Bound In Skin (Paperback)

~ Janine Ashbless (Author), Cat Winslow (Author), Sonya, M Shannon (Editor)

Editorial Reviews

Product Description

Seven stories inspired by the classic Gothic Romances of the 1960s. A little spicier, a little edgier, a lot sexier - These aren't your mother's Gothics! Featuring: "Bound In Skin" by Janine Ashbless in which a librarian falls for her employer - a man with a beastly secret; "Sophie's Tale" by Jennifer Rachel Baumer in which a governess finds solace in the arms of a mystery man and danger in the arms of another; "The Phantom of Linkshire Manor" by Alicia Blade in which a young doctor holds the life of a man in her hands- a man who may be guilty of murder; "Cleopatra's Needle" by Carole Lanham in which a woman travels thousands of miles to rescue her husband-to-be from the clutches of a wicked coven; "La Yegua Fantasma" by Jill Zeller in which a phantom horse helps a woman overcome her fears and uncover an unpleasant family secret; "Submission Letters" by Brenta Blevins in which a string of correspondance reveals the trail of a violent murderer; and "In Dark Dreams" by Cat Winslow in which a governess gains the trust of a frightened little girl and the love of the little girl's father.

Product Details

• Paperback: 300 pages
• Publisher: CatScratch Books (December 15, 2007)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0979088925
• ISBN-13: 978-0979088926
• Product Dimensions: 8.4 x 5.4 x 0.8 inches
• Shipping Weight: 12 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.4 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (5 customer reviews)
• Amazon.com Sales Rank: #1,719,725 in Books (See Bestsellers in Books)

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

1 of 1 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars A fireside book for those long winter nights, December 17, 2007

By	Sarah C. Totton (Canada) - See all my reviews (REAL NAME)

This anthology contains seven long (probably longer than can be comfortably finished in one sitting) stories by emerging and established authors. There is some erotic content (I would rate it PG-13) but in no story does it overshadow the main romantic plot.

There is a wide variation in style and settings (northern Canada, Wales, eastern Europe), though all of the stories seem to be set in the 19th or early 20th Century.

The highlights of the anthology for me were Alicia Blade's "The Phantom of Linkshire Manor", a ghost story with an M.R. James sensibility, and Carole Lanham's "Cleopatra's Needle", a genuinely touching story of love, for better or worse, with the flavor of a folktale.

Each of the stories contains a twist. If you're the kind of person who likes to shake your Christmas presents before you open them, you'll want to read the back cover blurb before reading the book. Personally, I find it gives a bit too much away.

5.0 out of 5 stars Amazing Read!!, July 18, 2009

By	Elizabeth M. Moody "Luna Bell" (Green Cove Springs, FL USA) - See all my reviews (REAL NAME)

This book surpassed my expectations! I originally bought this book because I've been a fan of Alicia Blade for years, but was surprised to enjoy it as a whole. Each author outdoes themselves with captivating stories that draw you in and have you looking forward to the next. I would recomend this to anyone who wants a good read.

3.0 out of 5 stars Hearty Soup?, April 28, 2008

By	Kaolin Fire "GUD Magazine" (Acton, CA USA) - See all my reviews (REAL NAME)

Bound in Skin is a collection of seven short gothic romance stories that mostly stick to formulaic plots. There are, however, two stand-out stories in this collection--the title piece 'Bound in Skin' by Janine Ashbless and Carole Lanham's 'Cleopatra's Needle'.

According to the blurb, the collection is "inspired by the classic Gothic Romances of the 1960s". This is true, but unfortunately the authors have done very little to add a new twist to that. They have simply copied tried and tested formulas. There's nothing wrong with this as such--there is a market for it, and it's definitely great for some escapism--but had all seven stories had the little sparks of originality, and rich language that 'Bound in Skin' and 'Cleopatra's Needle' offer, this would have been a more satisfying read. The rest of the stories feel like little more than padding around these two and I found them to be extremely similar. All are told from the woman's point of view, and the heroines varied very little . The men they lust after felt like the same guy over and over again. Some of the descriptions also got repetitive (surely there must have been something other for the characters to eat than 'hearty soup'?). The authors appear to be trying to stick to a type, but would have done well to implement wider variety in their vocabulary.

Despite this, the settings in the stories are overall very well written, sumptuous and intoxicating. If these tales fall down in plot, they certainly make up for it in style. Definitely a redeeming feature, although the most memorable parts were the beautiful houses. I got the feeling that there were really only two voices in the collection and if that isn't the case, then the authors need to put some work into individuality. The sex scenes were rather modest for the most part-enough of a hint to raise a smile to my lips but perhaps not steamy enough to raise my pulse (or raise anything else if any lads try the book). Not enough for a good fantasy, unless you've got a superb imagination, but playful and amusing nonetheless.

'Cleopatra's Needle' is the most distinctive of the collection. It tells the story of Ryder and Delia, childhood best friends in Wales who are separated when Ryder's father decides to start a new life in Ohio. Delia waits patiently for Ryder to make his fortune and send for her, but when he finally invites her to visit, she arrives to find he has had a brutal ordeal with three witches. This is a genuinely creepy and original story, as well as being the most sexually charged of the collection.

The cover art is appealing and plenty of readers will no doubt find this a highly enjoyable and fun read, light hearted but written well enough to hold some interest. You know what's going to happen and at least you won't be heartbroken at the end. If you're looking for half an hour of silly indulgence to take your mind off the trouble's of the modern world then you'd do okay picking any one of the stories, but don't come to it expecting to find anything new or surprising.

[Reviewed by Jess Nash]