| ||||||||||||||||||
![]() Trade In this Item for up to £0.25
Trade in Hot Spell (Berkley Sensation) for an Amazon.co.uk gift card of up to £0.25, which you can then spend on millions of items across the site. Trade-in values may vary (terms apply). Find more products eligible for trade-in.
|
Product details
|
Tags Customers Associate with This Product(What's this?)Click on a tag to find related items, discussions, and people.
|
|
Share your thoughts with other customers:
|
||||||||||||||||||||||
|
Most Helpful Customer Reviews
8 of 8 people found the following review helpful:
4.0 out of 5 stars
Heating Things Up,
By
This review is from: Hot Spell (Berkley Sensation) (Mass Market Paperback)
Exploring the myriad pathways of paranormal romance, these four novellas of demons, beasts, vampires, werewolves and humans range from night to day, and all the dark pleasures in between.
** The Countess' Pleasure - Emma Holly ** In an alternative British Imperial India a disappointed widow is taking tentative steps to find her own pleasure. But when Georgiana, Countess of Ware, goes to see a Yama demon dance, she knows her life will never be the same again. Be prepared because this story is intensely hot from the off. Yet amidst this fury the relationship between Georgiana and Iyan is surprisingly tender. Skilfully done. 5 STARS. ** The Breed Next Door - Lora Leigh ** Having fought his way free from the labs where he was created, trained and tortured, Lion Breed Tarek has spent the last six months living next to Lyra, trying to fit in. But it isn't just the scents of coffee and freshly baked bread that keep attracting this kitty to her door. Part of the extensive Breed series, this tale had the confident feel of a well-established world, though for someone new to it (like me) it's an easy read. Lyra could have had a bit more personality, and I'm not sure about the whole Mating Heat thing, but Tarek was cute. Good, but nothing special. 3.5 STARS. ** Falling for Anthony - Meljean Brook ** Having been in love with Lady Emily Ames-Beaumont for years, Anthony Ramsdell is devastated to be sent to serve as a doctor in the Peninsular War. But he promises to return to her, and Anthony is a man who keeps his promises - even after death. As a huge fan of the Guardian series, it was nice to go back and read the novella that came first. However, this is probably my least favourite of Brook's work. I didn't like Emily, but I did appreciate the changes in Anthony after he became a Guardian - and it's always fun to see Lilith winding up Hugh. Not to mention see Michael admitting to his mistakes. A tantalising glimpse for newcomers, and a missing piece for existing fans. Check out the series, it's even better. 4 STARS. ** The Blood Kiss - Shiloh Walker ** When the younger brother of Roman, king of Wolfclan Montgomery, is imprisoned by vampires, Roman will do anything to get him back. Luckily for him then that the daughter of the House of Capiet is so very appealing... Hmm... Roman, Julietta, Montgomery and Capiet, old enemies and young lovers... Huh. Well, in spite of that, this is a fairly solid tale of family loyalty and escaping a monstrous father. 4 Stars. ** With some standard offerings, Emma Holly's is undoubtedly the best of the bunch. Enjoyable.
8 of 10 people found the following review helpful:
4.0 out of 5 stars
Spellbinding,
By
This review is from: Hot Spell (Paperback)
I got this because of the Emma Holly story which continues exploring her Yamish Demon World, however all the stories are entertaining. Which ones are your favourites is likely to be influenced more if you know the authors' work already.
Emma Holly - The Countess's Pleasure Set in the anything goes human city of Bhamjran, a widowed Countess decides to investigate the performance in The Ladies Lotus and discovers a whole lot more than she bargained for. She's immediately drawn to the Yama who is performing, to such an extent that she offers him a proposition. In their own ways these two are looking for freedom. She from a life and a secret that she has left behind when she journeyed to Bhamjran, he from paying restitution for a crime his mother's been convicted of. This is both a really sweet romance, and very sexy too. Even in the shorter length of a novella, you get to know and care about the characters. Lora Leigh - The Breed Next Door The title really says it all. This is part of a series which I confess I've no familiarity with, and I can't say that I feel compelled to investigate further - it was ok but not that great for me. Tarek is a Breed assassin, who has moved into a neighbourhood to complete his assignment. Lyra is his next door neighbour. They are attracted to each other, and we meet them when she's raking him down for butchering her roses. A perilous situation forces him to protect her, at which point he discovers that she's his mate. Despite already being attracted, he's secreting an aphrodisiac from glands under his tongue which will make her completely mad for him. Needless to say there's a lot of sex in this story, as well as a deadly showdown. Meljean Brook - Falling For Anthony Apparently this is the first story in a series about Guardians (think Guardian Angels). Like the Emma Holly story, this has a historical setting, during the Napoleonic Wars. Anthony is a doctor about to set off for the battle fields. Before he does, he has a surprising encounter with his best friend's sister, and makes her a promise to come back and marry her. There's a lot going on here: a Nosferatu attack which leads to Anthony becoming a Guardian; a Demon making trouble; an almost-Vampire. I found this very atmospheric, and romantic as well as sensual. I will definitely be looking out for other stories in this series. Shiloh Walker - The Blood Kiss Roman is a Werewolf King, who discovers that the neighbouring Vampires have imprisoned his brother for entering their territory. Roman has history with the Vampires, whose leader he holds responsible for the death of his father. He decides to rescue his brother, and joins a Vampire party where he spots a woman who he was attracted to earlier in the day. She only happens to be the Vampire leader's daughter, Julianna! It's clear to him, though, that this is not a happy lady. An encounter with her leads him to discover that she's being faced by her father with two equally unpalatable choices. Instead she chooses a third option - and helps Roman free his brother. Her decision unleashes a terrible punishment from her father, fortunately for her (though she doesn't like it), Roman has decided to take her prisoner and back to his own territory. There's plenty of crackling sexual tension in the dialogue between Roman and Julianna, before the two actually get together. If this is part of a series, I will be interested to investigate more.
Share your thoughts with other customers: Create your own review
Most Helpful Customer Reviews on Amazon.com (beta) Amazon.com:
4.4 out of 5 stars (29 customer reviews) 110 of 112 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars
An anthology equal to its name--It's hot!,
By Lauren MacLean - Published on Amazon.com
This review is from: Hot Spell (Paperback)
Hot Spell is a terrific anthology with strong writers and sizzling stories.
The first entry, "The Countess's Pleasure", by Emma Holly, is a wonderful world combining British Victorian India and the paranormal. Emma Holly cheerfully introduces her tale with the words, "Everyone said what happened in Bhamjran stayed in Bhamjran." A recent widow, Georgiana DuBarry, Countess of Ware, decides to indulge in the pleasures the city has to offer. After witnessing a floor show, Georgiana contracts a liaison with the performer, Iyan Sawai. The author describes what's brought these two unlikely people together and handles what could be a tawdry situation with real sensitivity. The story perfectly fits the short format, but I acknowledge that I was sorry it ended; I wanted more. For those readers who haven't had the opportunity to read "The Demon's Daughter", this story is set in the same creative world. The second, modern tale is Lora Leigh's "The Breed Next Door". It stands alone, but the story is part of a series called the Feline Breeds. The hero, Tarek Joran, is genetically engineered. He and those like him suffered considerably in the process of being "developed". After fighting for their freedom, the breeds resolve to make a place for themselves in this world. Tarek is a sort of bountry hunter, and he's drawn to his neighbor, Lyra Mason. Tarek's enemies attack Lyra in an effort to get to him. The story crackles with sexual tension. Although it may not be as satisfying as her longer novels, it's a great introduction into Miss Leigh's inspired series. The third story, "Falling for Anthony" by Meljean Brook, is ambitious in scope. It's a complicated combination with quasi-angels, vampires, and a quest. Anthony, who has always loved Emily, is brought back from the dead to protect her and her brother. There's a lovely story here, but it clamors for a longer format. Shiloh Walker's vampires and werewolves are favorites of mine. "The Blood Kiss", like others in the anthology, is a stand alone although part of her larger "The Hunters" series. Julianna is the daughter of an evil vampire. She is kidnapped by Roman Montgomery, king of the werewolves. They fall in love and must fight the efforts of her father's minions to recapture her. Mikhail, the father's second in command, plays a small but significant role here. He's a recurring character in Walker's paranormal universe. I'll confess that I wanted more of this story too. 35 of 37 people found the following review helpful:
4.0 out of 5 stars
A Good Read,
By H. Gracia - Published on Amazon.com
This review is from: Hot Spell (Paperback)
I would like to give this a 4 1/2 star rating. Three of the stories were great and one left something to be desired.
The Countess's Pleasure by Emma Holly was very nice. I liked the imagination of the other race and the mix with Victorian times. It was an unusual choice to put together but it really worked. The Breed Next Door by Lora Leigh was my favorite. It was the shortest but the hottest. I would have loved to see this as a full length novel. Even with the constraints of the short story you got a sense of who and what Tarek was. Leigh was able to make me care for the 2 main characters in a short period of time. This calls for a sequel. Loved it! Falling for Anthony by Meljean Brook was, to me, the weakest of the 4 stories. It is the only reason I didn't give the book 5 stars. I felt that there was too much happening and too much detail to ever develope any feeling for the main characters. I got lost in story at times as there seemed to be so much happening with no follow-through of information. The Blood Kiss by Shiloh Walker was another strong short story. She was able to develope the characters and make you like them and care about them in a very short period of time. This is another story that calls for a sequel because of some of the very interesting secondary characters. Very nice story. 23 of 25 people found the following review helpful:
3.0 out of 5 stars
Luke warm spell,
By Lisa Hopcroft "Lelea" - Published on Amazon.com
This review is from: Hot Spell (Paperback)
I came into this book not having read any of the authors before and I had very little background knowledge of any of the series attached to this collection. That said....
The Countess's Pleasure was....okay. I never really got invested in the story and when it was over it didn't leave me wanting to look up any of the author's other works. The Breed Next Door was one of the two best in this collection. It left me wanting to read the series that this is a stand alone to. Lyra made me smile and laugh at loud at times. The way Lyra and Tarek enjoyed provoking each other was fun to watch without being over the top. It was fun and I can't wait to read more stories set in this world. Falling for Anthony fell short of interesting. Mixing angel-like gurdians and vampires it left me feeling nothing at all. The Blood Kiss was the second of the two best stories. Julianna is the blood daughter of the Eduard, an old world ruling vampire who just happens to be holding Roman's younger brother hostage. No a wise idea when Roman is the werewolf's King. After Julianna helps Roman free his brother he takes the opprotunity to snatch Julianna. Eduard assumes Julianna betrayed him and declares her to be Blood Prize, an old world law that is just as horrendous as it sounds. It left me wanting to read more but not unsatisfied. |
|
|
This product's forum
Active discussions in related forums
Search Customer Discussions
|
Related forums
|
|
|
|