Dark Secrets Anthology

MARION, MISSING by Rachel Caine 

Valentine is a detective with two major problems: he's been offered a kidnapping case that will probably get him killed, and his partner won't let him turn it down. He owes her that much … since his partner's a ghost, and he's the one who killed her. 

FEMME FATALE by Cynthia Eden 

PI Mick Swayne has seen it all—his clients have included liars, thieves, and even killers. He thinks he can handle anything and anyone. Then she walks into his office. Savannah Moreau is beautiful, seductive, and…a vampire? The gorgeous vamp hires Mick to help her track down a killer who is hunting in Chicago, but as Mick slips deeper into Savannah’s paranormal world, he wonders if he can really trust his new client… 

DANCE WITH THE DEVIL by Megan Hart 

Kathleen Murphy has sold her soul to the devil. Fame, fortune, success...everything she's ever dreamed of is hers, and all she has to do is the devil's bidding. When love comes knocking, the last thing in the world she wants to do is involve Jake in her twisted world, but the devil's started up the jukebox and Kathleen has no choice but to learn the steps. 

THE CONSORT by Suzanne Johnson 

Faulkner Hearne, the captain of the ruthless Fae Hunters, finds his duty at odds with his heart when he’s ordered to capture the consort of Faerie’s cruel Prince of Summer when she flees across the veil into modern New Orleans. Can Faulk turn Liandra over to a certain death at the hands of the prince, or will he risk a war with Faerie in order to save her? 

HEART’S BLOOD by Jeffe Kennedy, a Twelve Kingdoms novella 

Nix is nothing. The Princess Natilde—her former waiting woman—attacked her on the journey to wed Prince Cavan, stripping her of everything and taking her place. With no serving skills, Nix becomes a goose girl. Perhaps if Nix keeps her promise never to reveal who she really is, Natilde won’t carry out her vile threats. Prince Cavan entered his arranged marriage determined to have a congenial, if not loving relationship with his future queen—for the sake of both their kingdoms. But, his wife repels him more each day and he finds himself absurdly drawn to the lovely Nix. 

THE DJINN IN THE MIRROR by Mina Khan, a Djinn World novella 

Dahlia, the step-daughter of a power hungry wizard, promises to free a djinn trapped in a mirror if he rescues her from impending death. But Ashmael the djinn has his own agenda: to trick & seduce his way to freedom. The only problem is he ends up falling for Dahlia. Can he win his freedom and save the girl? 

My thoughts:

A few short stories/novellas with darkness in them.

Marion missing by Rachel Caine 

PI Val tries to find who killed his partner Tilde. Mystery murder and darkness. Good. 

Femme fatale by Cynthia Eden

A vamp and a PI. Kind of boring. I started skimming, even though it was only a novella.

Dance with the devil by Megan Hart

It started off a bit meh, but turned interesting. The devil is cruel.

The consort by Suzanne Johnson

A fae running from a fae prince. I liked this story

Heart's blood by Jeffe Kennedy

It was really good and all, but I just read another retelling of the goose girl, so I was never surprised.

The djinn in the mirror by Mina Khan

I liked the djinn world the best. Would love a book about that. The rest of the story was good, but not as good as the djinn world.

Conclusion:

Some I liked more, some I likes less. But that is the thing with anthologies. There are always the ones you like more, and the ones that might not fit your style. The 3 last were my favorites. Must be because of the fantasy elements.  You all know I love that.

Kindle Edition, 300-400?
Expected publication: September 29th 2015
Anthology UF/paranormal/fantasy
For review

The Scent of Shadows and Never cry Wolf

Joanna Archer knows all about darkness. Raped at age 16, she's spent the last 9 years watching the dark side of humanity. At night she prowls the forsaken streets looking for revenge. Until a chance date turned horrific reveals a world beyond the bright lights and big action of Sin City - an otherworld filled with supernatural forces.

My thoughts:

What's up with rape and UF. I know UF is PNRs darker sister, but all the rape, must we?

So yes Jo was raped at 16 and is all messed up cos of that. Also suddenly after almost 10 years she sees her former BF and wants to do something about it. Why wait that long? Ok so that was not my point. What is my point?

One messed up heroine who knows krav maga. She has a bimbo smart sister. She has a dad who hates her. She has painful memories she can let go of.

But she is also special, but the road there was a bit, did you have do that?

Also, I am not sure I actually like Jo. She is not very likable....and neither is anyone else.

Conclusion:

I did think the book was good. Interesting, darker than usual somehow. But that still does not make me wanna read more. I felt it was not a good UF fit for me. I still read it fast though, but something was still off. 

Cover

Boring

Paperback, 455 pages
Published June 2nd 2008 by Voyager
Signs of the Zodiac #1
Urban fantasy
own

Lucas Simone is not the kind of guy you mess with. He’s big, he’s strong, and his eyes hint at a wilder side most women can’t handle. Of course, that’s because his predatory instincts are no metaphor–he’s a genuine Grade-A top-quality werewolf, tough enough to fight his way to dominance over the scariest pack on the West Coast. There’s only one chink in his armor. Unlike most alpha dogs, Lucas has a reputation for protecting the weak and innocent.

Sarah King is counting on that protective impulse–it’s the only thing standing between her and certain death. There are only two problems: one, she’s not quite as innocent as she’d like Lucas to believe. And two, if he doesn’t stop stoking Sarah’s animal lust, it’s only a matter of time before her own wild side gets unleashed… 

My thoughts:

There is still hope...

I did not have a lot of hope when I started this book, it was pnr after all, and we all know how that has turned out lately. But to my surprise the book was good and hooked me from the beginning. I was all what? For reels? Yup, I enjoyed a PNR book, and there was that anthology a few weeks back too. Freaky. But then this one was not a cliche ridden mess of true mates, big bad alpha who is really sweet, and hot smexy times after confessing undying love.

SO yes Lucas was a big bad alpha. But he was bad. Seriously, sure he protected peeps but he was not afraid to kill..a lot. Shifters were described as psychopaths about to happen. There was this claustrophobic feeling like they could rip her throat out at any minute. She truly was in a cage with wild animals. He was never that alpha a-hole. He was just dangerous.

And Sarah may have played damsel in distress but she was none. She was lying and had an agenda. She had her own powers.

Of course there was smexy times. He found her hot, she found him scary and hot and they did it. That did not mean they loved each other.

I also liked the explanation for mates. It's just who fits you genetically, that does not mean true love is involved. No destiny shit here.

Conclusion:

Yes, I enjoyed the book. There was action, bad people, death and mayhem. And two people fell in lust.

Cover

meh

Paperback, 310 pages
Published June 28th 2011 by Kensington
Night Watch #4
Paranormal romance
Own