Misbehavin' in Moonstone {A Mischief in Moonstone Story, Book 2} {humorous romantic mystery} by Christine DeSmet (Dame Moonstone): When the men of Moonstone, Wisconsin, suddenly seem to be off fishing a lot in the summer evenings, thus cutting down on her new restaurant's business, chef Kirsten Peplinski becomes suspicious. She discovers a topless touring boat has set up business in Lake Superior, just outside the jurisdiction of Moonstone. The town's women object in great furor, giving the old mayor a mild heart attack. Kirsten becomes the reluctant interim mayor to negotiate with the boat's owner. But after she comes aboard, Jonathon VanBrocklin announces she's going to be his wife as part of the trade. He sets sail, kidnapping her for an evening of romance, insisting on planning their wedding! The rogue even has a safe full of a dozen white moonstone necklaces--for her bridal attendants. Once back in town, Kirsten gathers the women for a little unmasking of this pirate...only to discover the ladies have Kirsten's "undressing" him more on their minds.

Garnet Lake {Troubled Waters Series, Book 2} {romantic suspense} by Liz Hunter (Dame Garnet): LeeAnn Armstrong is reeling from back-to-back blows: she's lost her job of 12 years with a Chicago ad agency, and even worse, she's lost her beloved grandmother. LeeAnn seeks solace in the Northern Wisconsin cabin Gramma bequeathed her on Garnet Lake, where she spent summers growing up.

Former Milwaukee policeman Mike Hastings is licking his wounds at his parents' home on Garnet Lake after the death of his wife and two children. He's vindicated their deaths, having sent the drug kingpin responsible for their deaths to prison. Now Mike lives day-to-day with his sorrow. When he reads an article in the local paper that LeeAnn is back and looking for a handyman, he volunteers. The article includes a picture of LeeAnn wearing a fabulous garnet ring that her grandfather named the lake after, claiming the sunset turned the water into garnet sparkles.

Mike was LeeAnn's first love, first lover, first heartache. Sometimes she questions why she chose college and career over his marriage proposal. Family pressure was responsible, she knows, and now it seems he'll never put his grief behind him. She's grateful to have him around, though, since someone seems determined to find the garnet ring, and is willing to kill for it. Will love heal their emotional wounds and keep them safe?

For the Love of Sapphire {American historical} by Nancy Pirri (Dame Sapphire): Spinster school teacher Sapphire Jameson learns that her brother, George, has wagered away his inheritance and is begging for hers as well since the debt hasn't been paid in full. Sapphire leaves her teaching position at a New York City school and arrives in St. Louis, ready to straighten things out. Her heart beats wildly at the idea of being indebted to her brother's childhood friend Patrick--the very man she'd been engaged to eight years ago. She'd broken their engagement, believing neighborhood gossip about his possible involvement with another woman. Sapphire has learned from her brother that Patrick's wife died four years ago in childbirth, leaving him sons to raise. Patrick needs a nanny for the boys. He offers the position to Sapphire to help her pay off her brother's debt. She's never forgiven him for his betrayal, but, with no other choice, she accepts.

Having Sapphire in his home, Patrick wants nothing more than to win her into his arms, his bed, and his heart again. His heart's desire is make this precious jewel his own.

The Turquoise Cat {North of Nonesuch Series, Book 1} {paranormal romance} by Jane Toombs (Dame Turquoise): When an eccentric great-aunt dies, Olivia Sumner unexpectedly inherits her old mansion on Lake Superior, plus an odd turquoise curio of a creature half human, half cougar. With no idea of what this talisman means, she faces a terrible danger, one she never dreamed could exist. Is Raoul DeKalb, the enigmatic DNR officer, on her side, or is he part of the danger?

The Amethyst Star {futuristic romance} by Karen Wiesner (Dame Amethyst): They live in a time when humans have become an endangered species...

Thirty years ago, the men and women of Earth went off to fight in Intergalactic War I, an event which left their world forever altered. With more carbon dioxide in the air, the temperature has risen considerably and made prolonged exposure to the sun deadly. Herbivores have all but disappeared while carnivores have flourished. Man--severely decreased in number--return to find their families slaughtered by the large man-eaters. Answering the call for help to avoid extinction from their earth allies are two races from two very different worlds: The Patrollers are a breed of aliens with extrasensory perception and the ability to camouflage themselves and their charges in any situation. The Patrollers have become protectors to the humans. Hunters from the planet Chaashane have ultra-strength, speed and instincts, allowing them to both track and destroy the elusive and clever carnivores that have become the dominant species.

Greatly outnumbered by the male sex, women have become earth's most valuable prizes in their roles as Procreators. Their eggs are harvested--in an attempt to grow a human race comparable to the days before their near extinction-and fertilized by only the strongest males of the species. Pair-bonding is rare. Families no longer exist since children are gestated in labs and then raised in sex-specific institutions. Lady Sher of the Amethyst Star, a Queen and Procreator, is mankind's last hope for survival. The previous queens have been unable to reproduce for years, and no other females are of harvesting age. While Sher dutifully upholds her obligations to her people, her loneliness and personal desires go unmet. More than anything, she longs for true love, to spend a lifetime with the man of her heart-a man she can create and share a family with. Her heart's desire can never be fulfilled...especially not with the hunter Randolf, who fills her waking and dreaming mind with forbidden longings.

On Randolf's home world, all inhabitants mate for life. The sex drive doesn't become active until the age of 21and then only after a mate is chosen. At that time, their desire becomes both unbearable and uncontrollable. In a traditional Chaashane ceremony at the age of 17, Randolf and his clan priest shared a vision of Randolf's life-mate. Both saw the rare star of amethyst. When Randolf heard the bi-annual call for hunters to go Earth and saw Lady Sher, he knew his destiny was leading him there. But humans have never pair-bonded with any other race and, given the current state of the earth, destiny and desire may be impossible to fulfill.

Reviews for TALES FROM THE TREASURE TROVE, Volume II:

4 1/2 stars! "Six of the 12 award-winning authors who comprise the Jewels of the Quill are present in this anthology and entertain with each story. Settings are in the past, present and future--and the stories are a mixture of the funny, happy and sad--but all resonate with love and hope from the common focal point of the jewel." ~Donna M. Brown for RT Book Reviews

5 flags! "Authors Michele Bardsley, Christine DeSmet, Liz Hunter, Nancy Pirri, Jane Toombs and Karen Wiesner are amply represented in this fine continuation to the TALES FROM THE TREASURE TROVE (Volume II) series from Jewels of the Quill. Genres include romantic suspense and humorous romantic mystery; paranormal romance and paranormal romantic comedy; American historical to futuristic romance. Lighthearted to tensely suspenseful, realistic to supernatural, you can find it here and enjoy it immensely!" ~EuroReviews http://euroreviews.eu.funpic.de/bookdetails.php?book_id=910

"TALES FROM THE TREASURE TROVE, Volume II is one outstanding book of short stories that readers will love. Laugh, cry, set off on an adventure; this book has it all. Six great romances, six great authors come together to create one magnificent read." ~MyShelf.com http://www.myshelf.com/romance/06/talesfromthetreasuretrovevolume2.htm

"This anthology is even better than the first Treasure Trove volume, if that is possible! Six famous authors have put together six fabulous stories that readers will never forget! Here is romance in all its wild and crazy forms, be they set in the past, present, or future. (The wind whispered in my ear that a third volume is due for release early 2007. I can hardly wait!) If you miss out on this novel, then you miss out on one of the best anthologies of the entire year." ~Detra Fitch for Huntress Reviews http://www.huntressreviews.com/

"Every treasure chest holds one special gem… A sparkling jewel in a crown filled with glinting reflections. Misbehavin' In Moonstoneby author Christine DeSmet is a ruby of romantic comedy not to be missed. Another jewel in this anthology is Garnet Lake, a romantic suspense by author Liz Hunter. The Turquoise Cat by author Jane Toombs is a paranormal romance that has the fur standing up on Mask's back. For the Love of Sapphire by author Nancy Pirri is another gem. The Amethyst Star by author Karen Wiesner adds paranormal intensity to the treasure trove of romance stories. Heart of Obsidian by author Michele Bardsley is for those who dream of love as first sight. TALES FROM THE TREASURE TROVE, Volume II is a romance lovers delight of short stories!" ~Candy Lane for Rolling Seas Reviews http://www.rollingseas.com.au

4 cups! "Garnet Lake by Liz Hunter (Dame Garnet): The relationship between LeeAnn and Mike contains a sense of poignancy that will touch the emotions of many readers. The love between them is visible and viable. Garnet Lake is a place that I would love to while a way many an idle summer hour, if only I could. The Turquoise Cat by Jane Toombs (Dame Turquoise): This tantalizing tale is set in Michigan's Upper Peninsula, which is an area with which I have some familiarity. The setting is an appropriate background for this plotline. Sightings of cougars and other large cats are a part of Michigan lore that enhances the mysterious atmosphere of this paranormal story. For the Love of Sapphire by Nancy Pirri (Dame Sapphire): A sweet and tender romance set in Victorian times. Readers who prefer emotionally poignant tales that are not as explicit will relish this particular story. Love lost and found again makes for a gratifying story that I found thoroughly enjoyable. The Amethyst Star by Karen Wiesner (Dame Amethyst): Futuristic plotlines are among my very favorites and "The Amethyst Star" has most of the elements that I enjoy about this particular genre. The unique world Ms. Wiesner has created is enchanting. Randolf and Sher exhibit intriguing traits as they go about their daily lives and deal with the attraction that sparks between them. The storyline is enhanced by a prophecy that one hopes will be fulfilled before the end of the story. Heart of Obsidian by Michele Bardsley (Dame Obsidian): A ghost is a unique way to elicit positive results from a tragic situation. Sophie's choice to help her siblings find love touched my soul. The machinations she uses to reach her goal are quite inspired. Ms. Bardsley’s gift for reaching the reader's emotions is sure to win her many new readers. Misbehavin' in Moonstone by Christine DeSmet (Dame Moonstone): A rollicking romp through small town Wisconsin that really captured my attention. Ms. DeSmet is able to use wit and humor in a thoroughly entrancing way. It is not easy to predict what will happen from one moment to the next, which makes for some very interesting reading. This story is the perfect way to round out a volume of appealing tales sure to end up on many a reader’s favorites list." ~Susan for Coffee Time Romance http://www.coffeetimeromance.com/BookReviews/Talesfromthetreasuretrovevolume2.html

4 stars! "Garnet Lake by Liz Hunter: This was a really nice story to read. It was a heart-warming story that was just plain nice. The Turquoise Cat by Jane Toombs: This was gripping enough to keep me reading it past my bedtime. One I just had to finish. For the Love of Sapphire by Nancy Pirri: Set in the late 1800's, this is a delightful short story. It reads as a novella with all the spirit and passion you'd expect to find in a longer version. Ms. Pirri has a well written story. Heart of Obsidian by Michele Bardsley: This book dovetails nicely into the point where the first one left off. I don't think new readers will have any trouble catching up on the past. It's an incredibly quick read and just rings out with fun. Ms. Bardsley has written a quick-witted, fun romantic comedy. Misbehavin' in Moonstone by Christine DeSmet: This is probably my favorite story in the book. It's a mystery, a romance and a comedy all rolled into one. Ms. DeSmet has a wonderful sense of humor that really shows through. Some of her word choices had me in stitches. I should also point out that for a book that's second in the series, it really stands alone so new readers won't be lost. The Amethyst Star by Karen Wiesner: I loved how Sher and Randolf fight the attraction they feel for each other. Plus the prophecy over Randolf adds an aura of mystery. Ms. Wiesner has written a futuristic book that is easy to read and follow. If you've never read a futuristic book, this would be a good one to cut your teeth on. Since it's Earth in the future, it's easy to understand and follow what happens. By the end, I couldn't stop reading. It's a very compelling story that keeps you on the edge until the end. The fulfillment of the prophecy came out of nowhere to me. It was not at all what I had expected, yet it fit the story perfectly. I also thought it was a nice length as a novella. It felt finished and didn't feel like we had to gloss over parts to get the shortened format. Ms. Wiesner has another well-written book to her credit. Let's just say we've got another keeper from Ms. Wiesner!" ~Robyn for Once Upon A Romance Review http://www.onceuponaromance.net/TreasureTroveIIReview.htm

4 stars! "Garnet Lake by Liz Hunter: An entertaining story. The Turquoise Cat by Jane Toombs: I am a cat lover, so how could I not like this story? For the Love of Sapphire by Nancy Pirri: This is a delightful tale of forgiveness and love. The interaction between Sapphire and the boys was heartwarming. The Amethyst Star by Karen Wiesner: There is a strong message behind this short story, one that humans need to heed. Misbehavin' in Moonstone by Christine DeSmet: Combines just the right amount of humor and romance to form an entertaining read. TALES FROM THE TREASURE TROVE, Volume II, A Jewels of the Quill Anthology, has six enchanting romance stories. Each short story is by a different author, and the connecting thread is a gem or the name of a gem. Misbehavin' in Moonstone was my favorite. I like a romance with lots of humor. Fans of romance will enjoy this volume." ~Debra Gaynor for ReviewYourBook.com http://www.reviewyourbook.com/review.cfm?reviewid=512&k=1

4 1/2 hearts! "In TALES FROM THE TREASURE TROVE, Volume II, you have six delightfully romantic tales that all have the same goal in mind finding the rare and precious jewels of love and happiness. There is something for everyone in this fine collection of tales. From suspense and shape-shifters to a historical offering a second chance, readers are sure to be entertained. Each contain strong and well defined characters that readers will quickly come to care about. Readers can also look forward to plenty action and suspense. From tears to laughter, readers will experience it all. Each story is creatively written, fast paced and easily enthralling depending on what the reader enjoys most. Although each story seems to be based around a precious jewel, love is the real focal point. A strong sense of love comes from each and everyone. Readers are encouraged to add TALES FROM THE TREASURE TROVE, Volume II by such wonderful authors as Karen Wiesner, Liz Hunter, Jane Toombs, Christine DeSmet, Nancy Pirri and Michele Bardsley to their reading list. They won't be disappointed." ~The Romance Studio http://theromancestudio.com/reviews/reviews/treasuretrove.htm