What do you think?
Rate this book
1001 Dark Nights: Bundle Nine
From New York Times and USA Today bestselling authors Carrie Ann Ryan, Heather Graham, Jennifer Probst, Christopher Rice, and introducing Melanie Harlow and Lili Valente.
Six Dark Tales. Six Sensual Stories. Six Page Turners.
Hidden Ink by Carrie Ann Ryan
Hailey Monroe knows the world isn’t always fair, but she’s picked herself up from the ashes before. Sloane Gordon lived through the worst kinds of hell yet the temptation next door sends him to another level. He’s kept his distance but when she comes to him with a proposition, he’ll do everything in his power to protect her.
Blood on the Bayou by Heather Graham
When a family friend receives a message from the Blood Bayou killer—It's your turn to pay, blood on the bayou—he comes to Danni Cafferty for help. Cafferty and Quinn soon realize that a gruesome local history is being repeated. They find themselves in a fight to save not just a friend, but, perhaps, their very own lives.
Searching for Mine by Jennifer Probst
Connor Dunkle knows what he wants in a woman, and it’s the three B’s. Beauty. Body. Boobs. Other women need not apply. Ella Blake is a single mom and a professor at the local Verily college. When sparks fly, neither of them are ready to face their true feelings, but will love teach them the ultimate lesson of all?
Dance of Desire by Christopher Rice
From New York Times bestselling author Christopher Rice, comes a steamy, emotional tale of forbidden romance between a woman struggling to get her life on its feet and the gorgeous cowboy her father kept her from marrying years before.
Some Sort of Happy by Melanie Harlow
Skylar Nixon. She’s even more beautiful than I remember. Ten years ago she was an impossible dream, and now she’s right here in front of me, offering everything I ever wanted. But happiness never lasts, not for someone like me.
Sebastian Pryce. He’s the most complicated, frustrating, beautiful man I’ve ever met, and my body craves his with a hunger I’ve never known. My heart is his completely. Why won’t he let me in?
Magnificent Bastard by Lili Valente
Face it, ladies: love sucks and then you cry…while your ex rides off into the sunset banging your best friend. But why let a break-up end in tears when it can end with sweet revenge? Enter Magnificent Bastard Consulting and me, chief executive bastard. With the help of my virtual assistant, I’ve built an empire giving broken-hearted women the vengeance they deserve, while keeping myself far from the front lines of the heart. Until my virtual assistant shows up on my real doorstep for the first time, begging for a Magnificent Bastard intervention of her own.
Every Dark Nights tale is breathtakingly sexy and magically romantic.
Six Dark Tales. Six Sensual Stories. Six Page Turners.
Hidden Ink by Carrie Ann Ryan
Hailey Monroe knows the world isn’t always fair, but she’s picked herself up from the ashes before. Sloane Gordon lived through the worst kinds of hell yet the temptation next door sends him to another level. He’s kept his distance but when she comes to him with a proposition, he’ll do everything in his power to protect her.
Blood on the Bayou by Heather Graham
When a family friend receives a message from the Blood Bayou killer—It's your turn to pay, blood on the bayou—he comes to Danni Cafferty for help. Cafferty and Quinn soon realize that a gruesome local history is being repeated. They find themselves in a fight to save not just a friend, but, perhaps, their very own lives.
Searching for Mine by Jennifer Probst
Connor Dunkle knows what he wants in a woman, and it’s the three B’s. Beauty. Body. Boobs. Other women need not apply. Ella Blake is a single mom and a professor at the local Verily college. When sparks fly, neither of them are ready to face their true feelings, but will love teach them the ultimate lesson of all?
Dance of Desire by Christopher Rice
From New York Times bestselling author Christopher Rice, comes a steamy, emotional tale of forbidden romance between a woman struggling to get her life on its feet and the gorgeous cowboy her father kept her from marrying years before.
Some Sort of Happy by Melanie Harlow
Skylar Nixon. She’s even more beautiful than I remember. Ten years ago she was an impossible dream, and now she’s right here in front of me, offering everything I ever wanted. But happiness never lasts, not for someone like me.
Sebastian Pryce. He’s the most complicated, frustrating, beautiful man I’ve ever met, and my body craves his with a hunger I’ve never known. My heart is his completely. Why won’t he let me in?
Magnificent Bastard by Lili Valente
Face it, ladies: love sucks and then you cry…while your ex rides off into the sunset banging your best friend. But why let a break-up end in tears when it can end with sweet revenge? Enter Magnificent Bastard Consulting and me, chief executive bastard. With the help of my virtual assistant, I’ve built an empire giving broken-hearted women the vengeance they deserve, while keeping myself far from the front lines of the heart. Until my virtual assistant shows up on my real doorstep for the first time, begging for a Magnificent Bastard intervention of her own.
Every Dark Nights tale is breathtakingly sexy and magically romantic.
1238 pages, Kindle Edition
First published January 31, 2017
About the author
Carrie Ann Ryan
264 books6,513 followersCarrie Ann Ryan is the New York Times and USA Today bestselling author of contemporary, paranormal, and young adult romance. Her works include the Montgomery Ink, Talon Pack, Promise Me, and Elements of Five series, which have sold millions of books worldwide. She's the winner of a RT Book of the Year and a Prism Award in her genres. She started writing while in graduate school for her advanced degree in chemistry and hasn’t stopped since. Carrie Ann has written over seventy-five novels and novellas with more in the works. When she’s not losing herself in her emotional and action-packed worlds, she’s reading as much as she can while wrangling her clowder of cats who have more followers than she does.
The Montgomery Ink World contains the following series, though each series is a stand alone and can be read in any order. Feel free to hop around:
The Montgomery Ink Series
The Gallagher Brothers Series
The Montgomery Ink: Colorado Springs Series
The Whiskey and Lies Series
The Fractured Connections Series
The Montgomery Ink: Boulder Series
The Less Than Series
The Promise Me Series
Her Elements of Five Series is her Young Adult Romance series while her other series are all adult.
Her Talon Pack series is set in the same world as the Redwood Pack series, only 30 years later.
The Dante's Circle, Holiday, Montana, and Branded Packs series are all individual series as well.
The Montgomery Ink World contains the following series, though each series is a stand alone and can be read in any order. Feel free to hop around:
The Montgomery Ink Series
The Gallagher Brothers Series
The Montgomery Ink: Colorado Springs Series
The Whiskey and Lies Series
The Fractured Connections Series
The Montgomery Ink: Boulder Series
The Less Than Series
The Promise Me Series
Her Elements of Five Series is her Young Adult Romance series while her other series are all adult.
Her Talon Pack series is set in the same world as the Redwood Pack series, only 30 years later.
The Dante's Circle, Holiday, Montana, and Branded Packs series are all individual series as well.
Ratings & Reviews
Friends & Following
Create a free account to discover what your friends think of this book!
Community Reviews
Displaying 1 - 23 of 23 reviews
February 6, 2017
What do you get when you put several talented authors together under one cover? You get a bonanza of hot romance, playful banter and great reading! 1001 DARK NIGHTS: BUNDLE NINE. Some stories will tear at your heart, some will cause you to break out in sweat and some will have you on the edge of your seat, while others share a little humor with readers. Graphic sex, so hang on to a cold of ice water, you may need it.
Hidden Ink Carrie Ann Ryan
Hailey has been through hell and has the scars to prove it. She also has a secret or maybe not so secret crush on Sloane Gordon, tattoo artist, and man who almost seems uncomfortable in his own skin. Sloane has had his share of pain and guilt and relives the events constantly. Sloane has hidden demons and his feelings for Hailey can never be known. She deserves better than a broken man.
When these two finally, FINALLY admit how they feel, the secrets they bare are both heartbreaking and heartwarming as the amount of trust required is enormous. But the question remains, can they find the closeness and trust they both so desperately need?
Blood on the Bayou Heather Graham
There is danger in the Bayou and it isn't the wildlife that needs to be feared. Quinn turns to Danni to prevent another death via the Blood Bayou Killer. What began as helping a friend turns into a race to stay alive, as two people find love in the most dangerous times.
Searching for Mine Jennifer Probst
When Connor couldn’t charm the teacher to change his grades by whining, pleading or begging, he is pretty sure she is made of stone, because really who could resist all of his manly charm? It isn’t until he sees her in a totally human moment that he realizes that everyone has a story, including this truly warm and caring woman. How can he worm his way into her life and her heart?
Dance of Desire by Christopher Rice
The heart knows what the heart wants, but the situation that Jillian and Levi grew up in and the threats made by her father ruin any chance for young romance that could blossom into something much more. Together now, working toward the same business goals, the faux wall of hatred they have built becomes too much to continue. Only words from the past and a blessing from beyond the grave can free them to admit their love.
Some Sort of Happy by Melanie Harlow
He was a school geek, and he loved Skylar from afar. Ten years later, they meet again and while Sebastian stumbles over his own words, insecurities and OCD, Skylar finds the boy she had ignored before has grown into a successful and very handsome man. The last thing Sebastian wants is to let her in on his darkest secret. Filled with role-playing, sexual games and a free-spirited heroine who needs her Romeo to play out her fantasies. This one is filled with mistakes, hot dreams, even hotter sexual fantasies acted out. But is Sebastian using Skylar as a whitewash against the stains of is illness?
Magnificent Bastard by Lili Valente
Penny has been the Magnificent Bastard’s Girl Friday since he began his business to help jilted ladies. With business conducted over the net, they never met, until Penny needs the services of the company. Seems there is more than simple business between these two when their first meeting knocks them both for a loop. Can they keep it professional or is love and lust in the air? This is one wedding where the best couple may just win!
I received an ARC edition from Inkslinger and the authors in exchange for my honest review.
Series: 1001 Dark Nights - Bundle Nine
Publisher: Evil Eye Concepts, Incorporated (January 31, 2017)
Publication Date: January 31, 2017
Genre: Romance Anthology
Print Length: 878 pages
Available from: Amazon
For Reviews & More: http://tometender.blogspot.com
Hidden Ink Carrie Ann Ryan
Hailey has been through hell and has the scars to prove it. She also has a secret or maybe not so secret crush on Sloane Gordon, tattoo artist, and man who almost seems uncomfortable in his own skin. Sloane has had his share of pain and guilt and relives the events constantly. Sloane has hidden demons and his feelings for Hailey can never be known. She deserves better than a broken man.
When these two finally, FINALLY admit how they feel, the secrets they bare are both heartbreaking and heartwarming as the amount of trust required is enormous. But the question remains, can they find the closeness and trust they both so desperately need?
Blood on the Bayou Heather Graham
There is danger in the Bayou and it isn't the wildlife that needs to be feared. Quinn turns to Danni to prevent another death via the Blood Bayou Killer. What began as helping a friend turns into a race to stay alive, as two people find love in the most dangerous times.
Searching for Mine Jennifer Probst
When Connor couldn’t charm the teacher to change his grades by whining, pleading or begging, he is pretty sure she is made of stone, because really who could resist all of his manly charm? It isn’t until he sees her in a totally human moment that he realizes that everyone has a story, including this truly warm and caring woman. How can he worm his way into her life and her heart?
Dance of Desire by Christopher Rice
The heart knows what the heart wants, but the situation that Jillian and Levi grew up in and the threats made by her father ruin any chance for young romance that could blossom into something much more. Together now, working toward the same business goals, the faux wall of hatred they have built becomes too much to continue. Only words from the past and a blessing from beyond the grave can free them to admit their love.
Some Sort of Happy by Melanie Harlow
He was a school geek, and he loved Skylar from afar. Ten years later, they meet again and while Sebastian stumbles over his own words, insecurities and OCD, Skylar finds the boy she had ignored before has grown into a successful and very handsome man. The last thing Sebastian wants is to let her in on his darkest secret. Filled with role-playing, sexual games and a free-spirited heroine who needs her Romeo to play out her fantasies. This one is filled with mistakes, hot dreams, even hotter sexual fantasies acted out. But is Sebastian using Skylar as a whitewash against the stains of is illness?
Magnificent Bastard by Lili Valente
Penny has been the Magnificent Bastard’s Girl Friday since he began his business to help jilted ladies. With business conducted over the net, they never met, until Penny needs the services of the company. Seems there is more than simple business between these two when their first meeting knocks them both for a loop. Can they keep it professional or is love and lust in the air? This is one wedding where the best couple may just win!
I received an ARC edition from Inkslinger and the authors in exchange for my honest review.
Series: 1001 Dark Nights - Bundle Nine
Publisher: Evil Eye Concepts, Incorporated (January 31, 2017)
Publication Date: January 31, 2017
Genre: Romance Anthology
Print Length: 878 pages
Available from: Amazon
For Reviews & More: http://tometender.blogspot.com
February 6, 2017
I've told y'all before that I love anthologies right? Because I do. I really do. I love getting a taste of what each other has to offer. I love the different voices we get to read/hear in one book. I love how diverse it shows that romance can be. So many people who don't read romance, or don't have a fine appreciation for it, view romance stories as pretty one-dimensional. I can't tell you how many times I've witnessed people roll their eyes when they realize I'm reading yet another romance novel. For all those naysayers, READ A ROMANCE ANTHOLOGY!! Especially one of the 1001 Dark Nights bundles. Because they're amazing. Each and every single one of them.
My reviews of the stories included in Bundle Nine:
Hidden Ink by Carrie Ann Ryan
Blood on the Bayou by Heather Graham
Searching For Mine by Jennifer Probst
Dance of Desire by Christopher Rice
Some Sort of Happy by Melanie Harlow
Magnificent Bastard by Lili Valente
Release Date: January 31, 2017
Book Type: Romance Anthology
My reviews of the stories included in Bundle Nine:
Hidden Ink by Carrie Ann Ryan
Blood on the Bayou by Heather Graham
Searching For Mine by Jennifer Probst
Dance of Desire by Christopher Rice
Some Sort of Happy by Melanie Harlow
Magnificent Bastard by Lili Valente
Release Date: January 31, 2017
Book Type: Romance Anthology
February 4, 2017
Overall rating - 3.75 Stars
I love book bundles and anthologies. I'm all about getting 'the most bang for my buck' and this bundle definitely fits the bill. If you enjoy any of these authors, I'd definitely recommend it.
I enjoyed some of the stories better than others, but I think that's to be expected with a bundle like this since the stories and themes vary from author to author.
There are six dark and sexy stories included. My personal favorite is Some Sort of Happy by Melanie Harlow. It's not your typical romance and I loved every minute.
*ARC received in exchange for an honest review*
I love book bundles and anthologies. I'm all about getting 'the most bang for my buck' and this bundle definitely fits the bill. If you enjoy any of these authors, I'd definitely recommend it.
I enjoyed some of the stories better than others, but I think that's to be expected with a bundle like this since the stories and themes vary from author to author.
There are six dark and sexy stories included. My personal favorite is Some Sort of Happy by Melanie Harlow. It's not your typical romance and I loved every minute.
*ARC received in exchange for an honest review*
January 27, 2019
Once Upon a Time…
Welcome to 1001 Dark Nights… a collection of novellas that are breathtakingly sexy and magically romantic. Some are paranormal, some are contemporary. Each and every one is compelling and page turning.
Inspired by the exotic tales of The Arabian Nights, 1001 Dark Nights features New York Times and USA Today bestselling authors.
In the original, Scheherazade desperately attempts to entertain her husband, the King of Persia, with nightly stories so that he will postpone her execution.
In our versions, month after month, each of our fabulous authors puts a unique spin on the premise and creates a tale that a new Scheherazade tells long into the dark, dark night.
…Happily Ever After
I absolutely LOVE this world. From the moment I read the first, I was enthralled. I couldn’t get enough. I’ve even read some of the more craycray aka paranormal ones and have been highly satisfied. And there’s really no order to follow unless you’re OCD about those things. Each individual story is a journey all on its own!
I read every story in this bundle and while they didn’t all wow me, I was left highly satisfied after finishing all six stories. Not every story is for everyone and that’s what makes rating anthologies and box-sets such as these so difficult! So I don’t LOL I’ll just say a few words on each story and let you decide from my words ….
Hidden Ink by Carrie Ann Ryan: ALL THE FEELS people! Hailey and Sloane are going to find their way into your hearts and just take residence #TRUST Each one with their own individual baggage and history both kismet to journey together. One of my all time favorite Carrie Ann stories to date!
Blood on the Bayou by Heather Graham: The story has a supernatural aspect which I don’t usually enjoy but I still gave it a try and it wasn’t too bad. The mystery was there till the end and it wasn’t predictable.
Searching for Mine by Jennifer Probst: I haven’t had a chance to read the Searching For series, but that didn’t stop me from reading this story. It was funny and sexy with a lot of heart! It put the series back on my radar, so there’s that also … lol
Dance of Desire by Christopher Rice: mmmmmmmmmmm people, get ready for some sweeeet and SEXY *happy sigh* This one ticked a lot of boxes I enjoy tremendously! And the writing was flawless! Excellent read!
Some Sort of Happy by Melanie Harlow: Not one of my favorite Happy Crazy Love books, but still well written with relatable characters. I first read this in 2015 and re-read it today with this bundle and it felt better to me. That’s how important mind-set is when it comes to reading. Never give up on an author/book because it might just have been your mood :)
Magnificent Bastard by Lili Valente: First let me say that you are going to pee your pants laughing thru a ridiculous amount of this book AND you'll need to change your panties A LOT from the scorching hotness as well!!! WIN~WIN
Copy provided for blog tour
February 7, 2017
Title: 1001 Dark Nights series Bundle Nine
Author: Anthology
Title: Hidden Ink
Author: Carrie Ann Ryan
5 amazing stars
I absolutely love the 1001 Dark Night series [anyone who has seen some of my reviews knows this; I've done my best to read the entire set from start to finish, and I've been hooked from the very first novel I read] and Carrie Ann Ryan's Hidden Ink was an excellent addition. Considering that the series encompasses a wide variety of genres including paranormal, erotica and contemporary romance, I was excited to find out that our alpha male, Sloane, and our alpha woman [because she is strong and powerful], Hailey, were 'human' - a tattoo shop owner who must deal with the repercussions of his past in the form of PTSD, and a woman who survived the worst of hells and lives with the physical and emotional scars - they were relatable, passionate and characters that I could easily forget they were fictional.
5 hot and sweaty dreams
Taking Hidden Ink out of the 1001 Dark Night series context, this is the second novel that I've read written by Carrie Ann Ryan, and as the first novel, I couldn't put it down. For a novella sized story, Hidden Ink is anything but: it's jammed pack with enough action, drama, emotion and sexual chemistry that any reader would believe they were reading a full length novel. This is one author that knows how to write her tattoo alpha men in such a decadent way that we can't resist their story! It's a highly recommended read from not only the 1001 Dark Nights series, but also from Carrie Ann Ryan's Montgomery Ink series!
Title: Blood On The Bayou
Author: Heather Graham
5 amazing stars
Bravo! Quite frankly I was completely unprepared for Heather Graham's contribution to the 1001 Dark Nights series with Blood on the Bayou. While I'm used to paranormal, erotica or contemporary romance novels to date, to have the chance to read a suspense/thriller with that romantic spin was the last thing I had expected from Heather Graham. Don't get me wrong: I'm aware that she writes in quite a few genres (and amazingly might I add), but to find a second added to the 1001 Dark Nights series, the first being All Hallows Eve (that I've read), a paranormal romance, was more than I could have hoped for. While the novel does have the romance between the characters, Cafferty and Quinn, what striked/impressed me the most was the attention to the detail on the many aspects any traveller (current or past) and residents of New Orleans would recognize and be able to say 'yup, that's true, it's there!'.
3 cuddle worthy dreams
Even though it's a short story, roughly 90 pages, there was so much in this one book that I felt as though no time has passed from the beginning to the very last page. As great as a romance write Heather Graham is known to be, Blood On The Bayou shows exactly why she is an all around mastermind when it comes to suspense and thrillers - for the first time in a very long time, I found myself at the edge of my seat, nervous as all heck and cursing the last page of the book because Cafferty and Quinn's adventure and romance was over. As a returning fan of this author, Blood on the Bayou just proves to me that she's still got it and more than ready to take on new challenges.
Title: Searching For Mine
Author: Jennifer Probst
5 amazing stars
When I think college, I think frat parties, dorm rooms, the endless late night studies and of course the notches in the bedpost; but when I read Jennifer Burrow's rendition, Searching For Mine, I could finally erase the 'regular' stigma I had associated with college life and change it up with the spicier and mouth watering version that I read that happened between Ella and Connor.
4 breath taking dreams
Let me take a moment to say that when these two are in the same room, sparks fly, tempers flare and when they truly admit to each other that they're attracted to each other, my oh my, the chemistry is so d@mN thick that you'd think you could cut it with a butter knife! I enjoyed how this wasn't your average 'college student falls in love with another college student while trying to get better grades' or 'college student falls in love with teacher [of roughly the same age]', and went further than that by adding personality traits readers wouldn't be used to seeing in characters and even a family centered environment that I personally haven't seen or read in a very long time. I know I say it each time I review a 1001 Dark Nights novel, but I have to say it again since they come from different authors and from different series that aren't linked in any way and yet each time I pick up a new novel from the 1001 Dark Nights, I'm completely enthralled. I'm a first time reader of Jennifer Probst's and as I'm continuously finding out in my blogger 'career' [which, might I add, I can't believe I knew nothing about eight months ago], I'm left with the strongest urge to run (or rather type as quickly as possible) to Amazon and one click the rest of her Searching For series. One thing is certain, Jennifer Probst and her library should be added to any reader's (those who enjoy contemporary romance novels) to be watched, read and bought lists; it truly is that good and worth it.
Title: Dance of Desire
Author: Christopher Rice
5 amazing stars
Hands down, I loved this latest 1001 Dark Nights instalment and might I add I was pleasantly surprised by finding out that Christopher Rice is one author that knows how to write a gripping novel! I've so far never hidden in any of my reviews the fact that my guilty pleasures are stepbrother novels and mafia family genre, and since the very first book I've read of the 1001 Dark Nights series, I was an instant fan. Picking up Dance of Desire, I was completely unprepared for how hot Amber and Caleb were as a couple - the pages were screaming chemistry, unfinished business and 'don't mess with my woman or I'll mess with you'.
4 breath taking dreams
I'd say it was swoon worthy, but I'm not too sure that it's entirely accurate. Amber owns a successful family country music bar that she shares with her husband - or rather her soon to be ex-husband since she found him in bed with one of her employees. The gasp worthy moment isn't so much the fact that she had found the two in bed, but more the fact that she had been living in less that 'bedroom desirable' circumstances and she risks losing the family legacy that is the bar. When Caleb returns to Texas after years of being on the road, he soon realizes that his feelings for Amber haven't changed or diminished throughout their separation. Not one who will idly stand by and watch as Amber gets her dreams taken away from her from selfishness, Caleb steps in to help protect to keep a legacy in the family and not in the hands of someone who would like to own it simply to hurt. I wish I had known about Christopher Rice before today - this was absolutely the type of story that drew me in, sank its claws in me and kept me reading until the very last page without coming up for a breath of air. Where I first thought this was the first novel by Christopher Rice in the 1001 Dark Nights turns out is his second and here I am, finishing my review and about to add all his books to my TBR list and one click that single 1001 Dark Nights I missed - trust me, I highly recommend this novel.
Title: Some Sort Of Happy
Author: Melanie Harlow
4 unexpected stars
I’ve heard about Melanie Harlow before, seen some of the excerpts to her novels and couldn’t believe that I hadn’t read her until now. But, better late than never, is what I say. What a fantastic read and addition to this bundle of the 1001 Dark Nights series. Skylar and Sebastian have known each other ever since their childhood, having gone to highschool together. While Sebastian stayed in their home town, Skylar tried to make it as an actress, never getting any further than a contract on a reality tv. Having to come back home to try to rethink her options, she comes face to face with Sebastian, feelings starting to flourish between them as they spend more time together.
4 breath taking dreams
The fact that Sebastian is battling a (for so many) debilitating disorder, OCD, and that Skylar is more than willing to help him through the harder moments made me look at her differently. It made me realize that with the right people by your side, you can do just about anything, go through the harder moments and still see the light at the end of the tunnel, and most of all, be able to find a semblance of normalcy that they so desire. It’s the type of story that will make your heart swell at how two people will get together and make each other better than they could have ever imagined. And of course, it’ll make your heart race a little bit faster each time. I thoroughly enjoyed this novel by Melanie Harlow and I can’t wait to read more from this series, or from her, to see what happens to her characters.
Title: Magnificent Bastard
Author: Lili Valente
5 amazing stars
I absolutely love Lili Valente’s way of telling a story. It captivates you and pulls you in in such a way that you don’t even realize that the time has completely run on you. Magnificent Bas+ard was the book that I couldn’t put down. I had to keep reading to find out how it would end and to find out just how Bash and Penny would figure things out between themselves as the rules of the business, of pretending to be the perfect boyfriend to make the ex jealous, get blurry and then shattered.
4.5 sexy dreams
I couldn’t get enough. Is it so wrong to want to take Penny’s place and be Bash’ pretend girlfriend? Even if it’s just for a little while!! These two just seemed perfect for each other. The chemistry… perfect! I wanted more and in a way, I did, simply because Lili Valente didn’t disappoint to give her readers exactly what they want. I can’t wait to read more from her in the future because each novel just keeps you at the edge of your seat.
*ARC provided by Author in exchange for an honest review.
Reviewed by Kathleen, The Small Girl from A small girl, her man and her books
Author: Anthology
Title: Hidden Ink
Author: Carrie Ann Ryan
5 amazing stars
I absolutely love the 1001 Dark Night series [anyone who has seen some of my reviews knows this; I've done my best to read the entire set from start to finish, and I've been hooked from the very first novel I read] and Carrie Ann Ryan's Hidden Ink was an excellent addition. Considering that the series encompasses a wide variety of genres including paranormal, erotica and contemporary romance, I was excited to find out that our alpha male, Sloane, and our alpha woman [because she is strong and powerful], Hailey, were 'human' - a tattoo shop owner who must deal with the repercussions of his past in the form of PTSD, and a woman who survived the worst of hells and lives with the physical and emotional scars - they were relatable, passionate and characters that I could easily forget they were fictional.
5 hot and sweaty dreams
Taking Hidden Ink out of the 1001 Dark Night series context, this is the second novel that I've read written by Carrie Ann Ryan, and as the first novel, I couldn't put it down. For a novella sized story, Hidden Ink is anything but: it's jammed pack with enough action, drama, emotion and sexual chemistry that any reader would believe they were reading a full length novel. This is one author that knows how to write her tattoo alpha men in such a decadent way that we can't resist their story! It's a highly recommended read from not only the 1001 Dark Nights series, but also from Carrie Ann Ryan's Montgomery Ink series!
Title: Blood On The Bayou
Author: Heather Graham
5 amazing stars
Bravo! Quite frankly I was completely unprepared for Heather Graham's contribution to the 1001 Dark Nights series with Blood on the Bayou. While I'm used to paranormal, erotica or contemporary romance novels to date, to have the chance to read a suspense/thriller with that romantic spin was the last thing I had expected from Heather Graham. Don't get me wrong: I'm aware that she writes in quite a few genres (and amazingly might I add), but to find a second added to the 1001 Dark Nights series, the first being All Hallows Eve (that I've read), a paranormal romance, was more than I could have hoped for. While the novel does have the romance between the characters, Cafferty and Quinn, what striked/impressed me the most was the attention to the detail on the many aspects any traveller (current or past) and residents of New Orleans would recognize and be able to say 'yup, that's true, it's there!'.
3 cuddle worthy dreams
Even though it's a short story, roughly 90 pages, there was so much in this one book that I felt as though no time has passed from the beginning to the very last page. As great as a romance write Heather Graham is known to be, Blood On The Bayou shows exactly why she is an all around mastermind when it comes to suspense and thrillers - for the first time in a very long time, I found myself at the edge of my seat, nervous as all heck and cursing the last page of the book because Cafferty and Quinn's adventure and romance was over. As a returning fan of this author, Blood on the Bayou just proves to me that she's still got it and more than ready to take on new challenges.
Title: Searching For Mine
Author: Jennifer Probst
5 amazing stars
When I think college, I think frat parties, dorm rooms, the endless late night studies and of course the notches in the bedpost; but when I read Jennifer Burrow's rendition, Searching For Mine, I could finally erase the 'regular' stigma I had associated with college life and change it up with the spicier and mouth watering version that I read that happened between Ella and Connor.
4 breath taking dreams
Let me take a moment to say that when these two are in the same room, sparks fly, tempers flare and when they truly admit to each other that they're attracted to each other, my oh my, the chemistry is so d@mN thick that you'd think you could cut it with a butter knife! I enjoyed how this wasn't your average 'college student falls in love with another college student while trying to get better grades' or 'college student falls in love with teacher [of roughly the same age]', and went further than that by adding personality traits readers wouldn't be used to seeing in characters and even a family centered environment that I personally haven't seen or read in a very long time. I know I say it each time I review a 1001 Dark Nights novel, but I have to say it again since they come from different authors and from different series that aren't linked in any way and yet each time I pick up a new novel from the 1001 Dark Nights, I'm completely enthralled. I'm a first time reader of Jennifer Probst's and as I'm continuously finding out in my blogger 'career' [which, might I add, I can't believe I knew nothing about eight months ago], I'm left with the strongest urge to run (or rather type as quickly as possible) to Amazon and one click the rest of her Searching For series. One thing is certain, Jennifer Probst and her library should be added to any reader's (those who enjoy contemporary romance novels) to be watched, read and bought lists; it truly is that good and worth it.
Title: Dance of Desire
Author: Christopher Rice
5 amazing stars
Hands down, I loved this latest 1001 Dark Nights instalment and might I add I was pleasantly surprised by finding out that Christopher Rice is one author that knows how to write a gripping novel! I've so far never hidden in any of my reviews the fact that my guilty pleasures are stepbrother novels and mafia family genre, and since the very first book I've read of the 1001 Dark Nights series, I was an instant fan. Picking up Dance of Desire, I was completely unprepared for how hot Amber and Caleb were as a couple - the pages were screaming chemistry, unfinished business and 'don't mess with my woman or I'll mess with you'.
4 breath taking dreams
I'd say it was swoon worthy, but I'm not too sure that it's entirely accurate. Amber owns a successful family country music bar that she shares with her husband - or rather her soon to be ex-husband since she found him in bed with one of her employees. The gasp worthy moment isn't so much the fact that she had found the two in bed, but more the fact that she had been living in less that 'bedroom desirable' circumstances and she risks losing the family legacy that is the bar. When Caleb returns to Texas after years of being on the road, he soon realizes that his feelings for Amber haven't changed or diminished throughout their separation. Not one who will idly stand by and watch as Amber gets her dreams taken away from her from selfishness, Caleb steps in to help protect to keep a legacy in the family and not in the hands of someone who would like to own it simply to hurt. I wish I had known about Christopher Rice before today - this was absolutely the type of story that drew me in, sank its claws in me and kept me reading until the very last page without coming up for a breath of air. Where I first thought this was the first novel by Christopher Rice in the 1001 Dark Nights turns out is his second and here I am, finishing my review and about to add all his books to my TBR list and one click that single 1001 Dark Nights I missed - trust me, I highly recommend this novel.
Title: Some Sort Of Happy
Author: Melanie Harlow
4 unexpected stars
I’ve heard about Melanie Harlow before, seen some of the excerpts to her novels and couldn’t believe that I hadn’t read her until now. But, better late than never, is what I say. What a fantastic read and addition to this bundle of the 1001 Dark Nights series. Skylar and Sebastian have known each other ever since their childhood, having gone to highschool together. While Sebastian stayed in their home town, Skylar tried to make it as an actress, never getting any further than a contract on a reality tv. Having to come back home to try to rethink her options, she comes face to face with Sebastian, feelings starting to flourish between them as they spend more time together.
4 breath taking dreams
The fact that Sebastian is battling a (for so many) debilitating disorder, OCD, and that Skylar is more than willing to help him through the harder moments made me look at her differently. It made me realize that with the right people by your side, you can do just about anything, go through the harder moments and still see the light at the end of the tunnel, and most of all, be able to find a semblance of normalcy that they so desire. It’s the type of story that will make your heart swell at how two people will get together and make each other better than they could have ever imagined. And of course, it’ll make your heart race a little bit faster each time. I thoroughly enjoyed this novel by Melanie Harlow and I can’t wait to read more from this series, or from her, to see what happens to her characters.
Title: Magnificent Bastard
Author: Lili Valente
5 amazing stars
I absolutely love Lili Valente’s way of telling a story. It captivates you and pulls you in in such a way that you don’t even realize that the time has completely run on you. Magnificent Bas+ard was the book that I couldn’t put down. I had to keep reading to find out how it would end and to find out just how Bash and Penny would figure things out between themselves as the rules of the business, of pretending to be the perfect boyfriend to make the ex jealous, get blurry and then shattered.
4.5 sexy dreams
I couldn’t get enough. Is it so wrong to want to take Penny’s place and be Bash’ pretend girlfriend? Even if it’s just for a little while!! These two just seemed perfect for each other. The chemistry… perfect! I wanted more and in a way, I did, simply because Lili Valente didn’t disappoint to give her readers exactly what they want. I can’t wait to read more from her in the future because each novel just keeps you at the edge of your seat.
*ARC provided by Author in exchange for an honest review.
Reviewed by Kathleen, The Small Girl from A small girl, her man and her books
February 3, 2017
***ARC Provided by InkSlingerPR***
The Dark Nights series, for those who are not familiar, are a take off on the Arabian Nights tales and the idea that, each night for 1001 nights, Scheherazade had to weave a tale that her husband will want to hear the end of and that he will want to know how it ends badly enough that he decides not to execute her.
So, they need to be compelling, they need to be page turners and they need to weave a little of the mysticism of this idea within the tales.
That said, I have no idea how to review this, or how to rate it. There were books/novellas in this I loved and those that I was less fond of, but as a collection, it had a strong flow and was an interesting way to introduce new authors or to give them a place to share a different than normal voice. As this is a collection, as it is books that are both to stand alone as well as to work together, I am rating the overall books as a group. I don't know of another way to do it without confusing myself...or you. But especially myself. And, then I would have to execute myself for not holding your attention.
Anyway, read the collection and read the series...it is an interesting way to weave differing stories into one collection while tying them together.
The Dark Nights series, for those who are not familiar, are a take off on the Arabian Nights tales and the idea that, each night for 1001 nights, Scheherazade had to weave a tale that her husband will want to hear the end of and that he will want to know how it ends badly enough that he decides not to execute her.
So, they need to be compelling, they need to be page turners and they need to weave a little of the mysticism of this idea within the tales.
That said, I have no idea how to review this, or how to rate it. There were books/novellas in this I loved and those that I was less fond of, but as a collection, it had a strong flow and was an interesting way to introduce new authors or to give them a place to share a different than normal voice. As this is a collection, as it is books that are both to stand alone as well as to work together, I am rating the overall books as a group. I don't know of another way to do it without confusing myself...or you. But especially myself. And, then I would have to execute myself for not holding your attention.
Anyway, read the collection and read the series...it is an interesting way to weave differing stories into one collection while tying them together.
March 13, 2021
Some Sort of Happy is the first book in the Happy Crazy Love series. It is a complete standalone but it will make you want to read the other books about Skylar's sisters. I actually did this backwards and read the others first. I have been wanting to read Sebastian and Skylar's story so I am so happy that I finally did.
Skylar didn't know where her life was going. She was back home after ten years and feeling like a failure. She was living with her parents. Single. And at twenty-seven she didn't know what to do next. She was feeling insecure and needed time to herself to think. And that led her to the beach and falling on her face in the sand. Which caused her get the attention of one hot guy that would change everything...
Sebastian hasn't seen her in ten years. And of course she didn't remember who he was. He didn't blame her. He wasn't exactly popular in high school. But, she was always nice to him. Nice to everyone. And beautiful. He had a crush on her then and now it was more. She still made him nervous. And when she shows interest in him, he doesn't understand why someone like her would want a man like him. Especially when knowing about his OCD and anxiety. He knew he should stay away. He tried to but she wouldn't let him. She wanted to help him lighten up. To show him that he was worth it. But when he has his bad days and could be an asshole, will she still feel the same way?
Sebastian and Skylar's relationship isn't easy but it's real. They both have their insecurities. Worries about the future. They also need to work on communication. The thing they don't need to work on is their passion for each other in the bedroom. But, to have a future, you need more than that. Can Sebastian let Skylar in? Into his thoughts before it's too late?
I thought it was awesome that Melanie wrote a character with a serious case of OCD and anxiety. It was more than just having a clean house or washed hands. Sebastian could be an asshole on the outside but he had his reasons on the inside. He hates it. Hurting someone he cares about. Mix signals. Two words that explain the man. It's frustrating but thankfully you get his side too. Anyway, it's not just about his issues but about Skylar's next phrase in her life as well.
Overall...it was awesome! It was real. Beautiful. Frustrating. Sexy. Funny. And different.
Quotes:
“How are you?”
“Good. I’m just looking for a screw.” My eyes went panicky wide as I realized what I said. “For some screws, I mean. Not a screw.”
“I’ll never apologize. Never.”
“I’m particular, but I’m not totally insane.” He paused. “Usually.”
** I have read all of Lili's books and have loved each and every one! Her serial series' are hot as fuck, suspenseful, and twisted. Magnificent bastard is too but in a more beautiful, and hilarious way. It was awesome to see the other side of her writing. It is my favorite novel of hers to date...Now onto buttercup and her bastard's story!
Sebastian, aka, Bash is in the business of helping women seek revenge on the assholes that broke their hearts. His favorite part of his job is to build their confidence, to make them feel powerful, beautiful, and worthy of love with the right person. Not the loser that dumped, cheated or abused them. He has been the chief executive of Magnificent Bastard Consulting for two years, and has never once broken the rules he has set in place. The number one rule being, do not go past kissing a client. You can not get attached, and don't let them get attached. But, when his virtual assistant and one of his best friends becomes a client, he wants to throw those rules out the window, drive over them, and take them home to burn them. From the moment he meets Penny for the first time, after two years of goofy and flirty texts, silly phones calls, and knowing she is the clue that keeps him together, he wants her instantly...and so does Incredible Bulk.
Penny has been a hermit for the past two years. Her only real friends are her boss, Bash, and Ben & Jerry. But now, she is forced to go to a wedding where her ex will be, front and center. The only way she could go through with this week of wedding prep is to enlist Bash as the magnificent bastard that he is. And after finally meeting him and feeling the heat between them, she also has another proposal, she wants him. Hard, fast, and filthy. It's been to long since she has been touched. She is not ready for more, and she knows Bash isn't either. What could go wrong with a friends with benefits relationship?
Six days. They have six days to pull this off and only two days to prep. Four days of staying in Southhampton for wedding activities. It's also four days of hot as fuck sexcapades, confusing feelings, and drama. In between their own conflicts, will Penny get exactly what she wanted when asking Bash for his help. And what will happen when they go home? Is six days all they can give each other before going back to being boss and assistant?
I loved. Loved. Loved this book! It had everything I love in a book. It had naughtiness, comedy, twists, and beauty. The characters are amazing. Their story sneaks up on them and it's beautiful, and sexy as hell. They just get each other but does it mean it's love or just a very close friendship?
Overall, it's a story about friendship, love, laughter, and letting go. I laughed like crazy, got hot and bothered, and cried real tears. And for the first time ever in the history of my reading, I teared up during a masturbation scene! The writing is amazing!! I felt like I was in the book right along with Bash and Penny. And the emails/text. Brilliant!
P.S. I went straight to the store to buy ice cream when I finished.
Quotes:
“I’m here to do a job, Penny, not blow smoke up your ass. And even if I weren’t, I wouldn’t let you leave the house in that dress. Friends don’t let friends wear goldenrod.”
“Thank you, Bash.” A sweet, vulnerable, heart-stopping grin lights up her face. “But I’m warning you, if you keep saying things like that, I might just start to believe them.”
“Today, I’m in control and you’re going to do what I tell you to do. And in exchange, I’m going to make you come until you can’t remember your own name. Can you get on board with that?”
Skylar didn't know where her life was going. She was back home after ten years and feeling like a failure. She was living with her parents. Single. And at twenty-seven she didn't know what to do next. She was feeling insecure and needed time to herself to think. And that led her to the beach and falling on her face in the sand. Which caused her get the attention of one hot guy that would change everything...
Sebastian hasn't seen her in ten years. And of course she didn't remember who he was. He didn't blame her. He wasn't exactly popular in high school. But, she was always nice to him. Nice to everyone. And beautiful. He had a crush on her then and now it was more. She still made him nervous. And when she shows interest in him, he doesn't understand why someone like her would want a man like him. Especially when knowing about his OCD and anxiety. He knew he should stay away. He tried to but she wouldn't let him. She wanted to help him lighten up. To show him that he was worth it. But when he has his bad days and could be an asshole, will she still feel the same way?
Sebastian and Skylar's relationship isn't easy but it's real. They both have their insecurities. Worries about the future. They also need to work on communication. The thing they don't need to work on is their passion for each other in the bedroom. But, to have a future, you need more than that. Can Sebastian let Skylar in? Into his thoughts before it's too late?
I thought it was awesome that Melanie wrote a character with a serious case of OCD and anxiety. It was more than just having a clean house or washed hands. Sebastian could be an asshole on the outside but he had his reasons on the inside. He hates it. Hurting someone he cares about. Mix signals. Two words that explain the man. It's frustrating but thankfully you get his side too. Anyway, it's not just about his issues but about Skylar's next phrase in her life as well.
Overall...it was awesome! It was real. Beautiful. Frustrating. Sexy. Funny. And different.
Quotes:
“How are you?”
“Good. I’m just looking for a screw.” My eyes went panicky wide as I realized what I said. “For some screws, I mean. Not a screw.”
“I’ll never apologize. Never.”
“I’m particular, but I’m not totally insane.” He paused. “Usually.”
** I have read all of Lili's books and have loved each and every one! Her serial series' are hot as fuck, suspenseful, and twisted. Magnificent bastard is too but in a more beautiful, and hilarious way. It was awesome to see the other side of her writing. It is my favorite novel of hers to date...Now onto buttercup and her bastard's story!
Sebastian, aka, Bash is in the business of helping women seek revenge on the assholes that broke their hearts. His favorite part of his job is to build their confidence, to make them feel powerful, beautiful, and worthy of love with the right person. Not the loser that dumped, cheated or abused them. He has been the chief executive of Magnificent Bastard Consulting for two years, and has never once broken the rules he has set in place. The number one rule being, do not go past kissing a client. You can not get attached, and don't let them get attached. But, when his virtual assistant and one of his best friends becomes a client, he wants to throw those rules out the window, drive over them, and take them home to burn them. From the moment he meets Penny for the first time, after two years of goofy and flirty texts, silly phones calls, and knowing she is the clue that keeps him together, he wants her instantly...and so does Incredible Bulk.
Penny has been a hermit for the past two years. Her only real friends are her boss, Bash, and Ben & Jerry. But now, she is forced to go to a wedding where her ex will be, front and center. The only way she could go through with this week of wedding prep is to enlist Bash as the magnificent bastard that he is. And after finally meeting him and feeling the heat between them, she also has another proposal, she wants him. Hard, fast, and filthy. It's been to long since she has been touched. She is not ready for more, and she knows Bash isn't either. What could go wrong with a friends with benefits relationship?
Six days. They have six days to pull this off and only two days to prep. Four days of staying in Southhampton for wedding activities. It's also four days of hot as fuck sexcapades, confusing feelings, and drama. In between their own conflicts, will Penny get exactly what she wanted when asking Bash for his help. And what will happen when they go home? Is six days all they can give each other before going back to being boss and assistant?
I loved. Loved. Loved this book! It had everything I love in a book. It had naughtiness, comedy, twists, and beauty. The characters are amazing. Their story sneaks up on them and it's beautiful, and sexy as hell. They just get each other but does it mean it's love or just a very close friendship?
Overall, it's a story about friendship, love, laughter, and letting go. I laughed like crazy, got hot and bothered, and cried real tears. And for the first time ever in the history of my reading, I teared up during a masturbation scene! The writing is amazing!! I felt like I was in the book right along with Bash and Penny. And the emails/text. Brilliant!
P.S. I went straight to the store to buy ice cream when I finished.
Quotes:
“I’m here to do a job, Penny, not blow smoke up your ass. And even if I weren’t, I wouldn’t let you leave the house in that dress. Friends don’t let friends wear goldenrod.”
“Thank you, Bash.” A sweet, vulnerable, heart-stopping grin lights up her face. “But I’m warning you, if you keep saying things like that, I might just start to believe them.”
“Today, I’m in control and you’re going to do what I tell you to do. And in exchange, I’m going to make you come until you can’t remember your own name. Can you get on board with that?”
February 1, 2017
I received a copy of this book from the publisher for an honest review.
This bundle has a good variation of stories included this time 'round. I enjoyed some of the stories over the others as a whole. The stories will melt your heart or keep you on the edge of your seat. If you're a fan of any of these authors you should definitely give this bundle a try!
This bundle has a good variation of stories included this time 'round. I enjoyed some of the stories over the others as a whole. The stories will melt your heart or keep you on the edge of your seat. If you're a fan of any of these authors you should definitely give this bundle a try!
January 15, 2023
Hidden Ink by Carrie Ann Ryan 3.5 Stars!This was pretty cute. I liked that Hailey finally called Sloane on his BS and told him to decide if he wanted to do something. I did roll my eyes because there was a little too much "I'm not worthy for [reasons]" on both sides and not enough groveling on Sloane's. I did wish there'd been a little less on the ramifications of her surgery, at least the viewpoint of I will admit to laughing a little at how everyone at Montgomery Ink realized what was happening and tried to help. Maya's threats of beating whichever one she needed to were entertaining.
Blood on the Bayou by Heather Graham 3 Stars!I'm not sure what it is, but I seem to have an interesting relationship with Heather Graham's writing. I've read a few books/novellas from the Krewe of Hunters series and been very split on my feelings on those. Same thing happened here. While the overall story was kind of intriguing, I felt like there wasn't a ton of time to make a connection with the main characters because they were already established. It almost felt like you had to read the previous Cafferty & Quinn books to figure everything out. The overall story of the rougarou was kind of interesting but because this was so short, I felt like there was a lot that got left out because it went from "we're looking for a real person" to "they found this cane and think they're a supernatural creature" really fast. Plus the whole thing with Danni being the Witch also felt like it came out of nowhere. Like, it was kind of a way for the bad guy to fix things for himself but at the same time, there hadn't been previous mentions of any kind of reincarnation so I was confused how they got to "it's Danni".
Searching for Mine by Jennifer Probst 2.5 Stars!This one annoyed me. I actually ended up skimming a lot of it. It felt like the author was trying to make a point but she ended up falling really short of what she was really trying to say about creative females and just ended up bashing both sexes. The relationship between Connor and Ella went from teacher-student to "I love you" at light speed and I felt like there wasn't really any development at all honestly. He hates her because he finds her class boring and her super dull, she hates him because he's a good looking guy who can get whatever woman he wants, she decides it's time to move on and gets a makeover and suddenly they're both head over heels in love and she can't be in a relationship with him because the only reason he could have ever liked her was after she got the makeover. While he admitted that he never wanted to really do anything until then, his POV showed that he was acting the way he was because a)he had those walls up and b)he also liked things the way they were and he was thinking about how that would be affected but he still started to have feelings for her before the makeover. I will admit that I liked how Connor kind of took Luke under his wing and helped start to find his own footing.
Dance of Desire by Christopher Rice 2 Stars!There was just something about this one. The overall idea had potential but honestly, I ended up skimming a lot of this story too. Part of it was the narrative style grated for some reason. Especially because when we went back to the Then portions, it was still the same "present" type thing that was going on in the Now and it made it kind of hard for me to follow. I kept having jump around to figure out if we were in the past or not. There were also some editing things (ex: a conversation between Belinda and Amber where Belinda is half calling her on her crap and Amber is supposed to ask if she's fired but it says Belinda is asking even though the very next sentence is her saying that's a stupid question) that bothered me. The overall relationship between Caleb and Amber didn't have as much of a second chance feel as I think the author was going for. Mainly because of the way things happened then I think. I don't know but yeah, I ended up skimming this.
March 30, 2017
Copy for review provided by Inkslinger PR in exchange for an honest review. This review was originally published at Straight Shootin' Book Reviews.
Tattoo artist. Private investigator. Construction worker. Cowboy. Lawyer. Boss. Well, hello heroes of 1001 Dark Nights Bundle Nine!
For me, this bundle was all about the heroes. Sure, readers are in for some wonderfully written, competent, yet flawed, heroines, but the heroes of these stories really shine when you look at the bundle as a whole.
A note about my 4-star rating: I struggled to rate this bundle since I didn’t read the whole anthology through. I DNF’d Magnificent Bastard about a quarter of the way in (see my review of this story below for more details). However, even though I didn’t finish one of the two full-length novels, the other five stories are exceptional and worthy of at least a 4-star review. For the price of this bundle, the five stories I did read are well worth the price of admission! As such, I did not factor in Magnificent Bastard when choosing a rating for this book.
Hidden Ink by Carrie Ann Ryan ~ Hero #1: Sloane the tattoo artist.
For as much as I love Carrie Ann Ryan’s work, I’ve never had the pleasure of reading Hidden Ink before picking up this bundle. Of course, Hailey and Sloane’s story did not disappoint. We got to see the Montgomerys a fair amount in this novella, but the real stars were Hailey and Sloane. Hailey and Sloane both have secret pasts, but when they chose to give into their attraction for one another, the secrets need to get revealed. And boy oh boy, the secrets are some doozies that threaten to destroy not only their love but their friendship as well.
All in all, I liked this novella and it filled out some background information for me on the Montgomery Ink world. Though Hidden Ink is not pivotal to understanding the full-length books in this series, it’s a fun add-on.
Blood on the Bayou by Heather Graham ~ Hero #2: Quinn the private investigator.
I had never read a Heather Graham book before picking up Blood on the Bayou. I was worried that I wouldn’t be able to follow this novella since Cafferty and Quinn are well-loved characters with a few books of character development that I’ve missed out on. However, this stand-alone novella gave me enough information to understand the plot and our hero/heroine’s relationship without feeling lost.
The murder mystery in this book really shows of Graham’s talent for romantic suspense. Even in the novella format, I got a rich, robust murder mystery with quite a few secondary characters that kept me guessing and entertained. I may need to even go back and read the previous Cafferty and Quinn novellas since I was so impressed by Graham’s storytelling and her panache for immersing readers into her world.
Searching for Mine by Jennifer Probst ~ Hero #2: Connor the construction worker/student/neighbor.
Although I’m a Jennifer Probst fan, Searching for Mine is a novella set in a Probst series I hadn’t read previously. Connor and Ella’s story is an opposites attract, friends to lovers, teacher/student romance. There are a lot of tropes going on in this book, but Probst doesn’t get bogged down in the details of what this book is and what it isn’t. Instead, she wonderfully rolls through the labels and just gives us a sweet romance.
Sadly, Connor was the one hero who disappointed me while reading this bundle. In the end, he came through for Ella and her son, but in the middle of the novella, he just seemed so focused on Ella’s lack of fashion sense and her appearance that I found myself rooting against him at times. Like I said, Connor does change his ways at the end and he and Ella do come to an understanding, but the focus on appearance really bothered me and distracted me from the romance.
Dance of Desire by Christopher Rice ~ Hero #4: Caleb the cowboy-hat-wearing/adopted brother/first love.
This novella is crazy good stuff. I adored Dance of Desire from start to finish and I immediately began looking for other books in this series to devour (Christopher Rice: I want more please!). This story follows Caleb and Amber after Amber finds her husband cheating on her. Caleb and Amber are brother and sister via adoption and although Amber’s father kept her and Caleb apart, the time has come for them to face up to their feelings for one another. Along the way there is a bit of a road trip, some meddling by Amber’s boss and her mother, a fantasy played out, taboo and talk of a sex club.
I appreciated that Rice doesn’t seem to mess with the labels too much in this story. Amber and Caleb loved one another before he was adopted into her family, and he’s loved her ever since. The message throughout Dance of Desire is that their love is really the only thing that matters. I can’t recommend this novella enough. 5 stars for Dance of Desire!
Some Sort of Happy by Melanie Harlow ~ Hero #5: Sebastian the lawyer/high school acquaintance who is beautifully human.
5 stars for Some Sort of Happy! I loved this full-length book with every cell of my being. I’ve re-read huge swaths of this book several times and I am still swooning over Skylar and Sebastian’s story. Some Sort of Happy follows our hero and heroine as they reconnect 10 years after high school. Back in the day they were acquaintances, but when they see each other again sparks fly. Things aren’t all easy going though since Skylar is out of a job and in a week she won’t have anywhere to live. Sebastian has returned back to Michigan after a bit of a break-down and he has OCD.
I truly adored this book. I found Melanie Harlow’s decision to write a hero with OCD to be incredibly brave, but the way in which she wrote about Sebastian’s rituals and counting and poetry was just so compassionate. Initially, I found Skylar a bit hard to like, but her interactions with Sebastian brought out her true self and really helped me grown to love her. Everything about Some Sort of Happy worked for me.
Magnificent Bastard by Lili Valente ~ Hero #6: Bash the boss/business man.
DNF’d nine chapters in. I stuck with this one until the hero and heroine met (in-person) for the first time and then called it quits. The quippy language, the Magnificent Bastard premise, and the primarily male POV just did not do it for me.
Tattoo artist. Private investigator. Construction worker. Cowboy. Lawyer. Boss. Well, hello heroes of 1001 Dark Nights Bundle Nine!
For me, this bundle was all about the heroes. Sure, readers are in for some wonderfully written, competent, yet flawed, heroines, but the heroes of these stories really shine when you look at the bundle as a whole.
A note about my 4-star rating: I struggled to rate this bundle since I didn’t read the whole anthology through. I DNF’d Magnificent Bastard about a quarter of the way in (see my review of this story below for more details). However, even though I didn’t finish one of the two full-length novels, the other five stories are exceptional and worthy of at least a 4-star review. For the price of this bundle, the five stories I did read are well worth the price of admission! As such, I did not factor in Magnificent Bastard when choosing a rating for this book.
Hidden Ink by Carrie Ann Ryan ~ Hero #1: Sloane the tattoo artist.
For as much as I love Carrie Ann Ryan’s work, I’ve never had the pleasure of reading Hidden Ink before picking up this bundle. Of course, Hailey and Sloane’s story did not disappoint. We got to see the Montgomerys a fair amount in this novella, but the real stars were Hailey and Sloane. Hailey and Sloane both have secret pasts, but when they chose to give into their attraction for one another, the secrets need to get revealed. And boy oh boy, the secrets are some doozies that threaten to destroy not only their love but their friendship as well.
All in all, I liked this novella and it filled out some background information for me on the Montgomery Ink world. Though Hidden Ink is not pivotal to understanding the full-length books in this series, it’s a fun add-on.
Blood on the Bayou by Heather Graham ~ Hero #2: Quinn the private investigator.
I had never read a Heather Graham book before picking up Blood on the Bayou. I was worried that I wouldn’t be able to follow this novella since Cafferty and Quinn are well-loved characters with a few books of character development that I’ve missed out on. However, this stand-alone novella gave me enough information to understand the plot and our hero/heroine’s relationship without feeling lost.
The murder mystery in this book really shows of Graham’s talent for romantic suspense. Even in the novella format, I got a rich, robust murder mystery with quite a few secondary characters that kept me guessing and entertained. I may need to even go back and read the previous Cafferty and Quinn novellas since I was so impressed by Graham’s storytelling and her panache for immersing readers into her world.
Searching for Mine by Jennifer Probst ~ Hero #2: Connor the construction worker/student/neighbor.
Although I’m a Jennifer Probst fan, Searching for Mine is a novella set in a Probst series I hadn’t read previously. Connor and Ella’s story is an opposites attract, friends to lovers, teacher/student romance. There are a lot of tropes going on in this book, but Probst doesn’t get bogged down in the details of what this book is and what it isn’t. Instead, she wonderfully rolls through the labels and just gives us a sweet romance.
Sadly, Connor was the one hero who disappointed me while reading this bundle. In the end, he came through for Ella and her son, but in the middle of the novella, he just seemed so focused on Ella’s lack of fashion sense and her appearance that I found myself rooting against him at times. Like I said, Connor does change his ways at the end and he and Ella do come to an understanding, but the focus on appearance really bothered me and distracted me from the romance.
Dance of Desire by Christopher Rice ~ Hero #4: Caleb the cowboy-hat-wearing/adopted brother/first love.
This novella is crazy good stuff. I adored Dance of Desire from start to finish and I immediately began looking for other books in this series to devour (Christopher Rice: I want more please!). This story follows Caleb and Amber after Amber finds her husband cheating on her. Caleb and Amber are brother and sister via adoption and although Amber’s father kept her and Caleb apart, the time has come for them to face up to their feelings for one another. Along the way there is a bit of a road trip, some meddling by Amber’s boss and her mother, a fantasy played out, taboo and talk of a sex club.
I appreciated that Rice doesn’t seem to mess with the labels too much in this story. Amber and Caleb loved one another before he was adopted into her family, and he’s loved her ever since. The message throughout Dance of Desire is that their love is really the only thing that matters. I can’t recommend this novella enough. 5 stars for Dance of Desire!
Some Sort of Happy by Melanie Harlow ~ Hero #5: Sebastian the lawyer/high school acquaintance who is beautifully human.
5 stars for Some Sort of Happy! I loved this full-length book with every cell of my being. I’ve re-read huge swaths of this book several times and I am still swooning over Skylar and Sebastian’s story. Some Sort of Happy follows our hero and heroine as they reconnect 10 years after high school. Back in the day they were acquaintances, but when they see each other again sparks fly. Things aren’t all easy going though since Skylar is out of a job and in a week she won’t have anywhere to live. Sebastian has returned back to Michigan after a bit of a break-down and he has OCD.
I truly adored this book. I found Melanie Harlow’s decision to write a hero with OCD to be incredibly brave, but the way in which she wrote about Sebastian’s rituals and counting and poetry was just so compassionate. Initially, I found Skylar a bit hard to like, but her interactions with Sebastian brought out her true self and really helped me grown to love her. Everything about Some Sort of Happy worked for me.
Magnificent Bastard by Lili Valente ~ Hero #6: Bash the boss/business man.
DNF’d nine chapters in. I stuck with this one until the hero and heroine met (in-person) for the first time and then called it quits. The quippy language, the Magnificent Bastard premise, and the primarily male POV just did not do it for me.
February 1, 2017
What's better than one story by one author that you love? A whole bundle of them, together in one book. The 1001 Dark Nights series is a take on the Arabian Nights, where tales were told for 1,001 nights to keep the heroine from a horrible fate. Bundle 9 in this series is a compilation of some of my favorite authors, and a great way to find several really great stories bundled. Below are just a few of the stories you'll find in this bundle.
SEARCHING FOR MINE by Jennifer Probst:
Connor Dunkle wasn't looking for a lesson on women when he enrolled in teacher Ella Blake's English class. No, what Connor wanted was to ace the class so that he could graduate and get on with his life. But Ella isn't settling for anything but Connor's best, and she'll get it from him no matter what. And when the two find themselves far more involved in each other's live than they'd anticipated, both Connor and Ella find out things about themselves that they weren't expecting.
Author Jennifer Probst is a favorite of mine. Her stories are always so full of heart, of self-discovery, of learning to trust the safe place offered by someone completely unexpected. Written as part of the 1001 Dark Nights novella series, SEARCHING FOR MINE is a story in Jennifer's Searching For series, and is a sweet and sexy addition.
There were times that I just wanted to pinch Connor. He comes across as sort of superficial, especially where women and relationships are concerned, something that really drives Ella crazy. For her part, Ella has been disappointed by life and love, and doesn't do much to mask her disdain for Connor and the way that he's living his life. She refuses to let him skate by or take the easy way out, and ends up teaching him far more about life and himself than he ever expected when he signed up for her class.
I love the back and forth between Ella and Connor, and Ella's son, Luke, is both sweet and snarky, completing the circle of family that is built in this story. SEARCHING FOR MINE is an easy 4.5 stars for me, and I recommend it for fans of Jennifer's books.
MAGNIFICENT BASTARD by Lili Valente:
Got an ex that needs to be taught a lesson? Need a love connection intervention? Look no further: Sebastian 'Bash' Prince, head honcho and Magnificent Bastard extraordinaire, is your man. With the help of his Girl Friday, Penny, Bash will help you have the last laugh as you leave your former Prince Charming in your rear-view mirror. But what happens when the master of the art of magnificent bastardry falls hook, line, and sinker? Ah, the tangled web of love...
There isn't one book that Lili Valenti has written that I have not absolutely loved. Stories filled with intrigue, white-hot passion, and angsty characters never fail to satisfy my yen for a darker read. But, guess what? Lovely Lili has outdone herself with this one. MAGNIFICENT BASTARD is, and I do not say this lightly, probably one of my favorite of her books to date, hands down, and one of my favorites of this year.
While I love a darker angstier read, it's no secret that I am also a huge fan of the books that leave me with a light heart, where everything comes together just like I hoped that it would, where everyone ends up just where they should be, and all is right with the world, a feel-good book, if you will.
I was not prepared for how much I would adore Bash and Penny. These two, well, they are wonderful. The chemistry and connection, the humor, the passion, all come together to create a story that had me at the first paragraph. This story, like all of Lili's, is one that sucked me right in and kept me turning pages until the very end, completely captivating me along the way.
I really love that MB is written from Bash's point of view. It's always interesting to me to see how the man views things, especially in a romance, because, let's face it, we're like polar opposites when it comes to love so much of the time. Lili nailed it here, writing the unfolding of events completely engagingly, while managing to stay true to a male perspective.
And, Penny. It's impossible not to love Penny, in all of her madcap perfection. That she's able to maintain her sense of humor after having a mother like Anastasia, an ex like Phillip, and the childhood that she had, makes her all the more lovable, and strong as heck. She's just what Bash needs, even though he takes a while to realize it. There really ought to be more Pennys in the world.
Kudos to Lili for this gem of a book, with its lovable kookiness, its wonderful secondary characters (everyone needs a Francis and Eddie in their lives, for real, and, Aidan, yum!), and lots and lots of ice cream. 5+ stars for this one, lady. It's simply magnificent.
DANCE OF DESIRE by Christopher Rice:
Telling her how he really felt should have been the last option. The absolutely dead-last, nuclear apocalypse option. And touching her? Well, that was beyond the nuclear option. That was a "zombies are breaking down the front door and the only way out is through the nearest window" kind of option.
Amber and Caleb have known forever that their feelings for each other were something special. But just when they were beginning to let each other know, life events changed everything, making anything other than a platonic kind of love unacceptable. True love, though, cannot be denied, and sometimes the heavens smile down on lovers after all.
I was lucky to happen upon one of Christopher's earlier books in the 1001 Dark Nights series, and really enjoyed it, so when DANCE OF DESIRE came along, I put it right at the top of my TBR list. This little book was a true delight to read. Christopher's combination of humor, steamy sexiness, and heartfelt emotions, along with great characters and a realistic story line made this one of the most enjoyable, feel-good books I've had the opportunity to read lately. The relationship between Amber and her mother had me laughing out loud, and Belinda, Dora, Amanda, and all of the supporting characters are just great. I enjoyed every single bit of this book, and would be happy to see more of these folks in future. 4.5 stars for DANCE OF DESIRE; add this one to your reading list, because you will thoroughly enjoy it.
***ARC generously provided for an honest review.***
November 21, 2017
From New York Times and USA Today bestselling authors Carrie Ann Ryan, Heather Graham, Jennifer Probst, Christopher Rice, and introducing Melanie Harlow and Lili Valente.
Six Dark Tales. Six Sensual Stories. Six Page Turners.
My library had this in paperback and I read it. It only has 4 stories. It is missing the story from Melanie Harlow and Lili Valente. That was kind of disappointing. I liked the stories I read except "Searching for Mine", I ended up skipping most of the story. I could not get into the characters or the story line.
Six Dark Tales. Six Sensual Stories. Six Page Turners.
My library had this in paperback and I read it. It only has 4 stories. It is missing the story from Melanie Harlow and Lili Valente. That was kind of disappointing. I liked the stories I read except "Searching for Mine", I ended up skipping most of the story. I could not get into the characters or the story line.
July 29, 2025
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
September 1, 2025
Love the story line.
January 31, 2017
Unlike the previous bundles this one doesn't contain only novellas but 2 full length novels. I will be honest here and admit that I didn't read those two novels. I wanted to read short stories not 344 pages for one of them. I will read them as soon as my exams are over and update this review, but this bundle should have come with a warning. What I like about bundles is that I get to read about different stories and people in one book. The stories blended together nicely.
I am all about giving an author a second chance, but I don't think that Christopher Rices writing agrees with me. This is the second story I read of his and I didn't manage to connect this time either. Dance of Desire was a rocky experience for me. I liked it at first, but then something stopped working for me and I felt like the story shifted in another direction. I will give him another chance, but if I see that three out of three novellas weren't for me, I will start skipping his stories. It wouldn't be fair to me and to the author to keep reading and reviewing something I don't like. Rating: 3 stars because I liked half of the story and I don't think it deserves less.
I love the Montgomery Ink series by Carrie Ann Ryan and I was very happy to get to explore it more. A couple of weeks ago I read Adoring ink and I was wondering if I had seen Brody (the hero of that novella). I delighted to see him been introduced here even if the author used him. Also I realized that Holly and Jake were together far longer than I thought. The only thing that I didn't like about this novella was how Sloane kept saying that he wasn't worthy of Hailey and was trying to push her away. I loved that Hailey fought for him and in the end they managed to work things out. Hidden ink is another winner for me. Rating: 4.5 stars
I don't have anything to say about Blood on the Bayou by Heather Graham, but my rating is 4 stars
Finally here is my review for Searching for mine. I had the chance to read this novella about a year ago, but I was happy to re-visit this world.
Searching for Mine is a novella about Connor, Nate's brother. It's short, but it was satisfying enough for me. I could easily see this book been a full lengthy novel, but it is ok as it is now. What made this novella different from the other books in the series is that connections didn't directly helped Connor and Ella get together, but it made Connor take the first step in making things something more than what they were.
The first thing that comes into my mind when I think of this book is the essays and the books Connor is forced to go through in order to get the degree he wanted. I added a couple of books on my to read list after that and I realized that I want a man like Connor. Not the side of Connor with the 3 B thing. The one who wrote that essay in the end and is secretly like me.
Ella and her son were an adorable duo and great as individuals. How the author managed to place in 130 pages the things she did is something that is beyond me. Because we don't get to see only Connor developing a bond with Ella, but we also see Connor developing a bond with her son.
Overall, I am very satisfied with this novella and I am recommending it not only to the fans of the series, but also people who are looking for some short and sweet book to read. Rating: 5 stars
I am all about giving an author a second chance, but I don't think that Christopher Rices writing agrees with me. This is the second story I read of his and I didn't manage to connect this time either. Dance of Desire was a rocky experience for me. I liked it at first, but then something stopped working for me and I felt like the story shifted in another direction. I will give him another chance, but if I see that three out of three novellas weren't for me, I will start skipping his stories. It wouldn't be fair to me and to the author to keep reading and reviewing something I don't like. Rating: 3 stars because I liked half of the story and I don't think it deserves less.
I love the Montgomery Ink series by Carrie Ann Ryan and I was very happy to get to explore it more. A couple of weeks ago I read Adoring ink and I was wondering if I had seen Brody (the hero of that novella). I delighted to see him been introduced here even if the author used him. Also I realized that Holly and Jake were together far longer than I thought. The only thing that I didn't like about this novella was how Sloane kept saying that he wasn't worthy of Hailey and was trying to push her away. I loved that Hailey fought for him and in the end they managed to work things out. Hidden ink is another winner for me. Rating: 4.5 stars
I don't have anything to say about Blood on the Bayou by Heather Graham, but my rating is 4 stars
Finally here is my review for Searching for mine. I had the chance to read this novella about a year ago, but I was happy to re-visit this world.
Searching for Mine is a novella about Connor, Nate's brother. It's short, but it was satisfying enough for me. I could easily see this book been a full lengthy novel, but it is ok as it is now. What made this novella different from the other books in the series is that connections didn't directly helped Connor and Ella get together, but it made Connor take the first step in making things something more than what they were.
The first thing that comes into my mind when I think of this book is the essays and the books Connor is forced to go through in order to get the degree he wanted. I added a couple of books on my to read list after that and I realized that I want a man like Connor. Not the side of Connor with the 3 B thing. The one who wrote that essay in the end and is secretly like me.
Ella and her son were an adorable duo and great as individuals. How the author managed to place in 130 pages the things she did is something that is beyond me. Because we don't get to see only Connor developing a bond with Ella, but we also see Connor developing a bond with her son.
Overall, I am very satisfied with this novella and I am recommending it not only to the fans of the series, but also people who are looking for some short and sweet book to read. Rating: 5 stars
January 30, 2017
These 1001 Dark Nights Discovery Bundles are absolutely perfect for when you find yourself in a reading rut. You know the authors and genres you prefer, and you mostly stick to them because they're sure things. But, sometimes you just need to change things up a bit, maybe with a different sub-genre that you haven't read much of, or perhaps a different writing style or POV.
There's always one author in these bundles that hooks me, and it's usually one I'm very familiar with. In this case, that hook was Hidden Ink by Carrie Ann Ryan. It's the only novella from her Montgomery Ink series I haven't read yet, and it was everything I expected it to be. It was sexy and had plenty of feels in not a lot of pages. Carrie Ann Ryan's novellas give you a glimpse at the relationships forming around the main Montgomery family, which helps flesh out the full-length novels.
Of the remaining five authors, only Jennifer Probst was one I've read before, and I've read none in the Searching For series, which Searching For Mine is a part of. That is the great thing about these Discovery Bundle novellas - even if you've never read the series that they belong to, in nearly every case, it's not necessary. You can still appreciate the story and the featured characters without knowing the backstory of the other couples they come in contact with.
One caveat to this is that all of these stories have already been published separately. If a novella - like Hidden Ink - is in the middle of a series, chances are, by the time you read it in the Discovery Bundle, the series has already moved on with at least one other novel. The Montgomery Ink series actually has two additional novels out now, so I already knew that Hailey and Sloane were a couple. For me, it doesn't diminish the impact of going back and reading their story anyway, but I know for some, it would.
The 1001 Dark Nights series has a core group of authors that regularly contribute novellas to the collection. These authors were asked to nominate additional authors to be added as "discovery authors," and each of the five bundles that will be released in 2017 will feature two of them. In Bundle Nine, we get books by Melanie Harlow, author of Frenched, and Lili Valente, author of the Bought by the Billionaire series.
And, truly, Some sort of Happy and Magnificent Bastard are not novellas, but rather full-length novels. These two take up the last 51% of the bundle, which was completely awesome. It gave me a better taste of these two new-to-me authors' writing styles, and I really liked what I read. I've already added several books by both authors to my TBR.
The 1001 Dark Nights Discovery Bundle Nine is a easy bet. It's less than six bucks, and for that you get two novels and four novellas. You seriously can't beat that. I encourage you to check out a bundle, and maybe slip a novella or two in between your regular full-length reads. You may just discover a new favorite!
There's always one author in these bundles that hooks me, and it's usually one I'm very familiar with. In this case, that hook was Hidden Ink by Carrie Ann Ryan. It's the only novella from her Montgomery Ink series I haven't read yet, and it was everything I expected it to be. It was sexy and had plenty of feels in not a lot of pages. Carrie Ann Ryan's novellas give you a glimpse at the relationships forming around the main Montgomery family, which helps flesh out the full-length novels.
Of the remaining five authors, only Jennifer Probst was one I've read before, and I've read none in the Searching For series, which Searching For Mine is a part of. That is the great thing about these Discovery Bundle novellas - even if you've never read the series that they belong to, in nearly every case, it's not necessary. You can still appreciate the story and the featured characters without knowing the backstory of the other couples they come in contact with.
One caveat to this is that all of these stories have already been published separately. If a novella - like Hidden Ink - is in the middle of a series, chances are, by the time you read it in the Discovery Bundle, the series has already moved on with at least one other novel. The Montgomery Ink series actually has two additional novels out now, so I already knew that Hailey and Sloane were a couple. For me, it doesn't diminish the impact of going back and reading their story anyway, but I know for some, it would.
The 1001 Dark Nights series has a core group of authors that regularly contribute novellas to the collection. These authors were asked to nominate additional authors to be added as "discovery authors," and each of the five bundles that will be released in 2017 will feature two of them. In Bundle Nine, we get books by Melanie Harlow, author of Frenched, and Lili Valente, author of the Bought by the Billionaire series.
And, truly, Some sort of Happy and Magnificent Bastard are not novellas, but rather full-length novels. These two take up the last 51% of the bundle, which was completely awesome. It gave me a better taste of these two new-to-me authors' writing styles, and I really liked what I read. I've already added several books by both authors to my TBR.
The 1001 Dark Nights Discovery Bundle Nine is a easy bet. It's less than six bucks, and for that you get two novels and four novellas. You seriously can't beat that. I encourage you to check out a bundle, and maybe slip a novella or two in between your regular full-length reads. You may just discover a new favorite!
January 30, 2017
This was not my first exposure to 1001 Dark Nights books but this was my first 1001 Dark Nights bundle. These novellas are all standalones but if you’ve read works by any of the authors featured you’ll surely recognize some characters. If you haven’t read them before I’m sure you’ll want to after reading this bundle of novellas.
I enjoyed the collection as a whole. They were quick reads but by no means just fluff/filler stories that couldn’t be fleshed out into a full length novel. In fact, I want some of these to become full length books because I want to see more of these characters. There was a story that I didn’t love as much as the others, but for the most part I really enjoyed it. I thought all of the stories were interesting and they all packed a punch in their pages. They held my attention and I don’t feel I skimmed over any of them-which has happened in other anthologies for me.
I would definitely recommend 1001 Dark Nights-Bundle Nine. If you haven’t read any of the Dark Nights books before, don’t worry, you don’t have to in order to enjoy these stories. This bundle is also a great way to find some new authors/series that you may have previously missed. Give it a try!
**This and other reviews featured at I'm a Sweet and Sassy Bookwhore www.imasweetandsassybookwhore.com**
I enjoyed the collection as a whole. They were quick reads but by no means just fluff/filler stories that couldn’t be fleshed out into a full length novel. In fact, I want some of these to become full length books because I want to see more of these characters. There was a story that I didn’t love as much as the others, but for the most part I really enjoyed it. I thought all of the stories were interesting and they all packed a punch in their pages. They held my attention and I don’t feel I skimmed over any of them-which has happened in other anthologies for me.
I would definitely recommend 1001 Dark Nights-Bundle Nine. If you haven’t read any of the Dark Nights books before, don’t worry, you don’t have to in order to enjoy these stories. This bundle is also a great way to find some new authors/series that you may have previously missed. Give it a try!
**This and other reviews featured at I'm a Sweet and Sassy Bookwhore www.imasweetandsassybookwhore.com**
February 5, 2017
I love getting to read a bundle of books together because A) it allows you to try out new authors and B) it brings new book series to your life! I really enjoyed the variety these "novellas" brought. (I say "novella" because most of these books in the bundle were just that, books! And I seriously loved them all) I have researched the series they all came from and plan to start them from the beginning. The variety of the stories in this bundle was great; from folklore murders to stories dealing with important issues, such as OCD. I was sucked into the worlds of these authors and I hated when each book had to end. Highly recommend this bundle! And be prepared to add more books to your TBR list, I sure have!
March 11, 2026
I LOVE THIS AUTHOR!!
1001 Dark Nights: Bundle Nine delivers six electrifying tales of passion, suspense, and emotional depth from bestselling authors like Carrie Ann Ryan, Heather Graham, and Jennifer Probst. From steamy forbidden romances to dark thrillers filled with danger and secrets, each story offers a unique flavor of love’s complexity. Highlights include Heather Graham’s chilling Blood on the Bayou with its haunting mystery, Christopher Rice’s emotional cowboy romance in Dance of Desire, and Lili Valente’s witty and vengeful Magnificent Bastard. Whether craving heart-pounding tension or swoon-worthy connections, this bundle offers a captivating mix of sensuality and intrigue that keeps readers turning pages late into the night.
1001 Dark Nights: Bundle Nine delivers six electrifying tales of passion, suspense, and emotional depth from bestselling authors like Carrie Ann Ryan, Heather Graham, and Jennifer Probst. From steamy forbidden romances to dark thrillers filled with danger and secrets, each story offers a unique flavor of love’s complexity. Highlights include Heather Graham’s chilling Blood on the Bayou with its haunting mystery, Christopher Rice’s emotional cowboy romance in Dance of Desire, and Lili Valente’s witty and vengeful Magnificent Bastard. Whether craving heart-pounding tension or swoon-worthy connections, this bundle offers a captivating mix of sensuality and intrigue that keeps readers turning pages late into the night.
January 31, 2017
5 Stars
So much goodness in this bundle! With six authors giving us sexy, fun, romantic, emotional stories, there is something in this for everyone! All novella length nuggets of book goodness! I particularly loved the one from Melanie Harlow, but all the stories are great!
So much goodness in this bundle! With six authors giving us sexy, fun, romantic, emotional stories, there is something in this for everyone! All novella length nuggets of book goodness! I particularly loved the one from Melanie Harlow, but all the stories are great!
August 19, 2017
Bundle of Goodness
As always, this 1001 Dark Nights bundle was a collection of great authors with stories that were hard to put down.
As always, this 1001 Dark Nights bundle was a collection of great authors with stories that were hard to put down.
January 28, 2019
Spot on this was wonderful and heartfelt
February 2, 2017
The novellas each author added to the anthology are unique. They have similar themes and tie together nicely, and the voices each author provides are strong enough to stand alone, but bundled together they pack a powerful punch!
Carrie Ann Ryan's novella, Hidden Ink, takes us back to Montgomery Ink and gives us a glimpse into Hailey's life in and out of the bakery she owns next door. We also get to know Sloane on a deeper level and begin to understand him. Both of them have secrets and scars they have hidden from each other, but when he is afraid he might finally lose her to someone else younger and more willing to open up to her, he takes a risk and asks her out. The rest of the Montgomery Ink crew is relieved that the two of them are finally going to give each other a shot, but they all agree if Sloane hurts her, he'll pay for it. Hailey trusts him though and together they learn to trust. They are both survivors in their own right and together are unstoppable.
In Blood on The Bayou, Heather Graham brings a local Louisiana legend to life and creates a mystery two friends must solve or they risk more deaths of innocent people. The imagery Graham used to set the scene was vivid and memorable. The mystery of the Bayou Killer created suspense, as well as some tense moments when clues are being left as threats. I admit, this was not my favorite of the bundle, but it is still a good quick read.
Connor and Ella, in Searching for Mine, seem to be polar opposites. He's arrogant and appears to be lazy when Ella meets him. She's a bit cold and seems to be focused on proving her point at his expense. And oh, by the way, Ella is his professor, so he has to either turn on the charm or actually do the work it is going to take to pass her class. He needs this class to graduate and move up on the ladder in his job. Ella seems to have a chip on her shoulder and Connor is determined to knock it off. When they discover they are neighbors, they learn to have respect for each other and see life from a different perspective. Ella's son is a big part of this change in perspective and I loved how their relationship, and a mutual respect developed as the story continued.
Dance of Desire is a touching story of two people who have always loved each other, but they grew up afraid of the relationship developing because on paper, they were brother and sister. Because his parents died in a freak accident, Caleb was taken in by Amber's parents and they were thrust into roles they were not expecting. To honor her father's wishes, they remained apart and kept their contact innocent and platonic, but when Amber's husband cheats on her and runs the family business into the ground, Caleb sweeps in and sets things to rights, including letting his true feelings for her come to the surface. They fight their attraction to each other, but when Amber's boss wants to send her to a sex retreat, Caleb can't contain his emotions, nor can her mother. They both want someone's permission to express their feelings and it comes from an unexpected place.
Some Sort of Happy is amazing. This was an unexpected gem! Skylar is the popular girl from high school who has returned home to the small town she'd run from to find success in New York. Returning home was like admitting defeat, but she had no choice. When Sebastian sees her, all the feelings he had for her as an awkward teenager resurface, but he's no longer an awkward teen. Skylar notices his rugged good looks and ripped body right away, but doesn't recognize the boy who was bullied in school. After they talk and reveal their insecurities to each other, they begin to build a relationship. It is rocky and tough going, but Skylar thinks he's worth the effort. I loved that Harlow broached the topic of OCD and the issues this can bring about. It is very real for many people and she handled it in a sensitive, though sometimes humorous, manner. Skylar and Sebastian are a powerful couple on the pages they grace. Well done!
This laugh out loud story, Magnificent Bastard, is a great end to the bundle. I couldn't help but giggle at Sebastian as he described himself and his job. He sees himself as a gift to women and feels he can successfully teach any woman to love herself and at the same time deal a hard blow to the man she's left behind. He's got a plan and doesn't get emotionally attached to anyone, so there's no chance he'd ever need to be on the receiving end of heart ache. All of his plans nearly derail when he meets Penny, the woman who's been his virtual assistant. They'd never met in person and now that they have, Bash isn't sure he is going to survive it; especially when she needs his services. Their snarky banter back and forth is hysterical.
Carrie Ann Ryan's novella, Hidden Ink, takes us back to Montgomery Ink and gives us a glimpse into Hailey's life in and out of the bakery she owns next door. We also get to know Sloane on a deeper level and begin to understand him. Both of them have secrets and scars they have hidden from each other, but when he is afraid he might finally lose her to someone else younger and more willing to open up to her, he takes a risk and asks her out. The rest of the Montgomery Ink crew is relieved that the two of them are finally going to give each other a shot, but they all agree if Sloane hurts her, he'll pay for it. Hailey trusts him though and together they learn to trust. They are both survivors in their own right and together are unstoppable.
In Blood on The Bayou, Heather Graham brings a local Louisiana legend to life and creates a mystery two friends must solve or they risk more deaths of innocent people. The imagery Graham used to set the scene was vivid and memorable. The mystery of the Bayou Killer created suspense, as well as some tense moments when clues are being left as threats. I admit, this was not my favorite of the bundle, but it is still a good quick read.
Connor and Ella, in Searching for Mine, seem to be polar opposites. He's arrogant and appears to be lazy when Ella meets him. She's a bit cold and seems to be focused on proving her point at his expense. And oh, by the way, Ella is his professor, so he has to either turn on the charm or actually do the work it is going to take to pass her class. He needs this class to graduate and move up on the ladder in his job. Ella seems to have a chip on her shoulder and Connor is determined to knock it off. When they discover they are neighbors, they learn to have respect for each other and see life from a different perspective. Ella's son is a big part of this change in perspective and I loved how their relationship, and a mutual respect developed as the story continued.
Dance of Desire is a touching story of two people who have always loved each other, but they grew up afraid of the relationship developing because on paper, they were brother and sister. Because his parents died in a freak accident, Caleb was taken in by Amber's parents and they were thrust into roles they were not expecting. To honor her father's wishes, they remained apart and kept their contact innocent and platonic, but when Amber's husband cheats on her and runs the family business into the ground, Caleb sweeps in and sets things to rights, including letting his true feelings for her come to the surface. They fight their attraction to each other, but when Amber's boss wants to send her to a sex retreat, Caleb can't contain his emotions, nor can her mother. They both want someone's permission to express their feelings and it comes from an unexpected place.
Some Sort of Happy is amazing. This was an unexpected gem! Skylar is the popular girl from high school who has returned home to the small town she'd run from to find success in New York. Returning home was like admitting defeat, but she had no choice. When Sebastian sees her, all the feelings he had for her as an awkward teenager resurface, but he's no longer an awkward teen. Skylar notices his rugged good looks and ripped body right away, but doesn't recognize the boy who was bullied in school. After they talk and reveal their insecurities to each other, they begin to build a relationship. It is rocky and tough going, but Skylar thinks he's worth the effort. I loved that Harlow broached the topic of OCD and the issues this can bring about. It is very real for many people and she handled it in a sensitive, though sometimes humorous, manner. Skylar and Sebastian are a powerful couple on the pages they grace. Well done!
This laugh out loud story, Magnificent Bastard, is a great end to the bundle. I couldn't help but giggle at Sebastian as he described himself and his job. He sees himself as a gift to women and feels he can successfully teach any woman to love herself and at the same time deal a hard blow to the man she's left behind. He's got a plan and doesn't get emotionally attached to anyone, so there's no chance he'd ever need to be on the receiving end of heart ache. All of his plans nearly derail when he meets Penny, the woman who's been his virtual assistant. They'd never met in person and now that they have, Bash isn't sure he is going to survive it; especially when she needs his services. Their snarky banter back and forth is hysterical.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
Displaying 1 - 23 of 23 reviews