"Moving on from lost love to renewal; erotic anthology"

Marilyn Lee's The Quest II: Divided Loyalties is a sequel to Hunter's Passion, which can be found in the FOREVER anthology. Jemi and her husband Cody have reunited in a very different place and now inhabit very different bodies. Hunter is a feline shapeshifter and royalty in his land of Terra Tern, a part of the planet Volter. Jemi finds herself in the body of the princess royal of another country of Volter.

Political machinations soon present themselves and put Jemi and Hunter's child at risk. As their enemies kidnap Jemi and Hunter's son, Hunter must put everything on the line to rescue them. Are the bonds of love strong enough for Hunter to prevail? Can Jemi find everlasting love with Hunter or will their positions keep them apart forever?

The Quest II was a bit hard to follow, as it was not a true stand-alone. This reviewer recommends reading Hunter's Passion for a fuller reading experience. Ms. Lee's characterization is incredible and the detail of Volter has me wanting more. Hunter is a thoroughly sensual hero and the sexual scenes absolutely sizzle!

Elizabeth Jewell's A Matter of Faces features Piper, a woman who lost her lover a few years ago. Impossibly, Billy is alive and well. Piper knows that this is impossible, but she allows herself to be seduced into one night with him. Piper soon realizes that Billy is a shapeshifter named Trey and this knowledge leads to a binding between them.

It soon becomes clear that a little knowledge could kill Piper. She and Trey find themselves running for their lives as another shapeshifter threatens them. As the suspense builds, Piper can barely hold on. Will she and Trey prevail?

A Matter Of Faces is a fantastic glimpse into the shapeshifter culture. The sexual scenes were well done, but were not the only focus of the story. Ms. Jewell did a fantastic job walking the line between plot and sensuality. I would love to revisit this world!

Not merely erotic, the stories in the SHIFTING FACES anthology featured the theme of loss and renewal, of character growth, new opportunities, and moving on from bittersweet though lost love. Two thumbs up!

Reviewed by Briana Lambert for Sensual Romance.

Reviewed by Sensual Romance
Courtesy Sensual Romance
Posted November 21, 2002

Summary

The Quest II: Divided Loyalties by Marilyn Lee

A continuation from "Hunter's Passion" in Forever... A recent transplant to Volter, Jemi Hunter has heard much of the mythical home of her shape shifting carnivore lover, Hunter. He regales Jemi with fond tales of his boyhood home, which lead her to believe that when she, Hunter, and his son, Slayer reach Tern Terra, they will live happily ever after.

However, treacherous plans are in place to prevent Hunter from returning to claim his rightful place as future ruler. First Jemi is kidnapped, then Slayer disappears. The trail of Jemi's abductors and Slayer's last known destination lead in different directions. Hunter has to decide whom he will attempt to save first, his only surviving cub or the woman he loves.

A Matter of Faces by Elizabeth Jewell

When Piper sees Billy in a bar, she can't believe it. Here is the man she had once loved. She goes home with him, for reasons she herself doesn't entirely understand. And he's exactly as she remembers him—touch, taste and scent. But Billy died two years ago...

Trey, a shapeshifter who can assume any human form, has been studying Piper for a year to learn who would ease her heart. Now Piper knows his secret and he is obligated to protect her in the way his race has done since their time began. In a sense, she "owns" him.

But the truth brings more than a real-life erotic fantasy into Piper's life. It also brings danger in the form of another, power-hungry shape shifter who wants her and Trey dead.