Paranormal Romance.

Undead in the Garden of Good and Evil by Kim Harrison- living vampire trying to get around her partner. I'm not entirely sure if I like the way sex is used in this story. But, Ivy is a strong female character who is smart and beautiful, and uses that to get ahead in her world.

The Claire Switch Project - Lyndsay Sands. A poorly written story with science that doesn't make sense, a stupid girl who only wants to do the head scientist, and a horrible plan that I'm fairly sure I've seen in every Saturday morning cartoon (without the kinkiness). Also, the star the lead character turns into, Brad Cruise, is just wrong. The author could have at least attempted to give the star a new original name. Horrible, terrible, derivative story.

Chaotic - Kelly Armstrong. The best one out of this collection. Its well written, with a lead character that is quite resourceful. I really enjoyed this story, and how Hope meets Karl.

Dead Man Dating - Lori Handeland. The story is cute, but making the lead lady a rather frumpy book lover is rather clichéd, and after the announcement that Armageddon is coming, Kit only thinks about her lost virginity. ( )

A bit of a mixed batch, but 2 of thew stories were a lot of fun and 1 of the others was also entertaining. ( )

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. ( )

This was a book of four different stand alone short stories by four popular female paranormal writers. I really had problems getting into the first story by Kim Harrison. It was about vampires and a particular group of characters that might be contained in her books, they just weren't well established here. They seemed to have a tremendous back-story it just wasn't presented in this story. The second story by Lynsay Sands, I couldn't read, I tried but when they talked about strapping down the bunny for test purposes I couldn't continue. Even though, I don't believe that they actually harmed or did anything to the animal, I couldn't get over the mental block. The third story was by Kelly Armstrong, I enjoyed it, I have read all of her other books and this was just as enjoyable as those were, this story was about Hope the chaos demon and Karl the Jewel thief. The final story by Lori Handeland was easy reading and fun, it dealt with demons who were taking over corpses to date. Not a lot of depth and some parts of it I found to be laughable. ( )

as with any collection of short stories, espeically from different authors, I loved some, others, not so much. The Kim Harrison and Kelley Armstrong stories delivered everything i ha ve come to expect from their full books and I loved them. ( )

A mixed bunch of stories. The first is a story of Ivy Tamwood before she meets with Rachel. The vampire politics didn't make my day and I really wanted to slap several of the characters until they left silly behind. Ivy is trying to solve a murder while also trying to stop her boss from using her for blood and sex. Honestly vampires would have died out a long time ago if some of what was going on here was typical of the species. Oooh the angst. BAH. 3/5 just about.

Lynsay Sands had an interesting idea and then went pretty much nowhere with hers. An experiment that starts on animals ends up giving a woman the power to shapeshift. She decides to help a friend get revenge at a reunion. Another 3/5 and I was now starting to despair of the stories.

Then Kelley Armstrong came to the rescue with the story of a half-demon tabloid reporter working undercover for the good guys, on a date with yet another one of her mother's prizewinning blind dates bumps into a werewolf jewel thief. This was a fun read, complete in itself yet leaving hints that there could be more. I'd like to meet the two main characters again in a story. 4/5

Lori Handeland's Dead Man Dating was another quite good story, lagging a bit occasionally and suffering badly with the Armstrong but well against the other two. Hers is a Manhattan Literary agent is rescued on her date by a demon hunter, to find that the demon may have disappeared but he isn't dead. And he does want her. A fun, light read. 3.5/5

Nothing I'd really add to my collection but the Kelley Armstrong was worth the price of admission. ( )

http://katya-bookreviews.blogspot.com... ( )

The last two stories in this anthology really made this book. Though I like Kim Harrison's writing, her first published short story included here was kind of dry, though Kelley Armstrong's story really rocked. I've included individual reviews for each story below.

Undead in the Garden of Good and Evil by Kim Harrison
Read 08-Jun – 09-Jun-2006
This is Ivy's story, before she meets Rachel and Jenks and starts Vampiric Charms. We learn a lot more about what makes Ivy tick, and how she comes to her decision to live blood-free as a living vampire. I don't think I enjoyed it quite as much as the full-length novels because I missed having Rachel and Jenks too, but still, I appreciate this story for what it is... a deeper look into Ivy's life pre-Rachel. :)
Rating: 6 stars

The Claire Switch Project by Lynsay Sands
Read 06-Feb-2007
Ugh, I should've known I wasn't going to like this one right from the first paragraph. The first sentence actually proclaimed, "A bunny," and I thought yay!! But then it turns out two of the main characters, Kyle and Claire, are running doing experiments and testing on the poor little bunny. And oh boy, I've got a wicked rant I can go on about animal testing, but since it's not really relevant to this review, sufficed to say that it's a wicked peeve of mine that hits a deep nerve.

From there, we just have more cutesy, stupid characters who think nothing of hiding the truth from their friends and people they care about. Another pet peeve, one I can usually live with, but when a huge premise of the story is based upon such deception and lying, it angers me even more!

I wonder why I kept on reading then... well, it was a short story and I was determined to finish it. And I did laugh at one or two parts. Had I not already read a full-length novel by this author, Single White Vampire, which I fairly enjoyed, I'd probably think twice about reading anything from this author if I were to base it only on this short story. I give it a few points not for the story, but because the author herself is a halfway decent writer, and that at least does come across here.
Rating: 4 stars

Chaotic by Kelley Armstrong
Read 18-Feb – 19-Feb-2007
Hope is a tabloid reporter and "supposed agent" for the Interracial Council. As a Half-Demon, she's got skills that enable her detect chaotic events, past or present. While attending a museum gala, she meets up with charming werewolf and jewel thief, Karl Marsten, whom we've met in previous novels. And chaos rules!!

This was an excellent story! Kelley really knows how to write a short story and make it as action-packed and exciting as her full-length novels. In this novella, we're introduced to a new character, Hope, a half-demon journalist, whom I'm hoping will appear again in future books or novellas. Since Karl Marsten seems to be romantically interested in her, this may be a good possibility.
Rating: 9 stars

Dead Man Dating by Lori Handeland
Read 23-Feb-2007
Kit has been saving herself for marriage and true love, so what could be better than a dating agency named, remarkably, TrueLove.com. Little did she realize that her "date" would actually be a demon from hell, and that her "knight in shining armor" would appear to save her mortal soul?

Kit is startled when the rogue demon hunter Chavez manages to extinguish her date in the alley right before her very eyes. But it turns out he's not really dead—or is already dead, I should say—and the demon, part incubus and part Rakshasas, continues to stalk her and attempt to seduce her. For only her virginity can save him. And finding a virgin in this day and age is so rare!

With the help of Chavez, they're able to exploit the demon's weakness and bring about his destruction. But as they're told by Satan himself, the end of the world is near, and these new demons that he's made and unleased on the world are here to bring about Armageddon. The story leaves off here, as Kit and Chavez have decided to work together, brain and brawn so to speak, to defeat this evil before it's too late.

This story was actually quite good. I hadn't yet read anything else by Handeland, though I've got the first 6 books of her Nightcreature series here waiting for me to find the right time to start on them. So now that I've whet my appetite with this short story, I'm quite looking forward to them.
Rating: 8 stars ( )

A mix of stories from different authors. All dealing with the unusual - Ivy before she meets Rachel from KH, a "weird science" story from LS, a half-demon and a werewolf and a sorceror from KA and demon hunting from LH.

Fun, but like a lot of short stories, a bit unsatisfying in my opinion. They get started, then they get over... The two from authors I know I'd happily have read whole novels. Lori Handeland's is rather more clearly a short story, but fun, will look for more of her stuff. Lynsay Sands's story seems to be out of character for what she's famous for writing, but still worked well enough I'll buy one if I see it. ( )

People say football is a game of two halves - and this is certainly a book of 4 quarters!

I have to say the only story I enjoyed in this book was the one by Kelley Armstrong. I found the other 3 too predictable and didn't enjoy them one bit.

Thank God for Kelley Armstrong then! Her story, "Chaotic", isn't just the best of a bad bunch, it is truly a great story - and adds another layer to some characters we have already met, as well as whetting our appentite with some fascinating new ones.

This is a book you would be better borrowing than buying in my opinion as "Chaotic" is the ONLY saving grace ( )

Fantasy Stories all themed around dates I bought this for The Kim Harrison and the Kelley Armstrong. both good little stories from their usual Milleu The Kim Harrison Novella was the best Ivy Tamwood the vampires stars in this prequel?
Will she be manouvered into screwing her boss? What is the difference between Blood Sex and Love when you are a vampire?

Hmm Blood Sex and Love what a great book title. ( )

The anthology opens with a short story by Kim Harrison. I usually love her writing, but this piece seemed forced and clumsy. I think I only was able to keep my interest because most of the characters appear in her "Hallows" series.
I couldn't get past the second chapter in the story by Lyndsay Sands. It was way too cheesy for my tastes. I can say the same for Lori Handeland's contribution which closed the book.
Somewhere in between those last two I mentioned is the gem of the bunch by Kelley Armstrong. It was fast paced and scaled perfectly for the short story format. ( )

A compilation of apparently "popular" authors, this book seems like a let down... because the first story is atrociously bad. Actually, let me rephrase that, it is not atrociously bad... It just drags on forever, which doesn't seem to be possible because it's supposed to be a short story. However, apparently whoever put together this book put the stories from worse to best. The last story makes up for the lag of the first. ( )

Dates From Hell is a collection of four short stories set in varying contemporary worlds where the paranormal exists along with the mundane.

In “Undead in the Garden of Good and Evil�, Harrison takes you back to the world of the Hollows and gives you a glimpse into Ivy’s life before she meets up with Rachel Morgan, the main character in Dead Witch Walking. Ivy must come to terms with what it means to be a living vampire in a world where vampirism is hereditary and the undead vamps try to gain a hold on those still living.

In “The Claire Switch Project�, Sands takes a scientific twist on shapeshifting. Her protagonist is “accidentally� zapped with a molecular destabalizer, and suddenly finds that she can change her body to mimic other people. Without knowing what she’s gotten into, Claire must decide whether she’ll accompany her long-time crush to their high school reunion, or whether she’ll help his twin… by posing as a movie star as her date at the reunion.

In “Chaotic�, Armstrong introduces Hope, a half-demon journalist with a taste for trouble, and brings back Karl Marsten, a sophisticated werewolf jewel thief. Hope’s visions lead her to Karl again and again—but they also lead her to the corpse of a guard who has been killed by something with teeth. Is this Karl’s work, or a set-up? Because no matter how much Hope loves her job, not everything is as it seems.

And in “Dead Man Dating�, Handeland writes a tale of love and demons in a post-9/11 New York. When Kit discovers that her Internet date is really a demon, will she choose to team up with the demon hunter to track him down? Or would she rather stay in the demon’s arms, where she’ll experience pleasure like she’s never imagined? There’s only one problem: if she gives in to that pleasure, it’s sure to kill her…

The stories work with varying degrees of success. Harrison develops Kisten into a character I would like to know better, while leaving me without much more insight into Ivy. She provides good self-conflict in Ivy as the main theme of the story, and then doesn’t quite resolve it at the end. “Undead in the Garden of Good and Evil� works well as backstory for the other Hollows books, but isn’t a satisfactory stand-alone. It perhaps belongs in a book of exclusively Hollows shorts, with a little insight into each of the major characters in her novels.

“The Claire Switch Project� and “Dead Man Dating� are both cute, sweet tales of love that have to fight against cheesy titles. Both are enjoyable, with Sands keeping a lighter tone to her story than Handeland. These two are both complete as short stories, and both fit in the romance genre almost better than the paranormal. “Claire Switch� keeps a light tone even with the romance, but “Dead Man Dating� gets a little more explicit. Neither is overly graphic, however.

Armstrong’s “Chaotic� is the best in the bunch, managing to blend the supernatural with romance and a touch of light humor into a story that works well as a stand-alone short or as a part of her growing “Otherworld� series. Fans of the charming Marsten will enjoy seeing him grow as a character. Hope is a well-thought-out heroine, who neither cowers at the sight of danger, nor rushes into the midst of things the way a confident fighter would.

I would rate this collection for adults and older teens, mainly for the sexual content. The stories aren’t disturbingly explicit, but they do all contain at least implications, if not actual sex. Violence is present as well, but as with the sex it’s not graphic.

For more information on any of these authors, visit their websites:
Kim Harrison: http://www.kimharrison.net
Lynsay Sands: http://www.lynsaysands.net
Kelley Armstrong: http://www.kelleyarmstrong.com
Lori Handeland: http://www.lorihandeland.com ( )

The best story in the collection was Armstrong's, it was set in the same world as her Women of the Otherworld series, but used only a minor character from those books.

I'm a big fan of Harrison, but her story felt awkward. It's backstory from her series, but I felt that it muddled the character of Ivy and made her less interesting. Ivy was better for me as more of a mystery, and I could have done without the Ivy/Kisten relationship detail. In the books, they have almost a sibling relationship, so I didn't enjoy reading about them making out.

I didn't like the other two stories at all. One was a cheesy shapeshifting story (by Sands) that was heavy on the romance but pathetic on the paranormal. The Handeland story was about a demon hunter and a woman he tries to protect. It wasn't awful, but doesn't make me interested in reading more by her. ( )