For all of us who've read our horoscopes while enjoying our morning coffee (or tea), and hoped those star-inspired words might hold some truth comes a series of two-story anthologies by Liquid Silver Books, each with themes of one of the twelve zodiac signs.

The Aries anthology contains two good stories to enjoy whenever you find yourself with a little time to spend reading. After reviewing the Taurus anthology, I expected the Aries anthology to be limited to sharing just the Zodiac theme – but what a treat it was when I discovered both Aries stories had more similarities--thirtieth birthdays, handsome heroes and sizzling love scenes

In Rebecca Williams' "Slow Burn", the one saving grace of Rebel Pemberton-Blythe's fast-approaching thirtieth birthday is the agreement she made three years ago at her twenty-seventh birthday celebration with then-article clerk and now-boss, Aidan Quinn. Working together as office juniors at the time, Rebel had struck a deal with Aidan that if she were still single on her thirtieth, he'd indulge Rebel in a night of mind-blowing passion to celebrate.

What Rebel hadn't anticipated was actually reaching the milestone and having to keep her part of the bargain. When Aidan drives Rebel to his place to fulfill the details of the agreement, Rebel gets more than she bargained for – intense emotions that make her want more than casual sex and running the risk of ruining the friendship she and Aidan have forged over the years.

Ms. Williams has created strong, passionate characters and a solid story complete with the intense emotion that engages the reader from start to finish. We can surely relate to the feeling of finality that hits with each milestone birthday, and I found myself cheering for Rebel to get everything she wanted for her thirtieth.

Hot on the heels of the first story, Susie Charles' "A Ram for Sam" enters with equally good storytelling, humor and a pending thirtieth birthday for heroine Sam. While Sam is content to give up hope of finding a man and having a family, her best friend Jodi is not. After a little coercing and cajoling, Jodi and Sam find themselves at a barbeque hosted by their longtime friend Jamie.

Jamie isn't alone. He's invited his group of dancing male stripper friends aptly named the Calendar Guys to the party, and Jodi can see matches made in heaven for her friend Sam. But from the moment she arrives, Sam finds herself under the spell of Jamie's brother, Ben. She's had a secret crush on the guy she grew up with but doesn't figure she has a shot with him because he thinks of her as a little sister.

Ben hides his jealousy of the Calendar Guys fawning over Sam but isn't sure quite how long he can hide his attraction to her, especially since she's moving into the apartment next door to him. When he plots with Jamie for the perfect birthday gift for his new neighbor and secret crush, will she be a willing recipient? Or will she be scared away for good?

Snappy dialogue and witty banter make Sam and Jodi come to life. Ms. Charles has crafted a hot attraction between Ben and his new neighbor Sam that make this story an absolute pleasure to read.

Next time you get a chance, curl up with a cup of coffee and a copy of the Aries anthology – and give yourself the gift of star-crossed happily-ever-afters.

Reviewed By: Sashi Ketsel
© June 2005