My Big Fat Supernatural Honeymoon [Paperback]

"My Big Fat Supernatural Honeymoon" is (naturally) a follow-up to the highly entertaining "My Big Fat Supernatural Wedding" anthology and in fact contains several stories written by authors who contributed to the first collection.

Stalked by Kelley Armstrong
A short story in the "Women of the Otherworld" series, werewolves Elena and Clayton are trying to enjoy a rather dull honeymoon; however this soon ends when a young male chooses to challenge Clayton for his wife.

Heorot by Jim Butcher
Chicago wizard Harry Dresden is asked to find a missing newlywed bride. Whilst the Police feel she may have just run off; there's something nasty lurking beneath Chicago requiring a human woman for procreation purposes.

Roman Holiday, or SPQ-arrrrrr by Rachel Caine
The sequel to "Dead Man's Chest" Cecilia and Lockhart are about to enjoy their honeymoon when their ship is attacked by another cursed, immortal pirate and Cecilia finds herself kidnapped.

Her Mother's Daughter by P N Elrod
Part of "The Vampire Files" series vampire PI/club owner Jack Fleming is hired to find a groom who disappeared during the wedding reception. Unfortunately the blushing bride just happens to have a mafia boss father and an even scarier mother.

Newlydeads by Caitlin Kittredge
A "Tale of Black London" story Petunia (Pete) Caldecott discovers her friend Jack has told hotel staff they are on their honeymoon to garner some freebies. Pete is left angry, but surely it's not a situation which warrants their sacrifice to a demon?

Where the Heart Lives by Marjorie M Liu
Part of the "Dirk & Steele" series, this short story is where it all begins. Lucy Steele is only seventeen when she is packed off to be a housemaid for Miss Lindsay, a woman with strange golden eyes and mysteries galore.

Cat Got Your Tongue by Katie MacAlister
Raphael and Joy are honeymooning in a Scottish Castle when they are approached by the ghostly Lady Lily Summerton (aka The Green Lady). She doesn't want much from them; just vengeance against her cheating, murderous, equally deceased husband.

Half of Being Married by Lilith Saintcrow
Their honeymoon goes from bad to worse when Kat discover her new hubby is a werewolf; whilst Mitch is left unimpressed Kat never mentioned she was a vampire hunter. Now add to this mess a bunch of disappearances and a vampire nest.

A Wulf in Groom's Clothing by Ronda Thompson
Part of the "Wild Wulfs" series, newlyweds Laura and Sam both keep secrets. Sophisticated city girl Laura may have misled Sam with regards to her love of the great outdoors; however Sam needs to explain why he likes to run naked during a full moon.

This is a great paranormal romance anthology and a must have for fans who enjoyed its prequel. If a collection of short stories grabs the reader enough to investigate the full length novels available by the contributing authors then it's done a good job; and "My Big Fat Supernatural Honeymoon" does exactly that. Let's hope further anthologies are published; perhaps featuring supernatural anniversaries or christenings.

STALKED - KELLY ARMSTRONG
Elena Michaels and Clayton Danvers (Women of the Otherworld series) should be enjoying the perfect honeymoon, but a rogue werewolf is stalking them, his sights set on taking Elena for himself. A so-so story about honesty within marriage, it helps to know the series.

HEOROT - JIM BUTCHER
Harry Dresden (Dresden Files series) is asked to find a bride who's gone missing from an ale festival. This draws on the Beowulf legend to sharp effect and while reading the series helps, it's not a necessity.

ROMAN HOLIDAY OR SPQ-ARRRRRR - RACHEL CAINE
Previously in MY BIG FAT SUPERNATURAL WEDDING Cecilia and formerly undead pirate Captain Liam Lockhart's honeymoon interrupted by a rival pirate who thinks Cecilia can end his curse. Stereotypical characterisation made this a dull read and you need to read the first story to understand it.

HER MOTHER'S DAUGHTER - P. N. ELROD
In 1938 Chicago, vampire detective Jack Fleming (the Vampire Files series) is hired by an angry bride (and Mob boss daughter) whose husband disappeared during the reception. It's okay and familiarity with the series isn't necessary.

NEWLY DEADS - CAITLIN KITTREDGE
Pete Caldecott and Jack Winter (the Black London series) are staying in the honeymoon suite of a Blackpool hotel when other guests start disappearing in suspicious circumstances. Some of the British-isms don't work (particularly a racist term), although the basic story is fine.

WHERE THE HEART LIVES - MARJORIE M LIU
A vague prequel to the Dirk & Steele series follows Lucy who becomes housemaid to Miss Lindsay and becomes embroiled in a world of magic and lost love. It's a strong, thoughtful story with themes of loss and love.

CAT GOT YOUR TONGUE - KATIE MACALISTAIR
Raphael and Joy St John (Dark Ones series) are honeymooning in a Scottish castle when they become involved in a struggle between married ghosts. Dull and predictable it's too long and you need to know the series.

HALF OF BEING MARRIED - LILITH SAINTCROW
A stand-alone story about a married werewolf and vampire hunter investigating disappearances in a small town while on honeymoon. It's an okay read but nothing special.

A WULF IN GROOM'S CLOTHING - RONDA THOMPSON
Standalone story about a werewolf who marries his true love, hoping to break his curse but his wife has been keeping secrets of her own. This was predictable and insipid and my least favourite in the collection.

Kelley Armstrong's "Stalked" -- A stalker livens up a werewolf couple's less than exciting honeymoon. Soon the stalker becomes the stalked and the couple revel in the chase. I'm not familiar with her Women of the Otherworld series, but these characters and the story was so engaging that I'm looking forward to adding them to my "To Read" list.
Jim Butcher's "Heorot" -- Marcone's Ms. Gard helps Harry rescue a bride kidnapped before her honeymoon. Great melding of Beowulf lore into the Dresden world, and we discover who/what "Amazon" Gard really is in the process. Plus, courageous and lovable Mouse is featured! My new favorite Jim Butcher short story.
Rachel Caine's "In Roman Holiday, or SPQ-arrrrrr" -- Taking off where her story from MY BIG FAT SUPERNATURAL WEDDING left us. More pirate adventures with newlyweds Cecelia & Captain Lockhart. This time other cursed sea captains are out to capture Cecelia believing that she can break their curses as well.
PN Elrod's "Her Mother's Daughter" -- Once again this author's story does little to move me. Although I will admit this one was better than the one in MY BIG FAT SUPERNATURAL WEDDING. I can safely say that I won't be reading any of her novels anytime soon.
Caitlin Kittredge's "Newlydeads" -- An uninspiring mess of a story about people going missing at a resort due to being sacrificed to sea monsters. It was a chore to slog through this story.
Marjorie M. Liu's "Where the Heart Lives" -- This is a lovely story despite never having read this author's Dirk & Steele series. Two sad and beautiful love stories surround what appears to be a haunted woods. The reader easily gets drawn into the mystery and the characters. A definite highlight to this anthology.
Katie MacAlister's "Cat Got Your Tongue?" -- A fun, jaunty tale about one living and two ghostly couples in a haunted castle. Again, the characters are engaging, and the story is filled with humor and a few twists. Another bright spot.
Lilith Saintcrow's "Half of Being Married" -- A charming story of newlywed vampire hunter Kat and werewolf Mitchell. Both haven't told the other about their supernatural secrets -- secrets that they worry will destroy their marriage when their quiet honeymoon in a small town is interrupted by a nest of vampires. Lots of action and characters that you like from the start.
Ronda Thompson's "Wulf in Groom's Clothing" -- An okay story about a mismatched couple honeymooning in the forest. Laura pretends to like roughing it to please her new hubby Sam, an avid nature lover. Sam, as his surname Wulf suggests, is a werewolf and his cabin in the wild is his way of coping with the 3 days each month that he changes. He's hoping that consummating his marriage will finally break the curse, but things don't go as planned. I didn't feel that this was much more than a standard romance formula with werewolf thrown in to make it seem different. Unfortunately, that idea is pretty prevalent (and has been done better) in urban fantasy.
I liked 6 of the 9 stories contained within. Definitely worth borrowing from a friend or library, but I wouldn't bother buying this one -- despite LOVING Butcher's story. I will simply hope that someday all of his short stories will be compiled.