If This Bed Could Talk [Mass Market Paperback]

"Agent Provocateur" by Liz Maverick: Vienna James is about to die until wealthy twins Michael and Devlin Kingston decide she'll be perfect to exact their revenge on a hated enemy. All she has to do is seduce him, then bring back proof. Only one of the twins is falling for Vienna - will he be able to stand by and watch her make love to another man in order to please his brother?

Having read a previous story by Ms. Maverick that disappointed me called "Kiss or Kill", I was pleasantly surprised by the heat and emotional intensity of this story, and I enjoyed it very much. Vienna is fighting for her life, but she is not cold-hearted or vindictive. Both her and the twin training her for the assignment in seduction connect immediately, and it is a very powerful bond. I would love to see more of these two...maybe Ms. Maverick will write the other twin's story???

"Unrequited" by Kimberly Dean: Ty is has always been in love with his brother's wife Trista, and now that she's free, he sets out to win her heart. But when she goes out with other man, all bets are off on a slow and tender seduction. Ty has waited long enough for his woman, and this time there is no question as to how he feels. But does Trista feel the same way?

Hands-down, this was my favorite story in the anthology. I am a sucker for those unrequited love stories, or friends who fall in love. Ty is a very sexual man who has tempered his basic urges to court the woman who owns his heart, and Trista needed a friend after a nasty divorce, so it only made sense that he took it slow. She has no idea of the depth of his feelings, only that Ty was there for her when she needed someone to lean on. Reluctantly getting back into the dating scene finally gets Ty to declare himself, and for Trista to give her heart to a man who truly deserves it this time - her friend and her lover. Loved it. Ty is my kind of hero ;)

Victim of Deception by Lynn LaFleur: Karessa Austin has just lost a beloved member of her family and inherited the family home. In the process of updating it so she can move in has her hiring a construction crew to make some subtle changes to update the house but to retain its charming character. One of the crew members is a man from her past, a man who broke her heart and one she never wants to see again. Little does she know that not is all as it appears and Max Hennessey has more than one reason for coming back into Karessa's life...least of which is to re-capture her heart....

This story has some paranormal elements to it that add to the poignancy of the story. I thought it was a little too convenient that Karessa forgave Max as easily as she did, but then she still loved him, and Max did regret the past way he treated her and had to live with that decision for many years. The HEA was very satisfying and clever.

Grade: 4 stars out of 5. Very sensual, and will definitely give readers who crave a hotter short story what they are looking for along with a lot of emotion. The love scenes are very intense and not cold in the least - you feel the strong connection between characters almost immediately. I believe all the authors have written for either Ellora's Cave or Red Sage "Secrets", both lines are ones I enjoy very much. I would recommend this for anyone who has been hesitant to pick up a book by EC because it's not quite as explicit, but definitely generates a lot of heat.

Overall I was very pleased with how well I enjoyed this book. If you have read many erotica short stories like I have, than you understand how hard it is to find a story that doesn't make you roll your eyes to the back of your head. This has to be some of the better stories I've read.

"Agent Provocateur" - Two and a half stars. A futuristic tale of a woman who is purchased at an open market by brothers Michael and Devlin, thus saving her life from a death sentence. The alluring blonde Vienna is a beautiful, tough-as-nails heroine. She is not a feminine or demure type, and she trusts no one but herself. The brothers intend to use her as bait - her job to attract and seduce an enemy. However, the real attraction and seduction happens between her and Michael. While Michael is busy "training" her for her new role as a seductress, they develop a lust and love for each other.

I felt this story didn't develop the lead hero and heroine into likeable or engaging characters. Exactly how and when they fell in love escaped me, as there wasn't much endearing conversation between these two. He forces himself on her as if she was his property, and oddly she never refuses him or fights back despite the lack of respect he shows her. I had trouble believing she would be the type who would simple allow his to use her is such a manner -- erotic though it was.

"Unrequited" - Four and a half stars. This was my favorite of the three stories. Trista and Ty make a great hero and heroine duo. They are very likable, sexy and believable characters. Ty has been pining over Trista for several years, but was unable to voice his affection because Trista was married to his two-timing jerk of a brother. After the divorce he became a huge part of her life as a close friend and handyman, but he held off making a move to give her time to adjust. However, nine months after the divorce he sees her out on a date and about flips with jealousy. Realizing he can no longer wait to reveal his true feelings, his fury brings out the yummy, sexy alpha male in him and he seduces her hard. Over and over and over. Oh yeah, this was definitely my favorite.

"Victim of Deception" - Three and a half stars. This is probably the most erotic story of the three, with strong graphic language and even some risqué anal sex scenes. I typically don't like such graphic language and risqué behavior in my romance novels, but the author does a fantastic job weaving this story into a real loving romance with steam. I was surprised how much I liked this story. There are actually two romances going on. The first are the ghosts Aaron and Mary - the great, great grandparents to Karessa. They are madly in love with each other, but as ghosts they have to be creative in how to engage sexually with each other. You will love them and route for their story. The other couple is Karessa and Max. Their story begins 5 years earlier when Max broke Karessa's heart. He chose money and career over a relationship with her, something he has regretted every day since. Now they are reunited due to a deceptive role Max is playing, and they fall prey to the ghosts. The only issue I had with this story is how she quickly forgave his many misdeeds -- including the deceptive reason he is even in her house! - was way too quick for even a farce of a story. But overall it was a very good, erotic story.

I'll confess up front that Kimberly Dean's name on the cover sealed the sales deal for this anthology with me. I am a die-hard fan of her stories, but came away very pleased with the other two installments as well. I love a good spicy read, and "If This Bed Could Talk" more than delivered on a heart-pounding, steamy collection of red-hot love. They're fast paced, yet very satisfying.

"Agent Provocateur" by Liz Maverick was an interesting story with an alternate modern reality. Maverick is well known for penning awesome sci-fi romance reads, but here she tones down the sci-fi and kicks the red-hot love into overdrive. Vienna James is a weapons specialist whose luck has run out. She's in prison and about to be exterminated--unless an interested party buys her indentured servitude. Michael Kingston and his brother are looking for a little revenge and they think Vienna is perfect to carry out their plans. Michael takes the bombshell beauty under his wing, personally ensuring her training reaches the required level of naughty needed to carry out the mission. Maverick really impressed me with this short, as she turns away from the strong sci-fi elements I'm used to from her and pens a strong, hot tale of erotic love. Michael and Vienna are a pulse pounding pair that I was engrossed with the entire story through.

"Unrequited" by Kimberly Dean was, of course, my favorite. Her personal style of erotic writing has always appealed and she's an automatic buy for me. Trista is ready to put her miserable ex hubby and marriage behind her. It's time for a date and another local businessman, Cliff, is her choice for a disastrous first experience. When she sees her ex brother-in-law while out with Cliff, her mortification is complete. But when the sexy muscle bound ex-brother construction worker follows her home, it's the beginning of the most erotic experiences of her life. Will Trista be able to reconcile her feelings for someone who's always been a dear friend? This was a superb read, very emotional and endearingly sweet to read. Dean has that blend of erotic and nice down pat. Her stories never fail to set my pulse to pounding and she gets better with every story produced. Another great recent read of hers for me was "High School Reunion".

"Victim of Deception" by Lynn LaFleur is about Karessa, a young woman of past heartache troubles. Her great aunt left Karessa her old home and Karessa feels an instant pull, and strange sensations, from the charming house. Little does she know that two people remain trapped inside and Karessa is the key to releasing their ethereal forms. When fate brings the cad that broke her heart back into her life, the two cannot resist the temptations of a love that never died. This story was a very interesting one, one of past love, in two different situations, that is put to rights. I had a hard time believing in Max's transformation to an honest man, but his love for Karessa shines through at the end. As for the ghosts, I could have done without their strange love scenes, which distract from the main characters, but despite that, their resolution was interesting to read about. LaFleur writes for Ellora's Cave and is well worth the effort of checking into further.

K. Montgomery
Official Reviewer for The Mystic Castle