Love Sizzles

Rating:
Summary: Love Sizzles really sizzles
Review: Love Sizzles
Reviewed by Billie A. Williams
ISBN # 192870493X $...
Dream Street Prose/Fusion Press 2002

Authors: Carolee Joy, Betsy Norman, Tami D. Cowden, Susan D Brooks, Madi Ryan Lee and Su Kopil
Genre: Romance (in all the sub-genre's there are)

Six women team up to bring you an anthology that shows remarkable talent and breadth of topic. The author's of Love Sizzles prove that the art of the short story lives and in a most appealing romantic compilation as you'll ever hope to read.

Carolee Joy's "Caught in a Masquerade," has twists and turns that rival most mysteries. Then again she surprises the read in "Satin and Lacey" her second in this anthology is the wife having an affair? Her husband is prepared to find out, but not for what he does find out. More twists at the capable hands of Ms. Joy.

Tami Cowden takes us on a walk in "Passions Garden" with peeks into the characters minds that make us want to shake them to wake them to each others fantasies. Cowden knows how to keep the reader bound to the page, an enjoyable read and a sensuous look at dreaming and familiarity coming together to spark romance.

Su Kopil tugs at our heart strings when a little boy is being pulled apart by divorce. He helps to draw happiness and fulfillment into his mother's life and his own, with Kopil's touching romantic story "Love is in the Air," as much about parental love as romantic love.

Did you ever stick your foot in your mouth and wish you could bury your embarrassment. Susan D Brooks' protagonist in "Home Run Hearts," seems to have a knack for putting feet, socks and all in her mouth. Watching her wriggle out of the mess she created is half the fun of this piece.

Betsy Norman, in "Stay with Me," plays the opposite end of the spectrum when not saying enough is as bad as saying too much was in the story before. A two week singles cruise provides plenty of chances that some people nearly miss taking.

One of my favorites is the strong female protagonist in "Summer Fire". Madi Ryan Lee pulls the read into a major burn, right along with P.C. Martin as she battles a fire that could cost her, her life and that of some of her crew. You can feel the heat of the fire as well as the sizzle of love that burns in her mind. Talk about burning a candle at both ends, this story has a blaze at both ends that we hope will work out safely when it meets in the middle.

I could go on with each story in this anthology in turn. They are all tethered with the thread of romance. Some a little steamier than others, but the story plot is always excellent. The romance is proof that romance writers and short story writers can and do write some of he best reading around. On a scale of 1 to 10, Love Sizzles gets a powerful, over the top 10 and high recommendations. Read it -you'll agree guaranteed.