Shadow of the Dragon: Dragon's Kiss (Book 1)

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Lorran has studied dragons for years, hoping to find a way for the wild creatures and humans to live in peace. She knows better than most the devastation caused by a dragon bite. And when Kei the Dragonslayer appears on her doorstep, torn and bleeding, she knows he has only weeks to live. Kei has been a dragon slayer all his life, but when he becomes the victim of a dragon bite, he turns to Lorran, the only woman who might be able to save him from sure death. As the dragon venom flows through his body, the desire and need for Lorran's touch fill his every thought. Though he doesn't understand it, he knows - Lorran belongs to him. As his desires grow stronger and wilder than ever before, it seems only Lorran can ease the powerful sexual urges created by the dragon's kiss.

Customer Reviews:

Entirely Wonderful Series by a Talented Writer.......2007-06-21

Tielle St. Clare is one of Ellora's Cave most talented writers. She undertstands how to tapped into not just the erotic fantasy of beauty and the beast, but also expands the psychology of the dragon/maiden mythology in itself. The characters are endearing and funny;her dialogue is humorous and perceptive. If you love dragons, knights, maidens, true love, and romance with erotica, then you will love this book. I highly recommend buying the entire series.

Four !! Hot !! Stars.......2007-03-25

Dragon's Kiss made me want to touch myself on more than one occasion. Even though the plot was simple, the book was highly enjoyable. This is a nice, quick read for anyone who does not have much time on their hands (as it is a novella). I dislike the fact that this book is so pricey, being so short in length (as compared to J. R. Ward, whose books are novel length and less-expensive). However, the erotica was great!!

This book is ,HOT,HOT,HOT!!!!!!!!.......2006-11-04

After reading this the first in the series,I had to read all three!Great plot,strong character's ,this auther is a wounderful story teller,who has mastered romantica...hot sex...hot guy...and a woman stronge enough to love both man and dragon,a must read.

Wonderful begining..........2006-04-20

This was my first book by Tielle St. Clare, and let me tell you that I will be buying the rest of the series.

Lorran, was what town people called a dragon's whore, all because she studied dragons to find a way to cure them.
And who does one become a dragon might you ask, easy, just a bite will do.
Lorran has seen what a dragons bite can do, for she saw what it did to her husband.
In the dead of night, a soldier came knocking at her door with another wounded man. That man was known as the dragonslayer.

Kei, dragonslayer and king to his people, was bitten trying to slay a dragon. His brother brought him to the only place he knew of that mihgt be able to help him and that was to Lorrens.

Lorren is facinated with her wounded soldier because she can study him while he goes through the change, but Kei doesn't want to be studied, so they make a deal. Lorren can study him if he can have all the sex he wants.

Kei has a major problem that he can't control, he wants Lorren and he wants her bad. Ok, that doesn't sound so bad, but, it is, because he's in a constant state of arousal, even after he's had her.

What is it about Lorren that has him like this? Why after haveing made love can't he get her out of his system? And why is the dragon demanding that he make her his mate?

I really enjoyed this book. It is definatley going on my keeper shelf.

Good, erotic read.......2005-12-05

I am a big fan of Ellora's Cave books, and this is one of my favorites. I prefer historical/medieval or fantasy romantica (blend of erotica and romance for those new to Ellora's Cave), and this one was right up my alley.

Kei, the heir to the throne, is wounded by a dragon, and it is only a matter of time before he turns into a dragon himself. Kei's brother Riker spirits him away in secret to Lorran's house. Lorran has dedicated herself to studying dragons, and Riker brings Kei to her in hopes that she can cure Kei. For 3 days, Lorran watches over Kei in his fevered sleep, and when Kei wakes, the sparks fly. However, the lovers must race against the clock to try and find a cure for Kei. There are a lot of interesting twists and turns before the end.

I've read many romantica books and often, the characters' emotions or development seemed shallow, cheesy, or cliche. What drew me to the book was the sincerity of the characters' emotions: Lorran's insecurity, Kei's protectiveness, etc.

Definitely a recommended read.

A Kiss of Shadows (Meredith Gentry Novels)

Average customer rating:

Not Free SF Reader
Could've been a lot better...
Princess Meredith gets lucky...often!
Not impressed....and a ripoff of another book....
The Princess Returns

A Kiss of Shadows (Meredith Gentry Novels)
Laurell K. Hamilton
Manufacturer: Ballantine Books
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Mass Market Paperback

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ASIN: 0345423402
Release Date: 2002-02-26

Amazon.com

Laurell K. Hamilton revitalized vampires, werewolves, and zombies in the popular Anita Blake: Vampire Hunter books. In this new series, she updates faeries. A Kiss of Shadows introduces Merry Gentry, a.k.a. Meredith NicEssus, a faerie princess of the Unseelie Court, where politics is a blood sport. Merry, who's part sidhe (elvish), part brownie, and part human, never really fit in. She's short, not skilled in offensive magic, and mortal because of her human blood. These are real liabilities when your family, especially aunt Andais, Queen of Air and Darkness, is out to kill you. Merry has been in hiding for three years, living in Los Angeles and working for the Grey Detective Agency, which specializes in "supernatural problems, magical solutions." A new case sets her against a man who uses forbidden magic to seduce fey women and drain their power. A plan to trap him goes awry and Merry's cover is blown. Now Andais knows where she is. But things have changed in Andais's court, and Merry is changing too.

Despite the selkies, brownies, goblins, and ogres in this book, it's not for children. The fey are "creatures of the senses"--and in the Unseelie court, sex and pain go together. Merry is sexually adventurous and surrounded by gorgeous, powerful males, most of whom want her badly. She's politically savvy and no coward, though she's not the warrior Anita is. Hamilton fans and readers of adult fairy tales like Anne Bishop's Black Jewels trilogy will want to give Merry a look. --Nona Vero

Book Description

“My name is Meredith Gentry, but of course it’s not my real name. I dare not even whisper my true name after dark for fear that one hushed word will travel over the night winds to the soft ear of my aunt, the Queen of the Air and Darkness. She wants me dead. I don’t even know why.”

Meredith Gentry, Princess of the high court of Faerie, is posing as a human in Los Angeles, living as a P.I. specializing in supernatural crime. But now the Queen’s assassin has been dispatched to fetch her back–whether she likes it or not. Suddenly Meredith finds herself a pawn in her dreaded aunt’s plans. The job that awaits her: enjoy the constant company of the most beautiful immortal men in the world. The reward: the crown–and the opportunity to continue to live. The penalty for failure: death.

Download Description

All it would take was my true name being mentioned after dark, and it would float back to my aunt. She was the Queen of Air and Darkness, and that meant that anything said in the dark was hers to hear, eventually. The fact that spotting the missing Elven American Princess had become more popular than spotting Elvis helped. Her magic was always chasing blind leads. Princess Meredith skiing in Utah. Princess Meredith dancing in Paris. Princess Meredith gambling in Vegas. After three years I was still a front-page story for the tabloids, though the latest headlines had been speculating that I was dead as the King of Rock and Roll . . . Three years ago, Princess Meredith fled the court of her cruel Aunt Andais, the Queen of Air and Darkness, leaving that garden of decadent delights and backstabbing intrigues for the comparative calm of Los Angeles. Using her magic to pass for human, Meredith began a new life as a private investigator specializing in supernatural crime. But now Doyle, the Queen's chief bodyguard and assassin, has been dispatched to fetch her back--whether she likes it or not. The product of a marriage designed to cement peace between the rival Seelie and Unseelie courts, Meredith has always been scorned by both factions in spite of her royal blood. But that blood is behind the Unseelie Queen's surprisingly urgent summons. For ever since the fey's exile from Europe to America, their power and purity have been fading. Desperate to renew her race, Queen Andais now pins her hopes on a contest between Meredith and her own son, the sadistic Prince Cel. The first to produce a child will win the throne. The loser's reward will be death . . .

Customer Reviews:

Not Free SF Reader.......2007-09-03

Meredith Gentry is a faerie princess. Not the disneyfied children's version either. This one lives in Los Angeles, and much like Angel, is a private investigator of sorts, and looks into problems associated with the supernatural world a lot of the time.

She is also involved with the politics of the faerie realm, and this is why she is hiding out. She gets discovered, and has to fight back against the relatives that want to bump her off.

Could've been a lot better..........2007-09-03

I'm new to LKH. Read all of the Anita Blakes I could and stomached the ones I couldn't to the best of my ability while letting go of the books then picking them back up to try again. They get sooooooo dull, I swear. Couldn't even finish the lastest one because all they did was sat in a tomb or room and talk about getting a tiger and all this other stupid uninteresting stuff with swarms of animals running in and out the door. Sometimes I just skip chapters all the way. Then I decided to try lil' Merry out just to see what could be happening in her corner...

Which ended up being...

Nothing.

Don't get me wrong. I thought this book was GREAT! - In the beginning. I was having a great time reading about Merry on the run! Nothing was better than her hiding out in the van, jumping through the van while she's on the run, her being chased and those witches coming down on her, her sorting wards on the bathroom door to keep her enemies at bay. Guys! Was I the ONLY one having fun during those parts until it got DULL. I was so steamed. Why couldn't the first book BE about Merry on the run using her powers to stop her foes THEN toward the end her next book be about the point of this book? Man, all the fun was sucked out and all I remember reading about after that was descriptions, descriptions, descriptions.

I got soooooooo sick of Merry describing how some guy's different colored hair "spilled" over his shoulders. Why does EVERYBODY have to have LONG hair farie or not? Get a personality, ya know. I got so tired of her describing EYES over and over again and chest, and thighs, breast, legs, the whole BUCKET of chicken! I was wondering when she was gonna FIGHT something and about time the end came when she was attacked I didn't even care anymore, I lost touch with the girl from the beginning, all alone, hiding, who was trying to stay alive. Hell, Frost and whatnot were there anyway.

What happened! Where was the power? Where was Merry on the run using wit to divert her foes. And am I the ONLY one who thought Roane was the more interesting males than any of the guys in this book. When she encountered him I was actually drawn to the page, then all these other people were just flat. Personally, I didn't care about anybody else. They didn't sick out to me like Roane. Nor did they stick out to me like Jeremy and Ringo and everyone else at the agency. All the other characters are just THERE, seriously, except the Queen (I do love the Queen). Even Cel was dull to me, there just wasn't enough of him. I expected Sholto (SP) to be Cel at first, guess not.

Merry visiting her Grandmother, short and sweet when it could've been fulfilling and made things interesting. Merry got all her men and she's ready to go. Guess she's not exactly fertile with the sixth book coming out this year. I really don't think I can stick around if this is it. It's like I liked her at the very beginning of this book and about time the end came I was like "well, she got her men, no need in me sticking around, they can handle it".

Someone! Please give me a reason to keep reading this series! Please!

Princess Meredith gets lucky...often!.......2007-08-23

A Kiss of Shadows is the first in a new series by Laurell K. Hamilton of Anita Blake fame. Like the Anita Blake books, it takes place in a modern-day USA where magic is real and everybody knows it. Instead of focusing on vampires, the supernatural community in this series is Faerie - magical, beautiful, immortal beings who are headquartered in St. Louis (for reasons that are not completely clear other than that Hamilton lives there). Our hero Merry Gentry is a mixed-heritage Faerie princess who is on the run from her people. She's working in a magical detective agency in LA. I'm a big Dresden Files fan, so I thought I would give this new series a try.

But once Hamilton sets the scene in LA, the action is moves to the Faerie Court and centers on Merry (Princess Meredith NicEssus)and her stepchild relationship with the court and her aunt, Queen Andais of the Unseelie. Without spoilers, Princess Meredith comes into her magic through sex. Apparently faeries are very sensual beings, and Merry has many opportunities to explore various aspects of faerie sensuality and the different forms that faeries take. A Kiss of Shadows has lots of hot scenes.

If you enjoy supernatural romance and adventure, but are a little put off by bloodsucking, you will enjoy this new series.

Not impressed....and a ripoff of another book...........2007-08-07

This was a boring, boring book. Did not engage me at all, didn't keep my interest. In addition, it is written in the 1st person, which I loathe.

It also reminded me that this series is a ripoff of the Highlander Series by Karen Marie Moning. Yes there is a subtle twist in the fact that the story focuses on the female fae (so not a COMPLETE ripoff) but still not impressed. The original idea for the book came from another author. That's pathetic.

I've been looking for a great book for a long time, and I keep being disappointed. I guess anyone can publish a book now-a-days.

The Princess Returns.......2007-06-07

A Kiss of Shadows (2000) is the first fantasy novel of the Meredith Gentry series. Merry Gentry is the alias of Meredith NicEssus -- the mortal daughter of Prince Essus -- and the niece of Andais, Queen of Air and Darkness. Three year ago, Princess Meredith had run from the Unseleighe Court because she knew that her cousin Cel wanted her dead and his minions would keep challenging her until she died in a duel.

In this novel, Merry is an agent of the Grey Detective agency. While she is only partially sidhe, her talents are much greater than most humans. Jeremy Grey -- owner of the agency -- has a great deal of faith in her mystical abilities and asks her to listen to two women who would like to become their clients.

The agency does not do divorce work, but Jeremy is reconsidering for this particular case. The wife, Frances Norton, is carrying a nasty death spell put on her by her husband. The mistress, Naomi Phelps, is part fey, but untrained in magic. The husband has taken Polaroid shots of his mistresses and shown them to his wife. When Frances sees Naomi is a restaurant, she introduces herself and the two have become close friends due to their common victimization.

Merry is not able to refuse the two victims and becomes a decoy to ensnare Alistair Norton in the use of magic to seduce women. All goes well until Merry finds herself falling in lust for Alistair. Yet she retains enough clarity to recognize that the oil being smeared on her is Branwyn's Tears, a magical substance that bestows sidhe-like powers and lusts on humans.

Merry escapes from the trap, but Alistair becomes very dead. However, her true identity has become known to the police. They are hesitant to believe her about the Branwyn's Tears until several of them become enflamed with lust after the oil touches their bodies. Although Merry is released and smuggled out of the building, Queen Andais now knows where she is and sends for her.

In this story, Merry returns to the Unseleighe Court with trepidation and distrust. After all, someone has sent the Slaugh out to kill her and she is attacked two more times on the way to the court. OF course, Cel is definitely out to kill her and thinks that his favored position will protect him from his mother the Queen. Yet Merry has other enemies besides Cel and his toadies.

The attacks have one good effect: she has come into her powers. She has the Hand of Flesh and is welcomed back by the sithin and the earth itself. Then Queen Andais announces that the celibacy geas on her Guard has been lifted, but only for Merry; many of the guards are now hoping to get her pregnant and thus become the King. Of course, some sidhe males have long since excluded themselves from this privilege by their past treatment of the young princess.

Merry has a few sidhe that she trusts and they soon decide to transfer their allegiance to her. She also gains some other allies, including the King of the Goblins -- and a small, common goblin named Kitto -- as well as the Queen of the Demi-fey. Even Sholto, the mixed blood King of the Slaugh, has swung to her side, at least for a while.

This story is full of sex and blood. Since Merry is descended from five fertility deities, some of her magic is based on sexual acts; in fact, she is beginning to discover that she can heal and be healed during sex. Indeed, she finds herself able to heal more than the fey.

Blood, however, is both less important to the quick-healing fey and more significant because of the sadistic tendencies of the Unseleighe. Dueling to the death is a common way for the sidhe to get rid of their enemies. Moreover, the queen tortures her enemies and even her subjects -- sometimes for millennia -- and casually kills minor offenders.

Highly recommended for Hamilton fans and for anyone else who enjoys tales of sidhe magic, court intrigue and sexual powers.

-Arthur W. Jordin

Average customer rating:

Short But Sweet
Loved it but TOO SHORT
Sweet and satisfying story
Wonderful
Reprinted from 2002 anthology

To Kiss in the Shadows
Lynn Kurland
Manufacturer: Berkley
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback

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ASIN: 0425210634

Customer Reviews:

Short But Sweet.......2007-06-27

A bit of an interesting book in that it is only 84 pages. The heroine manages to go from being frightfully shy to being, while not overtly expressive, stronger on the inside, which is done in a believable fashion. One thing I liked was how the heroine befriended the brother of the man she ended up with before ever meeting said brother; this friendship gave new depth to the relationships all around. The brothers acted very realistically in regards to sibling rivalry and such. The only part of the book I had a problem with was that the herione's face was never referred to as such; it was always described using the word 'visage'. What, they couldn't have used face or even countenance once or twice?

Loved it but TOO SHORT.......2007-02-03

I agree with the other reviewers, this was a great book but i feel that Jason deserves a longer story, I didnt want to stop reading and was disappointed when it ended

Sweet and satisfying story .......2007-01-24

Much like the rest of Lynn Kurland's historical romances, this one touches you sweetly. There's no doubt in my mind, Lynn Kurland is the undisputed reigning author of romance now.

This story involves Jason and Lianna and it was very well written. The gentle family humor travels from book to book in the series. The De Piagets and the MacLeods are now welcome members of my library and I wait for each edition eagerly.

Wonderful.......2007-01-03

I loved this story as I read it in the anthology "Tapestry". So it was only a natural conclusion to get it in line with my other Kurland-books that I get it as soon as it comes out in this very practical form.

A lovable hero who's really a hero, a lovable heroine with scars on her face. I loved it. They both meet on a floor in front of the women's room and fall in love. Especially the end was very satisfying. I loved it and will be reading it in the future more than once. ;)

Reprinted from 2002 anthology .......2006-12-21

Lynn Kurland is one of my favorite authors, but I ordered this short story in error since it already appears in the anthology Tapestry. I recommend her own anthology Love Came Just In Time, as well as most of her books, including my favorites, A Dance Through Time and The More I See You. Unfortunately I didn't read the review below that mentioned Tapestry before buying this 86 page book.

After Midnight (By Request 3's): Miranda's Viking/Kiss of the Shadow Man/Out-of-this-World Marriage

Average customer rating:

Finally, a book that I had to read every single page of!
Thank You!
Great Compilation

After Midnight (By Request 3's): Miranda's Viking/Kiss of the Shadow Man/Out-of-this-World Marriage
Maggie Shayne
Manufacturer: Silhouette
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback

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ASIN: 0373201788

Customer Reviews:

Finally, a book that I had to read every single page of!.......2000-12-14

This trilogy by Maggie Shayne contained the first of her work I had read. How sorry I am about that! I am ill a lot and to add up my book bill by the end of each month even makes me wince, let alone my husband. :) But I gotta have more of Maggie Shayne.

The first story, Miranda's Viking, was refreshingly new in concept. The fact that Rolf Magnusson's character was portrayed as extremely intelligent is believable to anyone who knows a little of the history of the Vikings at that time. They were great strategists and indeed had settled much of the coastlines of northern Europe.

The second story was a bit more predictable with an amnesia victim, but with surprising suspense twists and turns that made it very riviting. Ms. Shayne's 'people' (it's hard to call them characters they seem so human) have the same doubts, hurts and misunderstandings that happen to us all.

Finally, I loved the third story the most. Janella was alien; from another world similar to Earth. It actually follows what I believe may be true. And her doctor, Thomas Duffy, also exhibited those very human feelings that I spoke of above. Truly believable, and absolutely a fantastic read. I could not speak more highly of an author.

Thank You!.......2000-09-21

I am so glad the they are finally republishing this trilogy! It made me such a fan of this author. The bats of the night trilogy is great! I read all of them over and over. Now that they've been out of print for a while they've been hard to find. But now! I can't wait to get this. For those who love the vampire genre this is an absolute must buy. And for those who love Maggie Shayne this is a great chance to get the books that really jumpstarted her career. ENJOY!!

Great Compilation.......2000-09-20

The three stories in this compilation are fun and different.

In the first story, Miranda's Viking, Miranda O'Shea finds a 500-year-old Viking perfectly preserved in a glacial cave. When Rolf Magnusson comes to life after an accident reanimates him things become complicated for Miranda, and murder and mayhem ensue. This was a fun novel, with a great plot line and likable characters. <- Great Story

In Kiss of the Shadow Man Caitlin Rossi loses her memory after a near fatal car accident and she and her husband are granted a second chance at love. That is if Caitlin can stay alive long enough. This story was filled with suspense and love. <- Great story

In Out-of-this World Marriage Thomas Duffy is a doctor who has lost his faith in his vocation after one hopeless case to many w3hen his faith is restored by an alien who loves him. <- Mediocre story.

Book Description

Sometimes love lurks in the shadows between dusk and dawn . . .

THREE NEW STORIES!

Kiss of the Wolf by USA TODAY
bestselling author Susan Krinard

Surgeon Dana Saint-Cyr trusted her instincts, even when they urged her toward an irresistible Louisiana man with a wicked reputation. But would she discredit the whispers of his supernatural powers and murderous intent before falling prey to his passion.

Shadow Kissing by Tanith Lee
Four-time winner of the World Fantasy Award

Artist Vivien Gray's new mysterious lover promised soul-stealing ecstasy that haunted her dreams and set her spine tingling. Now their happiness was at stake -- from the ominous evil their very love had unleashed.

The Devil She Knew by Evelyn Vaughn

When Marcy Bridges discovered a portal to hell in her closet she needed help from the last person she wanted to call -- her gorgeous landlord. Could she trust her life -- and her heart to the care of a dark, dangerous stranger?

Customer Reviews:

one rah, two blah...........2006-01-26

my review, short and sweet and to the point-The Krinard story was just interesting enough to be good, but I couldn't finish either the Lee or Vaughn story. Like another reviewer stated- both were boring and inplausible.

My suggestion-save your money and get it from the library, or just skip it.

3 stars for Krinard's story.

Great romance anthology!.......2005-08-25

This is the annual Harlequin Halloween romance anthology. The stories in the book are written by two of the top paranormal romance writers in the genre ( Evelyn Vaughn and Susan Krinard) and one is by fantasy writer Tanith Lee.

These are romances with paranormal themes. The emphasis in these novellas is on strong sexual tension in the midst of otherworldly happenings......

Susan Krinard's werewolf tale is fast, sexy and dangerous- the heroine is drawn to her dark lover even though she does not trust him. Great gothic elements make this one stay with you long after reading.

Tanith Lee introduces us to a man in stone who watches over his garden..... this one has a good suspense story mixed with supernatural hauntings and a ghostly mystery. The romance is complicated and the conflict not readily dismissed. Well written- I look forward to more in the new LUNA line by Ms. Lee!

Evelyn Vaughn has written an outrageous supernatural tale with all the elements of a good and cheesy horror movie! I love the portal to hell opening in her closet and how she asks the sexy super in her building to help her get rid of it! Together they track down the source of her problems and exterminate them- sharing an intense attraction and some steamy sex along the way.... This one is actually pretty tongue in cheek- flies by!

For more paranormal books- I recommend THE CIRCLE series by Evelyn Vaughn, The Immortal Witches series by Maggie SHayne ( don't miss the 4th in that series- you need to pick up OUT OF THIS WORLD another anthology to complete it!)Also recommended- The Vampire Viscount by Karen Harbaugh.

Super tedious .......2005-08-15

Looking for a cure for insomnia? Try this book. Works like a dream.

Seriously, I bought this book because I love romance and also enjoy some elements of the supernatural, such as vampires. The book seemed to offer the right sort of combination - or so I thought. I was wrong.

Susan Krinard's Kiss of the Wolf started vaguely promisingly, but I quickly found it increasingly difficult to turn the pages. LA plastic surgeon trying to find herself goes to the Louisiana bayou - well, naturally, where else would she go? - and stumbles into a mystery involving a dead distant relative to whom she bears an uncanny resemblance. Like you do. And, of course, she also encounters a couple of werewolves and a murdering thug in nice-guy clothing. Falls into bed with Werewolf 1 not long after, despite his surly behaviour, and promptly falls in love with him and realises how much she loves the bayou despite there being not a lot of need for plastic surgeons in deepest Louisiana. Yeah, right. Yawn.

Novella 2 appeared to offer a little more promise. Tanith Lee's Shadow Kissing was apparently about a haunted apartment, yet it wasn't really. Though there was a seemingly self-propelling statue, also bearing a striking resemblance to a character in the novella. Between irritating minor characters (including one with the unlikely name of Cinnamon) and a so-called hero who was a complete jerk, I don't know what there was to like about this. Plus, although Lee got some of the English nuances correct, there were several references that jarred given the setting was London and the characters English.

And finally - yes, finally I got close to the end! - there was Novella 3. The Devil She Knew, by Evelyn Vaughan. Mercy of mercies, this one was about 40 pages shorter than the other two. Woman finds a strange fire in her walk-in closet. Like you do. Woman figures out within about ten seconds that she's got a portal to hell in her bedroom. Of course! Naturally, that's the first conclusion one would jump to. And when she calls her friendly maintenance man - whom we progressively discover manages, and in fact owns, her building - he naturally jumps to the same conclusion. This one went on and on, despite being shorter. But once the author got over wasting pages and pages on irrelevant, boring stuff (such as lunch with the heroine's family) and they suddenly, by amazing coincidence, figure out who's behind it and go visit the guy (hey, did you curse me with the fires of hell? Um... maybe), everything is skimmed over so quickly that it's completely unclear what actually happened.

Don't waste your money. This one is going straight to the recycling pile, and all three authors are on my `forget it!' list!

wmr-uk

Tanith Lee is just awesome.......2005-07-24

There are three stories here, all of which are self-contained. That's a rarity these days, for this kind of compendium.

I'm not a fan of werewolf books, so the Krinard, though lushly evokative of the Louisiana bayou, didn't intrigue me as much as the other two stories.

The Vaughn story was a little too silly for my taste. A portal to hell, and only the bad boy can save you from it? And a gorgeous landlord? Heavens, that IS fantasy. The story itself is very light, but quite fun.

The tale worth reading the book for, though is the Lee. Her writing brings the magic eerily alive. The heroine comes to life, and her situation and choices draw the reader in. The romance is also very differently written than most romance, and is a real breath of fresh air.

The other two stories, though, are just average. So I'm giving an average mark (would give 3.5 if I could).

(*)>

Paranormal romance anthology.......2004-04-24

The first story by one of my favourite authors, Susan Krinard is by far the best of the three stories. Dana, a successful plastic surgeon from the West Coast travels to Big Marsh in Louisiana to escape her hectic life. There she meets Remy, a man clothed in mystery, avoided and feared by the locals, who lives on a boat out in the backwaters. Dana becomes embroiled in the search for the answers to the disappearance of her cousin. Can she trust Remy or is he a danger to her? The more time she spends with Remy, the more she becomes attracted to him. The atmosphere and the tension between Remy and Dana is electric. This is a good little story full of excitement and danger with romance thrown in aswell.

The second story is by Tanith Lee. Vivien agrees to look after her friends flat in London whilst the friend goes away on holiday. In the garden, Vivien sees the most beautiful man she have ever set her eyes on but he is a stone statue. The following day Vivien meets of the owner of the statue, Connor, a spitting image of the statue. The statue of the beautiful man is an ancestor of Connor. Strange things start happening in the flat, empty champagne flutes appear, roses with no petals are found in the kitchen. Are there paranormal happenings taking place in the flat and what is the connection with the statue or is there a more simple explanation? More of a mystery rather than romance but the story has charm.

The third story is by Evelyn Vaughn. Marcy opens the door to her a wardrobe and is greeted by flames, a portal to hell. She calls on the help of her gorgeous landlord, Tomas. Together they try to solve the problem of the wardrobe, calling the help of a priest who they lose in the portal and finally tracking down the culprit. This is an enjoyable saucy romp of a story, very fun and tongue in cheek but again but don't expect too much romance.

Lealing

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7 Titles By Victoria Holt - The India Fan - Devil on Horseback - Judass Kiss - Shadow of the Lynx - Captive - Mistress of Mellyn - Legend of the Seventh Virgin
Victoria Holt
Manufacturer: various
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Mass Market Paperback
ASIN: B000M8HUXA

Product Description

7 massmarket paperback Titles By Victoria Holt - The India Fan - Devil on Horseback - Judass Kiss - Shadow of the Lynx - Captive - Mistress of Mellyn - Legend of the Seventh Virgin

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One of the Most Braindead Plot Elements in History

KISS OF SHADOWS (MEREDITH GENTRY, NO 1)
LAURELL K. HAMILTON
Manufacturer: Ballantine
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback
ASIN: B000IVFPJ2

Customer Reviews:

One of the Most Braindead Plot Elements in History.......2007-01-20

The first novel of Laurell K. Hamilton's Merry Gentry series is not, actually, that terrible a book. It's by far the best in a not particularly great series, actually. What made it almost impossible for me to read is that the basic premise, the set-up, is one of the most grotesquely, ridiculously stupid things I've ever read.

Princess Meredith NicEssus has fled Faerie, in fear of death at the hands of her aunt, Andais, the Queen of Air and Darkness and ruler of the Unseelie Court. High profile fae in this world are major public figures, like rock stars or the royal family of England. The sudden disappearance of one of the Unseelie royals is a very big deal indeed. Every news media in the world reports the story....and it never goes away. We are told solemnly that reports of Princess Meredith being spotted are right up there with Elvis sightings. Meredith's image, the story of her mysterious disappearance, is everywhere. I mean, neolithic pygmies living in deepest Africa know who Meredith is, and what she looks like.

Meanwhile, Princess Meredith has disguised herself as a mortal private eye. Thing is, she hasn't disguised herself very much at all. Her supernaturally pale skin is now humanly pale skin. Her fae red hair is now human red hair. Her facial features remain the same. And with everyone on the planet wondering where is Princess Meredith, for years on end, no one recognizes her. Let me hasten to add, there is no magic involved in this, they honestly simply don't recognize her. And the crowning touch to this masterful disguise, the name chosen for her pseudonym to hide the fact she's actually Princess Meredith is....wait for it....Merry Gentry.

Jesus wept.

And for years, none of her co-workers, no one who knows her, says to themself, "Hey, wait a minute, that women who looks almost exactly like Princess Meredith....Merry Gentry....Princess Meredith....oh my God, Merry Gentry is Princess Meredith!" Nope, she's just incognito, baby.

At which point I almost threw down the book and said, "You have GOT to be kidding me." It's absolutely amazing to me this made it through the editing process. Do Laurell Hamilton's editors do anything other than rubber stamp her writing? Given her past six or eight novels, including this one, I'm tempted to say: no, actually.

Kiss Of The Shadow Man (Silhouette Shadows, No 38)

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Back cover blurb (not a review)

Kiss Of The Shadow Man (Silhouette Shadows, No 38)
Maggie Shayne
Manufacturer: Silhouette
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback

General | Romance | Subjects | Books

General | Contemporary | Romance | Subjects | Books

Regency | Romance | Subjects | Books
ASIN: 0373270380

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Back cover blurb (not a review).......2007-05-20

The husband:
Dylan Rossi had bitterly agreed to the divorce his ice princess of a wife wanted so badly. But that was before the accident that had stolen her memory -- of him, of their awful marriage, of much, much worse...

The wife:
Someone was trying very hard to kill Caitlin Rossi, a wealthy woman who'd made enemies she couldn't remember -- enemies that included the handsome husband she feared as much as she desired...

The marriage:
Once seperate bedrooms had kep the Rossis apart. Now only the continued loss of Caitlin's memory would keep them together...

5 Romance Titles By Sandra Brown - Heaven's Price - Shadows of Yesterday - Temptation's Kiss - Tomorrow's Promise - Prime Time

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5 Romance Titles By Sandra Brown - Heaven's Price - Shadows of Yesterday - Temptation's Kiss - Tomorrow's Promise - Prime Time
Sandra Brown
Manufacturer: various
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Mass Market Paperback
ASIN: B000M14R9M

Product Description

5 massmarket paperbacks Romance Titles By Sandra Brown - Heaven's Price - Shadows of Yesterday - Temptation's Kiss - Tomorrow's Promise - Prime Time

The Case of The Cautious Coquette, The Case of the Crimson Kiss, & The Case of the Crying Shadow

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The Case of The Cautious Coquette, The Case of the Crimson Kiss, & The Case of the Crying Shadow
Erle Stanley Gardner
Manufacturer: William Morrow & Co.
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Hardcover
ASIN: B000H5JWS4

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