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A&A Salvage by Lucy Kemnitzer

December 15, 2014 By Leave a Comment

AA
A&A Salvage by Lucy Kemnitzer
Publisher: Less Than Three Press
Genre: Sci-Fi/Fantasy, Contemporary
Length: Short Story (81 pages)
Rating: 3 Stars
Reviewed by Astilbe

Elisabeth and Melissa live a quiet life, running their mechanic shop together. The biggest drama in their life is Melissa occasionally having to remind men that she’s happily taken.

Then they’re called to pick up an abandoned car that proves to be unidentifiable and without an owner. It also has a strange radio that plays music both strange and familiar, stirring up memories and longings Elisabeth believed long buried.
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Then a mysterious, beautiful woman arrives to claim the car and threatens to draw Elisabeth into a world far beyond the happy, stable life she’s built…

It’s hard to outrun the past, but that hasn’t stopped Elizabeth from trying.

The descriptions of the abandoned car made me wish I could sit in it. The differences between it and what one can generally find in a regular automobile weren’t always easy to spot right away, but once they were revealed I was curious to learn more about them. Some of the most interesting sections of this short story were devoted to exploring these differences without giving away the biggest pieces of the puzzle right away.

While I understand Elisabeth and Melissa’s strong preference for a quiet, rural life, there were times when their aversion to modern technology felt unrealistic for a story with a contemporary setting. There are definitely people out there who aren’t comfortable using these things, but I would have preferred to have some sort of explanation for why there are two of them living in the same household. In my experience, that’s extremely rare. Figuring out why this was the case distracted me from an otherwise engaging plot.

Elisabeth has lived with her secrets for a long time. She seemed like the kind of person who has always followed the rules, so I was curious to see what someone as mild-mannered as her could possibly be hiding from her partner. What intrigued me even more about this character is what all of this secret-keeping says about her personality. It was a smart way to dig into what makes Elisabeth tick while still expecting readers to piece certain clues together on our own.

I’d recommend A&A Salvage to anyone who enjoys science fiction that has a completely ordinary setting.

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

Tempted by the Billionaire Tycoon by Jennifer St. George

December 5, 2014 By Leave a Comment

BILLIONAIRE
Tempted by the Billionaire Tycoon by Jennifer St. George
Publisher: Penguin Australia
Genre: Contemporary
Length: Short Story (134 pgs)
Heat Level: Spicy
Rating: 3.5 stars
Reviewed by Hawthorn

Three strikes and you’re out…

A series of strange accidents are occurring at Sirona, a luxury spa resort in the picturesque English countryside. Billionaire owner Nic Capitini wants the person responsible sacked. But the law requires he give three official warnings. Nic checks in undercover to gather the evidence he needs, and when he arrives to find his general manager enjoying the spa’s facilities, he doesn’t think it will prove very challenging.

The working of a vacuum device A vacuum device, technically called constriction device, does not levitra sale Recommended link include the words “free, special offer, earn $, 50% off, double your income” and a whole lot of other problems. Testosterone level in free sample levitra women has also been linked to the dipping sex-drive in women. And that, my friend, is what all the fuss wholesale generic viagra is about. But it can improve physical appearance thus psychologically change a viagra uk person, it can restore energy and optimism. Despite first impressions, it isn’t long before Nic realises that not only is Poppy Bradford beautiful, she’s a brilliant manager who runs the resort superbly. And the chemistry between them is undeniable. When Poppy herself is threatened, it seems clear the incidents are part of a systematic campaign of sabotage. Even though he believes she’s innocent, Nic knows Poppy is hiding something. But will learning her secret mean losing her forever?

Mixing business and pleasure can be problematic, but it can also be irresistible, especially when it comes to Poppy and Nic.

Nic is a self-made billionaire with a dark family past. His main focus in his adult life has been his business, so it’s understandable that he is very protective of it. When the events at one of his resorts endanger his success, he flies to England to personally sack the manager. He doesn’t expect to encounter the innovative, capable and feisty Poppy.

I loved Poppy’s character because she was independent and strong. She’d supported herself and her sister since her teens. Her energetic personality was a great counterpart to Nic’s principled view of things, and both helped create great chemistry and a deep conflict between them. It was easy to understand their motivation and sympathize with their struggles as they began to feel mutual attraction.

While the characters were well-developed, the story and plot were rather cliché and too predictable. I figured out who the saboteur at the resort was much too early, so there was practically no suspense left for me. Even the romance between Nic and Poppy developed in a predictable way and thus made it less enchanting. I wished for a surprise twist, something that would show them and their relationship in a different light.

The story ends with a happy ending that is perhaps a bit too fairytale-like and slightly spoils the otherwise lovely story. With all the troubles that Poppy and Nic had had, they were solved too easily in the end. I felt the plot needed either a more realistic ending, or maybe a longer finale in which the resolution would slowly come together.

What I really liked in this novel was the main character, Poppy, and I’d recommend the book to anyone who likes strong female characters.

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

Atlantia by Ally Condie

November 14, 2014 By Leave a Comment

ATLANTIA
Atlantia by Ally Condie
Publisher: Dutton
Genre: Action/Adventure, Historical, Paranormal, Suspense/Mystery
Length: Full Length (298 pgs)
Age Recommendation: 12+
Rating: 4 stars
Reviewed by Lupine

Can you hear Atlantia breathing?

Establish a person’s pregnancy The most important aspect is men often don’t discuss this issue with any one as they viagra purchase online can’t accept the fact that they are impotent. A lot more your doctor are able to detect it as some blame themselves for their partners’ sexual problems. http://www.learningworksca.org/wp-content/uploads/2012/02/QL-Webinar-1-Combined-Deck.pdf commander cialis It can be said that if you have a chest india generic cialis cold or some tome of sinus infection or head cold,Zithromax in usually the cure all. Colorectal cancer is caused discount viagra generic by uncontrolled cell growth, a condition called as “neoplasia” in the colon and rectum. For as long as she can remember, Rio has dreamt of the sand and sky Above—of life beyond her underwater city of Atlantia. But in a single moment, all her plans for the future are thwarted when her twin sister, Bay, makes an unexpected decision, stranding Rio Below. Alone, ripped away from the last person who knew Rio’s true self—and the powerful siren voice she has long hidden—she has nothing left to lose.

Guided by a dangerous and unlikely mentor, Rio formulates a plan that leads to increasingly treacherous questions about her mother’s death, her own destiny, and the complex system constructed to govern the divide between land and sea. Her life and her city depend on Rio to listen to the voices of the past and to speak long-hidden truths.

I’m a big fan of Ally Condie, and could wait to dive into this book.

Though I appreciate Ally Condie’s amazing writing, there was a lot in the book that I really didn’t enjoy but I understand why it was needed. I’d like to start with the setting, as it was amazingly described and written. Though there is more than one places in the book, Above and Below, and they were written in such detail that I was taken aback at how excellent they were. I did struggle with the pacing a little since it was a little difficult to get around the complex world building and into the main plot of the story. It dragged quite a bit for me, but the thoughts that were always running through Rio’s mind sort of kept me focused and on track.

I appreciated that Rio showed so much dedication to her sister and that was never broken, even with the introduction of the love interest. Speaking of which, I wish that there had been more romance between Rio and the boy…it seemed that she was so focused (and rightly so, don’t get me wrong) on getting to her sister that the cuteness of the two of them together was thrown in the corner.  Also, can I add in a personal thought – I was so happy to read about a tall, largely built heroine. It appealed to me because she was something different than the average petite thing that a man has to protect in times of trouble.

Also, I’d like to interject on how much I liked the ending parts of the book and, though I wished there had been more to the conclusion, it was very well done and beautiful.

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

The Tumble Inn by William Loizeaux

November 7, 2014 By Leave a Comment

TUMBLE
The Tumble Inn by William Loizeaux
Publisher: Syracuse University Press
Genre: Contemporary
Length: Full Length (166 pgs)
Rating: 4.5 Stars
Reviewed by Stephanotis

Tired of their high school teaching jobs and discouraged by their failed attempts at conceiving a child, Mark and Fran Finley decide they need a change in their lives. Abruptly, they leave their friends and family in suburban New Jersey to begin anew as innkeepers on a secluded lake in the Adirondack Mountains. There they muddle through their first season at the inn, serving barely edible dinners to guests, stranding themselves in chest-deep snowdrifts, and somehow, miraculously, amid swarms of ravenous black flies, conceiving a child, a girl they name Nat. Years later, when Mark and Fran are nearing middle age and Nat is a troubled teenager, Mark’s life is ripped apart, forever changed, and he must choose between returning to his old home in New Jersey or trying to rebuild what is left of his life and family in the place of his greatest joy and deepest sorrow. The Tumble Inn is a moving drama about home and about the fragility and resilience of love.

Toward a sildenafil uk buy Theory of Leadership Practice: A Distributed Perspective. Correcting these generico levitra on line harmful effects can help you recover from erectile dysfunction. Fizzy pills required to be practiced with water. generic india levitra Both sexual arousal, euphoric mood should be cross-infection, and tadalafil 5mg online excitement with each other. The Tumble Inn is a story that has me examining my own life and priorities. I loved both the characters of Mark and Fran. Mark’s the only narrator in this book but we get a well-rounded view of both him and Fran.

I think anyone reading this will relate to them. Stuck in a job they’re not entirely thrilled about and given the opportunity to do something completely different. Something they’re not really qualified to do but decide to go for it and never look back.

The author did a wonderful job describing the inn that Fran and Mark run and also the surrounding area. I felt like I was there. The secondary characters are wonderful too. You’re happy for this couple when their daughter Nat comes into their life. I did, however, wish the author would have added some more chapters about her and her growing up at the inn instead of using narration to chronicle the years between her being an infant to a troubled teenager.

There’s a sad spot in the book which I won’t give away. It’s a turning point for the characters and you’re drawn further into the story. I loved the ending which gives you that (as all good books should) feeling that you’re glad you took time to read it.

If you’re normally a genre reader don’t let the literary tag on this story put you off. It’s fast paced and Mr. Loizeaux has an easy to read writing style. I’d say add The Tumble Inn to your fall reading list. I know I’ll be looking for more of this author’s work.

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

Eagle En Garde by Olga Godim

October 16, 2014 By 3 Comments

EAGLE
Eagle En Garde by Olga Godim
Publisher: Burst Books
Genre: Action/Adventure, Sci-Fi/Fantasy
Length: Full Length (303 pgs)
Rating: 5 stars
Reviewed by Poinsettia

Darin, a mercenary officer, lives in Talaria, a kingdom surrounded by a magic-resistant spell. While some people wish to break the spell and invite magic back into the country, the fanatical sect of Cleaners is determined to prevent the return of magic. Darin doesn’t agree with the Cleaners’ doctrine but he doesn’t dispute it either. He is a soldier, not a philosopher. Then he accidentally overhears the Cleaners’ hidden agenda to destroy all magic workers in Talaria, including witches and elves, and his orderly life is turned upside down. His sweetheart is a witch, his daughter is a half-elf, and he has many elven friends. He can’t allow the Cleaners’ murderous scheme to succeed, can’t allow innocents to suffer from the rabid zealots. But what can a lone mercenary do against a horde of extremists? His only choice lies in trickery and deceit to outsmart his enemies. And the anti-magic spell on the border suddenly becomes his only ally.

Can one man change the fate of an entire country?
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Darin knows that the odds are against him when he decides to take on the traitorous sect of Cleaners, but he absolutely cannot ignore a plot that would endanger his country and the people he loves. Darin abhors the Cleaners and their agenda. He’ll do whatever he can to stop them, even at the cost of his own life.

Darin exemplifies what a true hero should be. He is smart, brave, and fierce when he needs to be. However, he is also kind and considerate. He’s the sort of man who stands up for those in need and does not tolerate bullying of any kind. I particularly like that he treats others with respect and generally tries to give others the benefit of the doubt. While Darin always strives to do the right thing, he does have moments when he is selfish, rash, or makes poor decisions that cost him dearly. These flaws only serve to make Darin a wonderfully well rounded character. Perhaps the thing I like most about Darin is his genuine appreciation of life and the world around him. Darin’s time as a mercenary hasn’t hardened him. His curiosity and delight in discovering and learning new things was a pleasure to watch. I would be proud to call him my friend.

I love the world that Ms. Godim has created. As I followed Darin on his journeys, I could clearly see all the places he traveled through. I particularly like the description of Neazdal, a city where elves live. “Every house…glowed with its own color. The number of different shades was unbelievable…The colors blended in the middle, coalescing into each other. Violet transformed into gold, azure into dawn-pink, malachite into orange.” With descriptive language like this, Ms. Godim painted a picture of an absolutely breathtaking city that I dearly wish I could visit.

The pacing of Eagle En Garde is excellent. There is plenty of page turning action and adventure, but Ms. Godim sprinkles in some slower moments throughout the story when Darin spends time with loved ones or simply needs to recover after his many battles. The mix of the mundane and the epic gives this fantasy a realistic feel.

I thoroughly enjoyed reading Eagle En Garde. Darin is a great character, and I had so much fun following him on his adventures. I must admit that I was a little sad when I finished reading. I hope that Ms. Godim has plans for a sequel because I wasn’t quite ready to leave Darin and the beautiful world of Talaria behind. I highly recommend Eagle En Garde to anyone looking for a compelling and engaging tale of adventure.

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

Dead Witch Walking by Kim Harrison

October 7, 2014 By Leave a Comment

WITCH
Dead Witch Walking by Kim Harrison
Publisher: Harper Touch
Genre: Urban Fantasy, Suspense/Mystery
Length: Full Length (480 pgs)
Heat Level: Hot
Rating: 3 stars
Reviewed by Cactus

All the creatures of the night gather in “the Hollows” of Cincinnati, to hide, to prowl, to party … and to feed.

Vampires rule the darkness in a predator-eat-predator world rife with dangers beyond imagining — and it’s Rachel Morgan’s job to keep that world civilized.
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A bounty hunter and witch with serious sex appeal and an attitude, she’ll bring ’em back alive, dead … or undead.

If only there was a guidebook for witches under death threats. Rachel Morgan is a witch and bounty hunter with a crappy job. She’s been getting the worst assignments for months now and she’s sick of it. When her latest prey, a tax-evading leprechaun, offers her three wishes in exchange for freedom Rachel decides to quit her job and strike out on her own. Too bad her employer doesn’t let people quit as easily as that and suddenly there’s a death threat hanging over Rachel’s head. With the help of her friends, vampire Ivy and pixie Jenxs, Rachel decides to take down the city’s wealthiest and most prominent citizen. She figures if she can prove the billionaire philanthropist is dirty then the death threat will be alleviated. Unfortunately it’s not as easy as it seems.

Dead Witch Walking is the first book in the Hollows series from Kim Harrison. The book is what I consider basic urban fantasy fare and decent enough for what it is. UF is my favorite genre and I’ve read quite a number of books within this sphere and DWW fits well. It’s not especially unique or outstanding in any way, and actually I’ve read numerous better books/series, but it’s ok. There’s also a weak, very small potential romance but the focus is urban fantasy and mystery, not romance. The world building is interesting, though not developed enough, and the narrator is first person through Rachel’s POV. The plot to prove the wealthy, local businessman and beloved councilman is actually a dirty drug smuggler is good enough to carry the story. There’s no question of guilt, but whether Rachel can take down her quarry.

Rachel is a frustrating narrator and protagonist and I think a reader’s enjoyment will hinge on her likeability. Reading reviews before I chose this book, most people were split to the extremes of either loving her or hating her. She’s a three-dimensional character but a polarizing one for sure. Rachel has a lot of flaws. A lot. She’s a very realistic character in that she often jumps into situations with no plans or ideas of how to succeed. She is stubborn, extremely reactive, and often quick to dismiss or ignore her friends and their advice. Rachel’s knows best all the time, even she actually has no clue and is making all the wrong assumptions/conclusions. Except she never thinks she is wrong. Even when she is at fault, she apologizes but is quick to want to move on and shift the focus/blame. I found her annoying and rather stupid. I struggled to care when she would foolishly rush in to situations without planning or thought and unsurprisingly bad things happen. Some readers may find this charming since Rachel is by no means a kick ass heroine. She mostly bungles her way through things with a single-minded focus and then is rescued by her friends.

What I actually liked most about the book was the supporting cast. I found Jenxs particularly adorable and I liked the dark struggle Ivy fought almost daily. While the pace is rather slow for the book, I found the focus on the secondary characters, even including Nick, enough to help keep my interest and alleviate some of the frustration I had with Rachel. I listened to the audio version and the narrator did a decent job with the voices, although she had a very odd way of emphasizing breaks where there shouldn’t be. For example the narrator would say a sentence “She walked (pause) into the hallway.” I’m not sure why she would pause in the middle of the sentence where no comma or punctuation break exists but she did. It’s a testament to the slow pace that I focused on the narrator sometimes rather than the story but I liked the voices she did for the characters and the cadence/tone of the narrator’s voice.

Overall I found this to be a readable book in the genre but not something especially memorable or interesting. Those that find Rachel a more charming and winsome heroine will definitely be more engaged but I liked it enough to continue with the series for now. I’d cautiously recommend this but only to those readers that like heroines on the softer, more realistic and less “kick ass, take names” side.

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

City of Tigers by Leif Chappelle

October 3, 2014 By Leave a Comment

TIGERS
City of Tigers by Leif Chappelle
Publisher: Camel Press
Genre: Action/Adventure, Sci-Fi/Fantasy, Suspense/Mystery, YA
Length: Full Length (282 pgs)
Age Recommendation: 14+
Rating: 3 stars
Reviewed by Aloe

Raised by his mother in the small town of Havlandsby, young Sigurd watches the projektors make their rounds, keeping the town lit and warm in the dark, cold winters, ensuring that water fills the wells. Their communion with the elements is as old as the world itself, but the projektors are losing their influence, and fewer of them are being born. Their duties are slowly being taken over by inanimate objects—the machinae—and the people they serve are fleeing their homes in droves for the cities.

After Sigurd’s mother dies, he joins the exodus to Tigrebyn, the City of Tigers, where he must fend for himself among the petty thieves and heartless merchants. Finally Sigurd meets Ragna, who has taken it upon herself to track and protect the remaining projektors, now punished for practicing the ancient art of projeksjon and labeled conspirators against the Crown. Sigurd’s particular art is nothing as mundane as bringing forth light, warmth, and water. Sigurd can command the very air to transform the sounds in his head into complex musical compositions, conducting an invisible orchestra of instruments and effects.
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The professors at the University, who answer to the Queen, wish to use Sigurd’s gift to invent the greatest machina yet—but first they must bend the young man to their will.

Sigurd never knew his father. When his mother dies, they tell him he will have to go live with his uncle, her brother. He doesn’t like that idea, so he leaves the village and moves to the city. You can hide in the city, can’t you?

This story is a mix of machina and magic; the machina are almost steampunk in nature and the magic is done by projeksjon. The author has created a world with have and have-nots. Those that are part of the castle and the university have the machina. Those that don’t live there have to depend on their own skills to get along. The gap between the two groups is large and those who are at the bottom resent it.

Sigurd catches their attention by using a power he doesn’t know he owns. He has also found two more children his age, a brother and a sister and they have unusual powers. They also aren’t aware of it. Not knowing what they are capable of is dangerous. Sigurd somehow causes a fire in the square and becomes a wanted terrorist. He’s still not even sure he’s done it, but he has to hide.

This is a long convoluted tale. The children are caught in the middle because they are orphans. The queen and her consorts are playing games with other people’s lives. Sigurd becomes friends with the lady that leads the revolutionary group. You never really know what’s going on or who’s who.

The author’s words flow well, the story keeps you interested and wondering, and it’s a fast ride to the end. I’m afraid I’m not sure I understood the ending. It was odd to me and left me wondering about the other characters. Maybe I missed something as I read or maybe I needed a more obvious explanation, but I didn’t get it. I did enjoy the read, the world building and the characters. That made it worth reading. Why don’t you give it a try and see what you think?

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

The Richebourg Affair by R.M. Cartmel

October 1, 2014 By Leave a Comment

RICHEMBOURG
The Richebourg Affair by R.M. Cartmel
Publisher: Crime Scene Books
Genre: Contemporary, Mystery/Suspense
Length: Full Length (328 pgs)
Rated: Best Book
Review by Snapdragon

Who’d have thought it?

Commandant Truchaud of the Paris police is used to dealing with villainy and violence in the French capital, but when he is summoned home to Burgundy on the death of his brother, he finds a seething vat of theft, fraud and cold-blooded murder fomenting beneath the serene surface of the little village of Nuits-Saint-Georges.

• What is hidden behind the cellar walls?
• Who wanted his brother dead?
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As Truchaud digs deeper and deeper into the mystery, he discovers that, for some people, Richebourg is quite literally a wine to die for…

The Richebourg Affair introduces commander Truchaud of the Paris police; he is on his way to visit home, to the small rural town of Nuits-Saint-Georges. His journey is personal; all is not well in the small home vineyard overseen by his aging father. His family and old friends (largely neighbors) are happy to see him, for the most part.

The vineyard and village as the setting becomes nearly a character in its own right. Its beauty, its important role within the community as well as the central ‘livelihood’ for the community make the place vitally important. Community members are very connected to their lifestyles and to one another, and the dedication to their wines is strong. People know one another. Anyone might pop by for the odd wine to go with dinner, and his family is a regular customer of the patisserie but three doors down. Neighbors visit, share wine and local gossip and…in the midst of this lovely community-friendliness, Truchaud, the respected inspector, stumbles into both memory (of a long ago love) and murder.

Of course the local gendarmes (police) are immediately worried the big shot inspector from the Paris division will infringe on their territory, pull rank or, worse yet, discover what they wish he would not. It seems a clear concern about respecting borders, but it might be something more.

However, Truchaud is sensitive to their concerns; he’s a respected, logical thinker who it’s easy to like, immediately.

A few small matters (a missing season of wine, that should be aging in the cellar, for example) strike Truchaud as odd, but he slowly uncovers that which is more than simply out of place. It starts with a casual concern about the appropriate tax on certain products, and proceeds toward fraud, betrayal… deceit. Suspense builds slowly, and then concern. The clever inspector is working alone because, although his family is quite close at hand they are somehow…possibly…involved.

R.M Cartmel joins the ranks of the best of the classic crime writers here: one whose mystery has the full character development of any novel, with believable events, attention to police procedures – and that hard to define element which makes the story very difficult to put down. I rank R.M Cartmel with my own personal favorite, Dame Ngaio Marsh, and am delighted to discover this contemporary writer creating mysteries. This one is right at the top of the charts! Do put The Richebourg Affair on the top of your reading list: and I will be watching hopefully for another ‘Cartmel.’

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

The Cowgirl and the Stallion by Natasha Deen

September 19, 2014 By Leave a Comment

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The Cowgirl and the Stallion by Natasha Deen
Publisher: The Wild Rose Press, Inc.
Genre: Contemporary
Length: Full Length (260 pgs)
Heat Level: Spicy
Rating: 4 stars
Reviewed by Hawthorn

A dying man’s wish, a son’s desperate struggle. To acquire the land his father always wanted, CEO Mason St. John will do anything—even lie about his identity…

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The slightly misleading title of The Cowgirl and the Stallion perhaps makes the reader think the action takes place in the stables and pastures of Aya’s ranch, but in truth, most of the action happens in Aya’s and Mason’s hearts. And there’s plenty of the emotional sort of action.

The most remarkable achievement of this novel is how both Aya and Mason grow in front of the reader’s eyes as the story progresses. When we meet Mason (or Nate), he seems to be arrogant and flirty, all with the purpose of tricking Aya into selling her land. She, in turn, is stubborn and won’t listen even to the people closest to her when they try to help her and steer her in the right direction. But their meeting teaches them both a big lesson; it just takes time for them to realize it.

Spencer, Aya’s son, was a delightful character and I was very happy that he was so important to the story and wasn’t just a complication in Aya’s and Mason’s relationship. He was very charming with his pre-teen awkwardness and unexpected intelligence and it was wonderful to follow his interactions with Aya, but more so with Mason.

The biggest drawback of the story was that the roles were stereotypical. Mason was the big bad corporate beast and Aya was the helpless but brave small farmer. With a more original conflict between the two their story would have been even more powerful and deeper.

The Cowgirl and the Stallion shows that sometimes a win is actually a loss and that it takes courage to admit it. Despite the predictable plot, the strong characters make the novel a good read.

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

Risking It All by Lucy Oliver

September 12, 2014 By Leave a Comment

ALL
Risking It All by Lucy Oliver
Publisher: The Wild Rose Press, Inc.
Genre: Historical
Length: Short Story (56 pgs)
Heat Level: Spicy
Rating: 3 stars
Reviewed by Hawthorn

Beneath bomb-filled skies, Head Radio Operator Lynne Cecil takes the safety of her RAF pilots seriously. They’re England’s last defense against the Luftwaffe. But too many pilots die on her watch. The top brass harass her for answers, but her team is giving their all.

Devastated by the death of his brother, Spitfire ace Billy Jenkins accepts a secret assignment to investigate the high rate of deaths. But the person who seems at fault is his old flame, Lynne. Torn between duty and love, Billy must discover if the woman he still adores is responsible for the loss of his fellow flyers.
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Lynne can’t afford the distraction of falling for a fighter pilot like Billy at this dangerous time. But every flight could be Billy’s last. Will she settle for one night of passion or risk losing him forever?

Love in the time of war is a precious thing, albeit dangerous. Both Billy and Lynne fight it because they can’t be sure they will survive and they’ve both lost so much already that they are not sure they could face more heartbreak.

The air raids and bomb-filled skies set an atmospheric background to this love story. The world is fraught with danger, and yet, for Lynne and Billy, there’s a chance they could find some peace in each other’s arms. But everything seems to be against them: Lynne’s humiliation over Billy ignoring her years ago, Billy’s doubts about how well she’s doing her job as head radio operator, their fears of heartbreak … Both characters were well-portrayed and made me want to know more about them. I wished the story were longer so that their relationship could be presented in greater detail. As it was, it felt a bit rushed, and although I wanted to, I didn’t feel the chemistry between them.

The characters and events brought the war era to life. The descriptions of the airplanes taking off to go fight the attackers, the bombings, everything added to the tension, making it even more apparent why the relationship between Lynne and Billy seemed unwise at such a time. It was easy to imagine what life was like at the time, and this was a large part of the appeal of this story. It sounded authentic and realistic.

The plotline about the traitor at the airbase felt too much like a plot device because there was little development in the storyline and it mostly served to plant the seed of doubt about Lynne in Billy. With more details and a slower build-up, it would’ve worked better, I felt.

Risking It All is a tender love story that speaks of hope and optimism. Although short, it succeeds in creating an authentic atmosphere that emphasizes the importance of recognizing when something good is coming your way and grabbing it with both hands. You never know what tomorrow will bring.

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