The Mammoth Book of Vampire Romance

What the Blurb Says...

24 new short stories from the hottest names

Fall in love with someone out of this world.

If love transcends all boundaries then paranormal romance is its logical conclusion. From the biggest names around, here are 24 tales to take you to another time and place.

Let Alyssa Day, Sherrilyn Kenyon, Cheyenne McCray, Jeaniene Frost, Ilona Andrews, Kelley Armstrong, Maria V. Snyder, Carrie Vaughn, Allyson James Marland and others show you powers beyond your wildest imaginings.

Within these pages mythical beasts, magical creatures of all shapes and sizes, heart-stoppingly handsome ghosts, angels, and mortals with extra-sensitive sensory perception play out the themes of extraordinary desires.

This is the titles of the shorts and the authors
The temptation of Robin Green / Carrie Vaughn

Succubus Seduction / Cheyenne McCray
Paranormal romance blues / Kelley Armstrong
John Doe / Anna Windsor
Taking hold / Anya Bast
How to date a superhero / Jean Johnson
Daniel / C. T. Adams and Cathy Clamp
Light through fog / Holly Lisle
The Tuesday enchantress / Mary Jo Putney
Trinity blue / Eve Silver
Grace of small magics / Ilona Andrews
Once a demon / Dina James
Night vision / Maria V. Snyder
Pele's tears / Catherine Mulvany
Pack / Jeaniene Frost
When gargoyles fly / Lori Devoti
The lighthouse keeper and his wife / Sara Mackenzie
Blood song / Lynda Hilburn
The princess and the peas / Alyssa Day
At second bite / Michelle Rowen
Blue Crush / Rachel Caine
The wager / Sherrilyn Kenyon
In sheep's clothing / Meljean Brook
The dream catcher / Allyson James

My Verdict...

I loved this collection of short stories, a great introduction to many new authors that I had never even thought about reading until now.

A great collection, you don't need to have read any of the previous works, they are a glimpse into their world [or another one] and it's nice to try new authors.

First Blood by Susan Sizemore et al

What the blurb says...

Four all-new stories of forbidden passion and dark desire.

You never forget your first blood...Susan Sizemore returns to the universe of her Laws of the Blood novels with a sizzling story of the relationship between a vampire enforcer and a werewolf.

Erin McCarthy’s Sasha Checkikov flees the bright lights and dangerous slayers of Vegas for New Orleans, where she is saved by a vampire haunted by his past—and hungry for passion.

Set in the Vampire Babylon world, Chris Marie Green’s story puts the bond between twin female vampires to the test when one of them falls for her prey.

Meljean Brook’s vampire Annie Gallagher needs help to save a young human girl, but she doesn’t expect the help to come from the FBI agent she loved—and had to give up— when she was transformed.

My review...

“Cave Canem” is a story set in Susan Sizemore’s ‘Laws of the Blood’ novels. We get a twofer starring both a vampire and a werewolf who have to team up and work together to overcome an ancient threat that’s reappeared. The sparks between these two could light up Las Vegas, especially once they quit fighting each other. Extra points for the cute Hellhounds.

Erin McCarthy returns to New Orleans with “Russian Roulette” a tale of a former slayer turned vampire who is about to find out why a bitter vampire has got to be the world’s worst ex-girlfriend…especially when you’re attracted to the object of her desire!!

From Chris Marie Green’s ‘Vampire Babylon’ world, “Double the Bite” is an intense disturbing retake on good and evil, and nature vs nurture when she pens the tale of twin sister vampires. Can good overcome evil and how far would you go to protect a new love…from your evil twin. Very dark, very deep, and a riveting read.

“Thicker Than Blood” is the final story from Meljean Brook and a new twist on enduring love and whether or not some sins can ever be forgiven. Strangely uplifting for an urban fantasy, paranormal story.

This anthology was hard to get through as the 'worlds' needed some advance knowledge, I seemed a bit out of depth with this collection.