Do you love a paranormal tale? Well, here you get two extraordinary ones! Michelle M Pillow and Mandy M Roth have both produced fantastic shape shifting stories, making this duet anthology one you shouldn't miss, particularly if you are a fan of Pillow and/or Roth, as I am. Though the shape shifter plots I have read most of are werewolves, these two dragon shifters have got me thinking I need to broaden my horizons. I thoroughly enjoyed both tales, and recommend them to any paranormal (shape shifting) romantica fan.

"Romancing The Recluse" – by Michelle M Pillow

Samantha Egan is a rich heiress, but she is not content to do nothing. Since getting fired from her job, she has failed to find a direction for her life. She has not managed to hold on to any job, even a volunteer one. Inexplicably drawn to Belvedere Castle in Central Park, she finds a man seemingly unconscious and attempts to revive him with CPR. He is quick to awaken, and even quicker to start kissing her. Her response is instant, and she loses herself in his kiss – until reminded by a policeman that a public place is not suitable to become acquainted with this stranger. Her attraction is great, but she does not know him. Yet, she feels an inexplicable connection unlike any she has felt before. Furthermore, there seems to be something extra about him, something not quite human. But that's impossible – isn't it?

For nearly a century, dragon shifter Viktor Dracodomus has been hiding out in a cave. He has lived through many cultural changes, but becomes afraid of the isolation he feels even when in a crowd after being rejected by the woman he thought was his mate. He is quickly approaching his six-hundredth birthday, at which point, if he has not mated, he will never again be able to have sex, remaining forever alone and fathering no offspring. Following his vision of where to find his mate, he heads to New York. Times have changed greatly since he was last out and about, and his old world values clash with those of modern culture. Yet, he remains determined to find and claim his mate. Having been in New York for a week, he awakens from sleep to find a woman kissing him, a woman he instantly recognises to be the one he has been searching for. His desire for her is great, and he struggles to court her slowly. But is she all that he wishes her to be? Or is she too much like the woman of his past whose rejection haunts him? Will she accept who he is, or run screaming in the opposite direction?

"Tipping The Scales" – by Mandy M Roth

Keren Brandt doesn't have time to have much of a social life between her day job and her night job as a slayer. On her night off, she would much prefer a quiet night in, but her daytime work colleagues persuade her to go out for a night on the town. For once, Keren leaves her weapons at home, but coming across a couple of demons at the nightclub make her wish she hadn't. Then there's also that cocky, gorgeous guy who is more than human. She can't explain it, but she is drawn to him, even when he is what she should be hunting. She senses no evil in him, thus cannot kill him. But is there more between them than a simple attraction?

Dragon shape shifter Zarek Dracodomus, twin to Viktor, has avoided searching for his mate his entire existence. Why settle down when there are so many women he has yet to sample? Well, there is the one little pesky reason. If he doesn't find his mate by his sixth hundredth birthday, he will never have sex again and will never father children. It is far better to be tied to one, than to be unable to have relations with anyone. Whilst he knows he must find his mate, he remains cynical about whether the one true mate is just a legend. If she existed, surely he would have found her by now? After all, he is nearly six hundred, and the number of women he has had sex with is something to behold with awe.

It is whilst out on the prowl for another female conquest that Zarek stumbles across "The One". Though his mind at first rebels, his body knows she is his other half. Keren. There is something about her that draws him – and other supernaturals, evidently, judging by those coming out of the woodwork trying to kill her. Well, he can't have that, can he? After all, she is to be his wife, and he has only just found her. But he has a more pressing dilemma, for Keren is a slayer – and not just any slayer but a Brendt. A slayer gifted with special powers, from the family that nearly made dragon shifters an extinct species. But is Keren like her ancestors, or more concerned with doling out justice to evil?

Stop Dragon My Heart Around contains two fabulous, linked novellas centering on dragon shape shifters, perfect if you are a paranormal romantica fan. Both of these novellas are packed full of heat. The sexual chemistry between the characters is explosive and the language is explicit. "Tipping the Scales" does include anal sex, though "Romancing the Recluse" does not. The language will get you hot and bothered, I guarantee it. Each of the characters are fairly well developed, and very likeable. "Romancing the Recluse" is the longer tale, but neither story lacks anything for their fairly short length.

I loved the connection between the two stories, that each was about a twin brother, but would have preferred more interaction in the stories between the brothers rather than a mention of their sibling a time or two. I would love for their cousin Laurence's tale to be told; he seems fairly similar to Zarek in that he is a playboy, and I'd love to meet the woman who can capture his heart. Hey, come to that, I think Ms Pillow and Ms Roth could develop a series out of these novellas. That Philo demon sounded like he could have his own story, too…How about it, ladies? Want to work together again on what could be a fabulous supernatural series? You know you want to – even more importantly, you know we readers would love you to!!!

Reviewed By Elizabeth
© May 2006