An elusive woman arrives at Criminy’s doorstep with a steamer trunk, begging for a position in the caravan to perform her unique new act. She opens her trunk to reveal a menagerie of brilliantly colored butterflies. The woman, who calls herself Madam Morpho, is on the run from a dark past in London, where she was forced to leave her equipment behind and abscond with only her tiny performers. Playing a hunch, Criminy hires Madam Morpho on the spot. Taking her down to meet Mr. Murdoch, the reclusive talented engineer who keeps the carnival’s clockworks running, Criminy instructs them to work together to design and build a groundbreaking new circus for the butterflies. Amid the magical ambiance of the circus and the hint of danger from Madam Morpho’s pursuers, she and Mr. Murdoch soon find that their scientific collaboration has produced chemistry of a more romantic kind.

    Dangerously Wrong...but not if dashing vampire Chance has anything to say about it. As a favor to Bones, Chance has come to derail this wedding of beauty to the beast. Now if only he can keep his hands off the bride. From New York Times bestselling author Jeaniene Frost’s Night Huntress world, it’s the wedding of the season...that everyone wants to miss. (Originally appeared in Weddings From Hell anthology)

    It’s told from the point of view of Fletcher Lane, Gin’s assas­sin men­tor, and focuses on Gin’s first solo job as the assas­sin the Spi­der.

    True, the heroes may not wear red suits or be very jolly. But tall, dark and handsome, with the unusual power to thrill, can sometimes be the best gift of all.In Christmas Cravings by Maureen Child, a vampire finds himself in need of a miracle, and discovers it on the doorstep of his childhood home in the form of Theresa Franklin.Most women dream of being swept off their feet by a man--not whisked away by a devastatingly handsome vampire. But for Connie Morales in Fate Calls by Caridad Piñeiro, Hadrian's tempting kisses make her long to deliver the gift of life to a man who thinks he has no soul....

    But when suspicion falls on werewolf alpha Julian Kasey—Ava’s ex-lover and the man who still haunts her dreams—Ava knows that she’ll either have to prove his innocence…or watch the whole town go up in flames.Originally part of an Entangled anthology.

    In order to save her clan, vampire princess Morgan LaBeaux will do anything…even marry werewolf alpha Jace Vaughn. She may have to trust him with her life, but Morgan vows to never give the wolf her heart.No One to Trust by Katie Reus(Word count: 45,000)When Elizabeth Martinez is shoved into the cross hairs of one of Miami’s death-dealing drug lords she has no choice but to depend on former Marine Porter Caldwell, her ex-boyfriend and the one man she’s tried desperately to forget. Raphael by Alexandra Ivy(Word count: 21,000)The brilliant and dangerous diplomat of the Pantera shapeshifters, Raphael has devoted his life to discovering the key to the infertility that is threatening the extinction of his puma race. Creating a vast network of spies worldwide, he never expected to discover that the answer might be beneath his very nose. But when Ashe, a beautiful human female, crosses his path, his most primitive instincts are stirred. Unable to resist, he takes her to his bed, and is shocked when she becomes pregnant with his child. It’s a miracle that might prove to be the salvation of his people, but only if he can keep her safe from the mercenaries determined to kill her.Parish by Laura Wright (Word count: 20,000)Untamed and undeniably sexy, Parish, leader of the Pantera hunters, rarely leaves the magic of the Wildlands to deal with the humans he despises. But with the prized and risky Pantera birth on the way, puma shifter, Parish must travel to New Orleans to find and bring back a human doctor. The moment he sees the lovely, talented and all too human Dr. Julia Cabot he cannot resist the wild, potent drive to make her his. Betrayed and destroyed by love, Julia will not let her heart choose her path again. But as she and Parish fight to save the life of an unborn child, a fierce and overwhelming bond develops between them, threatening her frozen heart with the secret hope and ultimate temptation of love and family.Intimate Enemies by Joan Swan (Word count: 110,000)An emergency physician on leave returns to Baja Mexico in search of answers in the deaths of her mother and stepbrother and uncovers buried secrets that threaten her life and a man who threatens her heart.Total collection: 317,000 words

    It was formerly published in The Mammoth Book of Vampire Romance.

    He always had been… from the beginning. Once a slave, Malachi hadn’t ever lived free, until a mysterious woman turned him into something he didn’t understand. At first he fights it, seeing it as a different kind of bondage. Then he realizes it is his destiny. Embracing that destiny could lead to freedom-or it could lead him into an endless hell. Author’s note: This is the story of how Malachi was Changed and how he was led to the Hunters~ although his future mate is alluded to, this isn’t their story. It’s Malachi’s story, or at least, the beginning of it.

    A vampire hunter gets the surprise of her life when the man she saves from a bloodthirsty vampire is so grateful for her service that he decides to become her sidekick—much to her dismay.novella was included in Kick @ss, but if this e-book is just the novella, sole author is MJD

    She followed this up by getting blind drunk and down an alleyway with two thugs who wanted more than a goodnight kiss! Kyle, a vampire, hears her scream and against his better judgement enters the alley and saves her. As she collapses into his arms he had a deep need to take her home? He never takes anyone to his home! Soon Sabrina is ingrained in him - he can't get enough - can't let her go and just why are his bites not healing on her neck? When he finds out he is shocked - he must keep her - make her stay! Will she? Will this woman stay in the arms of a vampire?! Vampire Erotica Book. Adult Content in this Book!

    Martin's Press, 2005) NOTE: This short story appears as a chapter in Acheron, located in Part I-Greece, 7382 BC

    Even your own body betrays you. It’s bad enough that Selene is part slave to Nikolai, the Prime Power of Saint City, but she’s got her brother Danny and she’s got her job at the college. In the postwar wreckage of an uncertain world, it’s pretty much all she’s ever allowed herself to want.Then Danny ends up murdered, and Selene finds herself a pawn in a dangerous game. Indentured to a bloodsucking Nichtvren and helpless, told to stop trying to uncover the identity of her brother’s killer, Selene has nowhere to turn. If she’s a good girl, Nikolai will leave her a little bit of freedom. He’ll take care of her, and she’ll be safe–if she obeys.But Selene hasn’t survived this long by being obedient to her cursed powers, or to the men who buy her time. Her brother was all she had, and now she’s ready to borrow, beg, lie, steal or kill–whatever it takes to avenge him.And if Nikolai gets in the way, Selene will use every tool in her arsenal to make him regret it…

    right into the strong buff arms of loup de sang Ren Marchand. When her nemesis Ena, an evil witch who's still angry about Meckenzie's ... er, appropriation of a certain gem, chases her down outside the borders of Broken Heart, Oklahoma, Ren has no choice but to let the smart-mouthed human into Oklahoma's protected paranormal community. Unfortunately, the witch follows them into town, and wrecks some serious havoc. Now, Meckenzie must rely on Ren, and other Broken Heart citizens, to defeat Ena. Not to mention getting a big ol' smooch from a certain hot blood wolf...

    But for Sabina Kane and the rest of Team Awesome, this year's celebration has its share of nasty tricks. When Brooks's new waitress goes missing, the Changeling asks Sabina to help him find her.The problem? The missing mage is one of Adam Lazaru's old flames, and having her show up in their lives is giving Sabina heartburn. Plus saving her may also threaten the fragile peace Sabina's achieved for the Dark Races. Luckily for Adam's ex—but unlucky for her kidnappers—Sabina Kane isn't easily spooked.

    The well-regarded photographer doesn't just want to take her picture -- he wants to take her. He only hopes the mortal can handle him. All of him.Kelly is fascinated and a little frightened by Yates the moment she sets foot in his darkened studio. She falls under his spell...and then his fangs come out. This vampire has mating in mind. But Kelly has a secret of her own-- she's not human either. And as much as she desires him, her kind and his don't get along.If you enjoyed Ambient Light you might also like the following titles by Mandy M Roth: Immortal Ops, Project Exorcism, Demonic Desires and Warriors of Darkness.This novel contains adult content and is intended for mature audiences only. Must be 18 years or older to read.