SHIFTING AGAIN

Review

SHIFTING AGAIN - C. Zheng, S. Bell, A. Steele, S. Michael, C. Bruce, Angel, K. Larson, B.A. Tortuga

ISBN - 10: 1-934166-23-5

ISBN - 13: 978-1-934166-23-9

December 2006

Erotic Gay Paranormal Anthology

The night air is cool, the scent of danger in the air, and otherworldly creatures are skulking about. In SHIFTING AGAIN readers will meet all kinds of shifters, from were to selkie to bird. Anything you can imagine these eight authors have brought to life in this spine-tingling anthology. Are you ready?

Hide - Cat Zheng

Jungle ~ Present Day

Vonne and his buddy Hewitt fight the monsters that threaten to overtake the human race. They've already taken Hewitt's lover. Who will be next? Unfortunately for our two heroes, Hewitt is the first to be attacked with Vonne struggling to help him. Vonne ends up going back for help and it takes him longer than he expects to return. When he does, Vonne finds himself the victim and in the midst of it all...attraction. Is Hewitt the one who turned him into one of the deadly creatures? If so, why?

Cat Zheng's story is intriguing but too short. <g> I would like more about these men and the world they fight to keep safe.

Saving Ryan - Sara Bell

Dr. Ryan Hightower comes to the mountains to lick his wounds. He was attacked by gangbangers and suffered grave injuries. His first night there, Ryan has the eerie feeling he's being watched. That's ridiculous though. He's in the mountains and there's not a soul around for miles. A protector of his Clan, Soren watches the human and seeing that he poses no threat to his King, leaves for home. However, Soren is attacked and badly injured. With no other options, Soren calls out to the human hoping against hope that he can hear him. Ryan comes to Soren's aid and pretty soon the two are exploring this attraction between them. But it's not all smooth sailing for there is still someone out there trying to kill Soren and his family. Will Soren be able to protect those he loves including Ryan?

Get out the fan! Sara Bell certainly turns up the heat in this juicy little tidbit. Because of the characterization and fast-pace plot, Saving Ryan is my favorite story in the entire anthology.

Who Will Know? - A. Steele

Chained to a boulder in the middle of the ocean for all eternity, the only company that Prometheus has is the bird man who comes and seduces him without giving him relief. On this day, though, Prometheus turns the tides on his sexy seducer, learning not only his name but gaining a much needed climax. Antoc comes daily leaving Prometheus in a constant state of arousal, while he on the other hand has the joy of orgasm. Today, however, Antoc is unprepared for the sensual onslaught that his chained lover bestows upon him. Is this the day that Antoc surrenders? Who will know?

Fascinating! I enjoyed A. Steele's Who Will Know? very much. Very interesting to see a mythical God get his comeuppance. <g>

The Lost Tiger - Sean Michael

Escaping from the Keeper, Torao hid in the shadows walking as a human does mourning the loss of his Mam. Torao is out of the cage and will die before ever returning there. When a human walks close to his hiding place and calls for him to come out, Torao sniffs the air and smells only nice. Greyson Jones is appalled at Torao's condition. He takes him home, feeds him, cleans him up, and gives him a place to sleep. Tomorrow is soon enough for questions. However, when Greyson wakes the next morning to check on Torao he finds a tiger lying in the bed instead. He fears the tiger has eaten Torao until he learns the truth. The tiger and Torao are one in the same. And there's a hint of chemistry at work between Greyson and Torao. Will Torao wish to explore it or will he run when he has the chance?

Another interesting story added to the menagerie of tales. Sean Michael's writing is flawless and emotional. It's not all about sex in The Lost Tiger. It's about people and their feelings.

Plums - Camilla Bruce

Simon Ferryman travels along the riverbanks collecting the dead and taking them to their final resting place. He enjoys the solitude of the river. Then one day he notices a raven watching him from a plum tree. Simon begins to speak to the raven as a friend, and pretty soon the bird is sitting in the boat and eating plums from his hand. Winter comes and Simon dreams of flying as the raven. He wonders if his little friend flew to warmer places and if he'll ever see him again. Spring arrives and without excitement. Simon searches for the bird hoping against hope to catch a glimpse. Instead he sees a raven-haired man amidst the plum trees. A storm suddenly rages and Simon dives overboard to save the coffin slowly sinking in the rough waters. What happens next is like a dream. A dream that Simon isn't sure he wants to wake from.

Strange but enjoyable, Plums by Camilla Bruce is by far the weirdest tale in the bunch. That's not to say it isn't good, because it is. It's just a little out there.

Singing Up The Moon - Angel

Memphis

Lovers Corin Faw and Cian O'Brian are a strange couple. One is sidhe and the other is were. Their relationship is still hot, though, and on this day, they come face to face with another werewolf who isn't at all happy they are in his territory. Dan and Paul are both weres and lovers. Dan doesn't know what to think of the wolf poaching on his family's territory. Well, not really poaching, but they are there anyway. Dan invites them home to meet Grandfather, the leader of their pack, and this begins a rather tense affair that ends in tragedy.

Angel's Singing Up The Moon is definitely hot, no doubt about it. The sex is steamy, but there's also emotion and a story to go along with the sexual aspect of the story.

Seal Skin - Kara Larson

Across the Sea

Erlend Kirkness has just buried his loving wife, Kirsten, who died after giving birth to their wee bairn, Peedie. Feeling lost and out of his element, Erlend wanders down to the sea and to his astonishment watches a seal shed it's skin. The woman walks away and without another thought, Erlend grabs the selkie skin and runs home, hiding it in the safe. He knows the legends and when a knock sounds at his door later that evening, Erlend knows it's her. However, when he opens the door it's not a woman but a beautiful man named Ronan who stands there demanding his skin back. Erlend refuses and therefore, Ronan must stay with him until he releases him. Erlend develops feelings for Ronan, feelings that most would frown upon. Does Ronan feel the same?

Hot! Moving! Sexy! These are words I'd use to describe Kara Larson's Seal Skin. Ronan is gorgeous and Erlend isn't so bad himself.

Alpha - B.A. Tortuga

Two wolves meet in the woods, fighting it out for the den close by. One claims it's his and that a friend was looking after it. The other fought for it and will do so again even though the other wolf is much bigger. The two change and Roman and Cage stare each other down. Both are exhausted and agree to sleep and then duke it out again once they wake. Roman has no intentions of losing what is his to this Cub. Nor does he plan on letting the Cub go. No, Roman wants a pack of his own, and Cage is going to be a member as well as his lover. Will Cage go for that? Is Roman wolf enough to gain Cage's submission? It will be interesting to find out. <g>

Another spicy tale, Alpha by B.A. Tortuga certainly turns up the heat. Roman is the alpha of the two and he just loves topping his Cub, as he likes to call Cage.

Eight pleasurable tales of lovers, shifters, and some with a hint of danger, but all with heated sex scenes and some gosh darn sexy protagonists. Grab a cup of cocoa, curl up in your favorite chair, have a fan handy just in case it gets a little hot, and enjoy SHIFTING AGAIN.

Sinclair Reid