Archives for September 2014

Duke of Midnight by Elizabeth Hoyt

September 8, 2014 By Leave a Comment

MIDNIGHT
Duke of Midnight by Elizabeth Hoyt
Publisher: Grand Central Publishing/Hachette Book Group
Genre: Historical
Length: Full Length (261 pgs)
Heat Level: Spicy
Rating: 4 stars
Reviewed by Xeranthemum

WHEN A MASKED MAN . . .

Twenty years ago Maximus Batten witnessed the brutal murders of his parents. Now the autocratic Duke of Wakefield, he spends his days ruling Parliament. But by night, disguised as the Ghost of St. Giles, he prowls the grim alleys of St. Giles, ever on the hunt for the murderer. One night he finds a fiery woman who meets him toe-to-toe—and won’t back down . . .

MEETS HIS MATCH . . .

Artemis Greaves toils as a lady’s companion, but hiding beneath the plain brown serge of her dress is the heart of a huntress. When the Ghost of St. Giles rescues her from footpads, she recognizes a kindred spirit-and is intrigued. She’s even more intrigued when she realizes who exactly the notorious Ghost is by day . . .

DESIRE IGNITES A DANGEROUS PASSION
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Artemis makes a bold move: she demands that Maximus use his influence to free her imprisoned brother-or she will expose him as the Ghost. But blackmailing a powerful duke isn’t without risks. Now that she has the tiger by the tail, can she withstand his ire-or the temptation of his embrace?

The Duke of Midnight certainly starts off with a clever and unusual twist with me never suspecting that I was actually watching the future hero and heroine meet. It was adventurous, slightly out of the ordinary and it immediately showcased that the heroine isn’t fresh from the school room and the hero has a dark secret. The start of the novel is promising and I’m happy to say it carries forth for the rest of the book.

I liked the dynamics between Artemis and Maximus, the Duke of Wakefield. I enjoyed their banter, their slow and unusual courtship and how they eventually came to grips with their feelings for each other. She was first to admit it, he was last. Figures. Her realization that she loves the hero is a bittersweet thing and it prompts her to make some hard and emotional choices. Artemis’ decision isn’t a grand gesture but it’s heartfelt and a reader sees that clearly. Maximus on the other hand, and being a man, needs a rather dramatic and suspenseful act to get him to take that final step to let go of the past and grab for his future. The sort of droll, matter-of-fact dialogue that occurs between some secondary characters after the action had me laughing. It was just so … conversational and understated, I giggled.

I guess this is a long series in the making, the sixth book I believe. I have not read any of the previous books so I can guarantee this is a solid standalone read. I’m tickled because not only does it raise my curiosity of what came before, but there is already a hook for the next book. I may not have read the books in the past, but I sure am interested in following it into the future. Any hero named Apollo has got to be fascinating – must have something to do with adoring Apollo from the original Battlestar Galactica – they all seem to have hero complexes.

The dogs were a cute touch and I enjoyed the roles they played. Basically, animals are a good judge of character so it was telling. I liked some of the secondary characters that supported Artemis. Frankly, I didn’t expect her to have that much support so it made me feel good to see it.

When Artemis and Maximus succumb to their physical passion, it’s steamy writing but the characters’ emotions are never far away. I can see that the author used their sexy encounters to further their romance and attraction, and the fact that it’s done so well is a plus.

The villain was a scoundrel but not a lot of attention was paid to his badness. I know what he did in the past was horrible, and what he currently did in the story was equally noxious, but the descriptions or actions never were delved in deep enough to send shivers up my spine, or gasp in horror or genuinely feel like he was a real threat. He was more a pompous toad with a criminal bent. There were some distractions and misleading clues so the mystery that haunted Maximus took a while to unravel but I never felt the ‘evil’ of the villain so his finally being revealed and addressed drew from me a tepid response at best.

Oh, and Penelope annoyed me. How anyone can look upon that ditherhead and feel fondness I will never know. For me she was the equivalent of a Regency Valley Girl with less to talk about. Ugh. She made Artemis look like a cerebral giant.

On the whole, The Duke of Midnight is a crowd pleaser. It’s not overly dark but has enough suspense and drama to keep the pages turning. Maximus and Artemis have wonderful chemistry that insured I enjoyed reading their story. There were enough wonderful secondary characters to make their world a fascinating place to visit and an as yet unsolved mystery that makes me want to read more. I liked the pace of the novel, the dialogue and the plot momentum. If you have a few hours straight to just sit back and read, The Duke of Midnight is a wonderful choice to spend time with. It’s very entertaining.

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

The Last Generation by Ben Robertson

September 8, 2014 By 2 Comments

LAST
The Last Generation by Ben Robertson
Publisher: Menadena Publishing
Genre: Young Adult, Historical, Action/Adventure
Length: Full Length (368 pages)
Age Recommendation: 14+
Rating: 3 Stars
Reviewed by Astilbe

There is no death, only a change of worlds.

The Last Generation is the story of Bridget, a half-Norse, half-Inuit girl growing up in Greenland around 1500. For 500 years, Bridget’s Viking ancestors lived in Greenland but now that is about to change as the Norse people disappear from Greenland. Bridget holds the key to the survival of her father’s people, but no one will listen to a girl, much less a girl whose mother was a Skraeling. Thus begins Bridget’s adventure in the age of discovery at the edge of the new world.

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Learning about sixteenth century Norse culture from Bridget’s perspective was fascinating. I knew almost nothing about this chapter in history before reading The Last Generation, so I was glad to find such detailed descriptions of their homes, clothing, religion, and customs. Certain words weren’t translated into English immediately. I enjoyed figuring out their meanings based on context clues because it required me to pay close attention to the text and immerse myself in Bridget’s culture.

The plot regularly spent too much time focusing on what was going on in Bridget’s mind. I would have preferred to know more about what was happening around her during the most exciting moments of this adventure instead. Bridget encounters a lot of things that most girls from her culture never have the chance to experience due to the strict rules they have about gender roles. The moments when the plot wiggles free from Bridget’s ruminations to gives glimpses of how her friends and family members saw certain events were some of my favorite scenes in this tale.

There is a strong and diverse supporting cast in this novel. Bridget visits so many different places that it’s difficult to talk about them without giving away spoilers, but I was pleased with how much time was spent describing the various settings and secondary characters. I had such clear images of them in my mind that at times it was almost as if I were watching a movie instead of reading a story.

It was tricky to figure out the best age recommendation for this book. Bridget is seventeen when the action begins, but girls in her culture seem to grow up more slowly than they do in our time in certain ways. Her interests and thought patterns reminded me of how people a few years younger than her tend to behave. I’m not entirely sure if this is the age range the author was thinking of while he was writing, but the plot is appropriate for younger teens.

I’d recommend The Last Generation to young adult and adult readers alike. This is the kind of adventure that can appeal to a wide audience, and it is something I’ll be suggesting to friends who don’t normally read this genre.

Filed Under: Reviews, YA/Middle Grade/Children's Tagged With: , , , , , , ,

Better Than a Present by Cynthia Moore

September 8, 2014 By 1 Comment

PRESENT 2
Better Than a Present by Cynthia Moore
Publisher: The Wild Rose Press
Genre: Historical, Holiday
Length: Short Story (54 Pgs)
Heat Level: Sweet
Rating: 3.5 stars
Reviewed by Bluet

While in London on business during the Season, Lord Paul Russell, attracted by a beautiful woman, fails in securing a place on her dance card. The next morning when he returns to Cornwall, he wonders if this mystery woman will still be available.
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Bored by all the eligible gentlemen she meets, Lady Samantha Grayson desires more than their meaningless conversations and preoccupation with silly fashion requirements. Only one gentleman catches her eye, but she misses her chance to speak to him, never encountering him again the rest of the Season.

A sudden snowstorm on Christmas Eve morning catches Samantha alone and unprotected. When she seeks shelter in a nearby cottage, she is astonished when the door opens to the very man who caught her interest in London a few months ago. What was doomed to be an uneventful Christmas, to her pleasant surprise could be better than a present.

Does love at first sight exist? Lord Paul Russell and Lady Samantha Grayson have never met, but on two occasions, have noticed each other across a ballroom and felt a connection and an instant attraction. When he sees her for the third time, Paul decides he must be introduced. He approaches her aunt, and waits among the gentlemen surrounding her, only to discover that her dance card is full for the remainder of the evening. He has to leave for his country home early the next morning, as he’s been summoned by his steward to attend to urgent business. So, he leaves with a heavy heart, sure that this lovely lady won’t still be unmarried next season when he returns.

Samantha was very aware of Paul’s waiting to meet her, but the next dance started, and her dancing partner claimed her. As they were dancing, she notices Paul leaving, and actually has to fight back tears. She never knew who he was, or saw him for the rest of the season. Months have passed, and neither of them has stopped thinking of the other, wishing they could have met. It’s now Christmas time, and Samantha is visiting her sister. In order to escape her sister’s incessant matchmaking, she dresses up as a boy, and goes out riding. The weather starts to get bad, and she gets thrown off the horse. She sees a small cottage and seeks shelter there. Who should be in the cottage, but the mystery man she’s been pining over!

For a short story, we get a lot of insight into the character of both the hero and heroine. Samantha is kind, tender hearted and romantic. Paul is a gentleman, considerate, and just a tad wicked. Cynthia Moore does a very good job of letting you feel their emotions, and making you root for their happy ever after. The story flows along nicely, and has a very satisfying conclusion. If you like a sweet romance that will put you in a holiday mood, this may be the book for you. I enjoyed it, and recommend it.

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

Eden’s Past by Adam Carpenter

September 8, 2014 By Leave a Comment

PAST
Eden’s Past by Adam Carpenter
Publisher: Ellora’s Cave
Genre: Contemporary, Suspense/Mystery
Length: Short Story (128 pgs)
Other: M/M, Multiple Partners, Anal Play
Rating: 4 stars
Reviewed by Cholla

Chad Singleton, twenty-nine and model gorgeous, works as a high-priced escort for wealthy men. When he gets a call telling him his father has died, Chad is torn about returning to his small hometown of Eden, Pennsylvania. After all, it was his homophobic father who banished Chad years ago. When he returns, he is thrown into the mystery surrounding how his father died. Fortunately the sexy chief of police, Brett Ellers, has caught Chad’s eye.

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In Eden, even the wealthy—especially the wealthy—play dirty.

Chad Singleton hasn’t been home to Eden in what seems like forever. However, when the news of his father’s death reaches him, he knows he has no choice but to return despite all that had come before. Reluctantly, he backs out of a trip to the Far East with one of his clients and heads home, only to discover there’s a lot more going on than anyone knew.

Chad is a very conflicted character. After having been banished from Eden by his homophobic father, he moved on to New York and found work as an escort. Although he enjoys the traveling – and the companionship – there’s something missing from his life. Something he doesn’t even realize is missing until he meets the sexy chief of police, Brett Ellers. Chad’s character really starts to come to life after his first interaction with Brett and I really enjoyed watching him evolve.

Brett Ellers, Eden’s chief of police, is in high demand. Lusted after by nearly every woman in town, he’s holding a secret very few know. In a town as small as Eden, knowing that he was gay might simply end his career, no questions asked, so he stays in the closet. While not an uncommon practice, it makes his relationship with Chad a bit more difficult in the beginning. Sadly, he also seems to be holding another secret back, on that very well might have to do with the death of Chad’s father, although we don’t know much about any of that by the end of this novella. Despite his fears and sometimes odd behavior, I really do like Brett. I think he and Chad are good for each other and can help one another deal with their pasts and make a life together.

Eden’s Past is an exciting, steamy story full of gorgeous men, sexy situations and enough intrigue to keep you turning the pages. Fair warning, however, the story ends on a bit of a cliffhanger, leaving you asking questions you can’t answer until the sequel. That in itself is enough to get me to pick up the next in the series, just so I can find out what happens next. I cannot wait until I know exactly what really happened to Silas Singleton!

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

Truth Or Dare? by Elizabeth Morgan

September 8, 2014 By Leave a Comment

DARE
Truth Or Dare? by Elizabeth Morgan
Publisher: Decadent Publishing
Genre: Contemporary
Length: Short Story (39 pgs)
Other: M/F
Rating: 3.5 stars
Reviewed by Fern

Do you dare tell the truth?

A tequila fuelled game of Truth or Dare is not Dani’s idea of fun, but when Cameron, the jerk who rejected her a year ago is the one provoking her into playing, how can she say no? Not that he’s giving her the option in the first place.

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Will a dare give Dani the courage she needs to tell Cameron the truth?

Dani has just moved into a new place and, despite her best intentions, is thrown a housewarming party. Her friends invited every one of her neighbors, but it’s Cameron who lingers long after they’ve all gone back home. With a tempting bottle of tequila, a devilish smile and a naughty suggestion for a quick game of truth or dare, Dani finds herself figuratively backed into a corner. When the dares become raunchy Dani realizes there’s a few truths she’s been hiding from herself.

While I enjoyed reading this fun short story I was a little disappointed with the predictability of the storyline. The author does an awesome job introducing the four main characters, and gives particularly vivid descriptions of Dani and Cameron, but I found it hard to get overly involved as the story didn’t have a new twist or edge to it. Truth and Dare is a common enough plot and the addition of Tequila helps make the entertainment more adult, but no more exotic.

I was pleased with the culmination between Dani and Cameron’s. The sex was scorching hot and quite erotic, but I couldn’t help but feel some of the chemistry between them – that “zap” of electricity – felt lacking to me. I was in no doubt that Dani and Cameron lusted after each other, but Dani spent so much time expressing her insecurities – and Cameron had to repeat multiple times the seriousness of his affection for her that both seemed forced, or false. They spent so long discussing it and not enough time showing it – with tender touches or other actions outside their sexual acts.

Because of this, something about their connection didn’t strike me as a long-term thing, that undefinable “something” was missing between them for me. While the story is written as a happily ever after, personally I see it more as a happy for now. Dani and Cameron want each other, and have been denying that for so long their encounter felt to me like it was bound to happen sooner or later. But with that tingle missing I can’t help but wonder if the luster of their newfound relationship might fizzle in the longer term.

Despite all this, readers looking for a short story, full of sexy dares and interesting characters should enjoy this for a quick read. If there was a follow up book – perhaps when Dani and Cameron are better settled and maybe revisit the game with a twist – my curiosity, the authors interesting style and my hope for their ending to truly be a good one could easily sway me to try them out again. This is a fun, erotic tale that can happily fill an evening and give satisfaction.

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

The Clan of the Cats by Robert Adams

September 5, 2014 By Leave a Comment

CATS
The Clan of the Cats by Robert Adams
Publisher: Mundania Press
Genre: Action/Adventure, Sci-Fi/Fantasy
Length: Full Length (152 pgs)
Rating: 3 stars
Reviewed by Aloe

Battle to the Death!

When Milo Morai, the Undying High Lord, and his Horseclans warriors found the tower ruins, they welcomed it as the perfect citadel from which to hold off the packs of ravenous wolves eager for their blood.

But the ancient building hid a secret far more dangerous than either wolves or any human foe, for in its depths waited The Hunter–the penultimate product of genetic experimentation gone wild, one of the few descendants of a powerful breed that had long outlasted its human creators.
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The Hunter–who, with fang, claw, and blood-chilling speed–would challenge the Undying Lord himself to a battle to the death.

She’s injured but she has cubs and must find them food. She’s not at all pleased when she finds her prey and is ready for the kill and hunters take them down. All she can do now is steal one…

Robert Adams has written a huge series of books called The Horseclans Series. There are eighteen books in the series. This is the second one I’ve reviewed.

The world as we know it no longer exists. Bombs, guns, diseases and starvation have eliminated much of the population. Now small settlements exist here and there. Many of them steal from each other: food, horses, and women. After all, you can’t have too much inbreeding or that will make their group die out, too. Another danger is the animals. Scientists were experimenting with breeding trying to bring back the animals that had gone extinct. They were better able to survive in this world. They didn’t like people, though, because the prey animals were few and they both liked to eat them.

Mr. Adams sets up a believable world in a desolated place. He adds a man who doesn’t die (he heals all his own wounds with no help) to help lead these people into the new future and stay alive. When the cat kills him to get the deer, he comes back to life. He also wants to find the cat, but not to kill it. To study it and see how many there are. Getting caught in the forest by wolves wasn’t on the list.

This volume was more about the scientists of the past and their plans than it was about the animals and the people in the present. I find the imaginary world much more fascinating than the folks in the past. The big cat, resembling a sabre tooth tiger, has to let the man help her heal. Eventually she begins to trust him because he can mind speak with the cats. When other cats locate them, she and her son are willing to die to protect him. There should be more to this story; the cats deserve their own book.

If you want a peek at what your future could be like if it turns dystopian, Mr. Adams is the man for you. Each book can stand alone and together they show you a wide look at a future world. Let your imagination go wild!

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

The Alpha’s Toy by Sam Crescent

September 5, 2014 By Leave a Comment

TOY
The Alpha’s Toy by Sam Crescent
Publisher: Evernight Publishing
Genre: Contemporary, Paranormal
Length: Short Story (112 pgs)
Other: M/F, Anal Play, Forced Seduction, Fetish, Toys, Fisting, Spanking, Voyeurism
Rating: 4 stars
Reviewed by Verbena

To spare an innocent she has to become his plaything.

When Zeke attacks her pack, Mary, a half-breed wolf, wants to save a young wolf, but to do so, she has to accept his bargain. She must be his toy until the next full moon. Mary despises the alpha she must now give her body to, but she can’t deny the response he inspires within her.

Exploring the deceased pack’s lair Zeke stumbles onto something that could destroy all breeds of wolf. The leaders of Mary’s pack had been experimenting on wolves. The reasons why are still unknown, but Zeke will do everything in his power to find out the truth, especially when he discovers Mary was one of their experiments.

Even before the end of the month Mary becomes all he can think about, and he’s determined to keep his toy safe. Then a twist of fate lets him know she’s more than a toy. Mary is his mate. Can he overcome her fear of him and convince her to stay when her month is up?

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There were a lot of things Mary didn’t understand about shifter dynamics and politics. She hadn’t been born into this life, she’d been forced into it. The victim of a “bite and run”, the only knowledge she had about wolf shifters and her new abilities she’d learned from her pack alpha and his queen. Now they were dead. It frightened her to see so much hatred and bloodshed, but when the invading group grabs a young member of her pack, the only shifter friend she really has, Mary is compelled to intercede. Expecting her life to be forfeit in order to save the young girl’s, she’s thoroughly confused when the overbearing alpha demands her submission to any and all of his sexual whims for the next 30 days. A deal is a deal and Mary is prepared to pay in full if it will save her friend, she just didn’t expect to enjoy it so much.

Zeke was all set to totally obliterate the pack that had been involved in some downright evil activity. They didn’t deserve to live and call themselves wolves. What he didn’t expect was for one of the members to offer her life in exchange for another. He wasn’t a bad man, really, and he didn’t enjoy killing. But the pack leaders and all of its members had been involved in some shady behavior, and he suspected were responsible for the disappearances of many wolf shifters, including his own sister. You see, wolves had a certain scent about them when they were corrupt, and this pack reeked, every single member except the young girl and her voluptuous savior. As he eyed the full-figured woman who pleaded for him to spare the child, he realized that whatever evil her pack was involved in, she wasn’t a part of it. While he didn’t intend to kill anyone innocent of the pack’s crimes, he certainly wasn’t going to tell Mary that. She’d offered him whatever he wanted to spare the young girl, and what he wanted was her…on her back, on her knees, in any and every position he could come up with for the next thirty days. At the time, it seemed like a good idea. What he hadn’t anticipated is how his wolf would respond to hers, or how hers would respond to his. Suddenly, thirty days didn’t seem long enough. Less than a week into their arrangement, he realizes that a lifetime wouldn’t even be enough.

At first I really didn’t know what to think about Zeke. He seemed like a terrible person to go through and slaughter an entire pack. But as the story progressed, I realized that he wasn’t the bad guy, he was just dealing out justice as it needed to be dealt. Sometimes that’s what makes the difference between a bad alpha and a great one. Leadership comes with a price and a lot of responsibility; Zeke doesn’t take this role lightly.

Poor Mary is a victim from the get go. After being bitten by a wolf, she’s left to fend for herself and learn what it means to be a shifter. At the time, she thought her pack leaders were showing her kindness by taking her in—even if no one really seemed to like her—but as Zeke begins uncovering the truth behind her pack’s disturbing activities, she realizes that the last eighteen-months had been a lie. Horrific memories secreted by her wolf and a drug-induced amnesia had kept her ignorant to what was really going on. Now, with Zeke’s help, she’ll discover the real reasons for her pack leaders’ superficial kindness as well as how to embrace her inner wolf.

While I really enjoyed The Alpha’s Toy by Sam Crescent, there were some things about the dialog that annoyed me. In particular, it felt like the author repeated the same thing to get a point across when it wasn’t necessary. For instance, when the hero tells his friend to take Mary to the kitchen for food in one sentence, he doesn’t need to say make sure she gets some food in the next. He’s already made the point that he wants her to eat. Some things just felt redundant or unnecessarily wordy. Even though this did bug me a bit, it did not deter me from reading or liking the story. I just think it’s something that could be cleaned up a bit to make it an even better story. The plot, the characters, and the sex—which there was quite a bit of, by the way—were all very good. The author does well with moving things along and tying up loose ends. Overall, I think it’s worth the read and the little things that needled me may not bother others.

This may be a forced arrangement, but Mary doesn’t seem too upset about her lot once Zeke makes good on his promise to be buried balls deep inside her. I can’t say that I blame her. A big strapping alpha male wants to make you his own personal sex toy and introduce you to things you’re body’s been craving for months without relent…doesn’t sound too bad to me either. It’s kind of comical to see the emotional and behavioral changes in Zeke when he begins to recognize Mary as more than just a toy. She may not realize it, but she has his heart in one hand, and his ball bearings in the other.

The Alpha’s Toy by Sam Crescent offers super-hot wolves with all their snarling, domineering maleness; full-figured gals that are anything but helpless or without a bite of their own, and plenty of toe-curling sex that got my heart racing. It a good story that proved well worth my time to read.

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

The Wishing Stone by Tegon Maus

September 4, 2014 By Leave a Comment

WISHING
The Wishing Stone by Tegon Maus
Publisher: Tirgearr Publishing
Genre: Sci-Fi/Fantasy, Contemporary
Length: Short Story (97 pages)
Rating: 3 Stars
Reviewed by Astilbe

During that last summer, as if in punishment for being happy, Kate was diagnosed with cervical cancer.

The last time we used the wishing stone was at the hospital the morning she died.

On that day, all three of us made a silent wish, certain the others had wished the same. Kate died that afternoon and I never thought about it again. It was the last time I believed in magic, in love or in the existence of God.
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Then, after three miserable lonely years, the unthinkable, a second chance… Warwick.

Some wishes are easier to grant than others.

By far the best passages involved descriptions of the laboratory equipment and experimental procedures that are used in this piece. This isn’t hard science fiction, but the emphasis on what could be possible with enough funding and the right equipment piqued my interest. If the author is planning to release more sequels in this series, I’d be curious to see where the technological advancements go next.

It would have been helpful to have more information about the motives of certain characters. Ben, the protagonist, has such a limited perspective of what’s going on that at times I grew a little frustrated with how much he didn’t know. Had this been a novel it would have made sense to leave him in the dark for so long, but I generally expect the main character to adjust to his or her surroundings more quickly in a short story.

The pacing was otherwise strong from beginning to end. The reader is thrown into the action right away which was a smart choice for this subject matter. Figuring out what was going on took me a little while, but once I adapted to the tone I found myself immersed in this new adventure.

I strongly recommend reading the first book in this series, Machines of the Little People, before diving into this one. While the plot can technically stand on its own, the cast of characters is large for something this length. Not all of their relationships are explained right away, so remembering their backstories is crucial in order to know what’s going on during the first few scenes.

The Wishing Stone is a good choice for anyone in the mood for a fast-paced, science fiction novella.

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

Crossfire by Andrea Domanski

September 4, 2014 By Leave a Comment

FIRE
Crossfire by Andrea Domanski
The Omega Group Series Book One
Publisher: Self-Published
Genre: Action/Adventure, Contemporary, Sci-Fi/Fantasy, YA
Length: Full Length (265 Pages)
Age Recommendation: 14+
Rating: 3.5 Stars
Reviewed by Cyclamen

Birthdays suck!

For her eighteenth, Mirissa Colson receives a package from the mother who abandoned her over a decade ago. The family secret it reveals transforms her life from trying on prom dresses to battling an ancient race of demons. Thanks, Mom.

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When she’s called on to save the world—literally—Mirissa finds she has a lot more in her arsenal than just a mean roundhouse kick. Burgeoning powers she previously thought impossible, like controlling the elements and sensory expansion, give her some confidence. But when she is propelled into a world teeming with preternatural beings—all with powers of their own—she finds herself outmatched and outgunned.

CROSSFIRE is a coming of age tale that bridges the gap between the world we think we know, and the one that lies just beneath the surface.

Mirissa Colson has been raised, from the time she was seven, by her father. She has always thought that her mother abandoned them both. But when she reaches eighteen, she learns the real truth, her family’s secret, and that secret reveals an entire world that she never knew existed. She learns about the Greek gods, demi-gods, and preternatural beings, both good and evil. And she learns that she has extraordinary powers meant to help her fulfill a prophecy, that she must save the world.

Crossfire is a thriller, with non-stop action. Mirissa is kidnapped and has to escape. Then she undergoes training and there are mock battles. And there are enough real battles to fill several lifetimes. Each battle is described in complete detail, blow by blow, and I have to admit, I grew tired of all the very detailed descriptions. I know nothing about martial arts, so the dynamics of the fights didn’t really draw me in. I would have liked to have seen more character development, and more details about the relationships Mirissa forms.

Nevertheless, the plot is well-crafted and I was on the edge of my seat throughout the entire novel, reading it in one sitting. It is a coming of age story and a dramatic one at that. Mirissa has to absorb a great deal of information in a short amount of time and she ends up having to figure a lot of things out for herself, in the heat of battle. She is fighting not only for her own life, but for the lives of her father and friends as well, and the tension builds all the way through the novel to a heart-stopping conclusion.

I also liked the mythological aspect of this story and I felt that the history of the ancient world was well-researched. Discovering how Artemis and other deities have lived over the years until the present was fun. Discovering how the ancient gods are still operating in our world was intriguing.

Fantasy readers are sure to enjoy this exciting story, and I look forward to the next in this thrilling series.

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

Captured in Croatia by Christine Edwards

September 4, 2014 By Leave a Comment

CORATIA
Captured in Croatia by Christine Edwards
Publisher: Fanny Press
Genre: Contemporary
Length: Full Length (179 pgs)
Other: M/F, Forced Seduction, Spanking
Rating: 4 stars
Reviewed by Verbena

Corporate spy Carew Sloan is sent to Zagreb, Croatia, to retrieve information for a private intelligence agency. Carew’s beauty and talent for computer decryption make her the natural choice for this sensitive mission. After charming her mark, Vasilije Juric, in one of Zagreb’s swanky dance clubs, Carew finds herself in Juric’s bedroom. It will take only a moment to gather the information she was sent for and make her escape. Or so she thinks.

Unfortunately for Carew, Juric has a keen-eyed bodyguard, Zoran, who pegged her instantly as trouble. After a high speed chase, he retrieves Carew from her wrecked car. Rather than turn the stunning spy over to his merciless boss, Zoran takes matters into his own hands and keeps the girl … as his captive. Zoran’s keen intelligence, striking features, and powerful physique prove hard to resist, and soon their mutual hostility takes a backseat to the torrent of lust neither can deny.

Alpha Blockers Medications that are viagra cheap price known as alpha blockers are mostly used for the treatment of erectile dysfunction. These things work well to arouse excitement and prepare get cialis overnight your bodies for a great and pleasurable night ahead. WATERMELON – Rich in an amino acid called citrulline, which dilates and relaxes the blood vessels like generic levitra and other drugs used to treat ED. One should consult with their physicians and follow their guideline to avoid cheap cialis 5mg adverse effects and live a normal life. Will Carew follow her heart, even it means losing her livelihood? What other dangers await them both beyond Zoran’s lair?

This sneaky cat burglar is about to meet her match in wit, skill, and determination. Zoran is like a bulldog with a bone. He smells something funny going on and he’s not about to get duped by the far-too-attractive female his boss has his eyes on.

A gun for hire, Zoran has done some things he’s not overly proud of. But one thing he does pride himself on is ferretting out the truth. He’s never shot anyone who didn’t deserve it and he’s not about to start now. When his suspicions prove right and he discovers that the resourceful woman has not only gotten the drop on his Casanova boss, but has also made off with some documentation from Juric’s files, he’s determined to apprehend the sly girl and find out what’s going on. While his boss expects him to “eliminate” the problem, Zoran can’t bring himself to kill her. Something about her sparks more than just his curiosity about what she’s after. And truth be told, he really doesn’t like Juric anyway.

Carew senses she may be in over her head when she meets Zoran’s assessing gaze. His presence makes her uneasy and she has a feeling he’s going to make her job difficult. Nothing seems to get past his scrutiny. Everything about him screams virility and were circumstances different, she might even be tempted to explore her attraction a little further. But as it was, she had a job to do and Zoran was not in her plans. Juric was suspected of stealing her client’s design and it was her job to find the proof. All she needed to do was get inside his multimillion-dollar mansion, put him out of commission, and hack into his computer. It sounded easy enough for someone with Carew’s expertise. Any other time, it would have been. Unfortunately, she’d never encountered a body guard like Zoran before and he had no intention of making anything easy.

Ms. Christine Edwards has penned a deliciously dangerous and tantalizing tale of burglary gone horribly wrong. While Zoran could certainly have handled things differently when he caught Carew—most body guards in his position probably would have—the way he responded is what set him apart and made me take a harder look at his underlying character. While he first comes across as a typical thug working for a rich man used to getting his way and cutting down anyone in his path, there’s a lot more to Zoran that meets the eye. I didn’t necessarily agree with all his methods of extracting the information he wanted from Carew, but he lacked any real maliciousness behind his actions. I think he was at a loss as to how to deal with her. She was completely unlike any of his other adversaries, and deep down, he really didn’t want to hurt her. As the days pass, it becomes obvious that Zoran is keeping Carew alive for more reasons than just to get information out of her.

The story is told in first person and switches between Carew and Zoran’s point of view. At first, it was a bit awkward as I haven’t read too many books in first person, but as the story progressed I found myself getting into the characters’ heads a little easier. It actually ended up being a nice change. Overall, I really enjoyed Captured in Croatia. I guess I’ve always had a propensity for tales about capture and forced seduction. Call me deviant, but I like the old bodice-rippers. Captured in Croatia, to me, was a bit like a modern-day bodice ripper. While Carew isn’t the typical weak female—she’s skilled in martial arts and can certainly take care of herself—Zoran pretty much renders her helpless, leaving her almost defenseless against his intentions. Most women in her situation would probably have resorted to tears and begging, but Carew is very strong-willed and it takes a lot for her to finally give in. I think this only sparks Zoran’s interest even more. He’s not used to being defied and Carew’s insistence on disobedience really gets to him.

In this test of wills, who will break first? Captured in Croatia offers an exciting read filled with the thrill of being captured, the eroticism of bondage, and the titillation of forced seduction. I’m not talking rape. Zoran doesn’t do anything to Carew that she doesn’t want, no matter how much she’d like to deny it. I thoroughly enjoyed the story from start to finish. It had a nice hook at the beginning and a completely satisfying end. It was well worth my time.

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