Customer Reviews

Nocturnal

5 star:		(2)
4 star:		(6)
3 star:		(3)
2 star:		(4)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

Nocturnal by Jacquelyn Frank, Kate Douglas, Jess Haines, and Clare Willis
Paranormal Romance - Sept. 7, 2010
4 ½ stars

Nocturnal was generally a fantastic paranormal anthology. I enjoyed most of the stories. Most of them are part of the authors' current or due to be released series.

The Phoenix Project
In The Phoenix Project Jacquelyn Frank begins a new genetically altered shifter paranormal.
Amara has lived a rough life and it only got worse when she was kidnapped and is now being experimented on. When she wakes up and is thrown into a room with a gorgeous cop, named Nick who was also taken, she finds that she can't keep her hands off of him. Their sexual attraction flares and she can't control the fangs and claws that suddenly appear and neither can he! They form a desperate bond but their short happiness is threatened by unscrupulous scientists with armed guards. Can they escape?
This was a phenomenal story. I would have bought the book for this story alone. I can't wait for the author's upcoming book to find out more about these amazing and savage shifters. I loved both of the characters and there was so much sexual tension that it was hot, hot, HOT! I could feel how much the characters belonged together. 5 stars


Crystal Dreams
In Crystal Dreams Kate Douglas continues her Demon series. Demons enter through a portal to earth. Darius is a Lemurian Guard, 1 of 4 guards with his crystal sword that can kill demons. He is from an alternate plane and decides to track them down before they cause further damage. He hunts them down to a mystical store where he meets an amazing woman named Mari. Although she doesn't believe him at 1st, they soon become a team to combat the demons entering earth. And both of them have an undeniable attraction for each other.
This was an excellent story that made me want to know more about Darius and the land he comes from. The crystal sword also captured my imagination. I enjoyed both of the main characters since they were strong and easy to care for. 4 ½ stars


Spark of Temptation
In Spark of Temptation Jess Jaines continues her Other series with the human P.I. Sara. Sara is doesn't like working for the Others (vampires, shifters etc) but when she is blackmailed by a powerful vampire to help him she feels she has not choice. But problems ensue when her human boyfriend argues with her not to work with the vampires and they break up. Then she is threatened by the AOA, the Anti-Other Alliance and their plan to undermine the vampires. As Sara comes to lean on a mage for help she must re-evaluate her life and what she thinks of the Others.
This story was in 1st person which is good if the main character is interesting but Sara was a very bland character. Also since she was a human she really appeared weak next to the Others and even other humans. So I didn't enjoy this story as much. 3 stars


My Soul to Take
In My Soul to Take the author, Clare Willis writes a new and original story about a handsome artist named Derek who has been possessed by a ghost who wants revenge. Unfortunately, Derek finds himself in a psychiatric ward. Feeling helpless and in despair he tries to end his life to prevent the ghost from coming free and taking over his body. But Derek unexpectedly meets a remarkable doctor named Maggie Dillon. Maggie feels a connection to Derek and begins to believe his story of possession but can she save Derek and remove the ghost before it is too late?
This was an intriguing read. I loved how the author built upon the story and moved it in directions that were unexpected and entertaining. The story was in 1st person and I thought Maggie was a charming voice to read. 4 ½ stars

Reviewed by Steph from the Bookaholics Romance Book Club

Nocturnal is a bit of a mishmash of genres, sci fi, urban fantasy and paranormal romance with no obvious unifying theme, but Nocturnal did give me chance to try three new-to-me authors: paranormal romance authors Douglas and Willis, as well urban fantasy author Haines and to read a short by an old favorite author Franks.

Here's a quick little blurb for the stories which make up Nocturnal:

Spark of Temptation- Jess Haines - continuing directly after her urban fantasy series, Hunted by Others, PI Sara is blackmailed into taking on a job working for vampire leader Royce, which puts her in the sights of the most radical of the anti-Others groups. but luckily she has mage Arnold watching her back (I liked this one mostly because I liked the geeky Arnold, there is some very mild romance but it is oddly executed.)

My Soul To Take - Clare Willis - A pyschiatric intern is drawn to a talented young man who is not crazy but possessed - (I found this to be the most appealing of the stories, I thought that the Willis did a good job of making a connection between her leads and I liked the touch of voodoo too.)

Crystal Dreams - Kate Douglas - connected to her Demon Hunter series, a lemurian warrior must protect a women who appears to be a magnet for demons which have escaped to the Earth - (pleasant enough romance with a nice bit of steam.)

The Phoenix Project - Jacqueline Frank - Genetically modified shapeshifters can't fight their new animal instincts to mate and to fight - (This is the most erotic story in the book and The hero has real potential but the story was too short to morph the pairs' animal need to claim a mate - and to violently protect that claim - into a romance. This felt like it should be series starter, but I checked Frank's website and it's not.)

The stories in this anthology did not grab or keep my attention for very long. They were disjointed and lacked excitement. On some, it felt like we were joining the story half way through and not having read some of the authors prior, I had little idea of the background between characters.

Review courtesy of [...]

I had never read anything by any of the authors in this anthology apart from Jess Haines, and apart from Jess's story, I'm not likely to seek them out after reading their efforts in NOCTURNAL. All in all, this is a very disjointed collection containing a hardcore erotic story, two paranormal romances, and an urban fantasy.

The Phoenix Project by Jacquelyn Frank was by far the most sexually explicit thing I have ever read. The story is 130 pages long and I would say that at least 120 of those pages were sex scenes. The story itself, what little there was, was actually pretty interesting. In a dystopian world, people are abducted from their homes, imprisoned, and used a lab rats until they die. Amara and Nick are genetically altered and thrown into a room together naked. They quickly discover an almost painfully animalistic need to mate, along with a few erotic alterations to their bodies. Lots, and lots, and lots of shockingly detailed graphic sex follows. Hardcore erotica is really not the kind of thing I enjoy reading, so I'm feeling somewhat at a loss as to how to rate this one... ?/5 bats

By comparison, Crystal Dreams by Kate Douglas (100 pages), about inter-dimensional demons and the immortal warriors devoted to destroying them, was tame, although it also contains several long graphic sex scenes. When demons target a magic shop owner, the warrior vows to protect her and falls in lust, sorry love, along the way. The world building was intriguing, but mostly wasting in this tale. Worse, neither character was particularly strong. Darius was tired as the stoic warrior who succumbs to a pretty face, and Mari wasn't half as sparkling as the crystals she sold...2/5 bats

Spark of Temptation by Jess Haines (102 pages) was the reason I wanted to read this anthology and it didn't disappoint. Focusing on two supporting characters from Jess's excellent urban fantasy debut Hunted By The Others, this story picks up at the end of the previous book while Shiarra is still recovering in the hospital and shows us how her investigating partner Sara and the mage Arnold got together. This is a solid urban fantasy in a complex world of recently revealed Others (non-humans), with likable characters, paranormal peril, and one super sexy vampire. Unlike the other three stories in NOCTURNAL, this one is subtly sexy without any actual sex...4/5 bats

The last story, My Soul to Take by Clare Willis (starts on 333) involves a doctor in a psychiatric ward and her possible possessed suicidal patient. It can be difficult to establish a credible romance in short stories, but I almost feel like this story didn't even try. Within seconds of meeting each other the characters are making out declaring their love only pages later. There is also a side plot where the doctor tries to reconnect with her sister after years of estrangement following the suicide of their mother, but again it fell flat...2/5 bats


Sexual Content: From obscenely graphic erotica in one story, only references to sex in another, and everything in between.

These are short stories by 4 authors, 3 of whom I never read before. I liked 3 out of 4, One had too much graphic
erotica for my taste. I wouldn't pass it on to a friend.

The Phoenix Project has got to be my favorite story out of all the short stories. It was exciting and had some sharp turns you aren't expecting. The plot was solid and I enjoyed the characters.
Crystal Dreams was pretty good. I enjoyed the plot and thought the characters were pretty exceptional. It was a very good read.
Spark of Temptation was good. The drama is well placed and the action doesn't take over the book. All in all it was enjoyable and I loved the plot.
My Soul to take. I hated it. I didn't like the characters, I didn't like the plot or the whole doctor/patient thing. I didn't like it period. I've read alot of books and I have to say this one I will never read again.
But suffice to say I enjoyed all the other books and I would have given this book 5 stars if not for My Soul to Take by Clare Willis.

This review is mostly about Jacquelyn Frank's novella in this book. Through most of the story I would give it a 3 star. It is a really neat concept just not executed well. Sort of Lora Leigh's "Breeds" with a little more supernatural thrown in. If not for the concept I might have rated it even lower. What turned me off from this story the most was the epilogue. She pushed rough passionate sex between two "animalistic" indivuals to practically rape, and then on top of that she really needs a little education on contraception. If these characters appear in further stories I fully expect the female lead to be pregnant because these two characters don't know anything about effective birth control. After reading this story I was a not forgiving of the other stories flaws, everything seemed trite and predictable. The characters never seemed to develop and I was disappointed. As I was so offended by the first story I don't feel like I am a good judge of the other three stories due to guilt by association.

First, let me say I'm not usually an anthology-type reader; I like my stories long and involved. That being said, and despite it, NOCTURNAL is fantastic. The stories range from sweetly, madly sexy to sizzling and psychotic (one of which gives an enticing view into personality disorders), and each captivated me in its own way. I'm always on the lookout for something by Kate Douglas (she who never disappoints). Now, I'll actively search out book-length reads by the other 3 authors as well. Thank you, authors, for a job well done; way to go, Zebra.

"The Phoenix Project" by Jacquelyn Frank
Amara was kidnapped from a workhouse and is now in a living nightmare where the prisoners are experimented upon for God knows what. Pain and suffering is a daily reality for Amara and those held captive with her. Seeing a new male in the building proves to be the beginning to Amara's new life. Nick Gregory is a Federated States cop who got too close to what the scientists were doing and now he is one of the captives. When he is forced to mate with Amara, the results will show just who is the most powerful, the experimented on or the scientists who dared to fool around with Mother Nature's best creation.

"The Phoenix Project" proves that no one is above justice. As I turned the pages, I wanted Amara and Nick to find a way out and maybe even help the others and kill the project. I got more than my wishes answered by the time I finished. I loved how Nick not only protected Amara but how they both just knew how to work together and show the others what Alpha means. The love that developed between Amara and Nick was the perfect counterbalance to the horror they faced. While the immediate story is over, it left me with many questions that have me hoping to see more of this world down the road. "The Phoenix Project" takes science fiction elements and combines them with romance in such a way that leaves you satisfied, yet wanting more. A wonderful start to this anthology.


"Crystal Dreams" by Kate Douglas
Mari Schwartz, well her official name is Marigold Moonbeam Schwartz, so you can see why she goes as Mari. Right now she is off to run her mother's magic shop. Not that Mari believes her mother's claims that they are witches, but the shop does well. Darius of Kronus is a Lemurian guard who is protecting the entry into his world when he sees demons escaping into Earth. Following his orders to the limit, Darius goes after them. Mari and Darius' meeting is a bit explosive but that is only a hint at what awaits them as they fight to rid Earth of demons, and to figure out why the magic shop has become a welcome beacon for them. Can an Earthling and a Lemurian find a way to defeat demons and protect their love?

"Crystal Dreams" proves that your soul mate doesn't have to be from your own realm. I saw that Mari and Darius had more going against them both in the area of love and fighting the demons. However, it became clear to me really fast that both Mari and Darius were more than willing to sacrifice themselves for the other, and that type of sacrifice should always be rewarded. I found the adventure and the magic to be a great combination to go along with Mari and Darius' story. Ms. Douglas gave us a wonderful glimpse into yet another couple from her new series Demonslayers.


"Spark of Temptation" by Jess Haines
Sara Halloway is a P.I. who has been blackmailed into working for a vampire to find out who is asking questions at his club, and why. Sara just wants to get the job done and discovers that her quick answers are only the tip of the iceberg.

Arnold is a mage who wants to protect Sara, and maybe get to spend some personal time with her. Danger seems to follow every move of this assignment, and becomes a job that turns out to be much greater than was expected. However, Sara and Arnold know just how to not only defeat a group that threatens the peace in several circles, but also how to protect the passion that is springing up between them.

"Spark of Temptation" shows Sara that not all mages are the same. I loved Sara's spunkiness and Arnold's determination to prove that they belonged together. Sara and Arnold's adventure was action packed and had me wondering just what would happen next in several spots. That they could defeat powerful enemies while discovering a future together wove in perfectly with the adventure. I loved that the vampires were not the `bad' parties just because of what they were. Another world I hope to see expanded upon. Yet another great story that is making this book a keeper.


"My Soul to Take" by Clare Willis
Dr. Maggie Dillon is the chief resident just coming on shift and is told jokingly that a new patient is possessed. Maggie is unsure how to take that but as she reads the notes on this patient, she finds he isn't unknown to her. Derek Fielding is a folk musician, a very successful one. Normally a very easygoing guy, lately Derek has been acting nothing like himself and with this attempt to take his own life, his family is worried. Maggie can't put her finger on the problem but she knows that it isn't normal depression. Together, Maggie and Derek find the answers to what has attacked him even after he leaves the hospital. Deciding that she can't help Derek herself, Maggie calls in the big guns from her past in New Orleans. Derek and Maggie risk everything to defeat this evil from within.

"My Soul to Take" has Maggie and Derek defeating a foe from the past. I could understand Maggie's needing to try science first before going on to other ways. Just as I could feel Derek's desperation to make sure no one else suffered from the spirit that threatened take over his life. I could tell it was the passion between them that allowed both Maggie and Derek to seek the answers no matter where they came from. And that in turn gave them a future of joy rather than sorrow. A fantastic last story from a truly wonderful collection of stories.


Nocturnal combined not only a slate of great authors but even better stories. There was not one I found to be less than the others. Through them I traveled from the near past to contemporary times to somewhere in the future. It didn't matter if it was a nasty spirit, demons, or mad scientists, they were all defeated by the same thing - true love. Nocturnal is a must read for any paranormal lover, and one you will want to read more than once. It gives you shivers and cheers from the beginning to the last page.

Jo
Reviewed for Joyfully Reviewed

A collection of novellas by these 4 authors results in a mix bag. Jacquelyn Frank's "The Phoenix Project" was hot and disturbing. Set in a futuristic America, a secret society is kidnapping humans and performing bizarre experiments on them to create a super race. The end result is Morphates humans with vampire tendencies that adopt wolfpack instincts. In a sense, Morphates are like the Sangi from her Drink of Me novel.

Kate Douglas, who got second billing, turned in "Crystal Dreams" which was rather lame and confusing. 7-8 foot tall immortal humans (Lemurians...like as in Lemurs?) who had to leave Earth when Atlantis sank have protected Earth and their dimension from demons. He follows a pack of demons to a store that sells spells, crystals, etc by hippies...including the pretty daughter Mari. It lacked any focus to be good.

Jess Haines' "Spark of Temptation" is clearly part of a series and although I'd never read it, Haines did a great job introducing her human PI character thrust in the midst of a war with White Hats/Alliance Against Others and the Vampires/Werewolves/Magi. The story was well placed, well developed, and quite good.

Clare Willis'"My Soul to Take" told the story of a psychiatrist, Maggie Dillon, facing a patient with a multiple personality disorder so profound, she has no choice but to actually hearken back to her New Orleans' roots and suspect possession. The story could've used another 20 pages but due to the need of promoting Drink of Me for the last 20+ pages, the story was given short shrift; which is unfortunate.