I realize this is a long review and most will not have the patience to read all of it, so let me make it simple. For just 99 cents, it's pretty hard to go wrong. So, if you want more detail about each story, read on. If not, just buy the collection. It's worth it.
Code Black - Tina Moss
4 stars
This book was surprisingly long, considering it was part of a compilation. The characters were complex and the plot was compelling. The author took the time to weave in multiple storylines and character relationships. Overall, it was very well done. The story has an actual ending, but also has a hook leading to the next story in the series.
I had two problems with this story. The first problem was that Talon seemed to have an awful lot of trouble controlling himself and his emotions. It seemed like he was always on the verge of shifting and losing control. Also, during a scene in which they were basically fighting for survival, he and Sera end up in an embrace which causes them to lose sight of everything going on around them. Really?!? Logically, they both should have been killed at that point. It made no sense.
My other problem was the misuse of homophones. I noticed repeated instances of "passed" used when it should have been "past." And at one point, the author used the word "hurdled" When she should have used "hurtled." There were some minor proofreading errors which I was willing to overlook, but misusing words really bothers me.
Savage Surrender - Ellis Leigh
4 stars
This book was about the length I'd expect in a compilation. It was a full story, no cliff-hanger, with a clear promise of more to come. The characters were well-developed, the writing was easy to follow, and the plot was fast-paced and intriguing. Overall, I'd say it was very well done.
Protector - Vivian Lane
1 star
Something has to be really poorly written for me to stop reading it. I made it to the third chapter before I was ready to throw my Kindle across the room. I think the worst thing about the writing was trying to figure out the POV. Initially it was first person, Carys. Then it was William and his chapter kept switching between first and third! By the time I got to the part where Carys confides in her new friend, I couldn't take anymore. It was the most stilted, unrealistic dialog I've read in a long time. In fact, I was reminded of my own efforts to write fiction when I was about 12 years old - though I had the good sense to keep it to myself! I wish this author had done the same.
Out of the Box - Kallysten
5++ stars
Kallysten never fails to deliver. In this instance, she managed to infuse this story with so much emotion, there were tears running down my face as I read it. What makes this astounding to me is that this story seemed to be mostly about sex and pushing boundaries. I've read stories that seem to be craftily constructed containers for sex scenes. This one may have been just the opposite. It was a bittersweet unexpected love story wrapped in sex. What a wonderful surprise! I think this might even be my favorite Kallysten story to date.
Waiting for Darkness - Fionn Jameson
4 stars
I really liked this, until the end: "To be continued...." Aside from the fact that I consider this an amateurish way to end a story, I absolutely hate cliff-hangers! In fact, I hate them even more as part of a compilation because there is no warning, and since you are reading a compilation of books, you can't exactly switch over to a conclusion of that story and still give a timely review of the compilation. If your writing and story-telling abilities are good, you don't need a cliff-hanger to compel readers to read more of your work. Left hanging abruptly and without a conclusion, readers don't know if they can trust the author. That's what I need to figure out while deciding whether to read more from Fionn Jameson.
So, I've given this story 4 stars despite my feelings on cliff-hangers. It could have earned 5; I enjoyed it that much - until I didn't. I think what I liked most was the voice of Tanith, a vampire with a sense of humor, especially when she said things like this:
"I sort of wanted to go to the nearest church I could find and confess my sins to the father there. Two things stopped me: the nearest church was over twenty minutes away by car, and if I ever stepped foot over the threshold of a holy building, I was bound to come away with some serious physical damage." I chuckled when she equated a minimum twenty minute drive to serious physical damage, as if they were equal deterrents. I still have many questions about Tanith, and about the other characters in this book; I'm not sure I'll be reading more.
My Scarlet Woman - Shelley Munro
5 stars
I wasn't sure when I started this, whether I'd like out our not. Something about it stuck me as trite. But the more I read it, the more I came to understand and relate to the characters. This is a typical romance where the biggest challenge for Saber and Emily is the fear of being hurt. There are no sinister villains or dark forces at work. If you're looking for a fun HEA, this is the book for you.
Fury's Kiss - Nicola R. White
4 stars
This book was pretty good - not my favorite, but definitely not the worst. I was unfamiliar with the Greek legend of The Furies, so I found that very interesting. The chemistry between Tara and Jackson was undeniable, though he tried desperately to deny it.
Perhaps partly because of my unfamiliarity with the legend, I found the plot to be full of surprises. It was often tense and always kept me guessing. I think the inclusion of this book in the compilation was a good choice and I recommend it.
Shifter, P.I. - Bonnie Dee
4 stars
Told from dual POV’s, this story was fun to read and easy to follow. I liked both main characters, Rick and Amy, and was rooting for them to overcome their fears and take a chance together.
Despite some gruesome events in the book, the author managed to describe these scenes in a non-gratuitous manner. There were children peripherally involved, but there was no elaboration on anything that might have occurred with them. I think, considering the content and the potential for some truly disturbing images, the author showed a great deal of restraint. For this, I am very thankful!