Private Places [Paperback]

"The Men and Women's Club" by Robin Schone. In 1887 London, the Men and Women's Club has been meeting to discuss sexology, but now face a law suit. Member Professor Joseph Manning demands London Museum publicist Miss Ardelle Dennison give back what she took from him two years ago, his virginity.

"A Night at the Theater" by Claudia Dain. In 1782 at the London theater, French exile Zoe Auvray loses her acting position because of the machinations of untalented Miranda Sinclair. Zoe's best friend scandalous courtesan Sophie Grey says she needs a wealthy patron and suggests the married Duke of Aldeth; Sophie also says she will marry the Earl of Daltry. Bets occur over who will end up with whose penis

"The Decidedly Devilish Duke" by Allyson James. In 1835 Surry, Duke Michael Beaulieu still regrets his actions that drove his beloved Amelia to the late Lockwood and him into a decade exile in the Ottoman Empire. He knows he still loves Amelia; to keep her safe from her odious cousin in law he offers to marry her and vows he will not touch her if she chooses.

"Hunter's Mercy" by Shiloh Walker. In 1783 Williamsburg, Virginia, Jack Callahan comes home after fighting for American independence. Three years ago, his best friend Richard Harper died in his arms, but made him vow he would take care of the his sister Mercy. Jack is a werewolf like his paternal ancestors, but also a hunter who kills feral werewolves. As Jack and Mercy fall in love, he has no hope because she feels werewolves are an abomination.

The lead couples are developed enough so readers will like their tales while the historical settings come across as solid background and the sex scenes are well written and fit inside the story lines. Although the Shiloh Walker entry is excellent, fans will feel it is out of place as the only paranormal in what is a fine erotic historical romance anthology.

Harriet Klausner

THE DECIDELY DEVILISH DUKE by Allyson James
Michael Beaulieu, the Duke of Bretherton, and Amelia Lockwood once shared a love but misunderstandings and overblown pride forced them in different directions. Ten years later, both widowed, they're brought together again courtesy of a card game with very high stakes - marriage. Just when they think a happily ever after is possible Amelia's greedy cousin threatens to destroy everything but maybe challenging her Duke to a private game of piquet will yield just the results she desires.

Sexually charged and infinitely gratifying. Allyson James ensures readers will be captivated by this storyline and enchanted by these characters as they struggle to make a happy marriage. I eagerly read each page anxious to find out just how Michael and Amelia outwit her cousin at his own game.


A NIGHT AT THE THEATER by Claudia Dain
Zoe Auvray, an actress without a part, and Sophia Grey, a seasoned courtesan, are intent on enacting a little revenge against the people who've wronged them. The best revenge either of them can think of is to humiliate their opponents and cement a place for themselves with eligible handsome men.

I thoroughly enjoyed Zoe and Sophia's attitudes. They're high spirited and make no apologies for their behavior which make them delightfully wicked heroines. Claudia Dain gives an entirely plausible accounting of the lives of actresses and courtesans of the time period.


HUNTER'S MERCY by Shiloh Walker
The Revolutionary War cost many Americans everything but for Mercy the loss of her brother to the war and her husband to the demons who attacked him in their home is too much to bear. She's gone out of her way to hunt the demons but now they're targeting her - all except one. Jack promised Mercy's brother that he'd look out for her but can he truly protect her without losing his heart to her?

Shiloh Walker is well known for her intense storylines that take the readers breath away and HUNTER'S MERCY achieves that status beautifully. Jack and Mercy are a unique couple with some heavy issues to overcome.


THE MEN AND WOMEN'S CLUB by Robin Schone
Ardelle Dennison and Joseph Manning are in big trouble. As founders of a club that explore various sexual desires and ways to enhance pleasure they're about to be publicly exposed in a 1887 London trial. While they admit to a fascination with the sexual arts, entrusting each other with their true desires, fantasies and secrets from their pasts is extremely difficult but more than gratifying when they find themselves locked in a museum together.

Robin Schone allows readers to step into the heart and minds of these two enchanting characters. Neither of them have admitted their true feelings to each other or even themselves therefore their time together is intense and full of emotional honesty.


PRIVATE PLACES consists of four historical tales told by some of today's hottest authors. Each story has its own distinct `flavor' and wonderfully imaginative tone that ensures readers will have a great time delving into the authors words. If you enjoy historical storylines that contain a more erotic undertone then PRIVATE PLACES is for you.

Chrissy Dionne (courtesy of Romance Junkies)

Overall this book did not live up the expecations I had. I did not find as much heated erotica as the book claimed. The James and Walker stories ranked as 4's for me while the Dain and Shone ranked 1's.

Allyson James's The Decidedly Devilish Duke was the best of the four. The characters had a definite chemistry and the story was entertaining. I will look for additional title by Ms. James.

Shiloh Walker's Hunters Mercy was quite good and as I have read her before it was not unexpected to have the paranormal be the focus of the story.

Claudia Dain's A Night at the Theater had so many characters it was hard to figure out who did what to who. She alluded to the backgrounds of the lead characters and I would have liked to have that clearly stated. I found it convoluted and hard to follow.

Robin Shone's The Men and Women's Club was very dark and emotionless for the most part. It seemed the two got together more because they had bad experiences as children than because they wanted to be together. The characters were not very well developed and the story line not to my taste.

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