Hello, and welcome back! We're back to more spring-like weather here, which makes me happy. On the other hand, I've been working most of the last week, so I haven't been able to sit outside with either my laptop or my reading material. Maybe next week. But I have been reading when I get a chance. I even did a very bad thing the other day and, while a requested manuscript was printing, I read a May book that had come in that day's mail by an author I absolutely adore. But I have several April books that have been waiting for review, too, including the anthology I have today.

Sexy Beast VIII (Aphrodisia) has new shapeshifter stories from Kate Douglas, Kathleen Dante and Devyn Quinn. Douglas continues her 'Chanku' series with 'Chanku Spirit', sending three of her shifter males to Florida to commune with a goddess. I'm very much not a fan of Douglas, so I skipped this one, but I'm sure fans of the series will be thrilled to devour it. 'Running Wild' by Dante has werewolf Graeme Luger falling for Deanna, who's new to the shifter life and new to Graeme's bed. She's not quite ready to think in permanent terms, but she knows she loves being with him after he saved her from a dangerous crash. But the young men who burned down the cabin she'd been staying in aren't all in jail anymore, and they're holding a big grudge, and then Graeme's look-alike cousin comes to town, and he's attracted to Deanna, too, confusing her a little. Surely a girl can make up her mind, right? Quinn's 'Heart of the Wildcat' has shifter Joseph Clawfoot and his family rescuing Kathryn Dayton from a couple of would-be rapists near his home, and he and Kathryn share a sizzling attraction from the start, even before she realizes that he's not quite human. And when she discovers the truth about her new lover, it's not nearly enough to scare her away, not even after he reveals another secret to her. If you're looking for a couple of quick reads with lots of sex and not much in the way of plot, these might be right up your alley. I was disappointed with the Dante, as it jumps into the tale without much in the way of explanation, and there's really no question about whether her wannabe assassins will succeed or fail. Quinn's story requires some serious suspension of disbelief, as Kathryn doesn't seem to have any issue believing the incredible things she learns, no qualms about the sudden changes to her life. I didn't love either of these stories, I'm afraid, and so can only borrow two of Cupid's five arrows for this one.

Until next time, happy reading!