Archives for October 2015

Driven by Night by Aliyah Burke

October 20, 2015 By 1 Comment

DRIVEN
Driven by Night by Aliyah Burke
Publisher: Totally Bound
Genre: Paranormal, Suspense/Mystery, Action/Adventure, Contemporary
Length: Full Length (184 pgs)
Other: M/F
Rating: 4 stars
Reviewed by Fuchsia

Sometimes we need to step from the shadows.

Tiarnán Malone is one of the best warriors of the Guardians. Sent to meet a woman to pick something up for his mentor, he saves the woman who is to be his mate. And his artifact. Circumstances throw them together, but while he knows they are meant to be, she isn’t as easily convinced.

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Despite all that’s going on around her and her feelings for him, Calida eventually leaves, unable to withstand the pain. Will Tiarnán reach her in time or will she be gone forever, relegating him to a world completely driven by night?

Tiarnan Malone was sent by Lian Yang to meet Mrs. Chen and retrieve an artifact. What he found was Calida running for her life, holding on to the artifact that Mrs. Chen thrust into her hands. Tiarnan knew that somehow this woman was his mate and he had to keep her safe.

Calida Michaels was being chased by men and she didn’t know why. She ran through the marketplace and ended up stopping when an old woman called to her. After giving her a disc, she told her to run until she met him, the one she should give the disc to.

This is book five in the Astral Guardians series, and this story is about Tiarnan Malone. When he went on this journey he knew that there was something more that Lian had not told him. When he saw Calida, he knew right away that Calida was his soulmate. The fact that she didn’t believe in soulmates was challenging but he knew that he had to convince her of it.

I like the character of Tiarnan, he was a fighter and he had a deep love for Calida. Calida on the other hand loved him but was jealous of his relationship with another. After a while, her whining about it was annoying and for me it took away from the joy of the story. I don’t find nagging, whiny female characters engaging.

The story itself is a good one, and it should be read. As I said this is the fifth book in the series and it can be read as a standalone, but I would recommend that you start with the first book Keeper of the Stars and work your way through the series. That way you have a good idea of who all the characters are, and what their strengths are. Aliyah Burke has written a very good series and it will surely entertain you.

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Nine Lives by Wendy Corsi Staub

October 19, 2015 By Leave a Comment

NINE
Nine Lives by Wendy Corsi Staub
Publisher: Crooked Lane Books
Genre: Contemporary, Paranormal, Suspense/Mystery
Length: Full Length (279 pgs)
Rating: 4.5 stars
Reviewed by Xeranthemum

After the death of her husband, Bella Jordan and her son need a fresh start. But on their way to stay with family in Chicago, they stop in Lily Dale, New York and a storm forces them to spend the night.

Brimming with psychics and mediums, Lily Dale is just the kind of quirky little town Bella’s late husband always talked about settling down in. So when the local hotel’s owner, Leona, passes away, Bella agrees to step in and help temporarily. The longer she and Max stay there, the more Lily Dale starts to feel like home.

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A chance for new beginnings is complicated by a mystery of a murdered lady. A newly widowed mom and her son get plunked right in the middle of it. How can a woman who is still hurting so bad able to be the catalyst for solving the crime? That is a good question and the answer can be found by reading this well-written and entertaining mystery filled with heartfelt insight into a woman who needs to stay strong for her son but isn’t quite sure how to pull it off. Bella receives help from a most unlikely cast of characters, which in turn creates an atmosphere of charm, acceptance and support. If not for the chill of death, this story would have just been quirky fun.

There is a lot of internal dialogue on Bella’s part because she’s human. She second guesses herself, gives herself pep talks and generally tries to make sense of this strange town of Lily Dale and the people she meets. Her character is easy to like, to connect with and to cheer for. There are two men who might be a perfect match for her but one is a suspect and the other just seems like a nice guy. As little as they are on stage, they do provide some plot movement, inspire some interesting mother/son moments and dialogue, and some pondering from a reader as to what further role they might have in any future books that might be told about Bella’s new life. Somehow life in Lily Dale isn’t as placid as it first appears, or as kooky.

The storytelling voice is hard for me to pinpoint. I had a tough time trying to figure out if it was third person, narrative, or a little of both. In the middle of the paragraphs, I got into the grove of the story and I was fine. When there was a chapter break or a shift in scene, it starts off a bit different than I’m used to. It jarred me because I’m used to a certain format, but the storytelling is so strong, the mystery too intriguing and the threads of clues the heroine discovers amazingly intricate, I could not stop reading.

There is a light brushing of paranormal in the novel that was a nice touch. So much could be explained away but it was the things that could not be explained by science or fact that fascinated me. The most poignant and tear jerking moment came at the end of the story. If that wasn’t beautifully paranormal, I don’t know what else to call it. Whatever other readers will label that moment, it gave me the sniffles and happy tears.

I enjoyed how Bella solved the crime, not so much because she had a knack for sleuthing, but because she lived her life, and in getting to know the other residents in Lily Dale, could pick up on things they could not. Sometimes an objective eye is all that’s needed, and the willingness to believe. The heroine is a doer, a mover and it holds her in good stead in this book, especially with the ultimate solving of the mystery. I didn’t figure it out when she did. I was still led along like everyone else so the confrontation was rather shocking. I liked that.

Nine Lives is not just a mystery, but a story of a mother’s determination to provide a life for her young son and the sacrifices she’s willing to make in order to accomplish that goal. The author created a lovely town in Lily Dale and it came across in the writing. The fact that such a nice town could be subjected to a violent crime is a powerful conflict and it works. That a regular woman, with no super powers, military training or martial arts, could outwit a criminal and win is a great reason to check out this novel. It’s how the characters are written; ordinary people doing extraordinary things and saving the day. It’s one of the best things about this book and why I definitely recommend it to mystery and nonmystery fans alike. It’s just that good a read

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

All The Beautiful Brides by Rita Herron

October 19, 2015 By Leave a Comment

BRIDES
All The Beautiful Brides by Rita Herron
Graveyard Falls
Publisher: Montlake Romance
Genre: Contemporary, Suspense/Mystery
Length: Full Length (320 pgs)
Rating: 4 Stars
Reviewed by Stephanotis

A young woman lies dead at the bottom of a waterfall, dressed in a wedding gown with a rose stem jammed down her throat. And in the small town of Graveyard Falls, the horrifying vision stirs a long-ago nightmare back to life…

FBI Special Agent Cal Coulter gets called in to investigate the murder, which bears a terrifying resemblance to a series of killings committed thirty years ago: three teenage girls were found dead at the waterfall’s base, all bearing rose stems in their throats. But the high school football star was convicted and imprisoned for those murders, leading Cal to suspect that the killer is still out there.
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Now, the body count is rising again. The monster’s sights are set on counselor Mona Monroe, Cal’s best friend’s widow…and the woman he’s always loved. Can Cal stop the killer before Mona becomes the next victim?

I’ll make a confession. I’m a fan of Ms. Herron’s Harlequin Intrigue books and there’s probably not one I haven’t read. So when the opportunity came to review one of her stories, well, I jumped at it.

I haven’t ready any of the other titles in the Graveyard Falls series, but I do have a weakness for settings like these and small towns with loads of secrets that are just waiting to be uncovered.

The one and only thing I didn’t like about this story was there early on there seemed to be a lot of information dumping about the past murders and Mona’s background. However, I did enjoy turning the pages to see if my hunches were right. It seemed just about everyone in town had something to hide.

As always with the author’s books, this was a fast paced story and I found myself sitting down for an hour or more as the stakes got higher. As well as the suspense aspect of the story, there’s also the drama of Mona trying to find her birth mother, and her relationship with Cal who just happens to be Mona’s dead husband’s best friend. There’s conflict and sexual tension like only Ms. Herron can deliver.

The ending, well, I won’t give it away and spoil this book for you. It’s made me what to check out more stories in the series, and if like me, you like a dash of romance with your mystery, then add this one to your reading list.

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

A House of Her Own by Patricia Dusenbury

October 19, 2015 By Leave a Comment

HOUSE
A House of Her Own by Patricia Dusenbury
Publisher: Uncial Press
Genre: Suspense/Mystery, Contemporary, Historical, Paranormal
Length: Full Length (264 pages)
Heat Level: Sensual
Rating: 4.5 Stars
Reviewed by Astilbe

That house in that neighborhood for that price? Claire Marshall thought she’d hit the jackpot. Her company would restore the old house to its previous glory and sell it at a huge profit. She hadn’t counted on the runaway girl hiding in the upstairs bedroom, the brutal gang chasing her, or the angry ghost who may or may not be keeping the gang at bay.

The neighbors are delighted that someone is fixing up the neighborhood eyesore and happy to share what they know about the ghost. Her name is Dorcas, and she died after falling down the stairs. How she happened to fall is a mystery. The little girl whose memory holds the key is now middle-aged, her mind irreparably damaged by a lobotomy.

Claire’s business partner wants to write off their investment and walk away, her workers don’t want to go inside, but Claire doesn’t believe in ghosts or in giving up without a fight.

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Just when Claire thinks that things can’t get worse, they do.

Every old house has secrets, but most of them aren’t quite as sad as the ones lurking in Claire’s new investment property.

The pacing was incredibly well done. While this is a full-length piece, at times it reminded me of a short story because of how concisely it was written. The author chose her words carefully. Every single scene flowed seamlessly into the next one. This made it possible for her to pack an incredible amount of storytelling into two hundred and sixty four pages. I was in awe of just how many different subplots Ms. Dusenbury was able to weave together!

The only thing I would have liked to see added to this tale would have been a little more character development. Ms. Dusenbury did an excellent job of showing me who Claire was as a person. The most important supporting characters would have flourished if they’d been given more chances to display their personalities when the plot allowed for it, although this is a very minor criticism of an otherwise wonderful mystery.

Yes, I figured out what probably happened to Dorcas fairly early on. This wasn’t an issue for me, though, because there were so many other things going on with the characters simultaneously. There’s also a difference between knowing how something happened and seeing how the events of one day can ripple through the lives of so many different people. I really enjoyed watching the rest of the plot unfold regardless of how quickly I guessed what the ending might be.

This can be read as a standalone novel. I haven’t read the first two books in the series yet, but I had no trouble at all figuring out who the characters were or what was happening to them.

I’d heartily recommend A House of Her Own to anyone who is also a fan of paranormal mysteries.

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

Moon of Fire by Aliyah Burke

October 19, 2015 By Leave a Comment

MOON
Moon of Fire by Aliyah Burke
Astral Guardians
Publisher: Totally Bound
Genre: Paranormal, Suspense/Mystery, Action/Adventure, Contemporary
Length: Full Length (175 Pages)
Other: M/F
Rating: 5 stars
Reviewed by Fuchsia

Sometimes the end is really just the beginning…
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Dracen Lloyd is the final Guardian looking for her artifact. Believing she’s a danger to her brethren, she leaves the vineyard to seek solace. What she finds is a man named Lucas Kyle.

Luc isn’t quite sure how he got to where he did or who this woman is who saved him. All he knows is the craving he has for her eclipses everything else. The more time he’s with her, the more he falls. Will he be able to remain in her life, or will circumstances take him from her before he’s ready to let her go?

Dracen Lloyd is the sixth guardian, unlike the others, she has not found her mate nor has she found the artifact she seeks. She feels like out of all the guardians she is their biggest threat, so she leaves them behind to go live and possibly die alone fighting the demons who plague them. What she didn’t expect to find was a human male fighting four demons in the middle of a snow covered forest.

Lucas Kyle had no idea how he came to this place or who the woman was who saved him from those creatures. When he finally woke, he couldn’t remember where he was or how he got there, but he knew that something was different. He also remembered there was a woman, a warrior who fought and had knives that seemed to be part of her body. He also knew that he was drawn to this woman, this warrior with the silver dragon tattoo on her back.

Out of all the six books in the Astral Guardians series, I have to say that I enjoyed this one the most. Dracen Lloyd is fierce, strong, deadly, and she didn’t show fear. However, there was a vulnerability within her that the author brought out which drew you into this character. Lucas Kyle brought that vulnerability out of her which made his character the perfect complement to hers. He was strong as well, never one to be left behind when there was a fight pending. The love that developed between these characters was rich and even though Dracen did not want to admit it, she loved Lucas. I loved how throughout the series the author Aliyah Burke kept her female characters strong, because I never want to read a story with a weak simpering female as the main character. The male characters were just as strong and they stood toe to toe with their mates, especially in battle.

I really loved this story, once you start reading you don’t want to stop. All of the books in this series were good, each one showcasing the different powers and strengths of each guardian. This is a series that should be read from the beginning starting with the first book Keeper of the Stars and ending with Moon fire. That way you can get to know each character and the struggles they went through to find their mates and their artifact. Aliyah Burke has written a strong series that I can see myself reading again.

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My Favorite Character in UP AND IN by Deborah Disney – Guest Blog and Giveaway

October 19, 2015 By 6 Comments

VBT_TourBanner_UpAndIn copy

This post is part of a virtual book tour organized by Goddess Fish Promotions. Deborah will be awarding an eCopy of Up and In to 3 randomly drawn winners via rafflecopter during the tour. Click on the tour banner to see the other stops on the tour.

Which Character in Up and In is your favourite?

Over the course of promoting Up and In, I have been asked a number of times which character is my favourite. Most authors will tell you that that question is about as hard to answer as having to choose your favourite child. There are aspects of all of them that I love. Actually not Caitlin so much.

I really love the Bea character. She was so much fun to write. I think Maria is very amusing but she is also extremely flawed and while I understand neurotic – she takes it to a whole other level. Susannah is the voice of reason in the book, and probably a representation of my more grounded side. Interestingly, in this book that is about women and female relationships, it seems to be Maria’s husband, Joe, who has been the most popular with readers.

Another common question is whether any of the characters are based on people I know. The answer is yes and no. I have met people LIKE my characters, but none of them are based on any one person I know. Because I have two daughters who play netball, when I was publishing I was a bit paranoid that people would think that Maria is really me. And let’s face it – as funny as she can be, she is really a bit of a nutter, so I wasn’t that keen on people thinking that I think like she does. But as crazy as she sometimes sounds, at her core she is a loving mother who just wants her children to be happy.

I think readers are bound to know people like the people in Up and In – I have had readers from all around the world tell me that they know people just like these women. I actually think the social hierarchy that often infiltrates the school gates environment is something that happens in all sorts of situations where people from different backgrounds are thrust together and forced to spend time with one another – from the workplace, to social clubs, to in-laws. And I think that is why Up and In has resonated with so many people, whether they have children or not.

MediaKit_BookCover_UpAndInDistinctly middle-class parents, Maria and Joe have committed every bit of available income to giving their daughters Kate and Sarah the best education possible, which to them means attending the most exclusive girls school in the state. But when Kate befriends the spoilt and moody Mirabella, Maria finds herself thrust into a high society of champagne-swilling mother-istas she hasn’t budgeted for. Saturday morning netball is no longer a fun mother-daughter outing, but a minefield of social politics.

While the increasingly neurotic Maria struggles to negotiate the school mum hierarchy, Joe quietly battles a midlife crisis and Kate attempts to grow up as gracefully as possible (without having her life ruined by embarrassing parents).

For every woman who has ever felt she may be wearing the wrong shoes, this is a book that will remind you – you’re not alone.

Fans of Liane Moriarty and Fiona Higgins are sure to enjoy this debut offering from new Australian author, Deborah Disney.

Enjoy an excerpt:

There it was again. That damned full stop. How does so much passive aggression fit itself into such a tiny punctuation mark?

Fine with me.

‘Fine with me, full stop.’

‘Fine with me full stop, no x.’

‘Fine with me full stop no x, no way am I ever going to let you think you are in any way deserving of the lathered-up, flattery-filled, signed-off-with-a-kiss kind of email I always send to everyone else on this email list.’

And there you have it. That is what she was able to say to me with one little full stop.

Of course, if any of the obsessively-stroking-and-simultaneously-self-aggrandising netball mums on this email list ever decided just to hit ‘Reply’ instead of ‘Reply all’ to the coach’s weekly email, I probably wouldn’t know that this little full stop means that I am absolutely, categorically, no longer in the fold. Unfortunately, because I am still on the email list, every week my inbox fills with messages ending with ‘x’ – not emails addressed specifically to me, just a plethora of inappropriately ‘Reply all’ emails sent to every woman with a daughter in the Red Rockets Under 10 Division 1 netball team. Every ‘x-ending’ email I have read over this netball season has served to reinforce the knowledge that if I were the object of Bea’s contrived affections her response to my offer to organise a group gift for our daughters’ netball coach would instead have gone more like this:

(Reply all)

Oh Maria, you are always so thoughtful. Of course I had been planning to find Linney the perfect gift – she has done such a stellar job with the girls this season! Sadly, I am just run off my feet this week. With putting the finishing touches on the gala, and having the nanny taking time off for her final exams, I just haven’t had a chance to even think! You are a life saver! Truly. I can’t wait to see what you choose – you have such impeccable taste! By the way, where did you get those absolutely to-die-for wellies you were wearing last week? I absolutely covet them. I just have to have some. Anyway, I must press on, I have a hundred emails to get through. I see another one just popped up from the Governor’s Office. Did I mention that the Governor and his wife will be joining us at the gala? I have known him forever, of course. Just adored his Christmas card last year! Remind me to tell you about it. Thanks again for organising the gift. You are an absolute gem! Bea x

I guess, in a way, ‘Fine with me full stop’ is in fact a lot easier than the alternative. Back when I actually gave a damn what Bea thought of me, the alternative would have filled me with insecurity. What kind of ‘perfect’ gift would she have chosen for Linney? Did she really like my wellies? Would she ever choose them over her Louboutin ballet flats to go to an Under 10’s netball game – even when the grounds were covered in mud like when I wore mine the previous week – or did she really just plan to sit them on the porch by way of decor at her thousand-acre ‘hobby’ farm up the coast? How would I confess that I actually bought them at Kmart? And shit, shit, shit, the Governor is coming to the gala? It was bad enough that I had to hide from Joe that it was costing us $500 a head just to be at the gala, but now I would have to somehow convince him to pay a grand for a decent new dinner suit as well?

I have to wonder, though, if it was really such a relief to open up her fine-with-me-full-stop email, instead of receiving one of the phoney rambling prop-ups she sends to all the other netball mums – the ‘lower-case beas’ – then why did it feel like I had just had my face slapped?

Admittedly, I cared a hell of a lot less than I once would have. Before I realised that my name had been wiped off the Bea-list, ‘Fine with me full stop’ would have spiralled me into days of tortured analysis. What did I say that I shouldn’t have? Is she upset that I invited Lauren’s daughter for a play with Kate instead of asking Mirabella? What is it? What did I do? Did she wave to me in traffic and I missed it? Did Kate do something to upset Mirabella? Is it because Kate got a better score than Mirabella at the eisteddfod?

After being off the Bea-list for almost six months now, though, I have started training myself to see things differently. When I think about what got me wiped off the Bea-list in the first place, my reaction to her flagrant snubbery is now more a mixture of amusement and incredulity, rather than feeling any sense of self-recrimination.

About the Author: Australian author, Deborah Disney, grew up in the regional city of Toowoomba and now lives in Brisbane with her husband and two school-aged daughters. Deborah has a BA/LLB from the University of Queensland and practised as a solicitor for a number of years prior to having children. She chose to specialise in litigation law as that seemed like the best preparation for what is now her looming battle – mothering her daughters through the teenage years. Deborah’s first novel, Up and In, is a satirical look at the interactions of school and sporting mums.

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Buy the book at Amazon.

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Pet Peeves about Fantasy Writing by KJ Taylor – Guest Blog and Giveaway

October 19, 2015 By 6 Comments

VBT_TourBanner_Wind copy

This post is part of a virtual book tour organized by Goddess Fish Promotions. KJ will be awarding an eCopy of Wind to 3 randomly drawn winners via rafflecopter during the tour. Click on the tour banner to see the other stops on the tour.

Pet Peeves

I’m a very opinionated person, and tend to get a bit steamed up over certain topics – this one included. But I thought I would pick it anyway because at least I’ll have plenty to say.

I tend to be very critical toward a lot of fantasy writing, and I may as well say so openly because it’s not exactly a secret among the people who know me. In fact people I’ve spoken to at cons find it pretty amusing when I go off on a rant about a lousy book I’ve read, or a stupid mistake I’m sick of seeing.

One thing that annoys me in a lot of books is failed attempts at grandiose or archaic language – especially when it’s blindingly obvious that the author is trying (and failing) to sound like Tolkien (it doesn’t help that I dislike Tolkien to begin with). Using “ever” instead of “always” is guaranteed to put my teeth on edge every time. Using fancy words in general that don’t fit and aren’t necessary is very aggravating to me; I once encountered a particularly overblown example in the form of a book in which the author could never say “shiny” – it had to be “opalescent”. And a thing could never be red – no, it always had to be “ruby”. This sort of thing leads to painful purple prose very quickly indeed, and is just plain distracting to read.

The thing is, archaic language and fancy words can be used, but not everyone has the talent needed to pull it off. Tolkein, gods bless him, had the skill to make archaic prose and dialect work. H.P.Lovecraft wrote incredibly purple prose but somehow managed to make it work.

But you, mid-level fantasy author, are not Tolkein or Lovecraft and you don’t live in the same age as they did. Use the words that work for you, and write in your own voice. Trying to make yourself sound like someone else is not going to work, and it’s going to make your prose clunky. And it will probably make you look like you’re trying too hard.

Lest I come across as arrogant here, I consider myself to be a mid-level fantasy author and I take this approach myself. In the foreword of one of my own books I said that I took my inspiration from George R R Martin, and some people took this to mean that I was an conceited twerp with the stones to suggest she was on his level. My answer to that is absolutely not – he inspired me but I have no interest in trying to write like him, and nor do I believe I have anywhere near his level of skill. The world already has one GRRM, and it doesn’t need another one. Likewise it only has one K.J.Taylor, and intent to write like K.J.Taylor – no-one else.

MediaKit_BookCover_WindWendland is a land of dragons, and of magic. The mysterious Drachengott grants magic to his worshippers – but is he truly a god? Rutger von Gothendorf is only a simple furrier, but he has become his village’s local eccentric, thanks to his obsession with the murder of his brother by the Drachengott’s servants. He holds onto the vague hope that he will one day have the chance to fight back against them – until one day a mysterious and beautiful woman named Swanhild comes into his life. Rutger is instantly smitten – but Swanhild knows more than she says, and a web of lies and deceit threatens to sour the love beginning to grow between them.

And all the while, the Drachengott waits …

Enjoy an excerpt:

The wind whistled through the darkness, shaking the branches all about and putting a chill into the air. It carried a scent with it, straight to Rutger’s nose. He took it in and immediately tensed.

‘Did you smell that, Horst?’ he hissed, snatching his older brother by the arm.

Horst shook him off. ‘Not now, Rut — we’re in enough trouble without worrying about funny smells.’

‘But it smells like rotting meat!’ Rutger insisted. He paused, ignoring Horst’s impatient look, and breathed in deeply. The smell hit him again — worse, this time. He retched slightly. ‘Can’t you smell it?’

Horst, big and muscular, turned his head in the gloom and sniffed. A moment later, he grimaced. ‘You’re right: something’s dead out there. Come on, let’s move on before we find out what.’

He strode off, Rutger hurrying after him. ‘You don’t think it’s spiders, do you?’

‘Could be,’ Horst said shortly. ‘Keep your eyes open.’

Rutger swallowed and put a hand on the hilt of the long dagger looped through his belt. He had never seen a giant spider before, and he wanted to keep it that way. Silently, he wished he had never asked to come out here into the forest with Horst. But it had all seemed so harmless — just a quick stroll through the forest to check Horst’s mink traps. But then they hadn’t been able to find the last trap, and now they were lost.

I really am the unlucky seventh son, he thought glumly.

If Horst was as worried as his brother, he didn’t show it. He walked slightly ahead, dead mink swinging from his belt. A big old woodaxe hung on his back, brought along for protection. Night was falling now, and the sooner they got out of here the better.

The forest all around was dense and looked threatening, its spiky pine needles sighing in the relentless wind. Night always seemed to come early here. But at least the putrid smell had gone away.

‘How close do you think we are now?’ Rutger asked in a low voice.

Horst shook his head. ‘Not sure — I think there’s a clearing up ahead, though.’

Rutger came to his brother’s side, and the two of them climbed a small rise into the clearing. The instant Rutger left the shelter of the trees, it hit him again: the hideous stench of rotting meat slamming into his nose, so powerfully that his eyes watered. Beside him, Horst had stopped. Rutger heard him swear softly. He looked up, intending to tell his brother that they should go — and then he saw it.

Ahead, in the clearing, a faint light began to glow. It shone on the dark, lumpy shapes which hung from the trees at the far side. Some could have been animal corpses, but the rest . . .

Horst wrenched the axe down off his back. ‘Get behind me, Rut,’ he said sharply. ‘Get out of here. Now.’

‘What—?’ Rutger started to say — but too late.

As the light brightened, two of the hanging shapes dropped to the ground and stepped forward. They wore rough leather tunics with hoods which covered their heads, but on each of their chests was a pair of red gemstones, set into an amulet. They glowed faintly in the light, making a halo over each of the two men, like a pair of glowering eyes.

‘Jüngen!’ Rutger heard himself say.

One of the pair pointed accusingly at them. ‘How dare you enter this sacred grove?’

Horst started to back away, axe raised.

The two Jüngen joined hands, and the light around them intensified as their linked hands rose. An instant later, a great flash blinded Rutger. He cried out as he fell back, but his voice was drowned out by a screeching roar from above.

A pitch-black dragon was hovering over the Jüngen’s heads, its eyes glowing red. Light crackled over its wings, and it roared again.

The Jüngen let go of each other, and the second of the two spoke to the dragon. His words were a short, cold command.

‘Kill them.’

About the Author:MediaKit_AuthorPhoto_WindK.J.Taylor was born in Australia in 1986 and plans to stay alive for as long as possible. She went to Radford College and achieved a Bachelor’s Degree in Communications at the University of Canberra, where she is currently studying for a Master’s Degree in Information Studies.

She published her first work, The Land of Bad Fantasy through Scholastic when she was just 18, and went on to publish The Dark Griffin in Australia and New Zealand five years later. The Griffin’s Flight and The Griffin’s War followed in the same year, and were released in America and Canada in 2011. At the moment, she is working on the third set of books in the series, while publishing the second.

K.J.Taylor’s real first name is Katie, but not many people know what the J stands for. She collects movie soundtracks and keeps pet rats, and isn’t quite as angst-ridden as her books might suggest.

Website

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A Sorceress of His Own by Dianne Duvall

October 16, 2015 By 1 Comment

OWN
A Sorceress of His Own by Dianne Duvall
Publisher: Self-Published
Genre: Historical, Paranormal, Action/Adventure
Length: Full Length (274 pgs)
Heat Level: Spicy
Rating: 4.5 stars
Reviewed by Xeranthemum

Voted BoM by LASR Readers 2013 copy

Since the day Lord Dillon earned his spurs, rumors of his savagery on the battlefield have preceded him into every room, stilling tongues and sparking fear. Weary of battle, he wishes only to find a woman he can wed who will approach him not with fear, but with the tenderness that has been absent from his life for so long. Yet only the wisewoman seems invariably at ease in his presence. Perhaps because she garners the same fear in others that he does himself.

For seven years, Alyssa has been by Lord Dillon’s side, counseling him from the shadows, healing him with her hands, and staving off the worst of his loneliness while his fearsome reputation keeps others at bay. Blessed–or cursed–with gifts that label her a sorceress, she is forced to conceal her youth and the love she harbors for him beneath umbral robes that lead Dillon and his people to believe she is the same aged wisewoman who served his father.

All is revealed, however, and passions flare when an enemy threatens Dillon’s life and Alyssa sacrifices everything to save him. When Dillon discovers that the wisewoman is far from elderly, he is instantly entranced. And, as he and Alyssa work together to defeat an enemy bent on destroying them both, Dillon will risk anything–even the wrath of his king–to be with her.

I have to say, this is one humdinger of a jump in time. It’s a good thing I was alone in the house when I got to the chapter with the surprise guest. I was surprised, overjoyed and thrilled. I voiced my “WOOHOO!” quite loudly. Then, came the realization of what Ms. Duvall had actually done and I was tickled pink.

It gets you a viagra pharmacy harder erection within fifteen minutes of intake. All the products come various sizes and purchase cheap viagra prices. Symptoms of alcoholic neuropathy The symptoms viagra sample pills experienced during alcoholic neuropathy vary from person to person. The semirigid rods keep your penis firm but click these guys cialis for cheap bendable. I’m going to try to not give any spoilers because the power of discovery would be lost for other readers. It’s going to be so hard though. I’ll just concentrate on the heroine, Alyssa, and the hero, Dillon. They are the focus of all the fun, drama and excitement and carry the story quite solidly.

I have no idea if readers will find my reference obtuse but one of my favorite 80s movies is Krull and the Widow of the Web’s secret name was Lyssa or Alyssa, which reminded me of the heroine in this novel. In the movie, she’s also mysterious, clad in black and ‘knows things’, is considered a seer. So too is the heroine in A Sorceress of His Own. She’s the Wise One, the advisor to Dillon as lord of the keep. But she wants to be so much more to him and knows that can never be. As a plot conflict, unrequited love is quite effective.

Dillon is a man with an open mind which I greatly appreciated. His acceptance of what he eventually must face was refreshing because it was written as natural and thoroughly believable. His defense of his advisor, the woman who he never touches, never sees and never questions in any way when referring to her person, is amazing considering how much of a mystery she was to him for many years. The scene when he yearns for more, when she listens to his deepest heart, when the final moment of trust was sealed in that personal sharing is the turning point in their relationship. Things pick up from there.

The heroine’s love knows no bounds when it comes to Dillon. It takes a toll on her and is reminiscent of the original Star Trek episode, The Empath. There are so many elements of sci-fi fantasy movies woven throughout this tale that I can’t help but enjoy myself and look forward to what else Ms. Duvall will surprise me with.

The villain is easy to spot as he makes no bones about hating Dillon, but he’s a slippery one. He was written effectively and when, how shall I say this, when Allyssa asked Dillon where he was, the hero’s answer was worthy of a Jeff Dunham skit – I laughed out loud, then giggled. As morbid as it was, I found Dillon’s dry recount hilarious.

The only thing that I felt was a bit rushed were the scenes with and about the surprise guest. I can’t say anything further. Perhaps I am greedy for more and because I didn’t get it, I’m pouting. But that’s the only negative I can come up with for this whole novel.

As for secondary characters, wow, are there a lot to be impressed with. Every single one was important and certainly moved the plot along and contributed to my understanding of the hero and heroine’s personalities. Ms. Duvall excels in creating a community feel to her stories and this is no different.

I quite enjoyed my journey in the historical past spiced with the flavor of fantasy and the paranormal. I enjoyed Dillon’s eventual seduction of Alyssa and how very much in love they came to be. It was a hard road, filled with betrayal, sword fights, death, ambushes, and yet there are moments of lightness, joy and familial reconciliation. A love that can weather the storms that batter Dillon and Alyssa as they did surely means they are destined for a solid and secure happy ever after and I couldn’t be happier for them.

If a reader has read Ms. Duvall’s contemporaries but doesn’t usually read historical romances as a rule, I heartily and earnestly recommend giving A Sorceress of His Own a try. You might be delighted by the surprise like I was and add this new series to your must buy book list. I know it’s on mine. A Sorceress of His Own has a wonderful dynamic, an amazing promise of future adventures and a well-told romance that is sure to please. I’m a happy reader.

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

Reunion Of Souls by Paul Lonardo

October 16, 2015 By Leave a Comment

SOULS
Reunion Of Souls by Paul Lonardo
Publisher: Liquid Silver Press
Genre: Contemporary
Length: Short Story (32 pgs)
Heat Level: Sweet
Rating: 3.5 stars
Reviewed by Fern

Jodi and Nick’s chance for romance was never realized while they were in high school. Now, five years later, they meet again. Will a class reunion be their first—and last—chance at love? Paul Lonardo pens a sweet, contemporary romance about risking it all for love in Reunion of Souls.

Saddened by the recent loss of her mom and disheartened by a stalled career and unfulfilled personal life, Jodi feels that life is passing her by. But then she receives an invitation to her five-year high school reunion.
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Nick Ryan was always around in high school, but Jodi never thought of him in a romantic way. Lately though, she’s found herself thinking about him more and more, and wondering if she should have paid him more attention in high school. Upon learning that Nick will be attending the reunion, Jodi can’t help but think it’s a sign.

The night of the reunion, Jodi and Nick meet and sparks fly, but Nick’s insecurities threaten to undermine everything before they even have a chance to get started. Can Jodi convince him that they belong together, and that their first chance at love may also be their last?

Jodi feels like her life is at a loose end. Her mother has just passed away and Jodi found herself stuck in a job she didn’t particularly like. She’s also single and feeling completely alone. She’d always had a regret she and Nick, a high school friend, had never managed to get together and see if the attraction she felt for him could lead somewhere. So when Jodi received the invitation for her five year school reunion she felt full of hope. With the chance to reconnect with Nick too important to pass up, Jodi can only hope maybe this time around she and Nick could finally connect how she’d always dreamed of.

This is a sweet romance, filled with the hope and joy of second chances. I really enjoyed Jodi’s positive attitude and enthusiasm. Even though she found herself in difficult circumstances and was still grieving for the loss of her mother, she remained positive throughout it all. Unwilling to allow herself to become mired in the rivalries of her old high school days, I also respected Jodi for rising above the petty jealousies of her old classmate.

I really enjoyed how both Nick and Jodi discussed both the past and their potential future, reconnecting with each other emotionally first. There is no descriptive/explicit touching or intimacy in this novel, which I also found refreshing and helped me focus more on the emotional connection between the two characters. This might be a short story, but I had no problem feeling the emotional bond between Nick and Jodi. I felt the author did a great job with their chemistry and attraction. There is also some light conflict with old rivalries, but nothing to impede Nick and Jodi to getting back together.

Overall I found this a happy, hopeful and warm read, one sure to leave a smile on many a readers face. I found the characters to be gentle and soft, and the sweet romance to be one suitable for all ages.

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

Life Under New Management: Vancouver by Jane Davitt

October 16, 2015 By Leave a Comment

LIFE
Life Under New Management: Vancouver by Jane Davitt
Publisher: Totally Bound
Genre: Contemporary
Length: Full Length (236 pgs)
Other: BDSM, M/M, Anal Play, Toys, Spanking
Rating: 5 stars
Reviewed by Peppermint

Working for a perfectionist like strict, sexy-as-hell Ethan isn’t easy. Falling in love with him? No problem at all.

Taking a bar job in an exclusive hotel is a stopgap for Andy. He’s an actor and his big break is coming soon—he knows it. His hot new boss Ethan is strict, demanding and totally off-limits but Andy can’t stop thinking about him.
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When Andy learns of Ethan’s need to be in control of his partner—in bed and out of it—he’s stunned by the intensity of his reaction. He wants Ethan guiding him, bringing order to his chaotic life. And he sees that Ethan needs him too, though they can’t be open about their feelings.

Ethan deals out deliciously perverse consequences for misbehaving, but when it comes to incentives, he knows just what to offer to have Andy on his knees begging for more.

But some secrets can’t stay that way for long. And when difficult choices arise, for once Andy can’t turn to Ethan for guidance. This time, he’s on his own.

From the very beginning it is obvious that Ethan is everything Andy needs in a man. He has been adrift for a while, and I could tell only Ethan was the one up for the task to get him on track. Luckily Ethan was ready for a new project because I got to enjoy every juice piece of it.

I love how opposite these two men are, it really set the tone from the very beginning. Andy is an aspiring actor he clearly needs to learn how to manage his life better. Barely surviving, he knows Ethan and his new job are the only things that will allow him to eat another day. Ethan on the other hand is a no nonsense type of guy who seems to have everything in life worked out. He is one of those characters that you just know always had it together even at a young age. With both being almost extreme cases it is easy to see why so many believe opposites attract, and with these two it creates quite an explosion.

Initially picked this story because I was looking for a M/M BDSM story. Something that would really wow me if possible. I can say that this author certainly did that, which is no easy feat. I was extremely impressed on the author’s clear knowledge of BDSM as well as her relationship development. It was not rushed as I find with some other stories. She seem to take her time and really build up the bond required between the two characters. This made it very believable in my eyes. I even enjoyed how frenzied Andy seems at times to submit to Ethan yet he keeps a cool head. I can say that if anyone is looking for a high quality BDSM story this one is a must read.

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