Led Astray by Kelley Armstrong

RELEASE DATE 15th September 2015


Two brand new tales anchor this wide-ranging collection from one of urban fantasy's most successful authors. Here is the first time that best-selling fantasy, YA, and crime author Kelley Armstrong has had her stories collected from Otherworld and beyond. With her signature twists and turns, Armstrong gives a fresh spin on city-dwelling vampires, werewolves, and zombies, while also traveling further afield, to a post-apocalyptic fortress, a superstitious village, a supernatural brothel, and even to feudal Japan.

With tales that range from humorous to heart-stopping, these are the stories that showcase Kelley Armstrong at her versatile best.



Rakshashi - a standalone story
Rakshasi are almost genie-like creatures that are tied to serving a family until they've atoned for their bad deeds during life. Of course, they don't exactly like this arrangement.

Kat - a Darkest Powers story
Kat and Marguerite are on the run from the Edison group but Marguerite is keeping something from Kat.

A Haunted House Of Her Own - a standalone story
A young couple buy a dream B&B - it's supposed to be haunted but that's what they want. The woman discovers maybe she's bitten off more than she can chew.

Learning Curve - an Otherworld story
An Otherworld based short featuring Zoe Takano who we met in Broken. Zoe discovers she's being stalked by someone.

The Screams Of Dragons - a Cainsville story
A Cainsville short where a young boy starts hearing the screams of dragons and haveing weird dreams. Then the Cainsville residents start treating him strange.

The Kitsune's Nine Tales - an Age of Legends story
A guard leads the Kitsune traitor to the Forest of the Dead. He's been warned about all his tricks along the way.

Last Stand - a standalone story
A virus outbreak means the recently dead are back, the dead and alive are at war. Our main character is a leader and fears for her group as the numbers are dwindling.

Bamboozled - an Otherworld story
A small group of people hunt down wanted criminals but everyone's in for a surprise with their latest hunt.

Branded - an Otherworld story
People live inside the Fortress for safety - outside are where the branded supernaturals live. A young mand and woman hatch a plan for leaving.

The List - an Otherworld story
Someone has made a list of vampires living in Toronto so Zoe goes to check the author out.

Young Bloods - an Otherworld story
A man realises there are two vampires on the train trying to intimdate people into confrontation but they don't realise who he is.

The Door - a standalone story original to this book
A young girl grows up learning to stay away from the door, only her dad is allowed to leave and comes back with food and toys. She always obeyed until the time came where she had to leave.

Dead Flowers By A Roadside - a standalone story
A man is haunted by visions of his wife and child. He keeps himself busy by fixing up the family car.

Suffer The Children - a standalone story
A village have recently lost all their young and elderly to disease so when two guys visit and claim to be able to bring them back, they agree.

The Collector - a standalone story
A puzzle solver takes part in an online puzzle that eventually leads her to an office for the last part - a puzzle box.

Gabriel's Gargoyles - a Cainsville story
A young Gabriel searches for all of Cainsville's garygoyles while also dealing with his mother.

Harbinger - a standalone story
A young woman is haunted by the spectres of drowned girls. She tries to talk to them, she tries to ignore them but they won't go away.

V Plates - an Otherworld story
Reese want to help Noah lose his virginity and asks Nick to help so they go to a brothel but it's not just an ordinary brothel.

Life Sentence - an Otherworld story
Daniel Boyd is dying so he uses his money and remaining time trying to find a way to stop it.

Plan B - standalone story
A man and his mistress hatch a plan to get his wife out of the picture but nothing goes as planned - always have a plan B.

The Hunt - a Cainsville story
A hunter decides to step up the hunting game and move up a level.

Dead To Me - a standalone story
A woman tries to stop her husband's ghost from haunting her home.

Devil May Care - a Cainsville story original to this book
Patrick only returns to Cainsville once in a blue moon and he learns of a prophecy when he's there so decides to avoid it all together.


I loved all these stories and a few of them were new to me either because I hadn't read the original anthology they were in or they're original stories just for this one.

I never have a bad thing to say about Kelley's work and I highly recommend this anthology whether you're new to her or a die hard fan like me. Although if you're new to her, some of these stories may be spoiler-ific or not make sense.

There were a lot of books I had on my Amazon wishlist purely because they contain a Kelley story that I've now been able to remove so ... bonus!


Book Depository:
Amazon UK: Led Astray
Amazon UK: Led Astray

Shards & Ashes by Various Authors

The world is gone, destroyed by human, ecological or supernatural causes. Survivors dodge chemical warfare and cruel gods; they travel the reaches of space and inhabit underground caverns. Their enemies are disease, corrupt corporations and one another; their resources are few, and their courage is tested.

Powerful, original dystopian tales from nine bestselling authors offer bleak insight, prophetic visions and precious glimmers of light among the shards and ashes of a ruined world.

Hearken by Veronica Roth
Hearkeners can hear life songs or death songs, depending on what colour implant they choose - red or black.
Branded by Kelley Armstrong
People live inside the Fortress for safety - outside are where the branded supernaturals live. They're deemed unfit for society - but some have created their own society.
Necklace of Raindrops by Margaret Stohl
Raindrops are a form of currency, you collect them and you use them - however, once they are used up you have to "drop" to your death .... or do you?
Dogsbody by Rachel Caine
Corporate rules all, they make the decisions - life or death. Xavier works his way up to the man responsible for multiple deaths in his childhood to exact revenge.
Pale Rider by Nancy Holder
Dana can find lost things and it turns out she'd involved in a war between fairies and goblins - she has to find some lost fairies.
Corpse Eaters by Melissa Marr
Nidos are an alien race that have taken over the world by means of a religious cult. Harmony & Chris are in a group that are set to bring the Nidos down.
Burn 3 by Kami Garcia
The sun has destroyed the world, everyone now lives in a dome for protection. But there are people kidnapping kids for their skin.
Love is a Choice by Beth Revis
The Eldest rules all and has an heir to take over when he dies, when that heir starts to question the vitamins he's putting in the water, he has to disappear.
Miasma by Carrie Ryan
A plague kills most of the population. Doctors invent monsters that can smell the plague - sufferers must be killed before it can spread.

I enjoyed nearly all the stories in this book, with the exception of one. My favourites (by no surprise) are also by my favourite authors. Branded, Dogsbody, Hearken & Miasma were my four tops. I'd recommend this to any YA fans.


Book Depository: Shards & Ashes
Amazon UK: Shards & Ashes

Don't Read This Book: 13 Forbidden Tales From the Mad City

Down a lonely alleyway, under a starless sky, lies a city that never was, yet is: the Mad City, where nightmares walk the streets, and a good night's sleep can get you killed. Here, then, is a book from that place.
Within these recovered pages are the tales of the Awake, insomniacs who've walked those perilous streets, bringing a bit of the power of dream with them to fight back the night - always at a terrible cost.
For many, it will not end well. For a few, they might just become heroes - or at least find their way back home.
For you, a choice. Turn away. Don't read this book. And maybe you'll continue to rest easy. Or open the cover and enter a world unlike any you've ever dared to imagine!
Don't Read This Book introduces 13 forbidden tales from the Mad City and the world of the Don't Rest Your Head RPG.

Release Date 19th March 2013 (from Netgalley - Goodreads says June 2012)

Based on the RPG Don't Rest Your Head -

Don’t Rest Your Head is a sleek, dangerous little game, where your players are all insomniac protagonists with superpowers, fighting — and using — exhaustion and madness to stay alive, and awake for just one more night, in a reality gone way wrong called the Mad City. It features its own system, and is contained entirely within one book.

Having never heard of this RPG, I went into this with complete newbie eyes. The world has already been built by the game makers so the authors were just putting their own spin on it by writing stories set in or centring around the Mad City.

My opinion of the book can pretty much be summed up in 3 words - creepy, dark & creepy! All those words together equal AWESOME! The Mad City is filled with creep-tastic characters and all the authors have written brilliantly dark stories.

Definitely recommended.


Book Depository: Don't Read This Book
Amazon UK: Don't Read This Book

Vanilla-Free Christmas by Various Authors

This Christmas, the best gifts are waiting for those who have been naughty…

And the toys under the tree are not for children. Sexy Santas, naughty elves, and dominant shifters are ready to spread some very kinky Christmas cheer. It’s a good thing the ladies in our stories are looking for anything but vanilla.

Santa's Beard by Doris O'Connor
Two hot, cursed shifters fulfill a woman's wish for dominant men when Santa undoes the curse that's been laid on them .... so she can get laid by them. (Yes, I just said that. Wrote that?)
The Olympian by Sandra Bunino
An ex-olympic hopeful gets injured when training for the next olympics, a resort employee rescues her and things get steamy in an abandoned cabin.
Three in a Tub by Giselle Renarde
A woman gets her threesome dream for real when her boyfriend sets it up with a bathtub installer and the bath gets christened in an sexy way.
A Few of My Favourite Things by Seleste deLaney
A sequel to deLaney's other shorts in previous Evernight Publishing anthologies. An elf doesn't want her BDSM secret to hold her back from a relationship with a new guy but he's interested in learning more for her.
The Man Inside by Lila Shaw
Two office workers that flirt online finally get together in person but he can only do it behind a disguise .... or in front of a camera.
Who's Been Naughty and Nice? by Vanessa Devereaux
A boss feels the need to not be in charge any more and joins an agency that will help grant her wish to be dominated. A blizzard means they're stuck together for the night and things get steamy afterwards.
Secrets Santa by Raven McAllan
"Santa" brings a woman's fantasy to fruition at an office party, turns out "Santa" is an old acquaintance that knows EXACTLY what she wants.
Faith's Gift by R. Brennan
Doing a favour for a friend, a woman meets a sexy Dom who shows her what a good time is .... and she wants more.
A Very Furry Christmas by Jorja Lovett
A polar bear lover finally finds someone who doesn't find her plushie kink a turn off .... him wearing a polar bear outfit helps a little.

Another sexy christmas anthology from Evernight Publishing following 'Twas a Dark and Delicious Christmas and Stockings & Suspenders and it really lives up to its predecessors. Every story is definitely vanilla free (except The Olympian, I didn't think there was anything un-vanilla about that one) and definitely hot - although I found all the teddy bears in the furry one a bit weird.

I've loved all the anthologies from Evernight and will continue to buy them as they continue to publish them.


Vanilla-Free Christmas is available from Evernight Publishing.

Stockings & Suspenders by various authors

As the temperature drops, the women in this collection of stories find naughty and delicious ways to warm up for the holidays.

A boss with a proposal to make her sweat, a promise from an Italian assistant, a cabin in the middle of nowhere with two men waiting to cater to her every desire, a special surprise for a lonely solider...

All of these encounters and more from ten talented authors. Get ready for some holiday loving...Evernight style.

So, much like I did with 'Twas a Dark and Delicious Christmas, I'm going to do a little mini review for each story.

The Proposal by London Saint James
Grace gets an interesting proposal from her boss, Draven.
I really enjoyed Grace's voice in this wee story. And the sex was really fun, a little for your voyeuristic side.

Chasing Miss Kringle by C.R. Moss
PI Jack gets dragged into a hunt for and elf, only Kristina turns out to be more than he baragined for.
Jack as a narrator was okay and the story was good. The sex scenes were okay as well. Not the best in the anthology but still a light, fun read.

Snow Angel by Jezebel Jorge
Author Minerva gets stuck in a snow drift on her way to see her family for christmas but gets rescued by sexy stranger, Brian.
As a lead female, Minerva was kind of annoying and while the sex was okay, there were too many spelling and editing mistakes for my liking. It throws the whole run of a story if I'm constantly fixing things in my head.

Naughty & Nice by Lila Shaw
Succubus Chrissy gets Santa's outsourced sexy gift requests and this year she gets sent to a tiny island with Lt. Ramsay.
I enjoyed Chrissy as a narrator and the story was okay with some fun sex in there too.

Making the Naughty List by Seleste deLaney
Elf Daisy gets a special assignment from Santa to try and get Gage off the naughty list.
This is actually a continuation from Seleste's story in 'Twas a Dark and Delicious Christmas. A really fun story with a likeable narrator and some great sex. Anything with light bondage always gets my attention.

A Very Naughty Christmas by Carolyn Rosewood
Nita gets lost on the way to see her family but luckily for her, Cameron and Alex are more than happy to take her in from the snow.
Wow! Really, that's all I have to say about this one. Just .... wow!! Threesomes FTW!

Promises by Xondra Day
Leda asks her employee Joey to spend the night when he seems stranded at work.
There were a few mistakes in this story as well but not enough to distract me from the great sex.

Santa's Little Helper by Kelly Yeakle
Miranda needs a job before her dad cuts off her trust fund money. Luckily, Craig has a position he'd like her to fill.
A sweet little turn-your-life-around story with a fairly likeable lead and a hot guy.

Mistletoe Masquerade by Alaska Angelini
Jeanie gets invited to a masquerade by a secret admirer. Little realising that Jared & Edward have some big plans for her.
I really like Jeanie's voice, shy woman exploring her sexual interests. Again, threesomes FTW!

Letter to Santa by Lee Ann Sontheimer Murphy
Lonely Elise writes a letter to Santa asking for one thing - a lover.
Elise is an exceedingly cute lead and there is some great sex in this wee story.


Amazon UK: Stockings and Suspenders

A Clockwork Christmas Anthology by Carina Press

We Wish You A Steampunk Christmas

Changed forever after tragedy, a woman must draw strength from her husband’s love. A man learns that love isn’t always what you expect. A thief steals the heart of a vengeful professor. And an American inventor finds love Down Under. Enjoy Victorian Christmas with a clockwork twist in these four steampunk novellas.

Release Date 5th December 2011

Rather than write a review of the book in general, I thought I'd review each story separately.

Crime Wave In A Corset by Stacy Gail
Roderick Coddington is on a mission to make Cornelia Peabody pay. After identifying her as the thief who stole a priceless Fabergé egg from his dying sister, he finds her and shackles a deadly timepiece to her arm. If she doesn’t return the egg by Christmas morning, she will die.

Normally seven days is more than enough time for Cornelia to carry out the perfect crime, but Roderick’s intrusion into her life is beyond distracting. He challenges her mind, and ignites her body with desire she’s never felt before. But worst of all, he threatens the independence she values above all else...

As Roderick spends time with Cornelia, he realizes there’s a lonely soul hidden beneath her beautiful but criminal veneer. Falling for a thief wasn’t part of Roderick’s plan, but plans can change and he has no intention of letting another priceless treasure get away from him.

First thing's first, I loved the title of this story. Don't know why, but I did.
The story was interesting and the characters likeable. And, as for any Carina Press story, the sex scenes are always heat inducing!

This Winter Heart by PG Forte
Eight years ago, Ophelia Leonides’s husband cast her off when he discovered she was not the woman he thought she was. Now destitute after the death of her father, Ophelia is forced to turn to Dario for help raising the child she never told him about.

Dario is furious that Ophelia has returned, and refuses to believe Arthur is his son — after all, he thought his wife was barren. But to avoid gossip, he agrees to let them spend the holidays at his villa. While he cannot resist the desire he still feels for Ophelia, Dario despises himself for being hopelessly in love with a woman who can never love him back.

But Dario is wrong: Ophelia’s emotions are all too human, and she was brokenhearted when he rejected her. Unsure if she can trust the man she desperately loves, she fears for her life, her freedom and her son if anyone else learns of her true nature...

An enjoyable story with a very likeable female lead and a bastard-come-nice-guy of a male lead. I liked Ophelia from the get go and Dario was a meanie to start but soon realised how much he loved his wife.

Wanted: One Scoundrel by Jenny Schwartz
All suffragette Esme Smith wants is a man. A scoundrel to be precise. Someone who can be persuaded to represent her political views at men-only clubs. As the daughter of the richest man in Australia, Esme can afford to make it worth the right man’s while.

Fresh off the boat, American inventor Jed Reeve is intrigued by Esme’s proposal, but even more interested in the beauty herself. Amused that she takes him for a man who lives by his wits, he accepts the job — made easier by the fact that he already shares her ideals. Soon, he finds himself caught up in political intrigue, kidnapping and blackmail, and trying to convince his employer he’s more than just a scoundrel...

Again, a good story with likeable characters. This time I loved the male lead first, he was sexy! Esme was strong hearted and independent, a must (I think) for any steampunk book.

Far From Broken by JK Coi
Soldier. Spymaster. Husband.

Colonel Jasper Carlisle was defined by his work until he met his wife. When the prima ballerina swept into his life with her affection, bright laughter and graceful movements, he knew that she was the reason for his existence, and that their love would be forever.

But their world is shattered when Callie is kidnapped and brutally tortured by the foes Jasper has been hunting. Mechanical parts have replaced her legs, her hand, her eye ... and possibly her heart. Though she survived, her anger at Jasper consumes her, while Jasper’s guilt drives him from the woman he loves. He longs for the chance to show her their love can withstand anything ... including her new clockwork parts.

As the holiday season approaches, Jasper realizes he must fight not just for his wife’s love and forgiveness ... but also her life, as his enemy once again attempts to tear them apart.

Instant pity for Callie and love for Jasper. A slightly different take on other steampunks I've read in that the woman is the one given all the power.



So, a good anthology of fun steampunkiness. I liked seeing what steampunk gadgets and inventions the four different authors came up with, they were all different and some of them I'd like to see in this day and age.


Amazon UK: A Clockwork Christmas

'Twas a Dark and Delicious Christmas

From the keeper of Santa’s naughty list, delightful little Elves eager to please, and the sensual love of a toy soldier—the holidays are filled with orgasmic cheer. Where wishes come true, Frosty is itching for a melt-down, fairies and angels are randy to grant your every wish, ‘tis the season to be oh, so jolly-filled.

Unwrap your darkest desires…for this is Christmas, and it will never be the same.

I was planning on doing a general review of the book as a whole but I decided to do a mini review of each tale.

Santas's Naughty List by Stacey Espino
I admit it was a bit weird to read an erotic story starring Santa but it was hot. And don't worry, Santa's not the sex interest.
3/5

My Boys by Amarinda Jones
More elves here as well as angels. A worrying thought for me was that this story, as well as the above, had a female lead who got very turned on by intruders. I hope it's not a trend! Fun sex scenes though. *fans self* Very fun.
3.5/5

A Christmas Curse by Ericka Scott
As good as the previous two stories were, I was glad to finally read one that had a proper story attached to it. Otherwise I feel like I'm just reading porn!
4/5

The Little Red Ribbon by A.D. Blackburn
Nice story and a likeable male lead. Although, again, I felt like I was just reading porn.
4/5

Once Upon a Christmas Spanking by Rachel Clark
A very enjoyable BDSM based tale. Focusing on how a couple can be together and not let each other know what they want in the bedroom.
5/5

Yes Alana, There is a Santa Claus by Seleste deLaney
Nice story with a likeable leading lady. My only problem with this story is that I know the author personally, and consider her a friend (even if we live in different countries) so I couldn't help but picture her in the lead role. Which isn't a bad thing! Don't get me wrong, Sel's hawt as fuck but it's just weird picturing your friend having sex!
5/5

Carly's Delights by Lauren Pilla
What a kewl take on elves. Very cute story ~ well, cute and sexy ;)
5/5

Kingdom of Sweets by Gigi Brevard
A bit of a weird take on Nutcrackers, I'll never look at one the same way again.
3.5/5

Holly's Clause by Kerri Nelson
A demonic twist on a slightly porn-ish storyline. I do not mean that in a bad way but in a delivery man "I have a big package for you" way.
5/5

Hard for the Holidays by Skylar Sinclair
A few spelling errors in this one, instant turn off for a reader like me. Not too sure how I feel about an erotic story about Santa! It all seemed so .... wrong, lol.
2.5/5

The Christmas Fae by Emma Shortt
A sweet story about the cutest sounding fairy ever. I had the hugest crush on her after reading this one.
4/5

Jack Frost by Misty Burke
A hot little take on Jack Frost.
4/5

A Christmas Wish for Laura by Shannan Albright
Another nice (and sexy) take on Jack Frost
5/5


So all in all 'Twas a Dark and Delicious Christmas is the perfect book for making you hot on those cold winter nights. There's a bit of something for everyone in here ranging from oooh-hooo-mamma sex to grab-the-headboard sex.

Just became available in print form today as well, direct from Evernight Publishing.

Amazon UK: 'Twas a Dark and Delicious Christmas