Playing Easy to Get (Turn Up the Heat / Hunter's Oath / The Warlord Wants Forever)
by Sherrilyn Kenyon (Contributor), Jaid Black (Contributor), Kresley Cole (Contributor)
B.A.D. (Collections and Selections — Turn up the Heat, 1.5)
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New York Times bestselling author Sherrilyn Kenyon and rising stars Jaid Black and Kresley Cole unlock the pleasures and perils of embracing the boldest and most powerful of lovers -- 100% alpha males -- in three sensually erotic tales. Discover the physical rapture of his muscular arms.... Become a prisoner of passion, swept away by an encounter with his primal side.... And get lost in the all-consuming thrill of white-hot pursuit by a relentless stranger who may be your most dangerous foe, show more the best lover you've ever had -- or both. Let your fantasies run wild with these unforgettable novellas where bigger is most definitely better -- and playing easy-to-get is the only way to go! show lessTags
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Member Reviews
So the Sherrilyn Kenyon story Turn up the Heat? Not bad, Allison George wins a competition to live out a fantasy on an island and finds herself attracted to a man who on paper is the wrong man for her but makes her heart beat a bit faster. I loved Allison, determined, strong, but willing to concede when she needs help. I laughed a few times during it, I'd probably score this one 3.5 stars.
However I'm not sure why it is bundled in with the other two. And the other two are forced seduction stories. The Jaid Black story, Hunter's Oath, made me think of John Norman's Gor stories. Woman kidnapped and sold on a block, naked, and also add in some sort of drug that makes her crave sex? That's sexy? That she comes to terms with her incarceration show more and "love" her owner? That's not love that's plain survival stuff. Not pushing my erotic buttons here, out of the framing story the sex would probably be erotic, inside it, no. It scores 2/5
And then Kresley Cole adds The Warlord wants forever. Now what Myst did to Wroth wasn't good. Leaving him with a boner for five years, ouch. However, what he did was, in my book, unforgivable. Using her necklace to make her like sex with him? Overriding her wants? Threatening her with making her forget her family, her impulses, her own self in order to make her over to be the pliant sex toy he wants? I'm sorry, no, not sexy, not titilating, not attractive in the slightest. I've read a few of the stories in this series and this is making me want to stop. I have things that I really don't like in books and forced seduction is a no-no. To resolve this story he would need to do a lot more grovelling for me, honestly, I would have let him burn up in the sun, if I had been Myst. 1/5 show less
However I'm not sure why it is bundled in with the other two. And the other two are forced seduction stories. The Jaid Black story, Hunter's Oath, made me think of John Norman's Gor stories. Woman kidnapped and sold on a block, naked, and also add in some sort of drug that makes her crave sex? That's sexy? That she comes to terms with her incarceration show more and "love" her owner? That's not love that's plain survival stuff. Not pushing my erotic buttons here, out of the framing story the sex would probably be erotic, inside it, no. It scores 2/5
And then Kresley Cole adds The Warlord wants forever. Now what Myst did to Wroth wasn't good. Leaving him with a boner for five years, ouch. However, what he did was, in my book, unforgivable. Using her necklace to make her like sex with him? Overriding her wants? Threatening her with making her forget her family, her impulses, her own self in order to make her over to be the pliant sex toy he wants? I'm sorry, no, not sexy, not titilating, not attractive in the slightest. I've read a few of the stories in this series and this is making me want to stop. I have things that I really don't like in books and forced seduction is a no-no. To resolve this story he would need to do a lot more grovelling for me, honestly, I would have let him burn up in the sun, if I had been Myst. 1/5 show less
In “Turn Up the Heat” by Sherrilyn Kenyon (book 5 in the BAD series), Allison George wins the Heroine Hideaway sweepstakes and flies to a tropical island to enact the plot of her favorite romance novel. While there, she meets Vince and her safe, planned fantasy goes awry.
Vince Cappelleti is a mob hitman on the run from the “family.” His old childhood friend Z, now a rich and legit businessman, smuggles him out of the US and hides him on his island. Vince knows the mob will eventually catch up with him, so he keeps to himself and avoids people, but he’s bored and lonely. Then he meets Allison, a sweet woman who’s far too good for him.
Allison and Vince are in lust at first sight. I wish the novella would’ve been longer to show more give more detail about Vince’s past and to show the H/h falling in love, but at least there’s attraction to build their relationship on.
The head hopping annoyed me, but I managed to figure out whose POV I was reading in easily enough. I’m a big fan of Ms. Kenyon’s Dark Hunter series, but I haven’t read many of her BAD books. From what I know of the series, the BAD agency didn’t play a big role in this book, and I felt a little lost during the climax because I didn’t know who some of the people were, people who’d surely played a bigger role in the previous stories.
Still, this is a good, fast-paced action/adventure romance.
4 Stars
In “Hunter’s Oath” by Jaid Black, a civilization of Vikings flourishes beneath the surface of the earth and has done so for thousands of years. It’s custom for bride-hunters to go aboveground and find suitable wives to steal, so the men can bid on the women at the auction block.
As the leader of the Viking sector of Hannu, Lord Johen Stefsson only cares about helping his people and trying to make peace with his corrupt king. Though he’s not in want of a wife, especially an Outsider (a woman from aboveground), the naked blonde woman on the stage captures his attention.
Sofia Rowley flew to Alaska to attend her brother’s funeral, and then found herself kidnapped and hauled to a cabin in the snowy mountains. Her strange captors transported her underground, and she soon winds up married to the hottest, biggest man she’s ever seen.
Johen and Sofia are interesting characters. He’s totally smitten with her at first sight, and it’s so much fun to see a big, burly man fall head over heels for a woman. Sofia longs for freedom but can’t deny the happiness she’s found in Johen’s arms.
Though the novella ends with a HEA, there are loose ends concerning the bride-hunters’ punishment and the revolution that’s going to take place in New Sweden. If not for that (and a few typos), I would’ve rated this story with 5 stars because I really enjoyed it.
4 Stars
In “The Warlord Wants Forever” by Kresley Cole (the prequel to the Immortals After Dark series), Nikolai Wroth died as a human three hundred years earlier and awoke a vampire. As a forbearer, a turned human, he willingly serves the full-blooded vampire who turned and has pledged his loyalty to the vampire faction, which is made up of other forbearers. None of them know anything about vampire history or the history of other supposedly mythological creatures, and they’re desperate for information. He doesn’t breathe, his heart doesn’t beat, and he cannot feel sexual desire. Then he meets Myst, a strange woman who changes everything. She’s his Bride, and he has to have her.
Myst is a Valkyrie and is always used as bait by her sisters to catch and kill their enemies. Valkyries and vampires are mortal enemies, and she finds it hilarious Wroth doesn’t know that. Instead of giving him the information he and the faction needs to survive, she teases him and bloods him (she makes his dead-like body respond to her), and then leaves him in a state of sexual torment for five long years. When he finally catches up with her, the furious vampire will finally claim her as his own.
I liked Wroth for the most part, but I didn’t like Myst. She was selfish, cruel, and so hardened that she kept her gentleness far from the surface. She didn’t care how much she hurt Worth and wouldn’t apologize even when she felt a little guilty. Her Valkyrie sisters were just as slutty and heartless, but I hope a lot of if was just act.
I’ve heard great things about this series, and this is the first IAD book I’ve read. Unfortunately, I found it confusing. The history of the Lore was scattered throughout the story and wasn’t straightforward. I didn’t understand the animosity between the warring species and why they warred within themselves.
I plan on reading the other books, and hopefully, I’ll understand them better than I did this one.
3 Stars
Book Overall – 4 Stars show less
Vince Cappelleti is a mob hitman on the run from the “family.” His old childhood friend Z, now a rich and legit businessman, smuggles him out of the US and hides him on his island. Vince knows the mob will eventually catch up with him, so he keeps to himself and avoids people, but he’s bored and lonely. Then he meets Allison, a sweet woman who’s far too good for him.
Allison and Vince are in lust at first sight. I wish the novella would’ve been longer to show more give more detail about Vince’s past and to show the H/h falling in love, but at least there’s attraction to build their relationship on.
The head hopping annoyed me, but I managed to figure out whose POV I was reading in easily enough. I’m a big fan of Ms. Kenyon’s Dark Hunter series, but I haven’t read many of her BAD books. From what I know of the series, the BAD agency didn’t play a big role in this book, and I felt a little lost during the climax because I didn’t know who some of the people were, people who’d surely played a bigger role in the previous stories.
Still, this is a good, fast-paced action/adventure romance.
4 Stars
In “Hunter’s Oath” by Jaid Black, a civilization of Vikings flourishes beneath the surface of the earth and has done so for thousands of years. It’s custom for bride-hunters to go aboveground and find suitable wives to steal, so the men can bid on the women at the auction block.
As the leader of the Viking sector of Hannu, Lord Johen Stefsson only cares about helping his people and trying to make peace with his corrupt king. Though he’s not in want of a wife, especially an Outsider (a woman from aboveground), the naked blonde woman on the stage captures his attention.
Sofia Rowley flew to Alaska to attend her brother’s funeral, and then found herself kidnapped and hauled to a cabin in the snowy mountains. Her strange captors transported her underground, and she soon winds up married to the hottest, biggest man she’s ever seen.
Johen and Sofia are interesting characters. He’s totally smitten with her at first sight, and it’s so much fun to see a big, burly man fall head over heels for a woman. Sofia longs for freedom but can’t deny the happiness she’s found in Johen’s arms.
Though the novella ends with a HEA, there are loose ends concerning the bride-hunters’ punishment and the revolution that’s going to take place in New Sweden. If not for that (and a few typos), I would’ve rated this story with 5 stars because I really enjoyed it.
4 Stars
In “The Warlord Wants Forever” by Kresley Cole (the prequel to the Immortals After Dark series), Nikolai Wroth died as a human three hundred years earlier and awoke a vampire. As a forbearer, a turned human, he willingly serves the full-blooded vampire who turned and has pledged his loyalty to the vampire faction, which is made up of other forbearers. None of them know anything about vampire history or the history of other supposedly mythological creatures, and they’re desperate for information. He doesn’t breathe, his heart doesn’t beat, and he cannot feel sexual desire. Then he meets Myst, a strange woman who changes everything. She’s his Bride, and he has to have her.
Myst is a Valkyrie and is always used as bait by her sisters to catch and kill their enemies. Valkyries and vampires are mortal enemies, and she finds it hilarious Wroth doesn’t know that. Instead of giving him the information he and the faction needs to survive, she teases him and bloods him (she makes his dead-like body respond to her), and then leaves him in a state of sexual torment for five long years. When he finally catches up with her, the furious vampire will finally claim her as his own.
I liked Wroth for the most part, but I didn’t like Myst. She was selfish, cruel, and so hardened that she kept her gentleness far from the surface. She didn’t care how much she hurt Worth and wouldn’t apologize even when she felt a little guilty. Her Valkyrie sisters were just as slutty and heartless, but I hope a lot of if was just act.
I’ve heard great things about this series, and this is the first IAD book I’ve read. Unfortunately, I found it confusing. The history of the Lore was scattered throughout the story and wasn’t straightforward. I didn’t understand the animosity between the warring species and why they warred within themselves.
I plan on reading the other books, and hopefully, I’ll understand them better than I did this one.
3 Stars
Book Overall – 4 Stars show less
Only read Warlord Wants Forever. It was a good begining to the Immortals After Dark series. I liked both Myst and Wroth, individually and together. The only problem I had was the forced seduction, I had to put the book down for a day after reading that particular 'love' scene. Wroth chases down Myst, they beat each other up hard enough to leave behind bruises and blood, she says 'no' several times, and he forces her. It was stated they are like rough sex, but that was too much. For a novella the charactures were fully realized and their journey to love and trust complete.
Since this was an anthology I can't really review one book entirely. But What I do remember from reading all of them, is that they all hooked me into each of these series and though I haven't started Vikings Underground yet, the story captivated me, it was an intriguing new style of a story, With Time Travel, Dominant men, strong women, and in the end love and compassion. B.A.D. I love Sherrilyn Kenyon before I ever read this book so I knew I would probably like it and though it's not really in the norm of what I read I enjoyed and have since read another book in this series and enjoyed it and it will be reviewed on another page. Warlord wants forever had me so captivated that I instantly when out and bought "A Hunger like no other" and show more today I'm pretty far into the series. show less
What I Loved: I am not usually a fan of short stories and it might have helped this one that I read it out of order since I had already been introduced to many of the characters. That being said I think K.C. did a wonderful job of telling the story of Myst and Nikolai and making sure to include very rich detail about their world. She packed a lot of punch into this short story and still allowed for some very hot moments.
What I Liked: The "sisters" are cracking me up in this series. I love their addiction to XBox and all things fun. If I was going to be immortal, I would hope that I could pack that much fun into my life while still doing my duty.
Complaints: Again the violence surrounding sex. This time it was on both parties sides but I show more did not like it much. Again, she didn't quite cross a line but I am kind of worried that it is going to be a theme in the series.
Why I gave it a 4: As I stated, I am not usually a fan of short stories so when one is done well, with enough detail to draw you in, and still feels like you got the whole story in the end, I recognize it. K.C. did a fantastic job of including enough elements that you are fulfilled by the story.
Who I would recommend it to: PNR readers and maybe even UF readers. The stories all have HEA's but I would say they are a tad bit more into the UF type of storytelling: a little darker, the women are very strong, and the romance is rougher.
Author Website: http://kresleycole.com/
Books in this series:
Playing Easy to Get
A Hunger Like No Other
No Rest for the Wicked
Wicked Deeds on a Winters Night
Dark Needs at Nights Edge
Dark Desires after Dusk
Kiss of a Demon King
Deep Kiss of Winter
Pleasure of a Dark Prince
Demon from the Dark
Dreams for a Dark Warrior show less
What I Liked: The "sisters" are cracking me up in this series. I love their addiction to XBox and all things fun. If I was going to be immortal, I would hope that I could pack that much fun into my life while still doing my duty.
Complaints: Again the violence surrounding sex. This time it was on both parties sides but I show more did not like it much. Again, she didn't quite cross a line but I am kind of worried that it is going to be a theme in the series.
Why I gave it a 4: As I stated, I am not usually a fan of short stories so when one is done well, with enough detail to draw you in, and still feels like you got the whole story in the end, I recognize it. K.C. did a fantastic job of including enough elements that you are fulfilled by the story.
Who I would recommend it to: PNR readers and maybe even UF readers. The stories all have HEA's but I would say they are a tad bit more into the UF type of storytelling: a little darker, the women are very strong, and the romance is rougher.
Author Website: http://kresleycole.com/
Books in this series:
Playing Easy to Get
A Hunger Like No Other
No Rest for the Wicked
Wicked Deeds on a Winters Night
Dark Needs at Nights Edge
Dark Desires after Dusk
Kiss of a Demon King
Deep Kiss of Winter
Pleasure of a Dark Prince
Demon from the Dark
Dreams for a Dark Warrior show less
Three short stories written in 2006. The first one by Sherrilyn Kenyon was the best of the three but even that one about a shy female taking a vacation to a be the star of a romance novel was only 93 pages and everything happened too quickly. The 2nd story was about a Viking living underground by Jaid Black and it wasn't too bad and I liked the characters but there wasn't time for the story to develop and the 3rd wasn't even worth reading.
An anthology of three paranormal romance stories. Kenyon was interesting because it included working class protagonists. Kole wasn't bad, although (does it need to be said?) 'not bad' in a trite way. Black was just fucking annoying and awful.
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Author Information
Sherrilyn Kenyon was born in Columbus, Georgia in 1965. She attended the University of Georgia. She has written novels and nonfiction works using both her real name and the pseudonym Kinley MacGregor. The name was created when she started writing historical romances. She writes several series including The Dark-Hunters, The League, Lords of show more Avalon, BAD Agency and the Chronicles of Nick. In 2018 her title, Death Doesn't Bargain, made the bestseller list. (Bowker Author Biography) show less
Before becoming a writer, Kresley Cole was a world-ranked athlete and coach. Her first novel, The Captain of All Pleasures, was published in 2003. She writes paranormal and historical romance novels including the MacCarrick Brothers trilogy and the Immortals after Dark series. She has won several awards including the 2007 RITA Award for Best show more Paranormal Romance for A Hunger Like No Other and the 2010 RITA Award for Best Paranormal Romance for Kiss of a Demon King. She also made The New York Times Best Seller List in 2013 with her title's Mac Rieve and Endless Knight: The Arcana Chronicles Book 2. Kresley again made the New York Times bestseller list with The Pllayer in 2016. (Bowker Author Biography) show less
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Common Knowledge
- Canonical title
- Playing Easy to Get (Turn Up the Heat / Hunter's Oath / The Warlord Wants Forever) (Turn Up the Heat / Hunter's Oath / The Warlord Wants Forever)
- Original publication date
- 2006-02
- People/Characters
- Vincenzo "Vince" Cappelleti; Allison George; Johen Stefsson; Sofia Rowley; Nikolai Wroth; Myst the Coveted (show all 55); Gino Martelli; Ivo The Cruel; Wulfgar Zimmerman; Susan; Robin Daniels; Brendan Tucker; Margaret Dale; Gary Mitchell; Jeremy Winslow; Bobby Sloan; Harry Braxton; Shanna Zimmerman; Aislinn Zimmerman; Jackson; Paulie; Frankie; Tony Martelli; Roscoe; Sam Rowley; Jimmy Tatalia; Little Sal; Toki; Jennifer; Eemil Stefsson; Amani Stefsson; Affra; Willy; Niko; Jacobs; Myria; Mikael Aleksson; Freya; Woden; Murdoch Wroth; Kristoff; Demestriu; Conrad Wroth; Sebastian Wroth; Furie; Lucia the Huntress; Regin the Radiant; Nïx; Annika; Daniela the Ice Maiden; Emmaline Troy; Cara; Michael; Angritte; Carin
- Epigraph
- Prepare thyselves for the inevitable demise of the wicked. Hunt down and steal as many wenches from the Outsiders as needed for the continuity of our line. To prevail, we must breed women and bear much fruit. 'Tis not I, a hu... (show all)mble servant of the gods, who decree this, but the gods themselves: Go forth and hunt, men. -VIKING LEGEND (Hunter's Oath)
- Dedication
- To Patty Marks, a graceful fighter in every sense of the word. Thanks for everything, Mom. (Hunter's Oath)
- First words
- Vince Cappelleti had dodged the bullet. (Turn Up the Heat)
Thirty-two-year-old Sofia Rowley sat in the back of the taxi, gazing out the window but seeing nothing. (Hunter's Oath)
Into the blood-splattered snow, the lone warrior fell to one knee and shuddered with weakness. (The Warlord Wants Forever) - Last words
- (Click to show. Warning: May contain spoilers.)Feeling love for her so strong it hurt him, his voice ragged with it, he rasped, "Milaya, it is done."
Classifications
- Genres
- Fiction and Literature, Romance, Fantasy
- DDC/MDS
- 813.01083538 — Literature & rhetoric American literature in English American fiction in English By type Short fiction
- LCC
- PS648 .E7 .P53 — Language and Literature American literature American literature Collections of American literature Prose (General)
- BISAC
Statistics
- Members
- 612
- Popularity
- 47,291
- Reviews
- 21
- Rating
- (3.58)
- Languages
- English
- Media
- Paper, Ebook
- ISBNs
- 2
- ASINs
- 2
