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 containing themes of one of the twelve zodiac signs.

Enter the Gemini anthology. Claire Reed, heroine of Shara Lanel's "Directing Claire", manages to find a job any writer would lust after: temping as a secretary for a phone that rarely rings. With the support of her handsome boss Devon Marceau, she spends her free time pursuing her true passion – working on her novel. But when she asks Devon if he'd like to split a pizza as her treat to him for being so understanding, she ends up getting much more from the FBI agent than she bargained for.

Devon Marceau is about to throw in the towel on his current mission of nailing noted criminal Scott Creighton in a porn star sting when Creighton takes the bait and arranges for a visit to Devon's makeshift porn movie set. Problem is, there's no movie being shot. Even worse, Creighton and his henchmen are due to arrive in less than twenty minutes and they've been known to kill anyone who doesn't give them what they want: hot porn stars in action.

What's a man to do? Devon does the first – and only – thing that comes to mind. He enlists Claire's help as his leading starlet in an attempt to save both of their lives. After their romp between the sheets, can they ever go back to business as usual or will their relationship be over as soon as it began?

Claire and Devon are well written characters. The storyline forces them both into a situation they wouldn't normally be in and their romantic relationship is believable. Their sexual chemistry works well but the external storyline with Creighton fizzles out with a less-than-satisfactory resolution of the sting. Based on the excellent, strong writing up to the crucial scene, I was hoping for a bang-up finish but was let down.

Second in the Gemini anthology is MacKenzie Reed's "Heart's Desire". Cassidy DeWitt attempts to humor her friends by visiting a carnival fortune teller she doesn't believe in. When Madame Zorkoff gives Cassidy information about her past that no one could possibly know, she can’t help but be a little curious about Madame Zorkoff's prediction.

It isn't long before the prediction is set into motion. Outside the fortune teller's tent, Cassidy runs into Nick Kinkaide – the man who loved and left her three years ago. She'd lost her heart and soul to Nick before he disappeared without a trace. Their coincidental meeting reminds Cassidy that while Nick left her, her feelings for him did not.

Nick can't believe his luck at running into Cassidy. He's never forgotten her beauty or the passion they shared one night so long ago. His disappearance after their first night of lovemaking was the only way he could keep Cassidy out of danger. Will she give him the chance to explain or is her heart too fragile to trust him again?

Ms. Reed pens an engaging story with interesting characters. The passion shared between Nick and Cassidy is deep and goes far beyond a casual sexual relationship. Cassidy's desire to fall into Nick's arms is understandably tempered by her wariness at being burned again. Cassidy's emotional journey is well written and compelling. However, her fluctuating feelings are the only real conflict in the story. There's little else filling the reader with a burning urge to continue reading. Nick's conflict at the beginning of their reunion is evident but there are really no obstacles for them to overcome other than Cassidy's forgiving Nick for his past and getting on with the future. The intimate scenes are well written and the spark between Nick and Cassidy grows stronger each time they get together, but I'd hoped to see more conflict keeping them apart.

Overall, Gemini is a nice read to pass time on a lazy afternoon. Both tales offer characters with interesting stories and a lot of passion to share. If you need a book to fill up these dwindling summer afternoons, check out the Gemini duet from Liquid Silver books.

Reviewed By: Sashi Ketsel
© August 2005