A fab set of short stories to wet all appetites. Each story has a redhead and covers all genres like MC, Vampires, strippers and a touch of sweetness too. Hot, sweet, sexy and dark. Each one leaves you wanting more from these brilliant authors. I really loved these tasters and found a great selection of new to me authors.

4.0 out of 5 stars Great collection of short stories!

Whats not to love about this anthology all set around red headed beauties… i love how all authors get limited details and they all bring such a great mix of different reads, we have MC, vampire, Royals, undercover drama, second chances and the falling in love with your friends sister, all rolled into one fab set of stories.
I bought this initially for TL Wainwrights story which i absolutely LOVED! More twists, turns, and drama set around those hot YOMC bikers! Definitely want more from JB & Scarlett.
I also loved Elle M Thomas story with some forbidden bestfriends sisters romance, loved Spence and Emilia and would love to find out whats next for these guys.
RM Gardner, as much as i don’t read Royal romances i was hooked into this story 😉
This collection seriously has something for everyone, jump in and buy this asap!

5.0 out of 5 stars A mix of amazing short stories

A collection of short stories, all of which have a Red theme within. We have a mix of Vampyres, MC,Strippers and Gangsters, Brother’s best friend, girls night in with a ouija board, well you get the idea. This is a fabulous collection, each author has put their own take on the theme/picture that were given and have done it so well. Each tale will have you riveted and wanting more. If you fancy an opportunity to test the waters with new authors this is the way to do it. I will be honest I was drawn to this by the first story by Tracie Podger an already firm favourite for me and I got to the end of her story wishing I could have more, there is so much more to tell and I have heard a whisper that there may well be a full length book for A Blood Like Mine and in the meantime I have many new authors to explore. Grab this now and lose yourself in a world of fantasy, love and mystery, you will love it.

4.0 out of 5 stars A great collection

A great selection of short stories with a red headed heroine. There is definitely something for everyone in this anthology with fantasy, romance, vigilantes, motorcycle clubs. I particularly liked Full Disclosure by Loriana Capello, based in a club with hints of organised crime, fast paced and gripping. I also really enjoyed Book Keeper by Paula Acton with a vigilante vampire offering a safe haven to all in her Night Library and Velvet Reds by TL Wainwright which got me interested in her MC club and then was over far too soon.

There is a lot to like in this collection, and I’m sure I will be looking up more from some of these authors 🙂

5.0 out of 5 stars Wonderful mix of stories

Ok I’m 2 stories in, Tracie Podger and TL Wainwright’s are amazing. Interesting take on Vampires for the first one, fresh and exciting. TL went with the MC but it’s one of their businesses and the person who runs it, boy oh boy I want more of that, in fact more of both.
There is a mix of wonderful stories by some new to me authors and 3 favourite authors. Each are interesting and romantic, each contain something red, be it blood or hair colour. Great characters and a very enjoyable read.

4.0 out of 5 stars A Good Variety Of Stories

There are some very interesting stories in this anthology. A lot is packed into these short stories and the authors managed to draw you in quickly. All the leading women have red hair and all are very different characters. There is a mixed of tropes from paranormal, romantic suspense and contemporary romance.
Some felt like they were prequels to a longer book and left me with unanswered questions. They ended in a to be continued fashion so you are left wondering what was going to happen. You will need to keep an eye out for the next book if you enjoyed the story.

A Blood Like Mine by Tracie Podger:
This is really two paranormal stories in one. The main romance is between Maxim and Lilith who are from two different clans. The author also gives us the tragic love story between Maxim’s parents, which left his father a heartbroken recluse and him without a mother.
Maxim is part of a centuries old race of vampires but wants to find better ways to ensure their survival. His father wants him to take a partner but he has no desire for one until he is drawn by the aura of a red-headed woman in their prison. Something about her is special but he doesn’t know what she is.
I found his friend Franco really funny and bet they have got up to some mischief together. I didn’t like his brother and could see why they didn’t get on. I don’t usually read vampire books but I found myself as interested in Lilith as Maxim was. I enjoyed finding out more about her and the history of both their clans.It turns out these two are soulmates and the next generation to fulfil a years old prophecy.

Velvet Reds by T.L. Wainwright is set in her Young Outlaws MC Nevada world. I was so excited to read this when I realised it was about Scarlett. If you have read Smoke then you will know the heartbreaking backstory about her parents. This follows on from the ending of Smoke’s book, when the Florida chapter ask for help with one of their members. While we learn all about Scarlett’s childhood and how her mother ended up at Reds. When tragedy struck, Scarlett took over from her mother to manage Velvet Reds for the YOMC and she has a secret bond with Smoke, their president. When he needs a favour, a very sexy and handsome man ends up hiding out in her apartment. JB is warned she is off limits and he promises to be on his best behaviour and resist her! JB is such a temptation and awakes a fire inside her. There is a funny shower scene and I loved how he was such a flirt. Knowing a relationship is forbidden, they both fight their feelings but a violent incident changes everything. The consequences bring revelations and heartbreak but also promises for the future which I can’t wait for.

Full Disclosure By Loriana Cappello:
Rosa is a journalist on an undercover assignment as a choreographer for the dancers at a private members club. The Vine is owned by Matteo Rossi and brothers Michael & Roberto Lombardi, but is probably their only legitimate business. While writing her investigative piece, she had fallen in love with Matteo.There had been an immediate attraction between them since her first day but he suddenly broke up with her with no explanation. She is heartbroken but her boss demands she returns to find out the truth about the owners or get fired. Rosa knows she has fallen in love with a gangster and seen what happens behind the scenes but feels a loyalty to Matteo so needs to go back to protect him from her boss. A hurtful discovery leads to a forbidden final performance, a confrontation with Matteo and an explosive incident.
There are secrets and revelations that will leave you shocked and surprised as not everything is what it seems. Their connection is undeniable but can they find a way to be together. A very clever and enjoyable mafia romance with a great twist.

Choosing Us by R.M. Gardner:
A royal romance story about Princess Elizabeth and who she chooses to be her significant other. She has very firm ideas of what kind of Queen she wants to be. She has her own opinions and wants to lead her people into the future. The King and Queen are bound by royal protocol to find her a suitor. She has just turned twenty-one so it is a very important night for Elizabeth and her parents as they hold an extravagant ball for her to meet suitable men. Two young men catch her eye as they walk in and she is pleased when one of them asks her to dance. It turns out Marius and Dominic have a plan because from the first time they saw her, they were both fascinated and wanted her. Marius is adorable and totally irresistible. My heart went out to him as he battled his demons and we learn about what he had been through. Dom is so supportive and determined to show him he deserved to be loved. Would she be willing to make their dream come true? Could she accept them for what they were? Would their unorthodox relationship be accepted? An interesting why choose story with a sweet ending.

Book Keeper by Paula Acton :
This is not a romance story but a paranormal tale of an immortal being who has adapted so she can live amongst mortals. Vampire Cassandra is an independent woman who runs The Night Library, an exclusive members cafe. It is a sanctuary for humans and any immortals in their human form. She is called the Bookkeeper because she has a hidden library of books detailing the lives of immortals and she knows secrets about her kind and others. She is also a vigilante for women who have been victims of abusers and bad men. There are rules about interfering in mortals lives but she uses her gifts to take revenge on these men. She hands out the justice she believes they should have received. The author gives us lots of information about Cassandra and sets the scene for more plots and events that she could be involved in.I felt a little disappointed with the last chapter and the ending left me wondering what was going to happen next, so I presume this is a prequel for a full book.

Meant To Be by Elle M Thomas:
An unrequited love, soulmates, friends to lovers, forbidden love, best friend’s sister romance between Spence and Emilia. Spence Knight has just moved back to his hometown. We find out he carries a photo of a girl in his wallet. His best friends Dan Oakes and Fin Parker are so pleased he is back. Dan needs his help as his sister is getting married to an awful man. Will they stop her from marrying the wrong person or accept her decision. Emilia Oakes aka “Little Oakes” or his Acorn! He’s not seen his best friend’s sister since his graduation. It turns out the photo was taken ten years ago on her eighteenth birthday and his feelings for her have never changed. A delay at her wedding leads to a startling revelation and opens the doors for Spence to get the one woman he has always wanted. Luckily for him she has always had a crush on him.
A night out with friends ends with her drunk and him rescuing her. It leads to him helping her get her life back together and admitting his feelings for her. Things don’t go as smoothly for the couple as they have her brother to convince and it turns out Spence has been hiding a secret. Will they get their long awaited HEA? Is he the one she was destined to be with?

Girls Night In by MBB Whyte:
This is a ghost story about a group of best friends who call themselves The Strays, having a sleepover at the weekend. The four girls have vastly different personalities. are the Taylor and Hazel brainiacs. Penny is a goth girl but calls herself a freak. Jen is the typical girl next door, a cheerleader with the football boyfriend.
Armed with drinks and snacks they head to Hazel’s house. Penny and Jen are shocked to find out the house is haunted. Taylor and Hazel surprise the other girls with a spirit board and suggest they try to contact the ghost who lives in the house. A series of spooky happenings over the evening leave the girls wondering if ghosts really do exist and their imaginations running riot over what they experienced. The author also suggests there is something going on with Penny and a new boy in school and the girls make a pact about spring dance. Along with the intriguing history of Hazel’s house and the red headed ghost, I wonder if this is all leading to a full book about The Strays.

Destiny by Georgina Hannan:
A paranormal romance about Lucien, a Vampire and Calista, a Werewolf. When a mystical beast turns eighteen they must go and find their mate. Mates are destined to be together but until they actually touch and the sparks fly, they don’t know who the other is. Destiny brings them together even if the circumstances are unlikely and the pairing not what either expected. Her life changes forever on her birthday when an anonymous note tells her where to go to meet her mate. The place is outside the safety of her pack so although dangerous, her curiosity gets the better of her. At the clearing she is spooked by a group of vampires and tries to escape. Luckily Lucien saves her. He is the leader of the vampires. A intense moment between them leads to confusion and denial. They are different and can’t be mates or can they? A leadership challenge and jealousy puts them both in danger. Will they realise they have no choice, accept their destiny and survive everything to be together.

Reigniting Love by Susan Horsnell:
This is a contemporary romance about Cherise Malone and Bryden Finch. A couple torn apart by no fault of their own and now getting a second chance at love. Bryden fell in love with Cherise in college but hasn’t seen her for eight years and we are about to find out why. Merin her assistant and best friend, has helped Bryden arrange their meeting as he needs the chance to explain in person. Cherise is a singer who is returning to performing after a two year gap away.After her encore she found Merin in her dressing room with a man she thought was dead. Why had he disappeared after graduation when they were about to tell their friends they’d got engaged. He tells her the story that had changed his life for the last eight years. She was the love of his life so leaving her was the hardest thing he’d ever done.
Can she forgive him for what he did when he has struggled to forgive himself over the years? He now wants a second chance because he’s never stopped loving her. Can they reignite their love after he has broken her heart? A really lovely story about revenge, righting a wrong and finally getting a second chance with the one you are meant to be with.

Chance Meeting by Theresa Hodge:
A love at first sight story about Tessa and Scott, even though it takes them a while to get together. Her life was never the same after her chance meeting with him on a visit to New York. They only met briefly but the interaction between them stayed with her. It was a wonderful night which didn’t end how either of them had hoped. Did she have the courage to find him? I did find this author’s style of writing a bit hard to read and never connected with Tessa or Scott.

Book Reviews · Monday Musings

Book Review – First night by M.S. Fowle

May 30, 2012July 23, 2012 paulaacton6 Comments

Okay first a confession to everyone who reviewed this book already I didn’t really read your reviews closely. I know you will have written great reviews so I will have clicked like but I didn’t want to be influenced when I finally got chance to read it for myself.

I started this book with a little trepidation. I loved Nora’s Sun and knew that this was a different type of story. Plus given the sheer number of books on the market with vampires or vampire like creature I dreaded discovering this would just be more of the same but I have to say I was wrong on both counts. The quality of the writing is every bit as brilliant as Nora’s Sun and the plot dynamics of this book had me longing for the next installment.

The First Night By the very talented M.S. Fowle is an action packed tale of mans ability to persecute that which he does not understand no matter what the cost or the consequences. The ‘First’ have existed since the dawn of time their natural life span is a millenia but they are under threat from the Chimera savage beast created with one sole purpose…to destroy the first. The problem is the Chimera feast on flesh and blood and are not too fussy who that flesh belongs to. Alex has her own reasons for wanting the Chimera stopped as do her Urban Gang who dedicate their lives to destroying these savage creatures. During a hunt the First and the Urban Gang come face to face as they battle their joint foe. Only by finding a way to get past the mistrust of centuries can they hope to destroy these beings and the one who created them. Zeke leads his clan of first members. Now at this point I have got to comment on him there is no real description of how he looks but even without one this guy somehow manages to ooze sex appeal and it would have been very easy for this to become a straight forward girl falls for vampire novel but the authors outstanding story telling manages to avoid this and allows us to watch the relationship slowly unfold between them. Infact in many ways what is not said in the book is far more influential than what is said. Will who has been Alex’s sidekick since childhood does not need to tell us he is in love with her we can see it in his actions just as we know that Zeke and Alex are fated to be part of each others lives. Zeke struggles to understand not only Alex’s motives and emotions which are not part of the ‘first’s’ character but also to understand his own feelings towards her. Like a moth to a flame he is drawn back to her time and time again. It would hae been easy to throw the pair into each others arms but the only real physical contact between them is when Alex allows Zeke to feed from her in order to regain his strength. I have to say I found the second time this happened incredibly sensual. I would even go as far as to say that this conveyed sensuality during the feeding process was on par with that of Anne Rice in her Vampire Chronicles, it is the bond created by the sharing of souls rather than the passion of a sexual encounter which promises the opprtunities for a relationship between these two who should be sworn enemies.

I don’t want to say too much more incase some of you have not had the pleasure of reading this yet. I cannot recommend this highly enough and it gained a 5 out of 5 with me. I will be interviewing the author in the near future and have the next installment lined up to read very soon

Book Reviews · Monday Musings

Book Review – Ripper’s Row by Donnie Light, Shawn Weaver

May 19, 2012July 23, 2012 paulaactonLeave a comment

I was lucky to pick up this book as a kindle freebie I have had quite a few lately hence the delay in me getting round to reading everything I have promised. Now I am a huge Anne Rice fan and for me her vampires will always be the standard against which I judge others. This may in part explain why as much as I love reading vampire stories I have never written one I am not sure I could cut the grade. This book though was inspired in both its concept and the execution. Set in Victorian London the vampire in question harks back to the fiend of Bram Stoker’s creation. Now before i go any further am gonna state quite categorically there may be a couple of spoilers in this review but hopefully only enough to entice you further rather than put you off.

The scene is set in London’s foggy gaslight street a killer stalks the shadows but that is where the historical part ends. The ripper of this book is not a homicidal maniac (well okay he sort of is but bear with me) but he is a vampire hunter on the tracks of the master vampire William of Whitechapel. The women who lay brutally slain in his wake are the cohorts of the master vampire who must die in order to lure the evil fiend from hs lair. The lines between good and evil are definitely blurred as William seeks to avenge the deaths of his cohorts. He does have a bond with them created by putting them under his spell some he even appears to have something approaching genuine feelings for, yet he to all obvious purposes he is actually a pimp. he admits to hoards of treasures yet lives from the earnings brought back by these women of the streets selling their bodies. Of course despite the fact we know all this he still manages to be a seductive fiend.

Spreading his arms, William did something he rarely considered. With concentrated thought, his body began to change. hs skin darkened, and short bristly hairs shot out of his pores. A thick membrane spread from his ribs to his arms and William’s clothing tore under the stress. Taking the form of a bat,William spread his dragon-like wings and climbed into the night.

Along with the aability to transform into a bat William is also weakened by those elements so many modern vampires serious mock, the cross, holy water and cannot enter a church. He renews his energy each night partly by the blood he has partaken of and partly thanks to the soil of his homeland sewn into bags stored in his coffin. At a time where more and more authors make their vampires more human it s refreshing to read one that has reverted to the older traditions of vampire literature and given the setting of the story it works magnificently.

So next onto our ripper Jack. It is not really possible to think of him as a hero in fact in many ways he is an anti-hero. While you know you should be cheering him on as he fights the agents of darkness you cannot help wishing they would win. In facing his demonic opponents Jack demonstrates his cruelty and ingenuity in finding ways to dispatch them or as he tries to claim as he slaughters those under the vampires thrall releases their souls. He designs various weapons to aid him in his mission and you cannot help but question the mind that manages this so easily.

Jack, with his eyes locked on William’s, brought his wrists together abruptly, causing the strange framework to respond with a metallic clack.

At that moment, William understood. By bringing his wrists together, the killer had activated a spring-loaded mechanism that brought a gleaming blade to each of Jacks hands, locked in place by the framework.

it is interesting to note also the author seems to encourage the reader towards this uncertainty about who the bad guy is exactly. The vampire feeding for survival or Jack seeking revenge. We learn Jack began his mission after a loved one Sarah is turned into a vampire with terrible effects upon her sanity. She has fled from Jack and as he searches in part for her he is determined to avenge her death. This in part may explain the pleasure he takes in killing the vampires but possibly not the relish he seems to have in slaying those under their spell.

Catherine lay crumpled at Jack’s feet as the last of the air in her lungs seeped out the slit across her throat. Small bubbles formed in the blood around the gaping wound, and the dark puddle expanded beneath her still body.

Graphic descriptions of eavh death are not required given that most people are well aware of the story of the real ‘Jack The Ripper’. What is fairly graphic however is that this man does not really feel remorse. He may have the slight waiver of conviction occasionally but as the reader you do not neccessarily believe his sincerity in this.

I really enjoyed this story but of course there is a but lol I know as a writer you want to get people to buy the next book however as a reader it ends quite abruptly rather like the ripper killings themselves. While it does conclude in many ways the London episode of the story it also leaves you frustrated if as I was at the time you are unable to download the next book immediately. I have now bought it and can only hope it lives up to the first part.

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