Archives for January 2014

Fighting Dirty For His Girl by Jenika Snow

January 3, 2014 By Leave a Comment

GIRL
Fighting Dirty For His Girl by Jenika Snow
Publisher: Evernight Publishing
Genre: Contemporary, Paranormal
Length: Short Story (100 pages)
Other: M/F
Rating: 3.5 stars
Reviewed by Tulip

Bram Wylde is more bear than man, but he embraces it. With the need to fight regularly to let off steam, he lets his alpha bear run free when others keep their inner animals under control. When he sees Kenzie Harlow, a timid deer shifter, he vows that she will be his by the end of the night.

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Fighting Dirty For His Girl is another great read from author Jenika Snow. This is the third book in her Wylde Bears series. This is Bram’s story. It was a good read. It hooked me hard and kept me engaged in the story from start to finish.

Bram is the youngest of the Wylde bear brothers. He is also the most dangerous. His bear is close to the surface and he thrives on violence. Bram is a fighter for sure. I found his personality thrilling and enjoyed reading his story. Kenzie is a deer shifter who is in a bad spot. The poor girl is being held captive by a sadistic panther shifter. Years ago, a young Kenzie had been fooled into thinking Rook was her protector, only to find out the hard way that he wasn’t the good guy. Now that she can see her chance at freedom she takes it. Only to run headlong into a fierce looking bear shifter. They have that instant mate chemistry right away. Bram will fight anyone to protect his mate. He has some hard work ahead to get them clear from Rook and his henchmen. Rook is one mean and cruel panther and he is not about to give up Kenzie. It looks like Bram will have to win his most vicious fight to win his mate.

This was a fast paced story with a solid plot I could dig into. I liked the characters in this book. I didn’t get that personal connection that was there for me in Ford’s book. But I was still drawn into Bram and Kenzie’s love story. I was easily immersed in the emotions of the story and everything that had happened to Kenzie. Then there was the hot hero. Bram was an aggressive alpha male, yet he was so caring he was with Kenzie. I loved that he made her feel safe. Even their love scenes were caring and passionate. Remember that we are reading about a heroine that has been victimized here. The author did a good job in making it seem real when she accepted Bram so soon. Bram and Kenzie’s story had an element of suspense that was great. I was excited just waiting to find out how everything would turn out for them. I would also like to say that the story gave me a very nice epilogue.

Fighting Dirty For His Girl is another solid read from Jenika Snow. I enjoyed it and have recommended it to everyone. I cannot wait to find out what this author has coming up next. Whatever it may be …. she has definitely found a fan in me. Happy reading everyone !

Filed Under: Erotic Romance, Reviews Tagged With: , , , , ,

Runaway Groom by Virginia Nelson

January 3, 2014 By 1 Comment

GROOM
Runaway Groom by Virginia Nelson
Publisher: Samhain Publishing
Genre: Contemporary
Length: Short Story (132 pages)
Other: M/F
Rating: 5 stars
Reviewed by Lisianthus

The groom is back in town.

Abigail lost her best friend years ago when he ditched her at the altar like a loaf of stale bread. Now he’s back and determined to do whatever he has to—even lie, apparently—to get under her skin. Although he makes her hormones rev to life in a way that no one has since he left, she is equally determined not to fall for his boy-next-door charm.

His bride-to-be is somewhat reluctant.
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Braxton Dean was too young and stupid to know better when he walked away. Years of trying to fill the Abby-shaped hole in his heart have left him empty, and now he’s going to win back his girl—or get over her. But first he needs answers. Particularly why she never responded to any of his letters.

It might take a whole town to make this wedding happen.

With the help of their friends, the two battle it out. The army? An entire town of busybodies. The prize? Happily ever after.

I went in to this story expecting to hate Braxton Dean, after all he did leave his best friend at the altar, and I didn’t think he could be redeemed. Ms. Nelson does an excellent job of giving an insight into Braxton that goes a long way to redeeming him in my eyes.

I enjoyed reading the letters that he wrote to Abigail, they honestly added a delicious depth to this story that had me shushing those around me when they interrupted me while I was reading. To say I couldn’t get enough of this book is an understatement, I ran the gauntlet of emotions with these characters, and easily understood both sides and the pain that was there and I think it was a marvelous touch that it wasn’t just forgotten because he was back in time.

Abigail loves Braxton as much as Braxton loves Abigail and that isn’t ever really a question. The big issue is, do they love deeply enough to forgive and find their way back together. They have a lot of history and I enjoyed reading a story where the two main characters have so much history and are truly best friends. Ms. Nelson does a great job of adding in that small town feel with the meddling of the town in their love affair.

I really enjoyed this story, and will be singing its praises to my friends. It has the sweet feel of a small town romance, and also a story of best friends loving each other and learning to trust and forgive. I definitely look forward to more of this series from Ms. Nelson.

Filed Under: Erotic Romance, Reviews Tagged With: , , , ,

Flick by Keira Des Anges – Spotlight and Giveaway

January 3, 2014 By 5 Comments

1_3 VBT_Flick_Banner

This post is part of a virtual book tour organized by Goddess Fish Promotions. One randomly chosen commenter will win a $50 Amazon/BN.com gift card. The Rafflecopter is at the end of the post, and you can click on the tour banner to see the other stops on the tour.

1_3 Cover_FlickLeanna Matthews enjoys flying below the radar. She does well in school, has a few close friends and hides the fact she’s an astral-traveling telekinetic. But there’s no escaping her creepy dreams or Simora, the bizarre little spirit lady, that suddenly pops out of nowhere to warn her against keeping secrets and predicts an encounter with a sinister evil. For the first time in forever someone…or something…is on to her.

But life turns around when Leanna meets Piper one sunny afternoon. She’s inexplicably drawn to him, almost as if she’s been waiting for him to come. Forbidden to have a boyfriend Leanna throws caution to the wind, lying to her family and friends to be with him, while ignoring Simora’s ominous message.

Yet Piper has a secret of his own. He is on a mission and Leanna, unwittingly, is the key.

Enjoy an excerpt:

He stood idly by Ms. Fenson’s hedges, shifting around uncomfortably and looking at nothing in-particular. After gazing at the sky, he stared at his feet and pulled at the shrubs behind him – which unless he had a death-wish, was an absolute no-no. Ms. Fenson was a legend in her neighborhood and Leanna knew if this guy stood anywhere near the hedges too long she’d most certainly come after him – and it wouldn’t be pretty! Although notorious for her loony behavior, no one denied Ms. Fenson took excellent care of her yard and was fiercely protective of it – in a scary, mad-womanish sort of way.

I’ll just walk by him, Leanna thought, trying to ignore the sudden tightness in her chest. Anyway, who cares? He doesn’t know me from a hole in the ground.

With each step, her legs turned to mush. But an invisible force pulled her forward. The pressure grew stronger, involuntarily pushing her along until she finally passed him; her heart racing, her body stiffening…

“Hey!” he called.

She stopped abruptly. Was he talking to her? It was hard to focus; the thumping in her ears grew nauseatingly louder. But since there wasn’t anyone else around, he must be speaking to her. Leanna turned around uncertainly.

He casually strolled over with his hands in his jean pockets. When they finally stood face-to-face, Leanna’s breath caught.

He was even more strikingly handsome up close. At around 5’10, he wore his wavy hair cropped close to his head, and in spite of his loose, red Ecko T-shirt, he sported a visibly muscular build. His chestnut eyes were splashed with the tiniest specks of green and framed by long, dark eyelashes, in stark contrast to his honey brown skin. They were the most beautiful eyes Leanna had ever seen. But it wasn’t the color that intrigued her. His eyes were clear and telling; their depths ran deep. And for a fraction of a moment, she could’ve swore she saw herself.

Watch the book video:

About the Author:1_3 Keira des Anges PicBy day, Keira des Anges has the distinct pleasure of assisting teenagers with disabilities find employment, empowering one life at a time. By night, she is a chew toy for her dog and cat and avid reader of anything spooky, magical and totally out of this world. She lives in sunny Florida with her husband and two kids.

Twitter: @KeiradesAnges
Facebook: www.facebook.com/KeiraDesAnges
Website: www.keiradesanges.com

Buy the book at Amazon

a Rafflecopter giveaway
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Filed Under: Guest Blogs, YA/Middle Grade/Children's Tagged With: , , ,

Snowbound with the Soldier by Jennifer Faye

January 2, 2014 By Leave a Comment

SOLDIER
Snowbound with the Soldier by Jennifer Faye
Publisher: Harlequin
Genre: Contemporary, Holiday
Length: Full Length (250 pages)
Heat Level: Sensual
Rating: 3 stars
Reviewed by Hollyhock

Maybe this Christmas…?

It has been seven long years since Kara Jameson last saw Jason Greene. Returning home as a wounded war hero, Jason looks a shell of the man she once knew. Yet her heart still skips a beat as if it was yesterday.
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Stepping back into civilian life, Jason looks to Kara for help. But there’s too much water under the bridge; not to mention too much lingering attraction.

But it seems that the mountain weather has other ideas, and when Kara and Jason end up snowbound together they are forced to confront the ghosts of Christmas past.

What better time than the holidays to repair a broken relationship, reconnect with a lost love, or learn all over again what the meaning of Christmas really is. That’s what happens in Snowbound with the Soldier when a likable hero and heroine re-encounter each other after a long time apart and realize that their connection never really severed.

Jason Smith is a hero any reader can cozy up to. He’s a returning soldier with scars, both physical and emotional, who wants to make things right, but isn’t always willing to face up to his painful past. Finding Kara again has him thinking about love—but forever is more than he can handle. Kara Jameson is not the same girl Jason left behind seven years ago. She has a daughter now and can’t afford to make a mistake. Their romance is a satisfying one, and I liked how the author managed a few new twists on familiar themes. What seems like it might turn into the standard secret-baby story becomes something else instead and that makes for a pleasurable experience.

I would have liked it better, though, if the author had fleshed her characters out a little more. Jason and Kara seemed rather one-dimensional and that made the story too sentimental for my taste. A few faults or a harder edge to the hero and heroine would have made them more like real people. I also didn’t like the way the author told us about the characters’ emotions rather than showing us. Various emotions rolled, slithered, pummeled, swirled, and balled up in the characters, but no matter how vivid the telling, it’s not as effective as showing. As a result, the story seemed to only scratch the surface of the characters and their stories at times, rather than bringing them to life.

Overall, though, it was still an entertaining and satisfying read. So if the holidays have you wishing for a sweet romance where a character’s heart might just grow three-sizes in a moment, then Snowbound with the Soldier is just what you’re looking for.

Filed Under: Reviews, Romance Tagged With: , , , , ,

The Designated Survivor by JC Gatalin

January 2, 2014 By 2 Comments

SURVIVOR
The Designated Survivor by JC Gatalin
Publisher: Blurb, Inc.
Genre: Suspense/Mystery, Contemporary, Action/Adventure
Length: Short Story (98 pages)
Heat Level: Sweet
Rating: 3 Stars
Reviewed by Astilbe

An Unreasonable Hitchhiker.
An Unstable Widower.
An Unpredictable Journey.

Having just escaped from inmate work detail, Tess is on the run and has one goal: get her daughter back. So, hitching a ride to Sarasota, where her daughter is staying, seemed like a good idea at first. That is until she realized her Good Samaritan is clearly suffering from the recent loss of his wife.

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It isn’t easy to reason with someone who is emotionally unstable. Injecting logic into a completely illogical belief system is even more difficult while you’re on the run and have no time to spare.

The pacing of this novella is fantastic. No sooner was I introduced to Tess and Wesley than their adventure begins in earnest. The tension rapidly escalates from that point on until the very last scene, and I was so invested in what was happening with these characters that I read the whole book in one sitting.

Numerous plot holes and connections between characters that were never fully explained lead to me give this tale a 3 star rating. A few issues with the plot were briefly brought up again later on, but given how much time had been spent on them earlier I would have liked to see more time spent discussing why these explanations are the right ones.

Small details in the descriptive paragraphs pulled me back into the action. This isn’t a typical road trip by any stretch of the imagination, but the author’s descriptions of what it feels like to carpool with someone you don’t know very well or stop at a gas station for a quick snack and stretch were right on point.

I did notice inconsistent characterization of someone who plays an important role in the plot. Their behavior shifts so much from one scene to the next that I briefly wondered if this was another clue about what was really happening with them. It would have been helpful to have confirmation of this if it is truly what the author is intending to do.

There are quite a few personality similarities between Wesley and Tess that aren’t necessarily apparent immediately. Discovering what they are is one of the best parts of reading this story because of how slowly everything is revealed. Despite the short length of this novella, the beginning in particular felt like the introduction to a full length novel. It took the time to set up everything the reader needs to know about Tess and Wesley in order to jump into what happens to them next.

The Designated Survivor kept me hooked until the final sentence. This fast-paced mystery is a good choice for anyone interested in a plot-centered story.

Filed Under: Mystery/Suspense, Reviews, Romance Tagged With: , , , , , , ,

One Dog Too Many by Lia Farrell

January 2, 2014 By 1 Comment

DOG
One Dog Too Many by Lia Farrell
Publisher: Camel Press
Genre: Contemporary, Suspense/Mystery
Length: Full Length (294 Pages)
Rating: 3.5 Stars
Reviewed by Cyclamen

Mae December runs a successful dog boarding business in Tennessee. When her neighbor, Ruby Mead-Allison fails to pick up her unruly Pomeranian from Mae’s kennel, Mae pokes around and discovers the woman’s body. She is found with a traffic counting cord around her neck, wearing one red boot. While delving into the mystery of Ruby’s death, Mae meets handsome Sheriff Ben Bradley. Together they find no shortage of suspects. Ruby was standing in the way of a project that would widen her rural road and make the area safer. Was she killed by an angry neighbor? The Road Commissioner? Her estranged husband? Her disinherited brother? The Sheriff may not appreciate Mae’s amateur detecting, but he responds to her as a woman. Meanwhile the murderer thinks its time to put a permanent stop to Mae’s meddling.

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One Dog Too Many is a very pleasant cozy mystery, set in a rural Tennessee town. Everyone knows everyone which both helps and hinders the investigation. I really like Mae and it was interesting to learn about the dog boarding and breeding business. Sheriff Ben is newly elected and he lacks confidence, but he is determined and smart and he has a lot of assistance from Wayne, his lead detective. He also gets a lot of help from Dory, his office manager who has “outlasted several sheriffs in her forty-year tenure. Showing no signs of slowing down, she ran the office like a well-oiled machine.” Dory is a wonderful character and I love the fact that she is able to navigate cell phones better than either Ben or Wayne.

The plot has a lot of twists and turns, some relevant and some not relevant. The novel reads rather like a police procedural in that it has a clipped crisp writing style. At times I would have preferred a less abrupt style, but the information is transmitted clearly. The pacing is slow and deliberate until the very end, when the action is breathtakingly fast and full of suspense.

The author has worked carefully on the setting so that I really did feel as if I were a part of this rural town and I could picture the scenes as well as the people. Character interactions and the descriptions of daily life definitely ring true, and the characters seem to be very real.

Fans of the cozy mystery will certainly enjoy adding Mae December to their list of charming detectives. She manages to solve the case very satisfactorily.

Filed Under: Mystery/Suspense, Reviews Tagged With: , , , ,

A Fistful of Dust by Sharon Bidwell

January 2, 2014 By Leave a Comment

DUST
A Fistful of Dust by Sharon Bidwell
Publisher: Untreed Reads
Genre: Sci-Fi/Fantasy, Historical, Action/Adventure
Length: Short Story (102 pages)
Rating: 3 Stars
Reviewed by Astilbe

Phobos, fearful son of Mars. A moon often likened to a diseased potato…but is there more to the legends surrounding the satellite than mere rumour? Drawn to Mars as part of a covert mission, the team of the Esmeralda 2 are waylaid by Sir Henry Routledge, governor-general of Syrtis Major. Although at first reluctant to take on an additional mission — a search for a missing man — they change their minds upon hearing one Henry Barnsdale-Stevens has gone missing on Phobos, the mysterious moon of Mars that many say inspires fear.

The explorers set out for Phobos believing they may well find the minerals they’ve been looking for, and save a man’s life. Another myth calls to them — the strange monolith that rises from Phobos’ surface…but does it extend below? The team discovers this is not an ill-formed ‘bit of rock’, nor a remnant of the Stickney crater impact. It’s much more mysterious and marvelous, for there are words and drawings on the stone.

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It’s hard to rescue someone when you’re not even sure if he’s still alive.

The best scenes in this novella involve foreshadowing so subtle that their messages are extraordinarily easy to miss. Ms. Bidwell made me feel a deep sense of foreboding before I had any idea what her characters might be facing. What makes her work unique is that discovering what caused my dread only made me fear it more. There was no comfort to be found in knowing the answer to this question, and for that reason this tale will stick with me for a very long time.

The introduction of a large number of characters in the beginning slowed down the pacing of the first third of this book. Not all of the relationships between the characters are immediately clear, so I had trouble at first remembering who was who. Because the adventure begins as the characters are travelling to their destination, the combination of a relatively large group of people and the amount of time it took to set up who they were and why they were on this mission made the first third of the plot feel like it was moving much more slowly than this reader ordinarily expects from an adventure tale.

With that being said, once the pacing picks up about halfway through the narrative I couldn’t put this book down. Old rivalries and allegiances among various members of the main cast of characters are illuminated as they discover something they never would have imagined to exist.

I didn’t realize that A Fistful of Dust was part of a series until I was midway through the plot. Figuring this out helped me understand why the first few chapters contain so many references to the character’s backstories without the text including any flashbacks to what sound like very exciting scenes. While this book can be read as a standalone novel, I am looking forward to going back to the first book in the series to discover exactly what happened to these characters earlier on in their adventures.

A Fistful of Dust is a good choice for anyone who loves the atmosphere and plot tropes of nineteenth century science fiction.

Filed Under: Reviews, Science Fiction/Fantasy, Uncategorized Tagged With: , , , , ,

The Darkness Within by Robert Friedrich

January 2, 2014 By Leave a Comment

WITHIN
The Darkness Within by Robert Friedrich
Publisher: Self-Published
Genre: Sci-Fi/Fantasy, Horror, Action/Adventure, Paranormal
Length: Short Story (106 pages)
Heat Level: Spicy
Rating: 2.5 Stars
Reviewed by Astilbe

A past long forgotten, a mysterious reading in space, an unprepared crew and an unforgivable Darkness.

A Captain who suffered a terrible accident causing him amnesia, and his crew of the salvage ship “LIGHTARK” stumble upon a mysteries reading far in space. As they investigate they uncover a terrible secret that shall ultimately decide their fate. Will the Captain and his crew be able to survive, or will they be consumed by the Darkness that lurks at the edge of space.

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As soon as Captain Roberts and his crew notice bizarre readings coming from what ought to be an uninhabited part of space I couldn’t wait to find out what it was they’ve discovered. The first few scenes were so well-paced that I felt like I was watching a movie instead of reading a book.

The lack of character development made it difficult for me to connect emotionally with any of the crew members of Lightark. I had trouble understanding their motivation for behaving in certain ways as the plot progresses, and in most cases their intentions and thought processes are never really explained. While I understand that a plot-centered work such as this one may not be designed to explore these things in depth, I was hoping that the issue would be raised eventually. The characters also didn’t seem to understand one another despite working together in very close quarters for what appears be a long period of time. I would have preferred to see more time spent exploring why their professional relationships were so uncommunicative. It could have easily provided more tantalizing clues about what was happening to them, and it was one of the most interesting aspects of the second half of the adventure in particular.

After the first plot twist I had some trouble determining what was really going on. Mr. Friedrich doesn’t tell his readers that the captain is disoriented and afraid, he drags you into the middle of what is happening and offers only as many explanations as as strictly necessary to keep the plot moving along. This technique works well for this book because of how many seemingly inconsequential details the author includes in these passages. I appreciate it when an author expects his or her audience to use common sense to help uncover what is really happening, and there are many opportunities to do so in this tale.

There are numerous grammatical, punctuation, and spelling errors in this story. While most of the mistakes don’t affect the meaning of the text, in a few instances I was genuinely unsure of what the author was trying to say. Many scenes switch rapidly between present tense and past tense, and this only added to my confusion. Had the book undergone a more vigorous editing process it would have earned a much higher rating as the premise is intriguing.

On a positive note, Mr. Friedrich clearly poured a lot of effort into his metaphors. I was repeatedly surprised by his clever use of language to describe emotions and experiences that are difficult to put into words. His ability to approach even the most mundane experiences as if his characters are trying these things for the very first time piques my curiosity.

I would recommend The Darkness Within to anyone who enjoys creative and occasionally non-linear horror stories that require some effort from the reader in order to reveal their secrets.

Filed Under: Horror, Reviews, Romance, Science Fiction/Fantasy Tagged With: , , , , , , ,

The Man In The Blue Flowered Shorts by Susan Lodge

January 1, 2014 By 1 Comment

BLUE
The Man In The Blue Flowered Shorts by Susan Lodge
Publisher: Musa Publications
Genre: Contemporary
Length: Short Story (32 pgs)
Heat Level: Sweet
Rating: 3.5 stars
Reviewed by Fern

Lyn enjoys reading romance novels, especially when she can combine it with relaxing in the Caribbean sunshine. But when a mysterious stranger joins the cruise ship, fiction and fact become dangerously confused.

When Lyn Redford’s sandal hurtles across the deck of the cruise ship, it makes her first introduction to Henry Matasie rather hostile. It wasn’t just that the man was seriously grumpy; he was a walking wardrobe disaster. Do you really need to wear woollen socks with your shorts in the Caribbean heat?

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When Henry swaps his awful holiday clothes for a dress suit to attend the gala dinner the transformation sets Lyn’s pulse racing. But she is convinced he still hides a guilty secret and she is intent on discovering what it is.

While Lyn is on a cruise with her friend Shona, a man in a pair of blue poppy shorts and a lime green t-shirt with splashes of yellow and pale, pale white skin captures their attention. Getting off to a rocky start, Lyn isn’t very impressed with the man in the blue shorts. He appears less than thrilled with her, too, as at both their first and second introduction she manages to hurt his previously injured foot. Soon Lyn is hard pressed to understand whether it’s annoyance, or an irritated, curious kind of intrigued that she feels towards the strange man.

This is a fun read, perfect for summer or a day where you wish it were you on a cruise ship in the Caribbean, away from the world on holiday. The author takes us on a lovely trip, filled with vibrant secondary characters, plenty of chuckles and what I felt was a well paced, gradual slide into romance between Henry and Lyn. I’m hard pressed to believe anyone could finish this story and not want to sit back and pretend for just a few minutes they had spent time on a ship, sipping cocktails, getting some sun and having the funny but still sexy interludes with a strange man that stirs your senses.

I found the plot device between Henry and Lyn a little unrealistic, in that I guessed it almost immediately, but it succeeded in adding some tension and mystery into what would have otherwise been a very smooth, too-easy progression between them. Still, the fact Lyn didn’t guess immediately what was really going on, rather than letting her over-active imagination take control, made me feel a bit disappointed in her, especially since she didn’t even pause to question her own leaping to conclusions. It made her seem a bit silly and the plot device contrived, which made me sad as I so enjoyed the rest of the story.

Overall though I thought this is an excellent book, warmly funny with interesting characters and a few laugh out loud moments. While there is plenty of chemistry between Lyn and Henry there is no overly erotic scenes, no sex and nothing to shy away from. While I found the “deception” a bit of a let down this is strongly made up for on the strength of the characters, the excellent pace of the story and the vibrancy of the writing itself. An enjoyable, quick read.

Filed Under: Reviews, Romance Tagged With: , , , ,

Women Up to No Good by Pat Murphy

January 1, 2014 By Leave a Comment

WOMEN
Women Up to No Good by Pat Murphy
Publisher: Untreed Reads
Genre: Sci-Fi/Fantasy, Contemporary, Historical, Action/Adventure
Length: Full Length (186 pages)
Rating: 3.5 Stars
Reviewed by Astilbe

What do women want? Well, if Pat Murphy is to be trusted (and we’re not saying she is), women are looking for trouble. And in this collection of powerful stories, they find it — at an archaeological dig in the Southwest, in the urban alleys, in California suburbs, in the old West, in ironic fantasy settings.

Some women are the damsels in distress in other people’s adventures, but the characters in these stories would much rather take on the risks and rewards of being their own heroes.

What does it mean to be a hero? There are as many answers to that question as there are characters in this anthology. While not all of the protagonists are necessarily good role models, they do lead fascinating lives and take charge of their own destinies. Being male, after all, is no longer a prerequisite for saving yourself or someone else from something terrible.

As the abnormal sickle shaped cells block the smaller blood vessels, these patients may develop a prolonged and painful erections, lightheadedness, vision changes, short breath, irregular heartbeat, ringing in the ears, chest pains and changes to the vision or hearing. online cialis purchase There are cialis viagra levitra even a few young men about 20 who experience from issues, but normally you will not listen to about it. Men which has online cialis pharmacy a dad or sibling with type 1 diabetes has a slightly elevated risk of developing the disease. The brain is activated first, which releases chemicals to indicate cheap discount viagra the penile organ to promote an erection, but it will not relieve your stress. “Recycling Strategies for the Inner City” should be a novella. The protagonist in it is a mentally ill woman living in a flophouse on the edges of modern day society. She comes across a peculiar metal claw one day and brings it to her cramped, one-room accommodations. When the claw begins to move on it’s own accord I became so engrossed in the story that I couldn’t stop reading it. There isn’t a great deal of room for characterization in something this short, but the glimpses of the protagonist and her strange, little companion that I saw made me wish this tale would never end.

In “Games of Deception” a princess is being forced to marry someone she doesn’t love in order to promote political stability in both of their kingdoms. The concept and execution of the plot in this piece is quite creative, but the princess makes such terrible choices as a result of her unhappiness that I had a hard time commiserating with her.

“One Odd Shoe” reads like a modern-day fairy tale. Mark is an unrepentant cad, but this changes one day when he meets a woman who can’t be tossed aside after he’s grown tired of her. The narrative was so detailed that I felt as if I was standing right there next to him as he meets his fate. Despite Mark’s many flaws, Ms. Murphy still made me feel sorry for his predicament as the plot progresses.

I really wanted to like “On the Dark Side of the Station Where the Train Never Stops.” The idea that the world is secretly run by the very people we mortals assume are the least powerful among us is thrilling. While Lucy, the main character, is fascinating, this tale would have worked better had the reader been given more time to understand her occupation as a Fireborn. I spent more time trying to figure out where her people come from and what they do than I did piecing together the plot as it meandered to its conclusion.

This issue popped up several times in this collection. Every single tale had a good premise, but in some cases the logical conclusions of certain plot points are never fully developed. It didn’t happen every time, but it came to my attention often enough that I think those short stories would have benefitted from another round of editing before they were published.

Most of the entries in this collection seem to be set in present day, but at times it was difficult to determine this for certain. Blurring these lines like this works well for the science fiction genre, though, and and I was not particularly bothered by the times in which I had to make an educated guess. There are also a handful of fantasy tales that take place hundreds of years ago. In those cases it was much more important that the author make that clear, and I’m glad she did so.

Women Up to No Good is the most imaginative anthology I’ve read in 2013. I highly recommend it to anyone who loves science fiction and fantasy that bends the rules and sometimes even breaks them.

Filed Under: Reviews, Science Fiction/Fantasy Tagged With: , , , , , ,
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