Taste Test: Scared Stiff

Title: Taste Test: Scared Stiff
Author: J.L. Merrow, Sunny Moraine, Mercy Loomis
Publisher: Torquere Books
Genre: M/M Paranormal Romance.
Length: Various
Rating: 4.25 stars out of 5

A guest review by Jenre

THE BLURB

A good scary story can make a heart race, just like a sexy encounter can. That’s the idea behind Scared Stiff. In Through a Western Door by JL Merrow, Sam thinks he’s gotten a bad deal going to a party and an abandoned house. Then he meets James, and finds out that even legendary hauntings have an upside.

Summer in Canaan, by Sunny Moraine, finds Jacob trying to rekindle the muse in a cabin in the woods. Will Aaron be able to help him, or is it too late for both of them. Finally, in The House that Pip Built, but Mercy Loomis, Caleb wants desperately to be in the same fraternity as his longtime crush, Evan. Will he be able to spend enough time in a haunted house to get his wish?

THE REVIEW

This trio of mini ghost stories may be perfect for Halloween, but don’t worry you are more likely feel amused and heartened by these romantic stories than scared out of your wits. I shall take each story in turn.

In Through a Western Door by JL Merrow
Length: 14 Pages

This very British story was my favourite in the anthology. At the beginning we meet Sam who is “having a wazz” (do you use this slang term in the US?) in the back garden of an abandoned house where he and his friends are partying on Halloween. Sam isn’t really having a great time at the party having just outed himself spectacularly in front of his friends so he’s gone into the garden to lick his wounds and drink vodka. He’s surprised to find another guy, James, hanging about the garden too and there’s an instant attraction which quickly turns into something more. but there’s something not quite right about James. For a start his clothes are a bit odd and he speaks very differently to Sam. It’s only later that Sam discovers just how different James is.

There’s a sense of sly humour in this story which really appealed to me, especially in the initial interaction between James and Sam and I liked the obvious differences between the foul mouthed Sam and the more cultured James. It wasn’t too difficult to guess what was happening in the story but the ending was a surprise and well thought out. For such a short story there were a surprising number of characters all of which were as well rounded as they could be given the length of the story. The only thing which may not appeal to everyone is that much of Sam’s dialogue is littered with British colloquialisms that some overseas readers may not pick up on, but that’s a minor point in what was an entertaining read. Rating: 4.5 Stars.

Summer in Canaan by Sunny Moraine
Length: 14 pages

Jacob is a would be writer who just can’t seem to get started so he takes himself for a summer vacation in the mountains of New York State. Whilst there he meets Aaron, an odd young man who catches Jacob’s interest and sets his muse afire.

This was definitely the most moving and poignant story out of the anthology, although as a pairing Jacob and Aaron were the least likely candidates for a HEA. The story is very description heavy which provides a wonderful sense of place, especially in the contrast between NY city and the quiet retreat of the mountains. It also means that the pacing is quite slow which adds to the eerie quality of the story. Where the story fails, in my opinion is in the final third. I just couldn’t see how the relationship was going to work in the long run and even with a HFN ending I wasn’t convinced. Despite that, this was a very lovely, well written story. Grade: 4 stars.

The House That Pip Built By Mercy Loomis
Length: 8 Pages

This amusing story uses a haunted house theme and twists it into a saucy friends to lovers tale. It follows college freshman Caleb who, along with other ‘pledges’ is trying to get into a fraternity. This particular fraternity contains Caleb’s long term crush, Evan who is Caleb’s brother’s best friend. The fraternity ‘test’ is for the students to last five minutes in the old fraternity building which is said to be haunted, but when Caleb enters the house he discovers a very friendly ghost called Pip.

The whole of this story is very tongue in cheek and although it’s short there’s still enough detail packed around a very hot sex scene to satisfy my need for plot and characterisation with my sex. I would have perhaps liked to have spent more time with Evan and Caleb but still the end of the story left me with a big smile on my face. A funny, hot and yet also romantic read. Rating: 4.25 Stars.

If you like ghost stories but don’t like too much of a chill to your tale, then these three stories will be perfect for you. Highly recommended for a Halloween night tucked up safe indoors from any ghosties who may be lurking in the streets outside.