Double the Pleasure [Paperback]

What happens when four top-notch authors come together in one fun anthology? Well, readers get DOUBLE THE PLEASURE!

Lori Foster starts this anthology off with a bang with "Deuces Wild"! Dex Winston reluctantly agrees to impersonate his twin brother, Hart, for a short period of time. After all, what could go wrong? But that was before Dex met Christy Nash. Will Christy forgive Dex when she realizes he's not who she thought he was?

Lori Foster writes yet another superb story as "Deuces Wild" is one heck of an emotional tale! Dex's anguish is palpable as his promise to his brother conflicts with his desire to be honest with Christy. Who can't help but love a man like Dex? Christy's reactions are priceless as she is just one of the nicest, most genuine characters. She more than deserves her happily-ever-after. However, I can't help but admit that I can't wait to see what kind of woman will capture Hart's heart! Lori Foster is at the top of her game with "Deuces Wild"!

In "The Luck of the Irish", Deirdre Martin departs from her sports romances to bring readers the first book in her Wild Hart Saga. Maggie O'Brien is determined that no man will ever break her heart again. Brendan Kelly has his sites set on Maggie. But Brendan has a secret....

Deirdre Martin creates a charming ambiance for "The Luck of the Irish". It's easy to feel like one knows the various characters as the secondary characters add a sense of warmth and friendliness to the overall tale. But it's the sparks flying between Maggie and Brendan that take center stage! Deirdre Martin has a new fan in this reviewer with "The Luck of the Irish".

Jacquie D'Alessandro takes on the corporate world in "Your Room or Mine?" Jack Walker is the new head of his department but he's stuck dealing with his worst nightmare... a consultant! Maddie Price is used to difficult assignments but will she survive a weekend bonding experience with Jack and his department? Does the attraction between Jack and Maddie stand a chance?

Oh, who can't help but love when two people clash as much as Jack and Maddie do? The resulting sparks are sizzling! Jacquie D'Alessandro does an excellent job at showing how easy it is to misread another person's true personality. The scenes where Maddie and Jack had to look past their own perceptions of one another are outstanding but it is the ending that makes this story really stand out.

Penny McCall concludes this anthology with "Double the Danger". Dr. Abigail West is shocked when the John Doe she's about to autopsy is her former lover, Drake. Even more shocking is when it turns out Drake isn't really dead. Abby soon finds herself on a madcap adventure in which danger lurks on every corner and her very heart is at stake.

Penny McCall finishes DOUBLE THE PLEASURE with a wildly humorous and fast paced tale. "Double the Danger" is a nonstop ride, chock full of action until the very last page. The side story of Virgil is entertaining as Penny McCall keeps readers guessing as to what zany thing will happen next. "Double the Danger" is an exciting finale and leaves this reader wanting to read more by this talented author.

DOUBLE THE PLEASURE is sheer fun. Each story is well-written and entertaining making this an anthology that is easily recommended!

COURTESY OF CK2S KWIPS AND KRITIQUES

Lori Foster is in top form with "Deuces Wild" using the identical twin switch-a-roo plot device. Writer Dexter Winston pretends to be his twin Hart while his brother is out secretly training for MMA. While apartment sitting he meets Hart's cute green eyed red-haired neighbor Christy. Sparks immediately fly. Only problem is that school secretary can't seem to figure out the sudden change in Hart. He seems so different but he looks the same!
*****Great story, believable plot, good character development and some steamy love scenes. One of Foster's better anthology shorts (and I've read them all). She also gives the reader some tantalizing peeks at Hart's story.

Deirdre Martin kicks off her new series Wild Heart Saga with the novella "The Luck Of The Irish".
From her website-
The heroine is "Maggie O'Brien, whose large, loving Irish American family owns the Wild Hart, a pub in the heart of New York City. The O'Briens are a family whose every member is blessed and cursed with classic Celtic traits: passion and loyalty, wit and drama; a family of romantics, rebels, and dreamers who clash with the same intensity with which they love. Small wonder, then, that when strapping Irishman Brendan Kelly walks through the door of the pub, Maggie's finally met her match. But Brendan may not be all that he seems..."
****If you like hot tempered, as well as hot-blooded, H/H in your stories you'll love this one. Maggie and Brendan go at each other with no holds barred. This feisty duo kicks the steam meter into overload and nearly combusts leaving this reader fanning herself.

Work enemies are forced to bond during a resort retreat in D'Alessandro's "Your Room Of Mine?". Consultant Maddie's job is to make observations and recommend who's to be cut from Jack's (CFO) department -worker's Jack desperately needs and is determined to keep. Naturally they hate each other. But one weekend changes everything. Preconceived notions fly out the window (along with a whole bunch of clothes) but will they come back Monday morning?
*****My favorite story of the bunch. I love surprises! Especially when two characters seemly so at odds have nothing in common find out they have everything in common. Nice and steamy too!

"Double The Danger" by Penny McCall
From her website-
"Dr. Abigail West is a country doctor stuck with weekend autopsy duty, which is horrible enough, When she opens the body bag on her exam room table and discovers the only man she's ever loved inside, it's positively tragic. Until he comes to life and tries to strangle her. Drake is an FBI agent coming to the rescue of a federal witness. It's bad enough that the hit man got to him before either of them got to the witness, but the local yokels had the nerve to mistake Drake for dead and stuff him into a body bag. And when he wakes up, he finds his hands around the throat of the woman he would have married - if he hadn't walked out on her to become an undercover agent. The fact that she's the granddaughter of the witness - not to mention the reason his cover was blown - just caps off the whole fiasco. Drake and Abby have enough to handle, with a persistent hit man on their trail, an uncooperative 80-year old witness, and a small town full of eccentric characters tripping them up. Battling their attraction to one another is just double the danger."
****Very good action plot but could have used more sexual tension and the ending was less than stellar compared to the others. A solid read, just could have used more romantic omph!

Other anthologies I've enjoyed-
Heating Up The Holidays: All He Wants For Christmas...\My Grown-Up Christmas List\Up On The Housetop (Harlequin Blaze)
Bad Boys In Black Tie (Watson Brothers)
Bad Boys Of Summer (Twins' Bad Boys)
Perfect for the Beach
Star Quality
Tell It To The Marines

Like many collections by multiple authors, Double The Pleasure is quite uneven from story to story.

Foster's "Deuces Wild" was a fun romp with likable characters and hot sensuality, but it felt rushed - Foster often has trouble with pacing in her short stories. Also, the way Dex and Christy came together was unsatisfyingly easy, even with the major obstacle they faced.

Martin's "The Luck of the Irish" was an OK read but not terribly impressive.

D'Alessandro's "Your Room or Mine?" was great. Great characters, great situation, enough bumps in the road to keep it interesting but with a satisfying ending, and lots of very well done sensuality. Yum!

McCall's "Double the Danger" was just ridiculous, and touched by the Kiss of Death for romances - unlikable main characters. It reminded me strongly of the one Jennifer Crusie story I ever bothered to read, a short entitled "Hot Toy" (from Santa, Baby which includes contributions from Lori Foster and Carly Philips). Like "Hot Toy", "Double the Danger" is just OFF in a way that makes me think the author is actually an alien observing humans from afar.