THE PROMISE OF LOVE by Lori Foster, Erin McCarthy, Sylvia Day, Jamie Denton, Kate Douglas, Kathy Love

Publisher: Berkley Sensation
Date Published: June 2011
ISBN: 978-0-425-24107-3
Trade Paperback
Romance
Reviewed by Angie
Review Copy Provided by Publisher


Six award winning authors bring to the table tales of true love and secrets. They bring the past to light in order to help six people find true love and happiness with the mates they deserve.

Shelter From The Storm by Lori Foster (3.5 Stars)

Sabrina Downey’s mother left when she was four and she was raised by a drug addicted father who sold her out for a drug fix. When during a storm one night her father died of an overdose, a neighbor family took her in and taught her what love should be like. Part of her salvation came in the form of Roy Pilar the son of the parents who gave her a home when she became orphaned. Roy has always loved Sabrina and hopes someday she will realize they can be more than friends.

Sabrina and Roy are both great characters in this short story. Ms. Foster brings them to light with clarity that makes the reader want the best for them both. The short story is filled with emotion and drama that make the reader want more. As the story opens with Sabrina running from her apartment to Roy’s directly across the hall, her terror comes from the pages into readers hearts making them want her to feel safe and secure – forever. Both Sabrina and Roy have rewarding careers taking care of others and are a perfect match together.

Take Me Home by Erin McCarthy (4 Stars)

Sara Parker has screwed up her life and has found herself pregnant and unsure of who the father is after having two one night stands back to back. Having run from her hometown to the East coast to attend nursing school she is now coming home to her best friend Travis to decide what her future holds. Travis has always loved Sara, her coming home to him just makes him realize he is her future and he must lead her into his bed and heart forever.

Sara is a young woman who readers will fall in love with when they realize she needs to find herself and what she was running from when she left home to attend college – to make herself better. Travis is a strong hero with his own home and life – he proves himself to be a great man when he is willing to take on another man’s unborn child to make the woman he loves his forever. The emotions come off the page in this short story and will leave readers wanting more.

Razor’s Edge by Sylvia Day (4 Stars)

Jack Killigrew is a special ops agent who has been in love with his best friend’s wife for some time. His friend Steve once asked him to take care of his wife, if he was ever gone, yet neither expected him to have to take him up on that promise. Steve was killed in a car accident leaving Rachel and their young son Riley alone. Jack has not come “home” in two years since the accident knowing he wants more than Rachel should be willing to give out of their relationship. He has taken care of his friend’s widow and his godson from afar with phone calls, photos, and gifts yet has not come face to face with them once. Coming home for Riley’s birthday party he finds Rachel has grown independent – and is ready for his love.

Jack is a strong man who thinks he knows what is best for himself and the woman he loves. As he gets to know the woman Rachel has grown into, he finds himself more and more drawn to a woman he has loved from afar. When he finds out her in-laws approve of him as a suitable lover, and his godson hopes they get together, he lets down his guard and begins a relationship that is well worth a novella. Both Jack and Rachel deserve a story of their own, I would love to see both of them in a full length tale.

Midnight Rendezvous by Jamie Denton (4.5 Stars)

Burnett Dupree has been playwright whose last play bombed after just one night on Broadway. He has come home to New Orleans sober and ready to write. He finds his muse when he watches his landlady dive into her pool nude night after night after midnight. Maya Pomeroy has spent the last two years hiding in her house after a bad car accident has left her scared for life. She doesn’t feel anyone could love her and yet Burnett seems interested.

This is one of the best novellas in this book in my opinion. The emotional and physical scars by both Burnett and Maya will horrify the reader and yet leave them rooting for happiness for both. They both have rewarding careers that have been put on hold for different reasons, and as they come together realize their careers are changing and their relationship needs are merging. As these two work out their new relationship, they come across the pages in ways that will leave readers wanting more.

Dime Store Cowboy by Kate Douglas (3.5 Stars)

Betsy Mae Twigg has come home again after being physically abused by her husband. When she returns home her brother welcomes her with open arms, but leaves her in charge of their dude ranch for two weeks while he and he wife go off on a much needed vacation. Mark Connor has run west to find himself. A New York Editor he realized he was growing older yet has never found meaning in his life. He knows something is missing and goes off to search for happiness.

Mark is one of my favorite hero’s in this entire book. He comes from a high class and realizes he is living life large. He wants more from life and goes to find out. What he does not expect is Betsy Mae to hold the key to his happiness. When he realizes she thinks he is going back to the city, he bares his soul to her – and finds true love. A man who knows his way around a woman’s body, admits to reading romance novels, yet can do the work of a farm hand – what more could a woman want?

Life in the Past Lane by Kathy Love (4 Stars)

Rocco Vincente is returning to the hometown he never wanted to revisit for a writing assignment he does not want to complete. A famous columnist, his editor thinks it would be good for the single writer to show his past and give himself some depth. When he gets to the bed and breakfast that will be his home for the next two nights he finds a high school friend Franny Arsenault that he had forgotten.

Franny is a great heroine who has never gotten over the bad boy from high school that caught her eye, yet was unattainable. While she is slightly star struck by the hometown hero who made his past as an orphan a stepping stone to success, she remembers the boy he was, and wants to find out if the same qualities are there in the man she hopes he is. When he goes home, she is heartbroken, but his return to her B&B gives both of them hope of a future together.

THE PROMISE OF LOVE was a great summer vacation read. Light hearted and yet emotionally satisfying each of these six stories made me smile and want more. I would have loved a more indepth look into the lives of all of the characters involved. As a reader I am not a fan of novellas, they always leave me wanting more, but this did not disappoint me. Each of these stories would be great fleshed out into a full length book, and I hope at least one of these talented woman take their story and let it grow.

This is an objective review and not an endorsement of this book.

ALLURING TALES: HOT HOLIDAY NIGHTS, By Vivi Anna, Sylvia Day, Delilah Devlin, Cathryn Fox, Myla Jackson, Lisa Renee Jones & Sasha White

Publisher: Avon Red
Date published: November 2008
ISBN: 978-0-06-146317-4
Erotic tales
Trade Paperback
Reviewed by Pam
Obtained from publisher




PEACHES AND CREAM by Cathryn Fox
Jennifer Angel is a smart girl, one who doesn’t let a prime opportunity pass, especially when she has a chance to live out her sexual fantasies with a more than willing blind date. With a snappy wit and lively personality, she manages to be both funny and ultra-hot. As a bartender at Risque, a members-only erotic club, Jennifer has been left with fantasies which she hasn't indulged in yet. Set up on a blind date by her best friend, Cat, she Googles her unsuspecting date, then Googles herself and discovers she shares her working name with a stripper called Peaches. Dare she? After all, Jack has no idea she isn't really Peaches.

Fantasy is the name of the game with this sinfully wicked story. Can Jack make her fantasies a reality and will it be more than one night of pleasure? When the twosome becomes a threesome will the magic between them grow or wither when their secrets are revealed. PEACHES AND CREAM is a little about hope and also envy of those who have made a connection, in a kind of wistful way. The reader is taken on a visual, and delightfully different sexual experience from the characters very first meeting. This is a story filled with three people’s fantasies and a connection none had expected as their fantasies come alive.

INDECENT EXPOSURE by Delilah DevlinHarmony Wilkins has had a crush on Dalton McDonough, back when he was the hottest guy in high school. No matter what she did to catch his attention, nothing seemed to work. Harmony moved away, but now twelve years later she’s back and doing up her mother’s house. Her old bold habits don’t seem to have died. This time however, her sexual fantasy seems to be meeting with success in more ways than she’d hoped for.

INDECENT EXPOSURE deals with first love and the aftermath. Not many of us forget the high school crush, but would it really feel the same if we met up with the person again? In this story we get to see and feel what might have been. You can live the fantasy along with the story's heroine, Harmony. The vicarious thrill is satisfying in some ways, as the story digs deep and we may find, sometimes love needs us to be in the right place and at the right time to blossom.

FORBIDDEN FRUIT by Lisa Renee JonesLaura Cameron has a problem. She's always been in love with her brother's best friend, Blake Alexander. It was easier to ignore it when he was out of town, and serving with the Army. Now he’s back for good, and she's not sure she can hide the feelings any longer, no matter how much her brother might frown on the pairing. Laura and Blake have known each other for years giving them a head start on the relationship, friendship part. What they’ve never done was to consummated the attraction

FORBIDDEN FRUIT is a lovely romance, the lead characters have long loved each other but for their own reasons never admitted it. This was the most realistic tale in this anthology... Taking place over a few days, rather than just one, made it more enjoyable. There is a lot of momentum packed into a few pages, while not sacrificing the story or the relationship happening. The reader can feel the love flowing between these characters and know there will be a happy ending...

WISH UPON A STAR by Sasha WhiteMistress Sarah is a professional Dominatrix and rarely without male companionship, but the encounters are fleeting and meaningless in the grand scheme of her life. She gives the men what they need, leaving herself empty. While wishing on a falling star a six-and-a-half foot hunk arrives in front of her. Commander Nealon Graves, is not what she expected, but everything she ever wanted, promising a romance that is truly out of this world. Nealon isn't sure what his mission on earth is at first, but once he sees Sarah with her submissive client, he recognizes his soul mate immediately.

This author of BDSM romances seems to know how far to go before it destroys the fantasy. In WISH UPON A STAR, we witness a professional Dominatrix at work, along with her soul mate as he plays voyeur to one of her sessions. The beauty of this is that Nealon isn't a submissive, he simply desires a woman who can match his own strength, meeting him as an equal both in and out of the bedroom. The romantic connection between the warrior and Mistress Sarah was well done and believable, as the world of pain they come from was established. If you’re into hot sex and pain this is an ideal read.

BILLBOARD BABE by Myla JacksonA.J. finds it hard working every day with a man she's secretly fallen in love with, especially when he doesn't see her as a woman, only a co-worker. When the boss gives A.J and Daniel the task of coming up with an attention-getting campaign, she undergoes a makeover to pose for a traffic-stopping billboard, which is positioned in full view of Daniel's window. Sure she has his attention, she wears the clothes from the billboard plus a mask and experiences, a passionate night with the man of her dreams. But will one taste be enough?

After reading BILLBOARD BABE, I have to say the author writes a good contemporary romance. I liked the leading lady as she makes changes in her life instead of moping around for Daniel. A.J. does the vivacious sexpot scene well, but will years of being a wallflower make it difficult for her to break out of the plain Jane persona permanently. Lucky for her, Daniel is the kind of guy who is more than willing to meet the woman he admires and loves halfway. An interesting and enjoyable tale of an office romance.

THAT OLD BLACK MAGIC by Sylvia DayMax and Victoria mean more to each other than anything or anyone else. Max has vowed not only to protect Victoria, but also to take revenge on The Triumvirate, the trio of evil brothers who were responsible for her first master's untimely demise. They also face threats from the Council who also wish them both dead along with The Source of All Evil, a group who destroy everything good. To survive, Max and his familiar Victoria must combine their power and hope it will be enough to overcome evil.

THAT OLD BLACK MAGIC, continues the story of Max and Victoria which began in ALLURING TALES, VOLUME 1. Max has collared the beautiful familiar, Victoria and succeeded in taming the feline fatale. They have found true love in the process and are now in hiding. The odds of surviving the battle which will come soon, are definitely against Max and Victoria. They battle their foes together with the power of love on their side, as each is willing to sacrifice everything to save the other one. With a love as deep as theirs, they simply can't lose.

SILVER WATERS by Vivi AnnaSangria had a mission to transport a mysterious cargo, one that turned out to be an abused and unwilling Vance. A year after their escape from the nefarious First Lady Maxine Madison, Sangria and Vance have begun to believe they are safe in their Caribbean paradise. Their idyllic existence is shattered when Maxine's goon catches up with them and they are back in her diabolical clutches with only their wits to save them.

The author has written a fantasy tale with a difference, with an evil woman and a hunter to add fear and interest into the mix. I found SILVER WATERS was an odd title as it didn’t seem to fit this tale. The main characters find safety and some time for hot sex, but they are soon under siege again... This leads to yet more save the day rescuing by the cunning heroine Sangria. The ending was a little strange but it comes together leaving the reader wondering if there’s another adventure to come.




THIS IS NOT AN ENDORSEMENT OF THIS BOOK. THIS IS AN OBJECTIVE UNBIASED REVIEW

HEAT OF THE NIGHT: Dream Guardians, Book 2 by Sylvia Day

Publisher Avon Red
Date published January 2008
ISBN 978-0-06-123103-2
Paranormal Erotic Romance
Mass Market Paperback
Reviewed by Dawn





He is as wicked as the night, comes to you in dreams and a consummate bad boy to the bone. Connor Bruce brings ultimate pleasure in the deepest part of the night and he uses that sexual energy to fuel himself. Now violence and strife is happening in both his and our world and it is up to Connor to go on his quest to our realm and find the one woman who will help him defeat the evil he is stalking and for her to succumb to the power of his sizzling touch that promises ultimate ecstasy.

HEAT OF THE NIGHT is the second book in Ms. Days series and she definitely keeps things HOT! This reviewer was ready to jump in a cold shower or jump her significant other for relief from the rising temperatures that Ms. Day is known for. This is the first book this reviewer has read of Ms. Day and I was not disappointed at all. She is consummate enchantress as she weaves a spell around you with her words and then hits you in the solar plexus with her hot, sinful alpha male heroes. Add in a mystery evil that is causing havoc in two worlds, you got the makings of one intriguing story that will wrap you up and spit you out once the last page is read.

HEAT OF THE NIGHT is truly a pleasure to read, though I warn you to keep some ice on hand or your significant other as you find that this is one H.O.T. story to read. Can Connor find a way to stop the dark foe that is causing such havoc in two worlds? This reviewer is running to grab the first book, Pleasures of the Night and see how it all began. So if you like hot, sexy heroes, women who go toe to toe with them and a dark foe that is bent on destruction, then grab HEAT OF THE NIGHT and get ready…..the temperatures rising!

DON’T TEMPT ME by Sylvia Day

Publisher Kensington Brava
Date published April 2008
ISBN 978-0758217639
Historical Erotic Romance
Trade paperback
Reviewed by Danny



Simon Quinn made his way up the social ladder with his fist and his charm, something that recommends him for an undercover agent. Now he is tired of his spy life and his last mission is to trade the French Spy Lysette Rosseau for his man. Before he can complete his mission, his superiors want him to observe Lysette and to discover her secrets. He discovers a completely other woman, a woman who is sweet and intriguing and not cold and dangerous as he remembered. How could this be?

Ms. Day’s readers met Simon Quinn for the first time in her book PASSION FOR THE GAME. Already there he was an intriguing character who was just begging for his own story and finally he got it.

Ms. Day wrote a fascinating and sometimes surprising story, because you never know which turn the plot takes when you turn the page. The budding feelings between the hero and heroine are really cute to watch, especially with Simon’s confusion.

DON’T TEMPT ME is not only a good historical romance, but with several subplots also a captivating thriller. Ms. Day combines the subplot very well with the growing romance between hero and heroine. Via the subplot the readers get some good glimpses into the life of the other characters.

DON’T TEMPT ME is the latest book of Ms. Day’s Georgian series, but it can be read as a stand-alone without any problems.

This story is a book for fans of hot erotic historical romances, so hurry and get your copy today.