Anthologies

“Afternoon in Paradise” in MAMMOTH BOOK OF HOT ROMANCE

UK: (ISBN: 978-1849014670, Robinson Publishing, July 2011)
US: (ISBN: 978-0762442669, Running Press, August 2011)

In “Vacation in Paradise,” when Jenna Brockhurst’s tropical holiday is interrupted by a terrorist attack, her only hope of staying alive is to team up with Zack Marshall. Together they escape into the jungle. As they hide out from political extremists with machine guns, the attraction that’s been building between them erupts into flames. But how will Jenna react when she finds out the man she’s made passionate love with is more than human? This story is part of my Marshall werewolf universe.

“Night Ecstasy” in IMMORTAL BAD BOYS

(ISBN: 0758253958, Brava, September 2010–reprint)

Vampire Jules DeMario moved to New Orleans after reading the novels of Anne Rice. The city, which stays awake until the small hours of the morning, is the perfect home for a vampire. He loves the “anything goes” atmosphere, but his life is doomed to loneliness since he must break off any sensual relationship before he takes too much blood from his partner and kills her. Then he meets artist Taylor Lawson, the woman he can’t resist, and desperation drives him to extraordinary measures. When Taylor figures out his secret, she leaves him. Yet they are drawn back together by their love for each other. Can they work out their relationship and figure out how to forge a lasting bond?

Once again, in this story, I draw on the wonderfully rich atmosphere of New Orleans, one of my favorite cities.

“The Sacrifice” in THE MAMMOTH BOOK OF VAMPIRE ROMANCE

(ISBN: 0762434988, Running Press, August 2008)

To save her kingdom from attack by barbarians, a virgin princess gives herself in sacrifice to the blood-drinking monster who has protected her people in the past. But she gets far more than she bargained for when she meets the vampire/shapeshifter of legend.

“Huntress Moon” in ELEMENTAL MAGIC

(ISBN: 0425217868, Berkley Trade, November 2007)

It tells the story of Zarah, a freeborn woman forced into slavery after her father is convicted of embezzlement and executed. To save her mother’s life she agrees to spy on Griffin, a high council member in a neighboring city-state. Although Griffin hides a dark secret, he and Zarah are drawn to each other. But what will happen when he discovers her duplicity? Griffin is a werewolf but not one of the Marshalls. Their story is set in the parallel universe I created for NEW MOON ( ISBN: 0425216020, Berkley Sensation, March 2007). “Huntress Moon” also introduces Quinn, the heroine of the next Moon novel, GHOST MOON, July 2008.

“Bond of Silver” in UNLEASHED

(ISBN: 0425212114, Berkley, December 2006)

To maintain the force field that protects New Atlantis, young men and women go on dream quests, searching the world for a psychic mate who can join the Caribbean island’s population. In his dream, Alexander finds Claire and knows she is his other half. But Claire is the daughter of a woman scorned by a resident of New Atlantis. Or so she thinks. And she may cause her daughter’s death as she fights to break the bond forming between the young lovers.

I set this story in the Mendocino area, which we visited on a research trip several years ago.

I remember the high cliffs and the ocean crashing below.

“Second Chance” in MIDNIGHT MAGIC

(ISBN: 0765354853, Tor, May 2006)

is a collection of three novellas all connected by a painting with magic powers. When the artist of this painting finished it, he walked into his creation and was never seen again.

In Rebecca York’s “Second Chance” Sara Drimmon encounters a painting a year after Matthew Tripplehorn, the man she loved, was killed in a fire that she knows was arson. The painting sends her back to the time before Matt was killed. Now she has a chance to figure out who murdered him–and save his life. But her strange behavior makes Matt doubt her motives–and her sanity. She feels like she’s on a speeding train that’s doomed to crash. But she can’t stop it.

“A Stake in the Future” in TOTALLY CHARMED

(ISBN: 1932100601, BenBella Books, November 2005)

Essay showing what the success of the TV show Totally Charmed says about our society, especially the role of women–including the rise of the kick-ass heroine.

“Shattered Dreams” in WHAT DREAMS MAY COME

(ISBN: 0425202682, Berkley Trade, July 2005)

Sculptor Caleb Mancuso never stopped loving Miranda Grove. The son of a gypsy fortune-teller, he’s fought his psychic powers for years. But when he has a vision of Miranda’s car being forced off a mountain road, he speeds to her rescue. Miranda never stopped loving Caleb, but fear for his life made her break up with him. Now they’re back together, but can either one of them survive the killer stalking Miranda. Miranda and Caleb live in the Monterey area, a beautiful section of the California coast.

“Luke’s Story” in DESERT SONS

(ISBN: 0373228384, Harlequin Intrigue, April 2005)

Luke Cordova– He was the baddest of the bad, sent to jail for a robbery he didn’t commit. But now he’s back on the right track–until he meets Ashley Donaldson, a woman so far out of his reach, she makes his head spin. When his Uncle Joe is murdered, Ashley vows to help him find the killer—as she offers him passion beyond his wildest dreams.

“Hero’s Welcome” in THE JOURNEY HOME

(ISBN: 0975965352, ImaJinn Books, January 2005)

Reprinted in BEST NEW PARANORMAL ROMANCE (ISBN: 0809556537, Juno Books, November 2006) The Journey Home tells the story of Ben-Linkman and Kasimanda of Renfaral who live on a distant planet far in the future. He was from the servant class. She was the daughter of one of the rulers. Then war turned their lives upside down. Although Link’s people are the victors, both he and Kasi are brutally damaged by the war. Yet, their love pulls them into a relationship that would have been impossible earlier.

“Night Ecstasy” in IMMORTAL BAD BOYS

(ISBN: 0758206216, Kensington, September 2004)

Once again, in this story, I draw on the wonderfully rich atmosphere of New Orleans, one of my favorite cities.

“Burning Moon” in CRAVINGS

(ISBN: 0515138150, Jove Books, July 2004)

Explores the grief and despair of a werewolf who has lost his lifemate. All Grant Marshall wants to do is rip out the throat of the man who killed his wife–then swim out into the Atlantic Ocean and never come back. He tracks his wife’s killer to a small New Jersey seaside town, where he meets Antonia, a blind tarot card reader–the woman with the power to change his fate. I used the New Jersey shore because I’ve been there several times, and I liked the small town atmosphere of the beach resorts. Also, a beach town seemed like the perfect location for a blind woman because she could easily walk to the stores and anything else she needed.

“Dangerous Seduction” in SILK AND MAGIC, Book One

(ISBN: 1893896412, ImaJinn Books, April 2004)

A nurse is hired to take care of a comatose patient. When he reaches out to her in his dream state, their relationship sizzles. But can she save him from being murdered before he wakes up?