Hot Nights, Dark Desires (Includes: ACRO, #2.5) in Alpha Heroes & Spitfire Heroines

Feb 29, 2008 Auntee rated it really liked it

Shelves: anthologies-novellas, erotic-romance, 2009_reads

This was a very hot, three novella anthology set in post Katrina New Orleans.

The Art of Desire by Eden Bradley features a pretty messed up couple suffering from guilt. Writer Sophie feels guilty for not acting like the "good girl" her ultra religious family expects her to be. She wants to be a little bad, has a fetish for tattoos, and has it bad for local tattoo artist Tristan Batitse.

Tristan's guilt runs a little deeper. He feels guilty for his younger brother's death. Tristan once lived the li This was a very hot, three novella anthology set in post Katrina New Orleans.

The Art of Desire by Eden Bradley features a pretty messed up couple suffering from guilt. Writer Sophie feels guilty for not acting like the "good girl" her ultra religious family expects her to be. She wants to be a little bad, has a fetish for tattoos, and has it bad for local tattoo artist Tristan Batitse.

Tristan's guilt runs a little deeper. He feels guilty for his younger brother's death. Tristan once lived the life of a bohemian artist, much to the dismay of his military father. His younger brother, who grew up idolizing him, heads down the same path, but goes a bit further. He abuses drugs, eventually overdosing. Tristan feels resposible (bad influence and all) and lays a heap of guilt on his shoulders. When he meets Sophie, there's a strong sexual attraction and he feels an instant connection--this girl really 'gets' him. But he can't afford to let her get too close and love him. He feels he doesn't deserve love and he will eventually hurt her. Do these two guilt-ridden people have a chance at love?

Hot, hot, hot love scenes, although the fact of being so turned on (as Sophie was) while being tattooed seemed a little...strange. Sophie wanted to be tattooed everywhere (hard to imagine). But a very hot story and a good, quick read anyway. Sophie was tough and didn't put up with the "I don't deserve love" attitude that Tristan had. These two were a hot, sexy couple and I think they had a good chance for a HEA.

Shadow Play by Sydney Croft features a ghost hunter/medium named Hex, who also works as a photographer. Down and out supermodel Brenna St. James needs Hex's help getting rid of a ghost who's haunting her house and wrecking her career. This ghost, Arlen, thinks she's his lost love Mattie, and he won't leave Brenna alone. Because of his haunting, Brenna's photographs are indecipherable--her image appears blurry. And what's a fashion model who can't be photographed worth? Hex and Brenna must work together to help Arlen find his lost love Mattie, and cross over to the other side. And if Hex and Brenna happen to fall in love in the process...

This was another hot read, and fans of Sydney Croft's ACRO series will want to get to know Hex, who is a friend of fellow ghost hunter Creed. I felt bad for Hex, having to live with his special 'gift', having to fight off spirits who were trying to posess him. I wasn't too thrilled with Brenna at first--she seemed a little spoiled and self centered, and it seemed like she was just using Hex to get back her career. But as the story moved on and she started to form an emotional bond with Hex, I liked her better. And their sex scenes--whew--let's just say you'll never look at a popsicle or your kitchen sink's sprayer the same way again!

And finally, in Night Vision by Stephanie Tyler, aspiring artist Catie Lanford has inherited a bar from her late uncle. The bar's in disarray and losing money. Catie hires professional 'cooler' (sort of like a general manager) and former Marine sniper Bat Kelly (yeah, that's his name) to whip her bar into shape. Once the bar is out of the red, she hopes to sell it and go back to art school. Both Catie and Bat have baggage, issues, whatever you want to call it, and both have never really put down roots anywhere. But working together to get the bar in shape helps these two connect, sexually and emotionally, like they never had before, and start thinking about wanting to put down roots somewhere. But Cate's planning on going to art school in New York, and Bat doesn't want to hold her back, even though he'd love it if she wanted to stay in New Orleans with him. Will these two lovers discover that what they really want may be the same thing?

I loved this one. I thought it was sexy and romantic. There were a couple of hot sex scenes, in front of a mirror and once on a motorcycle, and the scenes where Catie practiced her art by sketching Bat's nude body were smokin' hot. I loved the emotional connection between Bat and Catie, and the support each one gave to the other. I loved the ending too but wished there were about 50 more pages to read!

So, if you're looking for some hot, fast paced reads by a trio of talented writers, you would be wise to check out Hot Nights, Dark Desires. I'm already a fan of the 'Acro' series, and I will definitely check out the other books by these authors. As anthologies go, this one was pretty satisfying. 4 1/2 stars. ...more

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May 20, 2008 Daisiemae rated it it was amazing

Shelves: books-read-in-2008, erotica, contemporary-romance

Hot Night Dark Desires is a three story anthology written by some of today鈥榮 hottest erotic writers. Eden Bradley, Sydney Croft and Stephanie Tyler contribute very hot, steamy stories set in the sultry New Orleans. What sets this anthology apart from the others I have read is鈥ll of the stories were really good. In my opinion, this is a rarity in multiple author anthologies.

In the Art of Desire by Eden Bradley

When Sophie鈥檚 friend asks her to accompany her to the local tattoo parlor to have some ...more

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