Hearts from the Ashes

I absolutely recommend this book. The stories inside are wonderful and you will find yourself revisiting them so you can enjoy the characters again.

Devlin Johns is supposed to be meeting with Victor, the alpha of the wolf pack that resides in Asheville. However, when he arrives at the meeting site, he sees an omega being assaulted. While omega wolves are the lowest wolves of a pack, Devlin knows that they are still invaluable to the smooth running of a pack and deserving of protection. Getting in the middle of the ruckus, Dev stops the assault, which only re-directs the alpha's hatred toward him. Feeling a tingling along his spine, Devlin is both astonished and ecstatic that this unconscious omega might be his mate. It isn't until the omega wakes up that Devlin will know for sure. Laine Campbell smells something wonderful as he slowly reaches consciousness. Unsure of where he is, he opens his eyes and is instantly delighted and amazed at what he sees. He has a mate of his very own and this mate is hot! Not only is he hot, but he seems to feel the same way as Laine. Not quite understanding how to proceed, Laine happily lets Devlin take over and enjoys every aspect of their lovemaking. Laine and Devlin set out to slowly explore their relationship. Devlin has no plans to let Laine go, no matter that the alpha of Asheville is a jerk and a bully. Devlin plans to show Victor how an alpha is supposed to act and he is going to enjoy every minute of it! Once again J. L. Langley has woven a tremendous story of love and acceptance. In WITH LOVE, Laine is endearingly accident-prone and constantly making mistakes. I found it humbling to see Devlin take him as he was, and love him in spite of his quirks. Laine charmed me with his first smile of delight at finding Devlin by his side. Their loyalty to each other was just the icing on the cake! WITH LOVE is one of three novellas in the anthology, A Heart From The Ashes, coming to Samhain in January 2007. I just can't get enough of J. L. Langley!

I can't say enough wonderful things about this anthology. Ally Blue, JL Langley and Willa Okati never fail to please. "Eros Rising" and "With Love" are gorgeous, both JL and Ally shining as always with hot sex, humor and real people. My favorite is "Cafe Noctem". Willa uses paranormal elements sooo well and this story is beautiful, about healing and finding love and moving forward with your life in the knowledge that you can still be happy. The Cherokee mythology adds an unusual but really appealing twist -- and ooh, what a cool surprise ending! Definitely a must-buy.

I picked up this book because I'm a big fan of Ally Blue and Willa Okati; I didn't expect my favorite story to be JL Langley's "With Love!" Her story of two werewolves had a fresh take--an alpha and an omega fall in love. It was touching with a good bit of adventure. Her writing was so good, I immediately ordered her novel "The Tin Star" (also excellent!) "Eros Rising" by Ally Blue was also enjoyable. Scott is hanging onto a dysfunctional relationship with Logan--until he sees "Eros" stripping at a club. But, Eros has horrors in his own past. Will they get their happy ending? (of course!) My least favorite story was Willa Okati's. It WAS very well-written with detailed Native American mythology woven into it. Gray is hanging onto the memory of his dead lover Jimmy, despite being involved with Nicholas. I didn't like the story because I spent most of it feeling sorry for Nicholas. Gray was so insensitive, I had trouble liking the character. At one point, he even calls Nicholas "Jimmy" while making love. Since this was a short story, there wasn't as much sex, so having it ruined like that was a let down. With a little magic, Jimmy shows Gray and Nicholas how special their love is, but it was too little too late for me. Willa Okati is a very good author, I just didn't care for this offering. I highly recommend this anthology to fans of M/M romance.

All three are my "must read" M/M romance writers and it is terrific to have this collaboration in print. I enjoy all three stories and it is hard to pick a favorite as each is distinct from the other. However if I have to pick it would be "Eros Rising" by Ally. Ally is in top form in this deeply emotionally charged story about two wounded souls finding each other. Her characters are beautifully flushed out and it is so easy to like Keegan, the stripper. The sex here is sizzling and intimately hot and I have to say the best among the 3 stories. It is amazing this writer could inject so much emotional depth into a just under 100 pages story. Cafe Noctem is deeply moving as it explores one man's insecurity and pain as he struggles to fill a dead man's shoes and another man's coming to terms with a dead lover. Willa is a prolific writer. Most of her M/M romance has a fantasy element in it and Cafe Noctem with its backgound of Cherokee folklore and the undead is no exception. "With Love" by Langley is the second of her "With and Without" werewolves series. This novella is well written and filled with engaging characters. There are some humorous moments and Langley has created 2 sexy men in her Alpha werewolf and his Omega. Their shifting in the midst of sex is quite erotic. It is most heartening to have more M/M romance in print and this latest release from Samhain is a keeper. If you enjoy these 3 talented ladies' stories, their e-books are available from Loose-id, Samhain Publishing, Torquere Press (for Willa) and Changeling Press (for Willa).