Customer Reviews

My Big Fat Supernatural Honeymoon

5 star:		(16)
4 star:		(20)
3 star:		(13)
2 star:		(6)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

These are mostly very short short stories and the ones that worked for me out of this collection were the ones where the authors gave little vignettes from their long running series. Which meant that because I already was familiar with the characters they were nice fill-ins. I think that Jim Butcher, P.N. Elrod and Katie MacAllister did the best job of telling their tales in the short space allotted, Armstrong, and Saintcrow's were okay, Lui and Thompson's were near misses. Kittredge's prequel was ambitious for the space but her characters and world have promise.
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*** Kelley Armstrong has her existing characters Clay and Elena on their honeymoon being stalked by a nonpack mutt, and if you know these two at all you know that they are going to relish having a hunt to break up the boredom of their idyllic vacation.

*** Jim Butcher manages to carve out a nice little tale from the rescue of a stolen bride employing a couple of his existing characters and using them and some Norse legends to flesh out Marcone's hired wizard Gard.

***Rachel Caine gives us part two of her pirate tale from My Big Fat Supernatural Wedding, here the formerly cursed pirate and his wench get more than they bargain for on their honeymoon cruise but are saved by an intriguing character, a beautiful but damned pirate at the end of the story.

*** P.N. Elrod's vampire detective tackles finding a missing bridegroom for a mafia princess-bride.

*** Caitlin Kittredge's contribution -- a `dectective' story set in a world where a dark magical world, "The Black" that lies at the fringe of ours --the only connection to the honeymoon theme was that the main characters stay in the honeymoon suite and fall into a mystery involving sacrifices and black magic.

*** Marjorie M. Liu gives a story that is supposed to be a prequel to her Dirk & Steele series. It is a very pre-pre-quel, the story of Lucy Steele awakening to the world of magic.

*** Katie MacAlister's tale is a nice little fill-in to her Dark One's series, and answers the question of what Raphael St. John really was -- because we all wondered.

*** Lilith Saintcrow steps away from the dark side on her honeymoon tale of a vampire hunter and a werewolf who both left the full disclosure until the honeymoon and make their discovery when they find they've landed in vampland for their honeymoon.

*** Ronda Thompson give us a decendent of her cursed historical Wulf's. Here we get a modern bridegroom who gets furry now that he's found his true love but hopes the honeymoon consumation will cure him. Unfortunately it's not that easy and his unsuspecting nature hating bride is about to get up close and personal with a wolf.
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While many of these stories were screaming for more space, I would recommend that you don't cross any of these authors off your list based on their work here. All have popular multibook series and all of us fans can't be wrong in our slavishly keeping them on our 'must buy' lists, so check out their longer works. With this collection of authors there is something for everyone from humorous romance, to darker suspense all with a touch of the paranormal or magic, I've included the first books in their series to help you on your hunt.

Butcher's Dresden Files Storm Front (The Dresden Files, Book 1)
Armstrong's Otherworld Bitten (Women of the Otherworld, Book 1)
Caine's Weather Wardens Ill Wind (Weather Warden, Book 1)
MacAllisters Dark Ones A Girl's Guide to Vampires
Saintcrow's Dante Valentine Working for the Devil
Elrod Vampire FilesBloodlist (Vampire Files, Book 1)
Liu's Dirk & Steele Tiger Eye (Dirk & Steele, Book 1)
Thompson's Wild Wulfs of London The Cursed One (Wild Wulfs of London)

Courtesy of CK2S Kwips and Kritiques

Clay and Elena are on their honeymoon when Clay realizes they are being Stalked (by Kelley Armstrong) by a non-pack werewolf out to claim Elena for his own. Hunting the mutt may be exactly what this couple needs to liven up their honeymoon which has been rather *gasp* boring.

Stalked is an excellent introduction to the Women of the Otherworld series by Kelley Armstrong for people new to that world. It is also a great interlude for fans of the series to revisit some old favorite characters. The romance between Elena and Clay is very strong, if demonstrated in a different way. I felt their emotions as neither one wanted to admit they weren't enjoying themselves and even more strongly when the perfect opportunity for excitement presents itself.

In Heorot by Jim Butcher, Harry Dresden is called upon to help rescue a young bride from a hideous monster so she can still make it to her honeymoon on time. With a little help from Marcone's house wizard, Gard, Harry will enter the bowels of the city and discover there's more to Gard than he ever expected.

Heorot is a thoroughly enjoyable venture into Dresden's life once more. He is reluctant to get involved in the mystery of the missing girl but at the same time knows he is needed if she has any hope of survival. Gard turns out to be a fascinating woman when her history is revealed to us. While her story may not have as much of an impact on readers new to the series, long time fans will love the revelation. Ancient legends also come into play in Heorot when we find out what happened to the young bride.

In Roman Holiday, or SPQ-arrrrrr by Rachel Caine, we meet again with the formerly cursed pirate, Captain Liam Lockhart, as he's about to set sail for his honeymoon with Cecilia, the woman who broke his curse. However, other cursed captains have heard about Liam's good fortune and led by Roman, Salvius, and they want Cecilia so she can break their curses as well and will do whatever it takes to get her.

Roman Holiday, or SPQ-arrrrrr is the continuation of Caine's contribution to My Supernatural Wedding, the prequel to this book. As such, while everyone is likely to enjoy the tale, people who have not read the first story will not have as much of an emotional investment in this story. This is a lively adventure and I loved hearing about Liam's former curse and those cast on other sea bound souls stuck forever sailing the vast ocean. Liam and Cecilia's love story is wonderfully done for the length of the tale.

Vampire PI Jack Fleming takes us back to 1930s Chicago where he is hired to help a mobster daughter, Dorothy, track down her husband who went missing immediately after the wedding ceremony. As he is cracking the case, Jack realizes Dorothy is truly Her Mother's Daughter (by PN Elrod).

Her Mother's Daughter was my first venture into PN Elrod's series. I enjoyed my visit and can see me trying a few full length books in the series to see how I enjoy those. I loved the fact the era covered in this story is one not often visited in the novels I read. The 30s were full of glitz and glamour, and danger with speakeasies and flappers and the mob running rampant. Elrod does a good job portraying the thoughts and behavior of people from that time period. I wasn't surprised by the resolution to the mystery. I was surprised to see just how much Dorothy is like her mother when we get a brief glimpse into her mother's history.

In Newlydeads, Detective Pete Caldecott and her friend Jack Winter are on a vacation when strange things begin happening. People are disappearing from the Paradise Palace Casino & Resort and it appears they may be human sacrifices to a terrifying monster.

Newlydeads was probably my least favorite story in the anthology. Not because it was bad, mind you, just because I was quite confused. This novella was a bit too ambitious for the length. With as much detail about the world and its rules as had to be squeezed in, the story was a little bit hard to follow and got lost occasionally in the information. I did like the ending and how everything was wrapped up. I just wish it had been a little simpler of a road to get there.

In Where the Heart Lives by Marjorie M Liu, we are given a glimpse into the world of Dirk & Steele before the agency ever existed. Young Lucy is hired by Miss Lindsay to keep house and while there she sees a strange image in the forest of a young woman needing help, leading up to the revelation of just who these people she is now living with are.

I love the Dirk & Steele series by Liu so I was very excited when I found out Where the Heart Lives tells the story of exactly how the Dirk & Steele agency began. There is not one but two lovely romances explored in the story. I felt myself more emotionally involved in the story of Henry and Mary than I was in Lucy and Barnabus's tale but both were beautifully done. And Miss Lindsay was a fascinating person as well, who I'd love to know more about.

In Cat Got Your Tongue? by Katie MacAlister, Raphael St. John and Joy are on their honeymoon in a castle haunted by three ghosts when one of them begs their assistance in cursing her husband eternally. However, as they try to figure out how to do that, they find all is not as it seems with these three ghosts. Nor is it with Raphael who receives the shock of his life when he and Joy discover something about him they never knew.

Cat Got Your Tongue? is the most humorous story in the collection. Katie MacAlister writes with all the same hilarity and romance that has made her a household name. Fans of her series will enjoy finally discovering the secrets of Raphael St. John so tightly guarded even he wasn't aware of them. The three ghosts in the tale add extra charm to the short story.

In Half of Being Married by Lilith Saintcrow, newlyweds Kat and Mitchell discover neither was exactly entirely truthful before the wedding. When their honeymoon finds them holed up in a small town overrun by a vampire nest, they discover a few secrets about each other like the fact Kat is a vampire hunter and Mitchell is a werewolf. With a couple like that you know adventure is the name of the game!

Half of Being Married reveals what can happen when the happy couple is not entirely truthful with one another. Kat and Mitchell were afraid of how the other would react if they knew the truth, the whole truth, and nothing but the truth so kept their secrets close. Their mutual surprise to find one a werewolf and the other a vampire hunter is brilliantly done and adds a little extra punch to the story. As if fighting side by side to destroy a nest of deadly vampires wasn't already enough to deal with already. Having not read anything else by Saintcrow previously, Half of Being Married was a great introduction to this urban fantasy author.

This collection of stories is closed out by Ronda Thompson's Wulf in Groom's Clothing. Laura Wulf hates the outdoors while her husband Sam adores them. While on their honeymoon in a cabin in the forest, Laura has a close encounter with a wolf when her new husband is overcome by the family curse that has him howling at the full moon.

Wulf in Groom's Clothing by the late great Ronda Thompson brings the cursed Wulf family out of the annals of history and into modern times. It is also another comedic addition to the series. What do you get when you cross a man cursed to become a werewolf and hoping to break said curse with a young pampered princess who hates the outdoors and animals but is afraid to tell her nature-loving new groom? You get a delightful romance blended with a touch of humor that is sure to keep you turning pages. Seeing how Sam and Laura overcome their differences in a whirlwind romance won't disappoint.

My Big Fat Supernatural Honeymoon is an eclectic mix of urban fantasy and paranormal romance tales that explore the unusual side of romance. Whether you enjoy a rip roaring good time or a more serious story, you are bound to find a couple tales to enjoy here. I'd have to say my favorite story is Where the Heart Lives but I found quite a bit to love in every single installment in the collection.

© Kelley A. Hartsell, September 2008. All rights reserved.

I purchased and devoured "My Big Fat Supernatural Wedding," so was incredibly eager to read this one as well. While I was glad to read another story about Harry Dresden in any form, I found most of the rest of the stories not really worth my time. The vast majority of them assume knowledge of long-standing series, which end up cheating these shorter contributions - meant to either fill in the gap or entice you to try the series - from any semblance of satisfaction.

Armstrong's uses the protagonists from the first two novels in the "Women of the Otherworld" series and delivers a story that's all action and no feeling. I enjoyed Butcher's Dresden story, but even for being as big of a fan as I am, I think it's probably the weakest Dresden story I've ever read. Caine wrote an enjoyable follow-up to her undead pirate story from "My Big Fat Supernatural Wedding." Elrod's vampire 30s detective was also a joy to read.

Then comes the troublesome second half. Kittredge creates an entirely new world, but the story itself gets lost in all the exposition and details she has to provide for Black London. I never warmed to Liu's story at all, a prequel of sorts to her Dirk & Steele series. This is my first introduction to Liu's writing, and I'm pretty sure it's safe to say her voice just is not my style. Same goes for Katie MacAlister. This is another prequel to yet another series, and while I can see it's supposed to be funny, it's not my brand of humor. My one new find in this anthology was Lilith Saintcrow. Her prose was vivid and evocative, and she wrote a tightly contained short without sacrificing characterization. But then the anthology ends on the shortest and probably most unsatisfying story of the bunch, by Ronda Thompson. It was clearly another of those where the humor - about a Carrie Bradshaw-type married to a woodsy man with a secret - just didn't work for me.

A real mixed bag. I'd only recommend it if you're already a fan of the majority of the authors, not if you're hoping to discover new ones.

MY BIG FAT SUPERNATURAL HONEYMOON (AUDIO CD) is an anthology of paranormal short stories that focus on...you guessed it!...honeymoons. It is the companion to MY BIG FAT STUPERNATURAL WEDDING, but not a follow on, meaning that with the exception of a single story, the stories in MY BIG FAT SUPERNATURAL HONEYMOON (AUDIO CD) do not continue the stories from MY BIG FAT SUPERNATURAL WEDDING. Overall, I enjoyed this collection, met some characters that I would like to hear more from, and sampled several authors new to me.

Now, this is the audio version of MY BIG FAT SUPERNATURAL HONEYMOON. Having listened to a few audio books, I have arrived at the conclusion that audio books are not for me. I am much more focused when the book is in my hands; my mind wanders way too much when listening to the audio version, and I have to repeat numerous tracks. The reader of an audio book also has a huge impact on how deeply I get involved in the story. Some readers really make their stories come alive; others just put me to sleep.
Overall, here are my impressions of the stories from MY BIG FAT SUPERNATURAL HONEYMOON (AUDIO CD):

1. Stalked, by Kelly Armstrong. I really can't tell you much about this story. The reader was boring and monotonous, and I had quite a difficult time focusing. His voice was a great soporific; I found myself yawning...a lot. Additionally, it took way too long to get to any action, and I couldn't seem to care about these characters.

2. Heorot, by Jim Butcher. This is a Dresden Files story that takes place between White Knight and Small Favor. While he doesn't sound like Dresden does in my head, the reader is great, and his characterizations are excellent. I really liked this story and we learned a bit more about the mysterious and deadly Miss Guard. Typical, fun Dresden.

3. Roman Holiday, by Rachel Caine. This is the one story that is a continuation of its counterpart in MY BIG FAT SUPERNATURAL WEDDING. Who knew I could like pirate stories so much? But Rachel Caine weaves a fun and entertaining story, and the reader does a really nice job. These are great characters.

4. Her Mother's Daughter, by P.L. Elrod. This had a nice noir detective feel. Jack Fleming is an old fashioned gumshoe detective, who also just happens to be a vampire. I enjoyed the reader, the atmosphere was well done, and this story made me laugh.

5. Newlydeads, by Caitlin Kittredge. This story took much too long to get to any action. The reader was very soft and sonorous, and some accents were quite difficult to understand. I had a very hard time staying focused on this one, and I really didn't care about the story or the characters.

6. Where the Heart Lives, by Marjorie M. Liu. This was an old fashioned "BOO!" ghost story, and the spookiest of the bunch. Great atmosphere, interesting characters and the reader was not too bad. If the story of Little Red Riding Hood didn't keep you out of the woods, this one will!

7. Cat Got Your Tongue, by Katie MacAlister. This story was just plain FUN! Feuding Scottish ghosts battle it out in an old castle, interrupting the honeymoon of our main characters. The reader did great job. I just loved this one.

8. Half of Being Married, by Lilith Saintcrow. This was a really good story and the characters were great. We have a werewolf who marries a vampire slayer - but neither knows what the other is! Talk about your mixed marriages. The reader is a bit monotonous but not too bad.

9. Wulf in Groom's Clothing, by Ronda Thompson. Another fun one with interesting characters, a great story, and a very good reader. I would definitely read more about this couple. What happens when a bride doesn't know her groom is a werewolf...until after the ceremony?

I really did enjoy most of the stories in this volume. It is possible that I would have enjoyed the rest of them if this had not been the audio version. Clearly audio books are not for me...no matter how good the story is. If you like paranormal stories, then MY BIG FAT SUPERNATURAL HONEYMOON is HIGHLY RECOMMENDED. But buy the book instead.

Note: This review is for the audio version.

The stories in "My Big Fat Supernatural Honeymoon" are all supernatural (no shock there) and all center around honeymoons (no shock there, either). There are werewolf stories, vampire stories, and ghost stories. As other reviewers have summarized the plots admirably, I won't do so here. I will simply share my reactions to the book.

The best aspect of the book was the variety of readers. Each story had its own reader, someone chosen (I assume) to suit the story's narrator and theme. One of the worst things that can happen to a story when it is produced as an audiobook is the inapt choice of a narrator. That problem did not exist here. Though some readers were naturally better than others, in general, all were well up to their task.

My favorite story was Ronda Thompson's "Wulf in Groom's Clothing," a funny story about a newlywed man who has a confession to make to his wife. However, telling her that he is a werewolf might be the least of his problems when it turns out that she, too, has withheld secrets, namely that her earlier statement that she loves the outdoors (something she said to appeal to him more) turns out not to be remotely true.

Marjorie M. Liu's "Where the Heart Lives" is a close second. In this story, a young girl sees a ghost in the forest. As it turns out, the ghost is the former wife of one of the girl's employers, and what follows is a ghostly coming-of-age and gaining-of-wisdom story. This story, I thought, had the best character development and a resolution that fit well within the story's structure and length.

Lilith Saintcrow's "Half of Being Married" is probably the most frightening of the lot. In this one, two newlyweds have secrets from each other (again). Once more, he is a werewolf. She, however, is a vampire slayer. The two are on their honeymoon in a town that has had more than its share of disappearances. Soon, both newlyweds are in danger as they fight to rid the town of its curse.

These three stories stood out for me, but, as I glance over others' reviews, I see that taste here is entirely subjective. The two stories I liked least (one of which I found truly awful) have been praised by others. I don't see much point in naming those stories, but I will say that, with the exception of the two, every story was enjoyable, and some were really a great deal of fun. It appears, given the diversity of opinions here, that most readers should find at least a few stories that they like here. It's easy enough to flip pages when one story doesn't work--or, in the medium I received--to click ahead several audio tracks. (I should note that this is a Brilliance Audio production, and, as such, it has 99 tracks per CD.)

I really enjoy theme anthologies, and I really enjoy audiobooks. This is both! It's my chance to enjoy some talented writers and some talented readers. Each story has its own particular take on the honeymoon theme, and they are read by various readers, sometimes more than one, like an old radio program. I could do housework or drive my car while hearing about ghosts and Grendel, mystery and murder, pirates and ancient gods - and all upon a honeymoon.

I'll definitely be reading more of some of these authors; in fact, I've already started watching the cancelled series The Dresden Files, since there's a Harry Dresden tale included. I'm sure that every listener will have favorites, but all are worth listening to again - and again.

The majority of these stories feel like you are jumping into them somewhere in the middle of a much longer story. So you really aren't sure what is going on unless you are already familiar with the characters. By the time you start to get a feel for the characters & fall into the story, it is pretty much over.
I suppose these super short stories are to get the listener interested in the full works by the authors. A fine idea gone wrong. I can't get interested in something that ends before it really grabs me.
I found that I got bored listening to the stories because of the shortness. Next story already? I feel cheated. It's kind of like that.
I mostly gave this 3 stars because I really enjoy audio books & supernatural stories. I'm not too sure I would recommend this to anyone unless you are the kind of person who likes to pick up a book, flip it open to page whatever somewhere in the middle & read maybe 10 to 20 pages & be done with it. Next book please. Not my kind of reading.

When I selected "My Big Fat Supernatural Honeymoon", a short collection of paranormal romance stories, I expected to be amused and entertained. Afterall, I was familiar with a few of the authors, and hoped that I would find the stories both well written and light. Initially I had mixed feelings about the stories....some were good and others were mediocre, BUT in the end, there were more good stories than bad.

"Stalked", by Kelley Armstrong chronicled the honeymoon adventurers of Elena and Clay. They have finally married and plan on a very uneventful honeymoon when things change. Elena, being the only female werewolf is being stalked on her honeymoon. Apparently, a "mutt" has a different idea and wants to challenge Clay for Elena, especially since there have been reports that he was injured and getting soft in his old age. Having acted as Jeremy's right-hand (pack enforcer) since childhood (when he dismembered a mutt and photographed it to show what he would do to protect his alpha), he worries that if he doesn't cement his reputation before long other mutts will challenge his authority. "Shift" definitely was a solid "4".

In Jim Butcher's "In Heorot" we find Wizard/Private Investigator Harry Dresden trying to help a groom find his missing bride. Teaming up with a competitor ("Valkarye"), Harry soon discovers that stolen beer, a beer competition, a missing bride, all equal a Grendel (from the legendary Beowulf) bent on breeding, even if it kills the bride. A solid 2 ½....not my favorite but definitely not the worst.

Newlyweds Cilla and Liam Lockhard, are anxious to begin their new life together. Having broken his curse (to roam the oceans as a pirate), Cilla and Liam are ever devoted to each other. Believing that he has truly been "bewitched" his crew commits mutiny, and it will only be the ultimate sacrifice that will bring them back together in Rachel Caine's "Roman Holiday". 2 ½.

Apparently the roaring 30's were more exciting than I ever imagined. This was an era of fedora wearing vampires and dastardly mobsters. Private Investigator/Vampire Jack Fleming is trying to help an upset bride, whose father is also a notorious mobster, in P.L. Elrod's "Her Mother's Daughter". Apparently Dorothy is just like her mother when it comes to spurning suitors, and getting what she wants. And right now all she wants is her groom back and she is willing to "break some legs" to do it. 2 ½.

In Caitlin Kittredge's "Newlydeads" we find Jack and Petunia in the middle of a bit of trouble. This story was filled with strange ocean creatures, missing spouses, mages, dark magic, sacrifices, robe wearing crazies, and other supernatural/paranormal events. However, this was by far my least favorite. I eventually gave this story a "1" because it ended on a somewhat decent note, but to arrive at this rating was difficult. I found this story to be confusing and really difficult to understand.

Marjorie M. Liu's "Where the Heart Lives" was a sweet story about a young girl (Lucy) who comes to work for a family of mysterious people. She also has a gift that allows her to see ghosts. One of her employers is hopelessly devoted to his wife who disappeared in the woods around his home on their wedding night. He can't go into the woods, and she (Mary) has been cursed and can't leave. There is a handsome boy (Barnabus) who people claim that "the forest" stole his voice. Another employer (Ms. Lindsey) can change forms (into an owl or large bird). And there is of course a witch (bean sidhe) who inhibits the woods, desires companionship and family, and rides around on a stag cursing those that she feels has done her wrong. But what will happen to them all when Lucy stands up to her? This was a solid 3.

Katie MacAlister's "Cat Got Your Tongue" was a funny story about battling feuding ghosts, a cursed stone and an interesting bloodline. Raphael (AKA Bob) and Joy are honeymooning in a haunted castle when they encounter a ghost who wants her cheating husband to be cursed so that she can rest. As the two struggle to decide if or how they should help, Bob realizes that he may have some history with the castle and the curse. And when he turns into a lion, it will be his new bride's determination and willingness to break the rules that will break a curse that has been around for centuries. ....4

Mitch and Cat are on their honeymoon, in Lilith Saintcrow's "Half of Being Married". The only problem, Mitch never told his new bride that he is a "sunrunner" (aka a werewolf) and she never told him that she was a vampire hunter and worked for a secret society of vampire hunters. So when the cat is out of the bad, and strange things start happening around them, they must put their honeymoon on hold to solve the mystery. For such a small town, they have a high rate of disappearances (teens), a nest of vampires, and other mythical beings galore. As the body count rises, Mitch fights to keep his "Cat" safe at all costs...4

How do you tell your new bride that a full moon makes you run on all fours? This is the premise behind Ronda Thompson's "Wulf in Groom's Clothing". Sam Wulf never found the right moment to tell his city bride that he was cursed. Believing that his soul-mate would break the family curse, Sam takes his bride to the big woods for their honeymoon. Clearly not use to fishing, fighting bugs or seeing wolves in her cabin, Laura (Wulf) finds that there is more to her husband than meets the eye. And when it seems that marrying her did not break the curse, he is determined to come clean and tell her about his beast. How will she handle it? 4 ½ - 5.

"Stalked" and "Wulf in Groom's Clothing" were probably my favorites...Stalked probably because I was familiar with Armstrong's Otherworld Series and "Wulf" because it was hilarious. The problem that I had was that I thought a few of the stories could have been left out, and some of the others lengthened. And because in the end the good outweighed the bad, I changed my initial rating of a 2 and ended up with an overall rating of "4". So, if you like the paranormal, and are willing to trudge thru a few bad ones, there are a few gems for you to enjoy.

My Bid Fat Supernatural Honeymoon (audio version) is a collection of short stories sharing the combination honeymoon-supernatural theme. There are werewolves, wizards, aliens tied together with the common theme of honeymoon/romance. At least most of the stories started out on a honeymoon. Beyond the announcement of honeymoon, these stories all have very little to do with the characters on a honeymoon.
I won't outline each story or character as that appears to have been done quite thoroughly by other reviewers. Each story is relatively short, includes only a few characters, and most are related in some way to serial stories by each author.
It is difficult for me to comment on the stories themselves because of the difficulty I had paying attention. Normally when I have an audiobook loaded into the cd player in my car I worry I won't notice the traffic. I can become so engaged in the story I am disappointed when I arrive at my appointed destination. Not so here. I found myself drifting, and having to back up (the cd, not the car) because I missed so much. I tried different times of day, varying volume levels, and outright telling myself to pay attention. It could have been the stories themselves (too much dialogue, not enough story in most) but in some cases it was the narration. I particularly dislike a male narrator trying to sound like a woman. In Heorot, we meet a woman who has "an accent, perhaps Scandinavian or Russian". When the narrator does her voice, he sounds like Ru Paul with a cold trying to sound Norwegian. Definitely cringe-worthy.
If you are a fan of these writers, you might enjoy this anthology. I am a fan of supernatural themes, but suffered through this. Might be better in print rather than audio, but I cannot recommend this as enjoyable listening.

We've taken a look at the wild and weird wedding photos, now it's time to hitch a ride on the honeymoon train. Here are a handful of supernatural stories of post-wedding vacations gone awry.

[STALKED] by Kelley Armstrong is a Clay and Elena story from her Women of the Otherworld series. When a mutt interupts Clay's special honeymoon plans for Elena he's got to get rid of the bastard without drawing attention to it. Fans of Armstrong's characters will probably love this one but hearing it from Clay's perspective felt weird to me. 3/5 stars

[HEOROT] by Jim Butcher brings readers into the world of Harry Dresden for a quickie adventure. Harry and his dog Mouse are set after a grendelkin who has kidnapped a young bride just setting out on her honeymoon. While I've still not delved into the Dresden Files Butcher knows how to deliver an entertaining short story that even non-fans of the series can enjoy. 4/5 stars

[ROMAN HOLIDAY or SPQ-ARRRRRR] by Rachel Caine picks up where her story from My Big Fat Supernatural Wedding left off. Celia and Liam Lockhart are about to set off on their honeymoon but first they've got to deal with mutiny and a couple of cursed bad guys on the high seas. Another cute piratical adventure from Caine, a fun follow-up to her previous tale of pirates. 4/5 stars

[HER MOTHER'S DAUGHTER] by P.N. Elrod drops readers into the world of Elrod's Vampire Files with Jack Fleming being rushed to a reception to find a missing groom. Twists and turns lead Jack through some interesting social curiosities all while hiding the fact that he is in fact, a vampire. Another series I've not read but certainly does tickle my curiosity with Elrod's narrative style, one I am sure Vampire Files fans would enjoy but readable by anybody. 4/5 stars

[NEWLYDEADS] by Caitlin Kittredge leads readers through a confusing plot that introduces her leading characters for her Black London series (which wasn't released yet when this anthology was released but rather, just came out June 2009). Newlyweds and strange happenings at a nice hotel/resort make for a strange story of spooky magic. Liked the characters introduced but this story confused the heck out of me, I was completely lost with no explanation of the finer details this series will introduce. 3/5 stars

[WHERE THE HEART LIVES] by Marjorie M. Liu is noted as taking place long before the events of her Dirk & Steele series but basically being tied to it. When a young woman is thrust from her home and sent to live with strangers who care for a cemetery ghostly happenings and a dangerous mystery in the woods threaten her. This one IMO really didn't fit the honeymoon theme of the book very well but was a great story I very much enjoyed. 4/5 stars

[CAT GOT YOUR TONGUE] by Katie MacAlister follows characters from her Dark Ones series through a honeymoon adventure in a haunted castle. When Raphael St. John and his bride meet up with the ghosts of Fyfe Castle they might get more than they bargained for in this vacation package. A little too silly for my tastes I (again) think fans of the series who wanted to know more about Raphael will like what they read. 3/5 stars

[HALF OF BEING MARRIED] by Lilith Saintcrow is typical Saintcrow originality poured into print for a clever, exciting adventure that flies by fast. Mr. and Mrs. Black have just started their honeymoon when they find out that their most important secrets they've been hiding from one another could be a deal-breaker, if the vampires don't get to them first! Saintcrow's writing is always hit or miss with me, love it or hate it she knows how to create really unique stuff and this is no exception... pretty darned good for a short story. 4/5 stars

[A WULF IN GROOM'S CLOTHING] by Ronda Thompson is a modern Wulf family (from her historical paranormal Wild Wulfs of London trilogy) tale of a newlywed Wulf and his unbroken curse. Sam hoped his curse would be broken once he and Laura married and consumated their marriage but when he still turns wolfy he's going to have to tell her the truth. This was cute but not overly fluffy and really made me wish that Thompson (who passed away last summer) was going to be writing more. 4/5 stars

Overall not quite as strong of a collection as My Big Fat Supernatural Wedding but definitely a nicely balanced one. Lots of tie-ins to other series written by these authors so their fans really shouldn't miss out on picking this one up. So what's next? An anniversaries collection maybe? Enjoy!