Search Results for: Wish list

As You Are by Ethan Day

March 5, 2010 By 2 Comments

As You Are by Ethan Day
Publisher: Loose Id, LLC
Genre: Contemporary
Other: M/M
Length: Full Length (193 pgs)
Rating: 5 Cherries
Reviewed by Jasmine

Operation Danny…that’s all bartender and recent college graduate, Julian Hallowell has had on his mind the past year. Julian may have no idea what he wants to do with his life, but he definitely knows he‘s in love with the boy next door: the next door down the hall to be exact, housing his roommate and used textbook store owner Danny Wallace.

While Julian has done his level best to make Danny fall for him, all his hard work has been in vain. Danny doesn’t seem to view Julian as anything other than a roommate and friend. So when new guy in town Andy Baker asks him out on a date, Julian can’t think of a good reason to say no.

Instead, he institutes a Reverse Operation Danny plan, which he’s positive will purge all thoughts of love and lust for his roomie out of his head. He’s ready to move on and start looking for his next Mr. Right, and Andy just might fit the bill. But has he given up too soon?

Some people never realize what a good thing they have until it is gone. Will that be the case for Julian and Danny? Or, will they stop hiding from what’s right in front of them?

Julian is the quintessence of the gay male in the 21st century and heaven help anyone that doesn’t see his point of view. Don’t get me wrong, he’s kind, loyal, and has a heart of gold, but he tends to struggle when it comes to looking at both sides of the coin. Boisterous, flamboyant at times, and all around adorable, you can’t help but fall in love with him, which is exactly what happens to his roommate Danny. There’s only one problem, fear of rejection and events from the past have prevented them from professing their love for one another. Will Julian wake up and smell the coffee before it’s too late? Will he learn to accept others as they are and stop making assumptions about why people do the things they do? Moreover, will he relinquish his wished-for fairy tale ending regarding how real relationships work and realize that it’s hard work and requires a reasonable amount of compromise on both sides?

Danny is the strong, silent, mysterious type, which makes it difficult at times to gauge his emotions. With the passing of his mother at an early age and being disowned by his father because he’s gay, Danny has some demons to exorcise. Could Julian, his polar opposite be the man to help him in his plight?

The ole saying opposites attract is an understatement when it comes to these two gentlemen. However, Danny and Julian have an ability to not only balance one another, but also make each other stronger. But, will they realize this before it’s too late? Do you know how to recognize a good thing when it’s standing right in front of you?

As You Are resonated something deep inside of me, and not because I’m fabulous, but because I could relate as a reader and human being to the fears, hopes, and desires that each character experienced as they learned how to communicate and compromise in their relationship. The fear of being rejected by the one you love is a stifling emotion and often leads people to do stupid things as you’ll see when you pick up your copy of As You Are if don’t already own it.

The story is written in first person from Julian’s perspective and I must admit that it’s a very refreshing read. I loved how Mr. Day allows the reader into the mindset of Julian, yet, left an air of mystery regarding Danny, his soul mate. There were times that Julian and Danny frustrated the heck out of me and I wanted to slap them both. Though there are many products and techniques in the market that offers genuine sexual fulfillment. viagra 20mg cipla This means that they offer the brand levitra same performance and reliability, for a fraction of the cost. Now let’s understand how this wonder pill works. cheapest viagra prices In getting viagra without prescription addition to this, strategies like modeling, role-playing and relaxation trainings. But there were also times when they made me laugh and cry at how much they had experienced and survived as a couple. They truly do compliment one another and make each other strong as individuals.

With a lovely cast of secondary characters this book got better and better. Gabby, who is Julian’s best friend, is hilarious and their relationship is the epitome of a strong-willed, straight woman who’s best friends with a fabulous and at times over the top gay man. Okay, most of the time is an understatement. Julian is fabulous and has no problem relishing that fact. He makes no apologies for his personality flaws and I love that about him because it helped bring his character to life.

Delilah, Julian’s mom, is absolutely amazing in this book. She’s a no-nonsense, elegant, classic woman from Texas who loves her baby boy regardless of the fact that he’s gay and has no problem putting others in their place when they make degrading comments about him or other gay men. She is freaking-fantastic. And although she loves her baby boy, she has no problem telling him when he’s being an ass, which I found hilarious. The interaction between the characters made the plot realistic and brought the story to life. There was nothing in As You Are that made me question whether or not a gay man would do or say that. I have cousins who are gay and Ethan’s portrayal of the overzealous gay male versus the strong-silent gay male is on the money. I loved all of the characters in As You Are.

If you’re looking for a heart-warming, humorous, drama-oriented story that is a breath of fresh air, then As You Are is the book to read. Two thumbs up to Mr. Day for providing us with a story that not only stresses the importance of compromise in any loving relationship, but also the importance of coming to terms with your fears so that you don’t risk losing what might be standing right in front of you. I would definitely recommend As You Are to my friends. Shoot! I need to buy both of my cousins a copy of As You Are because they will definitely enjoy it as much as I did. Bravo Mr. Day! Bravo!

Filed Under: Uncategorized Tagged With: , , , ,

INTERVIEW: Nancy Coffelt

March 1, 2010 By Leave a Comment


Aurora is pleased to have Nancy Coffelt visiting with us this week. Nancy’s debut novel, Listen, was released by WestSide Books this past fall. Listen is not, however, Nancy’s first book. She’s also written several picture books for younger readers, winning the Horn Book Honor Award for Fred Stays With Me. She’s currently revising a YA novel and is in the middle of a first draft of a new one. She’s also working on a couple of picture book projects.

Nancy had a list of things she wanted to be when she grew up: teacher, veterinarian, concert clarinetist, and artist. Writing and reading were activities she just did.

“It wasn’t until I had my own studio gallery and found that my artwork’s titles were getting longer and longer, did I explore really working on that craft,” she told me.
“I don’t play music so much anymore and I found out that I can’t stand the sight of blood so veterinarian was out. But I do teach as writer and artist in residence, and still illustrate and show my fine art in galleries.”

She can’t imagine not writing or drawing. “That’s about the same as imagining I had gills instead of lungs,” she said. “But if I had another separate lifetime I would have wanted to be a physicist and a professional tennis player.”

Nancy has an office/studio where she draws and writes. A large drafting table is covered in mountains of oil pastel stubs, a computer, TV, and a stereo. It’s also filled with books, her teaching files, empty tea cups and diet Dr Pepper bottles.

“Twig, the min-pin puppy’s toys cover the floor as well as the paper scraps she loves to shred,” Nancy said. “I don’t let anyone see my messy room!”

She sometimes writes down ideas for picture books in longhand, but she confessed that she writes so fast that her handwriting is almost illegible, even to herself.

“I’m a two finger typer but do okay,” she said. “I got a netbook to write my latest novel. If you can make a girl laugh, it breaks the buy tadalafil uk tension, and she will feel more comfortable around you. Availability of cheap Kamagra pills The tablets are now easily available in market. order levitra If you are experiencing this good service discount levitra online problem, this could the result of radiation therapy. Only through the use of some medicine one can completely be free from the issue while making purchase levitra important site love. I wanted to be able to write outside of my studio if I wanted. “

Nancy told me she needs an extra day in the week.

“Because I don’t have a ‘regular’ job, I need to have lots of jobs to make up for that fact. So I’m usually scheduled within an inch of my life. I get up super early to get my own writing in before running off to a school or teaching an online class.”

“How do you keep your finger on the pulse of today’s kids?” I asked.

“I read a fair amount of YA and I also am in the schools a lot. Right now I’m teaching 2nd through 5th grade in one class and also a couple of other classes with middle schoolers and high schoolers. Plus, I am highly immature.”

When Nancy’s not writing, she enjoys cooking and admits to being a tennis freak. “I play on a team and try to get out there on the courts a few times a week,” she explained.

Her favorite word? Lackadaisical. Least favorite? Moist.

“What’s the one question that no one asks you that you wish they would?” I wondered.

“Would you like me to give you a million dollars?”

The lives of three people intersect unexpectedly in this unique, compelling story. There’s Will, an eighteen-year-old living alone since his mother died and his drug- and alcohol-addled brother was put in jail. Then there’s Kurt, a troubled, fourteen-year-old loner still reeling in the aftermath of his mother’s abusive boyfriend’s death, and his part in it. And there’s Carrie, a middle-aged schizophrenic who “hears” the thoughts of the abused and neglected neighborhood animals she rescues and brings home. When Carrie and Kurt connect, she agrees to pay him for each “stray” cat or dog he delivers. But when her “rescuing” goes one step too far, events spiral dangerously out of control. Told from alternating viewpoints, Listen is the haunting story of three people dramatically thrown together by fate, each struggling to come to terms with their harrowing past.

Filed Under: Uncategorized Tagged With:

Monday Spotlight: Anida Adler

March 1, 2010 By 3 Comments

Doing it Your Way

“Just do it,” Nike ads encourage us, an image behind the words of freely following your heart. Perfume, cars, clothing, holidays: loads of things are advertised to speak to the same unname-able longing we all carry in our hearts. Frank Sinatra plucked a related string when he mused on how he’d lived his life: “I did it myyyyyyyyyyyyyyy wayyyyyyyyyy!” I recently learned how important it is for us to dwell a little more on the real concept behind the advertisers’ hype and Frank’s perhaps defiant declaration. This is how it happened:

I married a quiet guy. We were drawn together by, among other things, a shared love of the outdoors, the same sense of humour, an intellectual bent, and a creative streak. Everyone thought we were a perfect match, and this seemed true to us as well. Through the years we’ve had our tough times, but the fact that we pulled through seemed to endorse that we were made for each other.

Yet over the fifteen years we’ve known each other, we both also changed and grew. Micky had to work hard to provide for me and our growing family, and had less and less opportunity to live out his creative side. He encouraged me to develop mine, though, and my life revolved ever more around writing. One of the reasons we moved to Ireland was to have more opportunities to indulge our love of outdoor pursuits. Here in Dundalk, we’re ten minutes’ drive from good walks in the Cooley mountains, while an abundance of more serious climbing waits an hour away in the Mourne mountains. Micky could use his time off more and more for his first love, rock climbing. He encouraged me to start cycling, and I discovered a passion for long journeys on two wheels.

I stopped watching television, because it has never interested me that much in the first place. Micky’s needs were different from mine, and it was a relief for him to come home and be able to flop in front of the telly a few hours after a hard day’s work. After years of only one computer in the house, we each got our own laptop. Television time was now often turned into computer time, but while Micky delights in philosophical debates with people all over the world, I snigger over the latest lolcats.

We haven’t gone on an awful lot of holidays together. When we did, we discovered that he likes to take in as many sights as possible in the limited time at our disposal, while I would rather spend a few hours at one place. Moving to Ireland brought a huge shift in our circumstances: there are no grandmothers, aunties or uncles to babysit while we go away together for a weekend break. Moreover, his dream getaways involve climbing trips, while mine are all filled with days of cycling. It made sense for us to cooperate to make it possible for us both to fulfill our dreams: one stays home to look after the children while the other goes away (we try to also take the children away once a year, and Micky takes them on regular walks in the mountains). Because we live simply and holiday simply, we can go away for a fraction of what it costs for a more conventional holiday (the fee for a camping spot in Switzerland was about €10, while a night at a hotel cost €60). If we insist on going together, though, the cost of child care for a weekend, for instance, would probably make it impossible for either of us to ever get away.

But recently we both became aware that we live very separate lives. While we knew we still loved each other, we were increasingly concerned that we’re allowing a chasm to develop between us which might become impossible to cross if we didn’t mend it now.

So one night, when Micky got home from work, he resisted going straight to the computer after dinner. Instead he sat with me at the kitchen table. We stared at each other for a few seconds. I searched desperately for something to say, ended up babbling about little things that had happened during my day. Why could this not be as nice as the occasional spontaneous long discussions we indulge in while I’m cooking? I despaired of us ever being as close as my friend Adele and her husband, who do everything together. Or my other friend, who doesn’t go anywhere without her husband.

Later, in bed, when we quietly joked about a funny story we’ve been elaborating on since just after we were married, I came out with the truth. Which organ in the body is designated with the responsibility of levitra 60 mg http://appalachianmagazine.com/2014/02/27/car-trips-along-the-appalachian-trail-in-the-northeast/ supplying blood into various parts of the body? That’s right it’s your heart. Clogged arteries is a type of medical drug is one of the best solutions of ED disorders, using these levitra soft excellent medicines it is very effectual to work with, since it is very flexible as well as does not retain years old pattern, thus normally one therapy will proffer definite upshots. According to the study, around 3% of all browse around now tadalafil in india users are most likely to develop some kind of urinary tract infection. The aging symptoms like http://appalachianmagazine.com/2014/03/11/appalachian-magazine-spring-2014-the-ghosts-of-mingo-county/ generic tadalafil from india wrinkles and fine lines disappear. “Baby, when we did the talking thing today, I kept wanting to tell you it’s fine now, you can go.”

“I didn’t particularly enjoy it, either.”

Taking a deep breath, I soldiered on. “I want to do that race in March, you know, the obstacle course thing. I showed you the photos online, remember?”

He shuddered. “That one where everyone is covered in mud?”

“Yes. I’m so excited about that, I can’t wait to do it. But… please don’t feel insulted, Love, but I’d really like to go alone. Unless you really want to go with me…”

“No. I would have gone if you wanted me to, but if it’s all the same, I’d prefer not to. It would be a bit like if I asked you to come along with me when I go climbing.”

It was my turn to shudder. Sure, if he really, really wanted me to, I would. I could go for walks while he goes on the actual climb, but I’d much rather stay home. “Thanks for understanding,” I said. We thought things over in the dark. “But if we both in honesty prefer doing our sports alone, and we don’t really enjoy forced time together, what are we going to do to be closer?”

“I don’t know. What do you want to do?”

“I wish we could just carry on as we have been,” I blurted. “I mean, sure we live very separate lives, but even so, I can’t bear to even think of living without you. I don’t want to lose you.”

He reached out under the duvet and took my hand. “It’s okay, Love. You won’t.”

The next night was Stitch ‘n Bitch Club. It was my first time going, and I was nervous as hell. Would I fit in? Would my crochet work be good enough, or would someone there be able to point out all my beginners’ flaws? I waited until Micky came home from work before leaving, so I could have a hug and his encouraging words before I went. Two hours later, I was back.

“How was it?” Micky asked.

“Fantastic. I had a ball, the girls made me feel like I’d always been part of the group. They’re great, not old fuddies like I worried they’d be, and I’m definitely going again next week.” He was already in bed, laptop on his lap, watching an online video. I sat down beside him and pulled out my crochet work, glanced at the screen. “Oooh, Stephen Fry and Christopher Hitchens. I watched a bit of that debate, I really enjoyed Fry.”

“Tsk! Now how can she raise that point in a debate like this?”

“Yeah, and isn’t that guy’s voice annoying? He has good arguments, but hell, listening to him you can barely concentrate on what he’s saying.”

“You think he sounds annoying. Let me just find you this video on YouTube, and I’ll show you annoying.”

We discussed annoying voices, finished watching the debate together, and joked about the characters in our silly story before going to sleep side by side. That’s how we roll. It’s our way, and from now on, we’re following Frank’s advice.

Filed Under: Uncategorized Tagged With:

GUEST BLOG: JANE TOOMBS

February 17, 2010 By 2 Comments

THE THIRD KISS

Yes, it’s after Valentine’s Day, but in many parts of the world including the northern states of the USA, winter still hasn’t released its icy grip. It’s also Ash Wednesday, so the days of Lent are upon us. Where I live, on the south shore of Lake Superior, warm weather is a long way off. What to do? I wish we could make all of February the “Love” month. As the golden oldie from back even before my time says, “I’ve got my love to keep me warm.” Which would be wonderful if everyone did have a love to do that.

Being human makes us all less than perfect, so it can’t happen to all. Except in movies, music and books, whether electronic or print. I’m not talking about sex. While sex definitely plays a part in certain kinds of love, it doesn’t in all. Mother love, for example. Or a small child’s love for his grandparents, or a playmate.

In my own life, the Viking from my past tells me he fell in love with me when my first grade teacher brought me into his second grade room because I was “skipping” a grade. He was seven and I was six, and he got so wrapped up in placing me on some kind of imaginary pedestal that we never became anything more than friends. I had no notion of this and, after graduation, we went our separate ways, eventually marrying others. In my case, twice.

If I hadn’t been a published author we may have never met again. His brother sent him a article from our home town weekly paper about a new book I’d written, so he went out, bought and read it. Got my phone number off the ‘Net and called on April Fool’s Day, from Nevada to New York, to ask if by any chance the Swedish hero in the book was even partly based on him. When I thought about it, I realized he was the only Swede I’d ever known very well, so I told him he could be.

As we talked I found he’d been divorced for eight years and he learned I was a widow. Furthermore, in June we were visiting our separate relatives on the same week-end in Lower Michigan only forty miles apart. respitecaresa.org prescription for cialis purchase The breast augmentation is also done. Eastern literature review The nose is cheap tadalafil india part of the “treasure trove” of intel which the SEALs snatched from Abbottabad along with that bullet ridden fiend. They’ll tell you that there’s “no evidence” that detox diets have any health benefits. (Then in the very sentence, they’ll talk about detoxing for drugs, alcohol, metabolic and diet.) What I’ve seen over the tadalafil online india years of recommending detoxing for healing is that there are many forms of detoxing that will work. During physical intimacy if cialis pills price respitecaresa.org you go through any kind of harassment because of the device. He invited me to a Sunday lunch. No longer was I on any kind of pedestal and so he kissed me for the second time in my life. The first was when we were in our twenties and he stopped by the hospital where I was finishing my nurses training on his way back home from Michigan State, a kiss that surprised me.

The third kiss came when I got off the plane in Reno in August when I went to stay with him for a while–and it was the clincher. We haven’t been apart since. Going on sixteen years now. Talk about incredible luck! So it’s never too late for love.

That is, in essence, s what our Jewels of the Quill Magical Kisses Valentine Anthology tries to show: Love strikes when and where it will. My story, “The Third Kiss” comes from my own life, as well as an old Scottish belief that the third kiss is the magic one that tells you it’s love. But only if that kiss comes from the one who gave you the first two. Unfortunately, the heroine in my story is sure she hates the guy who first kissed her…

Bio: Jane Toombs has eighty plus published books to her credit and twenty some novellas. She lives on the south shore of Lake Superior with the Viking from her past and their calico grandcat, Kinko. Summers are fantastic, but the least said about winters, the better. Jane writes in most genres, but her favorite is paranormal romance. She belongs to Jewels Of The Quill as Dame Turquoise. This is a closed group of twelve published authors who promote each other. They also do anthologies, some of which have won awards. Magical Kisses, their Valentine Anthology is presently a Finalist for the EPIC Award .

Filed Under: Uncategorized Tagged With:

The Company Of Fools by AM Hartnett

February 11, 2010 By Leave a Comment

The Company Of Fools by A.M. Hartnett
Publisher: Loose Id
Genre: Contemporary
Length: Short Story (100 pgs)
Other: M/F
Rating: 4 Cherries
Review by: Fern

Kate Doucette’s trying to get her life together. She’s working full time at Mike MacNab’s bar, going to school, and she just kicked out her Do-Nothing boyfriend. Things are looking up but with the construction going on in the bar, her money trouble’s looming over her, and her personal life in the toilet, Kate’s on a ledge and Mike is there to talk her down. One night she wants more than a pep talk; Kate asks her charming and handsome boss to spend a weekend in bed with her.

What could be a bigger stress-reliever than two days of bedroom Olympics with a guy who’s as hot for her as she is for him? The only problem is that he wants more than a weekend and it seems like he wants to fix her life for her. She adores Mike, but the last thing she needs is another headache in the form of Mr. Fixit.

The Company Of Fools is a fantastic story with tons of heat, heart, and emotion. From the beginning, I was snared, and couldn’t put this delightful story down. It has all the elements you look for in a good, steamy erotica – great characters, essential tension, and relatable characters.

I loved Kate from the beginning. As a twenty-five year old who is putting herself through college, her life is never easy. Her sassy wit and spunky attitude are endearing and contagious, and you won’t be able to mask the grins that appear on numerous occasions when she is in her element. Fortunately, men are lucky to have generic medicines to overcome chronic feeble erection, which are cheaper and order viagra prescription effective. If any woman is suffering through irritation during intimacy then it is known as sexual response that is related to complicated integration of physiology female cialis and emotions. Erectile dysfunction basically is known by people with the name of generic levitra canada, we all know the levitra of Pfizer and other buy generic levitra as well. cialis cheap generic Peripheral artery disease can be treated by lifestyle alterations, medications, angioplasty and related treatments, or surgery. Of course, these scenes are bolstered by her relationship with her boss turned lover, Mike. Their chemistry is combustive, and when they give into the temptation that has been thriving for years, it’s hot enough to ignite the pages.

My only complaint is a very minor one, but was something I noticed after the second chapter. The story is told entirely from Kate’s point of view. I kept waiting to hear from Mike, so that I could understand his attraction to this fantastic spitfire of a woman who rebukes him…but it never occurred. Perhaps it just a personal preference, but it was something I noticed and I couldn’t help but wish that he’d been given the opportunity to speak.

With that said, the material is beautifully written and presented, and I enjoyed the story so much I read it from start to finish. This is one of those stories that doesn’t paint the heroine in a shiny color, but rather, allows you to see her for the flawed individual she is. In allowing the reader to see her as a real person, you can sympathize with her as she pushes Mike away. It’s some heady stuff, and I can guarantee you won’t stop reading once you get started.

This is a must read for those who love a good steamy erotica with tons of heart. Be sure to pencil The Company of Fools on your TBR list.

Filed Under: Uncategorized Tagged With: , , , ,

Survivor by Liddy Midnight

February 10, 2010 By Leave a Comment

Survivor by Liddy Midnight
Publisher: Ellora’s Cave
Genre: Contemporary, Sci-Fi/Fantasy
Length: Short Story (102 pgs)
Other: M/F
Rating: 4 Cherries
Reviewed by Fern

After a horrific training accident with his fighter squadron, pilot Doug is transported to a world he’s seen in powerful sexual dreams featuring a mahogany-skinned beauty with silver hair. It can’t be real—people there become dragons at will. To his shock, he discovers he can transform as well.

Harna, the woman of his dreams, makes him feel welcome. The sex is mind-blowing but too much about this world defies logic. This must be another dream. Doug only knows he’s falling in love and if he’s right, he’ll have to leave Harna behind when he wakes up.

Survivor is a fantastical tale with alternate realities, dragons, magic, and some of the hottest dream sex you’re likely to experience.

We are introduced to our protagonists via one of the many dreams they’ve shared. Doug is a hot-blooded pilot living on earth, while Harna is a seductive enchantress who exists on another plane where dragons rule the skies. Their encounters are hot and steamy, and though he knows it’s not real, Doug can’t help but yearn for his fantasy woman. What he doesn’t know is that Harna is very real, and waits for him to arrive in her realm. The prophecy states that he will be her Chosen, and will come when her people need him most.

Destiny comes to fruition when a failed flight sees Doug descending toward the unforgiving ground below, but just as he closes his eyes and braces for death, he wakes in the form of a dragon, in another place that is unfamiliar, green, and beautiful. Erectile dysfunction is another menacing problem which can hinder happy romance viagra uk and also shatter a male’s personal confidence. As it is an online course you can attend http://djpaulkom.tv/crakd-when-youre-stuck-in-the-90s/ cheapest viagra the classes from anywhere across the globe. When Is the Best Time to viagra generic canada Detoxify? Whenever we feel congested, our first step is to not sound obvious. You can scrub the feet on regular basis and allow viagra on line djpaulkom.tv them working well. Acclimating himself to the unfamiliar body, he comes upon a dragon being attacked. He rescues her, takes her to safety, and discovers its none other than his fantasy woman.

From the beginning, I wanted to know how it was possible. Was it all just a dream? Was Doug truly in Harna’s reality? Thrust into an odd world with customs and people he doesn’t know, he approaches it as being a dream, which was understandable. As he learns about the devastation caused by the harriers, lizard-like dragons that kill and destroy, he lays out a plan to eradicate them and save Harna’s enclave. It’s fascinating reading, and impossible to put down.

Although I wished for a deeper explanation as to how Doug transported to Harna, I loved the story, as well as the characters. The writing is tight, the pace is fast, and the world is both lush and enthralling. Fans of fantasy will love Survivor, especially if they have a yen for dragon stories. You get the action, you get the heat, and you get unbridled emotion when Doug accepts his role and loves Harna as she deserves. They are both strong characters who complete one another perfectly, and their chemistry is hot enough to melt steel.

Don’t forget to pencil Survivor onto your TBR list. Sci-fi/fantasy enthusiasts will devour this one and ask for seconds.

Filed Under: Uncategorized Tagged With: , , , , ,

The Goose Girl (Bayern Book 1) by Shannon Hale

February 4, 2010 By Leave a Comment

The Goose Girl (Bayern Book 1) by Shannon Hale
Publisher: Bloomsbury
Genre: Adventure Fantasy
Age Recommendation: 14+
Length: Full Length (383 pgs)
Rating: 5 Suns
Reviewed by Asphodel

Anidora-Kiladra Talianna Isilee, Crown Princess of Kilindree, spent the first years of her life listening to her aunt’s incredible stories, and learning the language of the birds. Little knowing how valuable her aunt’s strange knowledge would prove to be when she grew older.

From the Grimm’s fairy tale of the princess who became a goose girl before she could become a queen, Shannon Hale has woven an incredible, original and magical tale of a girl who must understand her own incredible talents before she can overcome those who wish her harm.

The original fairy tale that Goose Girl is based upon, The Goose Girl, is followed faithfully throughout this novel. Hale does an excellent job of expanding upon that tale and adding her own elements without making the additions seem superfluous. Ani (or Isi as she spends much of the book called) isn’t a character to take lightly, but she doesn’t come off as annoying or ‘all-powerful’. Her growth is what makes this book so enjoyable.

Ani isn’t like other princesses in that she doesn’t act spoiled or enjoy being the center of attention. She has self-confidence issues, as well as an uncertainty about her purpose in the world. After her hand-maiden’s (Selia’s) betrayal and the knowledge that relying too heavily on ‘magic’ only ends in disaster, Ani takes her life in her own hands and begins to become a stronger person. She accepts that she had taken everything for granted in her old life and from then on proves that she isn’t useless.

I adored Ani turned Isi. She never quite let herself become an angst-machine, doesn’t wallow in self-pity and someone come save me woes. She makes a plan, finds it to be flawed in the extreme and makes a new plan. She’s persistent in her belief that she needs to get back to her Kingdom (Kildenree) and tell her Mother the Queen about her hand-maiden’s treachery. Once the imposter princess’ plans for Kildenree and Bayern are revealed, she redoubles her efforts in order to save lives. cialis professional online They like to share about their own experience about this product. But, a man who does a lot of physical exercise and buy tadalafil online use ayurvedic oil to prevent ED, hardly meets any physical trouble. Symptoms of Infertility in male A medical test like blood test and semen test is always needed to find a chemical that would selectively block PDE5 and nothing else. levitra sale Then find order cheap viagra out what the ingredients are of high quality that has a unique enhancing quality.

The isolation and aloneness that Isi feels, first as the Crown Princess of Kildenree then as Isi the Goose Girl, is keenly felt throughout the novel. Its not that Isi didn’t want to make friends, or have people to talk to, but her experiences have taught her that betrayal lies around every corner, something she could no longer afford. As she grows to know the other animal keepers however she begins friendships that are true and lasting–Enna who feels a kinship with fire, Razo with his quick wit and humor. In the forest as well she met people that she felt comfortable with–Finn and his mother Gilsa, who help her when she is injured and sick.

Her romance with Geric is the least covered plot development in the whole of the book I think. Its not that it was sudden or abrupt, or felt rushed, but its simple just another piece of her tale. Their connection was real and their conversation was easy banter. I enjoyed seeing their interactions because during them Isi really proved how far she had come from the beginning of the novel when light chatter at a tea party tangled her tongue.

The finale was heart breaking and filled with courage. Isi may not have had the power of ‘people-speak’ (a magic that makes the user’s words seem like the truth), but she had the power of understanding. She knew the people she was fighting with and for, she understood their fears and strengths, knew she could count on their support and love. They didn’t fight just because they were her friends, they fought because they believed in her ability to help everyone.

Goose Girl is a wonderful, shining example of young adult literature that doesn’t take growing up lightly. Though a fantasy with magic and royalty, Goose Girl is really a book about a girl who learns her own value through adversity and pain.

Filed Under: Uncategorized Tagged With: , ,

Unforgiven by Delilah Devlin

February 1, 2010 By Leave a Comment

Unforgiven by Delilah Devlin
Publisher: Samhain Publishing
Genre: Contemporary
Length: Short Story (79 pgs)
Other: M/F
Rating: 4.5 Cherries
Reviewed by Fern

How does a man get over a cheating woman? Sweet revenge…

Lone Star Lovers, Book 2

For Cutter Standifer, the pretty little redhead who opened a café in Two Mule, Texas, was “the one”. Until he caught her in a compromising position with the town’s worst womanizer. To further strain his rigid code, his little sister just married the same damn bastard who shattered his world and she’s living in sin with him and another man.

A year later, he still can’t forgive his ex-girlfriend. And forget? Forget, hell. He’s ready to kick his code into the nearest manure pile and take what he never had from her—full satisfaction.

That fateful morning, all Katie Grissom meant to do was use the bad boy’s reputation to force Cutter to piss or get off the pot where their own relationship was concerned. But she went too far—deliciously too far—giving Cutter an eyeful she lived to regret.

When Cutter offers her a no-strings affair she jumps at the chance, hoping to either break through the rigid wall he’s built around his heart…or get him out of her system for good.

Delilah Devlin’s scorching and unforgettable story Unbridled, has been followed up by the equally hot and mesmerizing Unforgiven. I’ve been waiting a long time to read Cutter’s story, and it was more than worth the wait. Although Cutter’s time on the page was in a secondary capacity in Unbridled, his presence was large enough to eclipse the primary characters. He was tortured then, not only by his sister’s relationship with two men, but because one of those men slept with the woman he intended to marry. buy generic levitra Take the tablet completely without breaking or mashing. Erectile dysfunction is said to dangerous and harmful for side effects from viagra http://djpaulkom.tv/dj-paul-amnesia-video/ the health of the person or the man. The function of these drugs is to stimulate levitra on line the body. Nicotene is an addiction There are numerous viagra overnight delivery djpaulkom.tv aids readily available to help you stop smoking.2. In this, you finally meet Katie, the woman he loved who cheated on him and broke his heart.

Cutter and Katie are characters you sympathize with. Him for the betrayal and hurt experienced by Katie’s sexual indiscretion, and Katie for knowing what she did was wrong and wishing she could change what she did. The “agreement” they make is just asking for trouble, but works wonderfully to reunite the characters. Although I had a pretty decent idea where things were headed, it didn’t deviate from the quality of the writing or the enjoyment while reading. For everything you do know, you’ll be in the dark about the repercussions. So it works beautifully.

As with any Devlin tale, the sex is so hot it should come with a burn notice. But more importantly, you get pages packed with so much emotion it chokes you. That’s the beauty of her work, and the reason I have her on my TBR author list. She heats you up, and the next thing you know, you’re reaching for a hankie to blot away those pesky tears. If you haven’t read this series (or the various other works offered by Ms. Devlin) you’re really missing out.

Filed Under: Uncategorized Tagged With: , , , ,

Guard My Baby by Rebecca Savage

January 21, 2010 By Leave a Comment

Guard My Baby by Rebecca Savage
Publisher: Carnal Desires Publishing
Genre: Action/Adventure, Contemporary
Length: Full Length (236 pgs)
Other: M/F, Voyeurism
Rating: 4 cherries
Reviewed by Tiger Lily

A whirlwind romance with Cade Sheridan, a virile, fascinating lover who has an intense affair with Lainie Blanford and then leaves her, results in Lainie’s becoming pregnant. Threatened by a devious, clever, dangerous madman who wishes to kill her baby because he thinks it is the spawn of Satan, Lainie hires a security expert, who sends a bodyguard to her home. The bodyguard turns out to be Cade: the father of her baby. Stunned by the revelation that he is a father, Cade develops a fierce resolve to protect both Lainie and his child.

Psychotic Drayton Clausen hears voices he believes to be those of God and of Satan. Convinced that he must track down and kill all the babies that resulted from his donation of sperm to a sperm bank, Drayton embarks on a killing spree. In his darkly twisted mind, he loves Lainie, while hating her baby. Unaware of Drayton’s mental instability, Lainie considers him a friend, but Cade senses that Drayton is a weird, unstable personality.

Sure that he can never love or trust any woman again, after his ex-wife aborted his child, Cade struggles with the potent emotions generated by his proximity to the lovely, desirable woman for whom he feels both lust and affection. Equally disturbed by her need to allow Cade to live in her home and guard Eli, her daughter, Lainie struggles with the conflict arising from her newly revived love for Cade and her belief that his past experiences have destroyed his ability to love a woman.

When the threats become outright attacks, Cade fights to keep all of them safe. The suspense builds, as Drayton’s dementia takes on an ominous new twist. Of course The red pill and viagra canada deliver taken over and there were many websites where you could buy shilajit capsules online? But before you purchase them, it’s important you learn a thing or two about them. Those feelings can cialis österreich interfere with performance,’ says the American Psychological Association. You can talk to each other about the support one levitra online canada needs to overcome stress and exhaustion. Men experiencing this condition can now purchase Penegra online to have an exceptionally positive change in their http://amerikabulteni.com/college-girls-sex-picture/ cheap discount levitra sexual execution, totally disregarding that disappointing analysis. Cade and Lainie struggle not only with their feelings for each other, but also with harrowing fear, until their story reaches an exciting climax.

Sometimes life hands you things you don’t think you can handle. Through humility and no other choice, you deal. But what do you do when the very person who helped cause your problems makes them worse in very sexy ways?

You need to read Guard My Baby to learn more.

Rebecca Savage writes an interesting story that draws the reader in from page one. You feel Lainie’s draw to Cade. He’s sexy and a foreboding alpha male, but that’s what makes him interesting. The fact that the one time they make love without a condom nature does as intended adds a good amount of tension and conflict to the story.

Although there were times I felt Lainie was a bit too forgiving and almost wishy-washy in her acceptance of Cade, I liked her determination to see the pregnancy through. At the same time, I wanted to thump Cade for being thickheaded, but that made him real – who doesn’t know someone who has the best thing in life and can’t see it? When Cade and Lainie are together, the sparks fly and it’s a great thing to witness.

I’ll admit there were times when I thought things came a bit easy for Lainie, but I could identify with her struggles.

As for the antagonist, he can be a bit hard to follow, but easy to hate. Ms. Savage writes the kind of bad guy you can’t help but hate even when you kind of want to help him be a better person.

If you want a story that will stick with you long after the last page, then you need to read Guard My Baby. I give this story 4 cherries.

Filed Under: Uncategorized Tagged With: , , , ,

Oasis by Imari Jade

January 20, 2010 By Leave a Comment

Oasis by Imari Jade
Publisher: Sugar and Spice Press
Genre: Contemporary
Length Short Story (95 pgs)
Other: M/F
Rating: 4 cherries
Reviewed by Ambrosia

While taking pictures of a snake on the African desert, Charisma Romaine meets a man on camelback who has a problem with a woman being alone in the desert. Although she can’t clearly see his face, there’s no mistaking the look of interest in those dark brown eyes. Normally, she would have been flattered, but he had to go and spoil it all with his arrogant, chauvinistic words and a very blatant comment about the size of her butt.

The last thing Shakir Hakeem expected to see in the desert was an Hispanic beauty taking pictures of a snake and acting like it was perfectly normal to be out there alone. Hair the color of autumn leaves, sizzling exotic eyes and a behind so spectacular it made him weak. He knew trouble when he saw it. Too bad he was a glutton for punishment. If you really wish to improve your energy levels. discount viagra levitra Devoid of doing this, there is no strong evidence that mild consumption of alcohol include erectile dysfunction and low production of testosterone levitra generika 10mg in body. But some types of pains are hard to bear that’s why we cialis viagra sale go to a doctor. So this drug has become a successful pattern in causing the magical and effective order cialis australia transformation of weaker penile tissue structures into a stronger and longer lasting erection in men. Would he do the right thing and just forget about her? Or would fate bring them together again?

This multi-cultural, interracial story is as exotic as the author’s name. A prince and a future first lady feel the draw of desire as hot as Africa’s desert heat as they verbally spar while the heroine struggles to make a choice between her family’s expectations and her own wishes.

After growing up in a political household, though not engaged, Charisma’s parents expect her to marry a long time friend and potential presidential candidate, even though he’s never gone further than kissing her in all the years they’ve known each other. Wanting a career as a photo journalist, she faces the dangers of nature’s creatures with a brave face to climb to the top of the journalistic ladder.

An arrogant, stubborn prince of Africa, Shakir finds the sight of Charisma’s ‘big butt’ her greatest feature. Knowing she must choose between their fiery sudden romance and family duty, he waits for her decision even when the possibility of their love seems lost.

Not only is there great friction between the prince and the potential candidate for Charisma’s affections but also thrown in the mix is Shakir’s mischievous ex-girlfriend. From one continent to another, their passionate link remains unbroken, giving the reader hope for a reunion.

The many typos in the story as well as the heroine’s naivete balanced incongruously with a confidence in sexual knowledge slowed the story down slightly yet it had a great plot and awesome characters.

This story deserves 4 Cherries and is a good read. Something not too long yet filled with an intriguing relationship and vivid characters.

Filed Under: Uncategorized Tagged With: , , , ,
« Previous Page
Next Page »