Weak, unoriginal fare from Davidson
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Having loved Davidson's wit in the Undead series I was really disappointed with these stories. Each one got progressively weaker as the book went on. They got shorter, the sex got repetitive and mediocre and the characters were less well developed. MaryJanice demonstrated that the witty retorts and use of slang was not something developed for Betsy, but rather her own voice, apparently the only the one she can write in. With the exception of Anne (who was toned down slightly, only slightly mind) Lois, Rica, and Betsy all sound like petulant fifteen year old girls rather than the thirty something women they are. The men fared even worse, changes in eye colour being the only distinguishing feature amongst them.
I can suspend reality with the best of them, but this was not worth the couple of hours I spent reading it. If you are looking for romantica then there are dozens of better authors out there.
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Could I have a really unusual bad boy please?
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What does a suicidal cop from the year 2010, a farm girl who wants to do her part for the USA during World War 2 and a futuristic colonist with only one human parent have in common? The answer is "Really Unusual Bad Boys"; shape shifting royal brothers from the Sandlands. The three stories in this cracking anthology from MJD are fantastic and I seriously hope that she intends to produce further works on the citizens of the Sandlands.
Bridefight
Lois Commoner wishes she was dead. Living with constant pain following a bullet wound and now saddled with a desk job in her beloved police force, the formally active cop finally lines up her accumulation of unused medication and seeks oblivion. Aroused from her sleep, she expects to find herself in a hospital surrounded by psychiatrists; she certainly never anticipates a gigantic puma licking her awake, a puma who can telepathically talk to her before transforming into the gorgeous (and naked) Prince Damon, heir to the throne of Sandlands. In a world of blondes, brunette Lois with her scar ridden body is viewed as a high prize by not only Damon, but his 2 brothers and their widowed father as well. With a Bridefight scheduled; a battle allowing the winner first pick of a wife, Damon is determined to beat everyone in attendance to gain the right to pick Lois first, a woman every man present appears to want, including his own family.
Mating Season
Lieutenant Anne Sanger, enlisting in the Women's Army Corps to escape her provincial farm girl life, is soon desperate to play her part in WW2 following the death of her friend in the Pearl Harbour attack. Instead she finds herself mysteriously whisked to the Sandlands and into the arms of Prince Maltese, second in line to the throne. Initially she is desperate to return home; however Maltese is determined that she stay and become his mate; after all he wished for her and she appeared in his rather large bath. With an aptitude for languages, Anne soon finds a use for herself when the dark travellers appear, the enemies of the citizens of the Sandlands. It also doesn't hurt that Lois lets slip they win the war, so her absence is hardly likely to make a difference. Wanting to escape marriage, why then does Anne suddenly finding herself dreaming of a handsome husband and future babies?
Groomfight
Out hunting, Prince Shakar falls through sand and finds himself in his human mother's world, almost landing in the lap of Frederica (Rica) Callanbra, an isolated colonist. As her mother too was from the Sandlands; Rica's father, an engineering genius, created a machine able to transport her to her home world. Falling in love, when Rica learns she is pregnant the pair return to the Sandlands, amazed only several days have past in Shakar's world rather than the several months they spent together on hers. Unfortunately this means one thing; Shakar hasn't missed his own Groomfight, an event arranged following a suggestion from Lois (after all why should men have all the fun). Shakar however would rather face exile than allow Rica and their unborn child to risk possible injury. Although livid with him for not mentioning his forthcoming nuptials, Rica loves Shakar desperately and if it means fighting a pack of shape shifting marriage minded women to get her man, she'll do it.
If you're expecting a standard light hearted chick lit romance such as MJD's "Hello Gorgeous" or her cracking "Undead" series, then take note that these stories all contain explicit love scenes and accompanying sexual language. In fact I originally read the first story in this anthology in February this year as an e-book released by Ellora's Cave, a publishing house specialising in steamy erotica. I am a huge fan of hot romance and this book certainly has plenty, and with its liberal sprinkling of MJD's trademark humour, I found all these stories to be highly entertaining. Although the sexually graphic bedroom scenes and language may not be to everyone's taste, I personally am pleased that an increasing amount of good quality romantica is making it into mass market print.
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Wow! Loved the stories.
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All 3 stories are fantastic. I hope MJD continues to write about the sandlands & its people. This book was just a taster, I hope of whats to come.
I don't know if there are any previous books about this place, but there was a few references about other people just appearing & disappearing.
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Love, laughter and lust..... MJD does it again.
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Meet Damon, Maltese and Shakar - three noble brothers from an enchanted kingdom where wooing and pleasuring is practically a royal commitment. They're hot. Irresistible. And just a little different. But what woman doesn't like a guy with a few surprises?
BRIDEFIGHT - One minute, Detective Lois Commoner is popping pain pills for her bum knee in her apartment; the next, she's in a strange land with a magically delicious naked man named Prince Damon calling her beautiful and offering to show her his brand of toe-curling hopitality/ Okay then. Questions? Well, maybe one or two. Like, whose idea was the no-clothes rule? How does he do that tink - yes, THAT thing? Hoe does a girl end up here? And how can she ever possibly go?MATING SEASON - Lt. Anne Sanger joined the W>A>C.s so she could see the world and meet someone, but perhaps she should have been more specific. "See the world" meant Europe. "Meet Someone" meant a nice soldier from a farm in Boise, not a feral, weel-built, rakish man in a bathtub claiming he has wished her to be his mate. She has to be dreaming. And if she's just dreaming, its perfectly okay to let Prince Maltese kiss her there...and there...and, oh, there. Now, as long as no one wakes her up, everything should be just fine... GROOMFIGHT - Rica Callanbra is used to odd things happening, but not usually sweet-godlike-hunky-men-falling-from-the-sky kinds of things. Still, is she in for heaven. They guy loves everything about her world - swimming holes, arm wrestling, skinny dipping...wet, long kisses and smooth caresses and, um, yeah, everything. Too bad he has to go back home and be fought over be swooning, clawing females who all want to be his mate. Then again, if you can't beat 'em...join 'em...
Hot Stuff, Hot loving and always with MJD's sense of humour.
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