PLAYING EASY TO GET - 3.66 STARS


"Turn Up the Heat" by Sherrilyn Kenyon - 4 stars
Let me start by saying that I have an unhealthy obsession with the mob. So, Vince is an ex-Mafia hit man? Oh yeah, baby. Joe, one of my favorite characters since I started this series, is Vince's cousin and also used to be part of the mob? Sweet Jesus, I'm in heaven. I love this series and this was a good installment.


"Hunter's Oath" by Jaid Black - 3 stars
An odd concept, especially since I didn't read the first two of the series, but interesting and kind of cute.


"The Warlord Wants Forever" by Kresley Cole - 4 stars
I've read this novella many times and I still love it.

This anthology was certainly hot but definitely lacking in the plot department. The first story by Kenyon was completely unrealistic - even for a romance story - and because of the unbelievability I didn't get too into it. The second story by Black was just basically a spiffed up attempt at justifying sexual slavery. Basically the entire premise just annoyed me so much I couldn't really enjoy the story. Maybe I am being a bit hard on it, I get it's just a romance story, but still. Finally, Cole's story was the best in terms of plot and characterization, although it was significantly longer - still though it didn't really grab me, which was sad because I was looking forward to reading her Immortal After Dark but now I am not so interested. Overall, just underwhelming is all, but hopefully others like it a bit more than I did.

I only read the Kresley Cole novella (so I probably shouldn't even be rating this), which was much fun. In hindsight, I probably should have been reading this series in order.

How am I meant to rate a book that has three stories in it that I would all rate differently.
I purchased this book solely for the Kresey Kole Novel "the warlord wants forever" but decided it was worth reading the other two stories included.

The first story in the book was just plain ridiculous and unfortunately very far fetched. I understand that in a short story the plot has to move fast but honestly this was just stupid. This lady lands on a 'fantasy' island then within a couple of hours has bonked this complete stranger and feels completely at ease when he tells her she has to run away with him or get killed. Then ultimately falls in love and 'happily ever after'. Unfortunately this has turned me off a potential Author that I was looking into reading.

The second story really wasn't much better, so much so that I honestly cant remember the name of the story or the author. But it was about Vikings that lived in the underworld that came to the surface to kidnaped women and take them to the underworld to be auctioned off as brides.

First problem with this story was the whole viking thing. I love paranormal and fantasy but viking was pushing even my limits. They auction off women like slaves or 'wenches' and just think that the women must adjust. NOT COOL.

But finally the third novel was the Kresly Kole novel and thankfully I did like it. I was a little unsure to begin with because after such rave reviews I was expecting something a little different. It was unnerving how really she didn't want to be with him and he technically kept her captive so she could fall in love with him. I did wish that the novel had been longer because like the first two story it ended quickly with the typical happily ever after. I liked how he was scared and unlike most vampire books he couldn't get his groove on AT ALL until he found his true love, his bride.

Looking forward to the next in the Kresley Kole series.

So overall I give the book a three out of five.

Just a quick read in between books but sadly not my thing

Even though I only read this book for one story I enjoyed most of the book.

"Turn Up the Heat" by Sherrilyn Kenyon

A short story from her BAD Agency series. I was actually surprised that it's not a paranormal series. It's been at least a good year probably two since I have read anything that wasn't paranormal. I do have to say I absolutely loved the story. It reminded me of the genre that I originally fell in love with. There is a very good chance I might even check out the rest of the series. I would give this individual story 5 stars.

"Hunter's Oath" by Jaid Black

Honestly I'm not sure what to make of this story. Not a paranormal story but perhaps a fantasy. I'm not sure what genre it would fall in. Most of the story was set in a Viking underworld. Where to keep them from dying they kidnap women from above and being married off to the Viking men and making it so they could never leave. I was very into it at first. But then at the end, the leading lady whom all she wants to do is escape tries to run, her husband catches her and have a talk about her finding her happiness. Then there was the epilogue where she's happily in love with him and having his child. I know it's a short story but I feel like there is a big chunk of the story missing. I rather have another chapter of her actually falling in love with her husband and finding happiness in a world she was forced in, then leaving it to our imagination. I give this story 3 stars and this story is the reason why I didn't give the book a 5 star rating.

"The Warlord Wants Forever" by Kresley Cole

The reason why I wanted to read this book was this story. I recently read the first full length book in her Immortals After Dark and then realized that there was a prequel. I do have to say I love how the story is the same time frame as the first book. I found that usually short stories are "rushed" and there could be a lot more to the story, but not this one. I felt it was very complete. I find myself fascinated with the Valkyrie and want to know more about them and can't wait to read more of the series. Out of the three stories in the book this is the longest and the best one. 5 stars all the way.

TURN UP THE HEAT
RATING:*
SENSUALITY:*
PLOT:half *

This was way too simple for me. The writing came off as something a 15 year old would write. The setting and plot for this one was just not interesting and a little too far fetched for me.. Seriously, a get away island where a woman can live her favorite fantasy romance novel? Anyway.. Moving on. The two male characters were hot but not enough to warrant another star for my rating. The female was not good nor bad just forgettable.


HUNTER'S OATH
RATING:***
SENSUALITY:***
PLOT:**

This is the one I really liked out of the 3 stories. It has a more involved plot than the first, more emotion and detail for the characters involved for such a short span of a story. The plot keeps you intrigued, but the Male and female keep you hooked and anxious to see what will come of them and how things will work out for them. This one was touching, kind of sad, but very, very sexy. The only reason this one does not get 4 stars is because it is the shortest of the 3 stories and I felt like something was missing. Another 3 chapters would have been a great addition for this novella.

THE WARLORD WANTS FOREVER
RATING:**
SENSUALITY:**& HALF
PLOT:*

I actually read the second book to follow this novella, "A Hunger like no Other" and that one was an ok read. It started out strong like this one, but toward the middle on to the end, it lost it's flair. Like this one. That being said it was still a pretty good opening to this series. But I just really don't like the valkeryie sisters that whole plot and twist thing is just not interesting to me. I did love Nikolia though. It is not that I do not think that he and Myst worked together, it is just the whole story itself was just "meh" to me. And I did not care either way what happened to them. So that says for me, something was lacking. I would recommend this read to those who are fans of the authors and who are familiar with the series that some of these stories stem from.

So far this Anthology is quite sexy.

Sherrilyn Kenyon's "Turn Up The Heat" is every woman's fantasy. Unlike most of Sherrilyn Kenyon's other novels, this story is about a young woman from a poor background working at walmart. Allison is not your everyday type of girl that she thinks she is. Meeting an old friend brings her an opportunity of a lifetime with the encouragement to go for it. Little does Allison know what is about to take place. Sherrilyn Kenyon brings to life the raw male masterpieces, tropical paradise and enough action to make even the sainted of us envy. The author has really Turned Up The Heat in this novella.

Jaid Black's "Hunter's Oath" is a nice concept of the Viking race. The idea of bride hunters was a little barbaric but actually fits with the overall theme here. Jaid Black has brought us a slice of heaven with this novella. Kidnapped, held captive, sold like the common slave to these Barbarians is enough to make the strongest of women weep. Sofia brings us a character going through the turmoil of everyday life and thrown into situtation that no one would ever consider happening. Drugged to the point of extreme discomfort, Sofia's Barbarian turns out to be a angel in disquise. The amount of changing emotions in this story keeps the reader from putting the book down. It's a story that must be read from beginning to end without interuption.

Kresley Cole's "The Warlord Wants Forever" took me by surprise compared to the other novella's in this book. Two immortal races, immortal enemies are caught in a web of fate that baffles all involved. The main characters are strong, erotic, spiteful and demanding. The sexual attraction is raw while the actual acts are pure carnel hunger. I must say that the story line didn't really make itself visable until two thirds through the novella. Once the actual plot was discovered it was quite enjoyable and explained the beginning of the story.

Overall the book was quite enjoyable but like most anthologies, you read, weep, laugh, drool and then go onto the next.

3.75 Stars

The three stories were okay.
I had already read the 3rd story by Kresley Cole a while back and I liked it best.
All three stories could have been better, but each had their own special flavors for the reader to enjoy.

Man this book was HOT!

Meh. The Mafia story I avoided, The viking story made no sense, and I hate Valkyries.

I based my rating on The Warlord Wants Forever by Kresley Cole (5 stars) and Hunter’s Oath by Jaid Black (3 stars). I skipped Sherrilyn Kenyon’s story, Turn Up The Heat, based on friends’ comments here.

The Warlord Wants Forever is a short story that introduces readers to the immensely popular Immortals After Dark Series. If you actually started out the series with book one, “A Hunger Like No Other”, then you’ve already met the h/h of this story: valkyrie Myst the Coveted, and turned vampire and general of the Forbearers army, Nikolai Wroth. In A Hunger Like No Other, Myst and Wroth are already a couple, so like me, you may have considered skipping this anthology because you know how their story ends and Myst and Wroth just trace in and out of a few scenes in book one, but don’t make a huge impression – well DON’T! Don’t skip their story! Although The Warlord Wants Forever is considered a short story, it’s a nice meaty 150 pages, and makes up nearly half of this “anthology”. In true Kresley Cole form, the story and bond between the h/h was extremely sexy, passionate, and palpable. In the beginning, they hurt and/or planned to hurt each other, although their attraction to one another was making matters difficult. Great tension here! And when Wroth finds Myst after five years of sexual torture (which was inflicted by her), his pain and wanting come across so real…..Add to that a moving ending and a HEA. The Warlord Wants Forever is the best story in this book; I pretty much re-read it just as soon as I was finished. I was really that good and worth the cost of this entire anthology.

I also enjoyed Hunter’s Oath. It was a little short, but since that meant more room for Wroth & Myst, I was happy! The beginning of Hunter’s Oath took a little adjusting as they kept referring to women as “wenches.”  Once I got over that, it was smooth sailing and a wonderful, sweet story. Somehow, the author took the scenario of a young lonely woman being snatched by a “bride-hunter”, taken to a secret underground Viking world, then placed onto an auctioning block and sold into marriage to a sexy nobleman…..and yet the heroine and the reader will still fall hard for this Viking hero ;)