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kathydavie's review
4.0
An anthology of four short, hot blooded, and erotic stories.
In 2004, it received the Hughey Award for Best Anthology as well as the P.E.A.R.L. for Best Anthology.
The Series
"Dark Hunger" (Dark, 11.5 in my chronology; 14 per Goodreads chronology)
"Night Owl" (Midnight, 4)
"Seduction's Gift" (Mageverse, 0.5)
The Stories
Christine Feehan's "Dark Hunger" finds Riordan De La Cruz the captive of a master vampire and his minions, subject to their experimentations with a paralyzing injection in a South American laboratory.
This short story is a dip into a Carpathian life and brings together the Carpathians with the jaguar shifters, notably Juliette Sangria, her sister Jasmine, and her cousin Solange.
Maggie Shayne's "Awaiting Moonrise" is a nice bit of rather forward romance. A complete story with a full range of emotions from betrayal to fear to the joy of discovery to the hot blood of an erotic romance. It was interesting to read about the herbs used in the magic recipes and how their scientific properties contribute to the magic.
Emma Holly's "Night Owl" is quite yummy with Holly's descriptions of Mariann's baked goods, her own breakfasts (!), and the Luce "brothers" next door who are fixing up the Night Owl Inn. It's also funny in how accepting a town can be of eccentricity when it comes with money. Its sweetness comes from Mariann's cooking, but also from Bastien's shyness. He's so in love and so timid about pursuing it.
I do find Holly's Midnight series to be rather frustrating for my OCD self, as it tends to be a loose collection of stories about different upyr groups from a range of historical periods. The primary connection is that they're all upyr, vampires. They also seem to connect back, eventually, to another character, but don't plan on any future readings about a character you have enjoyed in the past.
Angela Knight's "Seduction's Gift" is a prelude to Knight's Mageverse series that provides a twist on King Arthur and his knights of the Round Table. Quite an erotic twist *she says as she fans her hot-blooded cheeks*. Knight does a good job of introducing the whole concept of her Magi and Maja and their purpose in this short story. It also provides the background for their version of our universe.
I do love that Grace blows Lancelot off at the start, lol. She may love the boy, but there ain't gonna be no insta-love here, *more laughter*, not after what Grace has experienced. And Morgana has a scary threat which Lance slowly reveals to us in all its nasty detail. Creates a good conflict. Very nicely done.
The Cover and Title
The cover is abstract until you can focus in on the sweep of a woman's blood-red varnished nails as she sweeps the dark fall of hair away, baring her neck for some Hot Blooded antics.
In 2004, it received the Hughey Award for Best Anthology as well as the P.E.A.R.L. for Best Anthology.
The Series
"Dark Hunger" (Dark, 11.5 in my chronology; 14 per Goodreads chronology)
"Night Owl" (Midnight, 4)
"Seduction's Gift" (Mageverse, 0.5)
The Stories
Christine Feehan's "Dark Hunger" finds Riordan De La Cruz the captive of a master vampire and his minions, subject to their experimentations with a paralyzing injection in a South American laboratory.
This short story is a dip into a Carpathian life and brings together the Carpathians with the jaguar shifters, notably Juliette Sangria, her sister Jasmine, and her cousin Solange.
Maggie Shayne's "Awaiting Moonrise" is a nice bit of rather forward romance. A complete story with a full range of emotions from betrayal to fear to the joy of discovery to the hot blood of an erotic romance. It was interesting to read about the herbs used in the magic recipes and how their scientific properties contribute to the magic.
Emma Holly's "Night Owl" is quite yummy with Holly's descriptions of Mariann's baked goods, her own breakfasts (!), and the Luce "brothers" next door who are fixing up the Night Owl Inn. It's also funny in how accepting a town can be of eccentricity when it comes with money. Its sweetness comes from Mariann's cooking, but also from Bastien's shyness. He's so in love and so timid about pursuing it.
I do find Holly's Midnight series to be rather frustrating for my OCD self, as it tends to be a loose collection of stories about different upyr groups from a range of historical periods. The primary connection is that they're all upyr, vampires. They also seem to connect back, eventually, to another character, but don't plan on any future readings about a character you have enjoyed in the past.
Angela Knight's "Seduction's Gift" is a prelude to Knight's Mageverse series that provides a twist on King Arthur and his knights of the Round Table. Quite an erotic twist *she says as she fans her hot-blooded cheeks*. Knight does a good job of introducing the whole concept of her Magi and Maja and their purpose in this short story. It also provides the background for their version of our universe.
I do love that Grace blows Lancelot off at the start, lol. She may love the boy, but there ain't gonna be no insta-love here, *more laughter*, not after what Grace has experienced. And Morgana has a scary threat which Lance slowly reveals to us in all its nasty detail. Creates a good conflict. Very nicely done.
The Cover and Title
The cover is abstract until you can focus in on the sweep of a woman's blood-red varnished nails as she sweeps the dark fall of hair away, baring her neck for some Hot Blooded antics.
sjb86's review
5.0
Absolutely amazing. My favourite is maggie shayne. Great short story's from all writer involved. Loved it
jkfugitt's review
4.0
I actually enjoyed this collection of novellas. Christine Feehan's "Dark Hunger" was okay, as usual, but I was pleasantly surprised with the rest of the stories. I adored the last one by Angela Knight, where she wove in the mythology of King Arthur's court with vampires and witches. Of the grouping here, the last was definitely my favorite. The second to last novella was by Emma Holly, and thought it was a great story as well.
I am coming to enjoy these types of novels if for the simple reason that it allows me to test out new authors with shorter stories mixed with those that I know for certain I will like.
A good book for paranormal romance enthusiasts, despite the hot pink cover. I so do not like pink. XD
I am coming to enjoy these types of novels if for the simple reason that it allows me to test out new authors with shorter stories mixed with those that I know for certain I will like.
A good book for paranormal romance enthusiasts, despite the hot pink cover. I so do not like pink. XD
geleeregina's review
3.0
I orginally picked this book up for the Angela Knight short story, but enjoyed the Christine Feehan one as well. The other 2 stories were 'meh', which lead me to give it only 3/5 stars.
The Feehan story is part of her Carpathian series, and is one that I've not read before. I vaguely remember reading one or two of the first of the series, so this short story was a pleasant refresher that urges me to go back to the beginning and start over with #1.
The Angela Knight story was HOT!. It was a nice change to a Vampire theme, one where Vampires help to create mages using their powers of "romance". I was torn between shaking some sense into Grace and give Lance a chance, and slapping Morganna for being an unfeeling witch. The love scenes are great and I have to find book 2 in the Mageverse now!
The Feehan story is part of her Carpathian series, and is one that I've not read before. I vaguely remember reading one or two of the first of the series, so this short story was a pleasant refresher that urges me to go back to the beginning and start over with #1.
The Angela Knight story was HOT!. It was a nice change to a Vampire theme, one where Vampires help to create mages using their powers of "romance". I was torn between shaking some sense into Grace and give Lance a chance, and slapping Morganna for being an unfeeling witch. The love scenes are great and I have to find book 2 in the Mageverse now!
nicolet2018's review
4.0
I got this anthology as I wanted to read Christine Feehan's story, Dark Hunger. This one is about lifemates Juliette and Riordan.
Overall, I can't help but say I loved the first two stories however the next two were meh-ish.
Overall, I can't help but say I loved the first two stories however the next two were meh-ish.
lpcoolgirl's review
5.0
4 really great novellas, ones that I enjoyed, and I need to read other stories in their worlds because they were fantastic!!!
laurla's review
"dark hunger" by christine feehan. carpathian novel. In a dark jungle, a beautiful activist liberates animals from a secret laboratory -- and stumbles across an unexpected prisoner. She releases the Carpathian from his bonds--only to unleash his voracious appetite on herself. awaiting
"moonrise" by maggie shayne. A science professor enters the steamy bayou to find a new species of animal, convinced that its presence is behind the stories of lycanthropy in the region, but finds herself tempted by a legendary creature straight out of her most sensual nightmare.
"the night owl" by emma holly. upyr #4. Little ever seems to stir in the sleepy woods of a small Vermont town, until a new owner takes over the exclusive local inn. He is centuries old and has traveled far and wide to find his queen -- and now nothing will stop him from claiming her.
"seduction's gift" by angela knight. mageverse #1. All's fair in the war between desire and resistance when a lady cop pulls over a speeder -- and finds an immortal lover who is determined to seduce her into accepting her own passionate destiny.
"moonrise" by maggie shayne. A science professor enters the steamy bayou to find a new species of animal, convinced that its presence is behind the stories of lycanthropy in the region, but finds herself tempted by a legendary creature straight out of her most sensual nightmare.
"the night owl" by emma holly. upyr #4. Little ever seems to stir in the sleepy woods of a small Vermont town, until a new owner takes over the exclusive local inn. He is centuries old and has traveled far and wide to find his queen -- and now nothing will stop him from claiming her.
"seduction's gift" by angela knight. mageverse #1. All's fair in the war between desire and resistance when a lady cop pulls over a speeder -- and finds an immortal lover who is determined to seduce her into accepting her own passionate destiny.