Man of My Dreams

Children of the Earth #1

by Sherrilyn Kenyon, Maggie Shayne, Suzanne Forster

Four all-new stories featuring handsome heroes who can possess a woman's heart and satisfy her late-night yearnings.

Genres: Romance, Anthologies, Paranormal Romance, Paranormal, Fantasy, Fiction, Contemporary Romance

356 pages, Kindle Edition

First published October 26, 2004

About the author

Official Author site
Official Nevermore site
Official Deadman's Cross site
Official Chronicles of Nick site
Official Silent Swans site
Official Hunter Legends site
Official Witch of Endor site
Official Lords of Avalon site
Official Facebook site

New York Times and international bestselling author Sherrilyn Kenyon is a regular at the #1 spot. With legions of fans known as Paladins (thousands of whom proudly sport tattoos from her series and who travel from all over the world to attend her appearances), her books are always snatched up as soon as they appear on store shelves. Since 2004, she had placed more than 80 novels on the New York Times list in all formats including manga and graphic novels. Her current series are: Dark-Hunters, Chronicles of Nick and The League, and her books are available in over 100 countries where eager fans impatiently wait for the next release. Her Chronicles of Nick and Dark-Hunter series are soon to be major motion pictures while Dark-Hunter is also being developed as a television series. Join her and her Paladins online at MySherrilyn.com and www.facebook.com/mysherrilyn

Fan Run International Sites:

Argentinian FB Page 

Fans de Sherrilyn Kenyon en Columbia 

Fans de Sherrilyn Kenyon en Chile 

Filipino Fans on FB 

France/French 

Italy/Italian 

Portugal 

Soy Fans de Sherrilyn Kenyon 

Dark-Hunter Spain 

Spanish

Reviews

[Alp · Rating 4 out of 5]

Fire And Ice - Sherrilyn Kenyon


5 stars.

I LOVED IT! What a wonderful short story! Sherrilyn Kenyon, once again, comes up with such an amazing tortured hero whom I couldn’t help but swoon over, and I'm very happy to tell you that Adron completely stole my heart. Anyway, reading his story and what he had been through made me want to cry. It really broke my heart. Thankfully, Livia (accidentally) came into his life and gave him a reason to live and be happy again.

I adored both Adron and Livia. Adron was a very good man and Livia had a bigger heart than I ever did imagine. She was beautiful inside and out. She loved him with all her heart and never gave up on him no matter what.

The ending was so beautiful, I couldn't ask for anything more!

Well yes, I was over the moon!




Midsummer Night's Magic - Virginia Kantra


3.75 stars.

I liked this one. I did enjoy this modern re-telling of the Tam Lin story. At first, nothing seemed special about this novella, but at some point, things got a lot more interesting, so much so that I couldn’t stop reading. And I can tell you that I was blown away by its fantastic plot twists and delightful ending. However, despite that, I still felt like there was something missing but couldn’t put my finger on it. On top of that, the hero’s character was a bit too bland for my liking. Perhaps, I just expected too much…

Overall, a good read. Could have been better though.

[Danielle The Book Huntress · Rating 5 out of 5]

I adored this story. It has all the elements that make Sherrilyn Kenyon irresistible as a writer for me: imaginative story and setting, well-drawn, likeable characters, flawed hero who is deeply tortured both physically and spiritually, a deep, emotional connection between the hero and heroine, and the promise of redemption and a bright future. It took me about an hour plus to read this story, but the joy of reading it will last longer. You have what looks like a hopeless situation initially that becomes a catalyst for a wonderful love between Adron and Livia. Livia is being forced to marry a really old man by her father. In order to be suitable as his bride, she must be a virgin. In her culture, women are kept extremely innocent. Thus, she has not even been alone with a man who is not her relative, much less had physical contact. Together her and her maid come up with the idea to find a man and sleep with him so she is no longer a virgin. She goes to a bar and finds Adron, the most beautiful man she has ever seen. However he is deeply scarred both physically and emotionally. She seduces him with a kiss, and he decides to take her home. From there, their lives become intertwined in the most beautiful of ways. This story accurately portrays the challenge and the agony of being disabled (the hero was badly wounded and tortured as a League Assassin. Each day is excruciating pain and limitations due to the fact that his internal organs sustained massive injury). He wanted to die but his brother would not kill him. But at the same time, he won't kill himself because he knows how much his parents and family love him. My heart just went out to him for his situation. Knowing people who deal with disabilities every day, I could see that this was real life, although in a fictional story. That is why I loved the ending of this story so much. I read Fire and Ice in the Man of My Dreams anthology, and even though I don't plan to read the other stories, it was definitely a worthwhile purchase and a keeper for me.

[Unapologetic_Bookaholic · Rating 2 out of 5]

***Read once in Jan'06 4-stars, re-read 10/08 2 stars*** I enjoyed Sherrilyon Kenyon's virgin princess set on alien planet story and Suanne Forester's electrican meeting an engaged woman and trying to convince her to give him one hour to see if they have any more chemistry. Since they have something, obviously, when they first met. I did not like Maggie Shayne's story involving a physic and a cop. It just didn't seem geniune. I also thought the last story was forgettable, literally! I went to write down the character name for later reference, right after I finished reading it, and couldn't even think of thier names. It was about a man being imprisoned by the sidhe and his girlfriend later discovering him. I will definately pick up another Suzanne Forester novel and I am already a Sherrilyn Kenyon fan.

[Wendalyn Peterson · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was a great short story which takes places next in line after the League series which were just re released by Sherrilyn Kenyon. I loved the whole series. This was about Nykyrian and Kiara's son Andron. We heard about him in the last book though it was only brief. He was injured and was in rough shape which is about all they said about him. This was his short story which was great. I wish there was more books in this series as I really enjoyed them. I just love Andron and Livia they definitely go great together.

[☆.。.:*・°☆Love2Read♡HEAs☆.。.:*・°☆ {Anne} · Rating 5 out of 5]

4.5 STARS

I only read two of the stories but I enjoyed both of them.

1) Fire and Ice by Sherrilyn Kenyon (PNR - Broken, literally, Warrior and a Virgin Princess) and 2) Daydream Believer by Maggie Shayne (Romantic Suspense - a female Psychic & a Detective).

If you're in the mood for something short or just don't have time for a novel, give this a shot. I got it for next to nothing at a used book store.

[Pamela(AllHoney) · Rating 4 out of 5]

I bought this one for the story by Sherrilyn Kenyon (Fire and Ice). I ended up reading that one and Maggie Shayne's Daydreamer Believer. I didn't read the other two. Of the two I did read I enjoyed them. SK's Fire and Ice is a sci-fi story and part of her League series. MS's Daydream Believer is about a psychic who has had dreams about the hero for years.

[Linda · Rating 4 out of 5]

Sherrilyn Kenyon´s Fire and Ice is my first encounter with the League world and i´m intrigued and definitly want to read more.
Livia is about to be married with a man her father has chosen, an old man she´s no interest in. To escape this trap she´s in a bar to find any man to help her with her virginity. She stumbles upon Adron, a retired commander with health issues. He can´t refuse to help her and when they´re found the next morning they both agree to something they never thought would happen the day before, =)
Maggie Shayne´s Daydream believer is how Megan, a psychic with visions about small things, sees a murder victim and reports this. When the police want to investigate how much she really knows about the killings she encounters Sam, the man she´s been dreaming about saving since she was twelwe.
Suzanne Forster´s Shocking Lucy how Lucy who´s about to get married meets a mystery man who can make her shiver like no one else.. .
Virginia Cantra´s Midsommer nights Magic is about librarian Jane and her encounter with fairies and magic during the night, not to mention her long lost love who disappeared fourteen years ago.
Love this anthology and how you get both AU, magic and everyday life. And all have HEA =) wich i need now and again to read.

[Robin · Rating 4 out of 5]

I find it unusual when I come across an anthology that I enjoy cover to cover. This is one of those few. I was already a fan of Kenyon's Assassins series, and reading the story of the oldest child of the second generation of the series, Adron, was moving and like returning to old friends. Maggie Shayne's story of a woman who has visions no one ever believes until Sam comes along, the man she is destined to save from a curse that will kill him when he turns 35. It is a sweet, straightforward romance-mystery tale. I'd never come across Suzanne Forster or Virginia Kantra before, but I enjoyed the contemporary romance of Lucy and Noah as she learns that being safe is not the same as living. While Kantra's story returns us to the paranormal, it is another story of how our fears are the greatest obstacles to finding the kind of love that two people can build a life on. Janet has to risk everything to free Ross, her long missing college love from Lilith, the Queen of the Sidhe (Fairies). Each story drew me in and kept me interested until the final page of each novella.

[Leah · Rating 5 out of 5]

MAN OF MY DREAMS 4.6 out of 5 STARS

"Fire and Ice" by Sherrilyn Kenyon - 5 Stars
I absolutely loved this story and Adron and Livia. Favorite part: When Nykyrian walks in on Adron and Livia naked.

"Daydream Believer" by Maggie Shayne - 5 Stars
Megan and Sam were adorable. I have one thing to say, though: I totally knew who the killer was. Yeah, I'm that good.

"Shocking Lucy" by Suzanne Forster - 5 Stars
This story was so cute. Noah was totally sexy and I loved Lucy, too.

"Midsummer Night's Magic" by Virginia Kantra - 3.5 Stars
I liked the idea of this story but I the way the whole thing played out was unsatisfactory for me. I think that I might have liked it better if the story was a full-length novel and it was more fully developed plot- and characterwise.

[chanceofbooks · Rating 3 out of 5]

Read this over a few weeks--working in between other books. Virgina Kanta's contribution is a lovely 4 star tale that is worth picking up the anthology for. I don't usually like the hero-as-someone-else's-love-slave trope, but it really works here. Maggie Shayne's contribution was a solid 3.5 star offering as well, enough to convince me to look at her back list. Kenyon's submission lacked conflict and really suffered as a result. Forester's story also lacked direction and felt like it would work better as a category novel--just didn't fit the collection.

[Maura · Rating 4 out of 5]

Fire and Ice - Sherrilyn Kenyon - 4/ 5 - Livia is about to be married off to an old man who wants a young, virgin bride. So she’s determined that she’ll not be a virgin and risk the beating and death that comes with it, rather than be forced into such a marriage. She heads off for a dive bar where she finds Adron, a handsome, but scarred man who lives very near death and is in constant pain. She and Adron have an incredible night together, but it nearly kills him - and Livia finds herself married to Adron. Now, she has a to convince Adron that she can love him even if he is physically damaged and that she regrets nothing. But Adron wishes he could be whole for her.

Very sweet and dramatic story for one so short. There’s a lot of melodrama, which wasn’t bad, but certainly racks up the angst factor. Livia and Adron have a sort of insta-love connection, but it wasn’t all rainbows and butterflies afterwards, so that made this story much more interesting. I enjoyed this one,

Daydream Believer - Maggie Shayne - 5/5 - Megan Rose is a psychic whose visions have been pretty much useless most of her life. She finally gets one about the local serial murders and calls it into the hotline, but the chief says there was nothing to it. But the chief does put local cop Sam Sheridan on Megan’s case, to try and find out how she knows what she knows. Sam doesn’t believe the psychic stuff, but can’t deny that Megan seems to know stuff that is impossible to know - so he believes it down deep, but is fighting it pretty hard. Add to that a pretty awesome connection to Megan and Sam may as well give up the fight. Together, they’ll track down the killer using Megan’s gift and hopefully still have a future together if Megan can stop Sam’s curse.

This was just an enjoyable little story. I liked the characters, even Sam - and this is saying something since I usually get frustrated beyond belief by skeptics like him, but he manages to not be confrontational or overly stubborn. It’s not that he doesn’t believe, but that he doesn’t want to, and the author sets up the perfect reason...because if he believes in psychics, then he has to believe in the curse, which means he’d have to accept his possible death in 3 days. But Megan points out something interesting, that he already believes it because he’s living his life in preparation for it and this is pretty revealing. I liked the ending and felt that everything got resolved pretty nicely for a story of this length. I wouldn’t have minded a bit more resolution about Sam’s motivations for starting their relationship, but it was tied up satisfactorily.

Shocking Lucy - Suzanne Forster - 3 /5 - Lucy is all set to marry Frederick, only he’s noticed that she’s flaking out about wedding stuff, so he questions her commitment. When she meets Noah, he sends her hormones into overdrive, and while she’s tempted, she has to remember that she’s engaged. Only Noah is really hard to resist...After she’s spent the night with Noah and she realizes it’s time to end things with Frederick, but what she learns about Frederick and Noah has her boiling with fury. Frederick asked Noah to tempt Lucy from the engagement to see if she really loved him . Noah realizes his mistake - he’s done something unforgivable, but he really loves Lucy and he’ll have to work hard to earn her trust and her love once again.

This had a superbly grovelly hero, so that’s a plus. I wasn’t a huge fan of the fact that Lucy was basically unfaithful, but I appreciate that she wasn’t deceptive about it...that she immediately called to talk to Frederick about what had happened. Turns out, Frederick dear deserved it, but that’s beside the point. Noah turned in the grovel quite adequately and the loss of his tool belt was pretty much the ultimate show of love. I do wish there’d been an epilogue for this story though.

Midsummer Night’s Magic - Virginia Kantra - 3 /5 - Ross and Janet were dating fourteen years ago when they had a fight and he disappeared from her life. Now 36, Janet’s car breaks down and she’s rescued by a man who looks like Ross did, back when he was 22. She doesn’t realize that it IS Ross, only he hasn’t aged because he’s been held by the Sidhe, as a sex slave. He gets her out of there, but she comes back 3 months later and they make love and she finally figures out who he is and what happened. But she’s having trouble believing it and walks away. Three months later, when she knows Ross and the Sidhe will be back, she tracks him down again, this time to save him.

This is a version of the fairytale, Tam Lin, which is a unique tale. This one I had a bit of trouble with, probably because it’s 3 months between each of their three meetings and I also struggled with the reasons for Ross leaving in the first place. He was having commitment issues and when he encountered the Sidhe, they offered him eternal youth and a lifetime of sex without commitment and he went into it voluntarily. He ended up a resentful sex slave, but he went with the Sidhe voluntarily, not caring that it would hurt the woman who loved him. I had problems with that...especially since he didn’t really express any remorse for it to Janet. Sure he was no doubt sorry for his actions, but I’m not sure he thought about how it ever affected her. This was definitely a unique and refreshing story - haven’t read one like it before, I can tell you. But it wasn’t my favorite in the book.

[Anino · Rating 3 out of 5]

This compilation was fairly good, but the absolute best story by far, hands down, was the story submitted by Virginia Kantra.

Her story was a perfect mix of Paranormal romance, mystery, and suspense. If her story had been a standalone, I would have rated it a 5 star read.

That's not to say that the other ones sucked, but they weren't as well written as Ms Kantra's.

Giving this one: 3.5 stars

[Kassy Hernandez · Rating 5 out of 5]

Every woman dreams about meeting the perfect man...
four stories in one book 😌 the man of my dreams is in these four stories, fire and ice is the first, she is a princess and he is a commander of a assassin organization, he is wounded and she gives him reasons to live, then she heals him with her powers although she almost died, but she survives, they have a baby and a happy ending.

Daydream beliaver.
she has visions she is psychic and wants to help the police, the police suspect of her, they assign a detective to investigate her they both fall in love there is a curse in his family all men die at 25 but she almost died breaking the curse.

Shocking Lucy mmm I didn't like it very much but it is about a girl who was going to get married not for love but for stability the boyfriend sets a trap for her to see if she really is in love with him, it doesn't work and she ends up falling in love with the friend of her ex-fiancé.

Midsummer Night's Magic ✨️ my favorite was beautiful! he is captured by the sidhe she meets him again he is a sex slave 😳 he wants to be free but he doesn't want to involve her, even so he has a night of passion she gets pregnant, he is going to be sacrificed on halloween, she doesn't allow it and he is released and there its end up 😮‍💨ufff what a summary!

[Keri Kruspe · Rating 4 out of 5]

All of the short stories were great, but I especially enjoyed the one by Virginia Kantra "Midsummer Night's Magic". A nice rendition of an old tale.....

[Carole-Ann · Rating 3 out of 5]

Kenyon story best of all. Others so-so

[Kathy · Rating 3 out of 5]

4 stories of love, with a little magic thrown in...

Fire & Ice - Sherrilyn Kenyon
Adron - once a League assassin, traded self for a hostage, and was beaten so bad, he'll never recover - internal organs a mess, bones, etc... Livia typpa Vista - princess; virgin, thus a marriageable possession of king to trade for ... she decides to lose her virginity, to lose her value - knowing a beating and death her likely punishment... at bar her maid sent her to (at behest of her mother) she meets Adron, escapes with him (soldiers looking for her) - he initiates her into lovemaking (she can temporarily heal with her touch)... his dad and her dad show up in morning, Adron claims they are married, she agrees... his body fails, to hospital, he sends her away, she sets up house, they find ways to be together, within the limits of his body... they go out, meet his brother whom he is angry with, and baits... fight ensues, brother hits him hard... he is dying... she uses her healing, to totally heal him (scars and all) but it puts her in a coma... Adron goes to her father (who has disowned her) but mother gets the message - mother of a race of healers (Livia only half healer), she heals daughter, gains her promise not to heal anymore... and they live happily ever after...

Daydream Believer - Maggie Shayne
Megan Rose can see the future... her visions are of minor things... but since she was 12 she saw one man, and a voice that told her to release him from the curse. She sees a dead woman, knows she is one reported missing, calls the police tip line... speaks to Chief Skinner, who tells her she was way off.. but sends his detective Sam Sheridan to check her out..Sam is the son of a police man, who was son of a police man, both who died in the when they were 35 - and he's turning 35 next month... Skinner rapes women... Sam's dad/Skinner's partner had figured it out (hid evidence in hidden book shelf area, Megan found)... so Skinner killed his dad when on call for a robbery - using robber's gun... Megan (who'd been beaten, and called evil as a child) has finally found someone who believes her... ahhh

Shocking Lucy - Suzanne Forster
Lucy Sexton...Frederick...Noah Hightower...
Lucy's father abandoned them when she was young... her mother went back to school, and opened a mediation business, Lucy is now partner... following the 'perfect man' list she made in college, she believes she has found it in Frederick... he is steady (not like dad), thoughtful, etc... after 4 years, they are getting married in 2 weeks.
Frederick sends her to a specific shop for an attaché case, she goes, and runs into Noah - who also wants the last case... (he buys it, offers to give it to her for an hour of her time... but ends up giving it to her saying she looked so sad)... and she goes back to the office glowing...

then it ends up that Noah is doing electrical work in their building.. she tries to return the case... they spend time together... he tries to dissuade her from Frederick... they share hot kisses...

ends up Frederick sent Noah to her, to try and gauge her feelings... wanting her to feel more solid before they marry... when she finds out, she kicks both men out of her life... Noah is in love, does romantic things... finally setting out his 10 reasons for why she should forgive him... in lights, on a billboard... one a night... and she is fascinated... tracks him down on #1 reason... kiss and all is well

Midsummer Night's Magic - Virginia Kantra
retelling of the Tam Lin fairy tale...
Janet Porter 36 year old librarian... Ross Maclean...
they'd been lovers in college - her only love... but after a fight, he disappeared... and 15 years later, when her car breaks down on a country road, she meets him again - though he hasn't aged... and at invitation of Puck, she returns a few months later... and ...
he had been seduced by the Faery Queen, and cannot leave the faery realm... but Puck councils her, that if she grabs onto him and holds no matter what, he will be freed... Will is over the queen, and tired of the excesses.. but he doesn't want Janet hurt... and in the end, she grabs him... and holds on through a variety of shapes (animal and human - even a young, angry version of himself)... and they run to the church... where he is his true age and they live happily ever after...

[Bry · Rating 3 out of 5]

This rating only applies to Kenyon's story, Fire and Ice. I didn't read the rest of the book as I am not reading any of those other authors.

Now y'all know I don't like anthologies, as I just don't seem to like short stories as much. Usually there just isn't enough elaboration, characterization, and plot. This story actually had all 3 through!

The story revolves around Adron, son of Nyk and Kiara from Born of Night who suffered serious injuries from being tortured and Livia, a foreign Princess whose father is trying to marry her off to an 85 year old man. They meet because Livia wanders into a seedy bar where Adron is hanging out drinking away his sorrows (because lets face it everyone who is tortured in this series learns that drinking is their BFF) because she is looking for someone to sleep with. Apparently beign a virgin is so prized in her society that not being a virgin is the only way to get out of the unwanted marriage her father is forcing her into.

She goes in expecting a down and dirty quickie in a back room and instead finds a angry and broken man except when he is around her.

This story is ridiculously sweet, and another example of Kenyon's go to storyline...fixing someone who is broken and then sacrificing everything for that person, and finally the desire to make everyone as happy as possible with babies at the end.

Predictable? YES.
Adorable? YES.

[Gail · Rating 5 out of 5]

These four paranormal novellas share in common the mystic, terrific protagonists, and delightful magical romantic story lines that you will have trouble putting down once a tale is started. I got this for my Nook Tablet. I still like having the feel of a book in my hands, but I know this is the way of the future.
Sherrilyn Kenyon. After five years, Adron still regrets his actions and drowns his sorrow at the Golden Crona rejecting all company. Princess Livia sneaks out of her father's castle seeking a male to deflower her so she would be unfit to marry her sire's choice Clypper. She chooses Adron who surprises himself as she lights a fire inside him.
Maggie Shayne. In Pinedale, bakery owner Megan has a vision of the missing woman so she calls Police Chief Skinner. When she is proven right he sends Detective Sam to investigate Megan.
Suzanne Forster. In Blanchard's Department Store customer Lucy tries to buy an attaché case for her finicky fiancé Frederick, but someone else beats her to it. Afterward the stranger gives her the case as a wedding present. Not long afterward, she meets him again as Noah owner of Hightower Electric works on her building. When her appliances go batty she asks Noah to help her although she thinks she needs an electrical exorcist instead.
Virginia Kantra. Wade County librarian Janet travels a remote area in a North Carolina forest when she runs into Rod. He looks just like her beloved Ross who vanished without a word, but shows no aging or physical changes from the man she last saw fourteen years ago.

[Vanessa theJeepDiva · Rating 3 out of 5]

5 stars Fire & Ice. Adron is a typical Kenyon character, scared, battered, abused & self loathing. I really enjoyed the story though. Livia pulled him back into life. They saved each other.

3 stars Daydream Believer. I got really annoyed by the fact that Sam’s Mustang had a back door. Hello! It is & always has been a sport coupe. This story was very predictable. I had figured out the who done it by 5 pages into it. Sam is also surprised by the fact that Megan cooks, even though she owns a bakery, another annoying factor for me. The story was interesting enough though. Megan has visions & Sam is a detective. She wants her visions to be helpful. Sam does not believe in her abilities at first, but comes to believe after seeing first hand.

2 stars Shocking Lucy. Lucy is a indecisive flake. She is getting married for all the wrong reasons & gets her attention sidetracked by a guy….. who happens to be friends with her fiancé….. who is supposed to make her question her reasons for marrying, per the fiancés request. The last 5 pages had a few redeeming qualities, but not enough to give it a better rating.

5 stars Midsummer Nights Magic. Janet & Ross. This is a modern take on Tam Lin or Tamlane a Ballad from 1729. I really like this story. I have not read what the story was derived from, perhaps I should. This story involves the sidhe & a couple who lost ties to each other 14 years ago.

[Kathy Davie · Rating 4 out of 5]

A collection of four romantic short stories ranging from the contemporary, the fantastic, the paranormal, and science fiction.

In 2005, Maggie Shayne's "Daydream Believer" was nominated for the RITA Award by Romance Writers of America for Romance Novella while Virginia Kantra's "Midsummer Night's Magic" was nominated for Romantic Novella.

Series
"Midsummer Night's Magic" (Children of the Earth, 1)
"Fire and Ice" (The League: Nemesis Rising, 3.5)

The Stories
Sherrilyn Kenyon's "Fire and Ice"is not up to her usual standards, although not as bad as Paradise City . Cute but just too twee with the crippled assassin who rescues the beaten virgin princess who in turn rescues the pain-ridden prince who in turn rescues the dead lover…

Maggie Shayne's "Daydream Believer" is a sweet romance with a nasty betrayal involving a hopeful psychic and a thrice-cursed cop.

Suzanne Forster's "Shocking Lucy" was terrific. A totally unexpected blaze of light in which the electrician pursues the mediator to a pulsating conclusion.

Virginia Kantra's "Midsummer Night’s Magic" is a lovely romantic tale of lost love, found love, the sidhe equinox, and the trials of taking back from the faeries.

[C Joy · Rating 3 out of 5]

First story I really liked, although the plot is not entirely new, the way the story is told and the not-so-perfect characters, I enjoyed reading it. Ms Kenyon's writing style is fluid and vivid that she takes you there. Love scenes were sizzling and passionate, erotic to be exact and the conciseness of the story is superb. In 10 chapters or so, she was able to introduce the characters and put a little mystery to them before doing so. 5 stars.

I didn't quite like the 2nd and 3rd stories, especially the 3rd one because it's somehow similar to the movie "Kissing A Fool". Of course I was really taken by surprise with the turn of events but it made me say "I've seen that one before". The 2nd and 3rd stories didn't have a solid plot, characters were weak and weren't introduced and expounded.

The 4th story is just ok. I like fantasy stories and it was refreshing, still I give the 2nd-4th stories 3 stars only, while I give the first 5 stars, because it's the type of literature I know I'd read again.

[Mojca · Rating 3 out of 5]

I loved Sherrilyn Kenyon's Fire and Ice. It's obvious the woman knows how to write, so what the heck is wrong with her books lately?
Maggie Shayne's story is a normal, a bit paranormal romance.
Suzanne Forster also writes enjoyable tales.
And we finally arrive to Virginia Kantra. Now, that story did nothing for me, absolutely nothing. No spark, no enlightenment, nada, zilch.

Overall, the anthology is an enjoyable read (in parts).

[Luvmyfamily · Rating 5 out of 5]

Fire and Ice - Great story! Love that he got a happy ending but it was very short. I would have loved to have his story prolonged a little more.

Daydream Believer - Loved it! Great plot, good twists to the story and sweet romance.

Shocking Lucy - Really liked it! The only thing I didn't like that kept me from loving this story was when she was unfaithful to her fiancé. I know he was a jerk and brought it on himself but I still don't think the heroine of the story should have done something morally corrupt...

Midsummer Night's Magic - GREAT author! I loved the story. Even though it was short, the story was complete and didn't leave you hanging anywhere. I loved the characters and the plot and wish I could have more!!!

[Wendy · Rating 4 out of 5]

I did like this book, it was more about romance than paranormal to me. Not to say there wasn't any paranormal in the book there was. So on with the review,

Sherrilyn Kenyon's "Fire and Ice"
Maggie Shayne "Daydream Believer"
Suzanne Forster "Shocking Lucy"
Virginia Kantra "Midsummer Night's Magic"

Ok. since I can't seem to get a minute to do this, I'll just sum it up in one quick review.

I am enjoying these books with 3 or 4 different authors. It lets you sample their work.

The book was good, it was very sweet and had good stories behind it. Was it hot....no not really so if that's what you're looking for, I wouldn't read this book.

[Kathryn · Rating 5 out of 5]

My favorite stories in this collection are: "Fire and Ice," by Sharrilyn Kenyon & "Midsummer Night's Magic," by Virginia Kantra. The other stories were interesting, not ones I want to re-read.


"Man of My Dreams" collection of stories was my introduction to Virginia Kantra's writings. I loved her midsummer fantasy - romance story, loved the characters. Wanted to read more of her stories and bought the paperback books about her Sea Folk, and reading her Carolina romance stories. Virginia Kantra's writings I admire as she reveals she takes the time as a writer to think about her story lines, characters, plots.

[Daelith · Rating 2 out of 5]

I'm being generous with two stars. More like 1.5 stars for me.

My least favorite story in this book was Shocking Lucy. Could not get finished with it fast enough. Ended up skimming most of it.

Fire and Ice by Sherilyn Kenyon was just ho-hum for me. Same plot as her other books - Overly tortured hero wallowing in self pity and loathing is rescued from the brink of self destruction by the selfless act of sacrificing her life only to have some omnipotent or benevolent being save her so they can live happily ever after.

Daydream Believer and Midsummer Night's Magic were okay.

[Gab · Rating 5 out of 5]

Four really great short stories that keep you involved/intrigued and all very different. Starting with a Rom sci-fi, to cop-psychic murder mystery, then a modern romance, followed by an eerie story from fairie (not as weird as it sounds but a synopsis will spoil story for you), finishing off with a teaser chapter from a different author's new book Crimson Moon (which I've decided to read). This book went from four to five stars due the enjoyment factor of not feeling like we were reading the same story over and again. Each was unique and fun.

[Brenda · Rating 4 out of 5]

*** 3.5 stars ***

I love the story Fire and Ice by Sherrilyn Kenyon (it's actually the only story in the book that I read more than once) and it's my favorite story in the whole book.

The story by Maggie Shayne is an ok read, but I really didn't like the ones by Suzanne Forster and Virginia Kantra.

Ratings

5 stars for Sherrilyn Kenyon's story
4 stars for Maggie Shayne
2 stars each for Suzanne Forster & Virginia Kantra

That would actually equal 3.25 stars but I rounded up to 3.5 stars. :)

[Rachel · Rating 2 out of 5]

This book contained four stories. The Kantra story was okay, but only okay because I couldn't get behind the motivation of the heroine. The Kenyon and Shayne stories were predictable or poorly plotted (or both). Those together would net a one-star rating for this.

However, the third story? It was fabulous. It really was. The dialogue was snappy and witty and the chemistry between the leads was delightful. 'Shocking Lucy' was good enough that I will keep this book and I will look for more by Suzanne Forster.

[Wandax21 · Rating 3 out of 5]

I read the short story/short novella: Fire and Ice by Sherrilyn Kenyon

couple:
Adron Quiakides: former league assassin, son of Nikyrian, now bitter invalid
Livia: Vistan princess with healing powers, trying to get rid of her virginity


It's a kind of "beauty and the biest story". He is scarred and handicapped after being tortured by an evil enemy. She's nursing him back to help and trying to give him a new joy of life. At the beginning nice and slowly told but in the end very kitschig.

2,5 stars from me