Dark Dreams Of Love, an anthology of paranormal romances and dark fantasy just for women. If you like handsome ghosts, star-crossed lovers, unrequited love that lives beyond the grave, you'll love Dark Dreams Of Love. Besides great short stories, this anthology includes two best selling novellas, The Crossroads Ghost, and Light On The Moor.
Just for women! Dark Dreams Of Love, a collection of exciting paranormal romances and thrilling dark fantasy, time travel, and science fiction romance stories, all designed for the discerning woman. This anthology includes:
A Confederate Yankee In Annabelle’s Court, a time travel romance. Annabelle spies a strange light in a nearby abandoned farmhouse. Little does she know it will lead to another time and a lost love. But is he destined to die in the final battle of the American Civil War, and long before she is even born? Does their love have a chance?
Blue Murder, a "who-dunit" set aboard a luxury star ship, where the heroine rushes to solve the mystery of a murdered heiress, before she herself is killed. Kieren, whose original home is Mumbai, India, is a "hotel detective" aboard the luxury liner. And it is on her shoulders the difficult task of solving the murder falls.
A River Darkly a fictional ghost story based on true events. Set in the early 20th Century of Scotland, this is a tale of ghosts haunting a river, of a lonely young woman whom they beckon to join them in their watery graves.
Green Waters, an historical and different sort of ghost story. Set in 19th Century Pennsylvania, this tale invokes real historical tragedies to lend an air of spooky authenticity to it. What is the meaning of the vision of an old woman drowning? What does it portend? Is it just a recurring nightmare or a dreadful warning?
Serpent Caravan is the tale of a young woman, who along with her friends tries to survive a journey on a truly hostile world. Can they find a home, or is it impossible? And even if they do, is it worth the effort after they learn the terrible secret of why they were sent there?
Lost Beacon Of The Vanished, a cozy murder mystery set in space, where Dame Elpram tries to solve a baffling murder case. Twin brothers, one dies in front of many witnesses and so it can't possibly be murder, or can it? It is up to Dame Elpram to figure out opportunity, method, and motive--if any.
Light On The Moor, a paranormal romance novella of a young woman, who having fled war-torn, WWII London, now finds herself lost on the foggy moors. There, she spies a strange light. Is it a will-o'-the-wisp, or a chance for true love? But if so, at what terrible price? And why do her parents act so strangely of a sudden? The answers lie in The Light On The Moor.
The Crossroads Ghost, a fictional paranormal romance novella, and a great ghost story, but one based on an actual crossroads grave on the English moors--still there to this day. Legend has it the young woman buried there committed suicide, but why? And who is the hooded figure seen mourning her grave late at night. Our heroine must find the answers if she ever hopes to resolve the mystery, and lay the spirits to rest. Along the way, can she find love for herself?
Excerpt
Dark, sinister, it came at Madison from out of the blackness. The thing came swooping toward her from off the measureless moors. She gave one loud squeak of fear, barely had time to raise her arms to fend off whatever nightmarish creature had come for her.
With a shrill little cry, and darting around her, the short-eared owl flew on past. It was still screeching its indignation as it sailed away into the misty darkness. Judging by its behavior, it had been as startled by her presence, as she had been by its sudden appearance.
Dropping her arms now, Madison just stood there a moment. She felt incredibly foolish. How embarrassing! An owl—that was it? In the seconds before it had materialized, the bird had sounded more like the Hound of the Baskervilles galloping full speed at her.
How could a mere bird be so noisy? Or was it her being alone so late at night, in the midst of such a desolate place, that had caused her imagination to magnify the sounds, make them seem so unnaturally loud? Probably, now she thought about it in a more rational way, this indeed, must have been the case. She walked on, at last spotting her marker for where she needed to turn off the road, to find her way to her cottage.
In the daytime, she’d seen this site as such a quaint thing, a local curiosity. The marker was just the right sort of gothic-like signpost one would expect to see out here on the moors. However, coming home from the nearest pub so close to closing time, late on a chilly night, and with no moon visible, Madison wasn’t nearly so sanguine about having to pass by the final resting place of a dead girl. If only it wasn’t so dark.
There, at last, she saw the rough-hewn headstone sticking up at an angle from a raised mound. The little cenotaph stood out, cast in an austere, black-and-white relief by the shifting light of her torch. Madison sighed with relief. Almost home—a turn to the right and then it was only a short ways to the cottage, its cosy warmth, and comforting safety. A nice hot toddy and then a good night’s sleep would suit her perfectly.
Madison knew she’d think twice about attempting such a long walk at night again. Heading out had been fine, just a casual sunset stroll, and an enjoyable walk. But coming home was no picnic, she’d discovered. It really had been much darker than she’d anticipated. And she felt so alone. It was so deathly quiet! The absolute silence pressed down upon her like a physical thing, an oppressive mantle crushing her spirits beneath its unrelenting weight.
She approached the plot and her turn. The torch now picked out the protective bordering stones. They acted as a kerb against cars accidentally going over the grave. Was it her imagination, or was the mound higher than she remembered it being? Perhaps the harsh shadows made by her light accounted for this optical illusion?
Within just yards of the dead girl’s plot, Madison quickened her pace even more, her uneasiness growing along with her desire to hurry past this last forbidding obstacle.
Then it happened.
The top of the mound suddenly shifted, heaved, lifted upward. It was as if the ground had somehow abruptly animated itself, manifested into some black and hideous shape. Madison froze where she stood. She was too frightened even to scream. She was unsure if what she was seeing was even real, could possibly be so.
The shape resolved itself into a robed figure, a hunched and hooded one, the face completely hidden by the enveloping cowl. Then, slowly, the thing turned toward her, as if just noticing she was there. Its arms uplifted, as if in praise, or in preparation to reach out for her. Madison was too frightened even to run...
Professional Reviews
Dark Dreams Of Love, Review By Jana Stevens, The Maximum: 5 Full Stars
Dark Dreams Of Love, an anthology of paranormal, science fiction, time travel, and dark fantasy romances is a real treat for women. It is very well written throughout, cleanly edited, and with remarkable descriptions/settings that put the reader "right there!" Add in plots of love, decidedly tinged with the paranormal, suspense, and just plain "darkness," and you have a heck of a winning combination.
I LOVED Light On The Moor and The Crossroads Ghost, but every story here is well worth reading, well above average. If you like time travel romances, A Confederate Yankee In Annabelle's Court is superb. If you like the really scary, try Green Waters. If your inclination is to "who-done-its," then Blue Murder, and Lost Beacon Of The vanished are the ones for you. Serpent Caravan, the trials of a young woman on a strange world, and told from strictly her point of view, is excellent! These stories, like all the stories in this anthology, have women as their central theme.
In fact, this whole anthology is for women who love romance, suspense, fantasy, science fiction, and a little "darkness." So do as the author suggests, and "come on over to the dark side and read Dark Dreams Of Love." You won't regret it! I give this book a PG-13 rating for content.
Love is universal and not limited to the most perfect among us. In this collection of romantic short stories and poetry, love comes to those who are decidedly imperfect, who possess very real human flaws, scars, and challenges. Awaiting us as we are.
When Miranda Nolan inherits a house she soon discovers a need to solve the mysteries surrounding the late owner along with resolving the strong attraction she feels for a co-claimant who lost his hearing and faces a world of silence.
