Rating: 
Summary: Great Romance Anthology!
Review: "Fantasy" is a wonderfully entertaining romance anthology containing four sparkling tales of love, passion and destiny. Filled with humour, wit, excitement and intrigue, this is a book you don't want to miss."The Widow's Auction" by Sabrina Jeffries is a superbly written Victorian romance. Lady Isobel Kingsley is a young widow who has continued her late husband's charity work, including acting as chairman of the board of an all boys' school. Another of the board members, Lord Justin, has been a thorn in her side ever since she has known him. Isobel and Justin butt heads over two different proposals to help the school with its financial troubles. Riled up from her latest argument with Lord Justin, Isobel is convinced by her friend and fellow widow to participate in a widow's auction. Isobel is determined to discover what the act of love should really be like when done right, having thought until very recently that sex was merely a painful and embarrassing chore. But when the handsome Lord Justin wins her for a night of passion, Isobel is terrified, and excited. Isobel is introduced to a world of sensual delights she had never even dreamed of and discovers a sweet and noble side of Lord Justin she never knew existed. But will Isobel admit her true identity to Justin and find a lifetime of love and happiness in his arms? Or will she let this one chance at happiness slip away? "Luisa's Desire" by Emma Holly is the weakest entry in this anthology. Despite its flaws, however, it is still an enjoyable read. Luisa the vampire makes a dangerous journey to a monastery in Tibet in hopes of learning how to survive without drinking blood. When she arrives she meets a handsome young monk named Martin who is about to take his vows. These two are undeniably drawn to one another, but will true love triumph or are these two destined to stay separated forever? "Mr. Speedy" by Elda Minger is a fantastic story filled with humour and romance. Miranda Ward wants to write an exposé on an all male seminar for seduction, but because she's a woman her boss won't let her do the story. So Miranda takes matters into her own hands, disguising herself as a man. But Miranda didn't count on having to share a room for the weekend with one of the city's most eligible bachelors, Jake Blackhall. Miranda finds Jake incredibly sexy, in fact, he's the man of her dreams, but what will he say when he finds out she has been lying to him since they met? Last but certainly not least is "The Awakening" by Christine Feehan, a deliciously sensual tale. Maggie Odessa has come to the rainforests of Borneo to get a look at the home she inherited from her biological parents. Maggie is immediately drawn to the rainforest, and she finds a new, wild side of herself coming to life. When she meets Brandt Talbot, the caretaker of her parents' house, she is intensely attracted to him and is shocked by the unfamiliar feelings he evokes in her. But Brandt is no ordinary man, he is a were-leopard who knows without a doubt that Maggie is his mate. Maggie and Brandt begin a whirlwind romance, filled with some wonderfully erotic encounters. But danger lurks nearby, with ruthless poachers invading the rainforest and an outcast were-leopard who wants to claim Maggie for himself. Though the ending is a bit abrupt, readers will surely enjoy Feehan's enticing tale. Each tale in "Fantasy" has its strengths and weaknesses, and obviously personal opinions will vary. None-the-less, this is a great book to pick up for a quick dose of romance. "Fantasy" also provides a terrific opportunity for readers to sample some new authors and get a feel for their writing. This book comes highly recommended so buy it today.
Rating:
Summary: Great Romance Anthology!
Review: "Fantasy" is a wonderfully entertaining romance anthology containing four sparkling tales of love, passion and destiny. Filled with humour, wit, excitement and intrigue, this is a book you don't want to miss. "The Widow's Auction" by Sabrina Jeffries is a superbly written Victorian romance. Lady Isobel Kingsley is a young widow who has continued her late husband's charity work, including acting as chairman of the board of an all boys' school. Another of the board members, Lord Justin, has been a thorn in her side ever since she has known him. Isobel and Justin butt heads over two different proposals to help the school with its financial troubles. Riled up from her latest argument with Lord Justin, Isobel is convinced by her friend and fellow widow to participate in a widow's auction. Isobel is determined to discover what the act of love should really be like when done right, having thought until very recently that sex was merely a painful and embarrassing chore. But when the handsome Lord Justin wins her for a night of passion, Isobel is terrified, and excited. Isobel is introduced to a world of sensual delights she had never even dreamed of and discovers a sweet and noble side of Lord Justin she never knew existed. But will Isobel admit her true identity to Justin and find a lifetime of love and happiness in his arms? Or will she let this one chance at happiness slip away? "Luisa's Desire" by Emma Holly is the weakest entry in this anthology. Despite its flaws, however, it is still an enjoyable read. Luisa the vampire makes a dangerous journey to a monastery in Tibet in hopes of learning how to survive without drinking blood. When she arrives she meets a handsome young monk named Martin who is about to take his vows. These two are undeniably drawn to one another, but will true love triumph or are these two destined to stay separated forever? "Mr. Speedy" by Elda Minger is a fantastic story filled with humour and romance. Miranda Ward wants to write an exposé on an all male seminar for seduction, but because she's a woman her boss won't let her do the story. So Miranda takes matters into her own hands, disguising herself as a man. But Miranda didn't count on having to share a room for the weekend with one of the city's most eligible bachelors, Jake Blackhall. Miranda finds Jake incredibly sexy, in fact, he's the man of her dreams, but what will he say when he finds out she has been lying to him since they met? Last but certainly not least is "The Awakening" by Christine Feehan, a deliciously sensual tale. Maggie Odessa has come to the rainforests of Borneo to get a look at the home she inherited from her biological parents. Maggie is immediately drawn to the rainforest, and she finds a new, wild side of herself coming to life. When she meets Brandt Talbot, the caretaker of her parents' house, she is intensely attracted to him and is shocked by the unfamiliar feelings he evokes in her. But Brandt is no ordinary man, he is a were-leopard who knows without a doubt that Maggie is his mate. Maggie and Brandt begin a whirlwind romance, filled with some wonderfully erotic encounters. But danger lurks nearby, with ruthless poachers invading the rainforest and an outcast were-leopard who wants to claim Maggie for himself. Though the ending is a bit abrupt, readers will surely enjoy Feehan's enticing tale. Each tale in "Fantasy" has its strengths and weaknesses, and obviously personal opinions will vary. None-the-less, this is a great book to pick up for a quick dose of romance. "Fantasy" also provides a terrific opportunity for readers to sample some new authors and get a feel for their writing. This book comes highly recommended so buy it today.
Rating:
Summary: engaging anthology
Review: "The Widow's Auction" by Sabrina Jeffries. Widow Lady Isobel lives a proper life until the boredom finally convinces her to sell herself at a club's widow's auction. Lord Justin buys her for an evening of pleasure that turns into much more. Though straight out of the sub-genre guidebook, this is a fun Victorian romance that fans will enjoy
"Luisa's Desire" by Emma Holly. In the seventeenth century Luisa the vampire treks to a Tibetan monastery to learn spiritual techniques to control her need for human blood. Martin the monk helps her, as he loves her. Though a bit too serious in tone for this type of tale, this supernatural romance is worth the bite.
"Mr. Speedy" by Elda Minger. Female reporter Miranda poses as a man to attend a "how to seduce women" seminar. She plans to write an expose, but her weekend roommate Jake plans to do the same thing. Though not a fantasy, this speedy tale is an amusing story.
"The Awakening" by Christine Feehan. In Borneo, Maggie and Brand are cat people who love each other. However, poachers endanger their relationship as the two endangered heroes rumble in the jungle with the deadly outsiders. This tale is an exciting fantasy suspense. Harriet Klausner
Rating:
Summary: FANTASY is terrific, erotic and ultimately - FANTASTIC!
Review: Billed as a sexually tantalizing romance anthology, FANTASY emerges surprisingly luscious with its stellar ensemble of talents like paranormal romance writer Christine Feehan, Sabrina Jeffries, Emma Holly and Harlequin writer Elda Minger. Though uneven at times, FANTASY features some of the best short romances this year. What a harvest for Sabrina Jeffries with her sparkling entry "THE WIDOW'S AUCTION"! It is hilarious and exhilaratingly passionate with her crafted characters at loggerheads. Isobel, Lady Kingsley objects violently to her arch rival, Lord Justin in his proposal for factory-work to be introduced in her demised husband's sponsored boys' school. To get her school out of financial doldrums, she impulsively auctions herself once in discretion for money to sponsor the students. The highest bidder turns out to be the delicious Lord Justin.... Erotica-writer Emma Holly offers an exotic romance that is out of platitude with Luisa traveling to the sacrilegious Tibet to cure her desire for blood for sustenance. She is a female vampire betrayed by past marriages and when he meets the student of a monk who is embarking on his vow, she finds love and temptation.... Elda Minger with Mr. Speedy is a gender-bending romantic comedy which tells of Miranda Ward, a reporter disguising herself as a man to enrol in an-all-male school for seduction. Bunking in with the infamous bachelor of all might prove a more difficult obstacle than getting the story.... Christine Feehan, in the riot of refreshing fantasy presented by other stories, pales in comparison with her surreal tale of Maggie Odessa returning to scan her inherited house in the deep jungles of Borneo. Little did she know that she will find more about her past and her destiny as the protector of the jungle through her soulmate.... Though uneven at times, FANTASY reigns with Jeffries's delightful contribution and Minger's wild escapade. Emma Holly and Christine Feehan undoubtedly elevate the erotic heat even with their uneven tales. FANTASY is terrifically entertaining, spicy and erotic to render it a fantastic anthology.
Rating:
Summary: Good variety, for what it's worth
Review: Despite the uneveness of the stories in this book, it's really nothing you don't expect from compilations. Some of them are better written than others, Christine Feehan's being ironically the most dissapointing, but the book does have a lot going for it. One thing you can say about this collection that you cannot say about a lot of others is that there is actually a decent breath of variety here. Each story has different types of characters in completely different situations. You basically have all the typical romance novels all in one book-- Regency England plot, girl dresses up as boy plot, sultery jungle plot, and vampire plot. If you're like me, and you get sick of these collections that are all basically the same stories written by different authors, you might like Fantasy. It's not like all our fantasies are the same---why should the stories all be the same? And for being all novellas, the stories actually seem suprisingly complete. It's not deep, it's not literature, but wow, is it fun!
Rating:
Summary: Good variety, for what it's worth
Review: Despite the uneveness of the stories in this book, it's really nothing you don't expect from compilations. Some of them are better written than others, Christine Feehan's being ironically the most dissapointing, but the book does have a lot going for it. One thing you can say about this collection that you cannot say about a lot of others is that there is actually a decent breath of variety here. Each story has different types of characters in completely different situations. You basically have all the typical romance novels all in one book-- Regency England plot, girl dresses up as boy plot, sultery jungle plot, and vampire plot. If you're like me, and you get sick of these collections that are all basically the same stories written by different authors, you might like Fantasy. It's not like all our fantasies are the same---why should the stories all be the same? And for being all novellas, the stories actually seem suprisingly complete. It's not deep, it's not literature, but wow, is it fun!
Rating: 
Summary: Great Stories!
Review: Fantasy has four short stories in it and I loved every single one!
The Widow's Auction by Sabrina Jeffries is about a lonely widow who on her friend's urging disguises herself and puts herself up for auction! A one-night only bid that for Isobel Lamberton will change how she feels about sex forever. Only things don't work out quite how she plans when the man who bids on her is her rival, a man she goes toe to toe with on decisions concerning her late husband's boys' school. This story was just wonderful.
Luisa's Desire by Emma Holly is about a woman vampire who fears the necessity of drinking blood to stay alive so she travels to Tibet, to a refuge inhabited by monks who can hopefully help her curb her unnatural cravings. There she meets a man who has to choose between her and the emotion she rises within him and his chosen path. Very delightful read.
Mr. Speedy by Elda Minger was probably my favorite in the bunch, its about a woman writer who goes undercover to an all-male seminar called The Swiftest Seduction, a seminar boasting it will teach men how to get in a woman's pants within 24 hours! Miranda cuts her hair and borrows her friend's clothes to slide into this seminar undetected. Her womanly instincts are sorely tried though when she finds herself with a roomate who could knock her socks off! Jake is at this seminar with plans for a story himself, and when he meets "Randy" decides the "Little guy" needs to be taken under his wing. This story is funny and heartwarming. I absolutely loved it!
The Awakening by Christine Feehan is about a vet who goes into the jungle looking for her inheritance. What she didn't expect to find was that her inheritance included a legacy that inabled her to change into a leopard. And that her mate was waiting for her, and was ready to help her make the change. This was also a good story.
Basically, I recommend this book b/c I loved all the stories in it. They all had good endings that left you with a good feeling and cute little plots. If you want to pass the time with pleasure, pick this book up. You can't go wrong!
Rating:
Summary: A very sexy anthology!
Review: I bought Fantasy because Emma Holly was featured in the anthology, but I was pleasantly surprised with two other writers in the book. I've never read anything by Sabrina Jeffries and Christine Feehan before, and their erotic stories in this book enthralled me from beginning to end. Jeffries's The Widow's Auction is my favorite story in the book. This Victorian novella centers on a young widow's desire to shatter her boredom by selling herself at a widow's auction. However, she hadn't anticipated that her buyer, the luscious Lord Justin, would give her pleasure so insatiable that one night wouldn't be enough. Christine Feehan's The Awakening is about two passionate were-cats who are in danger of being hunted and losing one another as a result. Emma Holly's Luisa's Desire is a paranormal romantica set in the seventeenth century. Luisa is an "upyr" who wants to end what she considers to be a curse. She no longer wants to crave human blood, so she seeks the help of a Tibetan monk hoping that he will give her spiritual guidance and peace. However, she hadn't anticipated the pleasure the monk supplies. And last but not least, Elda Minger's Mr. Speedy is a fun contemporary romantica about a reporter posing as a man at a how-to sex seminar. She wants to do an expose on the establishment, but gets more than she bargains for... Sabrina Jeffries and Christine Feehan supply the best novellas here. Emma Holly's novella is quite erotic, but this isn't her best work. Luisa's Desire doesn't have the same cachet as Personal Assets, Beyond Seduction, Hunting Midnight, The Love Slave, and the erotic novels she wrote for Black Lace. She is still among my favorite authors though. I am glad that I picked up this book, for I've discovered two rather talented romantica authors. I will definitely give their novels a whirl. All in all, Fantasy is an erotic, sensual and romantic tour de force that guarantees to burn your sheets. Highly recommended...
Rating:
Summary: What a treat!
Review: I bought the book specifically for Christine Feehan's new story and hadn't even heard of the other authors mentioned since I am mostly into the supernatural romance stories. So when I gave the other stories a try, I was quite surprised. I wasn't disappointed with a one, but I will say I thought the ending to Ms. Feehan's story did seem a bit abrupt. **"The Widow's Auction" was my favorite of the book. Ms. Jeffries has taken two characters with extremely different viewpoints and brought them together in an intriguing way. The way the story played out actually kept me on the edge of my seat- I couldn't put it down. Will "Bella" reveal herself and if so, what will happen? I gave this story 5 stars!
**"Luisa's Desire"was an alright story. The idea of taking a monk for a lover was unlike anything I've read but I thought the ideas of reincarnation and the power of the earth bit was a little far-fetched. I rated this one three stars.
**"Mr. Speedy" was actually my second favorite. Though the plot seemed most unlikely, it was a fun read with parts that were quite laughable. It was lighthearted and received 5 stars.
**"The Awakening" was a bit disappointing to me. The ending was a bit abrupt and there was no real plot; however, reading about Maggie and Brandt's kind was intriguing. And, you just can't beat the love scenes Ms. Feehan conjures! I'm hoping Ms. Feehan will make a full length novel about their species someday. I gave this story 3 and a half. In all, this entire book was a five. I loved all the stories in different ways! I definately suggest this book. It didn't disappoint!
Rating:
Summary: A lip smacking read!
Review: I bought this book because of Christine Feehan but was pleasently surprised with 3 out of 4 of the stories. Since Ms. Feehan is a favorite author of mine, I will start with her! :) If you have read any of her previous books, you should be familiar with her Carpathians. This novella is a bit different whereas we are in the jungle, in Borneo, and we are dealing with wereanimals. Mmmm! Here we are introduced to Maggie Odessa while she is on her way into the deep jungle to claim her inherited properties from her biological parents (she was adopted). While there she learns a little secret that changes her life forever and along the way meets a man.... :) Yummy! My next favorite would have to be Elda Minger's story about a female reporter who goes undercover to get a story about an all male seminar concerning seduction. While doing this, she is introduced to the bachelor of her dreams but is forced to continue her role as a man...for a while that is. After that it would have to be Sabrina Jeffries' story about a young beautiful widow who heads a council at an all boys school. She and a rivel always bicker about what is best for the school. Things finally come to a head and the council has to choose between either her plan or her rivals plan concerning a factory at the school. This throws her into a "mood" and her friend, who is also on the council, attempts to help her experience a little JOY in life. The friend offers to take Isobel to a Widows Auction where women are "sold" to the highest bidder for a night of passion. Her rival, Lord Justin, just happens to be there and wins her for the night. He tries to be a gentleman about it but we all know they were just PRETENDING to be rivals.....right? My least favorite was definatly Emma Hollys story about a woman named Luisa who travels to the far off land of Tibet to find out if the monks can cure her of her need for blood. While at the temple, she meets a monk who is about to make his final vows and finds something that she has been without her whole life. But will he give in to her or follow through with his vows..? It was definatly a great book. Every anthology has its weak point and its strong point for each individual reader. If any of the authors in this book is a favorite then you definatly need to read it!
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