WHAT HAPPENS IN VEGAS ….AFTER DARK

Jodi Lynn Copeland, Lauren Dane, Kit Tunstall, Anya Bast

SPICE

ISBN: 978-0-373-60531-6

May 2009

Paranormal Ultimate

The same four authors who teamed up for WHAT HAPPENS IN VEGAS, reunite for a new anthology in Sin City revolving around the paranormal. Now we find out WHAT HAPPENS IN VEGAS…AFTER DARK. A more sinister, or dark look into some interesting paranormal elements bind these stories. While I found this sequel over all more enjoyable than the first offering, you might want to read that one first since a few of these stories build off of or relate to those stories.

HOT FOR REVENGE by Jodi Lynn Copeland stars Jack’s brother Ryan from the previous anthology. A firefighter who is haunted by the death of an ex-girlfriend in a fire, has had a hard time coping. While Ryan puts on a good face to the world, he is crumbling inside. Deitre is a succubus and a friend of the girl that died in that fire a year ago. Bent on revenge, she goes after Ryan to drain him of his life. These two circle around each other for the entire story, but the build up and climax to this book was interesting to read. There is a lot of sex packed into the reading, but the reader can at least superficially delve into these characters emotions and doubts before they destroy each other.

Rating: 3

SENSUAL MAGIC by Lauren Dane is a standalone story, though loosely connected to the earlier anthology. While I am not sure if these books connect to her Witches Knot stories through Ellora’s Cave, they DO revolve around witches, warlocks, and others paranormal creatures. Nell is an enforcers or sorts. She is out looking for a woman who stole from the coven. Her search brings her to William, the owner of a dance/strip club in Vegas (whose brother was the main character of the previous story). These two hit it off right from the beginning. Nell knows that this is forever, William is her soul mate, but he just gets freaked out when he sees her supernatural powers. A cute story, with snappy writing, interesting characters, and an enjoyable plot, one of my favorites in the anthology.

Rating: 4

DIVINE DESIRES, is completely unrelated to the previous book. Mal is a mage and his father is dying of poison. He needs to find a latent vampire (someone born a vampire who does not realize that is what they are, they have not converted yet) and drain them of their power, in order to feed his father that power and save him. Devi is a tattoo artist and hits it off with Mal instantly. When she finds out that he cast a spell on her for that original attraction, can she ever trust him again? This story was well thought out and developed for such a short space.

Rating: 4

THE PROMISE, takes place one year before Cassidy’s story in the first anthology. Damian left her at the alter and this is his story of why he did so and his trip to finding true love. Elena basically kidnaps Damian on the day of his wedding. She is fae and needs to “turn” Damian to his heritage on this day. What she does not expect to do is find her heartstring (something close to a soul mate). Elena is engaged to be married herself in a few days, and finding one of the few perfectly compatible people for her so close to her wedding is tragic. These two try to forge a relationship, even though it is doomed to fail. Seeing how they overcome the obstacles to their love was as interesting as their ending was satisfying.

Rating: 4

Reviewed by Sarah Silversmith