Best of
Paranormal-Romance

2004

Winter Born


Sherrilyn Kenyon - 2004
    Pandora must learn to trust Dante's foreign nature. But as she slowly succumbs to the truest passion she has ever known, dark forces have already set out to reclaim her... The short story was originally printed in the anthology, Stroke of Midnight.This edition was a free ebook from St. Martin's Press for signing up for a newsletter.

The Wicked and the Wondrous


Christine Feehan - 2004
    Decorated former U.S. Army Ranger Matt Granite, now a contractor, doesn't mind helping- and getting closer to Kate. But when an earthquake exposes a crypt in the mill's foundation, a centuries-old evil threatens to destroy both Christmas and the gift of soul-searing passion Kate's hometown hero wants her to keep forever.... After the Music (Christmas Series #1) Terrified by mysterious threats, Jessica Fitzpatrick takes her twin wards to the island mansion of their estranged father, Dillon Wentworth, a famous musician who shut out the world after a fire claimed his wife's life and left him disfigured. With Christmas approaching, the spark between Dillon and Jessica might light the future, but the evil machinations of those who share his wife's love of the occult may plunge the family into darkness-unless a Christmas miracle occurs....

The Shadows of Christmas Past


Christine Feehan - 2004
     In #1 New York Times bestselling author Christine Feehan’s “Rocky Mountain Miracle,” the sparks flying on a remote ranch could melt all the snow in Wyoming when an injured horse brings together a rugged womanizer with a dangerous reputation and an irresistible veterinarian rumored to cast spells. But does her magic touch work on animals and men? A small town woman is shocked when the injured wolf she takes back to her kennel turns into a man in New York Times bestselling author Susan Sizemore’s “A Touch of Harry.” The only thing more difficult to hide than his stunning escape is the burning desire she feels for this stranger who brings out her wild side.

Dark Hunger


Christine Feehan - 2004
    Immortal. Seer. Now trapped and caged, his honor is compromised by his captors. They’re in his mind. They’re in his blood. And not one can withstand his desire for revenge.She is Juliette…A beautiful activist devoted to the liberation of animals from the foul and humid confines of secret jungle lab. What she has stumbled upon is an unexpected prisoner like no other she has ever seen. Or touched.She will release him from his bonds. He will release her from her inhibitions. Both have a voracious appetite that needs to be sated. And tonight their dark hunger will be fed…Previously published in Hot Blooded. Includes a preview chapter from Christine Feehan’s Dark Storm, out September 2012.

Wild Rain


Christine Feehan - 2004
    Now, thousands of miles from home, under the lush canopy of the rainforest, she’s found sanctuary. But in this world teeming with unusual creatures walks the most exotic of them all. His name is Rio. A native of the forest imbued with a fierce prowess, he is something to be desired. Possessed of secrets of his own, he is something to be feared. As Rachel’s past looms as oppressively as the heat of the forest and Rio unleashes the secret animal instincts that course through his blood, Rachel fears that her isolated haven has become an inescapable hell...

Stroke of Midnight


Sherrilyn Kenyon - 2004
    And when their world touches ours, a primitive desire takes hold, leaving mere mortals powerless in its wake...Four of romance's most intriguing authors have come together to create a mesmerizing anthology--unforgettable tales of vampires, shapeshifters, and werewolves. At the heart of these deeply sensual tales are everyday people facing extraordinary events--men and women thrown together by fate and an irresistible desire. In this world, your eyes can betray you as myth becomes reality, curses are vanquished, and love is the only weapon that can stand in the face of evil. In this world, there is a moment when passion and forbidden desire collide at the... Stroke of Midnight.Winter Born by Sherrilyn KenyonTwo enemy Were-Panthers discover that fate has destined they become lovers. Pandora must learn to trust Dante's foreign nature. But as she slowly succumbs to the truest passion she has ever known, dark forces have already set out to reclaim her... NOTE: This story has been re-released in the Dark Bites anthologyBorn of the Night by Amanda AshleyWhen Lady Shanara Montiori is taken hostage, she learns that the rumors about her captor are true. Lord Reyes is afflicted with the dark curse of the werewolf. Still, Shanara can't fight the attraction they both feel. Will their love break the curse-or feed its powerful hold?Make It Last Forever by L. A. BanksAn innocent mistake forces the beautiful Tara onto a mission to save herself from the dark fate that awaits her. Salvation comes in the form of a seductive biker with a heart of gold. But will surrendering to their ripe attraction unleash a danger even she cannot control?Red Moon Rising by Lori HandelandNovelist Maya Alexander's peace is shattered when she is stalked by a Navaho skinwalker who has taken on the guise of a wolf. Her only hope is the mysterious Clay Philips. In his arms, she seeks protection-but as the red moon rises, no one is safe from the danger that lurks nearby...

Dark Hunger


Dana Kurtin - 2004
    Now she and Berkley take her "out-of-the- ordinary" (Booklist) in a thrilling new direction--and this time it's more graphic than ever. Riordan is an immortal Carpathian male, trapped and caged, his honor compromised by his captors. They're in his mind. They're in his blood. And not one can withstand his desire for revenge. Juliette is an activist devoted to liberating animals from a secret jungle lab. What she stumbles upon is a prisoner like no other. She will release him from his bonds. He will release her from her inhibitions.

Hot Blooded


Christine Feehan - 2004
    She releases the Carpathian from his bonds—only to unleash his voracious appetite on herself…“Awaiting Moonrise” by New York Times bestselling author Maggie ShayneA Science professor enters the steamy bayou to find a new species of animal, convinced that its presence is behind the stories of lycanthropy in the region, but finds herself tempted by a legendary creature straight out of her most sensual nightmare…“The Night Owl” by USA Today bestselling author Emma HollyLittle ever seems to stir in the sleepy woods of a small Vermont town, until a new owner takes over the exclusive local inn. He is centuries old and has traveled far and wide to find his queen—and now nothing will stop him from claiming her…“Seduction’s Gift” by New York Times bestselling author Angela KnightAll’s fair in the war between desire and resistance when a lady cop pulls over a speeder—and finds an immortal lover who is determined to seduce her into accepting her own passionate destiny…

Primal Heat


Lora Leigh - 2004
    A man whose secrets and unquenchable hunger will change her life forever... "Pack Law" by Lorie O'Clare Series: Lunewulf, #1 Pack law states every female shall have three mates. It's a necessary action in order to keep the lunewulf breed alive. Sophie Rousseau has just learned who her three mates will be. And one of them is the sexy Nik Alexander who has invaded her dreams since high school. Though Sophie's nervous about fulfilling pack law, she can't wait to mate with Nik. Nik has lusted after Sophie, wanted her for his mate and mother of his children. He gets his way, but by pack law, Sophie cannot be his alone. Nik will share her with two other werewolves. But only on his terms. "Running Mate" by Jaci Burton Series: Devlin Dynast, #1 Senator Jason Devlin is a man with a secret. A big one that could ruin his political career and his family. He guards his secret closely, allowing no outsiders to penetrate his intimate circle. Kelsey Harper is a reporter itching for an interview with the elusive senator. When a case of mistaken identity lands her in his bed, she gets much more than an interview. "Wolfe's Hope" by Lora Leigh Series: Wolf Breeds , #2Hope believed Wolfe was dead, but he was only waiting for the right time to claim her. He is a man whose DNA was altered, infused with the genetic code of the wolf. His unique genetic makeup has created a male unlike any other and will make itself known in the most surprising ways. Now Hope must convince her mate she hasn't betrayed him, and they must defeat the plans of a scientist gone mad.

Twilight Begins


Maggie Shayne - 2004
    Tamara Dey's entire life has been orchestrated by a DPI scientist intent on using her as bait for the undead he knows are compelled to protect her. Everything she's ever believed has been a lie, and the man she's been told is a monster, Eric Marquand, is the only one telling her the truth.Twilight Memories is the story of the finest character Maggie Shayne has ever created, Rhiannon, once known as Rianikki, daughter of Pharaoh, Princess of Egypt, desired by men and envied by women, she fears nothing. And yet deep within this fiery woman lies an old hurt, a vulnerability and a yearning just to be loved. Roland de Courtemarch is the object of her desire, and really, he should have just surrendered from the start as he never stood a chance.

Man of My Dreams


Sherrilyn Kenyon - 2004
    Now, in this spellbinding collection, today's hottest authors present four devastatingly handsome heroes who can possess a woman's heart and satisfy her late-night yearnings. Let yourself indulge in their mesmerizing stories, and travel into a seductive world wher--when it comes to love--anything is possible...stories included:Fire and Ice by Sherrilyn KenyonDaydream Believer by Maggie ShayneShocking Lucy by Suzanne ForsterMidsummer Night's Magic by Virginia Kantra

Mimosa Grove


Dinah McCall - 2004
    It is this gift—or curse, perhaps—that drove her own mother mad and has left Laurel unwilling to trust in love...except in her dreams.Anxious for a new beginning, she decides to retreat to Mimosa Grove, an old estate outside Bayou Jean, Louisiana. Mimosa Grove belongs to Laurel now, bequeathed by her maternal grandmother. Laurel feels the history and tragedy here, and amidst the primeval beauty she senses something...unfinished. Folks here know about her grandmother's gift and treat Laurel with the same reverence—especially when she is able to help the police find a missing girl. It is then that she sees Justin Bouvier—stranger, soul mate, the man who haunts her dreams. But there is danger here in Mimosa Grove, not from the restless past, but from the deadly present. Laurel must be willing to trust her gift, her love for Justin and, most of all, herself, to stop tragedy and history from repeating themselves.

Windfall


Charlotte Boyett-Compo - 2004
    His heart broken, his spirit crushed, he was sold in marriage to the highest bidder and forbidden to ever see his love again. Lady Gillian Cree, fleeing the unwanted attentions of a man she'd been ordered to marry, stumbles upon a derelect manor house in the midst of a snow storm and discovers true love never dies. A tale of unrequited love, undying devotion, and lovers searching for happiness in a world set against them.

Lifeblood


Werner A. Lind - 2004
    Lind has a brilliant way with words, creating a vivid atmosphere and filling it with characters that come to life with his words." --Diana Bennett, The Midwest Book Review All Ana Vasilifata ever wanted was a simple life, with a good husband, children, and a happy home. What she found was a vampire who made her his bride. And when she fled to England in the winter of 1665, she found a stake at the hands of a fearful and angry mob. Over three hundred years later, an accident reanimates Ana in the quiet town of Meriwether, Iowa. She flees to an abandoned house where she meets Joshua Davidson, a kind-hearted carpenter who helps Ana adjust to this strange place and time. As her friendship with Joshua deepens, Ana begins to hope she can finally find the peace she has always sought. But dangers still haunt her, for even now there are some who believe in the stories of vampires. This time she is not friendless -but, she wonders, would Joshua continue to help her if he knew what she was? And even if he would, could he protect her from all the monsters lurking in the shadows?

The Company You Keep


Penelope Marzec - 2004
    Within her farm lies a deadly gateway for lost souls, a secret that she will do anything to protect. But she doesn't realize that someone else knows the truth she so desperately tries to hide ... and they're willing to kill for it.... Rating: Sensual content and violence.

Passionate Destiny


Dee S. Knight - 2004
    Margaret Amis-Hollings wanted was to find a love that means everything. A love and passion that transcend time. But, after a broken marriage and broken trust, she'd given up finding it. Then she inherited an old house in Virginia. Moving there while repairs are being made, she discovered that such a passion does exist--when a ghost from more than a hundred years ago makes her feel what no man in her own time had. At first, Aaron Belton fears for Margaret's emotional health when he finds that she believes a ghost inhabits her house. But then all he wants is to make her feel the bond for him that she has with the soldier from The War Between the States. Is it possible that they too can find that special passion? A love that crosses ages? The passion that is their destiny?

Sam the NIght Person


Lisa Rusczyk Hazard - 2004
    They hide their powers from society. Sam stays up all night, drinks coffee without pause, chain smokes cigarettes and secretly talks to the moon. Azzy knows it, but doesn't know why or how. Azzy has been having a series of obsessive daydreams about a young man named Sam. He seems to be a magician of sorts. All she knows is that she can't eat, sleep, drive or work. All she can do is think of Sam. She is in love, and she must find him. She follows a daydream to a Colorado lodge where she has seen Sam in her mind. To her astonishment, he appears there the very next day. He doesn't believe her, but who would? Is she crazy? Sam and Azzy have a connection. Where did it come from? And who is behind it all? Of course, there's always a reason for everything. Azzy's daydreams were no accident. Will they be able to withstand the man behind the torment? After years being apart, they find themselves facing the most destructive man of water magic they have ever known. He threatens their love. Together in heart and apart by necessity, they must find a way to stop him.