My Big Fat Supernatural Wedding is a fun concept, with contributions by some wonderful writers.

It's the perfect book to toss into your bag when your reading time is restricted to waiting on line at the bank, the dentist's office, etc.

Nothing heavy here, but some good supernatural laughs.

An anthology of stories that are most paranormal romance it would seem, which is no big surprise given the title or the popularity of such. Hardcore fans of that subgenre will like this more than people just looking for some fantasy stories, undoubtedly.

The main exception, and the best story here is Jim Butcher's entry, and that is also a Harry Dresden story, for the completists of that character. Mostly why I decided to give it a go, too.

So, a lot of light-hearted silliness, even a Pirates of the Carribean lite style story by Rachel Caine. As such, the story average is only a touch over the mediocre 3.00. I really wouldn't expect too much more from a book like this though of course, that is not particularly the point.

Supernatural Wedding : Spellbound - L. A. Banks
Supernatural Wedding : Something Borrowed - Jim Butcher
Supernatural Wedding : Dead Man's Chest - Rachel Caine
Supernatural Wedding : All Shook Up - P. N. Elrod
Supernatural Wedding : The Wedding of Wylda Serene - Esther M. Friesner
Supernatural Wedding : Charmed by the Moon - Lori Handeland
Supernatural Wedding : Tacky - Charlaine Harris
Supernatural Wedding : A Hard Day's Night-Searcher - Sherrilyn Kenyon
Supernatural Wedding : Or Forever Hold Your Peace - Susan Krinard


Redneck feud standoff.

3 out of 5


Harry and Murphy have to save a werewolf bride from a changeling Jenny Greenteeth.

4 out of 5


"I hate boats. I hate oceans. I hate pirates." Zombie pirates could make me money though.

3.5 out of 5


Dodgy Elvis impersonation.

2.5 out of 5


Serial spouse's Olympian surprise.

3 out of 5


Werewolf hunter love charm wedding doublecheck.

3.5 out of 5


Vampire werewolf wedding war.

3 out of 5


Giving it up for the ball and chain.

3 out of 5


No Talent here.

2 out of 5





2.5 out of 5

This was an enjoyable read. I've always liked short stories, especially since I had kids and can't devote as much time to reading anymore. Each of these stories was entertaining and got me interested in other works by each of the authors. Don't have a lot of time to devote to a single story? Pick up this book. It will have what you need!My Big Fat Supernatural Wedding

I frequently like anthologies as a way to discover new authors and new ideas - this one doesn't disappoint. Whoever you've been reading, you'll find a new author in this book. Some stories are strong, and I'll be happy to investigate other work by the same authors. Others are relatively weak: they felt unimaginative and programmed. If you're a big supernatural fan who sometimes reads romance (I'm not), this is probably the book for you.

I normally don't like anthologies and admit to have bought this book by mistake. However, I was more than pleasantly surprised to find the book as a whole

There were several authors that I had not read before. I think I might jump in and buy one of their books to see if they follow through at book length.

This was not Kenyon's best work. I know that she can write short stories, I've read others by this lady. This time, it just seemed too fuzzy to come together as well as the others.

But, the nicest thing of all was to read a book by multiple authors and not find one entry, not one mention of Laurell K. Hamilton. No Anita, No Merry, no porn, no kidding.

Buy this book. You'll enjoy it if you like this sort.

I normally don't like anthologies and admit to have bought this book by mistake. However, I was more than pleasantly surprised to find the book as a whole

There were several authors that I had not read before. I think I might jump in and buy one of their books to see if they follow through at book length.

This was not Kenyon's best work. I know that she can write short stories, I've read others by this lady. This time, it just seemed too fuzzy to come together as well as the others.

But, the nicest thing of all was to read a book by multiple authors and not find one entry, not one mention of Laurell K. Hamilton. No Anita, No Merry, no porn, no kidding.

Buy this book. You'll enjoy it if you like this sort.

This is a good book fun to read. If you like the supernatural and a good love story you will like this book.

some of the stories were fantastic, some were just good, but hey, isn't that the whole point of getting a collection of short stories? that way you can check out what all the authors are like without committing to a ton of books. i think the book is pretty good.

You're never 100% certain of what you're going to get. They can be great for finding new authors and/or filling in the waiting period til the next book from your favourite author. Or they can make you feel like you've wasted your time.

Although word of mouth said that My Big Fat Supernatural Wedding was an uninspiring collection as a big fan of Jim Butcher, Charlaine Harris and Sherrilyn Kenyon I wanted to find out for myself.

Where it works - the stories that are set in an ongoing series. Jim Butcher's Something Borrowed is a solid entry into the Harry Dresden series. Although I'm not familiar with Lori Handeland's Night Creatures universe her story (Charmed by the Moon) still managed to draw me in, keep me interested and made me want to check out her backlist.

Sherrilyn Kenyon's story whilst not reaching the emotional intensity of Phantom Lover from the Midnight Pleasures anthology is a vast improvement on Until Death Do We Part (Velkan and Retta's story from the Love at First Bite antho.)Though I wish she would cut down on the point of view head hopping.

One other story that stood out for me was Esther Friesner's The Wedding of Wylda Serene. Whilst slow to get into it had some very witty lines that had me laughing out loud.

Having read the stories I am disappointed. Overall the anthology is okay, but there is not enough here that stands out. Maybe it's a case of trying to cram too many authors in to one book.

Anthologies I would recommend - for Sherrilyn Kenyon - Midnight Pleasures, Stroke of Midnight. For Charlaine Harris - Bite (as part of the ongoing Sookie series), Night's Edge (standalone story).

You're never 100% certain of what you're going to get. They can be great for finding new authors and/or filling in the waiting period til the next book from your favourite author. Or they can make you feel like you've wasted your time.

Although word of mouth said that My Big Fat Supernatural Wedding was an uninspiring collection as a big fan of Jim Butcher, Charlaine Harris and Sherrilyn Kenyon I wanted to find out for myself.

Where it works - the stories that are set in an ongoing series. Jim Butcher's Something Borrowed is a solid entry into the Harry Dresden series. Although I'm not familiar with Lori Handeland's Night Creatures universe her story (Charmed by the Moon) still managed to draw me in, keep me interested and made me want to check out her backlist.

Sherrilyn Kenyon's story whilst not reaching the emotional intensity of Phantom Lover from the Midnight Pleasures anthology is a vast improvement on Until Death Do We Part (Velkan and Retta's story from the Love at First Bite antho.)Though I wish she would cut down on the point of view head hopping.

One other story that stood out for me was Esther Friesner's The Wedding of Wylda Serene. Whilst slow to get into it had some very witty lines that had me laughing out loud.

Having read the stories I am disappointed. Overall the anthology is okay, but there is not enough here that stands out. Maybe it's a case of trying to cram too many authors in to one book.

Anthologies I would recommend - for Sherrilyn Kenyon - Midnight Pleasures, Stroke of Midnight. For Charlaine Harris - Bite (as part of the ongoing Sookie series), Night's Edge (standalone story).

Usually anthologies are like panning for gold. You've got to sift through a lot of dirt to get the gold nuggets. This anthology, however, was the motherlode. All the stories were entertaining. Out of the nine, the last two were the weakest, but still a good short read.

I was pleasantly surprised by Charlaine Harris's contribution. I expected a Sookie story, but instead received a good vampire/werewolf story with no Sookie in sight. It is alwasy nice to see another part of the world which an author has created.

Jim Butcher was in true form with his entry. Gee I just love Harry Dresden, no matter what he is doing.

All in all I recommend this book for a short quick read. I already have a waiting list of people who want to borrow it from me.

what a teaser! Just when u are getting into one of the story, its over! but i guess that is what u can expect from and anthology.

This collection was just stunning! Great combo, some of the stories are amazingly funny and a few are very spooky. Wonderful read, but a few at a time, there is definitely some overlap of ideas. P.S. LOOOved the Esther Freisner story. But I'm biased.

most books with multiple authors are rather disappointing but this one wasn't. all the stories were funny, interesting and great to read. i highly recommend this one to anyone who likes supernational and funny stories.

most books with multiple authors are rather disappointing but this one wasn't. all the stories were funny, interesting and great to read. i highly recommend this one to anyone who likes supernational and funny stories.

I didn't love it. In fact it took me a month to read it. I'd flip through the stories, read one, skip the next...I eventually read all of them. I didn't like the L.A. Banks story at all, but then again, I hated "Minion." If I tried to write as "ethnic" as she does, my review would say, "Oh vey! The schmaltz in that story made me messhugana! So much mishigas for a little shtup!" Enough already. I liked the Charlaine Harris story, that was worth reading. Overall, phooey on this collection. I've read novels by most of the authors and enjoyed them more than the individual stories here, with the exception of Jim Butcher; I didn't like his Dresden books but thought the story here was well written and interesting. I really like the paranormal genre so this book was a dissapointment for me.

There are three very good reasons to read this anthology. The first is if you are interested in the topic. The second is to discover new authors in a genre without spending a lot of money on paperbacks. The third reason is if you're in any way interested in the process of writing itself is to study whether novelists succeed in shorter works.

First--you're going to get some division on the topic itself. "Paranormal Romance" is a continuum from Jim Butcher on the paranormal end to I'd say Sherrilyn Kenyon writing the more 'romantic' work. You'll probably be happiest with this anthology if you like both romance and paranormals. Given that my preference is toward the paranormal, my favorites were "Something Borrowed" by Butcher and "Tacky" by Charlaine Harris. Kenyon was my least favorite with the other authors arrayed somewhere in between.

Second, some of my best 'finds' in fantasy authors were from the "Sword and Sorceress" series of books edited first by the late Marion Zimmer Bradley. While she tended to later rely on a stable of known authors, she'd introduce a new person occasionally and that breathed life into the anthologies. Up til "Supernatural Wedding" I had not read Banks' work. While I realize her Hatfield-McCoy work is not typical of her usual novels, I'm interested enough to pick one of her vampire huntress books up and see what I think.

Finally, it's interesting to read both the short and long fiction of authors you know. Butcher's "Something Borrowed" probably stands up as the best-written of the stories. He keeps things moving, he's got a good grasp of the characters, (he should-Harry Dresden, Murphy, and even the bride and groom have appeared in the "Dresden Files" series as regulars) good ability to plot, and he keeps things moving. I also liked "Tacky". While the characters were new to me, I thought Charlaine Harris did a great job introducing everyone and keeping my interest piqued through the whole story.

Bought this book because many authors I like were represented, and now I'm ready to check out books by a few I didn't know, like L.A. Banks. Her story was a great beginning to the collection--she sure knows how to "keep it real" and mix in the supernatural at the same time. Loved the dialog and her characterizations of the families and friends!

Hadn't read anything by Esther Freisner for a while, and her story here reminded me of all the reasons I enjoyed her earlier novels. Same with P.N. Elrod--loved this story, even though I've never been an Elvis fan.
Once again, Jim Butcher, Charlaine Harris and Rachel Caine proved they can do no wrong, and Susan Krinard proved she can write something that I enjoy, which was not the case with her 2 novels. I would be interested to to read more about the likeable characters in this story. Lori Handeland's story was good--I'm not familiar with her fictional world, but this didn't stop me from enjoying the story. Maybe I'll try one of her novels.

IMO, best story was Rachel Caine's "Dead Man's Chest"--it ended too soon, but what a great ending!

Worst story was Sherrilyn Kenyon's "A Hard Day's Night-Searcher"--the reason my rating was only 4 stars. Nothing about this cheesy, simplistic story worked for me, and I will not be reading any of her novels. I know she has a great many fans--most of the negative reviews of this book were written by them--so I will not go into detail here about all the reasons I disliked her story lest I upset them any further. I would suggest that if P.N. Elrod plans a sequel to this anthology (and I hope she does), stories from Kim Harrison, Kelley Anderson, Lililth Saintcrow, Kat Richardson or Elaine Cunningham would please more readers than would another story from Kenyon, and Kenyon's fans would not have to be distressed by reading stories they don't like just because they weren't written by Kenyon.

I'm glad I bought this book--99% of the stories made me at least smile, or laugh out loud--and it helps to keep me going until Butcher's, Caine's and Harris' new books are finally released!

Some favorite authors here; and, no, the short stories were not up to par with their usual full length books. At least partially thats because I'm not a big fan of short stories. As others have said, it can be a way to discover new authors. I discovered Ronda Thompson in an anthology and have since hunted down and enjoyed many of her books. Banks, Caine,& Friesner were new to me.Unfortunately, none of them piqued my interest at all. BTW, it should be mentioned that all the stories revolve around weddings. Butcher's bride & groom were characters I knew and liked from his "Dresden Files". So were Handeland's from her "Moon" series. That was a nice touch. Kenyon's story seemed to be the Reader's Digest condensed version of almost every Dark-Hunter book she's written. Sorry, Sherrilyn, but I've read them all and its time to stir the plot. I had not seen anything new from Elrod in an age. Maybe that's why I enjoyed her story best. I've read and enjoyed all of Harris's Southern Vampire series, but her story here did not make me want to sample any of her other books. Krinard has always been a bit unpredictable for me. Loved her werewolf series, but not impressed with her other stuff. Her story here fell into the other stuff category; although, her characters were very interesting. All in all, it was better than the reviews led me to believe, but not as good as the author list seemed to promise.

I was very dissapointed in this book the only good story was Sherrilyn Kenyon's and it was far too short!
I was really looking forward to this book and was extreamly dissapointed.

I only got this for Sherrilyn Kenyon's short short--I enjoyed it throughly--and it was too short! But then even her full length novel leave me wanting more--she is a wonderful writer!

The only good thing about this book is the Sherilyn Kenyon story. Everything else was either boring, stupid, or a combination of both. I am very disappointed with this book.

I bought this anthology for a few of my favorite authors, and found a couple of more authors that I might try their books.

I actually only read the story by Harris called "Tacky," and it was first rate. Any fan of the Sookie books will enjoy it, as it deals with the vamp and were communities. Highly recommended:)

I picked up several anthologies at once on my last trip to the book store. I love them, since they give you a nice sampling of the work of various authors, and has led me to some great books in the past. Unfortunately, none of the authors listed here are showcasing anything I'd buy.

The first story was so laden with painful dialogue that fell somewhere between ebonics and redneck slang that I nearly had to put it down. I persevered, but was not rewarded for my efforts. I won't speak to all the stories, only suffice it to say that none of the writers did their best work here - I hope.

I highly recommend you do not waste the money.

With 9 stories packed into just 310 pages you can only hope to get a yummy hint at the works of these well known authors. I think that's why some of them outshone themselves and others just basically sucked. If you've only got a few pages to drag in new readers than give it your all!

L.A. Banks- I have to admit that for me this was the worst of the stories and I didn't actually finish reading this one. While the author, as I've seen before, does a lovely job of using a culture and time periods dialect to bring you closer to the characters, in this I found the writing so distracting and bothersome that I just couldn't make myself finish it. I was glad I skipped ahead though...

Jim Butcher- So I've heard of this guy but never read any of his work and I have to admit he and Charlaine Harris were the main reasons I bought this book. His story was fantastic and definitely one of the two best tales in this anthology! Harry Dresden, a character Mr. Butcher apparently has a whole series based on, leaps from the pages to tell us of the goings on around the wedding of two of his best freinds. Having never read the back stroy I was pulled into this sorcerer's telling of fae, werewolf, merefolk, monsters, and other crazy creatures. I'm going to have to start reading the Dresden files now! It's all told from Harry's perspective but he's so engaging you'll be hooked!

Rachel Caine- The other five star short story in this book had me crying! I've seen a lot of mixed reviews on things she's written before but this was fantastic! Coerced into marrying cover model, Ian, who she's been dating for two months Cecilia is not exactly thrilled to find Ian has them booked for a wedding and honeymoon at sea-not on a cruise ship but a real life pirate ship. Though things turn out to be a little bit more real and a little less"life" than either she or Ian had planned when Ian's attempt to off his new spouse is foiled by the crews captain. It seems a curse was placed on the entire ship some 300 years ago and Cecillia will have to think fast if she wants to resusitate her love life! If you're a fan of Pirates of the Caribean and wish Capt. Jack got his own true love than this is the story for you!

P.N. Elrod- Not the best. A tale of a caterer at a wedding who has an unusual ability to see peoples futures and bumps into an Elvis impersonator with a near identical gift who also sports a little of the ghost of the king. It was an ok read to put you to sleep. But you kept waiting in vain for something big to happen. In retrospect it's kind of lame.

Esther M.Friesner- Told from the perspective of a middle aged and snobby male socialite this story is about the goings on at his beloved club, especially those centering around a wedding. It seems the club has attracted some supernatural attention, especially that of the greek pantheons. Nothing really happens til the last few pages. It's mildly amusing but this story doesn't really make me want to crack my wallet open for other works by this author.

Lori Handlenad- I've loved her work, and I've hated some of her work. This short story centers around Will Cadot whose finally been able to drag his heroine, Jessie McQuade from Blue Moon and her other Moon works, to the alter. But why has Jessie fianlly caved to marriage now? Is their love real or only a supernatural smokescreen? This story was somewhat nuetral. I couldn't jump up and down about it but neither can I trash it.

Charlainne Harris- Who doesn't love Sookie and the Southern Vampire series? No one that's who! In this continuation into the lives we snoop on in that series Dahlia, a vampire, is the bridesmaid at an unconventional and somewhat illegal marriage between her vampire buddy, Taffy, and the groom, Don, who is sadly a werewolf. Needless to say she is unfamilliar with either human wedding customs which Taffy is enthralled with or werewolfs in general. But the bestman is a hairy hunk even if he does need his rabies shots.

Sherrilyn Kenyon- I love Dark-Hunters and I make no secret of it. I also don't hide when I think their stories are a little annoyingly done. I did not find this a great DH tale. Rafeal, former pirate of the caribbean, has to protect his squire, Jeff, from another squire,Celina, whom Rafeal has always wanted to bed. It seems Jeff's not the brightest bulb and has written a comic on the adventures of a character who is extremely reminiscent of Rafeal. Celina is set on hunting the moron down. Rafael makes a bargain with her that if she can go with out breaking a rule he'll let her have Jeff. If not the pirate gets her. Thinly veiled and not Ms. Kenyon's best work by far. Also if you are not familliar with the series you'll likely be lost.

Susan Krinard- Another author I've been mixed on trying but her "Olivia and Kit Mystery" was a nice change of pace and has made me curious about the other books about these characters. Olivia, a proper English regency woman in an alternate land where near everyone has a little bit of unusual talent, is aided in solving the strange occurances surrounding a wedding and the brides subsequent disappearance. Her aid comes in the form of her bestfriend and fellow intriguing character Kit, who can change into a beastly hell-hound. The reader gets a good suggestion that these two freinds should end up being more eventually.

I thought this book was a good, fun read. It was easy and kept my interest from the first page. I enjoy pretty much all the authors and I think that was one reason it attracted my attention. I truly would recommend this one!

When I first saw this, I thought it would just be like the movie with the similar title, but with vamps, etc. Well, it kinda is, but with loads of stories, so many that it took me a little longer than anticipated to get through. However, the stories did not disappoint and I got through the book in no time. What's not to like? It runs the gamet of supernatual and has witches, vamps, etc, everything I look for in a book such as this.

If you like these kind of books, don't pass this one up. I found it to be an easy, good read and I'd want to read more from some of the authors featured. Along with this one, I also recommend "Dead Sexy" (Kim Corum) as well.

It's not often that I come across a fantasy-type book that I can give to my mother-in-law as well as share with all my friends. This one managed to avoid horribly gruesome violence or even terribly creepy scenes. The stories were mostly fun, funny, interesting and light.

If you are just dipping your toes into other authors in the supernatural section, try this book for a quick appetizer. This collection is a good way to get a feeling for writing styles, but not necessarily for novel-length content. For example, Jim Butcher's Harry Dresden story is typical Butcher in phrasing and style, but is not as enthralling as his full-length, complicated plots. In contrast, the Harris and Friesner stories are very "them" in content, plot development and entertainment level. Oddly enough, Susan Krinard's "... Or Forever Hold Your Peace" was the weakest one in the anthology. It was neither entertaining enough nor riveting enough for me, but rather landed with a sorry thud between those two marks.

L.A Banks' story is awesome. It is funny, sad and fast paced. Sherrilyn Kenyon's contribution is terrible. This story almost made me give up on the DarkHunter series. As a Black woman, I felt slighted. Finally, a black DH and his story bites. A couple more were pretty good, but half sucked. Read at your own risk.

If you enjoy paranormal romance - this collection of short stories will delight you. Although there's a central wedding theme, each of the stories is vastly different - which makes the book a really fun read. My personal favorites were the engaging "Spellbound" by L.A. Banks, Jim Butcher's action packed "Something Borrowed", the hysterical "Tacky" by Charlaine Harris, and the enchanting "Or Forever Hold Your Peace" by Susan Krinard.

Sherrilyn Kenyon is one of my favorite authors, but her story disappointed me. The plot was akin to the Dark Hunter series, but it seemed like a barebones story missing all the zest and great character development of her novels. But overall, I am happy to have this book in my collection and it introduced me to some new authors - which is the best part! I'd recommend this book without hesitation.

I didn't like one story in this book other than Kenyon's, and even that wasn't her best. The book was actually so bad that I resent the money I paid for it. And to add insult to injury, the other book I bought that was a compilation including Kenyon was even WORSE. Just a total waste of money. Two of the stories are written in the first person -- and come on, are you a 12 year old writing a story for composition class? -- and all of them are hokey and, to be blunt, lame.

To say that I was looking forward to this book for the authors that I already know and love is an understatement. I couldn't wait to read L.A. Banks' story and Sherilyn Kenyon's. However, I have to say that I not only enjoyed the stories from the authors that I am already familiar with and love, but I enjoyed the stories from the authors who were previously unknown to me as well. What a great introduction to something new! I am definitely going to be broadening my book collection with some new authors and of course will continue on with the ones I love and know already. This was a book filled with interesting, romantic and exciting tales and I would recommend it to anyone. KUDOS to these writers for a capital accomplishment.

P.S. It was nice to get a story about a Dark-Hunter with some ethnicity and I agree with another reviewer's sentiment - An expansion on this couple would be really nice!

Severely disappointed is the only way to describe my reaction to this anthology. I ran right out to buy this book because of all the positive reviews. Save your money and buy it used.

These nine short stories are amusing romantic fantasies that lampoons the sub-genre with chaotic weddings from hell. Star crossed lovers, wizards and enchantresses, vampires, ghosts, shapeshifters are either part of the wedding party or friends of the bride or groom. There is no telling who might show up as this anthology takes a lighthearted approach to nuptials amidst the paranormal. Sub-genre fans will appreciate this fun collection in which nothing is sacred. Accept the invitation to the weddings of the millennium, but don't complain about the seating as there is no telling what species from beyond will be at your table. This is a humorous compilation written by top authors worth reading by sub-genre fans.

Harriet Klausner

Nine bestselling authors come together and blend their talents to create a magical brew just for you, the reader. This novel is a collection of nine short stories. They are perfect for October reading, of course. The titles and authors are as follows:

Spellbound by L.A. Banks
Something Borrowed by Jim Butcher
Dead Man's Chest by Rachel Cain
All Shook Up by P. N. Elrod
The Wedding of Wylda Serene by Esther M. Friesner
Cursed by the Moon by Lori Handeland
Tacky by Charlaine Harris
A Hard Day's Night Searcher by Sherrilyn Kenyon
...Or Forever Hold Your Peace by Susan Krinard

**** This book has something for everyone, be it voodoo, shapeshifters, curses, magic, vampires, or even Greek mythology. And that is only a sample of the things found within these pages. I found myself laughing at parts, as well as, sitting on the edge of my seat during some very suspense filled moments. Wonderful Autumn reading! ****

Reviewed by Detra Fitch of Huntress Reviews.

What happens when you combine a wedding with the supernatural? Open the pages of MY BIG FAT SUPERNATURAL WEDDING to see how some of the finest writers answered this question....

MY BIG FAT SUPERNATURAL WEDDING opens with "Spellbound" by L.A. Banks. Odelia Hatfield and Jefferson McCoy are in love and want to get married. However, they are plagued by the hatred stemming from the old Hatfield/McCoy feud over land. See what happens when these two defy family tradition as their families resort to any magical means necessary to stop the wedding.

L.A. Banks is perhaps best known for her Vampire Huntress series so it is surprising to read a story by her without vampires. Ms. Banks twist on the Hatfield/McCoy saga is certainly an unusual one, mixing many elements of spells using roots. Her grasp of the dialect is simply astounding and breathes life into even the secondary characters!

Jim Butcher's "Something Borrowed" features his well-known and much-beloved character, Harry Dresden. Harry, a wizard, is about to be best man for his friend, Billy the werewolf, when he realizes things are awry regarding the bride, Georgia. Harry calls on Lieutenant Murphy, who heads up the Special Investigations Department. Together, they must resolve the matter quickly as lives are once again in danger.

Jim Butcher's Harry Dresden series is a favorite of this reviewer and "Something Borrowed" doesn't disappoint! Mr. Butcher does a fabulous job at allowing Harry's personality to shine through while maintaining the level of action one expects from this series. Besides, who can't help but love a series with an enemy appropriately named Jenny Greenteeth? Jim Butcher delivers once again in this fantastic tale that only serves to remind fans just how much Harry Dresden is loved.

"Dead Man's Chest" by Rachel Caine tells the story of Cecilia Welles and her experience with marriage aboard a pirate ship. Cecilia has doubts about Ian Taylor's wedding plans but who can resist a man who looks like the cover of a romance novel? Cecilia learns a lesson about true love and its amazing power in this pirate's tale.

Rachel Caine fans know always to expect the unexpected with her works and "Dead Man's Chest" is no exception. The twists and turns this tale takes will keep the reader happily flipping the pages while marveling at what a devious mastermind Rachel Caine truly is. You don't have to be a pirate fan to enjoy "Dead Man's Chest" as Rachel Caine is sure to make fans of even those who hate pirate stories with this very creative twist on the theme!

P.N. Elrod's "All Shook Up" revives the mystique of Elvis. Frankie Foster is catering for a huge celebrity wedding when she meets the tribute artist who bears an uncanny resemblance to the long-dead Elvis. What happens when Frankie is "All Shook Up" by this Elvis look-alike?

P.N. Elrod's love for Elvis is very apparent in this clever tribute to the King. One can feel just a bit of the excitement that Elvis must have generated while reading "All Shook Up". Ms. Elrod's entry just oozes with mesmerizing appeal! Resisting the King is not an easy task and Frankie has her work cut out for her in "All Shook Up".

"The Wedding of Wylda Serene" by Esther M. Friesner surrounds the wedding of Wylda Serene at The Club. Unfortunately, The Club has a mythological legacy that tends to create problems every time a major event is scheduled there as supernatural beings have a habit of showing up unannounced. Will things go awry at "The Wedding of Wylda Serene"?

Esther M. Friesner's stories are always a hoot! "The Wedding of Wylda Serene" is a surprisingly strong entry in an anthology packed with many of this reviewer's favorite authors. The deceptively cultured writing voice of the narrator accentuates the sheer outlandish humor and is certain to produce laughter in those appreciative of this style of humor. Esther M. Friesner is a master at creating humor in unlikely places and she demonstrates this fully in "The Wedding of Wylda Serene".

Lori Handeland's "Charmed By The Moon" is yet another addition to her Nightcreature series featuring the Jager-Suchers. "Charmed By The Moon" returns to the story of Jessie McQuade and Will Cadotte (previously in BLUE MOON) and takes place on their wedding day. Jessie is having doubts about the entire concept of marriage when she discovers a love charm. Will and Jessie have to venture back into the unknown to determine if their love is real or if they were simply "Charmed By The Moon".

Lori Handeland is one of the best authors out there at mixing werewolves and romance. "Charmed By The Moon" is a bit of a departure for her as the Jager-Suchers are only briefly mentioned in the story. Instead, Ms. Handeland has crafted a very charming romantic story fused with the paranormal elements with which she does so well. Fans of the series will enjoy revisiting Jessie and Will, but it is not necessary to have read BLUE MOON to enjoy their story here.

"Tacky" by Charlaine Harris demonstrates what happens when a werewolf and a vampire decide to have a wedding. Dahlia Lynley-Chivers explores wedding traditions to help her friend, Taffy, marry the werewolf, Don, despite Dahlia's reservations about vampires and werewolves marrying due to a long-standing animosity between the two races. See what happens in this very non-traditional wedding!

Charlaine Harris has a gift for creating likeable vampires. While the marriage of Taffy and Don is the central focus of the story, Dahlia is actually the main character. Readers will appreciate Dahlia's tough side which contrasts so well with her desire to not be caught in a bridesmaid's dress that is "Tacky".

Sherrilyn Kenyon's "A Hard Day's Night-Searcher" is the story of how Dark-Hunter Rafael Santiago finds his love match. Rafael's Squire, Jeff, has published a thinly-veiled story about the Dark-Hunters and the Council now wants to see him. The Squire, Celena, is sent to collect Jeff but Rafael makes a deal with Celina in exchange for Jeff's freedom. Can Rafael break through the safety barriers erected by Celena?

Sherrilyn Kenyon's Dark-Hunter series is arguably one of the best vampire series in print today. Fans will enjoy this quick visit with the Dark-Hunters. However, the short format lacks the depth Kenyon fans have grown to love and expect from her novels. This is not to say that Ms. Kenyon's story is by any means weak or lacking depth as it is still a very strong entry in the anthology. However, compared to her novels, "A Hard Day's Night-Searcher" pales in comparison and adds little, if anything, to the ongoing series. However, this reviewer holds out hope that this is merely a teaser for a longer format in which more is explored regarding this fascinating couple.

Susan Krinard's "... Or Forever Hold Your Peace" is an alternate reality story set in Victorian England in which magical talents are part of the norm. At the wedding of Lady Emma Wakefield and Lord Edward Parish, a mysterious stranger objects to the wedding- only to drop dead from magical means. Lady Olivia Dowling and Christopher "Kit" Meredith agree to assist when Lady Emma disappears, only to find that supernatural forces are at work.

Susan Krinard's entry actually presents as more of a supernatural mystery than a romance and is a nice change of pace in the anthology. The Talents manifested by the various characters are simply fascinating and Ms. Krinard does an excellent job at tying all of the various story elements together. The surprising twists and turns taken in "... Or Forever Hold Your Peace" keep the suspense level high.

MY BIG FAT SUPERNATURAL WEDDING is a superb compilation by some of the best writers out there. Fans of the genre will enjoy this excellent anthology which teases the reader with tidbits from the various worlds crafted by the authors. MY BIG FAT SUPERNATURAL is an excellent addition to this reviewer's keeper shelf!

COURTESY OF CK2S KWIPS AND KRITIQUES

When you don't like one story in an anthology, you can just skip to the next. However, in this one, you won't want to miss a word anywhere! There's vampires, werewolves, Elvis, pirates, Greek gods and so much more. I was pleasantly surprised with the quality of each and every story. P.N. Elrod has pulled together a "spook-tacular" variety of stories from some of the top paranormal authors (including herself). It's very hard to pick a favorite, but I think I have to go with Rachel Caine's 'Dead Man's Chest' - ARRRRGH, that's some fine story-tellin', matey! Elrod's own 'All Shook Up' isn't far behind (and I'm not a big Elvis fan). But how can I forget the unique and funny 'The Wedding of Wylda Serene' by Esther M. Friesner? There's also well done tales by L.A. Banks, Jim Butcher, Lori Handeland, Sherrilyn Kenyon, and Susan Krinard. Although some of the stories are based in the writer's popular "universes," I had no trouble following any of the stories even when I wasn't familiar with the settings. In fact, I was so intrigued, I'll be placing their books on my "must read" list. I'm really missing out on some good ones... Bravo! I wish all anthologies were this well done.