Author: Encarnita Round, Leigh Campbell, Robert Hanley, Victoria Oldham, & E.E. Ottoman
Publisher: Storm Moon Press — found here
Genre: Erotic Paranormal Romance
Rating:  3.5 Stars

The first tale is 27 Days by Encarnita Round (1 star) which follows Sarah through some troubles with her wife when a new love interest enters the picture. 27 Days is written in first person, which is a hard perspective to pull off, and unfortunately I think that very reason is part of the story’s downfall. As the reader, you’re so rooted in Sarah’s head that the actual actions are glossed over or jumbled most of the time. You get more thoughts and history and Sarah’s impressions than anything else. It’s so very narration heavy because it’s first person that it was hard to wade through while I read. I felt like the author was cramming information and backstory down my throat to get it out rather than letting it flow naturally and as needed, and because of this I also feel that there was some backstory that wasn’t needed and I as the reader was left going ‘okay, I know this, but why should I care when it doesn’t directly impact anything that’s going on in any of the story?’ It wasn’t just the way the story was written that didn’t grab me, but some of the characterization of the five hundred year old vampire seemed more like a teenage to twenty something girl when reacting to things internally.

We continue with Bloody Flowers by Leigh Campbell (4.5 stars). The story starts with Meri at a club looking for a tasty woman to bring home to her lover and maker, Helene. She finds Diana and after a taste decides to bring her home, already feeling like the woman will be more than just a one night bite. The complications arise when it comes to light that Diana is on the run from another vampire. The writing is great, it really pulls you into Meri’s point of view as you read. As well the action scene leaves you on the edge of your seat to see just how things will turn out. Definitely worth the read, and worth watching to see what this author will produce next.

As we slide into You and the Moon by Robert Hanley (3 stars) we follow the tale of Julie as she searches for the woman and scientist whose shoes she has followed since a girl. Cassandra was everything that Julie wanted to be, and every ounce the person Julie wanted to be with. Over all, the plot was an interesting one. The concept that vampirism could be cured with modern science was definitely a new spin for me. I’ve seen a lot of ways science has helped vampires to survive, from farming humans to creating fake blood, but never had the research been spurred from the remorse and guilt of what being a vampire made a woman do. I did have a few issues with characters though, as the relationship starts off a little more dangerous obsession on Julies part than love, and the accepting that Cassandra is a vampire off the bat by Julie was a little awkward since she just seemed perfectly fine with it after never having come across it before.

Next we set sail with Jayne and Eleni in Love’s Horizon by Victoria Oldham (4 stars). Jayne loves the sea. She owns her own boat, uses it to ferry tourists around, and also happens to live on it. When she’s not out on open waters, she’s digging deeper into the paranormal. The combination of these two things is what draws Eleni to her, needing a human captain. The story and the characters were interesting, and I did personally find the concept of vampire pirates quite a new twist and an enjoyable one at that. I’d love to read more, both from this author but from this world and these two characters.

And finally, we travel back in time with Business Makes Strange Bedfellows by E.E. Ottoman (4 stars). Gret is ahead of her time, being an independent woman that refuses to let men hold her down from getting her inheritance to becoming a doctor. One night in her lab, she accidentally releases something and to put it right hires Vi’s help in tracking and killing it. The writing is well done, the plot is most definitely an interesting one, and the ending leaves you wanting more. I also really love the tip of the hat to Lovecraft in the story. I will say though that I found the climax of the monster hunt a little rushed, but then that could just be me wanting more too.

Fraternal Devotion is an anthology published by Storm Moon Press and can be found here. The book contains five stories about brothers loving brothers. And while I know a lot of people tend to automatically frown or push away that concept, but I think that people should always give everything a try. You never know what will inspire you, or make you smile unless you try it. And by try it I mean give this book a try and read it. Especially since this book holds a lot of good stories in it.

Over all rating: 3.5 Stars

The first tantalizing tale, War and Peace and Brotherhood by D.K. Jernigan (4.5 stars) unfolds the tale of brothers Keith and Riley. In this world, a mutation has started turning some of the population and it has split sides. Riley had left a number of years ago and Keith had no idea where he’d gone until he shows up on the wrong side of the line that Keith’s been walking. This book is set in a world where an infection has started to change people, to those changed a lot of them see it as a gift but to those unchanged they see them as abominations that must be eradicated at any cost. The infection that changes you is spread by having sex with someone that’s already been changed, and personally I have to say it’s an interesting way to explain people gaining the ability to change into wolves or make themselves invisible, though that’s only a small example of what people have gained in this world. The world building in the story is imaginative and interesting, and the interaction and relationship between the two brothers in engaging and makes you want to keep reading.

The second story is Analgeisa by Alisha Steele (4 stars) and tells the tale of Brandon and Ethan. After a rather bitter divorce, their mother is trying to fix up their childhood home so she can sell it and move into something smaller and more affordable. There’s no hiding the fact that Brandon wants his brother, from the get go we know that the feelings are there. And watching the interaction between the two, the story of why Ethan ran to England with his band nineteen months before the story started, is extremely interesting and hot. This story, with it’s teasing, flirting, and jealousy is a very steamy read.

Third in the tales of brotherly love comes Depression, Love, and Swimming Pools by Leigh Wilder (3 stars). The story starts with Cale coming home on Spring Break to see his mother and his brother Derrick. His mother is quick to tell him that something is wrong with his older brother, and without actually saying it she thinks that Cale should fix whatever is going on as Derrick seems to have taken to just floating in the family pool nearly naked. The story overall is a relatively sad one, as you come to find that the brothers have gone through a good deal of loss between them, and that both are trying to cope as they can though Derrick is having a tougher time of it through everything. And while I didn’t gel all that well with this story, it is well written and the characters are engaging. Well worth the read.

Coming in fourth is On Clouds of Obsession by Azalea Moone (2 stars) where we meet Jeremy and Matt. It’s a week before Matt’s wedding to Candy, and Jeremy is not all that enthusiastic about the wedding. Matt invites Jeremy to the Bachelor party and despite his reservations agrees and goes. Things escalate from steamy to depressing and then around to sweet. If you follow Jeremy’s emotions, this story is a roller coaster of emotions, though I feel that it’s written extremely well. Neither the story nor the emotions lose you but instead make you want to continue with Jeremy to see how the shoe will fall when all is said and done.

And finally, but certainly not least is On the Edge by S.L. Armstrong & K. Piet (4 stars). Ben and Andrew are two brothers that have moved out on their own, sharing an apartment to support each other in the city away from their parents. Though there’s more than just trying to make it as a musician on Andrew’s mind, namely struggling through the guilt and shame that come from loving and sleeping with his brother. Ben doesn’t have any of the guilt or shame, but rather embraces that they’ve always gone against the grain and this was no different, and so long as it made them happy it was alright. The tug back and forth between the emotions is definitely a powerful one, and the story has a darker edge to it because of Andrew’s drug use.

Milk & Cookies & Handcuffs is an anthology of five stories that revolve around the Holidays and BDSM published by Storm Moon Press and can be found here. Over all this was a great anthology. So long as you like a little BDSM with your Holiday cheer, and believe me it’s hotter than you might think at first, you’ll find something in this book for you.

In the first story, Holidays In Hell by Erzabet Bishop, the story revolves around an Incubus named Jonas and how his sights settle on a human woman named Holly. The characters, both main and secondary, are interesting and I enjoyed the time I spent with them. However, there were several places that I wish it would have slowed down in pace. I know that it’s a short story, which only gives you so much time to really work out everything between plot and characters, but there were certain places where it seemed extremely rushed. Especially in how short it takes for Holly to learn and come to terms with what Jonas is. The other area that got me was the store that Holly works at. I’ve never seen a store that sells everything you could need to decorate your home for Christmas – including twelve foot, artificial Christmas trees, and also sells books; and not just general genre books, but erotica books. Over all, even past the issues I had, it was a decent read.

The second story, Gift of the Familiar by Alex Whitehall, shares the story of William and his familiar Ellis as they share in Ellis’s first First Day celebration. One of the biggest things I loved about this story was how the mythos was weaved into it, both by traditions that were being shared but also by William recanting the story of how the world came to be to Ellis because Ellis had never been told. I enjoyed being able to share the wonder of the Holiday with Ellis. And of course, the very hot scene between them and the rope after everyone left.

Pushing the Line by Verity Blackthorn, the third story, follows Ebet as she brings her girlfriend, Meg, home to the family cabin in the mountains for New Years. Not just her girlfriend either, Meg is her Dom as well. It’s not exactly the easy home coming for Ebet either, worried what her family will do or say with Meg there because they don’t exactly approve of her being with girls and think it’s just a phase. The story is very well written, letting the reader share in Ebet’s worry and nerves as the first day unfolds. And Meg gets creative in both fun and distractions for Ebet to try and calm her some while dealing well with Ebet’s family. The creative play between Meg and Ebet is extremely hot, but I think what made me like this story the most was the ending and the final words of Ebet’s grandmother.

In Gift of Self by Kathleen Tudor is about Athena and her slave-boy Jeffrey. Trans stories aren’t exactly my cup of tea, but I do have to say that this story was amazingly written. The author does a wonderful job making sure the reader joins Jeffrey as his emotions go up and down with the discovery of the fact that he is more a she in a male body. The emotions are portrayed strongly, as is the love between the two characters. And while this isn’t my kind of story I really did like it a lot.

And finally the last story, The Sub’s Gift by S.L. Armstrong and Erik Moore, tells the tale of a submissive named Kyle and how his Master Ryan and Mistress Amber give him a sister slave for Christmas. The play from surprise and hesitance because of Kyle’s past, to his decision in how to deal with this new development in his home is well written and flows incredibly well. As the reader, you flow with Kyle, feeling the range of emotions that this present puts him through and I think it’s a wonderful ride that I was glad to share in.

Like I said in the beginning, there’s a little bit of something for everyone in here if you like your Holidays hot and steamy. And all of the stories do that extremely well too, very hot, very steamy, and occasionally very much wishing you could join in. Very much a suggested read from this reviewer.