Review: 5 stars = I freaking LOVED this box set!
Rating: 5 out of 5
Date: 05 15, 2014
I received a free copy of this book to read and review for Wicked Reads.Hard as a Rock - ☆☆☆☆☆Oh. My. Gargoyle! Working for her father's company, the Paranormal Protection Agency, Iliona is used to taking care of herself. But she's caught off-guard when her usually mild-mannered ex-boyfriend shows up unannounced, argumentative, and throws a punch at her. Unbeknownst to her, she has caught the eye of a co-worker who just happens to be a gargoyle and as gargoyles guard, Cal steps in to deal with her ex and sends him on his way. With the situation handled, she realizes that the only place where Cal can guard from is the ledge outside her bedroom window and finds the idea that he's seen everything a bit of a turn on. When she confronts Cal about it, his attraction is obvious and she quickly reassess her plans for the evening (pizza forgotten). What follows is one seriously hot sex scene in which we find out that Cal the gargoyle really is Hard as a Rock.Between a Rock and a Hard Place - ☆☆☆☆☆What's better than a gargoyle lover? Two. In this short, Iliona meets Cal's twin brother Granite, or Gran. After a fright at the office where Cal again comes to her rescue, Iliona plans to spend the evening engaged in a bout of life-affirming sex with her sexy gargoyle lover. What she didn't count on was that Cal had shared with his brother about his lover and planned to share her with his brother if she was receptive. Thank goodness she said yes and what was hot in Hard as a Rock was scorching in Between a Rock and a Hard Place as both Iliona and the reader get double the pleasure. I just want to know where I can sign up.Protect and Service - ☆☆☆☆☆Haaaaawt … why yes he is … Jared Stone, that is. He may have been referring to a client’s Geman Sheppard (you have to read it to find out), but it definitely applies to him. And never was someone so lucky to be cursed as Eloise. Thanks to her vindictive ex-husband’s curse, she is unable to date a man without him suffering the consequences, be it acne, Pinocchio-nose, frog tongue, or chicken squawking. So with her job on the line, she makes a desperate move and goes to the Paranormal Protection Agency to hire a paranormal to escort her to the event so that her job remains safe and her date doesn’t become yet another victim to her ex’s evil curse. Eloise gets more than she expects with her werewolf escort, Jared. He is drawn to her immediately and is more than happy to see that her evening goes well, very well if he gets his way and as a werewolf, he always gets what he wants. Needless to say Ms. Carter delivers up another smoldering sex scene that will leave you breathing heavy and in need of dry panties. My favorite line in the story is when Eloise says to Jared, “Are you sure you’re not a were-donkey?” That says it all.Seduced by Santa – ☆☆☆☆☆I’ll be honest, this was the story I wanted to read least in this collection. Seriously, the idea of being seduced by Santa is not very sexy. Ms. Carter, I am ashamed of doubting you. The concept of a blood line of winter elves that turn into Santa on one night of the year is reminiscent of The Santa Clause, but Tim Allen has nothing on Rhod Claus. And how could you possibly resist calling your heroine Candy Kane. What should have been corny, was so far from it. Again, Ms. Carter brings her “A” game in this short as she gives us one of the sexiest elves I’ve ever read about. Rhod and Candy generate some serious heat in the bedroom. The epilogue was a perfect way to wrap up the story and made me laugh out loud when Rhod tells Candy “Sweetheart, Santa coming is why you ended up in that state in the first place.” You’ll have to read the story to find out why.Close Protection – ☆☆☆☆☆Ashlee owns and operates her family’s bar and is being targeted by a gang for protection money. As there had been no need for protection before said gang moved into the neighborhood, she has no interest in paying for protection and even less in exchanging sex for protection as Roth, the leader suggested. Turns out that Ashlee is pretty handy with a bat and blade and manages to send the gang packing once again, but not before noticing the physical characteristic that marks Roth as a Pixie. As pixies are among the worst of the paranormals, she realizes that it’s going to take more than her bat to keep her and her bar so she contacts the PPA. Enter Zane. As he heads over to check out the bar before his shift is scheduled to start the next day, he discovers that Roth’s men are back and busting up the bar with Ashlee in it. He shifts and enters the fight. Unfortunately for Zane, Ashlee isn’t expecting anyone from the PPA nor is she expecting a wolf, so she assumes the worst and takes a swing at him too … and connects. Fortunately, the bat isn’t the only thing that connects in this story and readers are treated to yet another delightfully sexy read from Ms. Carter.This is a wonderfully sexy collection of short stories that not only highlight Ms. Carter’s wit and knack for the double entendre, but also her talent for writing erotic scenes that are sure to get your juices flowing. I look forward to reading more of this author’s work.~ Wicked Reads Review Team ~