Archive for the ‘Anthology’ Category

MEN OUT OF UNIFORM
Maya Banks, Karin Tabke, Sylvia Day
ISBN #:  978-0-425-24316-9
Kindle ASIN #:  B0052RE5FC
Berkley Publishing Group/Berkley Heat
October 2011
Erotic/Anthology Erotic/Ménage
Print

MEN OUT OF UNIFORM are three category length novellas about the men who serve the law and the women that they protect and love. Because of the category length of these novellas, the stories were more in depth than the typical novella and gave you a deeper insight into the characters and plot.

Soul Possession by Maya Banks is the first novella in the series and a ménage. Jessie, a survivor of a horrific car accident is a student and waitress working to pay for her schooling and medical bills. At the bar Jessie works at, she encounters Rick and Truitt two detectives with the local police department who have been trying to proposition her. When Jesse is unjustly fired, she decides to go home with the men. When the boss who fired her turns up dead, Jesse is accused of her murder and her two lovers have to fight to clear her name not only from the murder accusation, but also from a serial killer who has targeted and kidnapped her.

Out of the three novellas, I preferred Soul Possession because it was the most well-rounded out of the three, the suspense and the romance were integrated in a seamless manner that made it an enjoyable read. I enjoyed the mechanics of the story and while I had an idea of who the villain was, I was surprised at how the climax played out and I’m rarely surprised when reading romantic suspense. The only quibble I had with Soul Possession was the happily ever after working within that particular ménage relationship because of the strong Alpha personality types of the two heroes, but that could be just be quirk of mine and not reflective of the writing and the quality of the story, which was excellent.

Wanted by Karin Tabke was the second novella in the anthology. Colin Daniels is an officer with a tri-state task force who is assigned to protect the wife of a mob boss who is on the run. Colin’s mission was to find, protect, and bring Sophia back alive so she can turn in state’s evidence that would convict her husband. When Colin catches up with Sophia, he realizes that she is a girl from his past, a woman he has never stopped thinking about. He also realizes there is a leak in his department and the bad guys are hot on his trail. He and Sophia are on the run not only from the bad guys but the intense feelings that are building up between them.

I enjoyed Wanted very much. It actually had the best relationship dynamics out of the three stories. I loved how Colin and Sophia interacted and their interactions seemed realistic given the circumstances and their past. What bothered me about Wanted is that the story had a big build up for this awesome climax, a climax that just didn’t happen. In other words the beginning and middle of Wanted were great and the end fell flat. When I got to the end of the story I was surprised that it was over. I was looking for that big climax that was built up throughout the book, that never occurred. It fizzled out in the end.

Taking the Heat by Sylvia Day was the final novella in the anthology. Layla the heroine is in the Witness Protection Program after witnessing a federal agent get killed while on vacation in Mexico. When her hideout is compromised, the only survivors are she and Federal Marshal Brian Simmons a man who was called in at the last minute and her first love. She and Brian are on the run to get Layla across the country so that she doesn’t miss her court date and to keep her alive.

I liked Taking the Heat, I found Layla and Brian’s past relationship and how it ended realistic given their age differences. How they resolved their differences seemed realistic to me as well. Taking the Heat was one of the more steamier stories inside the anthology, not because of the sexual encounters but because you really felt the emotion between the hero and heroine. Out of the three stories, Taking the Heat was definitely the most emotional. What I didn’t understand about Taking the Heat was the suspense portion, it didn’t seem to have one. Taking the Heat was about Brian and Layla taking a road trip and resolving their differences, any suspense that happened was done off the page, I wish that it was more integrated inside the story. However, that didn’t bother me very much, because the characters were great.

Overall, this was a great anthology that I would recommend.

DEADLY PROMISES
Sherrilyn Kenyon & Dianna Love, Cindy Gerard, and Laura Griffin
ISBN: 978-1439191118
Kindle ASIN: B003UYUOWM
October 2010
Pocket Books
Romantic Suspense/Anthology
Mass Market Paperback

Sherrilyn Kenyon and Diana Love open up DEADY PROMISES with Just Bad Enough. Jeremy Sunn is taking a break from his undercover world with BAD, the Bureau of American Defense, to heal. He didn’t expect to meet a woman like CeCe Caprice, especially since he can’t tell her about what he really does for a living. Unfortunately, CeCe’s life is about to be in danger and she may just have a few secrets of her own.

Just Bad Enough is another fun entry into the BAD series. CeCe’s occupation is a bit strange but it does play a critical role in the story. In fact, it adds a neat twist since I must say the initial statue scene is one I’ve never read anything like before! I am always amazed at just how much story Sherrilyn Kenyon and Dianna Love can pack into so few pages. Once again, Sherrilyn Kenyon and Dianna Love demonstrate why they are must-read authors for me.

Cindy Gerard’s Leave No Trace introduces readers to David Cavanaugh. David is about to quit the CIA until an old friend asks him to find a friend. Carrie Granger stepped off a plane in Myanmar and just disappeared.  Will Cav find more than he bargains for when he rescues Carrie?

I haven’t read many stories by Cindy Gerard but after reading Leave No Trace, I am going to check out some of her other books soon! Leave No Trace has a constant edge of danger that keeps the tension level ramped up. Cindy Gerard does a great job at quickly developing the two main characters and showing the attraction building between them.

DEADLY PROMISES concludes with Unstoppable by Laura Griffin. Lieutenant Gage Brewer has completed a lot of missions but keeping Kelsey Quinn safe from danger may be his most challenging yet. Kelsey is working on an archaeological dig when the criminal element intrudes.

What a phenomenal conclusion to this anthology! Laura Griffin keeps the suspenseful theme going with a story that is both exciting and a bit mysterious.  I always enjoy reading stories by this talented author and once again, she doesn’t fail me. The romance between Gage and Kelsey seems hopeless at first glance but Laura Griffin not only makes the romance work, she crafts one heck of a suspenseful story in the process! DEADLY PROMISES is definitely one anthology that should be on the bookshelves of any fan of romantic suspense!