Wild Passions

by S.L. Armstrong (Editor), Angelia Sparrow, Cornelia Grey

Other worlds, other planes of existence, other places where humans are not the only type of creature to walk and talk. Human-like animals populate the pages of Wild Passions! These are not shifters, but humanoid animals that experience love and lust in their sometimes wild, sometimes civilized worlds.

Meet Liam, a half-fox in a world where 'urban jungle' isn't a metaphor. When trouble comes in the form of an organized militia looking to experiment, Liam must put his trust where he never expected -- in the hands of a human.

Koit is a Shterpi, a reptilian alien with a reputation for womanizing. A dare from a friend has Koit changing his target to other men, and he finds that variety really is the spice of life.

Alec and Nahale are feral-Maith, genetic offshoots from a fantastic race. Under pressure, Alec challenges Nahale for leadership of their clan, threatening to destroy the relationship they'd been building for years.

Panos only wants to live a normal life, free from the secret that's kept him isolated from others. However, he still needs a roommate, and his attraction to the other man has him wondering if opening up might not be so bad after all.

Ferran is making his last trip away from his home planet of Perelan before duty calls him back. But a rakish spaceship captain tosses a wrench into his finely crafted plans, and his world may never be the same.

Gordon and Arthur work in the freak-show at a traveling carnival, wowing audiences with their half-animal physiques. But when animal constructs are second-class citizens and legal property of others, falling in love is the most dangerous act of all.

Genres: Anthologies, M M Romance, Fantasy, Romance, Paranormal, M M Fantasy, Science Fiction

195 pages, Paperback

First published June 1, 2011

About the author

Support S.L. Armstrong & K. Piet on Patreon!

S.L. Armstrong has been writing for as long as she can remember. Art and reading have played a large part in her life since young childhood, but around fourteen, writing became her passion. Voraciously consuming every book in front of her opened up hundreds of worlds in her head, and she soon wanted to create worlds for other people as well. She has a particular fondness for gothic horror, horror, high fantasy, urban fantasy, and romance novels. The authors she turns to time and again are Stephen King, L.J. Smith, V.C. Andrews, R.L. Stine, and Anne Rice, among others. She has no shame in picking up the young adult novels she loved as a child, and she will talk your ear off about grammar and punctuation.

After she married her husband over seventeen years ago, she began to truly delve into the world of writing for public consumption. It was sheer chance that she stumbled on M/M fanfiction, and she's not looked back. Though fanfiction will always have a fond place in her heart, she soon grew tired of playing in other people's sandboxes. When she discovered M/M romance, and how it was now a legitimate branch of romance writing, she knew her course. S.L. plans to release F/F, M/M, M/F, and multiple partner books as she continues her writing career. M/M romance is where her heart lies, no matter what else she may write or read, and it's where she keeps returning to. There is something about two men passionately in love that just makes her heart melt, and she has no intention of giving that up anytime soon.

S.L. Armstrong lives in Florida with her husband, partner, two dogs, and twelve cats. She hates the heat and longs for a northern, snowy climate. She writes with K. Piet on a number of projects, but she also writes her own solitary titles as well.

Reviews

[Darien · Rating 4 out of 5]

^^ANIMALISTIC PASSION!^^

More of my reviews and thoughts on my blog PANTS OFF REVIEWS

Anthologies for me are not always a great experience. I am always disappointed in a few stories, and wish others were a bit longer. This anthology had the disappointment, but with some good news. I am totally in love with the last two stories in this book; it’s as if they saved the best for last. The whole book deals with interspecies hook-ups, animal/human hybrids, and if I am not stretching too far some social and political issues. It all could just be my interpretation. Therefore, I will break down my review in terms of each story.


City of Foxes by Cornelia Gray
I liked this story, and yet I feel a little disappointed with it. Though it did offer up a nice plot, I wanted it to go a little further. A dystopian society, filled with animal/human banished in a world of the lowest sort. This story takes a look in their fight, and the rescuing of their humanoid species. I liked Liam he sound spectacular and I am sort of in love with his tail (I have a thing for tails). Its one of those stories that would have been better if it were its own book, just too much going on.


Trust Me by Elizabeth Hyder
In Trust Me, we meet Koit who is a reptilian like alien. He is bit of a womanizer but the women flock to him, because his species are known for their big assets. When his female friend challenges him to check out his own gender, Koit takes the challenge. The results are eye opening for Koit, and he realizes what he has been missing. His eventual partner is an asshole, but overall his little experiment leads to good things.


Alpha’s Pride by K.Piet & S.L Armstrong
This story was about a power struggle between two males of a fantastic race. What makes it unique is the love that both males have for each other, but pride and power will eventually pull them apart. They both believe in the survival of their tribe, but in the end opposing ideas leads to a fight of power. Its easy to resonate with both Alec and Nahale, they both wanted what was best for their people, and each other. One of my favourites, because I just wanted great things for both characters.


I Do Like To Be By the Seaside by Wayne Mansfield
Panos lives his life isolated from others. He has secret that he never wants anyone to know, but he does need a roommate that comes in the form of Jason. Panos’s turtleneck wearing is suspicious when it’s freaking hot as hell outside, plus whenever Jason offers up to go swimming with him he gets uncomfortable if not irritable. He is definitely hiding something. The truth leads to hot relationship, and a close call. What we do know is that humans can be intrusive and way too curious for their own good. One of my least favourite in the anthology, its was just all too predictable, though I understand why.


Opening Worlds by Cari Z
This was my favourite story in the entire anthology. It just felt right and complete, and made me happy with its conclusion. A captain of a passenger freighter, and the alien from another planet. A human and alien love story in the greatest form. Jason Kim the captain swore never get involved with his passengers, but there is something about Ferran that calls to him. He is willing to break all the rules at a chance at happiness, but there is more to Ferran and will Jason be able to live with losing him. Just really adored this one.


Songs for Guitar and French Harp by Angelia Sparrow
The darkest themed story and my absolute favourite of them all. This one tackles many issues in the form of half-human half-animal beings. The way humans can mistreat others deemed as different. The way stronger individuals take advantage of those that are weaker. This mini story dealt with rape, drugs, and a slew of social issues. Join Arthur and Gordon, in their world as slaves, and a love so innocent and pure yet deemed forbidden. Watch as Arthur would sacrifice everything for the boy he loves. I guarantee you will fall in love with this one.


Overall, a book worth your time. It’s quite colourful and different from anything I have read before. This book reflects on how I view life and its people. I don’t think race, sexual orientation, and social class should stop love but keeping in theme of the book. I don’t think being human and alien should stop the love or being a bear and loving a cat, or just being a man and loving another man. All this and more in Wild Pssions,plus a strong message of love and acceptance hidden in all the stories.

[Cole Riann · Rating 3 out of 5]

Review posted at The Armchair Reader.

3.5 stars Overall

I've had this anthology to review for a long time now, too long. I certainly shouldn't have waited so long to read it, but see, I'm anthology phobic… or I used to be. Lately I've been reading anthologies left and right, many of them by Storm Moon Press, and I knew I needed to read this one. I wasn't wary of the theme -- I've read anthropomorphic stories before and while I don't love them for their own sake and seek them out, certainly have enjoyed them. This anthology holds some really wonderful stories, and certainly merits a read. Or, since this has been out a while, you have the option of reading the stories as standalone books! A win-win in my book.

City of Foxes by Cornelia Grey (Pretty Good)
Jake is a human in a city where the militia keeps the fox population in slum-like tenement cities. He has returned to the city he hates after 8 years away. Leaving on the heels of a tragedy and history he is reluctant to speak of, Jake rescues an underage fox from the throes of a group of militia-men about to shoot the young fox in the knees and gleefully play with their catch. Jake uses his ability to shoot raw power out of his hands to help the fox escape, but is shot in the ensuing chase and nearly captured. Instead, he is rescued just before capture by Liam, the powerful white fox who is the leader of the fox resistance.

The writing in City of Foxes is strong and the plot unfolds with the reader's participation. The world-building isn't freely given, yet each piece comes together along with the plot. I appreciated the respect given to the me to figure out the details and be an active reader. The only problem with this is that there is little time, in a short story, to allow the reader that space. While most of the writing was strong, there were a few times during the story where I lost the thread and wasn't sure about some of the details. Because of this, the story often skipped from active scene to active scene without a lot of connecting narration. This didn't leave much time for the developing romance, though it suited the main plot line -- the machinations of the militia and the countering resistance. All told, I liked it, but I could have used a little more romance between Liam and Jake to bring the story together.

Trust Me by Elizabeth Hyder (Pretty Good)
Koit is a very masculine half-Shterpi (and proud of his very large "masculinity") that falls prey to his female friend Sera's meddling into his love life. Quite well known for his womanizing on their interplanetary space station where they attend college and live in the dorms, Koit finds Sera's urgings for him to open his mind to seeing men surprisingly exciting. After several sexual misadventures arising from Sera uploading Koit's profile to SuckAnyCock.com, Koit finds himself enjoying a dinner conversation and the ensuing experimentation with a man named Atlas. When he realizes just how well he's been set up he can only accept it, because Atlas is interesting, intelligent and sexy, and Koit wants to get to know him better.

I definitely enjoyed this one. The story was only loosely based on the scifi elements and mostly on the characterizations of Koit, Sera, and Atlas. I enjoy a fantasy/pnr/scifi that drops you in the middle and lets you figure out the world for yourself. It makes the world more interesting when the little details about the world give you the most information, rather than being stuffed up front with the history and culture. On top of that, I found it to be fun and quite funny, with witty characters and dialogue. Maybe not my favorite story in the collection, but definitely a solid one.

Alpha's Pride by SL Armstrong & K Piet (Me Like)
Alec is a mid-level member of a pride of large, humanoid cats (and a few other animals). He has a close, loving relationship with his Alpha, Nahele, though he and a number of the younger members of the clan are dissatisfied with Nahele's recent rule. At 600 years old, Nahele has grown complacent in many ways, no longer the vigilant leader he was. His pride, however, won't allow him to admit it. Nor will it allow him to admit he is no longer fit to rule when Alec challenges him in front of the clan.

I liked this story quite a bit and I felt that we were given just enough information critical to make the story a success. We don't know much about their species or world outside their clan -- the focus of the story is the dissolution of the relationship between Alec and Nahele. In many ways, the story seems set up for a much longer work, with early foreshadowing of a lingering enemy race that might soon threaten them. This skewed my expectations of the ending of the story, and whether the mention was meant as I took it (and therefore the resolution of the story early), or as an example of Nahele's complacency in his rule, I'm not sure. I certainly would have enjoyed an expanded story, with more of the external forces in addition to the internal strife between the two characters, but the story certainly works well as it is

I Do Like to Be Beside the Seaside by Wayne Mansfield (Not Feeling It)
Jason moves into a room in a house near the beach. His landlord and roommate, Panos, is incredibly sexy, but Jason, who very much likes to show off his toned body, doesn't understand why Panos is always completely clothed, from neck to ankles, even in extremely hot weather. When Jason tries to get Panos to go swimming at the beach with him, he's immediately and forcefully shot down. He likes Panos, but what Panos is hiding obviously has something to do with his appearance.

Sadly, I found this story a bit lacking. It is much shorter than the others and is mostly about the sexual relationship between Jason and Panos. While that is definitely sexy, I found it more steamy by rote rather than originality, simply because we don't get to know the two very well. I had no problem with the secret that Panos is hiding -- this is an anthology about anthropomorphic characters after all, some disbelief must be suspended -- but, I did had a difficult time with the events that come after. They seems quite implausible and go by very quickly without much explanation. It disappointed me and seems to be on par with a lot of other stories this author has written. I've read a few things by Wayne Mansfield, this story in line with those, and I wasn't much of a fan of any of them. I wouldn't quite call this story erotica, because there is some romance there, but only barely. Fans of the author might like this story, but ultimately, it just wasn't for me.

Opening Worlds by Cari Z (Love It!)
I have known this story would be good for a while now, after hearing from friends who have read the story and liked it. I've always been a fan of Cari Z's work. I almost can't even explain it, but each story I've read by this author has had something more… perhaps it is simply that her characters always have great chemistry. That is certainly the case here, as we meet and get to know Captain Jason Kim, a space pilot who falls in love with a Perelan male named Ferran. Perelan, a highly private world, is closed off to almost all foreigners. It is a matriarchal society with a rather large population of males in ratio to females. As such, the propagation of their species is paramount, necessitating fertile females to take many males in marriage. Ferran, as a sterile male is relegated to a rather low status in such a society, though his family connections and sterility allow him the chance to have a year away, off world, to explore all that he will put behind him later, dedicated to his new family. Falling in love with such a person, in such an impossible situation, can only lead to heartbreak for both of them. But staying away seems impossible.

This story certainly lived up to my expectations, and I'll definitely be reading the sequel to it soon. I loved both of these characters. The Perelans are an empathic and highly sexual species. Jason, a man who lives with the reminder of his failed love life daily, is extremely private and not very good at intimacy. Their slow romance in contrast to the bed hopping of the other Perelans on board only highlights that they're cultivating a deeper relationship. The pacing here is superb. For such a short story, I never felt rushed with so much that accomplished, and yet still felt the romance deeply -- as if this were much longer and I had spent more time getting to know the characters. One small disappointment was the need for narration to bring the story to it's closing scene. Perhaps if there weren't a word limit, this story might not have needed to be wrapped up as hastily. However, having a sequel to revisit the characters makes up for much of that. Highly Recommended, this one.

Songs for Guitar and French Harp by Angelia Sparrow (Me Like)
Arthur is a sentient bear. As a Construct, a genetically cross bred animal, he was bred in a lab and escaped while in his mother's womb. He's raised by her and her illegal husband Frank as they travel with the carnivals and play for the money of wide eyed humans. Constructs have no rights. They're essentially slaves, and some of them are worse off than others. Gordon is one of these, used and abused nightly by his owner, he's a cat that dances with the hoochie show. As teenagers, they grow to love each other -- Arthur naive about fellow Constructs because of his rare happy (happier) life, and Gordon scared to give more of himself to Arthur -- until the year that Gordon doesn't come back with the show and Arthur has to grow up alone, always looking for his mate.

This story, while being deeply sad, is ultimately triumphant, though subdued because of the horror it doesn't shy away from. Arthur's point of view is frankly naive, simplistic at times, often conflicted by having a higher morality yet sometimes animalistic nature. All he wants is Gordon and what is best for Gordon, at times at the detriment to himself and those around him. It is a coming of age story. For much of the story Arthur is alone and looking for Gordon and we see him forced to grow up alone and in the harsh uncertainty of death or a worse life of rape and abuse for Gordon. Sometimes these things both clashed horribly -- which is the intent, I think -- and made this a difficult story for me to read, because it made me so angry.

At times I felt like Arthur's voice was a little too young. I understood why that was, but sometimes it didn't work for me. The story starts with Arthur quite young, and by the end I estimated he was around 20 years old. Despite different variables like the fact that he isn't human, and that he's been sheltered quite a bit, I didn't feel a distinct difference in "mental age" from when he's 16 to 20. Perhaps in the intervening years that are covered by narration, his age could be better delineated, or there shouldn't have been any sex in the story. I might have preferred that, honestly. No sex would have allowed them to keep the innocence, loss of innocence and then the protection against that innocence separate. Still, I understood it why it was there (and it is almost a purging of the terrible things Gordon has gone through).

This story is superbly written, the narration is so effective, though I'd imagine that the taste varies widely reader to reader. And though I found it difficult to read, I'm very glad that I did. Definitely Recommended.

[Alex · Rating 4 out of 5]

Overall
Lions and tigers and bears, oh my!

Even if furries aren't your thing (they aren't mine), if you're comfortable with some anthropomorphic and human-crosses, then this anthology will be worth a read. If you like furries, then this is definitely the book for you. It covers various types of crosses, including one alien, and unless you're completely grossed out by humans with animal traits having sex with humans, there is nothing particularly offensive in this set. The stories that unfold are excellent, looking at social expectations and prejudices while including a romance and happy endings.

City of Foxes by Cornelia Grey
A strong story to start the collection, we are sunk into a futuristic world where fox/human crosses have evolved and humans, as they tend to do, want to destroy them. Our narrator is a human who saves one of the fox people and is in turn saved by the fox people who take him to their shelter to rest. The story unfolds as the two main characters learn to tease and trust one another while unrest builds in the fox community. Along with an interesting plot, there are dynamic characters who worm their way into the heart, all topped off with a strong writing style.

Trust Me by Elizabeth Hyder
A strange combination of funny and serious, this story started off a little weak but strengthened as the main character stopped being a player (and a selfish jerk) and met his foil in the form of a love interest. While who it ends up being didn't come as a surprise to me, I imagine the reader is supposed to be in on the joke. The story was good for what is was--an attempt to be slightly humorous with some more serious (but not dark) undertones. While it left me with very little impression (I had to go back to re-read a bit for this review), there was nothing so wrong with it that I'd mark it as bad. Maybe just not to my liking.

Alpha's Pride by SL Armstrong & K Piet
This story starts hot and heavy and ends hot and heavy, with love and pain as its filling. Aside from one moment of "I hope those claws are retractable," it was a well-executed story about the good of the clan overcoming the individual's pride and the benefits the individual can reap from that. The main characters struggle through their personal emotions and what they know they need to do while still loving one another. It is a touching, and at times heartbreaking, story.

I Do Like to Be Beside the Seaside by Wayne Mansfield
This is the weakest of the anthology both in story and writing. Initially I would have ranked the writing as mediocre, but after the first sex scene, the weaknesses become apparent as the characters became cardboard cutouts whose emotional trials were too easily solved by hand waving and a quick paint job. The characters had potential—an interesting back story while facing a difficult problem--but too quickly trusted one another and fell in love, leaving me to start to wonder if this was supposed to be a comedy.

Opening Worlds by Cari Z
In this futuristic space story, there aren't so much animals as aliens, but the important parts all work the same. This well-written story explores sex vs. love, the different social requirements of different planet societies, and the individual's required duties to society. This story made my chest ache with the longing that the narrator felt and it was superbly constructed. While the end may be considered to "work out too perfectly," I found it good--especially since the alternative would have made me cry. I think if this had been a novel, the author would have explored things more in depth, but as it stands, the ending worked. This was one of my favorites.

Songs for Guitar and French Harp by Angelia Sparrow
This was an interesting story, a sort of alternative history during the 1930s/1940s where creatures called constructs exist. In essence they are animals with souls, although how much of them (physically) is human, I'm not exactly sure. They are animal enough in appearance that no one would mistake them for what they are. The story is surprisingly dark (compared to other Sparrow works I've read), and I thoroughly enjoyed the look at carnival life and the struggles the main bear goes through to get his mate back. Some things at the end tugged me from my suspension of disbelief--I just didn't feel they needed to be told in the story--but for the most part this long story is an excellent tale of misfits banding together and protecting one another in the sweetest way they can.

Note: Received a copy of this story for review.

Be sure to check out my other reviews on my blog.

[Cryselle · Rating 4 out of 5]

Wild Passions provides several fine takes on what love and sex might be like for other beings, alien or animal. The worlds vary from Earth to Earth-like, to not-Earth, and humans figure as everything from enemy to owner to non-existent, which means the variety editor S.L Armstrong put into these pages is really wide.

Cornelia Grey's 'City of Foxes' features a dystopian future where animal-people live in the cracks of society. Life is harsh, trust is rare, and when it does happen, it can bring everything down. This is my second sample of Grey's fine atmospheric writing; I could taste the grit of the city and feel the shards of betrayal. The love story plays against an exploration of man-as-animal and man-worse-than-animal: we humans need our shining individuals to have any claim to worth as a species.

'Trust Me' from Elizabeth Hyder takes us into space; several races co-exist in sufficient harmony to have joint ventures such as space stations and higher education, in a very easy-going society. A meddling friend of the half-Shterpi Koit prods him in the direction of same sex encounters – his blundering along is humorous because it has the feel of an elective class in a subject that has to grow on the student. His eventual partner is a really delightful pain-in-the-butt. Much is made of a Shterpi attribute that ended up feeling tacked on rather than integral to the story, but perhaps there will be other stories in this setting that utilize it better.

Co-authors S.L. Armstrong and K. Piet bring us 'Alpha's Pride,' which looks at authority and complacency as well as the relationship between two strong males. The power struggles between Alec and Nahele come from their different views of what is good for the tribe and branch into the personal; I bled with them because neither is entirely right or entirely wrong. The "other" here is not well defined, leaving them feeling more like aliens than part animal, but it's still a fine story.

Panos, from "I Do Like to be Beside the Seaside" is more closeted by what he is than by his sexuality, so trust is his huge issue. He fears, rightly, what could come from trusting Jason, because he could easily become the center of much horrible attention. Fortunately Jason's a good man with some useful skills, if not enough empathy early on. Given his situation, Panos had to either be inexperienced or have trusted before, but author Wayne Mansfield doesn't address either option, leaving me wondering.

Cari Z has drawn a love affair between the human captain of a passenger freighter and a scion of a great family from another planet. 'Opening Worlds' unfolds the relationship between Captain Jason Kim and Ferran, an empathic, be-quilled Perel, who doesn't have as many options in his life as he comes to wish for. Why this should be is doled out in small tragic bits, giving their love a special piquancy. The story is very tender and the resolution is cause to rejoice.

A bit of Depression-era steampunk closes the anthology. Angelia Sparrow's constructs, part animal, part human, are property, and as such their lives can be so awful they have to look up to see down. Arthur, the bear-boy, and his bear-mother are fortunate to be loved by Daddy Frank, who goes along with the charade of ownership only to keep them safe. Gordon, the lion-boy, is not so fortunate – his owners are abusive and predatory. 'Songs for Guitar and French Harp' has by far the darkest themes but is one of my favorites in this anthology. Arthur is both teen-aged boy and bear; his view of society is the outsider's view for both reasons, and he may be the only one in the world who can really be there for Gordon.

The stories here vary from good to very good, and are more imaginative than the inaccurate blurb-writing would suggest. The theme wobbles a little, in that several stories feature out and out aliens, but it's worth sampling their animal magnetism.

[Elisa Rolle]

“City of Foxes” by Cornelia Grey: In an post-apocalyptic world, Jake is man without roots, lonely and brooding… i.e. exactly the mourning hero type who is sure to score. And of course, to add even more fascination to his persona, he helps Kye, a one of the foxes, half-man half white fox. Helping Kye, Jake gains the protection of Liam, another white fox/man who is also the leader of a group of rebels, people living outside the border of the old city. This tale has really the feeling of an old fashioned sci-fi/futuristic romance; it’s more adventure than romance, even if there is sexual tension between Jake and Liam, but they have little chances to turn the tension in man-on-man action. Not that the white little pointed ears and the long bushy tail of Liam wasn’t attractive, on the contrary it was just that level of “kinky” to be enticing.

“Trust Me” by Elizabeth Hyder: pure sci-fi, this story follow “futuristic” college boys in a military academy; all people in the academy are some sort of alien, and Koit is a breed with human body but with sparse brown scale. Plus he is completely bald. Koit’s best friend, Sera, thinks he should try a same-sex relationship, mostly since, from what I understand, Koit is not taking seriously any of the one night stand he is having with female. Being gay, lesbian or straight is more or less like having blond, black or red hair, and so it’s not that Koit is against the idea, I think he is reticent mostly since he knows that Sera is right, and that his true feelings are in danger if he finds the right man. Sexuality and sex is pretty natural in this futuristic world, and Koit has not so many trouble in finding men willing to let him satisfy his curiosity. I liked the feeling of this story, it was “modern” (as in futuristic) without being too “strange”, and in the end, even if half-alien and living in a spaceship, these guys and girls were basically like any other college boy or girl living far from their family for the first time.

“Alpha’s Pride” by S.L. Armstrong & K. Piet: in a fantasy world, Alec and Nahele are half-man/half feline creatures living in wild packs in a hierarchic society. Nahele is the Alpha and he has been for centuries and Alec, and others, think he has lost focus, he has settled down in their comfortable situation, thus endangering the pack. Alec is Nahele’s best friend with benefits, when they want, and like, Alec shares Nahele’s den and furs, and he plenty enjoys it. But even if he loves Nahele, like a friend, a lover, a brother, Alec is also aware that he will have to betray him, challenging the other for the Alpha’s role. Alec’s only hope is that Nahele will not destroy their bond in the event of Alec winning the challenge. A little warning to readers, this tale has non con sex, even if it’s tamed by the awareness that both men have deep feelings for each other, but in one only occasion, sex will be used as a mean to prove the other’s high authority on a submissive member of the pack.

“I Do Like to Be Beside the Seaside” by Wayne Mansfield: a strange urban fantasy tale about a young Greek man, Panos, with a long-hidden secret: he is scales and gills on his body like a fish. He doesn’t know his own origins, he was found by his adopted parents, and aside from that, he is like any other man, and as such, with the desires of any ordinary man. So, maybe hoping to finally find a suitable companion, Panos opens his house to Jason, renting him a room, but also letting the man near him, enticing him, until the day Panos judges Jason is ready to know the truth about him. I liked how the author didn’t stress so much the “paranormal” nature of Panos, it was like Panos has some sort of “mark”, but that didn’t make him an alien creature.

“Opening Worlds” by Cari Z.: a sweet and almost old fashioned romance (wait until the last word and you will understand), this novella follow spaceship captain Jason falling in love for Ferran, a young alien. Ferran comes from a matriarchal society, and since he is sterile, he was destined from his birth to be, more or less, a male housekeeper. He has a docile streak and as usual among his people, he is very sensual, and they see sex like an ordinary expression of deep feelings. Jason in comparison is more reserved, maybe even a bit aloof, but it will be impossible for him to resist to Ferran, even if they know their love is doomed by the impeding due of Ferran, to go back home and marry a woman chosen by his mother.

“Songs for Guitar and French Harp” by Angelia Sparrow: in a post-apocalyptic world, Arthur and Gordon are “constructs”, that means they are built in a lab mixing human body part with animals. Arthur is an half-bear and Gordon an half-lion. As expected, they are working as “freaks” in a travelling carnival, but Arthur got luckier than Gordon; Arthur’s mother, fell in love with a human, and even if they can’t legally marry, Daddy Frank treats Arthur and his mother like people and not property. Gordon instead was bought and as such he is no more like a stab of meat for his owner. Even if Arthur and Gordon are still teenagers, they will have to face hard times, separation, fear and abuses. I liked the feeling of innocence the author managed to preserve for young Arthur even if he was facing a world that resembles an hell. The terrible things Gordon has to face are very clear to the reader, but the author didn’t feel necessary to put them on your face, and I approve of her choice.

http://www.amazon.com/dp/0982700857/?...

[Neyjour · Rating 4 out of 5]

City of Foxes by Cornelia Grey: ★★★★
[futuristic / urban fantasy / action]

Trust Me by Elizabeth Hyder: ★★★
[science fiction]

Alpha's Pride by S.L. Armstrong & K. Piet: ★★★
[fantasy]

I Do Like To Be By the Seaside by Wayne Mansfield: ★★★
[modern fantasy]

Opening Worlds by Cari Z.: ★★★★★
[science fiction]
This was, by far, my favourite story in the collection. Absolutely wonderful characters, intriguing world-building (that I would love to know more about in future stories *hint-hint to the author*), and an incredibly sweet, heart-warming, and emotional romance. I have to admit, I was getting really anxious towards the end...so afraid that it might have a sad or bittersweet ending, but it didn't (thank God). The ending did make me cry, though, but in a good way. :) It's worth it to buy the anthology for this story alone. Highly recommended!

Songs for Guitar and French Harp by Angelia Sparrow: ★★★★
[historical fantasy]

Average rating = 3.6 (rounded up to 4 stars)

[kasjo_peja · Rating 3 out of 5]

I really liked "Alpha's Pride" by S.L. Armstrong & K. Piet and "Opening Worlds" by Cari Z. These were 5 stars stories for me.

The "City of Foxes" by Cornelia Grey and "Songs for Guitar and French Harp" by Angelia Sparrow were interested enough.

I didn't care for the last two stories.

[Riayl · Rating 4 out of 5]

City of Foxes - Cornelia Grey 4 stars

Trust Me - Elizabeth Hyder 3 stars

Alpha's Pride - S.L. Armstrong & K. Piet 3 stars

I Do Like To Be Beside The Seaside - Wayne Mansfield 3 stars

Opening Worlds - Cari Z. 5 stars

Songs For Guitar And French Harp - Angelia Sparrow 4 stars

[Rachel Emily · Rating 4 out of 5]

Some great and some so-so stories in this anthology. My favorite was the one by Cari Z.

[Lily · Rating 4 out of 5]

I really enjoyed reading this anthology.

[Ridley · Rating 2 out of 5]

This was just not for me half of the stories were so single mindedly focused on the hanky panky, that just could not bring myself to finish them. The blurb clearly did not prepare me for this
This for someone who is looking for erotica not romance.

But three stories were still pretty good.
City of Foxes by Cornelia Grey
Opening Worlds by Cari Z
I pick up this anthology for Cornelia Grey and Cari Z, and was not disappointed

Songs for Guitar and French Harp by Angelia Sparrow
This was a surprise hit for me after the other misses. although it is a sad and depressing story, but still beautiful

If you are interested in story telling and romance, than you get three out of six

[Sucajo · Rating 3 out of 5]

This was an interesting mix of stories. As with most anthologies, some stories were stronger than other but each of them was enjoyable. My personal favourite was Songs for Guitar and French Harp by Angelina Sparrow. For such a short story, the world-building was incredibly detailed and I really felt as though I came to know the world that Arthur and Gordon were living in. I became really engrossed in their story and the ups and downs of their relationship. I would love to read more stories set in this world.

[Yy]

I won this book for free through Goodreads First Reads. Thanks.

[Sandra]

$6.99 on Nook, more cost efficient assuming all the stories are good

[blub · Rating 4 out of 5]

A great anthology with stories compiled by some awesome writers. All the stories in the anthology were enjoyable and intriguing and I just ended up reading it all in one sitting.