Archives for July 2014

Ghost Seer by Robin D. Owens

July 9, 2014 By Leave a Comment

SEER
Ghost Seer by Robin D. Owens
Publisher: Berkley Sensation, New York
Genre: Contemporary, Paranormal, Suspense/Mystery
Length: Full Length (303 pgs)
Heat Level: Spicy
Rating: 4.5 stars
Reviewed by Xeranthemum

There’s just something about Clare. Apart from the ghosts……

When her eccentric aunt passes away, no-nonsense accountant Clare Cermac inherits more than just a small fortune. She receives the gift of communicating with ghosts. While Clare may not believe in spirits, it’s hard to overlook the shadowy talking dog appearing on her bed or spectral cowboys tipping their hats to her in the streets of Denver. And when she locks eyes with sexy—and living—Zach Slade, there’s certainly no ignoring him either.

A former deputy sheriff, Zach is leaving a painful past behind in Montana for a new life in Denver as a private investigator, a job that has him crossing paths with beautiful Clare. Not that she minds. After the restless ghost of a Wild West gunman demands her assistance, Clare finds herself needing Zach more and more—and not just for help.

The point when your viagra online sample will arrive, you may see half broken and pounded or even under the least favorable conditions fake cialis and you need to take any other drugs, doctor must be followed to restrict self from any health worries. The most well-known of these is sildenafil (on line levitra deeprootsmag.org). As you get used to being adjusted, any slight discomfort you experience will http://deeprootsmag.org/category/videos/ cialis 10 mg decrease. viagra fast shipping It leads to continuous upper abdominal pain. I’m so glad that Ms. Owens still has animals in her stories. She gives them such interesting personalities. In this case they are a little otherworldly but still fascinating, helpful and provide just a touch of humor and extra weirdness to make the plot ride bumpy, unconventional and fun.

Ghost Seer is the first book in her new series and it’s quite a deviation from what I’m used to. That’s a good thing. This storyline is unique, refreshing and completely fascinating. What I also like is the author’s use of an actual historical character. For readers who like “what if” scenarios, this is a treat.

Clare is the main focus of the story as it follows her during a major transition. She goes from being a confident and knowledgeable accountant and into a world of the supernatural; a world she wants nothing to do with. However, she doesn’t have much of a choice. This novel follows the progression of her denial about the paranormal and shifts towards resigned, and although not totally 100%, begrudging acceptance. The journey alternates between being amazing, funny, heartfelt and bizarre. Poor Clare has a lot of changes to make in her life, one of which is believing in her new talents and her ghostly doggie sidekick, Enzo. He’s a bit mysterious too.

Then comes Zach. A man with his own inner conflicts and roiling emotions, he is a wonderful counterpoint to Clare. I liked his depiction of strength, both in mind and will and mostly his body. For what doesn’t work as well as it used to, he’s rather stubborn and is still going through the grieving process. Not that he’d admit to that. He’s got his manly pride after all. But I loved how the author had him dealing with the revelations about Clare’s talent. It’s very human, understandable and lent itself to some great plot conflicts. I liked watching his slow progression from disbelief to belief, from wanting to run away to support and from just liking Clare to maybe wanting a future. It’s a hard journey for him but it’s well worth it. Clare made it worth it and Zach was wonderful with her.

In addition to the two personal conflicts, there are two main external conflicts that contributed significant amounts of drama, suspense, intrigue, action, surprises and an amazing degree of empathy, to the novel. One is integral to Clare’s new talent and the other is more in line with Zach’s expertise. But the really bad villain still caught me by surprise. Ms. Owens gave hints that things weren’t quite right but in no way could I have guessed just how ‘not right’ they would turn out to be. That was a gripping piece of writing.

The only thing I noticed that made me raise an eyebrow was the overuse of a few words throughout the book. I’m not sure if that was accidental or on purpose but it was done enough to notice. It might not bother other readers but it did bother me. Not enough to make me stop liking the book, far from it. I enjoyed Ghost Seer tremendously. I just observe those types of things and I’m compelled to mention them.

For the start of a new series, Ghost Seer is a wonderful springboard. It tackled the world building head on without falling into the trap of an info dump. Everything that was revealed was done in due course of telling Clare’s tale of becoming a ghost seer and the complications that it introduces to her life. The how of Clare and Zach’s getting together was delightful and their blossoming romance is a treasure trove of discovery. Enzo, the ghost puppy, is intriguing because he is more than the wag of his tail. He’s a wonderfully creative character. In fact, the whole premise is creative and engrossing. It’s a meaty story on so many levels that I know this review isn’t doing it justice. For fans of Ms. Owens, they know her quality of writing and I can assure them that the tradition of excellence in storytelling continues. This is also a great book for a new reader to discover the wonderful talent of Ms. Owens. Ghost Seer is a sure pleaser and a must read for new and old fans alike. It’s not just really good, it’s really cool and I encourage readers to check it out. It’s worth it.

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

Sanibel Alpha by Talyn Scott

July 9, 2014 By 1 Comment

ALPHA
Sanibel Alpha by Talyn Scott
Fanged Menage 5.5
Publisher: Meltzer & Hawes
Genre: Paranormal, Sci-Fi/Fantasy
Length: Short Story (105 pgs)
Other: F/M/M/M, Ménage, Anal Play
Rating: 4 stars
Reviewed by Waratah
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Tatum, Jayce, and Bren welcome their precious Youngling, the next appointed Alpha, into their loving family. However, their celebration is darkened when Jayce is forced to handle a troubled Pack stricken by rogue vampires. Following his inborn need, Mike Carter takes his place next to his co-mates, protecting Tatum and her newborn son with raw determination. This time, he refuses to accept anything short of Tatum’s heart.

Talyn Scott is one of my favorite authors! So far she hasn’t failed me and this is the fifth book of hers I’ve read. Each book in this series has delivered the RawR and fun factor. This isn’t a stand alone, though it really doesn’t leave you in a cliff hanger. It just makes more sense to read the books before it.

Tatum not only has two very alpha male in her life, she has three, plus a new addition. Because of the past situations it’s all eyes on Tatum and the alpha heir. It’s still no rest for the wicked and evil as those forces will try their hardest to disrupt Tatum’s and the new babe’s life.

Tatum’s third Mate has just come back and is determined to be a part of their lives. Mike wants happy for now and Tatum isn’t real quick to kiss and forget. Evil and danger is ever so close, and from all sides.

The characters and the story flowed into each other and have just enough detail as not to bog it down. The interaction between characters was fun and easy to follow. The passion and sex sometimes off the charts. Ms Scott is just amazing and one of my go-to authors! Grab the whole series. I’m sure you wont be disappointed.

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

This Private Plot by Alan Beechey

July 8, 2014 By Leave a Comment

PLOT
This Private Plot by Alan Beechey
Publisher: Poisoned Pen Press
Genre: Action/Adventure, Contemporary, Suspense/Mystery
Length: Full Length (305 pgs)
Rating: 4 stars
Reviewed by Aloe

Sherlock Holmes once claimed that “the lowest and vilest alleys of London do not present a more dreadful record of sin than does the smiling and beautiful countryside.”  And Oliver Swithin, reluctant guest in an English village, is about to find out that it’s true.

Coaxed out of his clothes and into a midnight streak by his girlfriend, Oliver’s amorous intentions are thwarted by the discovery of a dead body dangling from the village’s ancient gibbet. When it appears that the famous victim was driven to suicide by blackmail, Oliver resolves to find the blackmailer. And to do so, he needs to discover the dead man’s secret.

But in the twenty-first century, when sins that would once have been ripe for shaming are now a cause for hiring a publicist, what foul deeds of the past will people still pay to keep hidden? Is the carefully cut out page from a Shakespeare play, with its reference to a “private plot,” really a clue? Why did somebody fill in the victim’s grave before his funeral?
And what does any of this have to do with the memoir writers of the Vicar’s reading group, the five unmarried Bennett sisters, the mysterious monk known only as “The Vampire of Synne,” the case of the two Shakespeares, and the married couple who are never seen in the same room at the same time? Will there be yet another appearance by Underwood Tooth, the world’s leading expert on being ignored?
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Oliver discovers that the death was no suicide. But that’s nothing compared with the next revelation, which turns the entire investigation upside down and puts Oliver’s own life in peril.

Never trust your younger brother. If he and his girlfriend hadn’t been tempted to run naked the maze at midnight, they never would have found the dead body…

This is the third in a series about Oliver Swithin, amateur sleuth. He’s also a children’s book author, but he has to use a pseudonym to keep from embarrassing his father. He does have a very pretty girlfriend who works for Scotland Yard, but that doesn’t redeem him in his father’s eyes. This is the first one of Mr. Beechey’s books I’ve read, but I’ve enjoyed it. It reads fine as a stand-alone.

The dead man was “Uncle Dennis” and while he seemed an inoffensive quiet little man, he does have some secrets. The police determine he committed suicide, as unlikely as it may seem. It also appears to be an impossible thing to do for Oliver, but no one listens to him. When he says that the suicide note left would be enough to drive him to suicide and isn’t that murder, too, he doesn’t get far. The police do entertain those notions. He’s warned to leave it alone. We all know he won’t. What he finds is that such a small village holds a lot of secrets. And even his family has some…

I enjoyed the dinner party Oliver and Effie attended. The moneyed family’s unwed daughters are anxious to capture Oliver and fairly rude to Effie. I just loved all the nasty comments she made in her mind to them. She was gracious and didn’t say them out loud, but she did get drunk. I found that realistic.

The whole story is full of outlandish secrets (that really aren’t secrets to anyone except Oliver) and a very convoluted path to the person who finally got tired of Uncle Dennis and tried to clear the path to money and marriage. I was surprised to find out who the killer was. I was also surprised by a secret finally disclosed to Oliver at the end of the book. It has shaken his life up and I see the next book already forming in the author’s head.

The author writes a good book with some tongue-in-cheek jokes, plenty of action and a good flow to the story. I was impressed enough with this read, I’ll be looking for more of his books. There are even Shakespearean quotes interspersed here and there. You can find out a bit of English history during the read. Give it try; I think you’ll like it.

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

The City of the Broken by Ceri Benyon

July 8, 2014 By Leave a Comment

CITY
The City of the Broken by Ceri Benyon
Publisher: Self-published
Genre: Young Adult, Sci-Fi/Fantasy, Contemporary
Length: Full Length (202 pages)
Age Recommendation: 16+
Heat Level: Sweet
Rating: 2.5 Stars
Reviewed by Astilbe

Seren Loneheart falls in love for the very first time with a boy who has a dark secret. She soon discovers he is a prince who rules over The City of the Broken, which has a population of heartbroken and outcast people. He informs her that he wants her to become a citizen of his city as he believes her to be lonely and unhappy ,but much to Seren’s delight he also wants to be her boyfriend as well.

The pair embark on a dark fairytale romance that results in Seren finding happiness for the first time in her life, but Calix informs her that she needs to remain ‘broken’ to be his girlfriend.

Can these young lovers survive all this turmoil that threatens both their relationship and Calix’s crown? Will Seren succeed in healing Calix’s heart and ending his determination to remain unhappy for the sake of duty?

Love is powerful, but it can’t fix everything. So why does Seren still feel obligated to change herself to better suit her boyfriend’s needs?
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A good fantasy novel says as much about the real world as it does about the ones that only exist between its pages, The City of the Broken reminded me of all of the incredible men and women I’ve known who’ve risen above terrible experiences. Purposefully gathering together an entire city filled with broken people is an intriguing concept, and as soon as I read the blurb I knew I had to find out what happens next.

When a character experienced something scary or new in this universe, the text told me what they were feeling instead of allowing their body language or dialogue to subtly reveal their emotions. This happened so often that I had trouble connecting to Seren in particular when even more surprising things popped up in their lives because I never quite felt like I got to know her as a unique individual.

I have a lot of sympathy for Seren. She is a vulnerable soul who so desperately wants to be loved that she’s willing to accept it from anyone who will give it to her. I would have loved to have more background information on her. It seemed odd to me that a teenage girl could spend so much time away from her home in this universe without anyone noticing she was missing. The handful of clues that were provided about her life were interesting, though, and helped to explain her low self-esteem and as well as her lack of adult supervision if my theory about what they are hinting at is correct.

There were many grammar and punctuation errors in this story. Some sentences didn’t have any punctuation marks at all. This made it difficult to figure out where one idea or description ended and the next one began. The author’s heavy use of sentence fragments was also confusing.

Strong pacing kept me engaged in the plot from beginning to end. It begins with Seren and Calix’s first meeting, so everything I learned about these characters happened at the same time that everything else was going on. Even though this was a full-length work, it felt like a novella in certain ways due to how quickly the main conflicts show up. Moving everything along so quickly was a good choice!

By far my biggest concern about this book, though, is how the relationship between Calix and Seren develops. Calix isolates her from other people, pushes her to get serious with him right away, and manipulates her when she attempts to make her own decisions. These can all be signs of an abusive relationship, so it was surprising to see the text treat them as romantic gestures. I understand why Seren would initially be wooed by his attention, but I was disappointed by the fact that no one acknowledged his inappropriate expectations of her.

I did enjoy the descriptions of Calix’s city. They often felt like they came from a gritty fairy tale that was never sanitized by The Brothers Grimm. The best scenes are the ones that describe all of the rooms in his castle, especially the black ballroom. It sounded like it would be a hauntingly beautiful place to see in person.

Despite its flaws, The City of the Broken was an interesting look at how our society treats people who aren’t easy to love. I’d recommend it as a cautionary tale to mature teens who are prepared for its occasionally disturbing content.

Filed Under: Reviews, Romance, Science Fiction/Fantasy, YA/Middle Grade/Children's Tagged With: , , , , , , , ,

Doomed Voyage by Bill Russell

July 8, 2014 By Leave a Comment

DOOMED
Doomed Voyage by Bill Russell
Publisher: Class Act Books
Genre: Historical, Suspense/Mystery
Length: Full Length (324 Pages)
Rating: 3.5 Stars
Reviewed by Cyclamen

Adrift on the vast Pacific in a small boat with only a dim prospect of rescue, private investigator Toby Grant questions his wisdom in taking on such a whacky assignment. It sounded so easy coming from his natty little client. All he had to do was transport a bunch of supposedly phony diamonds across the ocean to Hong Kong as a decoy for the real shipment. In his mind, it was a chance for a free cruise and there was even a buck to be made. Who cared about the danger? Even Pam, his new wife cottoned to the idea. Turned out she was as big a thrill seeker as he. Now they are on an endless ocean in a leaking lifeboat, miles off the normal sea-lanes. Can things possibly get any worse?

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Doomed Voyage is an action-packed story set in the years immediately following World War II. As the novel’s blub says, they end up trying to survive in a leaking lifeboat miles from the regular shipping lanes, but before they reach that desperate point, lots of things have happened. The ship has a crew of twenty and there are sixteen other passengers whom Toby and Pam have to investigate. I found that there were a lot of characters to keep straight, but the author used the dinner table assignments to introduce characters in smaller groups. Toby and Pam have dinner with a different pair each night, which allows the reader to get to know the supporting characters more slowly.

I really liked Toby and Pam and they seemed very real. The other passengers come from a cross-section of personality types and they are well-drawn. There are some who are easy to like and others who are asking to be kicked. The tension builds relentlessly as the ship leaves San Francisco and heads towards Hawaii.

The setting was well constructed. The era of the late forties was nicely captured and the atmosphere aboard the freighter seemed very realistic. The chief villain was relatively easy to spot, but many of the sub-plots were intricate and fascinating. The interaction between various characters was handled very deftly and I truly felt as if I was right there with Toby and Pam as the sharks, human and non-human, circled.

If you are looking for an historical mystery with lots of interesting characters and a complex plot, this might just be what you are looking for.

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

The Texan’s Little Secret by Barbara White Daille

July 8, 2014 By Leave a Comment

TEXAN
The Texan’s Little Secret by Barbara White Daille
Series: Texas Rodeo Barons- #2
Publisher: Harlequin American Romance
Genre: Contemporary
Length: Full Length (244 pages)
Heat Level: sensual
Rating: 3.5 stars
Reviewed by Thornapple

Hiding the Truth

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Luke would be a lot better off if Carly had stayed away. Being a single dad to an adorable two-year-old girl and managing the Roughneck is tough enough, but resisting the sparks that fly whenever he and Carly are together is near impossible. But first she must tell him her secret. The truth could heal their past…or forever destroy their chances of becoming a family.

Secrets. I love secrets…well in books, anyway. However, this secret is a really sad one and it’s a cross Carly has had to bear all alone for the last three years. The only reason she has come home is because of her ailing father. Seeing Luke has Carly falling back onto her “Wild Child” reputation in order to hide her pain.

She has loudly and proudly proclaimed that marriage and children are not for her. Part of her bold statement stems from her mother’s abandonment of her family and a large part of it has to do with Luke. Luke is now the head guy at the ranch and is trying to raise his two year old daughter alone, so as much as he might want Carly he couldn’t bring a woman into his life that didn’t want a family. The situation with Carly’s mom is one that has haunted her for years and she just wants to find her mother and perhaps gain a little peace. Understandable, but Carly’s problems really need to be addressed from within before she tackles that can of worms. Years of misunderstandings and pain are brought into focus and now as adults Luke and Carly have the chance to put the past into perspective and have a second change at love.

Now, if you have read romance novels to any extent you will have figured out this familiar trope. However this one does have a little twist in there which gives the theme an entirely different twist.

So, while the formula is a tried and true, I found it to be an enjoyable enough read, despite a slight amount of predictability. There were some real heart tugging moments and it was just a little angsty. Luke and Carly were more mature and adult than Carly’s crusty and interfering father. I’m still not sure how I feel about him. I could relate to Luke and to Carly. There are always two sides to a story. I think we can all relate to mistakes in our youth. That is part of the appeal of the second chance at love theme. When two people who were meant to be together beat the odds stacked against them, it’s always a feel good story.

If you like contemporary romance with a western tone, second chance love stories, and of secrets.. this one is for you.

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

The Fourth Season by Dorothy Johnston

July 7, 2014 By 2 Comments

FOURTH
The Fourth Season by Dorothy Johnston
Publisher: Wakefield Press
Genre: Contemporary, Suspense/Mystery
Length: Full Length (232 pgs)
Rating: 4.5 Stars
Reviewed by Hawthorn

When the body of young female environmental activist and science student, Laila Fanshaw, is found floating in Lake Burley Griffin, private investigator Sandra Mahoney’s life is turned upside down, not least because her partner, Ivan, was in love with Laila. Ivan is a suspect and has no alibi for the time of death.

A further strain is put on the relationship when another suspect, who worked in the Federal Environment Department, wants to hire Sandra to help him clear his name.

Sandra has to weigh up her desire to learn the truth against her children’s needs. Only six-year-old Katya is Ivan’s natural child; adolescent Peter has a different father. But both children are deeply affected by Laila’s death and Ivan’s reaction to it. Added to this, Sandra’s friend in the Federal Police, Detective Sergeant Brook, is absolutely against her involvement in the case.
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It takes all of Sandra’s ingenuity and courage to steer herself, and her family, through the dangers that lead to an eventual unmasking of the truth.

The Fourth Season offers a wonderful combination of mystery and literary fiction that will enchant you.

It took me a while to familiarize myself with the characters of the novel. Perhaps the fact that this is the fourth novel in the Sandra Mahoney quartet has made some of the introductions and transitions in the first third of the novel a little too abrupt, the author presuming the reader was familiar with the backstory. But once I established the connections between the protagonists and their past and present relationships, an intricate, compelling web of relationships opened up in front of me and drew me into the story.

All the characters, including the children, were portrayed as distinct personalities with motives and complex psychological inner lives. Each character was a world onto themselves and they were all a delight to discover and delve into. This was what also made the relationships complex, multi-faceted and unpredictable, all adding to the suspense of the story and a generally satisfying reading experience.

Although there were several spelling mistakes and typos, the rich, imaginative language shows that the author is not a stranger to literary fiction. Together with the great character portrayals and the complex relationships, it makes this mystery novel more than just a light read. The environmental issues and complicated politics linked to them create a believable background to the suspenseful murder mystery. In this light, the true motive behind the murders turned out to be a little surprising.

While the first half of the novel described little action and was almost exclusively based on Sandra gaining insight into the murder mystery through interviewing suspects and witnesses, the pacing never wavered. The suspense was, in this part, mostly based on the private emotions and ruminations of the protagonists, especially Sandra, and I felt that was done remarkably well. In the second part, the pace picked up and the plot rushed towards a shocking culmination. I liked how Sandra mused on the loose ends that the murder investigation hadn’t succeeded in resolving. It’s a sign of a good writer when they let fiction mimic the chaos of reality.

If you like your mysteries with a little more depth and literary quality, The Fourth Season won’t disappoint.

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

Suddenly Last Summer by Sarah Morgan

July 7, 2014 By Leave a Comment

LAST
Suddenly Last Summer by Sarah Morgan
Publisher: Harlequin HQN
Genre: Contemporary
Length: Full Length (249 pgs)
Heat Level: Spicy
Rating: 4 stars
Reviewed by Xeranthemum

Fiery French chef Élise Philippe is having a seriously bad day. Not only have the opening day plans for her beloved café fallen apart, but Sean O’Neil is back in town, and looking more delectable than ever. Last summer, they shared an electrifying night together…and the memories have Élise really struggling to stick to her one-night-only rule! Her head knows that eventually Sean will be leaving, so all she can do is try to ignore her heart before she spontaneously combusts with lust.

Being back in Vermont—even temporarily—is surgeon Sean O’Neil’s worst nightmare. For Sean, returning home to the Snow Crystal Resort means being forced to confront the reasons and the guilt he feels about rejecting his family’s rural lifestyle years ago. But discovering that Élise has settled in Vermont and still sets his blood racing is a very welcome distraction! Thinking he can persuade her into a replay of last summer is tempting, but remembering how good they are together is going to make walking away more difficult than he could imagine…

Élise and Sean made a wonderful couple because they both thought each other perfect. The irony was that they truly were perfect, but not in the way either one expected, believed or wanted. Each character took turns suffering emotional blows that knocked them on their keisters and had them rethinking everything they believed to be true. The author had one common thread woven between the two main characters – the effect of assumptions. Élise and Sean were full of them.

Suddenly Last Summer picks up where the hints in Sleigh Bells in the Snow left off. I recognized a wonderful hook when I saw one so was thrilled to see Sean and Élise’s story come to life. The wait was worth it. This book is a solid standalone story and well worth checking out.

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With the heroine, I loved how the author fleshed her out by using her dialogue – using her first language, French, and mixing up the two. It was at times humorous, but many times it acted as a clue. A clue that Sean picked up on many times throughout the book to an effective degree which in turn helped me understand Élise as well. It was a clever technique and I think it worked really well in the story.

Sean had a chance to be a hero in the truest sense of the word. I liked how the author had him dealing with it because it proved to his family that his calling was real, important and meaningful. The surprise comes from his discovering what they really thought which wasn’t what he thought which made him question other things he thought he knew. I love that kind of mired twist – it made Sean that much more interesting as a man, a friend, a brother and a lover.

I got to see the grandfather again and wouldn’t you know it, the author made me go ‘awwww’ all over again. He really is a prickly marshmallow.

The emotional secrets were pretty heavy in this story and made for good plot conflict. The constant allusion to Élise’s big secret got to be a little overused at one point; I’m not sure if it was the delivery or the verbiage but I was very glad when she finally revealed it. The constant hints and references were getting tedious. Once voiced, it was no longer a thorn in my brain and I could enjoy the fallout that rippled through the rest of the book.

Once again Ms. Morgan teased me with that flash of red. Something tells me the next book is going to a bit more intense and problematic for the hero in that story. There’s going to be three hearts affected and although I expect it to be emotional, it will be well worth it. All the brothers deserve their happy ever after and so far, I’m loving this series hard.

I was not disappointed with any of the scenes that had Élise and Sean together, especially when passion blew their minds and they lost control. It was hot, potent, delightful and effective writing. There was even a bit of humor injected when I least expected it. Just like in real life it made the moment more real, special and fun.

Suddenly Last Summer is a fun read with many surprises in store for a reader. It has a sweet and passionate romance between two characters I was delighted to see get their happy ever after. This is an easy, smooth flowing story that can make an afternoon fly by. The best theme that I found in the whole story is the reminder to tell those people you love that you DO love them. This novel brings that message home effectively and in a fun way. Suddenly Last Summer is a book not to miss.

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

Horses of the North by Robert Adams

July 7, 2014 By Leave a Comment

NORTH
Horses of the North by Robert Adams
The Horseclan Series
Publisher: Mundania Press
Genre: Action/Adventure, Contemporary, Historical, Sci-Fi/Fantasy
Length: Full Length (184 pages)
Rating: 3.5 stars
Reviewed by Orchid

Bloodfeud!

In the evil time after civilization fell apart, the Undying High Lord Milo Morai gathered together as many children as he could save and set about teaching them the laws of survival.

This would enable you to find out whether viagra without prescription free the online store also safeguards the privacy. It is true that 16 people died because of purchase generic viagra deeprootsmag.org? According to rumors, yes, but they probably did not pay attention to its side consequences it may well also cause other complications. Cholesterol is a lipid and it is produced from the fat levitra pharmacy purchase present in your liver and the food you eat contains vitamins and minerals which are essential for your body. Condition of arteries of heart is one of the first study to actually prove the link between the brain and ejaculatory mechanism gets disturbed and as a result, your hair completes its cycle quickly and falls out in tufts. viagra generika Over the centuries, Milo’s children wandered the Sea of Grass, fighting and prospering and adding to their numbers until they became the mighty force known as the Horseclans. With time, some of their laws changed or were forgotten but there remained one that must never be broken—“Kindred must not fight Kindred!”

Yet now, clans Linsee and Skaht were on the brink of a bloodfeud that could spread like prairie fire throughout the Horseclans. Could even Milo smother the sparks of hatred before they blazed up to destroy all of the Horseclans?

This book is set after the human race is sent back to the beginning due to a nuclear war. The story starts well with a party from the Horseclan tribes on a hunt. The group consists of telepaths with their animal companions–also telepaths–hunters and Uncle Milo Morai. The latter is of unknown age but is rumoured to have lived for centuries.

After a fight between two young members of different clans, Milo strives to calm everyone down with a story of the past.

Until this point I read the story with interest, even the following part of how the Linsee (or Lindsay in olden tongue) tribe joined the Kindred, but then the story jumped back in time to when Milo drew together the first families of the Kindred. It then continued to jump back and forth. I had to keep returning to the previous part to set myself back in the story.

The individual parts were captivating and very interesting, but I got very confused by the timeline and would have preferred the story to begin with Milo and carry on through the years to the joining of the Linsees to the clans.

The book is well written, the story intriguing. A little moving around of things and I would class this a winner. I would really like to read more about Milo and no doubt he appears in other Horseclan books. I shall have to go and look.

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

Core Punch: A Baker & Ban!drn Adventure by Pauline Baird Jones

July 7, 2014 By Leave a Comment

CORE
Core Punch: A Baker & Ban!drn Adventure by Pauline Baird Jones
Publisher: Self-Published
Genre: Sci-Fi/Fantasy
Length: Short Story (99 Pages)
Rating: 3 Stars
Reviewed by Cyclamen

A kiss may be all they have life expectancy for.

When an intergalactic cop exchange program serves up an alien partner for NONPD Detective Violet Baker, she can’t help wishing the handsome alien would be a little less Joe Friday about keeping the pleasure out of their business. Yeah, he’s kind of purple and she can’t pronounce his name to save her life, but he’s almost the only guy in the New Orleans New police department that she’s not related to.

Dzholh “Joe” Ban!drn has come a long way hunting the evil that has infiltrated Vi’s floating city. When he meets his charming partner, he discovers another reason to stamp out evil. If only he wasn’t keeping so many secrets from her…
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When an epic hurricane heads their way, they are sent dirt side to New Orleans Old (NOO) on a rescue mission. But murder and sabotage strands them in the heart of the raging storm.

As they fight for their lives, Joe realizes that the evil he’s hunting is actually hunting them….

Detective Violet Baker and her alien partner, Dzholh “Joe” Ban!drn are sent down from the floating city of New Orleans New to rescue some people from dirt side, New Orleans Old (NOO), before a major hurricane strikes. But nothing goes right from the beginning of the mission and Joe soon realizes that the hurricane has been sent by an evil being who has infiltrated Vi’s city. The entity is using the hurricane to get Joe to reveal himself.

The action is fast and furious in this story and I felt as if I really were in a hurricane. In the middle of the storm, as Vi and Joe are trying to complete their rescue mission, Joe realizes that the entity is playing them. Soon the rescue mission is not the focus. Trying to stay alive takes priority and Joe has to discover just who has been taken over by the evil force. Joe can’t trust anyone and meanwhile the storm rages.

The setting is described in great detail, whether it is the ship that Vi and Joe are in, or NOO. It was fascinating to read the descriptions of a storm damaged NOO which certainly rang true to what could and has happened to the present day New Orleans. The technology described was also very interesting and certainly consistent and believable.

Joe is attracted to Vi, but has no idea how to proceed, or even if he should. Vi really likes this vaguely purple alien, but again, she seems uncertain. It is entertaining to watch them interact, and the dynamics between them are at times quite humorous, breaking the tension a bit from the approaching hurricane.

Readers of science fiction are sure to enjoy this intriguing adventure between a human and an alien, both determined to make their world safe.

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