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Everything Anise
A Victorian-era vampire living in the modern world, Emigh Bennett’s favorite activity is watching people from the window of her little bookshop. When she spots a woman nearly killed on the street outside her shop, she rushes to her rescue, and that’s how she meets Anise.
The proprietress of a little home business called Everything Anise, Anise crafts one-of-a-kind perfumes with a touch of her namesake spice, which have the power to intoxicate and delight the senses. She is smart, sexy, beautiful, and happens to be a little bit different.
Anise is everything Emigh could ever ask for and more, but Emigh can’t quite figure her out. Anise possesses the duality of an innocent angel and a vivacious vixen. Even if Emigh can peel away the multi layers of Anise to uncover the woman beneath, what will happen to their budding relationship when she reveals the truth about herself?
The proprietress of a little home business called Everything Anise, Anise crafts one-of-a-kind perfumes with a touch of her namesake spice, which have the power to intoxicate and delight the senses. She is smart, sexy, beautiful, and happens to be a little bit different.
Anise is everything Emigh could ever ask for and more, but Emigh can’t quite figure her out. Anise possesses the duality of an innocent angel and a vivacious vixen. Even if Emigh can peel away the multi layers of Anise to uncover the woman beneath, what will happen to their budding relationship when she reveals the truth about herself?
- GenresFantasy
57 pages, Kindle Edition
First published October 7, 2015
24 people want to read
About the author
Natalie-Nicole Bates
143 books612 followersNatalie-Nicole Bates is a book reviewer and author.
Her passions in life include books and hockey along with Victorian and Edwardian era photography and antique poison bottles. Natalie contributes her uncharacteristic love of hockey to being born in Russia.
She currently resides in the UK where she is working on her next book and adding to her collection of 19th century post-mortem photos.
Her passions in life include books and hockey along with Victorian and Edwardian era photography and antique poison bottles. Natalie contributes her uncharacteristic love of hockey to being born in Russia.
She currently resides in the UK where she is working on her next book and adding to her collection of 19th century post-mortem photos.
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Displaying 1 - 12 of 12 reviews
October 9, 2015
This book was a quick read that made me smile, laugh and shake my head all in a short span of time. The characters were both entertaining and the plot carried itself along well. While there was definitely space for more within this story, it read well for what it was. If you're looking for a quick, interesting read, this is a good place to start.
It was decently written with only a few minor errors I came across and flowed well. The formatting was well done and while a bit more length would have been wonderful it was lovely as is. I would recommend it for waiting room read.
I was given this book in exchange for an honest review by Inked Rainbow Reads
It was decently written with only a few minor errors I came across and flowed well. The formatting was well done and while a bit more length would have been wonderful it was lovely as is. I would recommend it for waiting room read.
I was given this book in exchange for an honest review by Inked Rainbow Reads
April 29, 2016
Reviewed by Caer Jones for QUEERcentric Books
Everything Anise by Natalie-Nicole Bates had everything going for it. The blurb was interesting, and the cover was beautiful. Then I started reading.
The experience went downhill from there.
Emigh Bennett is a Victorian vampire running a small bookshop. She loves the rain and people watching, and has a crush on a woman she’s seen, but never met. When said woman falls down in front of her store during a storm, Emigh rushes out to help.
A VICTORIAN VAMPIRE RUNNING A SMALL BOOKSHOP
That’s when she meets Anise, who makes a living mixing personal perfumes and sewing. Anise seems to be everything Emigh wants, but it would take a rare woman indeed to love a vampire.
Reading this book taught me a powerful lesson: it is possible to dislike a 51-page story as much as I dislike this one. I didn’t know that before.
There is not a single aspect of this story – not one – that worked for me. Except the length, maybe. I was barely able to finish this, and I shudder to think about how much alcohol I would have needed to get through a longer version.
First off, I found the writing style to be convoluted and messy. The amount of detail, and the way it’s provided, clutters the narrative without actually helping any.
For all the “smell of old books and gingerbread-scented candles” detail packed into each paragraph I still have no idea where or when this story takes place. I’m guessing England because there’s tea involved, and I get modern-day because there’s a car and an email address, but that’s all I’ve got to go on.
I also found extensive passages completely superfluous. This story desperately needed a good editor. For instance: three pages in, we get a long, rambling monologue about a guy Emigh knows that once lived in the apartment next to hers, but doesn’t anymore.
This story is not that long – surely there’s something else we could have done with that narrative space! I found the whole addition of this character useless anyway, but if we’re going to waste time talking about him, it makes more sense to do it if and when he’s actually part of the action.
How much info could we possibly need about a guy who’s not even there?
I also found the author’s spin on the whole vampire mythos annoying. It’s a short story. If you’re going to replace almost everything about vampires with some “immortal, feeds on energy instead of blood, and has no problem with the sun” concept, that’s fine. But why use the word “vampire” for it?
Story space is wasted explaining how Emigh isn’t a standard vampire, when a different term – alien, maybe? – would have conveyed, “occasionally enjoys blood and lives forever” much more efficiently.
I could keep going on this theme, but allow me to shift focus from the poor writing to the poor characterizations instead.
First off, Emigh. I was bothered at first that I couldn’t figure out how to pronounce her name, but then I found her to be utterly ridiculous, and stopped caring. She glimpsed Anise at a club, then saw her going in and out of the post office a few times a week.
That’s it, that’s the totality of their “interaction” before Anise falls in the rain. And yet Emigh gazes longingly out the window at her, has a full-blown crush on her, agonizes over whether or not they can ever have a relationship, and fantasizes about eternity together.
FANTASIZES ABOUT ETERNITY TOGETHER
(I expected emo poetry or Shakespearean sonnets to make an appearance, but thankfully we were spared.)
Then they actually speak and it somehow gets worse. This takes the stereotypical U-Haul relationship to a whole new “Single White Female” level, and I would have been concerned for Anise if she didn’t annoy me so much.
As the story progressed, I just wanted to shake Emigh. Hard. She’s a hundred year old vampire. You’d think she’d learn some discretion in all that time, but no. She’s spilling all her vampire secrets to a chick she’s spent one evening with. The night didn’t even end well!
How was Emigh not staked in the heart already?
Then Anise. Anise is completely unbelievable as a character. No one, regardless of their social skills or lack thereof, invites someone to their home, gets them naked, gets drunk with them, offers them a sexual enhancement balm, asks them to demo said enhancement balm, then feeds them something they carefully explain is a “double aphrodisiac” without knowing they’re being flirty or seductive.
I can accept vampires, but I can’t accept wide-eyed innocence and cluelessness on this kind of scale. Nope. The explanation given for this behavior comes nowhere near making it better, either.
Anise has also never considered a relationship with a woman before, but after just one evening she’s not only professing her love, but considering eternity as a lesbian? Riiiiiight.
For a 51-page story it’s sad how long I could keep going like this, but I’ll go ahead and wrap it up. I’m sure you get my drift here.
THE PREMISE SOUNDED PROMISING
The premise sounded promising, but the poor writing combined with absurd characterizations killed this story dead. It’s even overpriced on Amazon for the length! I reserve one star reviews for books with excessive grammatical or spelling errors, and Everything Anise had spellcheck going for it at least, so it gets two stars from me.
Everything Anise by Natalie-Nicole Bates had everything going for it. The blurb was interesting, and the cover was beautiful. Then I started reading.
The experience went downhill from there.
Emigh Bennett is a Victorian vampire running a small bookshop. She loves the rain and people watching, and has a crush on a woman she’s seen, but never met. When said woman falls down in front of her store during a storm, Emigh rushes out to help.
A VICTORIAN VAMPIRE RUNNING A SMALL BOOKSHOP
That’s when she meets Anise, who makes a living mixing personal perfumes and sewing. Anise seems to be everything Emigh wants, but it would take a rare woman indeed to love a vampire.
Reading this book taught me a powerful lesson: it is possible to dislike a 51-page story as much as I dislike this one. I didn’t know that before.
There is not a single aspect of this story – not one – that worked for me. Except the length, maybe. I was barely able to finish this, and I shudder to think about how much alcohol I would have needed to get through a longer version.
First off, I found the writing style to be convoluted and messy. The amount of detail, and the way it’s provided, clutters the narrative without actually helping any.
For all the “smell of old books and gingerbread-scented candles” detail packed into each paragraph I still have no idea where or when this story takes place. I’m guessing England because there’s tea involved, and I get modern-day because there’s a car and an email address, but that’s all I’ve got to go on.
I also found extensive passages completely superfluous. This story desperately needed a good editor. For instance: three pages in, we get a long, rambling monologue about a guy Emigh knows that once lived in the apartment next to hers, but doesn’t anymore.
This story is not that long – surely there’s something else we could have done with that narrative space! I found the whole addition of this character useless anyway, but if we’re going to waste time talking about him, it makes more sense to do it if and when he’s actually part of the action.
How much info could we possibly need about a guy who’s not even there?
I also found the author’s spin on the whole vampire mythos annoying. It’s a short story. If you’re going to replace almost everything about vampires with some “immortal, feeds on energy instead of blood, and has no problem with the sun” concept, that’s fine. But why use the word “vampire” for it?
Story space is wasted explaining how Emigh isn’t a standard vampire, when a different term – alien, maybe? – would have conveyed, “occasionally enjoys blood and lives forever” much more efficiently.
I could keep going on this theme, but allow me to shift focus from the poor writing to the poor characterizations instead.
First off, Emigh. I was bothered at first that I couldn’t figure out how to pronounce her name, but then I found her to be utterly ridiculous, and stopped caring. She glimpsed Anise at a club, then saw her going in and out of the post office a few times a week.
That’s it, that’s the totality of their “interaction” before Anise falls in the rain. And yet Emigh gazes longingly out the window at her, has a full-blown crush on her, agonizes over whether or not they can ever have a relationship, and fantasizes about eternity together.
FANTASIZES ABOUT ETERNITY TOGETHER
(I expected emo poetry or Shakespearean sonnets to make an appearance, but thankfully we were spared.)
Then they actually speak and it somehow gets worse. This takes the stereotypical U-Haul relationship to a whole new “Single White Female” level, and I would have been concerned for Anise if she didn’t annoy me so much.
As the story progressed, I just wanted to shake Emigh. Hard. She’s a hundred year old vampire. You’d think she’d learn some discretion in all that time, but no. She’s spilling all her vampire secrets to a chick she’s spent one evening with. The night didn’t even end well!
How was Emigh not staked in the heart already?
Then Anise. Anise is completely unbelievable as a character. No one, regardless of their social skills or lack thereof, invites someone to their home, gets them naked, gets drunk with them, offers them a sexual enhancement balm, asks them to demo said enhancement balm, then feeds them something they carefully explain is a “double aphrodisiac” without knowing they’re being flirty or seductive.
I can accept vampires, but I can’t accept wide-eyed innocence and cluelessness on this kind of scale. Nope. The explanation given for this behavior comes nowhere near making it better, either.
Anise has also never considered a relationship with a woman before, but after just one evening she’s not only professing her love, but considering eternity as a lesbian? Riiiiiight.
For a 51-page story it’s sad how long I could keep going like this, but I’ll go ahead and wrap it up. I’m sure you get my drift here.
THE PREMISE SOUNDED PROMISING
The premise sounded promising, but the poor writing combined with absurd characterizations killed this story dead. It’s even overpriced on Amazon for the length! I reserve one star reviews for books with excessive grammatical or spelling errors, and Everything Anise had spellcheck going for it at least, so it gets two stars from me.
May 21, 2019
I'm certainly not the demographic target for this lesbian vampire novella, but then again I can't imagine who would be. There's not much of a story, the characters are caricatures, the eroticism is pallid and it is in sore need of an editor. Bewildering.
July 28, 2016
When I first started reading this story, it seemed like it was going to be a pretty straightforward "vampire woman meets cute human woman, cue the sexual attraction, insert sex scene, boom" type of piece, but when the sex scene starts going wrong, I realized it was more complicated.
That was actually a nice surprise, although the love interest's behavior in that scene was jarringly insulting (and a little implausible? I guess a drunk woman might but I don't have enough personal experience with alcohol or drunk people to really know. Anyway, the missing star is because I just had a hard time reconciling the inevitable explanation with the initial behavior, but again, that might be my unfamiliarity with being that drunk.)
Anyway, instead of straightforward erotica we get an actual plot and actual story, so that's why I was pleased at the surprise conflict. After all, I knew I was guaranteed a happy ending no matter what due to the publisher's submission requirements (I, too, am published with this house), and to me, happy endings mean more when they are earned after hardship.
The main character eventually reveals the tragic story of how she became a vampire, and of her vampire family-of-choice (the story almost sets you up to think he's an ex-lover but he's not -- she's not bi, she's a lesbian, and he was her brother-in-arms who just left to get married but still very close emotionally. I actually really enjoyed the setup for how they became so close.) She and the human interest have their misunderstandings to overcome, but it's hot and sweet watching them go through it.
That was actually a nice surprise, although the love interest's behavior in that scene was jarringly insulting (and a little implausible? I guess a drunk woman might but I don't have enough personal experience with alcohol or drunk people to really know. Anyway, the missing star is because I just had a hard time reconciling the inevitable explanation with the initial behavior, but again, that might be my unfamiliarity with being that drunk.)
Anyway, instead of straightforward erotica we get an actual plot and actual story, so that's why I was pleased at the surprise conflict. After all, I knew I was guaranteed a happy ending no matter what due to the publisher's submission requirements (I, too, am published with this house), and to me, happy endings mean more when they are earned after hardship.
The main character eventually reveals the tragic story of how she became a vampire, and of her vampire family-of-choice (the story almost sets you up to think he's an ex-lover but he's not -- she's not bi, she's a lesbian, and he was her brother-in-arms who just left to get married but still very close emotionally. I actually really enjoyed the setup for how they became so close.) She and the human interest have their misunderstandings to overcome, but it's hot and sweet watching them go through it.
March 10, 2016
I received an arc of this book in exchange for an honest review.
I liked this book. It seemed like a new and slightly different take on the usual vampire mythos, which endeared it to me. I did have two problems with it. First, it was pretty short. I don't have anything against short stories, or novellas. Some can be extremely powerful and moving. Some, like this one, kind of leave me wanting more. I felt this story needed to be longer, because, second, it seemed like the relationship developed too quickly. I'm not usually against the 'instant connection' device in fiction, but sometimes the change of emotions is so fast that things feel a bit more shallow than intended. I feel like the connection here was supposed to be overwhelming for both characters, and while she hit it on the head for Emigh, Anise came off a little worse in the characterization area. She seems to be really in to Emigh when she invites her over, but when things go a little further than she's ready for, she really makes it seem like she never intended anything romantic at all. This was confusing for the reader as much as it was for Emigh. Because she did do some pretty brazen things leading up to the big change of mind. Then she has another lightning swift change of heart, and is declaring that there's nothing Emigh can do or say to change how she feels. All of that just seems so quick that it's trite. The story would have benefitted from a little extra time, or length, to let things develop in a more natural way. On the other hand, it was a quick read, and enjoyable. It took the reader from the initial isolation and loneliness to a certain warmth and hope for the future.
I liked this book. It seemed like a new and slightly different take on the usual vampire mythos, which endeared it to me. I did have two problems with it. First, it was pretty short. I don't have anything against short stories, or novellas. Some can be extremely powerful and moving. Some, like this one, kind of leave me wanting more. I felt this story needed to be longer, because, second, it seemed like the relationship developed too quickly. I'm not usually against the 'instant connection' device in fiction, but sometimes the change of emotions is so fast that things feel a bit more shallow than intended. I feel like the connection here was supposed to be overwhelming for both characters, and while she hit it on the head for Emigh, Anise came off a little worse in the characterization area. She seems to be really in to Emigh when she invites her over, but when things go a little further than she's ready for, she really makes it seem like she never intended anything romantic at all. This was confusing for the reader as much as it was for Emigh. Because she did do some pretty brazen things leading up to the big change of mind. Then she has another lightning swift change of heart, and is declaring that there's nothing Emigh can do or say to change how she feels. All of that just seems so quick that it's trite. The story would have benefitted from a little extra time, or length, to let things develop in a more natural way. On the other hand, it was a quick read, and enjoyable. It took the reader from the initial isolation and loneliness to a certain warmth and hope for the future.
October 21, 2015
Sep 24 at 11:48 AM
F/F urban fantasy romance
Four Stars
I was sent this book by Inked Rainbow Reads in exchange for an honest review.
This short novel left me in a bit of a dichotomy regarding its review. The language used varied between almost poetical Victorian to using modern day idioms. The settings and the clothing were also so diverse, from cottages out in the middle of nowhere, to being able to order any variety of fast foods, apparel that appeared to vary from one generation to the next. I really found it difficult to place what decade this novel was set it.
However I also found this novel really beautiful, it was passionate and very sensual. The characters were each very unique, having their own strengths and insecurities and the author brought this out superbly. A really emotional and almost wistful novel.
The plot is well developed and delivered in a very touching and sympathetic way, the author makes us believe all things are possible and believable, providing you trust in true love.
I would certainly recommend this book and would hope to read more about the ardent and romantic relationship between Emigh and Anise.
I would have given this novel five stars, despite my confusion, had it not been for the grammatical errors at the beginning and the poor layout in sections, which halted the natural flow the author had so cleverly developed.
October 8, 2015
I enjoyed reading Everything Anise, it’s a sweet romantic paranormal read with a little spice to it.
Everything Anise is a well written f/f and the characters were unique.
Emigh is a vampire and has been quietly lusting after Anise, but has never had the opportunity to meet her, until one day Fate steps in. Anise is sells homemade perfume and exquisite outfits to make people feel happy and sexy.
They both click and form a friendship at first, but Emigh wants more. Does Anise walk away or accept what Emigh has to offer?
I would recommend this to anyone who enjoys f/f as it is very well written or anyone who wants a short read to enjoy two unique characters.
Everything Anise is a well written f/f and the characters were unique.
Emigh is a vampire and has been quietly lusting after Anise, but has never had the opportunity to meet her, until one day Fate steps in. Anise is sells homemade perfume and exquisite outfits to make people feel happy and sexy.
They both click and form a friendship at first, but Emigh wants more. Does Anise walk away or accept what Emigh has to offer?
I would recommend this to anyone who enjoys f/f as it is very well written or anyone who wants a short read to enjoy two unique characters.
October 12, 2015
"Anise. What a perfectly unique name for this beautiful, rain-soaked creature."
A really fast read for me. I read it in a couple of hours. This is a story about love at first sight basically. I loved how the title is what Anise's business is called. This is a F/F romance book and I think it's very well written. Emigh is a lonely vampire that is getting bored with the club and one night stand life. She spots a beautiful woman in a club one night and is instantly attracted to her. She just hopes that one day she can meet her new crush.
A really fast read for me. I read it in a couple of hours. This is a story about love at first sight basically. I loved how the title is what Anise's business is called. This is a F/F romance book and I think it's very well written. Emigh is a lonely vampire that is getting bored with the club and one night stand life. She spots a beautiful woman in a club one night and is instantly attracted to her. She just hopes that one day she can meet her new crush.
October 26, 2015
Beautifully written story
Everything Anise by Natalie-Nicole Bates is my first f/f book and I really enjoyed it. This book is so sweet and beautifully written Natalie did a great job, it had me laughing and crying. I would recommend this book for anyone looking for a paranormal short story. Natalie is such an amazing writer...I love everything she writes.
Everything Anise by Natalie-Nicole Bates is my first f/f book and I really enjoyed it. This book is so sweet and beautifully written Natalie did a great job, it had me laughing and crying. I would recommend this book for anyone looking for a paranormal short story. Natalie is such an amazing writer...I love everything she writes.
January 3, 2016
This was an extremly cool story that I loved from the moment that I started reading. The story will keep you entertained and interested from beginning to end, you cannot help but fall in love with these amazing characters and the book moves along at the perfect reading pace to keep you interested. This book need to be on your list of books to read this year.
October 7, 2015
what an amazingly beautiful story! the setting is like a combo of past and present....the f/f content was written very beautifully. i just wish it had been longer lol. i could have read about anise and enigh all day!
October 7, 2015
This was my first f/f book. This was a great read. I enjoyed every bit of it. It was so well written. I loved the connection of the characters. It was a very quick read, I only wish it was longer. Highly recommend!
Displaying 1 - 12 of 12 reviews