Customer Reviews

A Breath of Heat

5 star:		(3)
4 star:		(3)
3 star:		(1)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

5 stars for A MIDSUMMER NIGHT'S HEAT.
The plot, characters and events are good, but what makes this special is the author's quirkiness, wit and writing style. The conversations and attitudes are funny and entertaining, which is unusual within the erotic genre. It's great when an author can blend the two. I found myself chuckling many times throughout this story.

Belle's mother was a pure wolf and her father was a shape-shifting wolf (part human). Because she is a mixed breed other shape-shifting wolves/humans are prejudiced against her and call her an abomination. She is a successful accountant in New York City and is taking a vacation in northern Wyoming. Alex is shot by hunters when in wolf form. Belle finds him, takes him to her cabin and nurses him while he heals. They begin to fall for each other, but when Alex learns that she is a mixed breed, he leaves her because he fears his pack won't accept her. A secondary character is Belle's cat who talks with unexpected and entertaining attitude and sarcasm.

Story length: 146 pages. Sexual language: strong/erotic. Number of sex scenes: four. Setting: present day northern Wyoming. Copyright: 2004. Genre: erotic paranormal romance.


4 stars for SOLSTICE HEAT.
This is the sequel to A Midsummer Night's Heat. It is not as entertaining as the first story, but definitely still worth reading. There are some humorous lines. I was also chuckling at Garth's clumsiness and oafishness.

Garth is Belle's brother. He and Eileen mated when they were teens. Her family was outraged and moved away. They lied to her and kept her away from Garth. A few years later they forced her to mate with Bill who later beat her and nearly killed her. She ran away from Bill and lives with Alex's pack. This story starts ten years after the separation. Garth visits Belle, now living with Alex, and accidentally discovers Eileen, whom he has always loved.

Story length: 87 pages. Sexual language: strong/erotic. Number of sex scenes: four. Setting: present day northern Wyoming. Copyright: 2005. Genre: erotic paranormal romance.

To date, I've read the following Judy Mays books.

In anthology A Breath of Heat:
5 stars. A Midsummer Night's Heat. Copyrt 2004. Review Date 8/30/08.
4 stars. Solstice Heat. Copyrt 2005. Review Date 8/30/08.

Separate Novels:
2 stars. Sheala. Copyrt 2006. Review Date 8/30/08.
2 stars. Fires of Solstice. Copyrt 2007. Review Date 8/30/08.

If anyone likes werewolves this series is for you! Spicy, hot, trust me you will need a glass of ice tea full of ice to read this one. The book is ok for a stand alone but for the most part read A Touch of Heat for the background. In "Midsummer's Night's Heat" Belle finally is able to take some time away from taking care of her father and finds herself taking care of one hunky werewolf, yummy!, in more ways than one. Then you have "Solstice Heat", where Garth is reunited with his long lost lover. Only problem is that Eileen, Garth's lover, is fleeing a abusive mate, boo! Hiss!! and trying to dodge the CIA at the same time. So much heat and excite in such a small story but there is no way that it feels compressed. Both are must reads.

Okay, but not a keeper. This book contains 2 novellas, set in the same world. Bella is a half caste werewolf, the human offspring of a werewolf and a wolf. But we never see much interaction (and certainly no sexual interaction) between wolves, and I wonder if a human would really prefer to be with a wolf and not another human (gives the notion 'loves dogs more than people' a whole new spin) But all that back story scarcely makes it into the books, simply makes Adam's pack initially prejudices towards Belle, though not really. They all accept her in about 5 minutes, except for the villainous bitch who is so cardboard she's no real threat.

Second book Bella's brother returns to find his original mate, who had been separated from him forcibly when her family realized how close they had become (the half wolf thing again). There were hints of other stories - he's chased by the CIA, this amazing man who can keep finding him (makes you doubt his own disappearing skills!) but he remates with Eileen, the villainous bitch returns trying to stir up trouble but fails.

There's plenty of sex, a little bit of romance but this world could have been so much more interesting. I was disappointed.

Nobody writes wolf stories like Judy Mays. The male heroes are always Alpha to the max with intelligent females, not the simpering weak ones that show up in some romance stories.

This book is made up of two stories previously released as singles for Ellora's Cave. They are both related to characters Judy has previously written about in "A Touch of Heat."

Here we find out what happens to two more of Artemis Grey's children. Artemis is a werewolf who mated with a wolf Myste and fathered several children, raising them as humans after Myste's untimely death.

In the first story of the book "A Midsummers Nights Heat" Belle Grey daughter of Artemis goes on her first vacation alone ever now that Daddy has mated again and is the proud father of twin daughters. Belle no longer has to watch over Daddy and can spend some relaxful time alone in her mountain cabin with her kitten. A cute little feline that talks through esp with Belle.

She rescue's a hunk of a werewolf named Alex after he is shot by poachers. The two hit it off and the sex scenes sizzle. As any shapeshifter fan knows wolves mate for life and Belle realizes right away that Alex is the mate for her. It takes Alex a little longer but he soon mates with her.

Their bliss is short lived when it is revealed that Belle's Mom was not a werewolf but a real wolf something that most werewolf packs look down upon. Alex knows he loves her but he doesn't want his pack torn apart and must find away to get them to accept Belle as their new female Alpha. While Alex is thinking Belle is doing and comes up with her own plan. Of course there are some pack members that like to cause trouble but in the end everything works out.

The second story is about Belle's brother Garth who lost his one and only mate (Eileen) years ago when her family stole her away in the middle of the night because they did not want her to mate with a werewolf whose father went feral and mated with a real wolf.

Eileen ends up asking for sanctuary in Belle and Alex's pack after the man her family forced her to mate with after they took her from Garth severely beats her following her miscarriage. Garth and Eileen never stopped loving one another and this is the story of how they find their way back to one another.

Judy Mays always inserts a little lesson about tolerance in her stories and this book is no different. I recommend this book highly and will always buy any book of hers that comes out. She is a talented author whether writing about aliens or shapeshifters.

Really enjoyed the 1st set of 'heat' stories. This 2nd installment was fun - but not as strong as the 1st.
1) A Midsummers Night's Heat. I loved Belle in this story. Thought her alpha male, Alex, was OK - but for being a alpha thought he spent too much time worrying about how his pack may respond to Belle being a half-bred (thought of as Abomination). This was the biggest detraction for me that it too Alex most of the story to come to grips with Belle's heritage. Belle on the other hand was a total alpha and just did want needed to be done - she gets 5 stars. 145 pages.
2)Solstice Heat. Brother Garth's story. He is the family black - sheep. Garth shows up for a quick visit with Belle before he re-disappears for awhile. Belle. of course, has to tell him his mate, who he was separated from when teenagers is 'here'. Few bumps in the road, but this was a cute story. 86 pages.
I wavered between 3.5 and 4 stars. I really like the wolf/were concept in these story lines and Belle is worth buying this book for. Overall, they were fun to read and I will be looking for the next in the series.

After reading the first book, A Touch of Heat, I immediately loved the series and then bought A Breath of Heat. While the first one I absolutely loved (5 stars), this one was good, but not as good as the first one. When Melody and Brendan's stories come out, I am sure that I will purchase.

This is a good read and a follow-up to her other novels.