As a member in the Mystic Desire anthology, I’m not able to post a review of the book online, so I thought I’d do it here in my blog. Please believe me when I say these mini-reviews are objective and honest. I wouldn’t steer you wrong!
When I received my copy of Mystic Desire last week, I pretty much tore into it. For more than a month I had been commenting on blog sites with my fellow anthology authors about how much I couldn’t wait to read their stories, and finally, I had the chance when the book released on October 1. Overall, I give the book a 5-star rating. Each story fulfilled its task of bringing magic/the supernatural/paranormal qualities to life. And each focused on romance in different ways. I mean, there were 14 stories and they were all very different. I loved that! Very often in an anthology there are stories I’m not fond of, but I can honestly say that I enjoyed each and every one of these. It’s really a great book!
Of course I’m skipping commentary on my own stories included in the book, An Awareness of Evil and Life Saving (written as Anne Krist). But here are my thoughts on the rest.
Unconditional Lust – Breanna Hayes
If you’ve read Alice Renaud’s merman stories, you’ve seen the gentler, kinder side of the mer-world. Breanna shows us a different view, and it is compelling. Muruch, leader of mermen and mermaids has learned to avoid contact with humankind—except to wreck ships so his kind can eat the flesh of the doomed sailors. When he is captured and a human woman saves his life, he wants her for himself. I loved this rougher view of the sub-sea world, and found it strangely arousing, too. Great side effect!
The Sweetest Magic of All – Alice Renaud
And speaking of getting a little aroused, Alice’s adorable witch uses the spell to find a magical amulet that’s lost. Instead of the amulet, Sapphire “finds” a sexy warlock who is willing to help her out. Poor girl! When they travel back in time, it’s May Eve, the night filled with lust dust, and witches and their partners are taking advantage all through the forest. When Saffy and her warlock joined in, I felt a little tingle of magic myself!
Bewitching the Wolf – Zia Westfield
Brodie, a Scottish werewolf visits a B&B with the goal of avenging his 
uncle’s mysterious death. He knows the guilty party is there at the B&B but he doesn’t know that the inn is spelled with magic by the owner, a witch. Alice has a dream of running the B&B with rooms that treat guests to a fantasy that matches the room’s theme—adventure, spa, etc. Each night Brodie has a dream matching the room’s theme, each day he’s moved to another room. His dreams all end with a gorgeous woman, and of course, each room leads him directly to Alice. This was a cute story with an imaginative twist. And Brodie’s uncle? So many things are not what they seem!
Calling All Angels – Lora Logan
I absolutely loved this story! Elijah and his brothers are earth-bound angels, dedicated for centuries to fighting demons. When he senses a call that danger is in the area, he and his team rush to dispatch the evil. Then he meets his new neighbor and things change. When he’s with her, he doesn’t hear his brother’s call to arms. He hears only her soft whispers. Bottom line, does he give up his calling—his reason for being—or the girl? I know you’ll like this story as much as I did!
Dream Catcher – Callie Carmen
So, so good! Many years ago, a Native American shaman put a spell on two dream catchers, one with an owl feather and the other with an eagle feather. They were given to a couple with the admonition that as long as the dream catchers stayed together, their owners would, too. In present day, a woman buys a dream catcher in an antique shop. She dreams of a man for whom she feels a strong attraction. Too bad he’s not real. Or is he? Turns out, her gorgeous new neighbor has recently visited that same antique shop. Can you guess what he bought? Callie Carmen tells a great story, weaving myth and the desire for true love. And I really liked it.
Love from the Mist – Patricia Elliott
Like all of us do at some point, Jace Warden wants to escape a family get together. This family event Is when his brother plans to announce his engagement, however. Jace knows it’s selfish not to attend, but he still boards a flight to the far side of the world. Trouble is, he doesn’t make it. Instead, he finds himself the only survivor of a crash on a remote island. All. Alone. Or so he thinks. Can love find its true mate even on a tiny speck in the middle of a huge ocean? You’ll want to read this surprising tale to find out.
Love that Binds – Carol Schoenig
Carol has an interesting story about how love sustains not only us but the earth itself. Bullied and then shunned, Ianthee is accused of being a witch. When Caleb, the only person who had ever taken her side, disappears without a trace, she feels totally alone. Their hometown is barren and dying…until something magical happens. Love. An ending filled with hope!
Love’s Ghost – R.M. Olivia
Love’s Ghost is kind of a sad story but one we all know if we’ve experienced real love. One or the other partner is eventually taken. The one left behind must find a way to go forward. In this story, the partners have one last chance to feel, to love in the physical sense before their final parting. But the message is clear: love doesn’t have to end. There can be others to help fill the void. Happiness is not a finite thing. I really liked the joyful message implicit in this story.
Through the Veil – Jan Selbourne
I loved Jan’s story! I’ve always been a sucker for a good reincarnation story, 
though. Ever wonder why things don’t go perfectly in life? Why nothing seems to fit? That’s how Rachel Finlay feels until she discovers photos in the house of her recently passed aunt. Then a thought niggles and tickles. Maybe there’s a reason things don’t fit in this time. Maybe it’s because of events in a past time. Love it!!
The Mortal Vampire – Suzanne Smith
Another great story I loved! I’ve never read about a vampire who’s so tickled pink with who and what he is, and yet can come across as so vulnerable and confused. Suzanne has penned the perfect vampire hero, to my mind. And the ending is a wonderful surprise!
Love Knows No Apocalypse – Patricia Elliott
A zombie apocalypse has Samantha Wheeler tied up in knots. Or maybe that’s her feelings for Steve Jones. Either way, she might have found better conditions for falling in love than in a storm, surrounded by the undead. When the chips are down, does she give in and possibly (quite possibly) die with her guy or does she leave him and take her chance for survival? How she arrives at her decision is a kicker. Patricia’s superior writing makes believers of us!
The Anniversary – Richard Savage
The only male in the book turns out one of the most romantic stories while exploring the relationship between a Dom and his submissive. That’s fascinating stuff on its own, but even that gets overshadowed by the extent of the deep, true love between Evelyn and Peter. And even more, the deep love shared between Evelyn and her husband, James. (Yes, I said husband!) I was truly touched by the emotion in this story.
So that’s my evaluation of Mystic Desire. You can see why I give the book 5-stars—the writing is superb, the stories are varied, imaginative, very romantic, and yes, a little spooky, too. I’m recommending this to family and friends! And to you!!
Last, be on the lookout for a big surprise announcement around mid-October. The authors of the anthology are giving away a really great prize to someone lucky. And there will be a takeover on Halloween where even more prizes will be handed out. Stay tuned!
Buy Mystic Desire:
Amazon
Universal buy link
Charlie clambered over the rocks and was soon looking down at the small cove, sparkling blue and gold under the descending sun. The haunting song grew louder the closer she got to the sea. Now it seemed to be outside her head, rising from the peaceful water below to weave its magic around her. The meaning shimmered, just beyond the edge of her comprehension. It was like trying to read words reflected in a mirror. If she could only break the surface of the glass, enter the other side, she’d understand it fully.
almost lost her grip on the trunk. She clutched the wood so hard that a splinter drove into her finger, drawing blood, but she didn’t feel any pain. She could only stare, and listen, as the fantastical being moved through the water and poured his soul out in a stream of music.
Alice lives in London, UK, with her husband and son. By day she’s a compliance manager for a pharmaceutical company. By night she writes fantasy romance about shape shifting mermen, water monsters and time-travelling witches. Her first book, “A Merman’s Choice,” was published in January 2019 by Black Velvet Seductions. It is the first book in a fantasy romance trilogy inspired by the landscapes and legends of Brittany and Wales. The second book, “Music for a Merman,” is on pre order now. Alice has also written a short story, “The Sweetest Magic of All,” included in the BVS 
