Carnal Moon by Mel Teshco

Story: 9
Presentation: 8.5
Total: 17.5
Publisher: Ellora’s Cave
Paranormal erotic romance (werewolf)
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Blurb: On the first night of each full moon, werewolves cannot resist the calling—the instinctual need to mate.

Living a double life has never been difficult for Holly, but in her world, if her species is to survive, all she can look forward to is down-and-dirty, uninhibited sex with a different partner each month. She has never had reason to complain though. Until now.

She’s fallen for Ricky Mandela, her hot, sexy, human lover. Holly can’t pretend she has a chance at a family and happily ever after. Those are human dreams. But she can’t give him up either. Will she have to lie and cheat to hold on to the man she loves?

Review: Fantastic! World building in a short story that lacked nothing. From the pheromones to the shift, to the hunt, you’ll experience werewolf life as Holly does. You’ll be invested and swept into Mel’s incredibly erotic shifter world. Attention to the smallest detail made this story complete in a way most quickies aren’t. Without giving away any spoilers, I wasn’t surprised by the ending. In fact, it ended just as I hoped it would and the predictability didn’t detract from my enjoyment. To repeat myself because it was just so hot, sexy and satisfying. This story is fantastic.

Stone Cold Lover by Mel Teshco

Story: 7.5

Presentation: 9

Total: 16.5

Publisher: Ellora's Cave

Paranormal Erotic

To Purchase

Blurb: Heiress Loretta Shaw is notorious for her loose morals and sexual needs. Trouble is, it's taken her one too many one-night stands to realize that no man can extinguish the sexual fire she feels toward her guardian, Cray Diamond.A long-ago curse made Cray immortal—a gargoyle, a guardian, who is impelled to protect a human chosen by the curse. He is imprisoned in stone during daylight hours but dusk returns him to flesh and bone to carry out his immortal duty.That Cray can shift between human and living gargoyle at night bothers Loretta not one bit. She's seen him naked many times and her desire for him—in any shape or form—knows no bounds. She's tired of his resistance. He's her gargoyle…and she wants him in her bed.

Review: Stone-Cold Lover is one melting-hot read. Loretta is tenacious and Cray is the perfect tortured soul for her to heal with her love. This novella has enough fast-paced action to keep you turning pages and plenty of unexpected twists and turns to keep the story from becoming typical.

Now for the story --
Loretta tempts Cray to break his vow to protect her but not to have sex with her. She’s been promiscuous, trying to find someone to fill the ache and need and she knows only Cray can. Damn him for his determined will and honorable intentions. He’d learned a valuable lesson and paid a high price with his curse.
At night he awakens from his stone form and glides through the night to return Loretta to the safely of her home where he stands as a guardian gargoyle. He usually finds her in bed with another man. Loretta has deep secrets and scars of her own. All of this was wonderfully written (actually brilliantly written. The author knows how to string words together in a sensual way. I was breathless) and when Cray finally succumbs to his desires for Loretta, the connection is magical. The writing is flawless and carries you away into this delicious fantasy. However, the story failed for me at the end. Loretta is a slut. She knows it. Cray knows it. Not the problem. Her growth from slut to woman in love with her destined mate is great. However, I think she’s the next candidate for a trip to the Maury show. I don’t want to spoil the story, and I don’t think it’s that big of a secret. I just didn’t like the conclusion. Cray must be trusting that her lovers always wore condoms. And even condoms aren’t a 100% effective against pregnancy. The timing of the pregnancy is questionable and I would have preferred not have that element as it distracted from the story for me.