Archives for March 2015

Reprinted: The Shapeshifters’ Library: Book Four by Amber Polo

March 5, 2015 By 1 Comment

POLO
Reprinted: The Shapeshifters’ Library: Book Four by Amber Polo
Publisher: Blue Merle Publishing
Genre: Sci-Fi/Fantasy
Length: Full Length (281 Pages)
Rating: 4.5 Stars
Review by: Cyclamen

For centuries a magical race of shapeshifting dogs have protected the world’s libraries from evil book-burning werewolves. But when Chihuahua-shifter Pacifico Lopez, techno-genius inventor of Zoogle, the world’s most powerful search engine, discovers a werewolf plot that threatens to destroy the world of books, dog-shifters face their biggest challenge yet. Werewolf Landy Romero, an editor at wolf-owned World Wide Publishing, and secret book lover, is horrified to learn that Pacifico thinks her own company is sabotaging books.

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In this most exciting Shapeshifters’ Library adventure yet, Pacifico and Landy are thrust into the heart of a tropical storm as they battle lies and uncover injustice and betrayal. And the truth, when exposed, will change everything they believe about themselves and their world, forever.

Chihuahua shifter Pacifico Lopez has discovered a plot by the book hating werewolves to destroy the world of books and he is determined to stop it. He heads to the headquarters of wolf-owned World Wide Publishing determined to confront Dominika, the werewolf head of WWP. Instead he finds one of her daughters, Atlandia Romero, in charge. Landy is nothing like her mother and Paco can’t help but stare at this lovely woman. When he lets her know of his suspicions, she denies them, but soon, with a bit of research on both their parts, they discover the truth.

I liked both Paco and Landy. They are well-developed characters who ring true. I loved it when Paco, the richest man in the world, had to go undercover as a dishwasher in the wolf run resort. And while he falls in love with Landy, he also is pretty clueless about how to approach her. Landy is not at all like either her mother or her sister and in fact has spent her whole life in their shadows, never good enough, always the small white wolf, a wolf who loves to read. When she is given the job of running WWP she is thrilled, determined to find the best authors, not the worst. She has trouble standing up to her sister Sybilla, but when the stakes are high, she discovers her inner strengths.

The plot is exciting and fast-paced. The description of the hurricane is particularly vivid and intense. And as the betrayals and injustices are revealed, so are some very surprising loyalties. This is the fourth novel in the Shapeshifters’ Library, and it is just as exciting as the first three. It can also be read as a stand-alone, although I personally wouldn’t have wanted to miss out on the first three.

Fantasy lovers are sure to be captivated by the dynamics between the dog shifters and the wolf shifters, and the history of their beginnings is spellbinding.

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

Doctor Sleep by Stephen King

March 5, 2015 By 1 Comment

DLEEP
Doctor Sleep by Stephen King
Publisher: Gallery Books, Scribner
Genre: Contemporary, Sci-Fi/Fantasy, Horror, Paranormal
Length: Full Length (531 pgs)
Rating: 5 stars
Reviewed by Nymphaea

Voted BoM by LASR Readers 2013 copy

Stephen King returns to the characters and territory of one of his most popular novels ever, The Shining, in this instantly riveting novel about the now middle-aged Dan Torrance (the boy protagonist of The Shining) and the very special twelve-year-old girl he must save from a tribe of murderous paranormals.

On highways across America, a tribe of people called The True Knot travel in search of sustenance. They look harmless—mostly old, lots of polyester, and married to their RVs. But as Dan Torrance knows, and spunky twelve-year-old Abra Stone learns, The True Knot are quasi-immortal, living off the “steam” that children with the “shining” produce when they are slowly tortured to death.

Haunted by the inhabitants of the Overlook Hotel where he spent one horrific childhood year, Dan has been drifting for decades, desperate to shed his father’s legacy of despair, alcoholism, and violence. Finally, he settles in a New Hampshire town, an AA community that sustains him, and a job at a nursing home where his remnant “shining” power provides the crucial final comfort to the dying. Aided by a prescient cat, he becomes “Doctor Sleep.”

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One word: gripping. Oh, and I will NEVER look at a caravan of RVs the same way ever again.

I really liked The Shining. I did. It scared the bejesus out of me.  Doctor Sleep follows Dan, the little boy from The Shining. He’s now all grown up and bearing scars of his own. He’s still got the shining, but with those adult experiences and situations, he’s a different kind of man. And he’s about to meet a girl who not only matches him, but outdoes him with the shining.

I love the work of Stephen King. But I go in with my eyes wide open. I know there will be sputters and potholes along the way. This book isn’t one of those sputters. The writing clicks along at a good pace and ensnared me in the story. When I had to put the book down, I didn’t want to. It’s that gripping.

Now, about those RVs. The True Knot, the people wanting to consume the steam created from the people with the shining, drive around all day in these RVs. No one notices them because, well, big hulking RVs are everywhere on the highway. I’m not sure if King was going for a parallel to danger being all over the place but hard to spot because we see it all the time, but if he was, kudos. Just that part alone got me thinking. Danger really is everywhere and in the most benign locations. Oh and watch out for the lady in the hat. Yikes.

I liked the characters of Abra and Dan. Honestly, I liked the little boy back in The Shining. But boy, did that kid go through some crap. Wow. I’m glad King returned to this character and let the readers see what he’s been up to. Dan Torrance, the redrum kid, is not Doctor Sleep. Along with a cat named Azzie, he works at a hospice facility (or as Abra calls it, the hot spice facility). When the patients are about to expire, the cat always knows and tells the staff. I loved this angle. Dan, then goes in and assists the patient. Now some might consider this a downer. It is, but I liked how King shows Dan’s softer side – now that he’s had the hard edges worn down.

Then there’s Abra. Yes, like Abracadabra. An interesting name for an interesting little girl. She’s got the shining, but on high voltage. She sees things though the eyes of others and can reach out to Dan through the chalk board. Sounds bizarre? It gets better. The True Knot want this girl. Like REALLY want her. I liked her. She’s spunky and quirky. She’s got a mind of her own and even though she’s still a kid, she’s smart. I wanted to see her come out on top.

Are you intrigued? You should be. The horrific parts of the book deliver. Definitely some seat-squirming. But there is a heart to this story and it’s one that shouldn’t be missed.

If you want a book that will haunt you, make you think, oh and make you want to keep the light on at night, then this might be the book for you. Recommended.

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

The Christmas Top by Christi Snow

March 5, 2015 By 1 Comment

TOP
The Christmas Top by Christi Snow
Publisher: Decadent Publishing
Genre: Contemporary
Length: Short Story (28 pgs)
Other: M/M, Anal Play
Rating: 4 stars
Reviewed by Fern

All he wants for Christmas…

It’s time for Mark Cummins to come out of the closet. He’s ready, but he’s never been topped. Asking Madame Eve for the one-night stand of his fantasies, he hopes she can grant his Christmas wish.

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Jason Wieland’s life partner died in a horrific hate crime two years before and he hasn’t taken a lover since. He knows it’s time, and he reaches out to the 1Night Stand dating service to find the right man to light up his holiday. But when masculine, sexy, and extremely straight Mark shows up, he doesn’t know what to do.

Is this 1Night Stand a cruel joke or has Madame Eve truly worked Christmas magic?

Jason is having second thoughts. He’s let his good friend, Molly, convince him that a night in a lavish Vegas hotel – and a one night stand – is a good idea. It’s been two years since his partner was killed, and Jason hasn’t been with anyone since then. Mark is ready to finally live out his fantasy. Having only recently come out to a small number of people, Mark is still incredibly nervous about his sexual orientation. But both Mark and Jason are in for a few surprises, and a very Merry Christmas.

There was a small twist at the start that took me totally by surprise. It was an excellent way to add tension to this short story without detracting either from the sexy romance of it or feel too clichéd. I thought it really helped to add an edge between Jason and Mark too. Despite Jason’s (well founded) reservations, the two men quickly end up in bed and I found the sex between them scorching hot. The sex scene is erotic and of a good length, especially considering how short the story is. But I would have loved more of it. A follow-up sex scene, or even the hinted at BDSM scene – something after the emotional resolution would have rounded this story out perfectly to my mind.

I really enjoyed how the author gave a good amount of plot for this short story. This wasn’t all about the sex, but also about a real hurt in Jason’s past, and a big decision for Mark’s present and future. There wasn’t just a few throwaway lines here, but what I thought was a good, solid amount of plot. The characters were also real and complicated. Die-hard romantics should be warned there is a Happy For Now ending – but personally I feel there is definitely a positive spin to the conclusion and only the most hard-core Happily Ever After readers could find fault with it.

Overall I really enjoyed the short story. While a bit more sex would have been icing on the cake, this was a good, strong story and I’ll happily read more of Ms Snow’s work. Recommended.

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

Joe Cosentino – Interview and Giveaway

March 5, 2015 By Leave a Comment

Long and Short Reviews welcomes Joe Cosentino. His newest release, Paper Doll, the first book in the Jana Lane series, is released today from Whiskey Creek Press. Post a comment about your favorite ex-child movie star. Who is it? Why do you like him/her? The staff at Long and Short Reviews will pick the comment that tickles their fancy the most and the winner will win an electronic version of PAPER DOLL, a mystery/romance novel by Joe Cosentino.

Joe usually starts a new project by writing an outline and character biography–and in Paper Doll, he wanted to share his love of movies and moviemakers with his readers.

“I have always been fascinated with ex-child stars like Hayley Mills, Shirley Temple, Patty Duke, and Brooke Shields. I also included the important concept of someone rediscovering her lost self-worth and confidence,” he explained. “My heroine, Jana Lane, is an ex-child star who has lost her self esteem as an adult. Through the course of the book, Jana not only solves the mystery of her past, but also reclaims the courage and fortitude she had as a child. This is an important message for all of us.

“Jana’s agent, Simon, came about as I recalled various agents and managers I worked with in the past. He is amazingly resilient, old world Hollywood, incredibly funny, loyal to Jana, and most importantly, I want to play him in the movie version!

“Jana’s sister, Tamara, was hardest to write since, unlike most of the other characters in the book, Tamara does not have a sense of humor. She came about as I remembered visual artists I’ve known who were amazing creative artists but had very little people-skills. Tamara is a tortured soul with a secret and painful past. She loves her sister yet at the same time envies her. It was difficult for me to get into her mindset, but once I did, I believe I represented her well.

“Jana’s best friend Jackson was the most fun to write because he is so funny, smart, charming, and devoted to Jana (and her husband). I also like that Jackson is a gay activist back in 1980 when it wasn’t so popular. I created him when remembering back to the gay men I met in the 1980’s in NYC who were hysterically funny, resilient, and tortured inside from years of being the victims of homophobia and heterosexism.

“I love that the story takes place in the early 1980’s since I had fun with real events, music, fashion, and mindsets from the time period. I also love that the story takes place in locations dear to me: NYC, upstate New York, and Hollywood.”

He’s just completed the second book in the Jana Lane series, Porcelain Doll, which takes Jana to the next stop of her career and personal life, as well as an M/M novella, A Shooting Star which takes place in the theatre department of a college. Since Joe is a college theatre professor/department head himself, he knows a great deal about that world.

He has another M/M romance novella available: An Infatuation, published by Dreamspinner Press.

“Like all of my writing, it is full of humor and drama,” he told me. “Here’s the blurb: With his ten-year high school reunion approaching, Harold wonders whether Mario will be as muscular, sexy, and tantalizing as he remembers. As a teenager, it was love at first sight for Harold while tutoring football star Mario, until homophobia and bullying drove Mario deep into the closet. Now they’re both married men. Mario, a model, is miserable with his producer wife, while Harold, a teacher, is perfectly content with his businessman husband, Stuart. When the two meet again, will the old flame reignite, setting Harold’s comfortable life ablaze? How can Harold be happy with Stuart when he is still infatuated with his Adonis, his first love, Mario? Harold faces this seemingly impossible situation with inimitable wit, tenderness, and humor as he attempts to reconcile the past and the future.”

He is also writing an M/M comedy mystery series set in the world of theatre academia. The first two books, Drama Queen and Drama Muscle are completed, and he’s working on the third, Drama Cruise. Lethe Press is publishing the first book in the series this summer.

When Joe was a kid, he played make believe constantly. He became as actor in film, television, and theatre, working with stars like Bruce Willis, Nathan Lane, Rosie O’Donnell, Holland Taylor, and Jason Robards. You can see him in a theatre skit at .

“Morphing into writing plays and now novels seemed like the perfect progression,” he told me. “It occurred to me that acting is storytelling in the same way that writing is storytelling, so I decided to give writing a try. I knew my first novel would be a show business story, since show business has always been such a huge part of my life. As an avid reader of hundreds of mystery novels, it was clear to me that my novel would be a page-turning murder mystery with clever plot twists, engaging characters, romance, humor, and lots of clues leading to a surprising conclusion.”

He actually started writing about twenty years ago when he began writing musical play adaptations for young audiences that tour throughout the northeast. His adaptation of The Nutcracker and the Mouse King is available at Eldridge Plays and Musicals.

Cuteness triggers the feelings of wholesale sildenafil caregiving in an individual, whereas opioid addiction impairs the perception and ability to care for others. She is for the most part collateral cialis generic canada damage-caught up in a family enmeshed with continuous drama and turmoil. Vitamin D is essential to the health of http://amerikabulteni.com/2020/11/12/bir-devlet-baskani-seciminden-notlar/ cialis 10 mg the person. Sildenafil Citrate is considered as the most effective medicine among all amerikabulteni.com levitra on line the medicines of this group. “It was a great way to begin writing since children’s audiences can’t be fooled,” he explained. “They know what is funny, touching, and real. They also get restless if a character or storyline becomes stagnant. You learn immediately what works and what does not. After that I wrote one-act plays and eventually full length plays that were performed in regional theatre and in NYC. Working with other actors and directors helped me hone my writing skills. Two years ago I was finally ready to tackle fiction writing. Paper Doll is my first full novel.”

“If you were on the staff to have a book adapted to a movie, what would you pick?” I asked.

“Since I come from a show business background, each of my novels and novellas is theatrical. I think An Infatuation and A Shooting Star would make great indie films. The Jana Lane mystery series and the Nicky and Noah mystery series would make terrific television series. When you read them, I’m sure you’ll agree. So film and television producers, contact me and let’s get the slate board cracking!”

Finally, I asked, “What advice would you give a new writer just starting out?”

“I love reading and writing stories with engaging characters who I want to spend time with. I recommend letting your characters talk to one another and seeing what happens. An outline is simply an outline. Don’t be afraid to deviate from it. I prefer mystery suspense novels that drop lots of clues leading to the murderer. I also recommend incorporating many other characters with secrets into the story. A writer should create an entire world of suspense above and beyond “who done it.” When a reader finishes a book, he/she should be satisfied that the various parts equaled the whole, rather than the author pulling an ending out of the hat. I always see the humor and the romance in life, so I look for both in my writing and reading.”

About the Author: 3_5 Joe CosentinoJoe Cosentino is the author of An Infatuation (Dreamspinner Press). He has appeared in principal acting roles in film, television, and theatre, opposite stars such as Bruce Willis, Rosie O’Donnell, Nathan Lane, Holland Taylor, and Jason Robards. His one-act plays, Infatuation and Neighbor, were performed in New York City. He wrote a musical theatre adaptation of The Nutcracker and the Mouse King (Eldridge Plays and Musicals), and The Perils of Pauline educational film (Prentice Hall Publishers). Joe is currently Head of the Department/Professor at a college in upstate New York, and is happily married. His upcoming novels are Porcelain Doll (the second Jana Lane mystery) and Drama Queen (Lethe Press).

Website | Goodreads

3_5 paper-coverwhiskeyJana Lane was America’s most famous child star until she was attacked on the studio lot at eighteen years old. Now she’s a thirty-eight-year-old beauty and mother of two living in a mansion in picturesque Hudson Valley, New York. Jana’s flashbacks from her past turn into murder attempts in her present. Forced to summon up the lost courage she had as a child, Jana visits the California movie studio she once called home. This sends her on a whirlwind of visits with former and current movie studio personnel. It also leads to a romance with the son of her old producer – Rocco Cavoto – the devilishly handsome filmmaker who is planning Jana’s comeback both professionally and personally. Can Jana uncover a web of secrets about everyone she loves, including the person who destroyed her past and threatens to snuff out her future?

Filed Under: Guest Blogs, Mystery/Suspense

Shadow Ritual by Éric Giacometti, Jacques Ravenne

March 4, 2015 By Leave a Comment

RITUAL
Shadow Ritual by Éric Giacometti, Jacques Ravenne
Publisher: Le French Book
Genre: Action/Adventure, Contemporary, Suspense/Mystery
Length: Full Length (270 pgs)
Rating: 4 stars
Reviewed by Hawthorn

An electrifying thriller about the rise of extremism. Two slayings—one in Rome and one in Jerusalem—rekindle an ancient rivalry between modern-day secret societies for knowledge lost at the fall of the Third Reich. Detective Antoine Marcas unwillingly teams up with the strong-willed Jade Zewinski to chase Neo-Nazi assassins across Europe. They must unravel an arcane Freemason mystery, sparked by information from newly revealed KGB files. Inspired from the true story of mysterious Freemason files thought to hold a terrible secret, stolen by the SS in 1940, recovered by the Red Army in 1945 and returned half a century later.

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For me, the absolute favorite part of the novel were the two protagonists and their relationship. They were complex and intriguing and I kept wanting to know more about them. The fact that they started off their partnership on the wrong foot only added an extra dimension to their interaction. Despite the tense relationship, the attraction between them was noticeable from the very beginning. The villains, however, appeared a bit too simplistic and I wished for more complexity in their characterization.

I liked how, unlike with other similar books, with Shadow Ritual we got to know the Freemasons from an insider’s perspective. I felt that gave the story more credibility, because the investigators weren’t going on guessing and hearsay but one of them was actually initiated into the lodge’s secrets and rituals. Although, on occasion, there was perhaps a bit too much backstory and history interwoven into the current storyline.

However, the plot was intense and suspenseful and kept me riveted till the very end and now I want to read the rest of the novels in the Antoine Marcas series.

If you like thrillers à la The Da Vinci Code, Shadow Ritual is ideal for you. It’s filled with compelling characters and intense action and you won’t be able to put it down until the very satisfying resolution.

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

Still Alice by Lisa Genova

March 4, 2015 By 1 Comment

STILL
Still Alice by Lisa Genova
Publisher: Pocket Books
Genre: Women’s Fiction, Contemporary
Length: Full Length (336 pgs)
Rating: 4 stars
Reviewed by Nymphaea

Alice Howland is proud of the life she worked so hard to build. At fifty years old, she’s a cognitive psychology professor at Harvard and a world-renowned expert in linguistics with a successful husband and three grown children. When she becomes increasingly disoriented and forgetful, a tragic diagnosis changes her life–and her relationship with her family and the world–forever.

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I picked this book up at the urging of my book club. We decided to read this book before the movie came out and discuss what we’d read. The discussion hasn’t taken place yet, but I’m sure there will be a lot to talk about.

Having someone who is currently dealing with Alzheimer’s in my family, I doubly wanted to read this book. I’m both glad I did and very much haunted by it. Many people are in the same situation Alice finds herself in–losing her small memories, like where her keys are, where her Blackberry cord went…little things. But it’s the adding up of those little things and adding of some big things that signals the start of the scary part.

Ms Genova writes Alice in a flowing manner. She’s easy to follow. Soon I was swept up in her story and turning pages as fast as I could read. I was right there with her in the story and seeing through her eyes how it felt to have those mental pieces fall apart. My heart ached for her. My heart ached for her husband. The guy is trying to deal, but being a scientist and an extremely intelligent person, he struggles with how to handle the situation. There currently isn’t a cure and even if he wants to find one, he needs to be there for her. Talk about a tough situation.

I won’t reveal the ending, although I’m sure you can assume, but you will need tissues. If you want a book that will move you, make you look at others through a slightly softer filter and make you appreciate what you’ve got in your own life, then this might be the book for you. But seriously, don’t forget those tissues.

Filed Under: Mainstream Fiction, Reviews Tagged With: , , , , ,

Character Interview with Keshlik from STORM BRIDE by JS Bangs

March 4, 2015 By 4 Comments

This post is part of a virtual book tour organized by the publisher. Enter the Rafflecopter to win your choice of a RAP swag item or a $5 Amazon gift card.

3_4 js bangs Storm-Bride-800 Cover reveal and Promotional
When Saotse rode across the treacherous ocean on an orca at the bidding of Oarsa, Power of the Sea, the blind maiden believed she had been chosen for a great destiny. But she hasn’t heard Oarsa’s voice in decades. Aged now, she has found her place among a peaceful, long-lived people, though her adoptive sister, Uya, still blossoms with youth. Then, pregnant Uya is kidnapped, and the rest of her family is slaughtered when an army of mounted warriors strikes the defenseless capital, leaving Saotse grief stricken and alone.

After Saotse finds refuge with strangers in a distant village, a new Power makes contact. Saotse embraces the opportunity to bury her bloodthirsty enemies in vengeance, but wielding the Power’s bitter magic could cost her everything she is.

As war escalates and allies flock to her side, Saotse believes she finally understands Oarsa’s purpose for her. But the Powers may have set events in motion that even they cannot control, and the fates of gods and men alike hang in the balance.

Reporter: Hello, I’m reporting for Prasa Evening News, here talking with Keshlik, war leader of the Yakhat. Please don’t kill me.

Keshlik: Oh, I never kill reporters. Some of my best friends are journalists.

Reporter: That’s reassuring. So, Keshlik, will you introduce yourself to our readers?

Keshlik: Hello, everyone! I’m Keshlik son of Keishul, leader of the war bands of the Yakhat, and I’m really excited to be here today. This is going to be a big year for me and the Yakhat warriors, and I think that things are looking up for us.

Reporter: As I understand, you’ve had a tough winter but have big plans for this spring.

Keshlik: Oh, yeah, BIG plans. Lots of pillaging—but I’m getting ahead of myself. This winter was a little difficult for us here in the Yakhat tribes: we have to slaughter all of the people living in the mountain passes in order to have room for our herds, and we weren’t sure where we were going when the snows melted. Most of the people living on the east side of the mountains were prepared to fight us off, and weren’t happy to have us as neighbors—

Reporter: Is that a problem you face a lot?

Keshlik: Call it an occupational hazard of the nomad warrior lifestyle. It was gonna be tough for us to go back east, but the west side of the mountains was virgin territory for us, so we’re moving that way. It’s a special opportunity for us.

Reporter: Do you have specific plans now that you’re coming down the west slope of the mountains?

Keshlik: In the short term we’re going to do the usual, plundering the small villages and farms that we find, and trying to get a feel for the geography. Supposedly there’s a big city further on south. It’s been a while since we’ve done urban warfare, and I think our younger warriors will find it a nice change of pace.

Reporter: I’m from Prasa, you know.

Keshlik: Is it nice there? I hear you have good beaches.

Reporter: If I tell you, will you refrain from plundering us?

Keshlik: Probably not. I guess I’ll have to find out about your beaches when I get there.

Reporter: Right… maybe I should take this information back to Prasa.

Keshlik: Don’t make me take back what I said about not killing reporters.

Reporter: So, enough about Keshlik the warlord. What can you tell us about Keshlik the man?

Keshlik: . Well, I got married a few years ago, which was a big change for me. My wife, Tuulo, is just fantastic. I don’t know what I would do without her. And I’m happy to announce that she’s pregnant.

Reporter: Congratulations! When is the baby due?

Keshlik: In about three months. Ironically, the baby will be born right in the middle of fighting season. I’m hoping that I’ll be able to take some time off for the birth.

Reporter: Has the new baby been a big change for you?

Keshlik: There’s all the taboos for pregnant women, the isolation, the sacred salt, the blessed circles of the goddess Khou, etc. And our midwife is a terrible ball-breaker. But Tuulo has done pretty good so far. As for me… becoming a father has changed my perspectives a little bit.

Reporter: How so?

Keshlik: A lifetime of slaughter and pillaging is nice and all, but eventually a man does want to settle down. I’ve been thinking about retiring after this next campaign, maybe spending some more time with my wife and kids. My brother should be ready to lead the Yakhat soon…

Reporter: Are you worried about what this means for the future of your people?

Keshlik: My brother is a little green, but hopefully that won’t be a problem. And as for me, with a baby and a retirement on the way, what could possibly go wrong? Wrong for me, I mean. Obviously things will go wrong for our enemies.

Indeed, what could possibly go wrong? In “Storm Bride”, two womens’ lives are changed by Keshlik’s invasion, and all three of their fates become entangled in strange and dangerous ways.

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Filed Under: Guest Blogs, Science Fiction/Fantasy Tagged With: , , ,

Stroke Of Midnight by Kelli Scott

March 4, 2015 By Leave a Comment

MIDNGIHT
Stroke Of Midnight by Kelli Scott
Publisher: Decadent Publishing
Genre: Contemporary
Length: Short Story (54 pgs)
Other: M/F, Anal Play
Rating: 4.5 stars
Reviewed by Fern

Marley Arbuckle is looking for a little payback, closure, and a boost to her confidence after being cheated on by her fiancé—not necessarily in that order. Choosing a 1Night Stand date in Las Vegas on New Year’s Eve to exact her revenge, she’s planned the affair down to her perfectly styled hair and every last manicured fingernail and pedicured toenail. But what she didn’t count on was meeting Ian O’Keefe.
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Ian has his own dark reasons for contacting Madame Evangeline for a no-strings-attached night of desire with a beautiful stranger. He’s got something to prove to himself and a long road to recovery after losing his wife. His redemption may begin with Marley, but can she teach him to love again?

Marley Arbuckle is on a mission. Instead of being a new bride for the New Year – to the man she’d dated since college, no less – she was going to a New Year’s party all alone and woefeully jilted. A day at the spa, primping and being glamourized to the point she hardly knew herself, Marley is determined to enjoy the party and her one night stand. This will get her back on track, she’s certain. Besides, what happens in Vegas, stayed in Vegas. Ian O’Keefe is also trying to mend his broken heart. With strict instructions to “Wow” Marley he’s both nervous and expectant of a wonderful evening.

I really enjoyed the characterization of both Marley and Ian. The author did an awesome job of making them both realistic, vulnerable and interesting all at once. There’s a nice amount of “getting to know you” before Marley and Ian jump into bed. While I was eager for the one night stand to begin, it was well worth the waiting, and felt a lot more intimate to me knowing more about each of the characters and how they came to use the services of Madame Eve. The sex is hotly written and while I felt it shorter than I would have hoped for, it certainly packed a punch.

Readers will likely enjoy how even when the sex is over, both Marley and Ian stick together. This is no wham-bam-thank you-ma’am one night stand, but grows quickly into something far more fulfilling. I feel the author has done an amazing job with the chemistry between Marley and Ian. Their connection is believable, even for two recently seriously hurt people. I enjoyed the mixture of them convincing themselves one minute that this was only a one night stand, then the next instant asking cat or dog preferences. The chemistry and connection felt real to me – and that glosses over any realism concerns I entertained of the emotional danger of trying to turn a one night, no strings fling into something more. The romantic in me closed my eyes to reality and enjoyed being swept away by the story.

A great novel with strong characterization I really enjoyed this story. It has a Happy For Now ending with a strong romantic link and the promise for more. I found it had a good mixture of hot sex and time for the characters to get to know each other. This is a good read I can strongly recommend for most romance readers.

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

Herbie’s Diner by L. Joseph Shosty

March 3, 2015 By Leave a Comment

INER
Herbie’s Diner by L. Joseph Shosty
Publisher: Untreed Reads
Genre: Suspense/Mystery, Historical
Length: Short Story (44 pages)
Rating: 3 Stars
Reviewed by Astilbe

The year is 1950.

Johnny Hardwood used to be an actor, but he got typecast playing detectives. So he quit the business and became what people thought he should be. Now he’s got a big case involving a man named Mort Peters, who embezzled money from a major film studio and then faked his death, leaving a penniless widow behind. Johnny’s tracked him to a little place south of Sacramento, in the middle of nowhere.

One of his creations is a 500 foot long painting cheapest cialis without prescription of 2000 dragoons, finished in 2000 and exhibited in several galleries. You will be able to viagra samples cheap increase stamina, sex power and strength naturally. Ginseng assists in the general well opacc.cv buy viagra shop being of person. We can gamble for hours having won a little or lost a lot, while also being home to tuck the kids in the family may find themselves wondering exactly where they fit in. levitra australia prices On the outside, Herbie’s Diner is just another run-down greasy spoon with bad coffee and overcooked fried chicken, but Johnny’s about to learn that appearances are deceiving. Soon, the coffee’s run out, and there’s a bevy of killers, swindlers, femme fatales, and other types straight out of a private eye flick, looking to put him down for the dirt nap. Only this isn’t the movies. The bullets are real, pain hurts, and the good guy doesn’t necessarily beat the bad guys and get the girl.

Johnny’s got his back against the wall. He has to decide if he’s really a tough-as-nails detective, or if he’s still an actor at heart, playing pretend. And he’d better think fast because the people out for his skin don’t care which he is. Actor or detective, they all die the same way.

Anything can happen in the middle of nowhere.

The plot was full of rich, striking descriptions. The author’s ability to create such detailed sketches of the setting and characters was especially noticeable early on when Johnny Harwood first arrived at Herbie’s Diner. A few paragraphs were dedicated to describing this isolated little restaurant, and they transitioned smoothly into the explanation for what Johnny was doing there. I could easily picture exactly what the main character was seeing, feeling, and smelling, especially as he moved closer to the climax.

Several clues were revealed early on that made it easy for me to figure out what was going on. I would have preferred to have fewer hints about the ending. It was disappointing to have such a good idea of what the ending would probably be like so soon. Had this not been the case, I would have given this tale a much higher rating as it was otherwise enjoyable.

The pacing was strong and suspenseful. This is a heavily plot-based story that I couldn’t put down until I’d finished it. There was simply no obvious place to take a break from reading it, but that’s a good thing for something this length! While this wasn’t the first time I’ve read one of Mr. Shosty’s book, it did make me feel curious about everything he’s written that I haven’t picked up yet. From what I’ve seen from him so far, he does know how to keep this reader’s attention from the beginning to the end.

Give Herbie’s Diner a try if you like the style of classic crime fiction.

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

So I Married a Werewolf by Kristin Miller

March 3, 2015 By Leave a Comment

MARRIED
So I Married a Werewolf by Kristin Miller
Publisher: Entangled Publishing, LLC
Genre: Contemporary, Paranormal
Length: Full Length (191 pgs)
Heat Level: Spicy
Rating: 4 Stars
Reviewed by Xeranthemum

Carter Griffin, enforcing officer for the Seattle Wolf Pack, has a problem. He’s been offered the promotion of his dreams…if he can find a wife to prove he’s over his playboy ways. But Carter’s already walked the matrimonial road and bought the stinkin’ T-shirt. Besides, a werewolf only gets one fated mate. Been there, done that.

All werewolf dog trainer Faith Hamilton wants to do is earn enough green stuff to put her younger brother through college. Okay, okay, so she also totally wants Carter, her sexy next-door neighbor, to look at her as more than a friend. It’s too bad size 12 and plain isn’t his type. At all.

The two friends strike a deal to help one another out. They must face a variety of challenges from a psycho ex-girlfriend to a Yorkie with a shoe fetish…and that pesky problem of only having one-fated mate in a lifetime. Will a relationship ruin their friendship…or spark a love neither anticipated?

It never crossed my mind to wonder what it would be like if a werewolf HAD to find a mate in order to get a promotion. With so many books out there using the “scent” thing, it was refreshing to find a spin that was a bit more believable and challenging for the characters.
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Ms. Miller does use the fated mate scenario but it’s not so clear cut and personalities do play a role. The revelation of how it all works, especially when one dies, is amazing and a very creative solution to a perplexing issue. Instead of magically making things work out, the author made the knowledge confuse her hero which I found a fascinating and effective reason for conflict.

This novel is told in third person point of view and is a character driven romance. There are no villains to fight, no dire threats to overcome and Faith and Carter do not have to save the world. They just need to stop a puppy from trying to make every day hump day, and how to get the things they want out of life without losing the best thing they have, each other.

Faith is a sweet heroine. She has a heart of gold but doesn’t have the funds to support it. A reader gets a sense of her loyalty, her sense of humor and most importantly, her sense of self. The belief in who she is gets tested in this novel. What I saw was a heroine forced to face her fears, and in doing so, grow and reach her true potential. At times it was painful and others, fun. It seemed the storyline wallowed in her shortcomings a bit too long in some spots but fortunately the action picked up and the plot moved on. I liked her spunk and her determination to make an edible casserole.

Carter is a very conflicted man. He knows what he wants but it’s not what he wants. It took a perfect stranger to figuratively wallop him over the head with the truth and make him see that his worst fear was a self-fulfilled prophesy. Carter had to get out of his own way. That being said, he really was a dear. He’s funny, earnest, dedicated and focused. Many times I got the hint of his true feelings for Faith but he cluelessly attributed it something else – always something else. He’s dense but not stupid. Carter comes around in a typical man-like way and I was amused. He also can be very romantic, which was a bonus.

When Carter and Faith finally do the physical tango, it doesn’t produce magic. It muddies things a bit because their heads weren’t in the right place. That was a heart wrencher but it also gave me hope. There’s more than a spark there and I enjoyed watching it eventually flame into an inferno. The sensual build up tormented them and I was entertained.

So I Married a Werewolf is a treat. It’s the perfect story for readers who enjoy the “friends to lovers” scenario. Naturally it has the typical worry about messing things up with their friendship because they don’t want to lose each other, but it’s how the author worked and manipulated their worry that made this book easy to read and enjoy. Faith and Carter are wonderful together.

If a reader wants to kick back and read a nice romance story between two people who just happen to turn furry and howl at the moon, So I Married a Werewolf is a good choice.

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