This short story, set in the Psy/Changeling universe, is the first in the Night Shift anthology, and honestly, one of the blandest entries in the series. I do not recommend this as a starting point for the series or, really, Ms Singh’s writing.

This short story, set in the Psy/Changeling universe, is the first in the Night Shift anthology, and honestly, one of the blandest entries in the series. I do not recommend this as a starting point for the series or, really, Ms Singh’s writing.
Tags: 2010s, 5.00 out of 10, Anthology, f/m, fated mates, Nalini Singh, Night Shift, Psy/Changeling, Secrets at Midnight, short stories
I first read this story shortly after it was published as part of the Night Shift 1 paranormal romance anthology, back in late 2014. I was lost in the story from the word go, while well aware that it is set in a very dark world, with violence of every kind and abundant gore, and graphic sex on the page.
I finished it wishing for more stories, and I’m very glad they are now available.
(Also worth noting, Milla Vane is a pseudonym for Meljean Brook. 2)
Continue reading →Tags: 2010s, 8.00 out of 10, A Gathering of Dragons, Anthology, Beast of Blackmoor, children sexual abuse in fiction, f/m, Fantasy/Romance, Meljean Brook, Milla Vane, Night Shift, prequel, rape, rape in fiction, series, short stories
Because #IAmProBodilyAutonomy/#IAmProAbortion, I am hosting a transcript of the screenshot below for Jackie Barbosa (tweet here), who’ll be editing and publishing a Romance for Roe anthology, all proceeds to benefit pro-choice charities.
Transcript below the cut.
Continue reading →
Tags: #IAmProAbortion, #IAmProBodilyAutonomy, #RomanceForRoe, Anthology, Jackie Barbosa, Romancelandia, short stories
There really is no rhyme or reason why books languish in my physical and digital TBR Cordilleras of Doom.
Case in point: it had been a long while since I read anything by Jules Jones, though what I have read, I have liked, and there are a number of her works in my digital TBR pile.
So why I haven’t read more of her stuff? (I got nothing¹)
At any rate, back in August 2017, Ms Jones very kindly sent me a copy of this anthology for review. And while my reading has been iffy at best for a long time now, I read all nine stories in the book in one sitting just a few days after that.
Sadly, then the “can’t write to save my life” curse struck, fueled by current events, and here we are now, nine months later. ::guilty wince::
Warning: there is explicit sex and some light kink in all of these. If that’s not your thing, stop here. None of these are genre romance stories, with HEA/HFN, though all are full of hope and joy. Also, Jules Jones and Storm Duffy are two writing facets of the same author.
Stormy Nights, by Jules Jones and Stormy Duffy
This is a collection of nine short stories of varying lengths and genres; some are very romantic, some are more short erotic vignettes than stories, and one is an incredibly poignant fantasy with very strong romantic elements. There are merpeople, and fae, and just plain contemporaries.
In competition for the shortest blurb EVER:
Sex and love, lies and truth, shades in between. Happy endings and might-have-beens. Nine tales of these things between men.
Tags: 2010s, 8.25 out of 10, Anthology, Contemporary Romance, Jules Jones, m/m, Paranormal elements, Paranormal Romance, review copy, reviews, shorter stories, Stormy Duffy
"A review is at its heart the expression of the reviewer’s opinion–in this case, my opinion. Regardless of how the book in question ended up in my hands, I will not insult your intelligence by assuming that you will blindly buy any book I like, or that you’ll avoid reading any book I don’t like. Instead, I’ll give you credit for making up your own mind, and buying and/or reading whatever you think you’ll enjoy."
Please be aware that some of the books I review, talk about, or plain mention in passing, in this blog, have been given to me by the author, or someone else on behalf of the author, with the express purpose that I review them. (Those reviews are tagged ARC or review copy.)