Anonymous reviewed Secrets of the Heart: Gambler's Delight / Masquerade / Falling in Love / Keeping the Fire Hot / Besieged Heart on
A fairly well-done 5 Story Anthology...a good way to see if you like one of the authors enough to pick up more. The only thing a bit weird was that usually you get more of a cohesive theme with the stories in a book like this, but here you've got a Civil War era farce, a Vampire story, A Medieval Sorcery/Time Travel Princess tale (my fave of the 5), Father & Daughter Conman team, & a Western with a not-very-gentile Southern Belle, all in the same volume.
Gambler's Delight, by Georgina Gentry
" A ragtag riverboat loaded with trashy tarts and rowdy ruffians?" During the Civil War, a Yankee officer, urged on by the irate women of the Ladies' Town Betterment Society, evict the Gamblers, Ruffians, and Tarts from town by forcing a riverboat Captain to take them aboard. Unfortunately for the Captain, he's got Cargo to transport, and none of the towns will let him leave his "licentious load" and men from the towns along the way keep rowing out to meet them since the floating party is now a lot more fun than town life! Add to this a search for a spy, a secret agent aboard the boat, and a young lady of the evening who drugs her customers and seems to be lying about her name....
Masquerade, by Madeline Baker
A 300 year old vampire who loves the Phantom of the Opera finds himself falling for a chorus girl who reminds him of his late wife. Leanne thinks this stranger feels familiar and can't get enough of him...but, he says he sleeps during the day and works nights...
Falling in Love, by Shirle Henke
Chastity O'Rourke and her father, Seamus, just pulled the biggest con of their lives, and Chastity thinks its high time they invested in their future. So, they're off to the new world and planning to play Gentleman and Lady and see if they can land a rich husband for Chastity. Marrying for money and security is much more important than love, right?
Keeping the Fire Hot, by Patricia Rice
Jamie Mulligan, used to be Jamaica Mulligan, but she has four mean drunk brothers and one mean drunk father, so, she's been on her own, disguised as a boy and working to keep them in food and whiskey since she was 13. At 20, she's getting to big to hide her femininity but doesn't want to attract the interest the local mine-workers and shopkeepers that visit the local whores...and might be looking for cheaper and fairer game. Dawson, the town tavern keeper and doctor, knows about Jamie...and knows what she has to do to stay alive...
Besieged Heart, by Jennifer Blake
Princess Mara is in trouble. Her castle is under siege, her brother and Lord of the holding is off making war, and the hostile Baron at her gate wants to cement his interests by marrying her. He'll beat her into submission if he has to, and Mara needs a Champion. Her loyal advisor and Wizard is too precious to risk - her last remaining battle asset..he's served her since she was a child...and she's never seen his face under his cowl. Her wizard has been in love with his princess since he was a boy but knows their ranks are too distant - and keeps a proper distance. When his Lady begins to talk of surrendering to the horrific Baron in order to save her people, he transports his Lady to the Future, the twentieth century, to show her what she'd REALLY think of being held captive and under another's command. His own.
Gambler's Delight, by Georgina Gentry
" A ragtag riverboat loaded with trashy tarts and rowdy ruffians?" During the Civil War, a Yankee officer, urged on by the irate women of the Ladies' Town Betterment Society, evict the Gamblers, Ruffians, and Tarts from town by forcing a riverboat Captain to take them aboard. Unfortunately for the Captain, he's got Cargo to transport, and none of the towns will let him leave his "licentious load" and men from the towns along the way keep rowing out to meet them since the floating party is now a lot more fun than town life! Add to this a search for a spy, a secret agent aboard the boat, and a young lady of the evening who drugs her customers and seems to be lying about her name....
Masquerade, by Madeline Baker
A 300 year old vampire who loves the Phantom of the Opera finds himself falling for a chorus girl who reminds him of his late wife. Leanne thinks this stranger feels familiar and can't get enough of him...but, he says he sleeps during the day and works nights...
Falling in Love, by Shirle Henke
Chastity O'Rourke and her father, Seamus, just pulled the biggest con of their lives, and Chastity thinks its high time they invested in their future. So, they're off to the new world and planning to play Gentleman and Lady and see if they can land a rich husband for Chastity. Marrying for money and security is much more important than love, right?
Keeping the Fire Hot, by Patricia Rice
Jamie Mulligan, used to be Jamaica Mulligan, but she has four mean drunk brothers and one mean drunk father, so, she's been on her own, disguised as a boy and working to keep them in food and whiskey since she was 13. At 20, she's getting to big to hide her femininity but doesn't want to attract the interest the local mine-workers and shopkeepers that visit the local whores...and might be looking for cheaper and fairer game. Dawson, the town tavern keeper and doctor, knows about Jamie...and knows what she has to do to stay alive...
Besieged Heart, by Jennifer Blake
Princess Mara is in trouble. Her castle is under siege, her brother and Lord of the holding is off making war, and the hostile Baron at her gate wants to cement his interests by marrying her. He'll beat her into submission if he has to, and Mara needs a Champion. Her loyal advisor and Wizard is too precious to risk - her last remaining battle asset..he's served her since she was a child...and she's never seen his face under his cowl. Her wizard has been in love with his princess since he was a boy but knows their ranks are too distant - and keeps a proper distance. When his Lady begins to talk of surrendering to the horrific Baron in order to save her people, he transports his Lady to the Future, the twentieth century, to show her what she'd REALLY think of being held captive and under another's command. His own.
