Cravings

Rating:
Summary: a sampling of the best
Review: I have been reading Hamilton's works sense picking up "Guilty Plesures" from the new arivals rack YEARS ago. I have met her in person several times and read just about everything she's written (including a few unpublished short stories from her early years) and couldn't wait to get my hands on more of her work, It didn't let me down, in addition the other stories also were very intertaining, I now have included "Undead and unwed" and "Undead and Unemployed" as well as a few others to my library. I recomend this to anyone who likes the gothic thriller/romance. but keep in mind, this is a book of short stories, a "catcher" for the authors' full books. If you don't like short stories don't get it, go straight to the full books.

Rating:
Summary: Not what expected
Review: In my quest to find sensual fiction with paranormal twist, I thought I had surely hit pay dirt with Cravings.I also chose it because I have read other stories by MaryJanice Davidson within the Secrets series and they were fabulous.

I wished I'd bought this used. The first story, Blood Upon My Lips was so confusing, and so incredibly vague that I spent more time trying to figure out all the connections between the main character Anita and the different people, human or otherwise, in her life, than I spent just enjoying the story. Which had potential. I understand from other reviews that this author has full length novels,which are supposed to be very good, that revolve around these characters and perhaps the full length novels are more fleshed out so the reader has a better understanding, but I don't think I will be reading any of them anytime soon because this one was just so disappointing all the way around.

All was not lost though. MaryJanice Davidson's Dead Girls Don't Dance was so well written and so entertaining I found myself laughing right out loud several times. While not the sensual equal to her Secrets novella's, she clearly can tell an engaging and entertaining story, and I am very interested in reading her full length novels that this novella made reference to. She has a definite flair when writing in this genre.

Originally Human was pretty good too, although not nearly as good as Burning Moon, which I ranked about equal with Dead Girls Don't Dance. Story-wise, Burning Moon is more like what I enjoy reading in full length novels but because Dead Girls was just so fun its hard for me to say one is better than the other.

With 2 great stories, and one very good, this book is worth a read if you like this genre mixed with romance and sensuality. These 3 make up for the one that was disappointing, and thats a pretty good ratio. If you can get it used, go for it, but there are better reads out there if you are going to go full price.



Rating:
Summary: DON'T READ THE HAMILTON STORY B4 INCUBUS DREAMS!
Review: Overall an OK Anthology, but I regretted reading the Hamilton story before Incubus Dreams. It is NOT an independant story about the Anita Blake series characters but rather a "preview" of the first third of the novel. Read it afterward... or not at all, because the remainder of the stories were somewhat boring.

Rating:
Summary: Some nice shor stories.
Review: The first story by LKH seems to be a bit of a teaser or introduction to her next book. Its not bad, delves more into the character of damian. Am told the story was not continued to the next major book though. Apparently just a teaser. Something to get her name on the books cover in the large print.

Dead girls don't dance. Nerd girl turned super sexy vamp gets the jock/hunt she pined for while a nerd. It was well written, interesting, even if I hated the character that got the girl. Big dumb rich jock gets pretty girl. Like the author though Mary Janice Davidson. This story takes place sometime after "Undead and Unwed".

Originaly Human - this one Interested me, I realy did like the story and am ordering a book by the author. Seem to have written alot of more romance type books, but this fantasy (with a bit of romance) is a fun good read. I hope the author continues on with fantasy and not just romance novels.

Burning Moon...Kinda nice, kinda wierd. I love fantasy - to a point. When an author starts talking about beastasity (I don't care if it is a man transformed by magic into a wolf) its still wierd to me. Werewolf sex in human form - hot. Werewolf sex in animal form - not hot. Author is primarily a Harlequin romance writer.

All in all, a good mix of fantasy stories, all with a touch of sex and fantasy.

Rating:
Summary: Not a short story ...
Review: The offering by Laurell K. Hamilton is a chapter from her new book Incubus Dreams. The only reason I bought this book was for her short story, only to find out that it's in her new book, so now I've read it twice (I've already read Incubus Dreams). As far as the other authors' works - I cannot comment. I just wish publishers would let a person know that it's a chapter from a book coming out a few months after.