Wicked Delights

It is no secret that Red Sage Publishing consistently nabs some very talented romance authors for their popular series of SECRETS anthologies. SECRETS VOLUME 25 continues that trend admirably, with four wonderful novellas by some great writers. ~BLOOD HUNT by Cynthia Eden~ Take one bad boy bounty hunter who is down on his luck and turn him loose on one irresistible vampiress with an insatiable hunger. The combination makes for one dangerously sexy story that is sure to please lovers of paranormal romance. Slade was hired to track and capture a serial killer by the name of Nema. He is more than willing to bring the murderess down. Then he meets her. Suddenly, everything isn't quite so clear cut, and his gut tells him this woman is no killer. He begins to suspect that he is being set up. Nema was turned only six months ago, then abandoned by the vampire who made her. Since then her `life' has been a struggle to keep her blood hunger at bay, stay one step ahead of the evil scientists trying to capture her, and figure out how to navigate her new life as a vampire. When Slade enters her life, she finds he stirs both her blood hunger and her sexual lust, and she can't resist him. But can she trust him, or will he betray her at first opportunity? Cynthia Eden has become a name that I look for on a book cover, and I knew I wanted this anthology the moment I saw she had a story in it. BLOOD HUNT will undoubtedly build her reputation as a talented author of paranormal romance even further. I felt the chemistry between Nema and Slade from the very beginning, and ached for them to consummate their attraction as soon as possible. I didn't have to wait too long - that's the beauty of a short story - and the passion this pair experienced together was more than satisfying. Even more satisfying was the connection they made outside of the physical. The moment they meet, they both feel the pull, and the growing bond is more than sexual. Neither of them hesitates to protect the other when the situation calls for it, and each is willing to sacrifice for the other. ~SCANDALOUS BEHAVIOR by Anne Rainey~ Tess is a butterfly waiting to break free from her cocoon. Her secret lust for her boss Kevin finally reaches critical mass, and she resolves to finally spread her wings and take a chance on the man who never seems to notice her the way a man does a woman. Kevin has more than noticed Tess. In fact, he tries hard not to. Even with those drab wool suits, he can't seem to stop thinking about what she is hiding under those boring clothes. But his position as her boss prevents him from acting on that attraction. When she shows up in his office dressed to kill and intent on seduction, he is powerless to resist her allure. One short tryst will never be enough, but can this confirmed bachelor convince Tess that he wants more with her? Anne Rainey is another author I follow, and the other reason I snatched this anthology up as soon as possible.