"Werewolves, Djinn, Hellhounds and all types of creatures of legend!"
Once again, we're back in Las Vegas with the Temple Pack in
their casino. This time, it's right after Malcolm has been
installed as the Alpha. In our first story of this anthology, IN WALKS TROUBLE by
Seressia Glass, Marcus, in charge of surveillance is thrown
for a loop when the suspect being held is none other than
his wife. Of course, the fact she left him on their
honeymoon might have something to do with the temper he's
had ever since then. After all, wolves mate for life, and
so do werewolves. After Devon left him, Marcus was totally
without female companionship—never a good thing for a
werewolf. When he confronts Devon, he's floored when she
tells him she's an agent with a government group no one has
ever heard of and she was ordered to infiltrate Humans
First. The only reason she came back is to warn him that
Humans First is planning to take down the Temple Pack. Can Marcus trust Devon? Is there a hope for their marriage?
Do either of them want to continue with the marriage? Will
Humans First attack the Temple Pack? Our second story, ROYAL PURSUIT by Monique Lamont, starts
in Africa with a princess, the woman in charge of her pack.
Leult Tashi learns of a plot against her by her cousin—the
one charged with her protection no less. Since he is only
half-were, he needs Tashi's blood in order to transform
into something better left in nightmares. Of course, he's
planning on using the blood on a whole lot of men to create
his own army. The only thing Tashi can think of to do is to
turn to her father's friend—the Alpha of the Temple Pack.
So off she goes to America, knowing her cousin will follow.
Going from California to Las Vegas, she comes across a
cabin and decides to stop there. When Oliver Montague gets to his cabin in the woods near
the Nevada/California border, he knows someone is there.
When he goes inside, he sees a beautiful woman passed out
on the floor with wounds on her back. Even though he knows
better than to take advantage of her—he can smell she's in
heat—due to Esther's upbringing, he's sorely tempted. Once
she's healed, he decides to take her to Las Vegas with him. Will the Temple Pack be able to defeat Tashi's enemies?
What of the attraction between Tashi and Oliver? Will they
have a chance at a relationship? Will Oliver give up his
pack to rule with Tashi in Africa? The next story, THE WOLF THAT WASN'T by Natalie Dunbar,
takes us to San Francisco, where Claire Temple is at a
convention with her cousin Izzy. While there, Claire is
drawn to a pair of midnight blue eyes staring at her. And
those eyes are attached to one hunk of a man. Totally
surprising on Claire's part, even though the slavery issue
was a long, long time ago. Clair can smell Dante is not
human or a were and finally figures out that he's a Mage.
After talking for a bit, they arrange to meet at a club
later. So Dante and Claire meet, but he makes it clear that
he only has a few days before he becomes a slave again. At
the end of the convention, as he's packing up his things,
Izzy decides to sample one of his products. Of course, she
had been told not to. So Claire tells Dante and he gives
her a potion, telling her to make sure Izzy takes it at the
full moon, but he can do nothing else. What has Izzy taken? Who is Dante a slave to? Will Claire
and friends be able to free Dante and Izzy? Are they mates? The last story in the anthology, THE NATURE OF THE BEAST by
J.M. Jeffries, is a bit different than the other three. We
have a werejaguar, Marisol, coming from Brazil. Marisol has
begged for Esther's help. See, in Brazil, were are lower
than the low and only have protection if they are working
for the government or can afford to pay for it. Marisol has
rounded up quite a few orphaned werechildren and does the
best she can to take care of them. However, the latest
three she took in, Pablo, Carlos and Juan, are all
werewolves and have been nothing but problems since the day
she found them. Finally, at her wits' end, she has asked
Esther to take them in. And so she arrives at the casino
with all her children in tow, including the three boys.
Outside the casino, Troy and Ali—Malcolm's hellhound mate—
are waiting for them. The children immediately fall in love
with Ali, well except for the boys. And Troy begins working
the three boys into the Temple Pack, of course, he's very
attracted to Marisol as well. Is there a chance for Marisol and Troy? Will she go back to
Brazil once she knows the boys will be well? Can all the
different types of weres Marisol has collected be accepted
as members of the Temple Pack? VEGAS BITES: THREE OF A KIND is a very interesting shape-
shifter anthology. These four authors have done a wonderful
job of bringing these stories to life, while remaining true
to those previously written about the Temple Pack. The one
thing I really enjoy about these stories is keeping up with
the characters. All four of these stories are very
heartwarming and I recommend this series.
Reviewed by Chere Gruver
Posted September 6, 2008
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