by Paula Guran
First published 2006
A battle-weary starfighter pilot carries emotional scars that threaten any chance at connection. An immortal nymph in Berlin becomes consumed by her feelings for a mortal artist who serves as her muse. Two witches inhabit a Victorian house that materializes overnight in a suburban neighborhood, disrupting the ordinary world around them. A forest guardian faces impossible choices between love and duty as ancient trees fall to human expansion. These dozen stories follow supernatural beings and mortals as they navigate romance across fantasy realms and science fiction worlds. The characters range from magical women wielding mysterious powers to mystical men hiding their true nature. Each tale explores how love transforms both human and otherworldly hearts, though not every romance reaches a traditional happy ending. The stories move from playful encounters to deeper emotional reckonings, showing how connection persists even when worlds collide.
Genres: science-fiction, romance, fantasy, paranormal
Vibes: atmospheric, emotional, intimate, suspenseful
Tropes: enemies-to-lovers, found-family, love-transforms
Setting: Berlin
3 pages · MP3 CD · Wildside Press