with his co-workers and friends. Miles and Nora both have some major issues of trust and getting past these issues will be the first step towards a happily ever after for both.

After Midnight covers a year in the life of two people who met minutes before midnight on New Year’s Eve and have spent that year wondering about the what-ifs and why nots of a relationship that never occurred. And in true romance fashion with a happily ever after, our couple will find each other but not before Miles must face the demons that have hounded his reputation and life.

Copy supplied by Netgalley

Reviewed by Sandy

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Mirror, Mirror by J.D. Robb, Mary Blayney, Elaine Fox, Mary Kay McComas, Ruth Ryan Langan – a Review

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Mirror, Mirror by J.D. Robb, Mary Blayney, Elaine Fox, Mary Kay McComas,
Ruth Ryan Langan – a Review

Mirror MirrorLinks to order Mirror Mirror: Amazon / Barnes & Noble / Kobo

Description:
Once upon a time…
 
In a world far removed from the days when fairy tales were new, five bestselling authors spin versions that take the classic stories into a new dimension. You’ll recognize Hansel and Gretel, Cinderella, Sleeping Beauty, and other enduring characters, but they’ll exist in realms beyond your imagination, where the familiar is transformed into the extraordinary and otherworldly. 

Returning novella contributors J.D. Robb, Mary Blayney, Mary Kay McComas and R.C. Ryan (The Unquiet) are joined by newcomer Elaine Fox in this interesting collection of fairy-tale–inspired stories of romance and intrigue. Robb’s Eve Dallas must track down a pair of missing twins in a Hansel and Gretel police procedural, “Taken in Death.” Blayney’s wish-granting coin entwines a pair of lonely adventure seekers in romance beyond their lives as a servant and a sergeant in her charming 1816 fantasy, “If Wishes Were Horses,” which gives a nod to Goldilocks and the Three Bears. Fox introduces a charming ghostly television reporter to the woman who buys his haunted house in “Beauty, Sleeping,” a clever, turned-on-its-head version of Sleeping Beauty. McComas’s phenomenal modern retelling of “The Little Match Girl” gives a too-generous activist and the cop who thinks he’s too old for her a chance at love in “The Christmas Comet.” In Ryan’s Cinderella tale, “Stroke of Midnight,” a teacher travels to her father’s hometown in Ireland, falls in love, and nearly lets her wicked stepmother ruin everything before an improbable conclusion. Though varying dramatically in approaches to the theme, each novella successfully captures the spirit of magic and happy endings.

 

Review:

Mirror Mirror is 5 novella’s, each by different authors.  Each story is slightly based on classic fairy tales. Generally, I would not read this book, since I only like novellas from authors I usually read.  Since I am a J.D. Robb fanatic, I of course had to read this book, since the first story is hers.

Taken in Death by J.D. Robb is another can’t miss book with my all time favorite heroine, Eve Dallas, and her equally super hot husband, Roarke.  In this story, sort of a take on the fairy tale Hansel & Gretel, Eve is called in to investigate the kidnapping of two young children, and the murder of their nanny.  We learn early on that the children were kidnapped by their mother’s sick evil twin sister, who the children call “the bad witch”  The children, a boy and a girl, play a big part in this book.  They are frightened, as the ‘witch’ threatens to eat them, but the twins are smart enough to leave clues along the way without their tormentor finding out.

In a race against time, Eve, Roarke, Peabody, and their team, must find the children before ‘the witch’ kills them.  Eve always puts herself in danger to either save or bring the killer to justice, as our Eve always “stands for the dead”. This was an exciting short story, and I enjoyed spending time with Eve, Roarke, and her fabulous team of the best recurring characters in the literary world,

If Wishes were Horses by Mary Blayney is a take on Goldilocks and the Three Bears.  It is a story of a servant, Martha, who owns a special coin that grants wishes to others, but unfortunately never to her.  Martha works as a maid in a mansion, with many rooms.  Each night she checks out the chairs or bed to see which is the most comfortable for her to sleep in, since most are empty during this wartime story.  When the major comes home, he brings his sergeant, Jack, to help temporarily as his valet, while he recovers.  It is Jack who discovers Martha in the rooms, where she doesn’t belong. This is an unlikely but very nice romance, with a little push from the famous special coin.  A very nice story. 

Beauty, Sleeping by Elaine Fox is a take on Sleeping Beauty.  This was a turnabout, as the man, Michael had a curse put on him by an jilted one night stand.  He spent over 20 years locked in his house as a ghost, as everyone presumed him dead, since he disappeared.  At the time he disappeared, Cassondra, a 5 year old girl, watched with the news about the missing man.  She thought he looked like her Prince in her books.   Years later, she buys that mansion, and soon suspects it is haunted.  What follows is a cute romance, as Michael slowly begins to become corporeal,  and the two of them fall in love.  Another nice story.

The Christmas Comet by Mary Kay McComas is a take on the Little Match Girl.  Natalie is the heroine of this story, as she is a very compassionate person who spends her life, working two jobs to help those in need. Natalie is well liked, except for one bitter police officer who doesn’t believe in helping the misfortunate, and gives her a hard time. 

Miles is another cop, but a good one who always keeps an eye on Natalie, trying to protect her from the dangers surrounding her. He cares about Natalie, but since he is 10 years older, Miles thinks he is too old for her.  One night, her car is hijacked and Natalie is stuck in the freezing weather.  Praying for help, the Christmas Comet makes an appearance and Miles comes to her rescue.  The is a nice romance, and a great ending, with someone Natalie helped coming through for her at the end.  Very nice story

The Stroke of  Midnight by R.C. Ryan is based on Cinderella.  After Taken in Death, this one turned out to be my favorite story in this book.  So well done.  Our heroine Sydney lives in a poor community, and holds two jobs, both of which help out those who need her help.  Everyone loves Sydney, except her stepmother and stepsisters.  Every chance Margot, the stepmother, gets, she brings down Sydney.  Then one day she comes into some money as a gift, and pursues her late father’s wishes to visit his home town in Ireland. On the flight to Ireland, she meets a nice young man, Cullen, who happens to be  going to same town, Innismere.  What follows is a beautiful story of Cullen showing her Ireland, and both of them falling in love. In a bit of magic, Sydney found her Prince and a happy ending. 

Reviewed by Barb

Copy provided by Publisher

 

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