Things delightful mix with wicked!!! Read and Enjoy!
595403
You truly have to have read the preceding books in the series but this takes them ( her varied cast of characters) way beyond and into new realms.  Strongly recommended for those of us who cherish every Merry Gentry story.
2762065
When He Was Bad has two stories in it. Miss Congeniality is by Shelly Laurenston and Wicked Ways is by Cynthia Eden. Miss Congeniality is a five star read on it's own and it is a keeper to boot! I just wish that it could have been longer. Irene is the young female genius heroine working as a university professor. Van Holtz (Holtz) is a wealthy wolf shifter hero who has had the hots for Irene since he first saw her several years ago. One night, Holtz rescues Irene from a pack of shifters. To keep her safe though, he has to make her his mate. Holtz thinks that he can make her his mate and then walk away, but he is in for a surprise when he can't stop thinking about her. Let the sparks fly because Irene has a prickly attitude and she doesn't want a man for long-term, but Holtz is determined to change her mind. This is a great story with lots of humor and smoking hot scenes. 5 stars!
Wicked Ways by Cynthia Eden is a story about Cain, a jaguar shifter and ex-FBI man, and Miranda, his sexy neighbor that he can't stop thinking and dreaming about. The story starts out with Cain rescuing Miranda from a vampire attack. Things between Cain and Miranda heat up really fast which is a shame because there needed to be more character development. The rest of the story follows with the both of them trying to set a trap for the vampire that got away after attacking Miranda. Wicked Ways is the first story that I've read by Cynthia Eden, and it was okay. I'll give her props for the plot, but I wasn't drawn to the characters. Everything was rushed. 4 stars for Wicked Ways.
2259003
Fast paced.  Great read.  One of those wonderful reads that works on many levels.  Loved the theme of Beethoven, the Prague setting; the crazy characters each with his or her own secret.  A who-done it with an intellectual and fantastic twist!  Spiced with all of the stuff of today's read -- escape, fantasy, eroticism, lovable main character, lost and found themes, the evil witch-like antagonist, totally improbable and a delicious dessert of words and themes - a potpourri, a smorgesboard, a coat of many colors.  Enjoy!
3518948
This book, while not exactly expanding the world of Sang, did give a greater in-depth view of life with the caravan and the social views of the native inhabitants.  I loved the main characters and enjoyed the glimpses of both Crimminy and Lititia along with the rest of the gang left over from Wicked as They Come along with the advancing of framework for book two, Wicked as She Wants.

I would say I am not sure how well this book would play without having first read Wicked as They Come and getting the main framework of Sang; in that way it might be more of a chapter in the world of than a stand-alone story.  Either way, I quite enjoyed it and was grateful for the snack in-between publishing that gave me that little bit more of a world I had grown to love.  I am looking eagerly forward to both the full length novel and the other e-novellas coming out next year.
3136607
What could be more fun than one widowed and two divorced women woman-turned-witches (and, yes, they can cast real spells, so look out!) in a small New England town as they wreak their own version of havoc, revenge, evil and, perhaps especially, love. A devil-type character invades their cozy coven, upsetting the equilibrium in some bizarre, frightening and humorous ways. John Updike's extraordinary writing ability is what makes this so delightful and magical--as well as sexy (and at times quite erotic), horrific, scary and very, very funny. It's a novel about the power of women--especially when they band together. Suspend your sense of reality for a delicious dive into the supernatural. P.S. The book bears only a slight resemblance to the movie.
4531696
<a data-hook="product-link-linked" class="a-link-normal" href="/Wicked-The-Life-and-Times-of-the-Wicked-Witch-of-the-West-Harper-Fiction/dp/0061350966/ref=cm_cr_arp_d_rvw_txt?ie=UTF8">Wicked: The Life and Times of the Wicked Witch of the West (Harper Fiction)</a>
I first heard about Wicked due to the wildly popular show. I became a Wicked fan because of the amazing soundtrack, but had no idea that originally it was a book, until I bought a $10 paperback edition in Albuquerque. And let me say, I was blown away by it, reading it the moment I got home and not stopping until half-past midnight. Being a fan of the original Oz books and the 1939 film, I enjoyed reading the book immensely. But do note this: the book is written for ADULTS, the reason why being there is sex, politics and many mature themes that are in the book which wouldn't be appropriate for younger children. So parents, wait until your kids are much older than they are now to let them read this book.
In this book, you'll meet dozens of new characters like Frex, the religious Unionist minister and his rather boozy wife Melena who are the parents of the Witch, Nanny, Melena's no-nonsense caretaker (later her children's), Turtle Heart, the gentle Quadling glassblower, Madame Morrible, the terrible Headmistress of Shiz University, as well as Fiyero the Winkie prince and many others.
But you'll also meet characters that have been given new life, such as the Wizard himself whose origins are revealed, the Tin Man who is a victim of domestic violence, Nessarose the no-armed religious zealot who becomes the Wicked Witch of the East, and Galinda, a rather snooty girl at first, who switches her name to "Glinda" and becomes the sorceress we know as Glinda the Good.
And of course, Elphaba, who becomes the Wicked Witch of the West, and who is possibly one of the best literary characters of this day and age in my personal opinion.
The book does go into detail, and sometimes you'll have to re-read a certain part so the certain part you're reading right now makes sense.
One of my personal favorite things about the book was the relationship between Glinda and Elphaba. In the "college years" part, they are paired off as roomates and don't even bother to talk to each other until one rainy night when they actually have a conversation. After that, they begin to get friendly with each other, but it doesn't really come to its zenith until Glinda's nanny becomes ill and a favorite teacher of Elphaba's is killed. There we see that the two really become best friends, which makes their parting in the Emerald City so sad. They do see each other again at Nessarose's funeral when Elphaba is now the Wicked Witch of the West and Glinda has become Glinda the Good, but they have a little fight, and there is one section in the book that shows the result of their fight: they see each other after the funeral on a path as the Witch leaves, but don't acknowledge each other until they pass and Glinda finally cries out "Oh Elphie"; said person stops but doesn't turn to her, and according to the book, "they never saw each other again." That to me was the most heartbreaking part of the book, as well as the end in which Dorothy triumphs and kills the Witch.
So if you're wondering what all the fuss is about Wicked and what the musical is based off of, or are a fan of Oz and want to see a different take on it, or just want a good read, then this is the book for you!
I also recommend Son of A Witch, which is Wicked's sequel, and A Lion Among Men, the next book in the cycle coming out this October.
645497
Wicked Lovers 10!! Axel. Dillon. I could stop my review there just with those two HOT words. AXEL DILLON. Wicked For You is the 10th book in the Wicked Lovers Series and even though my heart has always been with Deke Trenton (Decadent) I felt myself loving Axel.  Good build up and storyline. Mystery Mullins is a strong, independent lead character who spent years pining for Axel and the excitement of what was on the next page kept me up all night. Read this one in one sitting!!! BRAVO, SHAYLA BLACK ! This is one of your best!
3859176
Wicked All Night by Shayla Black
In Wicked All Night by Shayla Black, Rachel is in a new place in her life after her divorce. After a marriage that left her wanting both physically and emotionally, Rachel is looking to let loose and have some fun.

When Decker is (mistakenly) hired by an unknown man to kill a woman, the minute he sees Rachel's picture, he wants her. When no one else will listen to Decker, he decides it's up to him to protect Rachel and find out the identity of who hired the hit.

Decker does not expect the feelings that Rachel arouses in him...with her he feels like he's finally in the place where he should be, with who he should be with. But will it last? Will Rachel still want him when she finds out who he really is and why Decker was initially with her?

Shayla gives us a whirlwind, very hot and sexy romance in Wicked All Night. Even though Rachel and Decker just met, it was like they had known each other forever. Although Rachel and Decker got together very quickly, the feelings they experienced were very real. Shayla gives us enough background on Rachel so that we can understand her while Decker is a little more mysterious!

Wicked All Night is a fast paced novella and the length of it is perfect for the story that needs to be told. With a great combination of sexiness and mystery you won't be disappointed!

Make Me Yours by Rhyanna Byrd

In Make Me Yours by Rhyanna Byrd, Scott Ryder is now a sheriff's deputy...a much different life than the one he led as a special ops agent under Lily's father. Lily has always loved Scott...the rest of the special ops team she frequently saw were more like brother's to her, but there was something special about Scott. When Scott up and leaves one day with no word to Lily, she was devastated and no man could measure up to Scott.

When Lily manages to escape after a terrorist kills her father, she seeks help from the one person she knows is capable of protecting her - Scott. Lily still loves Scott and is craving his touch. Scott is shocked when he discovers Lily on his doorstep. He feels nothing brotherly towards her, but is convinced now as he was before that he is no good for her and she can do better. But he does know that he can and will protect her.

Lily is determined to have Scott, especially if she doesn't have much time left. Resistance is futile for Scott, and not only does he want to protect Lily, he wants to claim her as his.

Can Lily and Scott survive the danger of a terrorist on the hunt? Will Scott finally be able to see Lily for the woman she is, the woman who wants him, and accept that he is perfect for her?

Make Me Yours is another fast paced, very hot adventure! Lily and Scott quickly get to know each other very intimately and Rhyanna writes these scenes very well! They have known each other in the past, Scott has fought the attraction to Lily, so the quick to sex is appropriate for this novella. Outside of the sex though there is a lot of suspense that Rhyanna manages to draw us into and wonder how Lily and Scott can outsmart a terrorist.

I loved both of these characters. Lily in particular because she truly loves Scott and has her heart set on being with him however he will have her. Instead of seeming desperate, this just screams a woman in love. Lily is a strong, independent woman, but knows when to ask for help. Scott for whatever reason never though he was good enough for Lily. Rhyanna does give us some background on Scott, enough that will help the reader to better understand him.

If you are looking for a fast paced, very sexy romantic suspense, you'll love Make Me Yours!

I liked both of these stories so much I've bought the book for a friend!
3687867
~I received a free copy of this book to read and review for Wicked Reads Review Team~
WOW..I don't even know how to write this review. I am just..wow. All three stories just blew me away. If you like happy love stories, with flowers and rainbows, ummm, you won't find that there. I find myself thinking I must be messed up in the head because I couldn't put this down! You see warnings all the time on books and most of the time you think yeah, whatever and just read the book anyway. Hope you have a twisted mind because you are gonna need it! Dark and twisted lovers will enjoy!
1994333
What a wonderful mystery, such a suspenseful, shocking and totally crazy wicked story!  Loved, LOVED it - to the very end.
1210238
This is the first book that I've read from this author and I have to admit, I loved it! Matilda our main heroine is everything I imagined and more! Throw in a couple of smoking hot Demigods, a crazed Pegasus, and a hit-man and you got a recipe for fun and excitement. This is a quirky, snarky, funny story that will have you laughing out loud at the crazy antics. Cynthia St. Aubin hits a home run with the perfect mix of paranormal, comedy, and steamy romance to keep you flipping the pages wondering what mishaps our band of misfits will find next!
973079
I consider myself more of a fan of novels then short stories but recently I read a great anthology called Someone Wicked which was edited by Weldon Burge and JM Reinbold and available from Smart Rhino Publications. This book is a collection of 21 tales by the Written Remains Writers Guild that cover such genres as horror, comedy, fantasy and mystery. This is one impressive anthology, every story here is well written and each story is different from the last.

One good story in Someone Wicked is Reckonings by Gail Husch. I loved how the main character describes herself in the beginning  and then she gets into all the little things that she does to get vengeance on the people who annoy her. This is a simple story but the way everything is described paints a picture and makes it come to life. The way this one was written made me think this is going be a great anthology and all of the other stories here are just as good.

Reckonings is a  quiet, psychological horror story with a touch of humor. To show the diversity in Someone Wicked the next story is The Flenser by Billie Sue Mosiman. This horror story goes more for the gross out effect but still manages to have interesting characters and a good shocking ending. The Flenser is about a man who gets a job cleaning flesh off of skull so they can be sold to medical facilities. I did not know jobs exsisted like this and it was interesting reading about how these people would interact with others and what their idea of fun might be.

One of my favorites in this book is Mirror, Mirror by Chantal  Noordeloos. This is a dark fantasy story that looks at the legend of bloody Mary. This story begins in 1852 and is told by a girl named Sophie who along with her mother lives on a  plantation. Sophie has a step sister named Marie-Louise who is a bully and likes to make Sophies life hard. In addition to bullying, Sophie has a hard life and her mother along with others end up dying under mysterious circumstances. Sophie feels like an outcast and makes friends with some of the slaves. Here Sophie finds out about the cursed mirror in the house. I loved how this story was told with all the details of life in the mid 1800s and I liked Sophies relationship with the slaves. This was one great horror story on a legend that I didn't know much about.

In addition to the excellent horror stories in this book there is a mystery here called Missing by JM Reinbold, along with some good takes on fairy tales such as Sisters: A Fairy Tale by Liz DeJesus which I would love to see expanded into a novel. I also loved the dramatic Impresario by Maria Masington, this one takes a look at one young persons descent into drug addiction that I think sadly a lot of people can relate to. This book even has some stories that are just for laughs such as The Semi-Aquatic Blue Baker of Borneo by Justynn Tyme which is a hard story to explain, it just has to be read. This anthology has it all and is a book you shouldnt pass up.
4238293
This book is fun, risque, and well written! I did not want to put it down... I had to find out what was going to happen to the well developed characters in this witty story! There's emotion, steamy scenes, and much more! There's a unique realness to these characters not often portrayed in literature! I highly recommend this, and cannot wait to read more by Elizabeth Hayley!

This book is a real "pleasure" to read! (Pun intended) ;)
274342
I found it really interesting how the author wove so many fairy tales together, seasoning with urban fantasy and classic horror, even a little Shakespeare! I did read it for free through Amazon Prime, but will purchase it as soon as I am done with my review, along with prequel 7-10.
3848276
Gregory Maguire first caught my attention with his brilliant retelling of the Wizard Of OZ and so when I saw that he'd worked his magic on Cinderella I was anxious to see where he would take it, he didn't let me down.  It is impossible to review Confessions without comparing it to his earlier piece Wicked - and for good reason.  Part of what will form your opinions of both pieces is the order in which you read them, because whichever you read first will become your favorite of the two - the reason is the surprise and joy you'll get from the way he retells these stories, but when you read the second book, you know what to expect from the other.  But what it all boils down to is they are both brilliant and fun reads.  Don't choose, just read them both!!!
1257776
good on ya!!!!

what a fun, delightful,sassy-in-your-face, all out fun book where magic is maybe real to non-practitioners and death is not always an end.  Riga and her sweetheart Donovan seem to be up to their ears in a constant barrage of paranormal attacks.  sometimes they hit close to home, aimed at the family and sometimes it appears that it is personal; Riga being the true target with others falling victim along the way.

But there is plenty of place for humor and character maturation.  it is great to see the interaction amongst the locations and the players.  great fun whether you pick up the complete set or purchase them one at a time
2492734
Excellent fun read!!!  Loved the characters and being transported to another not-so-different world.  Funny, steamy, and wicked!  I loved it - can't wait to start Book 2!