Undead in the Garden is about vamps (Ivy) and I got bored with it & didn’t finish. Claire Switch was a little too cutesy in the love relationship. Armstrong’s Chaotic was awesome, and involved a chaos demon and Karl, the werewolf that isn’t quite a member of the Pack. Handeland’s story was ooookay, but the love was a little too overdramatic… ( )

In Kim Harrison’s contribution to Dates from Hell, she centers the story around Ivy Tamwood as she works in the homicide division of Interlander Security. The story occurs prior to our introduction to the Rachel Morgan series, where we meet Ivy as Rachel’s best friend. Here we find Ivy realizing that she is trapped in the twisted world of Piscary and feels like there is no way out. Through the novella, Ivy deals with her twisted desire for Piscary’s love as well as for her freedom from Piscary’s love. She begins to question her views on blood, sex, and love and realizes that changes need to be made. Of course, she’s doing all of this while trying to solve a murder that is not quite what it seems.

I thoroughly enjoy the Rachel Morgan series and Harrison hasn’t lost me yet. The complexing feelings we see in Ivy only stregthens her personality and gives us an insight into what makes her tick. In Undead in the Garden of Good and Evil, we find that ivy has not always been as confidant as we thought she was and that she has had to work to stay in control. After receiving some unwarranted advice from a banshee, Ivy is forced to admit that she can change as long as she accepts what she already knows.

I, for one, cannot wait to see how Harrison continues to develop Ivy’s character and her twisted fate.

I was amused with the second novella within the new Dates from Hell anthology. This was the first time I had read anything by Lynsay Sands and I think I will pick something else up.

In Sands contribution, the story revolves around Claire and Kyle. Our two lead characters are two scientists who have known each other since they were tiny and have started working together. While I could go into the plot and tell you all the juicy details, I won’t, but I will say this. I liked it. The plot isn’t as deep as the In the Garden of Good and Evil, but it doesn’t have to be. Every reader will be able to relate to the situation Claire and Kyle finds themselves in and will even envy them in the end. I know I do.

In Kelley Armstrong’s contribution, the story revolves around Karl Marsten. Now if you’re familiar with the Women of the Otherworld series, than you’ve met Marsten before. In this story, we find Marsten meeting up with Hope, a chaos half-demon. Unknowingly, Hope is thrown into a situation that opens her eyes. She’s been working for Tristad Robard on behalf of the Council or has she been?

I won’t go into the plot, it would spoil it for you, but this story made me think. I was under the impression that Armstrong had two separate books, but I may be wrong now that I have read this novella. I think I’m going to have to pick up the other two books. Either way, I enjoyed reading about Marsten. I’ve come across him a couple of times, and while he was the bad guy, he was never evil-bad. I would be interested in finding out if he gets back with Hope or not. Maybe we’ll find out in Armstrong’s new book. After reading the third novella, I have to say this book hasn’t disappointed me yet.

In Lori Handeland’s Dead Man Dating, it starts out with our heroine (Kit) on a date with someone she met off of the internet. As the date goes in, she begins to realize something is off. With the help of a mystery man, Kit, handles the situation and finds something she has been looking for.

While I enjoyed this selection, I must say that it doesn’t rate as well as the previous novellas in Dates from Hell. The premise is something new, a little close to the Buffyverse in my opinion (which they even remark upon), but not done as well. This is the one novella that I am having a hard time reviewing as nothing about the story is sticking with me, contrary to the other novellas in this anthology.

http://www.literaryescapism.com/2006/... ( )

This is great because it has Laurell K. Hamilton and Kim Harrison both!!!NICE ( )

Because the Harrison story was about Rachel Morgan‘s sidekick, vamp Ivy it was slightly less stupid than the novels. But because it was followed by a Kelley Armstrong story about Hope Adams the Chaos demon and journalist and Karl Marsten the werewolf and jewel thief who are also in the author‘s novel Personal Demon that I read back in March. Tried reading the beginning of the Handeland story and it didn‘t do anything for me. ( )

A collection of 4 short stories (novella's really as they are all just over 100 pages long) by some of today's most popular paranormal romance and urban fasntasy authors.

Undead in the Garden of Good and Evil - Kim Harrison
This story started off quite confusing as it mixed alive and undead vampires with a confusing mythology that wasn't very well explained. It became a sexy murder mystery tale centred around alive vampire Ivy Tamnwood. To get ahead it looks like she will have to whore herself to her undead vampire boss Art by lettinghim suck her blood. The murder comes in as they are working in the police force and theirpower games get all mixed in. Pretty average, I hope her series is better...

The Claire Switch Project - Lynsay Sands
A fun and sexy tale about scientist Claire who gets hit with a destabiliser ray giving her the power to shapeshift. She uses photos to emulate the shape, clothes and looks of other men and women. It gets more complicated when she finally gets a first date to their high school reunion with long standing crush Karl, but promises his twin sister she will shift into a famous movie star and be her date too! A quick and fun read.

Chaotic - Kelley Armstrong
Half-demon Hope has inherited her father's love of chaos. She works as a journalist covering paranormal stories as well as working as an Agent for the Interracial Council on the side. At least that is what Tristin Robard has told her. Everything falls apart when she meets sexy werewolf Karl Marsten who brings together chaos, desire and the truth in an explosive adventure at a museum gala dinner.
Dead Man Dating - Lori Handeland
Kit goes on a date with a guy she has met over the internet. Things go very wekk until they stop to have sex in an alley, which is very unlike her as she is a virgin waiting until she is married or meets her true love. A strange man calling himself Chavez turns up and shoots her date who leaves no blood or body behind. He claimes to be a rogue demon hunter and here Kit's adventures really begin...

I really liked the Kelley Armstrong story and I am looking forward to reading Personal Demon which has more on Hope. The tales by Lori Handeland and Lynsay Sands were also a lot of fun. The only disappointment was Kim Harrison, but I am planning on reading more by her and not judging her only on this short tale. ( )