Ten original sexy tales from ten bestselling authors. When the sun goes down in New Orleans the heat will rise. Take a sensual exploration of those Creole nights with our hosts of humans, witches, vampires, shifters, wolves, sorcerer, ghost, reapers, voodoo priestess, warlocks, demons, priests and angels. Find out who lives, who dies, who loves for once in a lifetime. Read their sides of the story.
The Beast Within- LaVerne Thompson - From moonrise to moon set the beast will rule.
When the Beautiful Awake: Thakathi Awakening- Angela Kay Austin- You can't hide from us.
Spellbound - Reana Malori- True love is its own destiny.
The Elixir of Life, Legacy: Origin- S. Campbell Williams- There is never an end, but always a new beginning.
Warlocks: The Creole Coven- Latrivia Welch USA Today Bestselling Author - Love is the greatest magic of all.
Phoenix Daniels Blood Ties - You can’t run from who you are.
Falling for the Reaper- Adrienne D'nelle Ruvalcaba- He had seen death before, but this time is different.
Love Bites- Twyla Turner - Be careful what you wish for.
In Another Time- Sage Young - My love I will find, in another place, in another time.
His to Claim - Stephanie Morris- He's got everything under control and she likes it that way.
LaVerne Thompson is a USA Today Bestselling, award winning, multi-published author, an avid reader and a writer of contemporary, fantasy, and sci/fi romances. She also writes romantic suspense and new adult under the pen name Ursula Sinclair also a USA Today Bestselling Author, her alter ego, who likes her relationships a little more complicated.
Her stories are highly sensual with erotic elements but she has a few that are considered erotic. Most of her books also have a touch of violence and a few more than that. She enjoys good action scenes in movies and has incorporated some of those elements in quite a few of her books. She is also a certified chocoholic.
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This is my review and how I see each story in this anthology. Each author brought something uniquely different to this collection of stories. While some stories were some I would like to see more of, others were not my cup of tea. An author provided a free copy of this work in exchange for an honest review. This is my review and how I see it.
The Beast Within - Laverne Thompson Rated: 4.5 Stars Date read: August 2, 2017
Two families intertwined by an act that no one really knows the entire story behind their connection. The males of one family despicable act led to a curse to last the ages and could only be broken by a descendant of the family who placed the curse. Cable and Lissette felt a pull toward each other like they had never felt before. One night in Cable's club we change their lives and set them on a course of love they never expected to find. Where is good, evil always lives in the shadows...and there is one such evil that will do everything in his power to make sure that Cable is out of the way and he can have Lissette all to himself...whether she wants him or not.
In Another Time - Sage Young Rated: 4.5 Stars Date read: August 2, 2017
The story proved that love does not know time nor color. Jasper and Clarissa were robbed of a life of love by a jealous and evil woman. They met during a time where their union in the eyes of certain people would be an abomination. Yet, the Jasper met the woman of his dreams in Clarissa and desired to have her even though his parents have pledged him to another. Their love would be short lived due to jealous and the young lovers would be separated in death be a wicked soul. Some two hundred years later, by fate, they would meet again and not understand the pull toward each other. As Charlotte tried to fight against her attraction to James, there are dark forces afoot. Will love conquer all or will evil finally win the day?
The Elixir of Life, Legacy: Origin - S. Campbell Williams Rated: 1 Star Dates read: August 2-3, 2017
I had a hard time with this story. The deity that the lead female character appealed too played a game with her life in such a way that she almost entered a life that she vowed never to participate. They played with her life like it was a toy and theirs to do with as they pleased and gave no thought to whether or not she would survive the outcome of their little wager.
Blood Ties - Phoenix Daniels Rated: 4.5 stars Dates read: August 3, 2017
I love a good book by this author...I mean she can write her assets off. At first, I thought this was going to be on of those reincarnation type of stories; however, it wasn't that is was so much more. A police dispatcher rushes to NOLA to see about her grandmother as she is told she is ill and may not have long to live. While home her life as she knows it changes and she high tales it back to Chicago. Even though she saw vampires and a werewolf she refuses to believe in their existence. Things happen which drive her back to NOLA and from there, things start to get very interesting...! You have got to read this story to find out what happens next.
This story puts me in the mind of "be careful of what you wish for because you just might get it." Two lovers what the same thing, but they are both hesitant about going after what they each so desperately want. This is until a trip to NOLA for a mutual friends wedding and each is drawn to Madam Sophie's shop. I could feel the pain and the anguish of rolling off the character.
Love Bites - Twyla Turner Rated: 4.5 stars Dates read: August 6, 2017
Something new and different from author Twyla Turner's story Love Bites takes a new spin on love in the paranormal. This is a well-developed story, it took on the main character from thinking she was chasing Mr. Right who was so very wrong and friends that were really frienemies. This story just goes to show you can't judge a book by its cover and those with outer-beauty can be just as ugly within.
When the Beautiful Awake - Angela Kay Austin Rated: 1 star Dates read: August 7, 2017
This is the first read for me by this author and a very disappointing read for me. This story had a lot going on with it and became hard for me to follow the plot. In my opinion the title "When the Beautiful Awake" did not fit the story line. I can say that I will continue with the rest of this story.
Falling for the Reaper - Adrienne D’nelle Ruvalcaba Rated: 3 stars Dates read: August 7-11, 2017
This is the first read for me by this author. It was good but not great, the flow of the story was hard to follow as one scene flowed right into another without a break in between and because of this, I struggled reading this story. This story is about a young girl that is tricked into an eternity of servitude and she is tricked mad me a little angry. When she goes to guide a soul into the afterlife she comes across her soulmate and things start to take an interesting turn for them both. This story is not without its heartbreak, moments of sadness for the heroine and unexpected happy ending.
His to Claim - Stephanie Morris Rated: 4 stars Dates read: August 11-12, 2017
His to Claim was a good read that could have been better especially with the paranormal aspect of this story. What I found to be unrealistic about this story is that the heroine using paranormal romance book provided by her friend to prepare her for potentially meeting a shifter of any kind.
I rated this story four stars because it is a good story that could have been better than it was. The heroine's reaction when he turned in a wolf before her eyes were way too anti-climatic, but her disbelief at believing that it was real even though he told her and her friend told her and she saw for herself when he changed...her denial was real. I may read the rest of the books in the Mated series to see how the other book s pan out.
Warlocks: The Creole Coven - Latrivia Welch Rated: 4.5 stars Dates read: September 2-3, 2017
I missed this story somehow when I read the others. What a story and something different from author Latrivia Welch. A reporter chasing a story of mysterious deaths of four women based off of information she received mysteriously heads down to NOLA. She checks into the New Bourbon Hotel the scene of the deaths. She finds more than she bargains for in the mysterious hotel owners son and the information she uncovers has she seeks answers during her interviews with the locals and the families of the four women.
I really wish there were more to this book. This book is for anyone who likes a good paranormal story of unexpected discovery.
This was a great group of stories from a talented group of authors. In this box set you a lot of mystery, a great deal of romance, and good dose of fantasy that when put all together made for some very entertaining and passionate reading. There is something for every romance junkie in Creole Nights. This box set also introduced me to some authors that are new to me and who doesn't love to find new talent. I really enjoyed each authors unique way of story telling and look forward to reading more of their work. I gave this one 4 stars.
and vampires! I received this anthology as an ARC. Authors I'm very familiar with and authors I hope to continue to enjoy, have come together to share their stories of the paranormal in the great city of New Orleans, where anything is bound to happen and in these stories, it does! I can't tell you which story was my favorite but let's just say I have a thing for vampires and werewolves!
The was a book after my own heart. I enjoyed each story. Each story held on to you as a reader that did not want to put it down. They were breath taking... holding your interest waiting to see what next for each couple to possess that all encompassing love.
The Beast Within by LaVerne Thompson ⭐⭐⭐⭐ Ironic how on generation can release a spell from a previous generation Lisette’s gr-grandmother Taabia, a priestess of Damballah, put a curse on the men of the deNuit family after they brutally assaulted her daughter that caused her death. She cursed them with “One son only. At the turn from child to man, he be ruled by the call of the full moon. You act like selfish beasts, then let you be beasts. On all fours shall you crawl the earth until the pull passes. Every cycle from moonrise to moonset, your beast will rule. Until the day one of mine deem you selfish no more.” When Caleb deNuit met Lissette in his night club La Lune in the French Quarter. He felt that she put a spell on him. He was unexplainably drawn to her and she to him. He never gave women much thought. He wanted one, he had one, then he moved on. None stayed in his mind, nor was he in the habit of chasing after women, that is until Lissette. With Lissette following in her grandmother’s footsteps as an herbalogist, she often went alone in the swamp to gather rare flowers. Unbeknownst to her she was being watched. It’s ironic how Caleb’s beast saved her and in turn, she saved him and his family by loving him.
In Another Time by Sage Young ⭐⭐⭐ One can bring the horse to water by one cannot make him drink Jasper Davene’s parent’s annual Sorcerer’s Ball was the event that sorcerer’s were looking for connections to strengthen their own blood lines. Mary Plauch had her eyes set on him. Although she was powerful in her own right, she was purely evil. He wanted nothing to dod with her. When Jasper met Clarissa Trudeau, it was love at first sight, just like with her mother and father. Just like her parents, they married. Mary was furious to the point of killing Jasper’s bride but Jasper had one more trick up his sleeve but Mary still would not be undone. Even though their souls were separated to the far ends of the Earth, two hundred years later, their souls recognised each other in the form of James Donovan and Charlotte Trudeau. But there are still forces scheming to destroy them. With all of this said, I HATE CLIFFHANGERS!
The Elixir of Life, Legace: Origins by S. Campbell Williams ⭐⭐⭐ A complex story This story was a little too complex for me. This story talked about some difficult situations in the lives of some folk from south Louisiana, and that is the subject of passe blanc or passing for white. Claude jumped at the opportunity to leave the area so he could live the life he wanted to, as payment for the spirit La Croix to use his body to court Afeme and feel human feelings of the flesh again. She was his star he was her moon. But he could not stay in Claude’s body, but he stayed in spirit to watch over her. She chose death to be reunited with her Mr. Moon. Their love will last forever in the spirit and through their daughter Bijoux. The Philosopher’s Stone, is the heart. Immortality can be achieved through the trials and testing of the human soul. If love rules out and the heart wins...that is the secret to the Elixir of Life, love!
Blood Ties by Phoenix Daniels ⭐⭐⭐⭐ Secrets are revealed over time! Since I have south Louisiana creole heritage, it was interesting to read this paranormal story. I don't usually read this genre but since it was situated in New Orleans, I gave it a chance and I'm glad I did. Ms Daniels started with the intriguing prologue that set up the story. I loved Enola and Gideon together. At first,she fought who she was becoming but when her friend and daughter where hurt due to her developing powers, she came back home to New Orleans to find out more about herself and family from her dying gran-mere who was getting weaker due to the fact that Enola was getting stronger. Gideon knew when he saw Enola Roux that she was his mate and proceeded to claim her. Enola was equally pulled in by his hypnotic blue eyes. Gideon and Gabriel Toussaint were alpha and beta werewolves who were in allegiance with the Roux family over the century. Gabriel's mate, Auriette Roux, had been executed over a hundred years prior and he vowed revenge on the Warlock priest responsible. The priest was determined to wipe out the Roux family and the werewolves because of his hatred for them. Phoenix wrote an intriguing story about hatred lasting through the centuries due to unrequited love, causing a feud that lasted just as long, waiting for the right heroine to come into her own to completely stop it. This was a good read.
Spellbound by Reana Malori ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ The magic of the bayou and New Orleans is real. But, he was already under her spell for two years and did not know it. Levi was too busy trying to protect his heart and raise his daughter Jessica after he and his wife divorced and she abandoned them. He and his daughter fell in love with Theresa but he refused to listen to his heart. Theresa, on the other hand only saw a playboy and did not want to let her heart be broken. She was coming to the decision that Levi was either going to sh*t or get off the pot. She was no longer comfortable being only friends with benefits, but she loved him. In New Orleans, while at a friend's wedding celebrations, the mysterious Madame Sophie kept popping up in their lives to make them decide once and for all. Theresa was afraid that the love potion was working on Levi but was afraid that his reactions to her in New Orleans would wear off and his feelings were not real. She did not want their friends knowing about their friends with benefits relationship for fear that things would not work out between them and she did not want her friends to pity her. She did not think that love was for her. What she and Levi did not know was that their friends already figured out what was going on anyway and they were only fooling themselves. Levi decided that it was time to come clean and claim Theresa for himself. He wanted what they had in New Orleans for the rest of his life. Reana wrote a sweet and mysterious love story about two stubborn people who were in love with each other but just too afraid to admit it. Once out of their home element and in the mystique of New Orleans, they were able to spend quality time with each other without Levi having to run home to his daughter. Theresa really did not need a love potion after all. Madame Sophie just helped them to see what was already there. New Orleans just has that magical gris gris.
Love Bites by Twyla Turner ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ When friends are not really friends That is what Regan Wright found out. In her group of friends, and Ree, as her friends called her, was the only fat chick. The rest of her friends are slender, athletic, or curvy in all the right places. All the appropriate height. From petite to average. They are all officially attached, except her. Most guys avoid her five-foot-eleven Amazonian figure with endless hips and ass, and a size 22 bod. Her size has even alienated her from the honor of being a bridesmaid in her friends Lisa and Ben’s wedding. They all came to NOLA for a combined bachelor/ bachelorette party from Chicago. She gets her dream squashed when she realized that her five year crush Jake, can not live up to her fantasies of him with the one night stand. She’d given up on love and just decided she’d be happy just being the crazy old cat lady. Madame Serfine, the spiritual adviser, medium, healer and potion maker, knew exactly what she needed when Regan entered her shop. He knew on sight that Ree was the perfect person for a special customer of hers. Royce Arnaud, the owner of the Empyreal, a special mysterious members only club, was drawn to Ree like a moth to a flame. They were each other’s soul mates. Just one bite from Royce and she could see the black souls that her so called friends harbored. I enjoyed reading this story, since I am a woman of a particular size myself. It was nice to read that the plus sized woman gets the hottie that everyone wants.
When The Beautiful Awake by Angela Kay Austin
Falling for the Reaper by Adrienne D’nelle Ruvalcaba ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ Love is eternal I loved this story. It was heartbreaking to read that the two beings were willing to sacrifice their own personal existence for the sake that the one they loved would live a better life. Even though Viggo Bronlund’s father was responsible for illegally putting a young Seraphina in servitude to the Reaper, she was still willing to help out Ivan Bronlund get his mate back. The love that Vigo and Sera had lasted through time even Ivan had wiped all of their childhood memories of each other. Love never dies, it may be buried or hidden but it never dies. That is what Viggo and Seraphine proved to all, even to the hard hearted Ivan, who turned out to be heartbroken on the death of his won mate.
His To Claim by Stephanie Morris ⭐⭐⭐ When you are mated you are mated!
They Pierre Mercier knew on sight that Serafine Hardy was his mate when he saw her at the Primal Lounge in the French Quarters. There was only one problem, she was human and did not believe in paranormal shifters. She was turned on by an unexplainable draw she had to him and decided she would give in to her curiosity after a soulburning kiss he gave her. And that was it, amost. I’m not a big fan of paranormal stories but they are growing on me. When I do read them, I do enjoy reading about shifting wolves and this one was enjoyable.
Warlocks: The Creole Coven by Latrivia Welch ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
All is revealed! What was hidden for Toni St John about her life is revealed to her. She knew of her adoption and had no need to find her natural parents until strange things started happened in New Orleans at the New Bourbon Hotel. She felt this strange pull to its owner Jericho Laveau. As she di the investigations for her newspaper article, disturbing resemblances were seen between she and the 4 girls that committed suicide. Until Jericho’s brother Jules removed the blind spot from her mind to enhance her insight to what was going on. It was not until Jericho’s father Lafayette and other brothers cast a spell that Toni found out what and where her true nature and gifts came from and whom she was destined to be. Latrivia wrote a very interesting well plotted mysterious paranormal story that held my attention through out.
I overall give this book five stars, but with all anthologies some stories are better than others
The Beast Within – Enjoyable read. This was a well developed story that was a great way to start this anthology. Hopefully the author will write stories about the other deNuit cousins introduced in the story.
In Another Time – I really dislike cliffhangers, it since this was actually a complete story with an incomplete ending I’m not upset. Forbidden love that is destroyed by others only to be reincarnated again made for a great story line. I can’t wait to read the next part of this love story.
Blood Ties—This was such a compelling read that I couldn’t put it down. Enola was ignorant to her history, but when forced to face her destiny she eventually embraced it. Gideon’s history stared him in the face daily. When they meet and their shared histories collide, it makes for a great read.
Spellbound—this was a good read. New Orleans is a magical place and attending weddings always seems to also make magic happen. Add these two ingredients together and you get a HEA for Theresa and Levi.
Love Bites – This story was written in a great first person style, switching between the two main characters Royce and Regan. The twist on the reason for the existence of supernaturals was interesting.
When The Beautiful Awake – I did not enjoy reading this story. It was extremely confusing.
Falling For The Reaper—This was a nice story with a number of twist and turns. It was far from a traditional supernatural story.
His To Claim- This was a great read! A well developed, quick read, it transitioned well from one scene to the next. Serafine des not believe in paranormal, so when Pierre, a wolf Shifter states she is his mate, he has his work cut out for him.
Warlocks:The Creole Coven - This was a great ending started Roy for this anthology. Toni is a reporter that is clueless about her background. She goes to New Orleans to investigate the suicides of four who men within the same moth at he same hotel. Arriving at the hotel she meets Jericho and her life will never be he same. This was a great read.
What a great box set. I love all of these authors and am so happy to see some of them writing paranormal stories. One of my favorite stories in the set was Spellbound by Reana Malori.I loved this short and steamy romance by Reana Malori. Theresa and Levi have been having a friends with benefits relationship for a while and are at a crossroads. While in New Orleans for a friend's wedding they both get drawn towards a shop where they get some advice on love. From there we get to see if a little magic can help these two work things out and not let the best thing that's happened to them pass them by. This was a great read and I was rooting for Theresa and Levi to get their HEA. I also loved the magic in this book and the twists thrown in as well as all those steamy scenes. You won't be disappointed by these stories and you'll be happy to know a few of the authors have released expanded versions of the stories included here. i would definitely recommend you get those too! Great read!
Reviewing Spellbound by Reana Malori (as I received this book as an ARC)
This is Levi and Theresa's story. This couple has been secretly "sneaking" around for a while and Theresa is at her witts end. She wants more from Levi but he doesn't seem to want to give her more. Along comes Madam Sophie, who provides Theresa with the key to getting what she desires most. The minute Theresa accepts the potion from Madam Sophie and takes it, she is plagued by doubts on whether its truly working and if Levi has actually had a change of heart and wants to be with her. There was a little too much back and forth between Theresa and Levi that bordered on the juvenile.
I received this as an ARC for an honest review from Reana Malori. I read the whole anthology and loved all the stories. I have to say that LaVerne Thompson knocked it out the park with the first story and every one after her hit the mark. The stories were full of your favorite kind of alpha's, sexy! I loved the theme chalked full of voodoo magic, shifter love, and reincarnation. I also loved that it took place in New Orleans, it makes me want to take a vacation there since I've never been. A book worth purchasing and reading.
Spellbound by Reana Malori is part of an anthology of ten stories in Creole Nights. Spellbound like the other stories in this book takes place in New Orleans my most favorite place. Each story weaves its own unique tale of love and magic as the beauty of New Orleans is captured. In Spellbound the characters of Levi and Theresa are enjoyable, I loved how they both wanted the same thing but didn’t know how to ask for it. Theresa didn’t want to find love then have the one she loved leave her, and Levi was consumed by her but didn’t know how to let her know how he felt. The chemistry and interaction between these two characters was intense. I love the way Reana Malori spins a tale, she grabs you from the first paragraph and endears her characters to you. Then to add that element of magic she and the other authors just made all of these stories enjoyable. So go ahead and take this ride, and while you're at it book a flight to the city of magic, New Orleans.
Loved every single story in this anthology...brilliant
All the stories were based in NOLA, and every one of the makes me want to visit the Big Easy and see the sights, smells and feel the atmosphere of the enchanted city of New Orleans. The stories were romantic, scary in places and very erotic with the elements of paranormal, totally captivated me from start to finish. I want more....they have converted me to reading Beautiful IR paranormal erotic romances, my book budget has been blown out the window lol. If you've not read this....you need to!!!
A lot of the authors complied in this collection were new to me and I am glad their stories were added and I got to experience excellent 1st time reads. Now I will be scouring Amazon for other works of these ladies. Kudos to all that contributed to this collection, I highly recommend reading this book of paranormal stories.
This is my first foray into the world of the paranormal. I have been quite skeptical about the content however, this book set have me a whole new perspective . Of the ten stories there were only three that I did not read I couldn't get past the first few pages. The other seven I would have to rate a solid 4. I'm looking forward to reading more by these authors.
I really wanted to critique each story but they are all good. The authors are all my favorites and the stories are phenomenal. I only wish all the stories were complete and did not have a part 2..
I'm finding out that books with different authors is a great way to find new and exciting writers that I have not really considered trying or even knew about so yeah I most definitely recommend especially if the paranormal is your thing!!
I really enjoyed reading this book. Couple of the stories were a bit slow; however majority it'd the stories were quick read. Which kept you interesting in the stories.
I am actually looking forward to the series to follow by the authors.
Creole Nights is a great read. Each author made the theme there own and I loved all the stories. You’ll be hooked from the first page and mad when it’s over. I plan on reading other works by the authors as well. Yes I recommend this book.
I completely loved this anthology. Each story was unique and wonderful. I only wished they were longer because I didn't want the story to end. Definitely a must read.
Why did it have to end? Now I am TRULY going to have some withdrawal. Phoenix Daniels can weave a story a cast a spell on her readers. I thoroughly enjoyed this story ~ Smooches 💋
This collection is filled with stories by authors I haven't read yet. I am starting with Adrienne Ruvalcaba, then Sage Young and Lavern Thompson.
I love, love, love, Phoenix and am looking forward to enjoying this collection of paranormal stories. I don't really do shifters, but this seems fun and sexy.