Tag Archives: Fantasy (Short story collection)

Fantasy by Christine Feehan, Sabrina Jeffries, Emma Holly & Elda Minger

Book Review, , , , , , ,
Overview
Fantasy

Title: Fantasy
Author: Christine Feehan, Sabrina Jeffries, Emma Holly & Elda Minger
In: Fantasy (Christine Feehan, Sabrina Jeffries, Emma Holly & Elda Minger)
Rating Out of 5: 4.5 (Amazing, but not quite perfect)
My Bookshelves: Contemporary romance, Paranormal romance, Short story collections
Dates read: 4th July – 21st September 2019
Pace: Medium
Format: Novella
Publisher: Jove
Year: 2002
5th sentence, 74th page: They’d made love on the floor before the fireplace, writhing on the fur rug like cats in heat.

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Synopsis

Where do your fantasies take you?

Under the blazing heat of the Borneo sun…
… a beautiful naturalist’s dream comes true – to live among the feral jungle creatures. But an untamed, irresistible beast of another sort forces her to explore her own wild side.

In an exclusive gentlemen’s club in Victorian London…
… adventurous ladies are available to the highest bidder. Yet how far will a modest widow go to fulfill her fantasy of being auctioned off as a rake’s midnight plaything?

From the depths of the dark unknown…
…a child of midnight has arrived in a spiritual Tibetan refuge to rid herself of wicked desires. Here this ageless beauty meets the one man who can save her – or damn her soul forever.

In a private, all-male school for seduction…
…she might just graduate with honors. If she can only maintain her disguise long enough to teach the man of her dreams a few lessons.

Thoughts

I bought this because I had a few weeks / months of obsession with Christine Feehan. I didn’t expect to find more authors to be completely obsessed about. Alright, I read another Emma Holly story the month before I read this one, but still… three new awesome authors and four beautifully simple and cute novellas to spend my nights forgetting about the world around me… what more could a girl want?

Fantasy is a collection of four novellas that run the gambit of romance stories. Two are heavily paranormal, featuring the typically expected paranormal creatures of vampires and shapeshifters. On the other hand, there are two more contemporary tales which take place in the past and the presence. Contemporary and paranormal, present and historical sit side by side in a fantastic collection I absolutely adored and thoroughly enjoyed. I just couldn’t put it down.

If you like romances that will make your heart skip a beat and pulse pound, this is the kind of collection that you’ll enjoy. It’s got a taste of everything, and more than a tease of passion and lust amongst the pages. I found it difficult not to turn immediately to the next page whenever I finished one tale… and it was only the knowledge that I had other responsibilities in life to take up my time… responsibilities that are just enjoyable, but distracting from this story, just the same.

 <- The Awakening ReviewThe Widow’s Auction Review ->
Image source: Christine Feehan

Mr. Speedy by Elda Minger

Book Review, ,
Overview
Fantasy

Title: Mr Speedy
Author: Elda Minger
In: Fantasy (Christine Feehan, Sabrina Jeffries, Emma Holly & Elda Minger)
Rating Out of 5: 4.5 (Amazing, but not quite perfect)
My Bookshelves: Contemporary romance, Feminism, Gender
Dates read: 21st September 2019
Pace: Medium
Format: Novella
Publisher: Jove
Year: 2002
5th sentence, 74th page: I’m disappointed, but I have to respect your judgement.

Buy The Book Now at The Book Depository, Free Delivery World Wide
Synopsis

In a private, all-male school for seduction…
…she might just graduate with honors. If she can only maintain her disguise long enough to teach the man of her dreams a few lessons.

Thoughts

There are so many issues with gender and courting. There’s also so many things about it that are ridiculously fun. But those people that think women are just something to prey upon? Well, that’s where it gets seriously problematic… and this novella perfectly encompasses that. By featuring a backdrop of a seminar designed to get women into bed… in the worst way possible.

Miranda is a driven, independent and strong woman. Her slightly insane drive causes her to make a decision, one that I’m not entirely sure I would do myself. I might be driven, but I’m not sure I would want to immerse myself in a world of toxic masculinity, discussed as an incredibly effeminate man. Yet, this obviously works for her, because she manages to find the man of her dreams, get to know him, and find a bit of understanding about how truly insecure most of the attendants at the seminar truly are. It would probably help all of us to understand what sometimes seems incredibly confusing (actually, scratch that, I’m never going to understand the decisions my partner makes)…

I loved this novella, but I did spend the entire time thinking about the movie She’s the Man. There is something that seems to be recurring in this theme of cross-dressing to get what one desires. And then falling in love. Which is both annoyingly predictable, and so beautifully, dreamily fun. Actually, mostly it’s just fun. It’s hard enough to get to know the people that you’re interested in, but when there are extra boundaries… I can kind of understand going undercover as a man after all…

 <- Luisa’s Desire ReviewThe Awakening Review ->
Image source: Christine Feehan

Luisa’s Desire by Emma Holly

Book Review, , , ,
Overview
Fantasy

Title: Luisa’s Desire
Author: Emma Holly
Series: Midnight #0.5
In: Fantasy (Christine Feehan, Sabrina Jeffries, Emma Holly & Elda Minger)
Rating Out of 5: 5 (I will read this again and again and again)
My Bookshelves: Historical romance, Paranormal romance, Vampires
Dates read: 12th September
Pace: Medium
Format: Novella
Publisher: Jove
Year: 2002
5th sentence, 74th page: Stop tempting him and you’ll have earned your freedom from the blood.

Buy The Book Now at The Book Depository, Free Delivery World Wide
Synopsis

From the depths of the dark unknown…
…a child of midnight has arrived in a spiritual Tibetan refuge to rid herself of wicked desires. Here this ageless beauty meets the one man who can save her – or damn her soul forever.

Thoughts

Although there is no point in this story in which it is stated that Luisa is a vampire. Or really anything akin, but that’s definitely the vibe I got from this novella. A vampire who wants to live blood-free and without having to rely on anyone else. The fact that she goes to an obscure hideaway in the mountains of Tibet to find a monk who can help her to do this… well, it was just such a different take on an old favourite.

The double meaning to this title was really fun. For starters, there’s Luisa’s desire to be something more than what she is. Find a way to not use other people to survive. On the other hand, her desire is something far more lustful and sinful. And way, way, way more fun. After all, the desire to not rely on others is honourable. The desire for another man… well, that’s just spine tinglingly fun. Or at least, that’s how I found it.

I don’t know if I’ve ever read a story – romance or otherwise – which involves a monk as a lead. It’s just not a way of life and character that I tend to find in many of my stories. Plenty of nomads. Plenty of hermits. Plenty of outcasts. But a man who wants to pledge his life to a monastery? Not something that I’ve come across. And it was something that I found surprisingly enjoyable. Especially when partnered with a lady of the night. As with many enjoyable surprises I seem to be finding in my reading lately… it was something I just didn’t know that I needed!

This isn’t a story filled completely with lust. There’s enough of it that you maybe wouldn’t want to read it on a bus, or in front of your in-laws. But it’s not as intense as some of the other paranormal romance tales I’ve been reading lately. There is a little less lust, and a lot more suspense…and now there is another series to add to my every expanding wishlist…

 <- The Widow’s Auction ReviewMr. Speedy Review ->
Image source: Christine Feehan

The Widow’s Auction by Sabrina Jeffries

Book Review, , ,
Overview
Fantasy

Title: The Widow’s Auction
Author: Sabrina Jeffries
In: Fantasy (Christine Feehan, Sabrina Jeffries, Emma Holly & Elda Minger)
Rating Out of 5: 5 (I will read this again and again and again)
My Bookshelves: Historical romance, Romance
Dates read: 28th August 2019
Pace: Medium
Format: Novella
Publisher: Jove
Year: 2002
5th sentence, 74th page: They’d made love on the floor before the fireplace, writhing on the fur rug like cats in heat.

Buy The Book Now at The Book Depository, Free Delivery World Wide
Synopsis

Though Isobel Lamberton, the widowed Lady Kingsley, is confounded by her dealings with the obstinate Justin Antony, Lord Warbrooke, his commanding presence sparks something deep within her. But such romantic thoughts are for naught. For Justin’s political aspirations always come first. And Isobel’s own secret past could damage both of them permanently.

So when Isobel’s friend talks her into participating in a scandalous auction of masked widows at a gentleman’s club, she reluctantly agrees…and soon begins to relish being an object of desire. But none desire her more than Justin, who recognizes the outspoken Isobel in disguise and sets out to teach her a lesson worth far more than money…

Thoughts

This was not really the story that I was expecting. The name made it sound a little more raunchy. And, since it is found in a book that is more of the paranormal romance kilter – I was expecting a werewolf or vampire thrown in there. I did not expect to read a story about a widow and her philanthropic choices in life. Her slightly unorthodox upbringing. Or even about the man that she eventually falls for. None of the aspects of this story were as expected, even when I read the blurb. And I certainly didn’t regret picking this up in the slightest. It was a lot of fun, and incredibly cute.

We all have different faces that we show to the world. It doesn’t matter if that’s just our own personal face and a more professional one that we show at work, or something more. Everyone does it. Which made it kind of fun to read a novella which played with this idea and built a beautiful romance around it. I especially loved the fact that even when the truth about who she is is revealed, she is still loved and cherished. Showing that sometimes our first instincts and assumptions just aren’t correct, and we can find love in the most unexpected of places.

The Widow’s Auction is a great start to the Fantasy collection of novellas. It is sweet and lustful. Fun and filled with hope for a happily ever after. The entire story, you are guaranteed to be gunning for the heroine and wanting her to find a way to thrive in a world that is more skewed towards men. Luckily for my love of happily ever afters, that’s exactly what you get. This novella is one that is guaranteed to leave a smile on your tired, world-worn face.

 <- Fantasy ReviewLuisa’s Desire Review ->
Image source: Christine Feehan

The Awakening by Christine Feehan

Book Review, , , , ,

Overview

The AwakeningTitle: The Awakening
Author: Christine Feehan
Series: The Leopard People #1
In: Fantasy (Christine Feehan, Sabrina Jeffries, Emma Holly & Elda Minger)
Rating Out of 5: 4 (Really good read!)
My Bookshelves: Animagus, Paranormal romance, Shapeshifters
Pace: Fast
Format: Novella
Publisher: Jove
Year: 2002
5th sentence, 74th page: And he wanted.

Buy The Book Now at The Book Depository, Free Delivery World Wide

Synopsis

Under the blazing heat of the Borneo sun, a beautiful naturalist’s dream comes true–to live among the feral jungle creatures. But an untamed, irresistible beast of another sort forces her to explore her own wild side.

Thoughts

This is the beginning of my second Christine Feehan series. And I really wasn’t sure what to expect. I loved that this was a lot edgier and a little harsher than the Drake Sisters series. And the people in this are a lot more isolated. But it was a great introduction to a whole new world and set of characters. I loved the setting amongst the Borneo rainforest and the sense of eerie mystery that surrounded Maggie and Brandt’s courtship.

Although I liked this story, I really didn’t love it. Brandt was incredibly possessive and a little creepy from the get go. And although Maggie continuously felt prepared to rile against him, she didn’t quite make it. She always succumbed to him at the last moment and let him get away with his high-handedness. In the end, it worked out to be quite a sweet tale, but that was only because they found their equilibrium. The end was great, but the middle made me want to smack him for being a possessive a-hole.

I love the idea of leopard shapeshifters and can’t wait to see how these people all manage to find their mates. Plus, the setting is the most fun and engaging one I’ve read in a long time.

 <- Leopard’s Run Review Wild Rain Review ->
Image source: Amazon