i read a book!! Its a miracle! I had time to read for pleasure!

It was totally worth it!

Fantasy, anthology. Good stories, nice characters. ( )

Well, my goodness. Someone fetch me my smelling salts. That was a steamy collection. At times rather silly, but mostly fun.
I picked it up for the Ilona Andrews novella, but decided to read the other three as well. I wanted to see what all the fuss was about with Nalini Singh, and that novella was pretty mushy, but I liked the characters and world enough that I think I will try the Psy-Changelings series sometime. Even if the first book is called Slave to Sensation, and I'll have to read it on my kindle so people won't see the cover and give me looks.
The Ilona Andrews novella was about Dali and Jim, and I enjoyed it, if not as much as the Kate Daniels novels. It's just fun to be in that world, and Dali's powers are pretty cool.
Lucky Charms, by Lisa Shearin, made me giggle, and I might give the SPI files series a whirl at some point.
The Beast of Blackmoor was the most explicit of the group (my original word was "erotic" but "explicit"is probably a better word-lots of "sheath" and "shaft" activity going on) and didn't really fit the urban fantasy vibe of the rest of the collection. The writing was pretty flowery, the content the most disturbing, but I liked the main characters fine and the way it ended. I don't need any more from this world, though. ( )

Secrets at Midnight by Nalini Singh
I love every single installment in this series! This was a sweet story about Bastien and Kirby, who I really liked. Depending on the other stories in the book, this one might tip it onto my traumatized heroine shelf, as it was something of a feature to the story. (3.5 stars)

Magic Steals by Ilona Andrews
I looooooooove Jim and Dali! Before reading this installment, I went back and re-read MagicDreams from [b:Hexed|9633064|Hexed (Kate Daniels, #4.5; Otherworld, #9.5; Stormwalker, #2.5; Anna Strong Chronicles, #6.5)|Ilona Andrews|https://d.gr-assets.com/books/1388795212s/9633064.jpg|14520389], which is also wonderful. I ADORE both these characters, and really really want them to get their own book soon! (3.5 stars)

Lucky Charms by Lisa Shearin

Quite an entertaining anthology. I read it for the Ilona Andrews story, but was pleasantly surprised by the others.
1: Secrets at Midnight -- it's all about the mate, 'bout the mate...
2: Magic Steals -- nice to see Dali's Indonesian magic at work, and her confidence increasing
3: Lucky Charms -- complicated world, nice, fast-paced introduction. Good sense of humor.
4: The Beast of Blackmoor -- Holy Overdramatic Smut, Batman! quality smut, I'll grant you, but very... ah, submission focused. ( )