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Topless Club #2
My Bloody Valentine
Curl up with this delightfully dangerous collection of short stories, aimed at making the heart grow colder...
Tiffinie Helmer - Heartless (Topless Club #2)
Love sometimes requires restraints…
Roxie Scott is moonlighting as a dominatrix, trying to survive the financial cost of her divorce. Wearing leather and swinging a whip turned out to be more therapeutic than therapy, until her clients start turning up dead...
He refuses to be restrained…
Homicide Detective Cam Ferguson is stunned when he recognises his former high school crush dressed in a leather cat suit and wielding a riding crop. His interrogation into her murdered clients switches from suspecting her to needing to protect her from a sadistic killer determined to make her his bloody valentine...
Alex Bledsoe - Tantrabobus (Witch Tales #?.5)
Professor Tanna Tully, of the "Firefly Witch" series, leads a paranormal team of graduate students as they investigate the ghost of a woman who burned to death on her wedding day. However, the mystery turns personal for one of the team, and Tanna has to call on her experience as a Wiccan high priestess to save both her student, and the spirit of a woman wronged over a century ago...
V.R. Barkowski - Just A Lie
An unfaithful husband shot and mutilated by his long-suffering spouse, is just another day at the office for San Francisco Homicide Inspector Del Miller. “Infidelity is ugly”‚ his partner tells him, but Del needs no reminder. He's recently learned his best friend, Mike Gabretti, is cheating on his wife. When Mike breaks off the illicit affair, Del promises to say nothing - better to keep a secret than break a heart. But that's before the jilted mistress sets her sights on payback. Now Del must choose between ignoring a danger he understands only too well or revealing the truth that will betray a lifelong friendship and destroy the lives of those closest to him!
Erica Hayes - Unforgiven; A Tale Of The Possessed
In a decadent republic on the brink of revolution, immortal blood drinker Lisette has long ago learned the price of her selfish pursuit of pleasure. Now, trapped in marriage to the stoic nobleman who saved her from the mob, she's vowed to use her powers only for good. By night, she stalks plague-ridden streets, armed with rapier and pistol, hunting the Possessed: the pleasure-crazed victims of Lisette's own kind...
But beneath her respectable façade, old hungers still burn, sated only by her husband's fading love… until the hunt pits her against their ancient enemy, a dark prince and lover who rekindles Lisette's forbidden thirst for power - and blood!
Betrayed by the only man who can save her, with the city erupting in flames and ultimate power within her grasp, Lisette must choose between dark past and uncertain future, shadows and light - and the two magnificent, tragically irreconcilable men who haunt her soul...
Lizbeth Lipperman - Sweepers: A Kiss To Die For
Dr. Mackenzie Conley, a CIA operative and expert on bio-terrorism, is in Morocco undercover as a visiting professor at the University. Her mission is to investigate rumours of a powerful new nerve gas delivery system being perfected somewhere in the area. The rest of her team, including her fiancé, has already gone home after spending two weeks without finding even a hint of such a weapon. Mac stayed behind to finish her six-week stint to ensure her cover stays intact should she need to use it again...
With only one week left, Mac can’t wait to get back to the states and her fiancé. But someone in Morocco has other plans for her - plans that include kidnapping, drugging, and holding her hostage in a mountain laboratory, totally hidden from satellite coverage. Neither her team‚ nor her handler knows where she is...
Escaping from the mountain prison becomes critical! But‚ isn’t the only thing on Mac’s mind, though, as she comes face to face with the man, whose latest invention, has the potential to bring the world to its knees!
Charlie Holmberg - Salt And Water
A slave to a war-torn society for eighteen months, Chellis has been tortured for one purpose: to make her cry, for the healing properties of her tears can mend any soldier’s wound. But when her captors push her too far, she revolts, resulting in her re-assignment to a slave handler better suited to control her...
Ahad-dian is different from Chellis’s previous handlers. He’s reasonable, seems incapable of brutality, and treats Chellis as a sentient being, not a tool. It’s almost enough for Chellis to trust him. Ahad-dian’s generosity may be a key ...
ebook
First published February 9, 2014
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257 people want to read
About the author
Tiffinie Helmer
40 books304 followersUSA Today Bestselling Author Tiffinie Helmer is always up for a gripping adventure. Raised in Alaska, she was dragged 'Outside' by her husband, but escapes the lower forty-eight to spend her summers commercial fishing on the Bering Sea.
A mother of four, Tiffinie divides her time between enjoying her family, throwing her acclaimed pottery, and writing of flawed characters in unique and severe situations.
You can learn more about Tiffinie at www.tiffiniehelmer.com
Amazon: http://www.amazon.com/Tiffinie-Helmer...
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Facebook:https://www.facebook.com/tiffiniehelm...
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A mother of four, Tiffinie divides her time between enjoying her family, throwing her acclaimed pottery, and writing of flawed characters in unique and severe situations.
You can learn more about Tiffinie at www.tiffiniehelmer.com
Amazon: http://www.amazon.com/Tiffinie-Helmer...
Barnes & Noble: http://www.barnesandnoble.com/s/tiffi...
Facebook:https://www.facebook.com/tiffiniehelm...
Google+: https://plus.google.com/u/0/116809553...
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 34 reviews
February 12, 2014
This box set is a great way to discover authors at a great price. Definitely worth checking out. Read eight different stories from eight great authors. Out of all these books, I'm sure you'll find a story or two that will keep you reading long into the night. I've read a few books from a couple of these authors and I've never been let down yet. And now I've discovered even more authors to enjoy!
February 16, 2014
Since this is an anthology, I decided I'd rate all of the stories independently of one another. In an effort to give as honest a review as possible, I tried to be clear and concise about what I did and didn't like. Disclaimer: I am a tough reader.
HEARTLESS (4.5 stars): Tied with Unforgiven for my favorite story in the anthology, and a great choice to begin the collection. I liked the premise, which could easily have been mishandled, but wasn't. The writing was solid, the pacing good, and I found the main character, Roxie, to be the most relatable out of all the female characters in the anthology. She was interesting without being a cliche, and I liked her character arc, growing out of a place anger into someone more content and renewed. There is some suspension of belief necessary with the relationship, at least for me, given how quickly it progresses, but due to this being only a short story, I'm willing to forgive the haste. Fun, sweet, and sexy. A nice Valentine's Day read.
TANTRABOBUS (3 stars): I'm going to have to agree with one of the other reviewers on this one: the story was just so-so for me. I enjoyed the paranormal aspects to it, but couldn't really connect to the characters in the brief context of the narrative. I'd probably enjoy a longer story from this author.
JUST A LIE (2.5 stars): To be honest, I forgot about this one until I saw it in the table of contents section just now; it just wasn't very memorable. It had some interesting aspects to it, like the murder investigation, and the characters held my attention, but ultimately I felt the story ended prematurely and without any satisfying emotional resolution.
UNFORGIVEN (5 stars): Drool-worthy prose. Normally I would be skeptical of such heavy descriptive writing, but in the context of the setting and the narrator being a vampire, it really, really works. Every scene drips with sensuality, perfectly conveying the hunger and desperation of the main character. Speaking of the main character, I found her likable despite not fitting a moralistic vision of "good". The historical backdrop is just icing on an already delicious cake. One of the best pieces of vampire fiction I've read in a long time. I'd be up for reading more from this author.
SWEEPERS: A KISS TO DIE FOR (2 stars): This one was a downer, and kind of left me scratching my head by the end. The story lacked a certain verisimilitude, although I'm having trouble putting my finger on why that was precisely. I also felt like Petrovic's disguise was a breach of the principle of Chekov's Gun; when it was introduced, I assumed it would play a more significant role in the story than it ultimately did. It's a small issue, but one that contributed to that feeling of narrative artificiality. Your mileage may vary on this one.
SALT AND WATER (4 stars): A solid story that stands on its own. I'm amazed at how the author was able to create such a complete and well-envisioned world in such a short amount of textual space, and it definitely works to the advantage of the narrative. Plus, if you're sensitive to the explicit content in the other stories, this one is cleaner, with only subtle nods toward any violence and sexual content. My only issue was that this tale felt a little out of place compared to the others, given that (in my opinion) the story didn't deal with romantic love so much as with friendship and common humanity. I know there was supposed to be something romantic between Chellis and Ahad-dian, but to me it came across as more platonic than anything else. Which is perfectly fine! Just, as I said, different from the rest of the anthology. Still, one of the better written in the collection, and if you like fantasy, this one's definitely for you.
FURY OF FATE (1 star): I've gathered from other reviews that Ivar is a character from another book series, but as I haven't read any of them, I can't speak to whether that affects one's reading of this piece. As a standalone, it wasn't enjoyable for me. Neither character felt fleshed out, and the whole She's Not Like Other Girls trope which surfaces during Ivar and Sasha's sexcapades is something I feel is overdone, not only in the romance genre but generally speaking in fiction. My biggest issue, however, was with the writing itself. I felt like I was reading exposition half of the time, while the other half was spent wading through rambling inner monologue. Essentially, FoF is porn without plot. Not my cup of tea.
THE TRUE LOVE OF SHERRY PAPERS (1 star): Began very saccharine and then took a very strange tone shift near the end. Another author who focused too much on telling and not enough on showing, throwing in huge expository paragraphs. Didn't care for the narrator, especially as she raged against Nick's ex-girlfriend, referring to her as a skank and a slut, while constantly casting herself in the light of a saint. No, thank you. Nor was Nick a very compelling or sympathetic character. Slow read right up until the conclusion. If the purpose of the story was to showcase Sherry as an unreliable narrator, then it succeeds there; by the end, you definitely get the sense that Sherry is unhinged. But overall, it takes too long to get to the point.
For the entire anthology, I'm giving it 3 stars. Worth the ebook price for the 4 stars-and-up stories.
HEARTLESS (4.5 stars): Tied with Unforgiven for my favorite story in the anthology, and a great choice to begin the collection. I liked the premise, which could easily have been mishandled, but wasn't. The writing was solid, the pacing good, and I found the main character, Roxie, to be the most relatable out of all the female characters in the anthology. She was interesting without being a cliche, and I liked her character arc, growing out of a place anger into someone more content and renewed. There is some suspension of belief necessary with the relationship, at least for me, given how quickly it progresses, but due to this being only a short story, I'm willing to forgive the haste. Fun, sweet, and sexy. A nice Valentine's Day read.
TANTRABOBUS (3 stars): I'm going to have to agree with one of the other reviewers on this one: the story was just so-so for me. I enjoyed the paranormal aspects to it, but couldn't really connect to the characters in the brief context of the narrative. I'd probably enjoy a longer story from this author.
JUST A LIE (2.5 stars): To be honest, I forgot about this one until I saw it in the table of contents section just now; it just wasn't very memorable. It had some interesting aspects to it, like the murder investigation, and the characters held my attention, but ultimately I felt the story ended prematurely and without any satisfying emotional resolution.
UNFORGIVEN (5 stars): Drool-worthy prose. Normally I would be skeptical of such heavy descriptive writing, but in the context of the setting and the narrator being a vampire, it really, really works. Every scene drips with sensuality, perfectly conveying the hunger and desperation of the main character. Speaking of the main character, I found her likable despite not fitting a moralistic vision of "good". The historical backdrop is just icing on an already delicious cake. One of the best pieces of vampire fiction I've read in a long time. I'd be up for reading more from this author.
SWEEPERS: A KISS TO DIE FOR (2 stars): This one was a downer, and kind of left me scratching my head by the end. The story lacked a certain verisimilitude, although I'm having trouble putting my finger on why that was precisely. I also felt like Petrovic's disguise was a breach of the principle of Chekov's Gun; when it was introduced, I assumed it would play a more significant role in the story than it ultimately did. It's a small issue, but one that contributed to that feeling of narrative artificiality. Your mileage may vary on this one.
SALT AND WATER (4 stars): A solid story that stands on its own. I'm amazed at how the author was able to create such a complete and well-envisioned world in such a short amount of textual space, and it definitely works to the advantage of the narrative. Plus, if you're sensitive to the explicit content in the other stories, this one is cleaner, with only subtle nods toward any violence and sexual content. My only issue was that this tale felt a little out of place compared to the others, given that (in my opinion) the story didn't deal with romantic love so much as with friendship and common humanity. I know there was supposed to be something romantic between Chellis and Ahad-dian, but to me it came across as more platonic than anything else. Which is perfectly fine! Just, as I said, different from the rest of the anthology. Still, one of the better written in the collection, and if you like fantasy, this one's definitely for you.
FURY OF FATE (1 star): I've gathered from other reviews that Ivar is a character from another book series, but as I haven't read any of them, I can't speak to whether that affects one's reading of this piece. As a standalone, it wasn't enjoyable for me. Neither character felt fleshed out, and the whole She's Not Like Other Girls trope which surfaces during Ivar and Sasha's sexcapades is something I feel is overdone, not only in the romance genre but generally speaking in fiction. My biggest issue, however, was with the writing itself. I felt like I was reading exposition half of the time, while the other half was spent wading through rambling inner monologue. Essentially, FoF is porn without plot. Not my cup of tea.
THE TRUE LOVE OF SHERRY PAPERS (1 star): Began very saccharine and then took a very strange tone shift near the end. Another author who focused too much on telling and not enough on showing, throwing in huge expository paragraphs. Didn't care for the narrator, especially as she raged against Nick's ex-girlfriend, referring to her as a skank and a slut, while constantly casting herself in the light of a saint. No, thank you. Nor was Nick a very compelling or sympathetic character. Slow read right up until the conclusion. If the purpose of the story was to showcase Sherry as an unreliable narrator, then it succeeds there; by the end, you definitely get the sense that Sherry is unhinged. But overall, it takes too long to get to the point.
For the entire anthology, I'm giving it 3 stars. Worth the ebook price for the 4 stars-and-up stories.
February 14, 2014
I received an ARC of this bundle from Tiffinie Helmer for an honest review.
Heartless: I'm a big fan of Tiffinie's writing, got hooked on Moosed Up and have read every book since. This wasn't any different, instead of Alaska we have small town America. Sexy dominatrix, old high school flame, and a couple of murders. Add some sexual tension and a Room of Doom and it's ON! Quick read only about 50 pages.
Tantabrobus: Very unique ghost story. Blind professor and newspaper editor lead a group of grad students on a research trip. They are investigating a love story gone wrong and trying to understand the actual story. A slight criminal element makes the short story the most interesting paranormal romance suspense I've ever read.
Just a Lie: "Love hurts." Suspenseful murder mystery with a dash of infidelity.
Unforgiven: A vampire story that confused me a little. It's the vocabulary that seemed excessive but it was meant to represent a certain time period. Just made the story hard to get through.
Sweepers: This is more my style. Tough, intelligent woman undercover as a guest lecturer in Morocco to investigate a gas weapon. She appears to have a stalker and in her time with him feels he has destroyed her and her ability to love the man she loves. Smart, quick paced and left me wanting to know more.
Salt and Water: Sort of a mermaid tale of sorts. There's a war over land and this culture uses the mermaids' tears to cure their injured. Basically slaves, some are beaten just to have the tears. But one caretaker develops an interest in a mermaid and have a softer heart than the others. Slow developing story, took a bit to figure out what was happening but then flowed quickly.
Fury of Fate: Hot, brooding, dragon shape shifter = totally hot. Female scientist looking for love but is willing to settle for a one night stand. We are lead to believe this is a one shot deal but I have a feeling there might be more to this story.
Sherry Papers: This is kind of like an essay written by a lonely woman falling for a guy. She does some things she shouldn't and tries to pass blame on the guy.
Heartless: I'm a big fan of Tiffinie's writing, got hooked on Moosed Up and have read every book since. This wasn't any different, instead of Alaska we have small town America. Sexy dominatrix, old high school flame, and a couple of murders. Add some sexual tension and a Room of Doom and it's ON! Quick read only about 50 pages.
Tantabrobus: Very unique ghost story. Blind professor and newspaper editor lead a group of grad students on a research trip. They are investigating a love story gone wrong and trying to understand the actual story. A slight criminal element makes the short story the most interesting paranormal romance suspense I've ever read.
Just a Lie: "Love hurts." Suspenseful murder mystery with a dash of infidelity.
Unforgiven: A vampire story that confused me a little. It's the vocabulary that seemed excessive but it was meant to represent a certain time period. Just made the story hard to get through.
Sweepers: This is more my style. Tough, intelligent woman undercover as a guest lecturer in Morocco to investigate a gas weapon. She appears to have a stalker and in her time with him feels he has destroyed her and her ability to love the man she loves. Smart, quick paced and left me wanting to know more.
Salt and Water: Sort of a mermaid tale of sorts. There's a war over land and this culture uses the mermaids' tears to cure their injured. Basically slaves, some are beaten just to have the tears. But one caretaker develops an interest in a mermaid and have a softer heart than the others. Slow developing story, took a bit to figure out what was happening but then flowed quickly.
Fury of Fate: Hot, brooding, dragon shape shifter = totally hot. Female scientist looking for love but is willing to settle for a one night stand. We are lead to believe this is a one shot deal but I have a feeling there might be more to this story.
Sherry Papers: This is kind of like an essay written by a lonely woman falling for a guy. She does some things she shouldn't and tries to pass blame on the guy.
February 14, 2014
Review will be posted at www.books-n-kisses.com .
NUMBER OF HEARTS: 3 1/2 Over all
As these are all short stories my review of each are going to be short and sweet too ;) Okay so over all these stories were okay for me. 2 of them I really like, one of them I is didn’t like at all and the other were kinda in the middle for me.
HEARTLESS: What a way to start off this story collection!!! I have never read any of Tiffinie’s books yet. But I fell in love with Cam & Roxie!! And really nothing says true love like a couple murders right?
TANTRABOBUS: This story was just okay for me. I didn’t really feel much of a connection with any of the characters. But the ghost story was interesting
JUST A LIE: This was not a bad little story. Murder, betrayal and a confession note. But it left me looking for the next page. I hope that there will be a continuation of this story.
UNFORGIVEN: This story was just okay for me. I was a little confused about the world and what was going on.
SWEEPERS: A KISS TO DIE FOR: I didn’t like this story. :(
SALT AND WATER: Again another story that was just okay for me. I again was confused about the world.
FURY OF FATE: My first thought was Ivar really Ivar? After all the crap he has put the Nightfury’s through? But once I started to read I realized Ivar might not be as bad as we thought. Loved this story and hope that Coreene will continue these two’s story.
THE TRUE LOVE OF SHERRY PAPERS: This was a strange story for me. I liked it but was a little confused.
REVIEW:
Disclaimer:
I received a complimentary copy of the book from Coreene Callahan in exchange for an honest review. This review is my own opinion and not a paid review.
NUMBER OF HEARTS: 3 1/2 Over all
As these are all short stories my review of each are going to be short and sweet too ;) Okay so over all these stories were okay for me. 2 of them I really like, one of them I is didn’t like at all and the other were kinda in the middle for me.
HEARTLESS: What a way to start off this story collection!!! I have never read any of Tiffinie’s books yet. But I fell in love with Cam & Roxie!! And really nothing says true love like a couple murders right?
TANTRABOBUS: This story was just okay for me. I didn’t really feel much of a connection with any of the characters. But the ghost story was interesting
JUST A LIE: This was not a bad little story. Murder, betrayal and a confession note. But it left me looking for the next page. I hope that there will be a continuation of this story.
UNFORGIVEN: This story was just okay for me. I was a little confused about the world and what was going on.
SWEEPERS: A KISS TO DIE FOR: I didn’t like this story. :(
SALT AND WATER: Again another story that was just okay for me. I again was confused about the world.
FURY OF FATE: My first thought was Ivar really Ivar? After all the crap he has put the Nightfury’s through? But once I started to read I realized Ivar might not be as bad as we thought. Loved this story and hope that Coreene will continue these two’s story.
THE TRUE LOVE OF SHERRY PAPERS: This was a strange story for me. I liked it but was a little confused.
REVIEW:
Disclaimer:
I received a complimentary copy of the book from Coreene Callahan in exchange for an honest review. This review is my own opinion and not a paid review.
February 15, 2014
This is a set of intriguing, thrilling and intense set of stories that teases the reader’s imagination and gets the adrenalin pumping.
The common theme in all of these fascinating short stories is “Love Hurts”. The stories give readers glimpses of hard knock life events that may or may not eventually lead to romance, but mostly keep the reader entertained with suspense, action and drama. The authors bring true life realities to life in exciting and intriguing ways that keep the readers on their toes and turning page after page.
As with any grouping of stories, the reader will like some more than others, but they will definitely get lots of pleasure and imagination stimulating tales with this set. There is definitely something for everyone from a dominatrix to a dragon and of course what story would be complete without good guys and bad guys. All the stories have compelling characters that grab the reader’s attention and are easily related to.
There is some light romance to be found, but mostly romance is just hinted about. There is lots of drama both suspenseful and emotional and surprising twists that reader’s don’t see coming, and a couple of unique stories with interesting concepts and all of the stories leave the reader wanting to know more.
I found a couple of the stories to be a little on the slow side but for the most part they were fast paced and enjoyable. I will be honest and say that my favorite one is Fury of Fate, but then I totally love this series. I have definitely found more authors for me to be checking out, which is always a major plus for me. So overall you can’t go wrong with this collection of tales about love that hurts.
The common theme in all of these fascinating short stories is “Love Hurts”. The stories give readers glimpses of hard knock life events that may or may not eventually lead to romance, but mostly keep the reader entertained with suspense, action and drama. The authors bring true life realities to life in exciting and intriguing ways that keep the readers on their toes and turning page after page.
As with any grouping of stories, the reader will like some more than others, but they will definitely get lots of pleasure and imagination stimulating tales with this set. There is definitely something for everyone from a dominatrix to a dragon and of course what story would be complete without good guys and bad guys. All the stories have compelling characters that grab the reader’s attention and are easily related to.
There is some light romance to be found, but mostly romance is just hinted about. There is lots of drama both suspenseful and emotional and surprising twists that reader’s don’t see coming, and a couple of unique stories with interesting concepts and all of the stories leave the reader wanting to know more.
I found a couple of the stories to be a little on the slow side but for the most part they were fast paced and enjoyable. I will be honest and say that my favorite one is Fury of Fate, but then I totally love this series. I have definitely found more authors for me to be checking out, which is always a major plus for me. So overall you can’t go wrong with this collection of tales about love that hurts.
August 6, 2016
Here's the premise: eight talented writers start a story with the same simple sentence, "Love hurts." From that common starting point, imagination takes over, and these writers spin eight holy-moley-are-they-ever-unique tales that cover a wide spectrum of literary tastes. Intriguing premise, isn't it? (And these writers deliver!)
You remember how Forrest Gump said life is like a box of chocolates? Well, I say this BOOK is like a box of chocolates. A really good box. Now, if you're looking for the typical Valentine's Day fare comprised of so-so candy arranged in a heart-shaped, satin-covered box trimmed in lace and tied up in a fancy bow, you aren't going to find it here. You won't find any "typical" Valentine's trappings here at all, so forget about the satin and lace, and think more along the lines of leather and murder. Think about ghosts, sexy dragonmen, and medicinal tears. Think waaaay outside the box.
Inside the box, what you get is delicious content. You may prefer one or two fillings over the others, but every single piece is worth devouring. It's a truly wonderful sampler, but be careful. Reading these stories may make you hungry for more. Yep, being introduced to these writers may very well compel you to read their other books...
You remember how Forrest Gump said life is like a box of chocolates? Well, I say this BOOK is like a box of chocolates. A really good box. Now, if you're looking for the typical Valentine's Day fare comprised of so-so candy arranged in a heart-shaped, satin-covered box trimmed in lace and tied up in a fancy bow, you aren't going to find it here. You won't find any "typical" Valentine's trappings here at all, so forget about the satin and lace, and think more along the lines of leather and murder. Think about ghosts, sexy dragonmen, and medicinal tears. Think waaaay outside the box.
Inside the box, what you get is delicious content. You may prefer one or two fillings over the others, but every single piece is worth devouring. It's a truly wonderful sampler, but be careful. Reading these stories may make you hungry for more. Yep, being introduced to these writers may very well compel you to read their other books...
February 14, 2014
This book was filled with hard decisions, bitter-sweet outcomes, and adult language. If you're "adult-content sensitive" like me, you'll skip quite a few pages in this anthology (except for in SALT AND WATER), but the stories are definitely entertaining and a fun read.
HEARTLESS: Super cute--old high school "friends" finally get a second chance at love. Loved it!
TANTRABOBUS: Loved the characters, and ghost stories always are just awesome.
UNFORGIVEN: Although I didn't like the ending (it broke my heart), I adore historical fiction--and double heart paranormal.
SWEEPERS: A KISS TO DIE FOR: Super frowny face. This was one of those stories that really gets you thinking, and while the end was validated, it made me sad.
SALT AND WATER: I SO loved Chellis and her keeper, Ahad. The world they occupy is brutal. They should be enemies, but having grown up somewhat sheltered, Ahad is not your typical slaver. The themes of compassion and love stretch well beyond romance, and I wanted the story to keep going. I wanted a whole novel. (Please? --One day?)
FURY OF FATE: I think I laughed out loud at this one.
THE TRUE LOVE OF SHERRY PAPERS: Wow. Yikes. *shiver*
All in all, a fun collection.
HEARTLESS: Super cute--old high school "friends" finally get a second chance at love. Loved it!
TANTRABOBUS: Loved the characters, and ghost stories always are just awesome.
UNFORGIVEN: Although I didn't like the ending (it broke my heart), I adore historical fiction--and double heart paranormal.
SWEEPERS: A KISS TO DIE FOR: Super frowny face. This was one of those stories that really gets you thinking, and while the end was validated, it made me sad.
SALT AND WATER: I SO loved Chellis and her keeper, Ahad. The world they occupy is brutal. They should be enemies, but having grown up somewhat sheltered, Ahad is not your typical slaver. The themes of compassion and love stretch well beyond romance, and I wanted the story to keep going. I wanted a whole novel. (Please? --One day?)
FURY OF FATE: I think I laughed out loud at this one.
THE TRUE LOVE OF SHERRY PAPERS: Wow. Yikes. *shiver*
All in all, a fun collection.
February 23, 2014
I wasn't sure what to expect. I thought after reading the description for the short stories I knew which ones I was going to like and the ones I would just get through. Boy was I wrong. I usually go for the mystery and some love intertwined books. I picked up this book because of one local author I liked and now it has opened me up to 7 more. I'm not into sci-fi or other non human stories usually but after reading some of these stories I think I might need to open up my library. These stories were great. Each one had my imagination running wild and had me rooting for the characters. A few of them ending when I wasn't ready to give up on the story and left me wanting more.
February 15, 2014
Dollycas’s Thoughts
I was excited to get this because Lizbeth Lipperman is one of my favorite authors and her short story, Sweepers, was excellent but I want more. I want to know how MacKenzie deals with the trauma she has endured. I hope there is continuing story in the works.
I also really enjoyed Heartless by Tiffany Helmer. Roxie was quite a character and meeting up again with her crush from high school made for a very interesting story.
Some of the other stories were just not “my cup of tea”. Vampires and Dragonkind warriors are not my thing. But I found six of the eight stories enjoyable.
February 17, 2014
Truly a collection for the ages. It starts you off with a true who dunnit and just rockets off from there. You will be taken for the ride of your life and beg for more stories and more pages when you hit the end. I tip my hat to these amazing authors. I love the police officers with the crime of passion. The students with the haunted field and even scarier baggage. The Seductress with the clientele dropping like flies...Just to name a few...it'll tease you, satisfy your inner craving for something quick and its even better the second time through..a collection worth having whenever love has you itching for a lover done me wrong night..for truly..as the song says..love hurts
February 12, 2014
What a wonderful collection of short stories by some very talented Authors. Each story is so uniquely different yet together they make a perfect combination and a great addition to any book lovers library. I enjoyed all the characters and I practically devoured the whole thing, staying up way past my bedtime. It has everything you would want in a good read, each short story has a great story line, an easy flow, some steamy love making, heartache, mystery and love. I highly recommend it.
February 13, 2014
I enjoyed reading My Bloody Valentine. Each story is different, some of them were out of my reading element but being short stories it was a nice change to read something different! One huge thing is I liked how each author writes. Sometimes when you get a group together you find a few stories that does work but these do! Give yourself a valentines gift and buy this for yourself.
February 13, 2014
Enjoyed this book immensely. All eight stories were entertaining. My favorite ones were written by Tiffinie Helmer, Lizbeth Lipperman and Collene Callahan. I love reading short stories in collections such as this one. They are quick reads and fun.
June 12, 2014
I’m reviewing all 8 shorts in this collection at once so scroll to find the one you’d like or read them all for the entire overview. I believe the line for these stories was “Love hurts”.
Heartless by Tiffinie Helmer
The premise of this story was a recently divorced woman who moonlights as a dominatrix getting a second chance at an old love, a sexy detective who catches the murder case involving the woman. While I liked the idea, seriously old love new chance is one of my favorite Romance story lines, I felt like the length of the story wasn’t quite adequate to do it justice. It seemed like they kind of jumped right into a relationship after having seen each other for one evening. The murder plot line was well done however. I enjoyed both the bad guy and the reason behind his murder spree. There were also some very lively side characters which I usually don’t find as much of in shorts. All in all, it was good and worth the read. I just wish there had been more.
Tantrabobus by Alex Bledsoe
This story was about a regular everyday husband and his blind witch wife taking her paranormal research students on a local ghost hunt. It’s told in the past tense as said husband is relating the events to a pair of unsavory policemen, which is a nice way to keep the story moving and also keeping it short. I really enjoyed this story and am curious to find if it is part of a series somewhere. The husband and wife are both rich characters with clear distinctive voices. Short stories don’t tend to draw me in as much as this one did. The ghost story plot was also engaging and cleverly done. There was also a great sense of accomplishment and a story well ended yet a world that still had plenty of room for exploration. I would highly recommend this short and look forward to finding more from this author.
Just A Lie by V R Barkowski
This was told from a detective’s viewpoint who was struggling with several things simultaneously. A new murder involving adultery, his close friend’s adultery, his feelings for said friend’s wife, and the strange not quite relationship he has with another woman. What appealed to me most in this tale were the flawed characters. No one emerged with a shiny halo and I loved it. It made them all so much more real for their bad choices or nasty thoughts. The murder plot line, while important in drawing a parallel to the detective’s real life, I feel kind of got a back burner to the interpersonal conflict between the friend, the wife, and the protagonist. Not that it was necessarily a bad thing, I just found myself periodically thinking “oh yeah, there was a murder”. All in all a well-rounded tale with clear resolution and closure.
Unforgiven by Erica Hayes
This is by far the darkest tale in the first half of this collection. It seems an alternate universe in a world hovering on the brink of another class war. The main protagonist is a vampire though this is clearly forbidden in this world. She is also torn between two loves, the safe and the dangerous. Most of the tale is internal monologue lending a certain poetic morbidity to the tale as we are thinking along with the main character who is struggling with her darker urges while also growing weary of the struggle. The triangle was not only believable but difficult to choose between. The resolution is a surprise and poignant one at that. I highly recommend this tale and this author. I’ll be searching for more work in the near future.
Sweepers: A Kiss to Die For by Lizbeth Lipperman
This story was a tale of spies and captivity and bio-warfare. I feel like this story needed the extra length of a novella or even a full length novel. Though the plot was great and I was eagerly flipping pages to find out what was going to happen next there were parts that had to be rushed and it felt a little anti-climactic at places. I applaud the author tackling a difficult subject area, especially with such a space restraint, and it was done well. Though again, the fallout comes about as rushed and brief. The main character has a spunky attitude and personal voice which drags the reader in almost instantly. I am curious to know if this is part of a larger series, and if not it should be. Just with longer lengths to the stories!
Salt and Water by Charlie Holmberg
Finally a tale of mermaids! I’ve always been drawn to this mysterious sea creatures so I was excited to read a story involving them. What I got was a brutal tale of war and captivity as well as love in impossible places/situations. This was another darker tale though equally beautiful in its writing and execution. I found myself sucked into the character and her world instantly and was riding the emotional roller coaster right there with her. This is another tale I hope there is more of because while the main plot of this story was resolved I feel like there was so much more that needed finishing. Highly recommended and hope I find more to this world.
Fury of Fate Coreene Callahan
Let me start by saying that this short is the reason why I have this collection. I won it in a contest from the author and I am a huge fan of hers. That being said here is what I think:
When I saw the blurb and read the couple for this short were going to be Ivar, the main antagonist in the Dragonkind series, and Sasha, his apparent mate, I was skeptical. Ivar is a very well written bad guy and while sometimes I kind of agree with his reasons, his methods are truly horrible and he’s definitely a BAD guy. Yet…when I read this I found myself intrigued by the way he thinks and the way he chose to process certain life events. Sasha was an amazing character and if I’m honest absolutely perfect for him. Their hookup was a little….unbelievable at first…but as soon as the initial what? Passed I was very much into their conversations and thoughts/feelings. Though this story was wrapped up pretty neatly by the end I still wanted more. Even though I have strongly disliked Ivar from the first novel I now want him to get his happy ending too. Though hell if I know how she is going to make that work! One of the many reasons I am a fan of Mrs. Callahan. Obviously I recommend this to any fan of the paranormal romance genre, though I will add that I feel like the first three books in the series should be read first. At least. If you read all four then the short everything will make perfect sense to you but if you read the first three you won’t miss any major plot points or how weird it is to actually be rooting for Ivar.
The True Love of Sherry Papers by S G Redling
This was possibly the most disturbing story out of the entire collection. The writing is superb and gives Sherry a clear modern voice. Her issues with Nick are issues that I feel like most people can relate to or at least empathize with. It doesn’t start to get weird until about halfway through. And even then you kind of just give your book a weird look but keep going because you curious how it ends. The ending will be a shock though not necessarily a surprise. I’m sort of on the fence about whether or not I like this one. I think I’d have to give the author another go just to be sure.
Heartless by Tiffinie Helmer
The premise of this story was a recently divorced woman who moonlights as a dominatrix getting a second chance at an old love, a sexy detective who catches the murder case involving the woman. While I liked the idea, seriously old love new chance is one of my favorite Romance story lines, I felt like the length of the story wasn’t quite adequate to do it justice. It seemed like they kind of jumped right into a relationship after having seen each other for one evening. The murder plot line was well done however. I enjoyed both the bad guy and the reason behind his murder spree. There were also some very lively side characters which I usually don’t find as much of in shorts. All in all, it was good and worth the read. I just wish there had been more.
Tantrabobus by Alex Bledsoe
This story was about a regular everyday husband and his blind witch wife taking her paranormal research students on a local ghost hunt. It’s told in the past tense as said husband is relating the events to a pair of unsavory policemen, which is a nice way to keep the story moving and also keeping it short. I really enjoyed this story and am curious to find if it is part of a series somewhere. The husband and wife are both rich characters with clear distinctive voices. Short stories don’t tend to draw me in as much as this one did. The ghost story plot was also engaging and cleverly done. There was also a great sense of accomplishment and a story well ended yet a world that still had plenty of room for exploration. I would highly recommend this short and look forward to finding more from this author.
Just A Lie by V R Barkowski
This was told from a detective’s viewpoint who was struggling with several things simultaneously. A new murder involving adultery, his close friend’s adultery, his feelings for said friend’s wife, and the strange not quite relationship he has with another woman. What appealed to me most in this tale were the flawed characters. No one emerged with a shiny halo and I loved it. It made them all so much more real for their bad choices or nasty thoughts. The murder plot line, while important in drawing a parallel to the detective’s real life, I feel kind of got a back burner to the interpersonal conflict between the friend, the wife, and the protagonist. Not that it was necessarily a bad thing, I just found myself periodically thinking “oh yeah, there was a murder”. All in all a well-rounded tale with clear resolution and closure.
Unforgiven by Erica Hayes
This is by far the darkest tale in the first half of this collection. It seems an alternate universe in a world hovering on the brink of another class war. The main protagonist is a vampire though this is clearly forbidden in this world. She is also torn between two loves, the safe and the dangerous. Most of the tale is internal monologue lending a certain poetic morbidity to the tale as we are thinking along with the main character who is struggling with her darker urges while also growing weary of the struggle. The triangle was not only believable but difficult to choose between. The resolution is a surprise and poignant one at that. I highly recommend this tale and this author. I’ll be searching for more work in the near future.
Sweepers: A Kiss to Die For by Lizbeth Lipperman
This story was a tale of spies and captivity and bio-warfare. I feel like this story needed the extra length of a novella or even a full length novel. Though the plot was great and I was eagerly flipping pages to find out what was going to happen next there were parts that had to be rushed and it felt a little anti-climactic at places. I applaud the author tackling a difficult subject area, especially with such a space restraint, and it was done well. Though again, the fallout comes about as rushed and brief. The main character has a spunky attitude and personal voice which drags the reader in almost instantly. I am curious to know if this is part of a larger series, and if not it should be. Just with longer lengths to the stories!
Salt and Water by Charlie Holmberg
Finally a tale of mermaids! I’ve always been drawn to this mysterious sea creatures so I was excited to read a story involving them. What I got was a brutal tale of war and captivity as well as love in impossible places/situations. This was another darker tale though equally beautiful in its writing and execution. I found myself sucked into the character and her world instantly and was riding the emotional roller coaster right there with her. This is another tale I hope there is more of because while the main plot of this story was resolved I feel like there was so much more that needed finishing. Highly recommended and hope I find more to this world.
Fury of Fate Coreene Callahan
Let me start by saying that this short is the reason why I have this collection. I won it in a contest from the author and I am a huge fan of hers. That being said here is what I think:
When I saw the blurb and read the couple for this short were going to be Ivar, the main antagonist in the Dragonkind series, and Sasha, his apparent mate, I was skeptical. Ivar is a very well written bad guy and while sometimes I kind of agree with his reasons, his methods are truly horrible and he’s definitely a BAD guy. Yet…when I read this I found myself intrigued by the way he thinks and the way he chose to process certain life events. Sasha was an amazing character and if I’m honest absolutely perfect for him. Their hookup was a little….unbelievable at first…but as soon as the initial what? Passed I was very much into their conversations and thoughts/feelings. Though this story was wrapped up pretty neatly by the end I still wanted more. Even though I have strongly disliked Ivar from the first novel I now want him to get his happy ending too. Though hell if I know how she is going to make that work! One of the many reasons I am a fan of Mrs. Callahan. Obviously I recommend this to any fan of the paranormal romance genre, though I will add that I feel like the first three books in the series should be read first. At least. If you read all four then the short everything will make perfect sense to you but if you read the first three you won’t miss any major plot points or how weird it is to actually be rooting for Ivar.
The True Love of Sherry Papers by S G Redling
This was possibly the most disturbing story out of the entire collection. The writing is superb and gives Sherry a clear modern voice. Her issues with Nick are issues that I feel like most people can relate to or at least empathize with. It doesn’t start to get weird until about halfway through. And even then you kind of just give your book a weird look but keep going because you curious how it ends. The ending will be a shock though not necessarily a surprise. I’m sort of on the fence about whether or not I like this one. I think I’d have to give the author another go just to be sure.
February 23, 2014
This book contains eight stories based on the theme Love Hurts.
I have decided to rate each story as some I loved, some I liked okay and some I could not get into what was going on.
Heartless (4.5 stars) It was a good read, of course being there are eight stories in one book all of them are quick reads. Even though there was not much time to build up to the characters I loved the way Roxie came out of a bad relationship and made herself into a new person. And since I am not into BDSM I am glad that the author stopped where she did with any acts.
Tantrabobous (5 Stars) This is one of the three stories I really loved in this anthology. I haven't read many ghost stories but this one really hit the spot for me. It had love, humor, sarcasm and a really misunderstood old man that had you feeling for him.
Just A Lie (4.5 Stars) The only bad thing I had to say about this was that the guy really needed to learn how to stand up for himself and stop keeping secrets for someone who didn't respect him in return. Love denied is a heart ache for anyone.
Unforgiven (1 Star) I really had no idea what was going on in this story. As I said I know these were short stories but if I don't know a little bit of what the characters are, which half way I end up realizing they must be vampires or her at least. But I still had no clue why the husband was denying her or if he ever was. I just honestly don't know what was happening.
Sweepers (1 Star) Again a story that left me baffled. I understand that she was left behind to finish her cover but after that I really got lost.
Salt and Water (5 Stars) This was another story I loved. I know I know, this wasn't about the love of two people in the sense that the others were. But this was a story about someone's love for doing the right thing, someone's love for another species. That is what made this story good. I want to know what happens next. :) Hint Hint to the author.
Fury of Fate (5 Stars) This story was freaking awesome. I loved that a character I normally would hate is shown in a different light. It makes me want to demand that his story be told in entirety. Can I do that? Hint hint. Let's just say another story that ended way to soon.
The True Love of Sherry Papers (4 Stars) It was okay, maybe I was just so spoiled by the other paranormal stories that I got stuck on them and didn't give the non para stories a fair chance.
I have decided to rate each story as some I loved, some I liked okay and some I could not get into what was going on.
Heartless (4.5 stars) It was a good read, of course being there are eight stories in one book all of them are quick reads. Even though there was not much time to build up to the characters I loved the way Roxie came out of a bad relationship and made herself into a new person. And since I am not into BDSM I am glad that the author stopped where she did with any acts.
Tantrabobous (5 Stars) This is one of the three stories I really loved in this anthology. I haven't read many ghost stories but this one really hit the spot for me. It had love, humor, sarcasm and a really misunderstood old man that had you feeling for him.
Just A Lie (4.5 Stars) The only bad thing I had to say about this was that the guy really needed to learn how to stand up for himself and stop keeping secrets for someone who didn't respect him in return. Love denied is a heart ache for anyone.
Unforgiven (1 Star) I really had no idea what was going on in this story. As I said I know these were short stories but if I don't know a little bit of what the characters are, which half way I end up realizing they must be vampires or her at least. But I still had no clue why the husband was denying her or if he ever was. I just honestly don't know what was happening.
Sweepers (1 Star) Again a story that left me baffled. I understand that she was left behind to finish her cover but after that I really got lost.
Salt and Water (5 Stars) This was another story I loved. I know I know, this wasn't about the love of two people in the sense that the others were. But this was a story about someone's love for doing the right thing, someone's love for another species. That is what made this story good. I want to know what happens next. :) Hint Hint to the author.
Fury of Fate (5 Stars) This story was freaking awesome. I loved that a character I normally would hate is shown in a different light. It makes me want to demand that his story be told in entirety. Can I do that? Hint hint. Let's just say another story that ended way to soon.
The True Love of Sherry Papers (4 Stars) It was okay, maybe I was just so spoiled by the other paranormal stories that I got stuck on them and didn't give the non para stories a fair chance.
April 26, 2014
Title: My Bloody Valentine - A Short Story Collection
Author: Various
Publisher: The Story Vault
Published: 2-9-2014
E-Book ASIN: B00ICNBDP8
Pages: 267
Genre: Anthologies
Tags: Short Stories, Fiction
Sensual Level: very low
Overall Rating: 4.0
Reviewed For: Prairie Girl Reads
Reviewer: DelAnne
There are 8 short stories in this collection. Each by a different author with no connecting theme. The titles and authors are as follows:
1. Tiffinie Helmer's "Heartless", Roxie Scott's clients start dropping like flies.
2. Alex Bledshoe's "Tantrabobus" Tanna Tully checks out the ghost of a women who died on her wedding day.
3. V R Barkoweski "Just A Lie" A women scorned is out to make someone pay.
4. Erica Hayes "Unforgiven" A Vampire searches for redemption.
5. Lizz Lipperman "A Kiss To Die For" CIA bio-terrorism expert Mackenzie Conley comes face to face with a man obsessed with her.
6. Charlie Homberg "Salt and Water" A woman is tortured for the healing properties in her tears.
7. Coreene Callahan's "Fury Of Fate" Will the night of Sasha Cooper's dreams become her worst nightmare.
8. S. G. Redlings "The True Love of Sherry Papers" Sherry sets out to remind the love of her life that love sometimes hurts.
As you can see there is a variety of styles and plots offered. The great thing about anthologies, whether you have read any of the authors before or not it gives you a chance to check out the various authors writing style. With the different plots you can enjoy straight mystery, paranormal romance suspense, even more mainstream mystery. These stories are short, but full of intrigue and romance. Give yourself a chance to experience the imaginative offering of these talented authors.
Check out "My Bloody Valentine" and find some new favorite authors for yourself. You will not be disappointed.
Author: Various
Publisher: The Story Vault
Published: 2-9-2014
E-Book ASIN: B00ICNBDP8
Pages: 267
Genre: Anthologies
Tags: Short Stories, Fiction
Sensual Level: very low
Overall Rating: 4.0
Reviewed For: Prairie Girl Reads
Reviewer: DelAnne
There are 8 short stories in this collection. Each by a different author with no connecting theme. The titles and authors are as follows:
1. Tiffinie Helmer's "Heartless", Roxie Scott's clients start dropping like flies.
2. Alex Bledshoe's "Tantrabobus" Tanna Tully checks out the ghost of a women who died on her wedding day.
3. V R Barkoweski "Just A Lie" A women scorned is out to make someone pay.
4. Erica Hayes "Unforgiven" A Vampire searches for redemption.
5. Lizz Lipperman "A Kiss To Die For" CIA bio-terrorism expert Mackenzie Conley comes face to face with a man obsessed with her.
6. Charlie Homberg "Salt and Water" A woman is tortured for the healing properties in her tears.
7. Coreene Callahan's "Fury Of Fate" Will the night of Sasha Cooper's dreams become her worst nightmare.
8. S. G. Redlings "The True Love of Sherry Papers" Sherry sets out to remind the love of her life that love sometimes hurts.
As you can see there is a variety of styles and plots offered. The great thing about anthologies, whether you have read any of the authors before or not it gives you a chance to check out the various authors writing style. With the different plots you can enjoy straight mystery, paranormal romance suspense, even more mainstream mystery. These stories are short, but full of intrigue and romance. Give yourself a chance to experience the imaginative offering of these talented authors.
Check out "My Bloody Valentine" and find some new favorite authors for yourself. You will not be disappointed.
finish-later
September 3, 2016Fury of Fate - Coreene Calahan - Series villain Ivar gets some one on one from someone who brings out his best self. (ETA - it had been a long time between Dragonfury books for me when I read this, so I had rememebered only that Ivar was bad and had thought that maybe Callahan was thinking of redeeming Ivar, but having just read Fury of Desire, Ivar is sooooo bad that he's irredeemable. Just in case you haven't read the series and decided to pick it up after reading this, hoping for a HEA for Ivar, don't know how that could happen.)
Heartless - Tiffinie Helmer - This story is pretty tame considering that the leading lady is a part time DOM and her leading man - a high school crush, who is now a policeman investigating the murder of one of her clients, isn't a man to give up control.
Unforgiven - Erica Hayes - This is one of the stories where it isn't entirely clear what's going on as an inhuman woman reenters the world she left behind and succumbs to her dark hungers.
Tantrabobous - Alex Bledsoe - Apparently this is connected to Bledsoe's Firefly Witch series - A ghost hunt ends in flames and a centuries old mystery is solved.
Heartless - Tiffinie Helmer - This story is pretty tame considering that the leading lady is a part time DOM and her leading man - a high school crush, who is now a policeman investigating the murder of one of her clients, isn't a man to give up control.
Unforgiven - Erica Hayes - This is one of the stories where it isn't entirely clear what's going on as an inhuman woman reenters the world she left behind and succumbs to her dark hungers.
Tantrabobous - Alex Bledsoe - Apparently this is connected to Bledsoe's Firefly Witch series - A ghost hunt ends in flames and a centuries old mystery is solved.
February 12, 2014
*I received an ARC for my honest review* 4.5 stars!
Actually, I don't even think that disclaimer is needed. I read Salt and Water, in particular, and swear I couldn't stop reading the story if I wanted to. Because it was an ARC, it has a couple of little things, but nothing that detracted from enjoying the story.
Charlie has a way of using words as an artist uses the mix of paints, thumb and apron to invoke stark imagery, smudged with just the right amount of dark and foreboding and finely worked to add tension.
Going into this, I knew Charlie had a way with words. I'm just thrilled to see, first hand, just how brilliant she is. I daresay the rest of the anthology is just as great to read.
Actually, I don't even think that disclaimer is needed. I read Salt and Water, in particular, and swear I couldn't stop reading the story if I wanted to. Because it was an ARC, it has a couple of little things, but nothing that detracted from enjoying the story.
Charlie has a way of using words as an artist uses the mix of paints, thumb and apron to invoke stark imagery, smudged with just the right amount of dark and foreboding and finely worked to add tension.
Going into this, I knew Charlie had a way with words. I'm just thrilled to see, first hand, just how brilliant she is. I daresay the rest of the anthology is just as great to read.
March 14, 2014
I have to admit, I really got this collection for Coreene Callahan's "Fury of Fate". I am a huge fan of her work. Her story was definitely a 5 star story. It was interesting reading about Ivar in this light. I started to empathize with him, and I'm hoping now that things turn out a little better for the Nightfuries and the Razorbacks. I'd love to see Sasha turn up in another book. Ah...one can dream.
The rest of the stories were ok. The last one, The True Love of Sherry Papers was a little disturbing in the crazy, psycho girlfriend kind of way. Of course I never saw it coming so the ending kind of shocked me.
The rest of the stories were ok. The last one, The True Love of Sherry Papers was a little disturbing in the crazy, psycho girlfriend kind of way. Of course I never saw it coming so the ending kind of shocked me.
February 24, 2014
This is a collection of eight stories by very different authors with a remarkable range of plots and writing styles. A couple of the authors had a little trouble getting out of their own way by forgetting the maxim “show me, don’t tell me” but overall a well-written and enjoyable excursion. With murder, a ghost, vampires, mer-people, a dragon-dude, and a couple of deranged lovers, what more could you ask?
February 22, 2014
I really enjoyed all of these stories. But I belive my very favorites were "Fury of Fate" by Coreene Callahan, and "Tantrabobus" by Alex Bledsoe. I love dragons and need more, Coreene! I love all kinds of paranormal and Tantrabobus was very intriguing and hope you carry this character into other books, Alex !
All in all it was a great group of authors and thier stories.
All in all it was a great group of authors and thier stories.
March 15, 2014
This was a borrowed book and I only borrowed it for S. G. Redling's story at the end, which definitely was my favorite. I'm not sure if it was the genre or just the subject but most stories didn't make me want to read anymore than the short stories. They were good and an interesting collection of "love hurts" stories but I'm disappointed that nothing introduced me to a new author.
February 25, 2014
I loved reading all of these short stories. My favorite was Fury of Fate by Coreene Callahan but that is also because I am engrossed in the series. Tiffinie Helmer's story also dragged me in. I loved how strong Roxanne Scott was. I recommend this book to all who want to learn about new authors and series. I know I will be checking out any of the authors in this book that I haven't read before.
August 11, 2014
So I bought this collection because Charlie Holmberg's short story is in it; I'm so excited about her upcoming novel and I wanted to read her work. I have to say that her story, "Salt and Water," is totally five-star material. I loved it. But I can't say the same about the other stories in the collection. A lot of them ended abruptly. Few held my attention (and I'm not a picky reader, really).
February 12, 2014
I will preface this by saying that I won this eArc in exchange for a review.
I got this book for Fury of Fate by Coreene Callahan. Which was a GREAT story! I love the Dragonkind males and can't wait for Venom to come out!
With the mix of stories, some were good, some were bad.
I got this book for Fury of Fate by Coreene Callahan. Which was a GREAT story! I love the Dragonkind males and can't wait for Venom to come out!
With the mix of stories, some were good, some were bad.
February 12, 2014
I Love this series of short stories they are amazing they cover many genres and have introduced me to new authors as well as some of my favorites I recommend this set to anyone who loves to read and or looking for new authors
February 21, 2014
I really liked these books but my favorite is Ivar's story. He is such a rotten being that you just want to hate him but Coreene has shown him in a different light. You want to see him be a better person and get the love he so deserves.
March 7, 2014
Only read 'Fury of Fate' by Coreene Callahan...it was good, but too short and kind of leaves you hanging or at least wondering if Sasha will show up in one of the full-length novels. Even though Ivar is the bad guy, I kind of felt for him. 3 stars!
July 23, 2014
Tiffinie Helmer was a new author to me and I picked up her book and couldn't put it down. If you want a great fast read buy it. I am now going to buy the rest of the Bloody Valentine collection!! What a way to spend Valentines Day. Thanks Tiffinie!
February 13, 2014
this was a great introduction to a new author, and as I am not a fan of shorts. It left to many questions for me. But I do look forward to more by this author.
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