Fairyville by Emma Holly
Published by Berkley
Why I read this: I heard there was some good man on man love happening.

Zoe Clare is a medium who has no trouble communicating with the dead-or with real live fairies, for that matter! But she can't seem to get her feelings across to her landlord-slash-manager- Magnus Monroe, Fairyville, Arizona's most eligible bachelor. She's tired of his erotic antics with every woman in town but her. So when her high school flame returns to town, Zoe is more than a little vulnerable to his charms. How Alex broke herheart is a scandal no one in Fairyville has forgotten. But even if Zoe isn't ready to forget, she's willing to forgive. The rules they're about to break will bring out the jealousy in Magnus-and the astounding truth.

Zoe is a woman who has the ability to talk to dead people. She lives in Fairyville, a town that is known for it's magic.

Alex is a Fairy, however, he does not know that he is a Fairy. He is also Zoe's old boyfriend. They have not seen each other in 15 years.

Brian is friends with Alex and has had a crush on him for years.

Magnus is a Fairy Price. He is on this side...the human side...on a magic visa. The terms of his visa is that he must sleep with a new woman on every full moon. Winning her heart, then giving it back to her.

Even though Fairies are very sexual and can stand to do it several times a day, Mangus decides to only do it when he must-once a month. He is in love with Zoe, and even though they are currently only friends, Magnus can't stand the thought of getting into a relationship with her, and then having to cheat on her every month.

Zoe has very strong feelings for Magnus, and she wants to be with him, even if it means that it will only be for one night. Magnus sends her very mixed signals. He wants her, he loves her, but he doesn't want to hurt her. None of this he is able to explain to her.

There is not only a whole lotta sex in this book,(Alex/Brian, Zoe/Magnus, Zoe/Alex, Brian/Magnus, Alex/Zoe/Brian, Zoe/Magnus..all in that order) But there is also a pretty good story-line.

Alex was ran out of town 15 years ago after he had an affair with his coach, and at the same time, cheated on Zoe. Alex has loved Zoe all these years, and thinks of her as the one who got away.
Before coming back to town Alex starts a relationship with Brian, his Private eye partner.

Alex and Brian are investigating the possible abduction of a little boy. His mother swears that the child she has now is not the same one she gave birth to. So, Alex and Brain go to where the child was born to investigate. The child happened to have been born in Alex's hometown.

No one knows this right off the bat, but Magnus is the answer to the questions that Alex and Brian have about the (possible) kidnapping.

This was a pretty good book. Emma Holly is a hit or miss with me, and I'm happy to say that this was a hit. Yummy sex, good plot. I give Fairyville a solid B.

Having said all that, this needs to be said. I don't know about the print version of this book, but this e-version I read is horrendous! The editing is the worst I have seen in any ebook I have ever read. Not a single chapter went by where I wasn't pulled out of the story because of a misplaced word or crazy spelling. If I was the author of this book I would be demanding that every place that sells this ebook pull Fairyville off the virtual shelves until someone can get in there and fix the MANY problems. Berkley publishing should be ashamed of themselves over this.

All u can eat, By Emma Holly
Published by Berkley, 2006
Grade: C+

About the book:

When the body of a wealthy woman is discovered in an alley near Frankie
Smith's diner, Frankie realizes she's one of Chief Jack West's prime suspects.
The truth is, Jack's attraction to the sexy proprietor of All U Can Eat is
all-consuming-though he knows hauling her into custody isn't going to improve
his chances with her.

What neither of them realizes is
that the town of Six Palms is full of secrets that would shock even the raciest
residents. Determined to clear her name-and to get to know the police chief
better-Frankie joins Jack on a rollercoaster ride of an investigation. And soon,
letting go of their inhibitions seems like the most natural thing in the
world.

Diner owner, Frankie (I hate her name, btw) is dumped by her super model boyfriend. She mopes around for a while and then meets super hottie who she bangs a few times...against a wall, in a bed, and on a bathroom floor. Fun. She also has a threesome with a couple guys who not only own a mechanics shop, but also secretly tape their threesomes with various women in the city. She has sex with the Hero, Jack. Plus she also has sex with the guy who dumped her-That episode happened before he did the dumping though.

Someone kills a woman and frames Frankie for the murder. Jack the cop sucked at his job. I knew who the killer was way before he did.

I liked the story over all, but it was predictable, and the threesome she had was boring and weird. It didn't fit into the book at all. I didn't like the Hero. He didn't come off as attractive, and I really wanted her to end up Mike...the second dude she screwed.

I'm still a Emma Holly fan though.

Hot Spell, Anthology
Published by Berkley Sensation
Grade: Over all, C

About the book:

Venture into a world beyond the ordinary, where the dark passions and
voracious appetites of vampires, werewolves, demons, and a few undaunted mortals
combine to unleash a potent spell... Here are lovers to tempt the imagination:
Eyes that glitter with keenness born of ancient knowledge. Hands that move with
a tenderness belying superhuman strength. Inviting smiles that reveal
exquisitely lethal fangs. Rippling, leonine muscles. There's danger in the
air...and heat.

The Countess's pleasure, by Emma Holly.
This short story is about a Yama who falls in love with a human. It was alright. I'm not a huge fan of the Yama demon world.
The Heroine, who is a virgin widow, asks a Yama who she just saw in a strip show to have sex with her and se will pay him. He trying to make money for something, so he agrees.
Like I said, it was alright.
The reason she was still a virgin is because her husband could not get an erection. He taught her how to perform oral sex, and she did it often, but the guy never got it up.
There was supposed to be some big secret as to why he was impotent, but it was never revealed.
I give this one a C.

The breed next door, By Lora Leigh
Part of the Breeds series. I have read a lot of Lora Leigh, but this was my first Breed book. Everyone raves about the series, and now I see why.
The Heroine, Lyra, finds out that the sexy, annoying man living next door to her is a Breed. Breeds are not born, they are created. Half man & half animal. Tarek is a Lion Breed.
After Tarek stops a man breaking into Lyra's house, he makes her spend the night with him. The next day, after finding out that they are mates they spend two days going at it. There is a bit of action when some men break into Tareks house an attempt to assassinate him.
I am left with a few questions, but I'm sure they will be answered once I read the others in the series.
I gave this novella a C+

Falling for Anthony, by Meljean Brook

I read a couple chapters of this one, then skipped to the end and read the last page. I couldn't get into it. I don't like the Heroine. She was much to forward for the time period. Her attitude was nothing like I have ever read in a historical. I bet if it had been a contemporary I would have liked it.

This one is a DNF

Blood Kiss, by Shiloh Walker

Why have I never read Shiloh Walker before? I must be insane. I feel like I have missed out on some great reads! I'm totally gonna scoop out her back list now.

In Blood Kiss, a king werewolf falls for the daughter of his enemy. When her father, who is a Vampire, decides to play pimp daddy with her, Roman-the Werewolf, mates with her and marks her so that all the Vampires who are lusting after her will back off. Fighting action, betrayal, great great. Awesome read.

I give this a B+

Strange attractions, by Emma Holly

Published by Berkley Sensation

Grade: B

About the book:

Determined not to repeat her mother’s mistakes,
high-school dropout and unrepentant heartbreaker Charity Wills is eager to get
an education any way she can. When she’s offered a chance to go to college for
free, she jumps at it. There’s just one little catch.

She must travel to the estate of B.G. Grantham, a
reclusive physicist who likes to play sex games as exotic as the particles he
studies. B.G. is obsessed with the unattainable: the meaning of life, the
mysteries of desire, and the thrill of being refused the one thing he craves.
Charity has more than enough spirit to provide a challenge—especial with Eric
Berne, her sexy “keeper,” to lend a hand . . .

I have had this in my TBR so a really long time, but I was afraid to read it. See, I started collecting all of EH's back list, but I wouldn't even read the back of the book first. I just saw her name on the cover, then bought the book. When I got home and read the back of this one it put me off. To me, it sounded like she was going to be play sex games with a guy who gets off on rape scenes. Ew.

Boy, was I ever wrong. I'm kicking myself for not reading this sooner.

B.G and Eric have been best friends since they were 8, and lovers since they were teenagers. B.G is a genius physicist who loves to play erotic games with Eric and special guests they invite to B.G's home.

Charity is one of these guests. I liked her. She is strong willed, she is open to all sorts of things when it comes to sex. She is so simpering virgin. She gets shy sometimes, but she knows what she wants with sex, and she gets it.

Eric doesn't know that with Charity, it goes beyond the regular games that he and B.G play, B.G is secretly trying to push Charity and Eric together. As much as he loves Eric, B.G knows that he can't give Eric a normal relationship. Not because they they are bisexual, but because B.G just doesn't think he is cut out for it.

B.G's plan backfires when not only do Eric and Charity fall in love, but B.G falls in love with her, too. Both men feel a sense of guilt as if they are betraying the other. Poor Charity is stuck in the middle..but enjoying it all, of course.

I was unhappy at the end, only because I wanted it to keep on going. I think they came up with a good solution for each other, and B.G seems like he is happy about it. I want to read more though. Oh, and the sex is hot, hot, hot! Even if you don't like the sub story going on, or the all the quantum talk, the sex is more than makes up for it.

Fantasy, by Chrinstine Feehan, Sabrina Jeffries, Emma Holly and Elda Minger.
Published by, Jove March 2002
Grade: Over all B+

In these four novellas by today's hottest romance writers, a Victorian widow
auctions off her most prized possession: herself...a beautiful jungle explorer
discovers her own wild side...a bloodthirsty beauty gives in to her darkest
desires...and a young woman turns an all-male academy into a school for
seduction.

The widow's auction, by Sabrina Jeffries. (Historical)
Seeing this author on the book cover is what prompted me to pick it up. I heart Sabrina Jeffries. Lady Isobel is a widow who was married to a very kind man who happened to be a terrible lover. A friend convinces her to take part in a the yearly Widow's auction so that she can experience another mans touch, and hopefully get over her husband. She is bid on by a friend she tends to bicker back and forth with a lot. He knows who she is right away, but she as no idea that he knows her real identity. At first he bid on her so that he can tease and embarrass her, but as the night goes on and he gets to know the real her, he starts to fall in love. He wants her to unmask but she is afraid of his rejection once he finds out who she really is.
I give The widow's auction a B.

Louisa's desire, by Emma Holly (Paranormal)
To tell you the truth, I can't tell you much about this one because I didn't finish it. I made it to the middle of chapter two, then I gave up. I'm sorry, it bored me and I had no desire to read on.
I feel bad because I like Emma Holly.

Mr Speedy, by Elda Minger (Contemporary)
This was my favourite story in the book. It was funny, romantic and entertaining.
Miranda is a writer who infiltrates a men only seminar by going under cover as a man. The seminar is run by some sleazy guy says that women are 'the other' and for just under $900 he will teach you how to get into 'the others' pants in 24 hours.
At the seminar, Miranda..who is known as Randy in her man outfit, is teamed up with hottie national magazine reporter Jake. He is also there to get a story.
There were a few times when I laughed out loud. When Jake comes to the conclusion that 'Randy' is gay. Then when Randy tells Jake that she is really a woman he thinks that Randy means transgendered. Jake is supportive of his new girly man little friend. He isn't a homophobe at all, and he is extra nice to Randy.
Dressed as Randy, Miranda spent hours talking to Jake about what they want in another person. The type of place they want to come home to after a long day at work, etc.
After it's revealed that Randy is really Miranda they have a night of passion but Miranda doesn't think it can go anywhere, so she sneaks off in the morning leaving him a note.
Tsk tsk. bad Miranda.
Mr. Speedy has an ending that made me very happy considering it's a short story. Instead of a 'I love you lets get married' ending, it had a 'I care a lot about you, please give us a chance' ending.
Perfect!
THis is a new to me author, and I hope her novels are as good as this short story was. I'll be on the look out for her name next time I go to the book store.
I give this one an A.

The awakening, by Christine Feehan (Paranormal)
Maggie is a shift shaper, except she has no idea. She sets off into the rainforest to claim a house that her birth parents left for her. She was adopted as a little child and knows nothing about her real mom & dad.
The moment she sets foot into the forest she feels different. All she can think about is sex and having it with a certain man. She doesn't who he is, but she knows he is near, and she wants him, needs him.
Brandt is the man her heart and body is searching for. He is the caretaker of the house, and a black panther in his other form. Brandt explains to Maggie about her parents and they were also shape shifters who were killed by poachers. At first she has a hard time understanding everything, but Brandt is patient with her.
After Maggie goes through the change and shifts into a panther for the first time Brandt has an attack of conscious and tells her that if she wants to go back to the city he will go with her. She decides that the jungle in her home and she wants to stay here and help him protect the animals.
Really good read, I give it an A.

Over all I am surprised at how good 3/4 of the shorts were. I tend to stay away from anthologies because I don't believe what it written. I love the concept of love at first sight, but not everyone writes it well enough for me to believe it, and since most anthologies have love at first sight type stories in them I tend to avoid them.
This collection did not disapoint me.

Prince of ice, By Emma Holly

Published by, Berkley sensation, Nov/06

Grade: C+

Back cover reads: Humans like to call them demons, but the Yama are an old and civilized race, far too civilized to fraternize with lesser beings. It is only through subterfuge that a quarterhuman infant, one Xishi Huon, is raised side by side with the Midarri heir, whose own peculiarities make her his soulmate—at least until the whispers of their unnatural fondness get her banished to an orphanage.

Coming of age as a courtesan, Xishi excels in the erotic arts. But when Corum Midarri becomes her new owner, the relationship will test the limits of her gifts. Corum is the Prince of Ice now and not the sensitive boy she knew. If he succumbs to the temptations of her human touch, their love will defy every convention his kind holds dear. If he doesn’t, his uncontrollable sexual needs might drive both insane.

In The price of ice there are two races of beings. The Yama, and the humans. The Yama race are smarter, more advanced, and all together more civilized.

Prince Corum is the hero of the story. When his mother was pregnant with him she found out that he lacks the ability to control his emotions. It was advised that she terminate her pregnancy, but she was sure that she could teach her son how to act like a proper Yama.

It was pretty clear right from birth that there was nothing she could do to help him control his emotions. All he did was cry. Yama babies do not cry like that. Like I said, they are too civilised. The only time that little Price Corum showed happiness was when a servant's baby daughter was with him. Little Xishi , just a few months younger than the price became his playmate.

Even though he is happy when Xishi is around, he still can't control his emotions. He gets angry and even cries sometimes (GASP!)

After noticing how close Xishi and the Price are, Crums mother sends Xishi away. This traumatises Corum and he develops a real hate on for his mother. Almost over night his whole personality changes. He shows no emotions at all. He doesn't smile, get angry or express happiness. He becomes what everyone calls, the Price of ice.

Years later Price Corum purchases Xishi as his pillow mate. They soon discover the impossible..that they are mates! They can't figure out how though, because genetics have made it so that royals can only mate with royals. Little do they know that Xishi is part royal. She is also part human! That causes problems later on in the story when a rival alerts the authorities that Prince Corum is with a human. Thats a big no no. Yama and Humans are not to mix.

The story takes a drastic turn when Xishi and Corum are separated from each other. This surprised me, and even though other readers posted about it, I still wasn't ready for it. It happens so fast. When they are reunited they hardly have a moment to kiss each other hello before someone is trying to kill them.

I liked the twist at the end. I like being caught off guard. Nothing worse than knowing whats going to happen before you get to the end. I read way too many predictable endings like that.

One thing about the end bothered me. The last 5 pages to be exact. I wont give it away, but I felt it was not needed and it was disrespectful to Xishi and Corum.
The pages evolve another prince that Xishi became friends with while she was training to become a pillow girl. It's very obvious that he is going to have his own story. I just wish his last scene in The price of ice didn't happen they way it did.

Anyone know how to pronounce Xishi?
I keep thinking it's Key-She. Is that right?