Wanted by Karin Tabke

Anthology-Men Out of UniformI’ve been in a reading rut lately and there are two things that will generally help break it – short stories and contemporary erotic romance. Don’t ask me why, but there’s just something about a steamy love story and a few well written chapters that is never affected by whatever rut I’m in. Thankfully I just happened to have a copy of the new anthology, Men Out of Uniform, by Maya Banks, Karin Tabke and Sylvia Day.

Wanted follows the exploits the X-rated of of bad-boy cop Colin Daniels and the soon-to-be ex-wife of a mob boss.  He’s been hired to guard her body, but it drives him to distraction instead, putting his career – and his life – on the line.

The second story is Karin Tabke’s Wanted and while the story was great, I’m left with “and really?”  The plot is solid with enough action to keep the story moving quickly and the characters have enough depth to them that we know enough without feeling like we need their backstory, but it kind of ends abruptly.

Before I say anything else, I have to say that I’m a little annoyed that one little bit wasn’t explained before Wanted ended.  I mean, there was this hint of something and I think I know what it is, but it never came back into the story.  It was all tease with no follow through.  I get that it’s a minor element, but seriously?!  If the unexplained tidbit involves who I think it is, then it should have been mentioned since Tabke made sure to give a paragraph (granted a small one) to explaining the animosity.  Yeah, I’m seriously feeling like WTF that’s it?!

Regardless of all that, the story is definitely a fabulous one.  The chemistry between Colin and Sophia is fabulous and I love how Tabke kept the sexual tension in play throughout the whole story. Even while the two were literally running, there was that sense of emotion that they were doing it for each other rather than just moving the plot along. I’m all about the heat during these reading funks, but that doesn’t mean I want to read scene upon scene of sex and Tabke manages to up the heat level without doing just that.

So far, Men Out of Uniform just gets getting better. If Soul Possession was the appetizer, than Wanted was definitely the main course as it was satisfying in a way that Soul Possession wasn’t. Now I can’t wait to get into dessert with Sylvia Day’s story, Taking the Heat.

Men Out of Uniform contains the following stories:
Soul Possession by Maya Banks (review)
Wanted by Karin Tabke
Taking the Heat by Sylvia Day (review)

About Jackie 3282 Articles
I am a 30-something SAHM with two adorable boys and a supportive husband who is very tolerant of my reading addiction. I love to read and easily go through about a dozen books a month – well I did before I had kids. Now, not so much. After my first son was born, I began to take my hobby of reviewing a little more serious and started Literary Escapism to help with my sanity. I love to discuss the fabulous novels I’ve read and meeting all the wonderful people in the book blogging community has been amazing.

1 Comment

  1. I tried a full length by Karen Tabke and didn’t like it at all, but it was sort of paranormalish, I think. I just remember the flesh-eating/human-craving cave bats and that was about enough to turn me off.

    Maybe a contemp would be better.

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