MYSTERIA LANE is a paranormal romance anthology, though I would add humor to that description as all the stories in the collection are sure make you chuckle occasionally. MYSTERIA LANE, like its predecessor MYSTERIA, is set in a mystical town called Mysteria where it's not unusual to see a lady dressed in the latest fashions beheading some wicked demon from another plane of existence.

The fun of MYSTERIA LANE is that the four authors—MaryJanice Davidson, Susan Grant, Gena Showalter and P.C. Cast, four recognizable authors of the paranormal genre—have created an endless resource for which they can make stories about. There are enough secondary characters and characters with the briefest introduction to create several more stories. For instance, the Desdaine triplets from MJD's story, Disdaining Trouble, are familiar pranksters from the first anthology and are mentioned in the other three stories as well.

The only trouble I had was time relativity from one story to the next. The stories aren't told in Story A first, Story B second, etc., but from various times scattered about. This can get confusing. especially when the events of Disdaining Trouble, the first story of the anthology, aren't referenced in the other stories. As something rather big happens to the characters therein, this was surprising. I'm not sure if this was intentional to avoid giving away details of each individual author's story, or if it was merely overlooked for the grander picture.

However you look at it, the anthology is an enjoyable read. Fun, witty characters make Mysteria a town everybody would want for their own—even with temperamental wishing wells and horny ghosts. ( )

A Tawdry Affair by Gena Showalter
I adored this contribution about a chubby witch named Glory who has been devastated by Falon's rejection. She is insecure and hurt and thinks she is unattractive. Falon is actually really hot for her but uncomfortable with his feelings so he pushes her away. This had my favored elements of a chubby insecure heroine, and a hero that rejects and hurts the heroine (a foil for a plot revolving around the hero soothing the angst and convincing the heroine of her beauty and his love). On top of this, it is my favorite genre! A definite win, going on my recurring reads shelf. Loved it. (4.5 stars)

I'll come back to the other stories.




Disdaining Trouble by MaryJanice Davidson

Nanny from Hell by Susan Grant.

It's in His Kiss by P. C. Cast ( )

A Tawdry Affair by Gena Showalter - 2
Far fetched, witch attempts to take revenge for being slighted with a magical pen. He doesn't want her, then he does, then she doesn't want him… bleh
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Unsurprisingly, I love Gena Showalter's contribution. A Tawdry Affair is about a chubby witch named Glory who has been devastated by Falon's rejection. She is insecure and hurt and thinks she is unattractive. Falon is actually really hot for her but uncomfortable with his feelings so he pushes her away. This had my favored elements of a chubby insecure heroine, and a hero that rejects and hurts the heroine (a foil for a plot revolving around the hero soothing the angst and convincing the heroine of her beauty and his love). On top of this, it is my favorite genre! A definite win. Loved it. (5 stars)

I'll come back to the other stories.

Four authors known for their Paranormal Romances writing four different romance stories about one town filled w/ different paranormal beings. For the most part, the characters do not know each other from story to story, so there is very little overlapping, but the town is the same as is the "wishing well" fountain in the center of town.

Disdaining Trouble by Davidson: Triplets w/ magical powers getting in trouble harassing the town, teaming up to make their powers stronger. One falls into the fountain and when she comes out (much to the dismay of her sisters) she has become the Supreme Lord of Demons in another world. More to the dismay of her sisters she falls in love w/ the local Pizza Man......

The Nanny From Hell by Grant: Shay is a demon, her specialty is to have people (especially men) fall in love with her & then destroy them. She is sent by Satan back to Mysteria to kill the child who will grow up to become the Slayer of Demons & Satan himself. The local Demon hunter, Quel, can smell her coming miles away, however when she falls into the fountain in an unplanned car accident things go awry for Shay.

A Tawdry Affair by Showalter: Evie, Godiva, & Glory are sisters living in Mysteria...... Evie is involved w/ a vampire & Godiva is involved w/ a werewolf. Most everyone in Mysteria has a love interest, except Glory. What makes things worse for Glory she is the Witch of Love and her sisters are not...... but Glory has been wronged and she is about to make the man who hurt her pay by making him fall in hot desire for her & denying him as he denied her. This was kind of stupid.......

It's In His Kiss by Cast: Summer is taking over teaching her sister Candy Cox's High School class.... What is odd about Summer is her magic is that of Opposites.... any magic worked around her has exactly the opposite effect of the desired outcome. Summer is in love w/ the Kenny, a Faerie with whom she grew up, however once puberty set in they drifted apart. It was ok, I really didn't like Summer too much, she was way too wishy-washy.
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