Horror Through the Decades and an Excerpt from Impassioned

As a horror fan I always have trouble narrowing down my favorite movies. Every decade offers something memorable. Here's a list of my top five from each decade from 1960-2010. Some are on the list because they're super scary and others because they're just plain fun. It was hard to narrow down the list because there are so many great horror movies.

60s
Curse of the Werewolf (1961)
Dracula Has Risen From the Grave (1968)
Psycho (1960)
Dracula: Prince of Darkness (1966)
Rosemary's Baby (1968)

70s
Phantom of the Paradise (1974)
The Beast Must Die (1974)
Count Yorga, Vampire (1970)
Jaws (1975)
The Abominable Dr. Phibes (1971)

80s
Dance of the Damned (1989)
Vamp (1986)
Waxwork (1988)
The Monster Club (1981)
Fright Night II (1988)

90s
Mary Reilly (1996)
Army of Darkness (1992)
Wolf (1994)
An American Werewolf in Paris (1997)
The Shining (1997)

2000+
Saw (2004)
House of 1000 Corpses (2003)
The House of Usher (2006)
Fido (2006)
Blade II (2002)

Now for the really hard part—deciding which one to watch tonight!

Impassioned by Kate Hill
Format(s): Ebook
Heat Level: Erotic
Pairing(s): M/F
Genre/Themes: Werewolf
Length: Novella
Publisher: Changeling Press
Cover art: Marteeka Karland
ISBN: 978-1-60521-128-2
Purchase Link: Changeling Press

Blurb:

The brutal serial killer Tonia helped put away for life has escaped. To protect herself, she takes a job as a housekeeper on the private island of Dr. Juan Gino Perez.

Mysterious and appealing, Dr. Perez intrigues her from the first, but she soon realizes that her new home might be as dangerous as the one she left.

The victim of another scientist's inhumane studies, Juan has bridged the gap between civilized man and primal beast. As if drawn by magic, he and Tonia can't restrain the lust between them. Her love might be his only cure. He's willing to risk anything -- even his life -- to keep her safe.

Willy the Carver is about to learn that hunting the beast's mate may be his last mistake...

Excerpt:

"She's done more to control the beast in a few days than we've done in years."

Tonia couldn't help feeling a bit guilty because she also seemed to be the cause of his frequent changes recently. She both inspired the beast and in a way controlled him, but maybe she did more harm than good.

"You think I don't know that? It doesn't justify dragging her into this mess. I should have ended this long ago. Now I don't think I can. He won't let me. He wants to control me."

"Then don't let him. Calm yourself right now and get back to work."

"I can't!" Tonia recognized the telltale deepening of Juan's voice and hurried into the lab.

Juan, his clawed hands flexing at his sides, stood nose-to-nose with Dave.

"Juan!" she snapped.

Both men turned to her and she placed the tray on an empty table.

"I think we better restrain you," Dave said, grasping a dart gun. "Come on."

Juan shoved his way past Dave and rushed through the labyrinth. They chased him to his room where he tore off his clothes before allowing Dave to fasten his hands and ankles into the restraints on the bed. He'd just finished locking the last cuff on his ankle when the beast took over. Brown hair sprouted over him from head to toe and his muscles thickened as he changed directly to his "werewolf" form. He went into frantic spasms as he tried to break free of the bonds. Blood flew from his mouth as his sharp teeth cut his lips and he howled savagely.

"Juan, calm down!" Tonia said loudly and coolly despite her terror. She didn't fear for herself, but for him. "Listen to me."

The beast stilled, except for the heaving of his chest. His piercing eyes fixed on her, following her every movement as she approached and sat on the edge of the bed. She rested a hand on his furred chest and felt the pounding of his heart.

Most of the "werewolf's" heavy hair disappeared and she again faced the primal man. Blood glistened on his wrists from his struggles against the restraints. She touched his forearm and he jumped a bit, like an animal caught in a trap.

In truth that's exactly what he was.

"Will you be all right?" Dave asked.

"Yes," she replied, not taking her gaze from the beast who continued staring at her, growling softly.

She heard the door close as Dave left them alone.

Tonia rose and walked to the bathroom where she moistened a washcloth. She returned to the bed and cleaned blood from his chin and lips. Gazing at her with a sinister yet playful look, he caught her index finger ever-so-gently between his sharp teeth and she paused, her heart pounding.

If he lost his fragile hold on his self-control, he could easily bite off her fingertip.

About Kate

Kate Hill is a vegetarian New Englander who loves writing romantic fantasies. When she's not working on her books, Kate enjoys reading, working out, and researching vampires and Viking history. You can visit her online at http://www.kate-hill.com.