Nocturnal [Mass Market Paperback]

Nocturnal by Jacquelyn Frank, Kate Douglas, Jess Haines, and Clare Willis
Paranormal Romance - Sept. 7, 2010
4 ½ stars

Nocturnal was generally a fantastic paranormal anthology. I enjoyed most of the stories. Most of them are part of the authors' current or due to be released series.

The Phoenix Project
In The Phoenix Project Jacquelyn Frank begins a new genetically altered shifter paranormal.
Amara has lived a rough life and it only got worse when she was kidnapped and is now being experimented on. When she wakes up and is thrown into a room with a gorgeous cop, named Nick who was also taken, she finds that she can't keep her hands off of him. Their sexual attraction flares and she can't control the fangs and claws that suddenly appear and neither can he! They form a desperate bond but their short happiness is threatened by unscrupulous scientists with armed guards. Can they escape?
This was a phenomenal story. I would have bought the book for this story alone. I can't wait for the author's upcoming book to find out more about these amazing and savage shifters. I loved both of the characters and there was so much sexual tension that it was hot, hot, HOT! I could feel how much the characters belonged together. 5 stars

Crystal Dreams
In Crystal Dreams Kate Douglas continues her Demon series. Demons enter through a portal to earth. Darius is a Lemurian Guard, 1 of 4 guards with his crystal sword that can kill demons. He is from an alternate plane and decides to track them down before they cause further damage. He hunts them down to a mystical store where he meets an amazing woman named Mari. Although she doesn't believe him at 1st, they soon become a team to combat the demons entering earth. And both of them have an undeniable attraction for each other.
This was an excellent story that made me want to know more about Darius and the land he comes from. The crystal sword also captured my imagination. I enjoyed both of the main characters since they were strong and easy to care for. 4 ½ stars

Spark of Temptation
In Spark of Temptation Jess Jaines continues her Other series with the human P.I. Sara. Sara is doesn't like working for the Others (vampires, shifters etc) but when she is blackmailed by a powerful vampire to help him she feels she has not choice. But problems ensue when her human boyfriend argues with her not to work with the vampires and they break up. Then she is threatened by the AOA, the Anti-Other Alliance and their plan to undermine the vampires. As Sara comes to lean on a mage for help she must re-evaluate her life and what she thinks of the Others.
This story was in 1st person which is good if the main character is interesting but Sara was a very bland character. Also since she was a human she really appeared weak next to the Others and even other humans. So I didn't enjoy this story as much. 3 stars

My Soul to Take
In My Soul to Take the author, Clare Willis writes a new and original story about a handsome artist named Derek who has been possessed by a ghost who wants revenge. Unfortunately, Derek finds himself in a psychiatric ward. Feeling helpless and in despair he tries to end his life to prevent the ghost from coming free and taking over his body. But Derek unexpectedly meets a remarkable doctor named Maggie Dillon. Maggie feels a connection to Derek and begins to believe his story of possession but can she save Derek and remove the ghost before it is too late?
This was an intriguing read. I loved how the author built upon the story and moved it in directions that were unexpected and entertaining. The story was in 1st person and I thought Maggie was a charming voice to read. 4 ½ stars

Reviewed by Steph from the Bookaholics Romance Book Club

Nocturnal is a bit of a mishmash of genres, sci fi, urban fantasy and paranormal romance with no obvious unifying theme, but Nocturnal did give me chance to try three new-to-me authors: paranormal romance authors Douglas and Willis, as well urban fantasy author Haines and to read a short by an old favorite author Franks.

Here's a quick little blurb for the stories which make up Nocturnal:

Spark of Temptation- Jess Haines - continuing directly after her urban fantasy series, Hunted by Others, PI Sara is blackmailed into taking on a job working for vampire leader Royce, which puts her in the sights of the most radical of the anti-Others groups. but luckily she has mage Arnold watching her back (I liked this one mostly because I liked the geeky Arnold, there is some very mild romance but it is oddly executed.)

My Soul To Take - Clare Willis - A pyschiatric intern is drawn to a talented young man who is not crazy but possessed - (I found this to be the most appealing of the stories, I thought that the Willis did a good job of making a connection between her leads and I liked the touch of voodoo too.)

Crystal Dreams - Kate Douglas - connected to her Demon Hunter series, a lemurian warrior must protect a women who appears to be a magnet for demons which have escaped to the Earth - (pleasant enough romance with a nice bit of steam.)

The Phoenix Project - Jacqueline Frank - Genetically modified shapeshifters can't fight their new animal instincts to mate and to fight - (This is the most erotic story in the book and The hero has real potential but the story was too short to morph the pairs' animal need to claim a mate - and to violently protect that claim - into a romance. This felt like it should be series starter, but I checked Frank's website and it's not.)

The stories in this anthology did not grab or keep my attention for very long. They were disjointed and lacked excitement. On some, it felt like we were joining the story half way through and not having read some of the authors prior, I had little idea of the background between characters.