• Kelley Armstrong • P.N. Elrod • Katie MacAlister • Jim Butcher • Caitlin Kittredge • Lilith Saintcrow • Rachel Caine • Marjorie M. Liu • Ronda Thompson •  

Nine authors have come together in this fantastic anthology. This book has something for all paranormal romance lovers, even if you are not familiar with all the authors. Though some stories have characters from previously published books, they can easily stand alone. Like all anthologies, some stories are better than others. In this book, these authors have really put there best foot forward. 

Stalked – On their honeymoon, two werewolves learned they were being stalked. Instead of being put off, they turned the tables on their hunter to make their honeymoon the ultimate adventure. Smooth writing, wonderful characters and fabulous fight scenes really make this story jump out of the pack. 

Heorot – When a wife disappeared from her honeymoon, Harry Dresden was called in to investigate. Usually this is a matter for the police, but when trails of magic led to something not quite human, Harry knew he was the right man for the job. If you are a Dresden fan, this is a wonderful addition to the series. If not, this short story’s a great introduction to Harry’s dry wit and the Dresden Files series. 

Roman Holiday, or SPO –arrrrrr – The last thing this couple expected on their honeymoon was a mutiny but being married to a real live pirate, you have to expect those type of things. But when their past caught up with them, they must risk war on the high seas to save their marriage. The book starts slow but well worth the wait. I liked the hero, the action and the overall story.  

Her Mother’s Daughter – When a husband disappeared at the reception, the bride immediately hired a PI to investigate. But when you mix a vampire PI, the mob, their goons and one persistent woman, things became interesting fast. This story captured the 1930’s exactly as I imagined it. The characters really brought the world to life. 

Newlydeads – Two friends pretend to be on honeymoon to get a discount for the room, but things take on a darker, magical edge when newlyweds started disappearing. They must learn the truth before they became the next victims. Although this unique story easily captured my imagination, it took the whole story for me to connect to the characters and setting. 

Where the Heart Lives – A young woman left home for a new job. Everything was perfect except for the dark and menacing woods surrounding the property. When she entered the forest, the thin line between supernatural and the mortal world became blurred. The story is really interesting, but the characters lives were too glossed over for me to get a feel for them. It read more like a story instead of a glimpse into their lives.  

Cat Got Your Tongue – When you honeymoon at a haunted castle, you can expect bumps in the night. But no one said anything about breaking curses and freeing ghosts. This story is very fun-loving and carefree. The great characters and a wonderful setting is icing on the cake. 

Half of Being Married –When you find your wife missing in the middle of the night, the last thing you expect was to find her killing a vampire. Saving her life by supernatural means was not exactly the way you wanted to reveal to her that you were a werewolf. This story has a strong mystery interwoven in the romance. Although I didn’t fall in love with this story, I enjoyed it.  

A Wolf in Groom’s Clothing – Love led two people into marriage, but neither was quit truthful with each about their past. When the secrets were revealed and lies exposed, they must face supernatural elements to save their marriage. Although I liked the writing, the story felt too short to pull me into the characters lives. I enjoyed the story, but not as much as I had hoped.

February 21, 2008