Nightshade by Morgana de Winter
Bronwyn is Lord William Symthson’s unwilling bride and resident of Raventhorne keep. When a gargoyle, Nightshade, comes to her assistance, Bronwyn is compelled to thank him for his bravery and kind gesture. Soon the two become lovers and the passion, love and trust that is ignited will grant them the love their hearts desire.

Nightshade is a great beginning to Phoenix Rising I anthology. The story was suspenseful and kept my attention until the end. The characters are memorable and full of passion. Not just romantic and erotic, but they also possess a passion for life. Ms. de Winter surprised me with the unexpected ending and left me thirsting for more.

Deception’s Calling by Marie Harte
Lieutenant Drake Nichols, aka Lt. Hotbod, is the leader of the Specter Squad. His role in the squad doesn’t keep the female members from lusting after him. Drake openly admits that he is married to his job, but a newbie, Det. Summer Michaels, has just the thing to distract the handsome leader from his duties.

Marie Harte’s Deception's Calling isn’t your typical police tale. The story kept my attention with its strong characters, action, erotic encounters, humor and paranormal events. I felt Deception's Calling was a great addition to the anthology.

Arrested Desires by Michelle M. Pillow
Juliana Harrison is on Baida Prime and thanks to her estranged husband, she’s stranded without a home or a credit to her name. The upside to the event is meeting Officer Maverick Perkins. Will the good officer’s gracious offer to Juliana also include a plan to help regain the passion that has been eluding her over the past five years of celibacy?

Arrested Desires was an interesting story of a scorned wife who was finally able to escape a miserable marriage. I loved the genuine southern charms of Maverick in Michelle M. Pillow’s Arrested Desires. The plot was fast-paced and easy to follow.

The Wolf of Cnoc Meadha by Sherrill Quinn
Connor mac Finnbheara known as the Faolchú Cnoc Meadha--The Wolf of Cnoc Meadha, is about to be subjected to his mother’s covert attempt at matchmaking. She wants to see Connor happy and begin to live again, and sends him on a quest to find MacKenzie McCallum.

Sherrill Quinn’s The Wolf of Cnoc Meadha brings a tale about Fae, witches and werewolves for your enjoyment. The story has interesting characters, a wonderful plot and an interfering mother who kept me laughing.

Morpheus by Alicia Sparks
For quite some time Anna has been fascinated by Grey, the lead singer of Morpheus. She took a job writing for Metal Alloy in hopes of gaining access to the man who has been invading her thoughts and dreams. Is Anna brave enough to discover the truth behind their connection?

Morpheus, the final story in the anthology, was interesting but did not really retain my attention. Alicia Sparks created a good plot and charming characters, however I found myself a bit lost throughout the tale until the true nature of the main characters and the reason for their presence was ultimately revealed.

I found the entire anthology very enjoyable. My personal favorite was Arrested Desires but all of the stories are well written and enthralling. I recommend the Phoenix Rising I to everyone who loves a variety of paranormal stories with mind-blowing orgasms and happily ever after.

Reviewed by: NeNe