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36 of 36 people found the following review helpful:
4.0 out of 5 stars
'Short' on romance, but lots of entertainment with a paranormal twist., March 14, 2009
The Mammoth Book of Paranormal Romance, should really be called the Mammoth Book of Paranormal Stories. If you are a romance purist coming in with the expectation that you are getting a whole slew of romances written by a group of your favorite authors, you might be disappointed. But even though there were only a few stories in this collection that I would actually call `romances', there were quite a lot good stories with paranormal entities and most had a touch of romance (or at least some mild sex).
Out of this bunch, far and above the rest, the story by Holly Lisle was a stand out, I've never read anything she's written before, but with the emotional depth she brought to her short, I am going to have to check out what she can do in a full length novel. My other favorites were by Eve Silver, Ilona Andrews, Maria Synder, MelJean Brook, Jean Johnson and Allyson James - a few of whom are old favorite authors and others are new to me. There were very few stories here that seemed to be connected to the authors' existing series, only Caine's relied on the reader knowing her characters and the Weather Warden world, the rest all worked as standalones.
Here's a quick summary to give you an idea of what to expect.....
*** The Temptation of Robin Green - Carrie Vaughn - A zookeeper to the paranormal, diligently follows the rules until she finds herself entranced by her newest charge. (3 stars - This one just kind of meandered and wasn't very romantic, I liked the vampire supporting character the best of all and he only had a bit part)
***Succubus Seduction - Cheyenne McCray - Succubus Lillin is assigned to seduce Archer and steal his soul, but there is just something different about the powerful muscular Archer that thrills Lillin like no other, and Archer is no easy prey. (4 stars - I enjoyed this one almost as much as her incubus short in the Mammoth Book of Vampire Romance, leaving out the heavy sensuality of her regular novels, this short romance really works)
***Paranormal Romance Blues - Kelley Armstrong - A night out clubbing at a cheezy vamp bar, ends a dry streak for a sassy half demon. (3.5 stars - not really a romance, just the promise of one, but the sassy heroine left me with a smile)
John Doe - Anna Windsor - A `John Doe' with the body of a warrior, `changes everything' for a lonely Psych Doctor. ( 3 stars - this one was okay, but if you like your heroes with wings ... )
***Taking Hold - Anya Bast - A human nurse searches for a lost shifter child and makes a forbidden connection with her lone wolf search partner. (4 stars - I liked this one and the forbidden relationship)
***How to Date a Super Hero - Jean Johnson - A lonely super heroine with the power of foresight, is offered a steamy glimpse at her future. ( 4 stars - this was amusing and the glimpses of the future connection between the hero/heroine, made the romance work in the short space)
***Daniel - C.T Adams & Cathy Clamp - Under a death threat, a woman takes her friendship with a vamp to the next - forbidden - level. (3.5 stars - I liked the heroine and her ability to outsmart the deadly immortal)
***Light Through Fog - Holly Lisle - Tragedy separates soul mates, but love transcends boundaries in a magical place - (5+ stars - Wonderful and poignant, a complete and moving story, I am amazed how much Lisle fit into her contribution.)
***The Tuesday Encounters - Mary Jo Putney - It's love at first sight when the mage meets the enchantress. ( 3.5 stars - this is supposed to be a `Guardian' short, )
***Trinity Blue - Eve Silver - An immortal demon hunter, fears his love will again be rejected, when his dark secret is discovered. (4.0 stars - The hero just really appealed to me, this work fine as a short but I liked the leads enough that I'd have liked more)
***The Grace of Small Magics - Ilona Andrews - A powerful mage stakes his life on a woman with small magic but a large indomitable spirit. (4.0 stars - I really like the Andrews' writing style, and I enjoyed this one a lot - loved Grace who didn't meekly accept her fate. If you enjoyed this one check out the authors' website they have more short stories there)
***Once a Demon - Dina James - An ancient immortal shares the tale of his loss, a perfect love that changed his destiny. (3.5 stars - Not really a romance, James delves into the characters she introduced in her story in Mammoth Book of Vampire romance, and again left me wanting more of the enigmatic Kyle, this one only whet my appetite)
***Night Vision - Maria V. Snyder - A woman with an affinity for the dark, lives in solitude and fear until a midnight ride, a handsome stranger in peril, and a brush with death inspires her to step into the light. (4.5 stars - this one wasn't really a romance either, but I really liked it. I liked the heroine's transition and the ending that promised more for the starring pair)
***Pele's Tears' - Catherine Mulvany - Pele's tears and a sacrifice, brings thwarted lovers together and gives them a second chance at happiness. (3 stars )
***Pack - Jeaniene Frost - A lost hiker's encounter with the supernatural may cost her life, either literally or figuratively - (4 stars - Another strong heroine, I would like to see more of Frost's shifter pack.)
***When Gargoyles Fly - Lori Devoti- A woman's magic touch releases a gargoyle from his stone prison. ( 3 stars - the set up for this one was good, but the resolution and the `love' was just too rushed to work as a romance)
***The Lighthouse Keeper and His Wife - Sara Mackensie - A Lightkeeper is freed from purgatory in order to right a wrong and win a second chance at love. (3 stars - I felt the love, but the ending just made me ask why bring back the Lightkeeper at all?)
***Blood Song - Lynda Hilburn - Music has the power to soothe the savage .. vampire.(3.0 stars - There were some interesting ideas here, but this. one just needed to be longer)
***The Princess and the Peas - Alyssa Day - The elvish lord meets the lovely Lucy and desperately wants her as his .... friend? ( 3 stars - not at all a romance, but I found the back and forth between the elf and the possessive warrior at the end a bit amusing)
***At Second Bite - Michelle Rowen - A vampire tells a woman she's his reincarnated soul mate, but she just doesn't `feel the love'. (3.5 stars - a bit of Rowen's trademark humor, you just gotta love a vampire named Henry)
***Blue Crush -Rachel Caine - A little sun, a little sand, a little surf - and a whole lot of trouble - Joanne and David go to the beach. (3.5 stars - I am a fan of Caine's series, and this is a nice little adventure and hook up for the pair, but nothing earth shattering)
***The Wager - Sherrilyn Kenyon - " It's been a long cold Millennium" for Thomas - (2.5stars -This one just did not work for me at, it's a rambling discourse and not a romance - it's supposed to be a Lords of Avalon short so maybe you've been waiting for Thomas' story.)
***In Sheep's Clothing - Meljean Brook - A werewolf goes home, and back to the man she left behind, and runs into a serial killer. ( 4.0 stars - I like the friends who have always wanted more finally taking it to the next level, and I am a shifter nut, so this one worked for me)
***The Dream Catcher - Allyson James - In a society where passion is shunned, woman longs for love, if only in her dreams. - (4 stars - James does a good job with the world building and her heroine, though this one worked fine in the space I would have liked more, I'd have liked to get know the hero as well as we got to know the heroine.)
On the whole I enjoyed the Mammoth Book of Paranormal Romance and if you are at all a fan of short stories, the 24 stories here will keep you out of mischief for a good long time. And if you're like me you just may discover a new favorite author.
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2 of 2 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars
OUTSTANDING way to sample writing from 24 great writers, June 16, 2009
As a voracious reader, I've found that reading Anthologies like this one is a GREAT way to identify new - to me at least - authors.
In this book you have the opportunity to "test drive" the writings of 24 authors. Identify the ones you really enjoyed, then come back to Amazon and get the rest of the books from that author.
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5.0 out of 5 stars
Best Anthology, August 6, 2009
I got this just because Jim Butcher and Kelley Armstrong had stories in here. I read each and every single one, then went and bought more books by different authors I'd never read before.
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