Gladys Loder. Brown hair, brown eyes, skinny, tall-as ordinary as they come. Liberty Wainwright. An extraterrestrial archaeologist who lives by the rules. Chastity Tilson. Privileged, beautiful, fiercely independent. The Bad Boys: Jaz Scavenge. Red hair so dark it's almost purple, eyes a lighter shade-cherry cough drop red, to be exact. Brady St. James. Ebony hair, cobalt eyes-a man called the Saint, though he is anything but. Darian Dare the Devil Acer. Deeply tanned, dark of hair and eye-the ultimate in masculine perfection. Charming the Snake: Good girls, bad boys, sinners and saints-it takes a special passion to charm the snake. Gladys and Jaz, Libby and Brady, Chassy and Dare. Three clashing couples, three laugh-out-loud lusty futuristic erotic romances from: New York Times & USA Today Bestselling Author MaryJanice Davidson and introducing Camille Anthony and Melissa Schroeder.

     --- Their wolves are howling at the moon. Their human halves are on different planets. Lone wolf Shaun Stevens’s automatic response to the words “happily ever after”? Kill me now. Yet with all his friends settling down he’s begun to think there may actually be something to this love-and-roses crap. One thing’s for sure: his dream mate will have to out-cuss, out-spit and out-hike him. So he never expected the one to push his forever button would be a blue-blooded Southern debutante with a voice as dark and velvety as her skin. When Gemmita Jacobs steps off the plane in Whitehorse, Yukon, it’s about more than her caribou research project. It’s her declaration of independence from an overprotected upbringing. Except there’s something in the air she can’t quite define—something that unexpectedly rouses her mating instincts. Moments after their eyes lock, the deed is done—and done thoroughly. When the pheromone dust settles, though, all the reasons they don’t belong together become painfully clear. It’s enough to make a wolf learn a whole new set of cuss words…

     Suspenseful, surprising, sometimes dark, sometimes humorous-these all-new stories will ensure that readers never think of vampires (or birthdays) in quite the same way again. In New York Times bestselling author Charlaine Harris's "Dracula Night," Sookie Stackhouse is the only human at the annual commemoration of Dracula's birth. But this year, the Prince of Darkness actually shows up-and finds Sookie to be a tasty-looking present. New York Times bestselling author Jim Butcher's crime-solving wizard Harry Dresden, of the Dresden Files novels, heads to a role-playing party to give his vampire brother a birthday present in "It's My Birthday Too," only to discover there are some bloodthirsty party crashers who don't share their brotherly love. In "Twilight," Cassandra DuCharme, who appeared in New York Times bestselling author Kelley Armstrong's Dime Store Magic, knows she has to kill to live as a vampire another year-but finds herself disturbingly disinterested in the hunt. Plus ten more bloody good birthday stories that take the cake.Contents xi • Preface: A Few Words (Many Bloody Returns) • (2007) • essay by Charlaine Harris and Toni L. P. Kelner1 • Dracula Night • [Sookie Stackhouse 4.3] • shortstory by Charlaine Harris21 • The Mournful Cry of Owls • novelette by Christopher Golden50 • I Was a Teenage Vampire • novelette by Bill Crider73 • Twilight • [Women of the Otherworld Short Fiction 7.2] • novelette by Kelley Armstrong100 • It's My Birthday, Too • [The Dresden Files 9.2] • novella by Jim Butcher146 • Grave-Robbed • [Vampire Files] • novelette by P. N. Elrod176 • The First Day of the Rest of Your Life • [The Morganville Vampires: Extras 2.5] • novelette by Rachel Caine201 • The Witch and the Wicked • novelette by Jeanne C. Stein230 • Blood Wrapped • [Henry Fitzroy] • novelette by Tanya Huff254 • The Wish • shortstory by Carolyn Haines265 • Fire Ice and Linguini for Two • [Garnet Lacey 2.5] • novelette by Lyda Morehouse [as by Tate Hallaway ]290 • Vampire Hours • novelette by Elaine Viets318 • How Stella Got Her Grave Back • novelette by Toni L. P. Kelner

    He travels from NYC to sunny Colorado to find his destined bride. His delicate mission: to explain to her that vamps exist, that he happens to be one himself, and that he d like her to be one, too. But the moment he lays eyes on Helena MacAllister, talk is the last thing on his mind.It s not like Helena to make out with a stranger on her front porch, much less invite him into her bed. Somehow Alex makes her feel safe, even while he s dismantling her defenses. But in the wake of an accident, her faith in him is shattered. She learns her dream lover is a monster.When a vampire betrays and terrifies his beloved, what can he offer her to make it up? Pancakes, of course. It s a start, at least. And Alex has to think of the next step quick, because if Helena won t take him back, he ll never love again."

    B. Reynolds come nine stories of seduction and intrigue set in her Vampires in America universe. Note: This is a 122 page compilation of SHORT STORIES, not a full-length novel.For the first time in print … The Vampire Vignettes, originally appearing on D. B. Reynolds’ blog, some of the Vignettes are mere glimpses of life between the books, sensual interludes from New Year’s Eve on the beaches of Malibu, to love in a penthouse over Manhattan. Others continue the stories told in the books, including a challenge fought on a snowy night in Montreal. And all of them take the reader behind the scenes with the author’s ultimate alpha Vampire Lords and their beautiful and independent mates. And Never Before Published – Two brand new, full-length short stories. You Belong To Me follows Duncan and his mate Emma as they consolidate power in his new territory, while generating plenty of heat in private. And then it’s time for The Wedding, as readers join Rajmund and Sarah for their big weekend ... and Cyn’s girls-night-out bachelorette party. Unfortunately, some local kidnappers have other plans, and Cyn and Sarah will have to outwit their abductors before Raphael and Raj start hunting, and the entire wedding is ruined!Be aware! There is sex in these stories. And we wouldn’t have it any other way! Enjoy.

    A pair of scorching shapeshifter romance novellas by two of the genre’s hottest New York Times bestselling authors:Shelly Laurenston's Miss CongenialityCynthia Eden's Wicked Ways*-*From Shelly Laurenston -- Miss Congeniality (Magnus Pack, #3.5; Pride, #0.75; Smith's Shifter World, #3.5) It's those damn stockings that get me every time. They have this sexy little line down the back and I can't help but stare at her legs -- constantly. And you'd think she'd be all over me like every other female in the Seattle area. I'm young, good looking, and one day I'll be Alpha Male of my family's Pack. But Professor Irene Conridge acts like I don't even exist. How is that possible? Now she's got enemies coming out of the woodwork and I have to protect her.Why? Because that's the kind of man I am. Yes, I am that amazing. Of course, it doesn't hurt that while I work to secure her safety, she'll be hanging out at my house. That's hours -- days even -- that I've got Professor Irene Conridge -- right where I want her.*-*From Cynthia Eden -- Wicked WaysI'm too dangerous for her. I know it -- but I can't get my sexy new neighbour out of my head. When I hear her scream one night, the absolute last thing I expect to see is Miranda Shaw -- star of my hottest fantasies -- being attacked by a vampire! Now the undead jerk is after her, and I am the only thing standing between the beautiful lady and a killer who just won't stop. Well, too bad for him, because that vamp has just made the worst mistake of his afterlife -- he's tangled with a former FBI agent, who is also a jaguar-shifter of considerable power ...Sparks fly between Miranda and me -- despite her reluctance -- but she's so busy watching out for the vamp, that she won't see me closing in on her -- not until it's too late -- and I'm about to show her just how wild I can get ... Is she ready for the feral intensity of my animal state?

    Stockbroker Juliette Bishop gets more than she bargained for when she flies to New Orleans to handle a business matter for her ailing father and comes face to face with her former lover, the handsome, yet mysterious Andre Lescarbeau.* This Sweetblood World short story (dark vampire romance) was originally published in the Mammoth Book of Southern Gothic Romance.

    Drop-dead gorgeous bosses only fall in love with their administrative assistants in the movies, right? Besides, she's full-figured and plain, nothing like the flawless, cultured females in his world. Still, no other man has existed for Sheila since she met Nick. All her erotic fantasies revolve around being at the mercy of this powerful man and his sexy, commanding voice. When Nick sells Tarantino Investments, Shelia is heartbroken and sure her fantasies will never come true. But when she receives a mysterious invitation, her life changes.forever.

    With an unrewarding job and a failed marriage, no one would confuse her life with a fairy tale. So when she is kidnapped and taken to a magical world to be the grand prize in a fierce and bloody tournament, she isn't sure if she is in a dream or a nightmare. Beckett Finn was supposed to be Prince Charming. He and his brother, Cian, were to inherit the throne of the Seelie Fae and rule over a fantasy kingdom. But the thrust of a traitor's blade stole that future. Now the brothers are fading, cursed by their royal blood unless they find a mate who can restore them.When Beck sees Meg, her body calls to him and he knows she is the key to their salvation. Bound by passion and fate, it's time for Meg to find her happily ever after. ** A Siren Erotic Romance - [#390 Siren Menage Everlasting: Erotic Fantasy Menage a Trois Romance, M/F/M, BDSM, spanking]

    Some men want you not only for your body, but your brains. Especially your brains.It’s true! There are men out there who care—early-rising, down-to-earth, indefatigable men who’ll follow you for miles. They’ll take the time to surprise you, over and over. One sniff of that perfume, and you’ll have to use a shotgun to fight them off. And then, once you get together, all they want is to share a nice meal. And another. And another.Romeo and Juliet, eat your hearts out."Bring Out Your Dead" by Katie MacAlister"Gentlemen Prefer Voodoo" by Angie Fox"Zombiewood Confidential" by Marianne Mancusi"Every Part of You" by Lisa Cach

    Little does she know, Studs for Hire is no ordinary escort service, but a cover for a mate-finding business for lonely immortals. Nicholas has spent centuries searching for his true mate, and finally finds her in a lovely date for the night. He falls for the shy beauty right away, but how will she react when she learns the truth about Studs for Hire? And that he's a vampire.

    But that was then. This is now. As a marine biologist, Maris Xayer is used to observing all types of marine life, but she never imagined she’d come face to tail with an Ujal. In the middle of a hurricane, Maris and Vados came together—ahem—and then he disappeared. She figured it was a one-storm stand with an Ujal and moved on. Except Vados hadn’t really gone anywhere and now the sexy as sin, red-skinned Ujal is back. For her. **This is a stand alone 37 page SHORT STORY.**

    When a rainstorm strikes during a spontaneous mountain climb, she has no choice but to seek shelter - and become hopelessly lost within a dank and dismal cave system. There’s one more problem: her golden-eyed, incredibly sexy rescuer isn’t the average hiker. He’s also a dragon. This 25,000-word, humorous novella is the first part of a series of standalone stories featuring hot shifters. It contains strong sexual themes and is not intended for readers under adult age.

    For the next thirteen years, on the full moon, Johanna's dream lover appeared. Sometimes his lovemaking was playful and tender, other times passionate and raw.When no flesh-and-blood man can compete with her dream lover, Johanna puts all her energy into her job and studying vampires. Then she is sent to the fabled Carpathian Mountains of Transylvania to meet her company's largest client, the mysterious and demanding Cristofor Dalakis.Cristofor, the enigmatic and formidable patriarch of the Dalakis family, plans to use his every skill to seduce and possess Johanna. But Cristofor is harboring a dark family secret that will challenge all that Johanna has known and believed.

    She notices the biker gang that arrives shortly behind her even more. With their long hair, tattoos, and piercings, the rough group of bikers aren't the sort of men she's ever had contact with-and shouldn't want to have contact with-but they don't seem to grasp that they're not her type and she isn't theirs.