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Pandora, a Were-Panthress out of time and in urgent need of help, comes to a science fiction convention seeking the aid of Acheron in the first story, “Winter Born” by Sherrilyn Kenyon. Instead she finds herself the object of intense focus and attention by some male Were-Panthers, particularly Dante Pontis. Bitter experience tells her Dante is her worst nightmare but all her feminine instincts scream that he’s her dream lover. Passion sizzles while danger is not far behind.
Brief yet succulent, this short story provides Kenyon fans with an intensely satisfying and sustaining stopgap between doses of her famous paranormal Were and Dark-Hunter series books. Vibrant, powerful characters and some very passionate as well as action-packed scenes get this paranormal anthology off to a kick-ass start.
“Born of the Night” has author Amanda Ashley sucking the readers deep into a dark historical story wherein Lord Reyes captures his bitter foe’s beautiful daughter Lady Shanara and holds her as hostage. But Reyes is cursed and while initially petrified, Shanara soon comes to terms with his werewolf transformations. Soon the two of them fall captive to love – will this break the curse or will they be consumed by it?
Ashley delivers this mysterious tale with her usual finesse despite this being her first foray into the world of werewolves. The story combines history, mystery and paranormal elements with those of romance and passion, thus rendering this tale a highly entertaining read.
L. A. Banks’ “Make it Last Forever” has the undead chasing a beautiful, wise young woman and her unexpected savior as they race to safety. During a journey fraught with peril and gradual realization, they fall in love even as passion consumes them. Even as Tara struggles to resist the dark fate that awaits her, Jake comes to realize the future that awaits them both. Who will win this battle between love and fate?
Even in short story format, this is one seriously spooky and suspenseful tale and one that will surely captivate the readers even as it scares them out of their wits. The questing characters, the tense atmosphere and roiling emotions, all are combined beautifully to make this a memorable tale indeed.
In “Red Moon Rising”, Lori Handeland enthralls readers with the story of Maya Alexander, a mystery author who finds herself the object of sinister attention of a Navaho skin-walker who can shape shift into a wolf even as the moon rises red in the sky. Clay Phillips, a Jäger-Sucher comes to her aid and together they try to uncover the whole mystery even as they dodge death time after time. Their growing feelings add more drama and further complicates an already rapidly deteriorating situation.
Handeland also offers her fans brief succor with this tale which is an episode in her acclaimed Jäger-Sucher series. Fast-moving, very visual, rich in emotions and with unforgettable characters, this story is a befitting culmination to this entire book and more than exemplifies the spirit of this anthology.
****
Each and every story in this book is well-plotted, well-written and overall immeasurably captivating. These acclaimed authors more than prove their worth even in the brief pages allotted to each of their respective stories. To put it very simply put – this hair-raising stellar anthology just begs to read on a comfy couch, a hot cup of coffee at hand and most importantly, plenty of daylight!
Reviewed by Rashmi Srinivas
for The Road to Romance
November 10, 2004
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