"The Loving of a Lifetime"
Eros Island is aptly named for a trio of stories where
mortals receive the loving of a lifetime at the hands of
skilled deities. Each one carries you away to another realm
where inhibitions are lost and senses are heightened, yet
even in the midst of gods, choices aren't always what they
seem. Dawn Thompson brings us Goddess of the Dream
Well.
What's an honorable Knight of the Realm to do when he
washes up on a mysterious island and is welcomed by a
gorgeous naked goddess who says he is hers to pleasure for
one day? No brainer there. Pleasure away. Until he finds
out there is a high price for that one night, and not only
at a cost to himself, but for others. Most especially
someone he has come to care a great deal about. Think a
woman scorned is something to fear? Try a goddess scorned. Thunderstruck, Devyn Quin's offering, has
echoes of
Pygmalion where a talented sculptor, Dani, creates a
stunning work of art and falls in love with it, or rather
him, the stone worked image of the god Herakles who comes
to life and carries her away to Mount Olympus. There is no conflict in this tale unless you consider being
pampered and indulged all night by an incredibly luscious
god who delivers every sensual fantasy a conflict. But all
good things must come to an end. Or do they? Centaur Heart, by Lucinda Betts revolves
around Centaurs and
a high-spirited princess.
Chiron, King of the Centaurs, has come to warn Knossos
Princess Akantha of the evil that is trying to twist its
way into power over her kingdom in the form of her suitor.
Because he's a Centaur, Akantha should be repulsed by
Chiron, but she can't help admiring his strength of form
and honorable purpose of fighting evil even after she won't
credit his warning. They are both feisty and stubborn
characters, suited to each other. Once they stop arguing
and join forces, they have a lot to overcome in just a few
pages, but Betts pulls it all together in an extremely
satisfying way. But how in the name of Eros does a woman
get together with a Centaur? I'm not telling.
Reviewed by Clover Autrey
Posted January 1, 2008
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