Kassandra Lea

Expectations of how things should be, as good as they were in the past, can sometimes stand in the way of even better things. This is the story of Aidan finding out that the way he used to spend Halloween, with his best friend, the way he wanted to spend it this year as well, can be significantly improved.

Aidan is a creature of habit, at least as far as Halloween is concerned. When his much-loved routine is disturbed because his best friend cannot be there with him, he tries to still enjoy the movie-watching and candy-eating, but it just isn't as much fun on his own. And he can't do it with his boyfriend, since he has no idea where they currently stand. So he "toughs it out" on his own.

The knock on his door when he is ready to go to bed surprises him and the visitor, a colleague from the hospital, shocks him even more. The adventure that follows sounds like only to the beginning of what they could have together...

If you like stories with a bit of a twist and a somewhat uncertain ending, if you enjoy reading about the supernatural, and if you're looking for a short, hot, Halloween-themed read, then you will probably enjoy this short story.


NOTE: This book was provided by Torquere Press for the purpose of a review.… (mehr)

“I can resist anything but temptation.” Oscar Wilde, Lady Windermere's Fan, 1892, Act I

The above quote came to mind when I was wondering how best to summarize the essence of this story. It’s a wonderful, extremely hot short story about an angel who just cannot seem to stay away from his personal temptation – Flynn, who is a demon of all beings! One of his observations expresses his dilemma: he feels as though his heart is a little blacker than it should be, like he has been tarnished, and he figures that Flynn’s heart is probably less dark than you’d expect from a demon. An interesting way to express the fact that the world isn’t just black and white, but that there is a zone of gray in which the extremes can coexist.

Samuel is a very conflicted angel. He has a few issues with how heaven has behaved in the past, and I got the feeling he was more than a little fed up with all the bloody battles he had to fight over the centuries of his existence. He is also attracted to Flynn – and cannot seem to stay away. Their power exchange is interesting – and very hot! Samuel submits to Flynn’s darker desires, and loves the experience so much that he risks everything and keeps returning.

Flynn seems to be a little cruel and somewhat sadistic, but he clearly enjoys what he is doing to and with Samuel. He would never admit it, but he has become quite attached to the angel – and hates to always see him leave after a fairly short encounter. Maybe that is how it has to be without either (or both) giving up who they are deep down. I have a feeling it will take them at least a few centuries to figure it out. And what an enjoyable time they will have of it!

If you like to read about the naughtier side of angels and want to find out what happens when one submits to a demon in the bedroom, if you enjoy stories about “the gray zone” in between black and white, and if you’re looking for a short, extremely hot read, then you will probably enjoy this short story.


NOTE: The anthology this book was published in has been provided by Torquere Press for the purpose of a review on Rainbow Book Reviews.
… (mehr)

Even married couples who love each other deeply have the occasional fight. Sometimes for good reasons, sometimes about things that are totally unimportant. Whatever the cause, apologies follow, and they make up again. Leo and Caleb face a different situation in this story. Leo is on his way to apologize when he has an accident. Caleb has been sorry about what he said all day, and races to the site while deadly afraid it is too late. Regrets like his “what if those were the last words I ever said to him” can drive anyone crazy. Leo and Caleb are lucky, and I bet they never again part while angry.

If you like stories with lots of fear, angst, and emotional pain, if you want to read about the effect of a stupid fight on two men who are deeply in love, and if you’re looking for a read that is as upsetting as it is sweet, then you will probably like this short story.


NOTE: The anthology this story was published in has been provided by Tiorquere Press for the purpose of a review on Rainbow Book Reviews.… (mehr)