Myla Jackson takes readers to a Caribbean island in "Pirate of Mystique Island." Cursed by a powerful Obeah "witch" to transform into a monster that terrorizes the island by night, ousted island governor, Lord Rafe Herrington, wishes to break the curse. As a pirate outlaw, he lives on his ship, Serpent's Curse, but at night he transforms into a blue-skinned monster. Melodie, a mixed-race mermaid, longs to return to the sea where she can live her life without prejudice. She asks an Obeah woman to work a spell to make it happen. The witch has foreknowledge that Rafe seeks to kill her. Therefore, in return for the spell she tells Melodie to stop Rafe by any means necessary. However, Melodie is not prepared to fall for the handsome pirate, and her decision alters her fate forever.

Layla Chase takes readers on a journey from 17th century Norway to the present day. Norwegian American Truda Borg has purchased Wybjorn Castle, part of the Nordic National Historic Trust. A genealogy and history buff and descendent of the inhabitant's previous owners, Truda wants to examine and inventory Wybjorn's contents. However, she gets more than she bargains for when she discovers the ghost of Garet the Protector bound to the residence for eternity. As their relationship transforms for friends to lovers, Truda realizes that by solving a mystery in Garet's past, he can become human again.

Shayla Kersten weaves an ancient curse into a murder mystery in Keket's Curse. For 3,000 years Egyptologist Jamila has lived under a powerful curse that forces her into weekly sexual heat. To remain sane she lives her life in a series of one-night stands, until the night she seduces a sexy stranger in a bathroom stall.

The man is police detective David Craise and his current case involves a series of suspicious deaths in which the victims appeared to have died from natural causes. When the investigation leads to Jamila he can't deny his attraction to her but she is also a suspect. What will happen when David discovers that the answer to each crime has roots in 12th century Egypt, and that Jamila is responsible for them?

Although the conflict in this story is resolved much too easily, it's the best story in the collection. Kersten has written a fast-paced plot with three- dimensional characters that are immersed in realistic situations. Facts about ancient Egypt and police procedure have been incorporated to provide story depth.

Readers looking for a bit of light reading should enjoy this collection.