THE COUNTESS' PLEASURE by Emma Holly -- Georgianna, the widowed Countess of Ware, dutifully kept her deceased husband's impotence a secret throughout their marriage, but during her stay in the desert city Bhamjran, she's tempted by the sensual energy of a Yaman erotic performer named Iyan. Physically and technologically, the Yama are a superior race to humans, but Georgianna's homeland controls them politically, and the two races are discouraged from socializing. When she overcomes her fear and offers to hire Iyan for a night of exquisite passion, they both find pleasure beyond their expectations.

While Emma Holly draws on the societal strictures of the Victorian era, her Yama characters add an exotic element to advance the pleasure of both her characters and her readers.

THE BREED NEXT DOOR by Lora Leigh -- Lyra Mason's sexy new neighbor looks like a hard-bodied all- American male, but he's a genetically enhanced feline Breed created in a lab and raised psychologically as an animal. Now legally freed and living among humans, Tarek Jordan is not safe as long as his former captors hunt him. When Lyra is threatened, Tarek must hone his animal instincts to protect her, even though his feline genetics are fueling an animal passion that may pose an even greater danger.

When Lora Leigh adds a science fiction twist to the boy next door story, she gives her genetically modified feline-man some physical qualities beyond my wildest imagination!

FALLING FOR ANTHONY by Meljean Brook -- After Lady Emily seduces Anthony Ramsdell, he promises to do the honorable thing when he returns from the war in Spain. Unfortunately, Anthony is only able to return as a Guardian, complete with wings. Lady Emily's life is at risk now more than her reputation ever was before -- her brother is a vampire, her family is murdered and a nosferatu demon still hunts them. Although Anthony's circumstances have changed, his passion for Emily is a constant temptation as he tries to fulfill his promise to make things right.

Meljean Brook successfully blends secondary story lines and creates fantastic death defying love in a paranormal Regency setting.

THE BLOOD KISS by Shiloh Walker -- Roman Montgomery, the new wolf king, must infiltrate a costume ball in the vampire-held city of New Orleans to extricate his younger brother from captivity there. Julianna Capiet is the rebellious and resentful blood-child of the vampire leader. Although the feud between their families is fierce, Julianna is furious when Roman takes her hostage, exhilarated when he pursues her escape and deeply entangled in the werewolf's arms when they're discovered. The angry vampires in pursuit will stop at nothing to propagate their species, and Roman must speed up his seduction and claim Julianna as his own before they attack.

Shakespeare seems a lot sexier when adapted by Shiloh Walker. If the Bard had populated his tragedies with werewolves and vampires instead of the Montagues and Capulets, his lovers may have had a better chance at a happily-ever-after.

These four extremely erotic novellas play on our traditional notions of love and romance, each with a paranormal twist. Imaginative settings, enhanced characters and out-of-this-world situations mean that the sex is hotter, the emotions are more passionate and the erotic is exotic during this HOT SPELL.