Warning: Due to some sexual acts in this anthology, this book is not for the timid.

Bear Skin by Janine Ashbless

In the first story we meet Hazel who is tired of her humdrum life with a boss who tends to be overpowering. When suddenly out of nowhere, she is visited by Arailt, a bear who wants to whisk her away. She just has to agree to never question him, make love only in darkness and she must stay for a year. Things seem to be going good until one day she breaks a rule and is sent back to her life without him. She then realizes he is her true love, and she must go find him. Can she go through the path and endure the tasks set before her in order to find Arailt?

This story was a unique idea with Arailt being a bear. At first this story seemed to be going really smoothly, and I enjoyed the writing style and getting to know both characters. Plus finding out why Arailt had the three rules only added intrigue to the story. However, once Hazel had to go through some very crude tasks to find her true love, it really made me tune out to this story. However, other readers who enjoy the darker acts of sexual fetishes may like this story more.

The Three Riddles by Olivia Knight

Princess Pearl and her Knight Thomas seemed to have a perfect love, one that tended to make others jealous. When her father, the King, becomes ill, he tells her they must make an ally with neighboring countries. Pearl convinces her father to let her marry Thomas while still holding to her job of making allies. However, before the announcement of their engagement, Pearl is given a riddle. Her maid tries to tell her to beware of elfin riddles, but Pearl does not believe in elves. It isn’t long after she is given a gift, and that one choice will cause a rift between her and Thomas. Once Thomas has left her to her on device, she realizes she must find him, her one and only. The elves do not make the journey easy, and she is forced to figure out two more riddles. Can she figure them out in time to be with Thomas again?

Out of all three stories The Three Riddles is my favorite. Pearl, constantly ignoring the warnings to watch out for the elves, made it particularly enjoyable to see what would happen after she received the first riddle. One does not question the validity of the riddles especially when it comes from unknown forces. I thoroughly enjoyed the expedition Pearl had to endure in order to possibly make it to Thomas. I think Pearl became a character one could relate too once she realized the mistakes she had made.

The People in the Garden by Leonie Martell

When Katia is sent by her uncle to work for the Count and Countess Malinovsky, she soon realizes not all is at it seems. As a virgin some of the sexual interactions she sees between the couple are a little overwhelming, but when she is brought into the mix, it becomes a past time she starts to enjoy. However the Countess has other plans for her, one of which means Katia must stay a virgin in order to help aid her in her plans. With Katia not knowing of the Countesses plans, will she want to open herself up to new temptations and actually take the plunge?

This story had a few moments that seemed a bit harsh, but since there was some BDSM involved it was not out of place. The plot seemed very well thought out which gave the character of Katia a bit of realism. The Count, however, was not one of my favorite characters, and the gardener that I rooted for in the beginning actually turned out not to be a very good guy especially for Katia. I would definitely be interested in seeing some other works by this author.

Enchanted over all is a satisfactory read. While some aspects in the stories tended to be too much, others were quite enjoyable to read.

Reviewed by: JoAnn