MIDNIGHT PLEASURES

Author: Amanda Ashley, Sherrilyn Kenyon, Maggie Shayne, and Ronda Thompson ISBN:0312987625 11/2003 PARANORMAL Publisher: St. Martin's Press

Handsome and sensual, surrounded by an aura of danger, mystery, and the forbidden, a lover steps from the shadows. But is he mortal? Or is he an ancient god, a sorcerer, or a mythical beast who can possess a woman's heart...and her very soul? Four of romance's most popular authors have created this spellbinding collection of stores filled with dark passion and desire. Under the cover of darkness, their heroes inhabit worlds haunted by ageless hungers and deadly forces stronger than any seen by day...and vanquished only by the power of love. Now travel into realms where dazzling wonders roam the night, where magic replaces reason, and where a kiss unleashes a raging fire in the blood. And here, if you dare, discover the seduction that begins at the bewitching hour when a man and woman partake in...Midnight Pleasures.

RRAH's THOUGHTS AND PONDERINGS:

MIDNIGHT PLEASURES is a book that contains four mini-novels…. DARKFEST by Amanda Ashley, PHAMTOM LOVER by Sherrilyn Kenyon, UNDER HER SPELL by Maggie Shayne, and finally A WULF’S CURSE by Ronda Thompson.

In the first book, DARKFEST, we meet Channa Leigh, a young woman who still lives at home with her father, Dugald, and her Mother, Mara. The town’s most illustrious resident is Lord Darkfest, who lives alone and isolated on the edge of the town. Darkfest has often admired Channa Leigh from afar, and at times has even transformed himself into a wolf so that he could be her companion, without her knowing who the “mystery wolf” really was! Channa discovers, much to her amazement, that when she touches the Wolf’s mane, her vision is restored! During the time in which Channa Leigh becomes engaged to Ronan, Channa’s mother becomes gravely ill….and Channa’s father, Dugal, pleads with the powerful wizard Darkfest to heal his much beloved wife. Darkfest says that he can, and that he will…if Channa Leigh will come and live with him, and be bound to no other, for a period of one year….

While this story was pleasant enough, unfortunately, the storyline was pretty predictable. Now, don’t get me wrong, I think that I probably have everything that Amanda Ashley has ever written, and I love almost all of it. While this novelette was a pleasant, easy read, it was not something that you would say to yourself, “I’ll read this story again soon”. This story doesn’t leave you panting for more.

In the second novel, PHANTOM LOVER, we meet the beautiful Erin McDaniels, who has started to experience horrific and vivid nightmares. In these dreams, she enters a dark kingdom complete with dragons and monsters, as well as her Knight in shining Armour, V’aidan. The more time that Erin spends with her mysterious rescuer, the more Erin wishes that she could just stay asleep…. but, is V’aidan really the savior that Erin believes he is?

This story was a very good read, with some unexpected twists and turns that really added to the overall flavor of the story! Be prepared for some surprises, both pleasant and painful. I found myself wishing that this portion of the book were longer.

The third novelette is UNDER HER SPELL, where we meet Melissa St. Cloud, who has been hired as a consultant for a new hit TV show about the lives of a coven of witches. She literally bumps into her new boss, Alexander Quinn, while having a heated discussion with one of the brainless blonde stars of the show, who has all kinds of misconceptions about the religion of Wicca. Melissa is strongly attracted to Alexander, but at the same time, she can “feel” that there is an aura of evil emanating from all around him…. But, is the evil coming from inside Alex…. or, maybe from his dead father, who was a very powerful, but evil practitioner of the dark arts himself? It will take a near tragedy to find out….

This story in the quad was not historical, but a modern-day romance. While I usually prefer historical over modern, this story had a lot of substance to it. I could empathize with the characters, and I became well absorbed in this story. Once you start this story, you have to finish it out to the last page, for better or worse! I have not had the pleasure of reading very much from Ms. Shayne, but I’m sure that I will pick up another novel penned by her in the future.

The final story in the book is A WULF’S CURSE. Here, we are transported to a time when gypsies and the traveling circus were in vogue. Running away from an abusive uncle and the marriage that he has arranged for her to an odious old lord, Elise Collins stumbles across the traveling troupe, and hides out in one of the wagons. She finds herself in the bed of none other than the infamous and gorgeous beast tamer, Sterling Wulf, who is so much more that he appears to be on the surface. Elise finds herself in danger of losing her heart to a very dangerous character, and she just might lose her very life to him, as well.

I found this story to be interesting and sweet at the same time. This is a story for the “Romantic at Heart”, who prefers the romance side of the story, rather than the racy parts. I had a good idea of what was going to happen at the end of the story, but in this case, getting there was a lot of fun!

Geni