Customer Reviews

Vegas Bites: A Werewolf Romance Anthology (Noire Allure)

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

 

 

VEGAS BITES is an eclectic mix of werewolves 'Weres',
vampires 'Vamps', 'Humans', and 'Others'. The action is sequestered
within four separate stories surrounding the French Quarter Hotel
and Casino, in Las Vegas. It is owned by 'Weres' who are hosting a
twenty million dollar tournament.

HEAT by Leslie Esdaile: The owners of the French Quarter are
retiring and a rival 'Were' pack is positioning themselves for a
hostile takeover. Police officer Butch Maverick is in Vegas to
help Laurel, the casino's chief of security, abort the takeover.
Laurel and Butch have a tangled history; she is the only 'Were' to
ever tame the wolf in him, but he messed up. Laurel wants to keep
things between them strictly business. But when Butch steps through
the casino doors, he can smell Laurel's perfume and he feels the
heat.

THE HUNGER WITHIN by J.M. Jeffries: Solange Warwick, the personal
assistant for the casino's owners, was adopted by them after she was
bitten, over a century ago. Because of her unrequited love for
their son she plans to leave the casino. She is further stressed
when she learns that the casino will be robbed, and also when she
meets Jared, an undercover FBI agent working for the enemy. Jared
is 'Human' and therefore off limits. First they must save the casino
and then Solange must decide what a century old werewolf can do with a
thirty something human?

DOUBLE DOWN by Seressia Glass: Simone Masters, daughter to the
casino owners, has the distinction of being born a werewolf and as
such has additional powers. Another 'Were' was killed and Simone
feels responsible, so it has been five years since she has run the
plains as a wolf. As head of entertainment, she tries to compensate
by booking superb acts for the casino. The current act, a human
magician, has been asked to be a guest on The Mystery Channel. This
would bring major publicity to the casino; but he refuses. Simone's
attempts to get to the bottom of his refusal, reveals he is
not 'Human'. The revelation could be the death or quite possilby the
life of her.

OUT OF THE DARK by Natalie Dunbar: Kellie Monroe, home to bury her
grandmother, is attacked and bitten by a 'Were'. Kellie's DNA is
more than human, and an antidote to prevent her from being turned
almost kills her. Attempts to kidnap her puts her in the custody of
Garen Roy, who is working with the Las Vegas Preternatural Police.
Kellie learns her grandmother was not 'Were', 'Vamp', or 'Human'.
But there is an amulet her grandmother left to her, which holds the
key to all of the mystery, gives Kellie a power she could never have
imagined, and offers hope to a smitten Garen Roy.

Hot, tantalizing, out-of-this world describes this collaboration of
nocturnal musings. VEGAS BITES will leave you wondering and watching,
especially the eyes of people you meet. Kudos to the authors for
taking readers to the outer-limits in a well told and highly erotic
way.

Reviewed by aNN of The RAWSISTAZ(tm) Reviewers

The next time you take a stroll along the Vegas Strip, you might want to look closely at who passes you by. If they seem extra hairy, have extra long canine teeth or send shivers through you, you might be looking at a werewolf. By day, they are as normal as you and I, but on a full moon night or in the midst of a brawl they can shift into a dangerous and scary creature. The four female authors of this anthology provide a story surrounding the French Quarter Hotel and Casino big poker tournament in this novel, Vegas Bites.

L.A. Banks, known for her vampire series mixes werewolves and vampires in her story, Heat. Bounty hunter, Butch Maverick, returns to Vegas to investigate rumblings that someone was out to rob the hotel and steal the tournament booty. Butch has to solicit the help of Laurel, the hotel's security boss. Butch and Laurel have a past they thought they were over, but with a full moon and her being in heat, they can not resist the temptation to mate again and perhaps rekindle their relationship. Together they fight off a rogue werewolf band to save the hotel's fortune.

J.M. Jeffries picks up the story as she introduces more members of the Warwick family in her story, The Hunger Within. An Omega werewolf, Solange Warwick is contemplating leaving the family when her parents retire and move from Vegas to Alaska. With her omega status, she needs the protection of her parents. The another rogue werewolf is after the Warwick family fortune and Special Agent Jarred Maitland is on hand to stave off the burglary. In the midst of his work, he falls hard for the beautiful Solange, and helps her move up in the ranks of the Warwick family.

Seressia Glass wrote my favorite story in the anthology, Double Down. Simone is the entertainer director of the French Quarter Hotel and Casino. She has booked magician Kadim for the hotel and now the Mystery Channel wants to do an expose on him. But, Kadim is not cooperating. He is a private person and refuses to be shown on film. Simone decides to take matters in her own hands and heads to his hideaway home; what she does not know is that it is all for her. Kadim is full of secrets. He can shift into a werewolf, but is not a werewolf. He is in love with Simone and his biggest secrets can keeps him enslaved to an unwanted master. Can Kadim and Simone find love?

In Natalie Dunbar's story, Out of the Dark, the werewolves are on a rampage in a small town outside of Vegas. They have killed many of the town's residents, but after viciously attacking Kellie Monroe they allow her to live, but the doctor almost kills her when she has a violent reaction to the vaccine to prevent her from becoming a werewolf. Her case intrigues Preternatural Police officer Garen Roy. He has two mysteries to solve. Why was Kellie not killed and if she is not a werewolf, then what is she.

This book offers a little for both the romance and sci-fi reader. For the romance reader, this anthology provides four romantic stories between male and females. For the reader who enjoys sci-fi, they will like the ideal of werewolves working and living as humans until they are attacked. I say if you are looking for a little something different in your usual boy meets girl romance, then this might be the book for you..

Jeanette
APOOO BookClub

As a huge fan of L.A. Banks' VHL series, and having enjoyed her werewolf story from Dark Dreams II, I was looking forward to her story. And I have enjoyed the J.M. Jeffries stories I've read before. However I don't think I've ever read anything by Seressia Glass or Natalie Dunbar before. As for the stories, I liked them all, but had some reservations about the last one. They all took place revolving around the hotel and the Temple wolf clan, but the 4th story involved a cousin or something and just seemed a little off from the other stories. The way they are connected, I guess I expected the last story to be about Malcolm, the future clan leader of the Temple clan. In L.A. Banks' story, it seems she alluded to Malcolm having a mate, but the others made it seem like he didn't. That was a little confusing. But I loved the premise and the set up has the potential for a continuing series given the size of the clans. They just have to work on the consistancies more. Overall, an enjoyable group of stories. And quite a few steamy parts. Without a doubt L.A. Bank's story would be my favorite, but I admit to being biased. I would recomend reading the book. Give it a try.

Anyone who loves a good story will love this book. I got it because i know L.A. Banks is a good author, what i got was much more. I did not know what to expect but i wasnt dissaapointed. I love the way all the authors tie the stories together. Once you read the first one and go into the second, u wont be lost or trying to gain understanding about the story. I loved that the basic back story tied everything together and made for a real good read.

I liked this book, but have read more compelling werewolf stories. The storyline of a family of werewolves seems fun and different, it's sad that none of the authors seemed to have taken any of their storylines to a full-length book.

As a huge LA Banks fan, she did not disappointment me in the opening story; the life and dynamics of a were clan was as exciting as her incredible vampire huntress series, JM Jeffries, Seressia Glass did a fabulous job of seamlessly tying in the characters and nuances established with the first novella. While intrigued with Natalie Dunbar's novella, I was felt cheated with the outcome as several questions that were relevant to the who, what and why questions about its main character were never answered. I don't expect all stories to be neatly finished like a gift, but I felt there was a major disconnect to the climax and rushed ending.

Exciting!

could not put it down; love the werewolf material. love the stories; more good authors.

well worth a purchase

Welcome to the French Quarter Hotel and Casino in Las Vegas, Nevada, where werewolves, vampires, and humans drink, gamble and have a merry good time.

Heat by L.A. Banks

Werewolf Butch Maverick works for the Preternatural Authorities and his latest assignment is to hunt down the robberies that have been causing major wolf-style mayhem throughout the Midwest, before the humans decide to take matters into their own hands. Butch ends up the one place that he thought he would never return to - the French Quarter Hotel and where his old flame, Laurel, heads the Security Operations. To make matters worse, with the full moon just days away it is very difficult for Butch to concentrate on his job at hand with Laurel in full-blown heat!

With a title like Heat you can bet your bottom dollar that you are in store for some mega-hot, mind-blowing sex! Readers, I am glad to say that L.A. Banks did not disappoint in that department. Man oh man! As the investigation heats up, so does the relationship between Butch and Laurel. My mind was constantly clouded with massive desire and thrilling suspense. As a couple, and independently, Butch and Laurel are very headstrong, alpha-type characters that showcase enormous raw passion and great stamina. Ms. Banks did a wonderful job of binding a fascinating, action-packed, zealous, heart-pounding story that will instantly capture your interest within seconds of its beginning.

The Hunger Within by J.M. Jeffries

After many years of being under the care of a powerful Temple werewolf clan, Solange Warwick has decided to leave the clan's casino and branch out on her own. This was a very difficult decision for Solange; she knows that it is one that must be made because of her past. However, before she can break her ties to the clan, Solange is pulled into a dangerous undercover sting operation with the drop-dead gorgeous casino bouncer, Jarred Maitland.

Jarred Maitland is an undercover FBI agent. His current mission is to bring down the notorious Kenny Brooks. For the past fifteen years, the FBI has known that Brooks was behind at least half a dozen casino robberies; however, they had no proof and it was up to Jarred to infiltrate Brook's gang before the next big robbery.

Readers, you are about to take one red-hot journey with The Hunger Within by J.M. Jeffries. This storyline has a perfect mix of suspense, sex and adventure that is sure to get your juices flowing. From the get go, the chemistry between Solange and Jarred is smoking hot and passionate. As the story progress, the attraction between the couple becomes more pronounced and the danger that threatens them intensifies to a molting hot boiling point. There were moments where my heart was racing from the thrilling adventure and times where I was overflowing with great desire from Solange and Jarred sexual relations. This is a great story that I'm sure readers who love spicy romance and gripping suspense will find it quite enjoyable.

Double Down by Seressia Glass

With her parents about to retire from running the French Quarter Hotel and Casino, everyone is eagerly waiting to see if Simone Temple and her brother are able to handle taking over their parents' rule and keeping the hotel afloat. Simone's main task is to secure a contract with Kadim, the Great Magician, but Kadim isn't cooperating. Not about to accept his agent's refusal, Simone is determined to change Kadim's mind by any means necessary, even if it means hunting him down and meeting him face-to-face in his mysterious private domain. Upon her arrival, Simone gains more than she bargains for as she discovers that Kadim has many shocking secrets. And, if that isn't enough, a menace from Kadim's past is seeking vengeance.

Double Down is a sexy thriller that is sure to rapidly increase your body temperature. Simone is a feisty character who's intent on making Kadim see things her way, while Kadim's only goal is to prove to Simone that they belong together. As these two fascinating characters are brought together, the sparks fly and the danger escalates. Seressia Glass has crafted a lot of exhilarating suspense and spine-tingling passion within that had me totally captivated from the start to finish. The plot was tight and the couple's chemistry is wickedly lustful. Secrets and danger blend together in a completly satisfying mix in Ms. Glass's compelling tale, Double Down.

Out of the Dark by Natalie Dunbar

Kellie Monroe was only in Las Vegas to bury her beloved grandmother; however, before she could make the funeral arrangements, Kellie is shocked beyond belief when a pack of rogue werewolves steal her grandmother's body and are hunting her, seeking a valuable medallion that her grandmother left in her possession. After Kellie is violently attacked and left for dead by the band of werewolves, she awakes in the hospital to find a handsome member of the Preternatural Police Force by the name of Garen Roy in her room filled with questions and demanding that once she is released she is to remain under his protection until the bandits are caught.

Intense danger, thrilling suspense and scrumptious bed play make Out of the Dark a first-rate, exciting read. From the jump-start, Natalie Dunbar successfully intrigued me with an electrifying opening that had me firmly griping my seat as I eagerly turned page after page to discover how the story would unfold. Kellie and Garen are the perfect couple; they complimented each other very well both in and out of bed and they also showcased impulsiveness, strong-willed, determination. Readers, you are in a sweet, spicy treat with this one. This is one sexually charged, action-packed novella that is bound to leave you breathless with desire all while fulfilling your suspenseful craving.

Now you have it! Four superb, explosive werewolf tales that are sure to cause a sizzling frisson reaction. Each story was different; yet, the same as they all revolved around dangerous situations within the French Quarter Hotel and Casino. There was never one lackluster moment as all the four stories were very well written, highly entertaining and contained enough spice to satisfy any need. Run don't walk to purchase Vegas Bites, it's a fantastic anthology!

Nikita
reviewed for Joyfully Reviewed

AMAZING HOW EACH WRITER PICKED STORY LINE UP N CONTINUED!

OMG this one rocks. I have never read something like this before. The stories and charaters are just amazing. LOADS of passions if you are into that kind of thing. Sceans that will make you blush just reading it! Great job to all Authors involved in this!