Customer Reviews

Hot Blooded

5 star:		(25)
4 star:		(15)
3 star:		(4)
2 star:		(8)
1 star:		(3)

 

 

Hot Blood is an anthology by for of the hottest paranormal writers around today - Christine Feehan, Maggie Shayne, Emma Holly and Angela Knight. This book rocks, no two ways about it! If you love Vamps and Lycans, love cutting edge, shock-your-socks-off, sizzling writers with original tales, then this book is for you. Don't pass it off to Gran or Auntie Mae unless you know this is their cup of tea. It can, in places, make little old ladies swoon and reach for the smelling salts. However, if you are tired of tame anthologies and looking for a walk on the wild side, don't hesitate. It's rare to find so much talent under one anthology banner.

The first tale is Christine Feehan's Dark Hunger, a continuation of her very successful "DARK" Carpathian series. I noted one mainstream critic said she struggled with the short story form. Baloney! Christine's style is sharp, fluid and beautifully written - and I might compliment her on her multiple-POV (Point of View) style I so enjoy. The lyrical writing was so refreshing compared to the single POV rabidness going around of late that is making books stale. It's quality writing at it's best. The tale is about a Carpathian who has been captured, and left to die, in a remote jungle lab. He cannot warn his kindred without being "bait" in the trap. However, he is saved by Juliette. Unable to control his need, he must take Juliette's blood to survive. All the DARK fans will not want to miss this one. And again, big round of applause for Feehan's multi POV style!

Awaiting Moonlight is Maggie Shayne's tale. I have been a fan of her work since the old Silhouette Shadow's heyday, and her talent just grows. This is a wonderful tale about a science professor who enters the steamy bayou to find a new species of animal, convinced it is responsible for the wild tales of Lycanthropes running about the town. Only, she runs smack into the real thing, fangs and all, and find he is quite tempting. He is not her worst nightmare, but her darkest fantasy come to life. Shayne's writing is strong, the tale magic.

The Night Owl is the entry from Emma Holly. It's a very charming tale of Marriann O'Faolian who lives in a small Vermont town, and just loves to bake her grandfather's recipes. The sexy Bastien, who is her landlord, has a lot of secrets to hide, but the townsfolk little care since he and his rich companion are tossing around a lot of money. Bastien has fallen in love with the homey Marriann, but is nearly tongue-tied when he tries to court her. When she is nearly killed in a deliberate hit and run accident, she is saved by Bastien, but at what cost?

Angela Knight is the "new kid" on the block, and yet she comes in with the most original and engaging tale. She says to the other three pros, move over, and they had better listen! She takes vamps and mixes in Camelot lore, and conjures a, winning, imaginative tale "Seduction's Gift". John Lance aka Lancelot is one sexy modernize hero. He has come back to claim Grace, a Southern policeman. Only one problem Grace does not want to be claimed. I will not say more, because Master of the Night (October 1, 2004, Berkley) comes out next month, so this is a kick off for what promises to be one great series. Proving once again, Knight is a writer to watch. (2004 Reviews International Organization Award of Excellence Finalist for best short story catagory)


Four tales from four very strong writers. If you want sizzle and pop...then don't settle for a cup of tea, but reach for a wee dram of Stop-Breath!

I can't believe the few bad reviews on this book. It was surprisingly good. Dark Hunger was my favorite story in the book, too. Dark Hunger was meant to be an introduction to Feehan's series set in South America. As such, it did not to try solve all problems. (The chapter from the upcoming Dark Secret was so good that I read it twice.) Feehan finally introduces the Jaguar people to the Carpathians. I think several other books will come out of this exciting turn. I enjoyed all of the other stories. This is one of the rare books that I am keeping around to read again.

This is indeed a treat of a book. Stories from great authors that are muscles in the spreading wings of romantica. I especially enjoyed the stories from Emma Holly and Angela Knight. Highly reccommended read!

I bought this book for Angela Knight's story and I LOVED it!! Lancelot is a hero to die for!!! I can't wait for the rest of the Knights of the Round Table. Nobody can write a vampire like Angela!!
I also enjoyed Emma Holly and Maggie Shayne's contribution to this anthology. I've never been a Christine Feehan fan!

Hot Blooded is an absolutely wonderful book that perfectly blended four unique writing styles.

Emma Holly's NIGHT OWL is the most clever idea-a Bed and Breakfast owner, who is a vampire with issues.

SEDUCTION'S GIFT, by Angela Knight, is hands-down my favorite story in the book. Everything worked well in this very erotic vampire story. Just Perfect.

Maggie Shayne's awating sunrise was a good story of werewovles in the bayou.

Christine Feehan's DARK HUNGER is an excellent Carpathian and Jaguar short story. HUNGER combines some of the best of her genres.

This is the best collection of short stories I have read this year.

Dark Hunger by Christine Feehan is great, if you have never read one of her novels about the Carpathians this is a great beginning.

Awaiting Moonrise by Maggie Shayne is very good. If any could be said to be slow this is the one. However, if you like werewolf stories you can't beat it.

The Night Owl by Emma Holly was awesome. I really enjoyed it and it gives you a taste of her novels about the upyr. It really made me want to buy some of her other books.

Seduction's Gift by Angela Knight was so good I think it will set the scene for a whole new series similar to Sherrilyn Kenyon's Dark Hunters. I liked the premise and enjoyed the story.

This was a very entertaining read for the afternoon. I don't think you could possibly be disappointed.

I'll keep this short and sweet. I enjoyed all stories in this anthology. I have not been able to say that before. Feehan does a great job with her Carpathians as always, but the ending was a little too abrupt. Being from Louisiana myself, I loved Shayne's rendition of "loup-garou" mixed with voodoo. Holly was not to be outdone by two very experienced writers. Her vampire she calls an upyr was very hot and sexy. The hardest story to swallow was by Angela Knight. It is hard to wrap one's mind around the ideas that King Arthur is a vampire as well as the rest of his Knights. The idea of Morganna being a witch wasn't hard, but that she used her powers for the good of mankind was a bit much to swallow if you know the other tales of King Arthur. However, this was definitely a hot blooded, sexy as hell story. I'll say it again, just like my title, VAMPIRES, LYCANS, AND KING ARTHUR, OH MY!!! Great Book!!

I couldn't wait for the release of Hot Blooded because I was dying to read Emma Holly's novella. The stories in Hot Blooded have a mixture of fantasy, romantica and some suspense. Christine Feehan's Dark Hunger is part of an ongoing series of hers. I am not familiar with the series, and I don't know if this story is a stand-alone or if the characters are taken from another story, but I liked the fact that it was full of suspense from beginning to end. The erotic scenes were also hot. However, what put me off Hunger a bit is that Feehan tried to incorporate too many elements in one short novella. The novella seems too cluttered as a result. Maggie Shayne's Awaiting Moonrise is my second favorite in the anthology. This one has a more science fiction feel to it than the other ones. The erotic scenes in Moonrise are very sensual and the story enthralled me from beginning to end. I am not familiar with Shayne's work, but I shall look to her stuff in the future. My favorite is of course Emma Holly's The Night Owl. This novella is part of Holly's "upyr" series. This time it is Bastien's story. The novella is full of Holly's signature romance and eroticism. The one thing that I found strange is that Bastien's story is set in modern times. I last read him in Hunting Midnight, which was set during medieval times. I know the upyr (shape-shifting vampires) are immortal, but that was nevertheless a big leap of settings. I hope she will continue with this series. Angela Knight's Seduction's Gift is my least favorite of the four, but it is a great romantica nevertheless.

This anthology is a great reading investment if you're in the bargain for paranormal romanticas. It is also a great find because it features four great authors of the aforementioned genre. Emma Holly is my favorite of the four, which is why I give her more praise, but fans of Feehan, Shayne and Knight will also be pleased with their stories. I recommend this gem. I also recommend the Fantasy and Cravings anthologies.

Frankly, I bought this book for Angela Knight's "Seduction Gift" and I was totally blown away. From the moment Grace pulls Lancelot over for speeding, I knew this was a totally unique look at vampires. This story introduces an entire world of vampires and witches, in which Camelot was a spin doctor's cover story and yet so much more. If you like an erotic vampire romance, read this! I can hardly wait for the next novel in this world, MASTER OF THE NIGHT.

I love Emma Holly's stories and I've always particularly enjoyed her shorter works. This one is a true jewel to add to my collection. Thanks, Emma!

The terms I would use to discribe this book. Clearly all the authors show great talent but Christine Feehans rises above the rest. Her ongoing Carpathian saga is compelling, each book or story give you a deeper glimpse into the dark magical world of the Carpathians. I bought this book for Ms Feehans story and while I enjoyed the others I felt that the last story dealing with King Arthur being a vampire, while hot was a little too over the top for me. I might try something else by this author but overall I would not recommend this book on her story alone. The others are worth reading and to try stories by different authors is a wonderful way to expand your horizons.