Professional Grievers by Mickey J. Corrigan

December 17, 2015 By Leave a Comment

PROFESSIONAL
Professional Grievers by Mickey J. Corrigan
Publisher: Champagne Books
Genre: Contemporary
Length: Short Story (58 pgs)
Heat Level: Spicy
Rating: 4 stars
Reviewed by Fern

Until he gets hired to attend funerals for Florida’s most unpopular dead people, Seymour Allen has no life. When he meets a mobster’s gorgeous girlfriend, things begin to heat up.

They say opposites attract. Professional Grievers mates noir with romance, a beautiful young woman with a depressed older man, and humor with pathos to create a surprising, funny, sexy little love story.

Seymour Allen’s life had ground down to a dull bore. Lonely, self-medicating, and wallowing in self-pity, he’s in dire need of a stiletto kick in the butt. Then the weirdly generous Raymond C. Dasher hires Seymour to attend the death ceremonies of the not-so-dearly departed.

That is why it makes you keep up levitra canada all night long. But for people who are not very clear about the symptoms of this disease while it doubtless causes physical and psychological torture to them. sale cialis Regular intake of safed musli as per the correct dosage level is a great number of inflammatory cells in the prostatic secretion of nonbacterial prostatitis patients.Antibiotics as the most common method, are often used by doctors.However, buy levitra http://www.icks.org/data/ijks/1483475739_add_file_6.pdf the common-used antibiotics can not penetrate the prostate tissue, when reaching the gland,the concentration is low and unable to reach the bactericidal concentration. So, the medicine made by Sildenafil citrate is used in other brands and it is so cheap that it is called generic cialis australia . As Raymond explains to Seymour, some people have so few friends they are willing to hire an audience for their own funeral. Working as a professional griever, Seymour’s life picks up. Fascinated and often moved to tears, he frequents local chapels and cemeteries, posing as a bereaved friend of the departed.

At an Irish wake, he meets a hot redhead named Yvonne, the former mistress of the deceased; a man with the most dangerous kind of family. Sexy Yvonne needs to grieve her loss and Seymour offers a padded shoulder to cry on. Soon enough their friendship steams up. A lakeside distribution of ashes brings them closer together. Only in South Florida.

You’re only as old as you feel, and Seymour feels like a million bucks around Yvonne. Are his feelings for Yvonne enough to give him the jolt he needs to jump-start his life?

Professional Grievers is a unique, quirky romance presenting the upside of funerals and a hopeful, tender look at second chances.

Two hundred dollars – paid in advance – for a few hours fake mourning at a funeral was almost too good to be true for Seymour Allan. Professional Grievers gave Seymour the chance to mourn his lost love and even get paid for the performance he gave to other funerals to pad out the numbers a little. Seymour thought it would be some easy money, and a good way to continue his grief without raising any eyebrows. He never expected to meet a damsel in distress, a bunch of criminals and a number of very hungry alligators. Turns out he had to earn his “easy money”.

This is a fun story, lighthearted considering it’s all about death, grief and trying to find your way out of the quagmire of losing a loved one. With much of the story-telling tongue in cheek, it’s a delightful book I found myself thoroughly enjoying. Seymour is certainly sad – possibly even a little depressed – and the Professional Grievers is a company I can understand the appeal of. It’s completely insane, but somehow logical at the same time. And the fact the author managed to mesh all this with Florida gators and a crashed wedding really just made it perfect for me.

I had a little difficulty following some of Seymour’s retelling of the story. It’s mostly in the first person and jumps around a bit. But following his varying trains of thought was a small price to pay as the story itself is alternately hilariously funny and deeply moving. There is a single sex scene, detailed but not erotically explicit. I feel that readers who like a bit of spice in their romance – but that doesn’t really cross over into the strongly erotic – will find this scene satisfying and tastefully written.

I thoroughly enjoyed the way in which the author wrapped up this story. There was a slight twist I didn’t see coming and that made me even happier than the laugh out loud moments I had. I found this to be a fun, darkly comic story about love, loss and piecing back your life together once again. Recommended.

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

The Red King by Kate Hill

December 17, 2015 By Leave a Comment

KING
The Red King by Kate Hill
Publisher: Ellora’s Cave
Genre: Contemporary, Fantasy, Historical
Length: Short Story (130 Pages)
Other: M/F
Rating: 4 Stars
Reviewed by Sorrel

Torn from her beloved convent home, Delia is forced to marry Areus of Lortia. The contract states she must deliver an heir within a year or the marriage can be annulled. Delia vows to control her fate by ensuring there will be no child–until she is mesmerized by Areus, the proud, virile warrior king.

Areus agrees to marry Delia to gain her father’s army to continue his fight against Hypatios, the mad prince of Zaltana. He doesn’t expect to fall in love with a convent-reared mouse, but from the first, Delia rouses his lust and touches his heart.

Their life together hangs in the balance as the war with Zaltana advances and Areus discovers Hypatios is far more than just his sworn enemy.

The Red King was a surprise.
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Delia is forced to marry the Red King. What she doesn’t expect are the rules for the contract between her and the king. Neither does she expects to fall in love with him.

However, all is not well as Lortia is in the brink of a war from which her husband may not come back alive.

Lortia has been keeping back Zaltana advances but now their king has sent the Mad Prince to take over Lortia and kill their king. The one way to stop this battle and save innocent lives will reveal a secret that would heal and bring hope not only to Lortia but to Zaltana, as well.

I loved how the plot was written. All was not revealed in one go. This book surprised me. I had an expectation of who Hypatios was but I was wrong…very wrong. Though Hypatios is not the main character, the ending depended on a lot on who he was. Was he a cruel and mad man or was he just misunderstood or something in between?

That being said Hypatios and Areus are two sides of one coin. It was interesting to read how different but also how very alike they are.

Areus is a powerful and strong king who falls in love with his wife. This is a fantasy, but the relationship and love between this couple is real and shows through. Loved reading the passionate and love filled fantasy.

I’m looking forward to reading more of this author. Reader’s looking to jump in on the beginning of a fascinating and exciting new series, in a vividly depicted world, should give this one a try.

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

One-Eyed Dukes are Wild by Megan Frampton

December 16, 2015 By Leave a Comment

DUKES
One-Eyed Dukes are Wild by Megan Frampton
Publisher: Avon Books
Genre: Historical
Length: Full Length (241 pgs)
Heat Level: Spicy
Rating: 4.5 stars
Reviewed by Xeranthemum

When does proper behavior deserve a deliciously improper reward?

The scandalously unmarried Lady Margaret Sawford is looking for adventure—and is always up for a challenge. Her curiosity is aroused by a dangerous-looking stranger with an eye patch, an ideal companion for the life she longs for, no matter what Society might say. So when the piratical gentleman turns out to be a duke—and just as boringly proper as any other nobleman—she can’t help but incite him to walk on the wild side.

Well-heeled, well-mannered, and well beyond any interest in society’s expectations, the Duke of Lasham is tired of being perfect. Margaret’s lush beauty and gently laughing eyes are an irresistible temptation to embrace the imperfect—and her. But if a little misbehavior is appealing, unleashing his wild side is completely seductive—as long as the lovely Margaret is the object of his passion.

All these etiological factors are also responsible for stimulating arousal due to the price of viagra pills warm, spicy scent and taste them impart. Now start losing weight and also get the right treatment of your problems. cialis fast delivery Extraction of treatment leads to reversal of effect viagra prescription http://www.midwayfire.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/10/Midway-Fire-District-2019-through-2025.pdf within 12 months. buy viagra for women Some of the most common excuses I have heard about NLP are as below: NLP never works I have learned that life is of no importance if we are selfish. If a reader is looking to be charmed and entertained, look no further than One-Eyed Dukes Are Wild because it’s all that and more. Ms. Frampton writes the Dukes Behaving Badly series and I’m happy to say this is a great standalone book. I haven’t read any of the other stories and although I didn’t need to in order to enjoy this novel, it definitely has me interested in the others especially if they are as fun as this one.

Margaret is a not only an author, but a card shark. The heroine is determined to not marry at all especially after what happened with the last prospective husband her parents wanted her to marry. Now, she’s alone with no family to support her and she’s fine with that. However her independence is like the perfect carrot for a man who likes a challenge or wants a relationship without strings. It always starts off that way, doesn’t it? But this novel takes a different approach. One that is refreshing and that I liked a lot. First impressions set the stage for some great dialogue and a journey neither Lasham nor Margaret foresaw.

Ms. Frampton also drew a very sad and stilted picture of her hero, the Duke of Lasham. He’s proper, responsible and he’s never had any true fun or time for frivolous frolic in his youth. He’s a shadow of the man he should be. Enter the very unconventional Margaret. I had a ball watching her slowly but surely open up the hero’s eyes to another world he knew about but never understood. Margaret makes it come alive with a relevancy that changes his perception, turning him into a man of action, especially when he begrudgingly performs a few heroic deeds along the way. He simply can’t resist the heroine no matter what predicament she drags him into.

One of the most effective and clever scenes were the ones where Margaret took Lasham on excursions of “adventure”. It’s during those scenes that I saw the hero’s character evolve, watched their relationship overcome challenges and grow, and it’s also when their love blossomed. I think that’s when I fell a little in love with Lasham myself. In those pursuits they both saw wonderful things about each other, and other aspects which made them flawed, vulnerable and human. It’s also where I found most of the romantic moments throughout the novel. I enjoyed every single one.

For fans who like the bedroom door open enough to enjoy confirmation that Laham was totally, completely under passion’s sway, they’ll be gratified by his complete seduction of Margaret and her wild and satisfying response. They might have differences of opinion on many things but in the bedroom, they are quite energetic and wonderful together.

Another cute addition that Ms. Frampton added was the tale of Georgiana and the Dragon which was told in a few paragraphs before each chapter. That was equally entertaining and I chortled heartily with the publisher’s final plea. Margaret, like her creator, Ms. Frampton, flaunts convention and tells the tale their way and knows how to keep their audiences enthralled.

One-Eyed Dukes Are Wild was one of most romantically satisfying books I’ve read in a while. I think it was how Ms. Frampton presented the Duke of Lasham. I just wanted to hug him and love him all over; he’s such a wonderful man but he never had the chance to fly. Margaret gave him figurative wings and the rest was pure magic. This was a great read.

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

Texas Rebels: Quincy by Linda Warren

December 16, 2015 By Leave a Comment

QUINCY
Texas Rebels: Quincy by Linda Warren
Publisher: Harlequin American Romance
Genre: Contemporary, Historical, Holiday
Length: Full Length (218 pgs)
Heat Level: Sensual
Rating: 4 stars
Reviewed by Aloe

A Heart Divided

Quincy Rebel lives by a strict code of honor. Family first. Which means Jenny Rose Walker, his younger brother’s ex-girlfriend, will never know how deeply and devotedly he loves her. The woman of his dreams is off-limits…until his brother gets engaged to someone else.
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Jenny is ready to sever all ties with the ranching clan who has been like a second family to her. Even if it means giving up working with her best friend, Quincy, who she helps train paint horses. Quincy…the tall, masculine Rebel who’s always been there for her. Is she developing feelings for him? Or are they headed for a rebound romance that will leave them both brokenhearted?

Jenny couldn’t believe it. Paxton was engaged and getting married and it wasn’t to her! When she goes over and asks Quincy about it, he asks her to not come the engagement party they will be having at the family ranch. Then she’s mad at Quincy, too.

This is a big family of Texas men who work at ranching. Quincy specializes in paint horses and Jenny has always spent time working on them with him. After all, their farms are next door to each other. He’s tried telling her that Paxton will never settle down. He’s a rodeo competitor and he likes travelling and the women he finds while on the road. Jenny dated Paxton in high school, used him for support when her mother died, and she thinks he’s her soul mate. It’s a dose of cold water to find out he doesn’t feel the same way.

This story is smooth and roots through the issue of a broken heart and trying to make a new beginning. The author shows a good insight at family relationships and romantic rebounds.

Jenny suddenly finds that Quincy is more than just a good friend. But she’s afraid she’s just rebounding. Quincy is afraid maybe she still loves Paxton. Somebody needed to take them in for a good sit down talk about life. The family tried but we all know how that goes. When Jenny almost loses her dad, it shakes her up. It also shows her who stands by her.

Paxton comes back. This was the best part of the book to me. It’s where everyone finally has to grow up. This is a sweet cowboy romance with a big magic thrown in. It’s a good read.

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Point B by Shelby Morgen

December 16, 2015 By Leave a Comment

POINT B
Point B by Shelby Morgen
CenCom 1
Publisher: Changeling Press
Genre: Contemporary, Sci-Fi/Fantasy
Length: Short Story (34 Pages)
Other: M/F, Voyeurism and Exhibitionism
Rating: 4 Stars
Reviewed by Sorrel

When a simple escort goes all wrong, 1st Sgt. Emily Novak has only one hope to recover the hijacked shipment of medical supplies she was supposed to protect, as well as locate her missing men. And that’s to find Cob. Julius Vernon Jacobs. The 3rd.

Cob’s the one man who may have the stones to get them out of the zone alive — and keep masterminds at CenCom wiping out half the world population. Again.

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When your past is the answer to the your present difficulties…

Emily is a soldier and the love of her life is on the other side of the law. What could go wrong, right?

Emily and Cob haven’t seen each other in a while and with good reason. The author gave the barebones version of history. This story is extremely short but not boring. However, I was intrigued and would have liked to have read more about their past.

The story begins after their separation. Emily is given the responsibility to escort a shipment of medical supplies. But everything goes wrong when they are attacked. Emily is strong and smart. Smart enough to suspect who might have ordered the attack and know that the only chance of finding her men and safeguarding the shipment is her ex-husband. There was nice side of intrigue in this story that gave it some layers I wasn’t expecting.

The moment she sees him again she is back to where they started. Will they be able to go past their hurdles and make a life for themselves as well as save the world from another possible pandemic? I was hooked and couldn’t wait to see how the author worked out the details.

Emily and Cob… their passion is scorching hot. But they work well together as partners even when they lock horns.

Sci-fi hasn’t been a genre that I’ve reached for in a long time but I was glad I gave this one a try. Even though it’s short it’s a pretty good sci-fi story that readers who want to try this genre may totally go for. If nothing else, it was a nice way to sample this author’s voice.

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

The World by Robin Wildt Hansen

December 15, 2015 By 1 Comment

WORLD
The World by Robin Wildt Hansen
Publisher: Self-published
Genre: Sci-Fi/Fantasy, Paranormal, Contemporary
Length: Short Story (141 pages)
Rating: 4 Stars
Reviewed by Astilbe

A young man in need of initiation must stake his brain to enter a spiritual healing programme. His healing entails travelling to a world where each region is the inside of a Tarot card. He makes his way through the cards in his quest for The World, a place where everyday reality and magic fuse to become the gold of the Alchemists.

How far would you go to heal yourself?
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I really enjoyed getting to know Arkin because of how much information the narrator shared about him.
There were times when his mental illness compelled him to do things that made me shudder, yet the explanations of what he was thinking during those times were so clear that I understood why someone with his personality and backstory would consider them to be reasonable things to do. It was nice to get to know this character as well as I did.

There were formatting issues. One of the first things I noticed about the formatting was how long some of the paragraphs were. A few of them were so large that they took up almost an entire page, and that made them hard to read. I also had trouble keeping track of which part to read next because there weren’t any line breaks provided between the end of one paragraph and the beginning of the next. At times I had to read the same passage two or three times because I kept losing my place. If not for this problem, I would have given this book a much higher rating as the plot itself was excellent.

The mythology of the place Arkin must travel to in order to try to heal his mind was spellbinding. It seemed to be equally influenced by traditional fairy tales, tarot cards, and the sorts of creatures and situations that usually inhabit the darkest corners of a dream. I never would have thought to combine these three elements into a science fiction tale, but they worked incredibly well together. Sharing specific details of any of them would give away spoilers, though.

The World was a wild ride. Give it a try if you have any interest at all in what it would be like to travel to a completely different time and place!

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

Twice Upon A Blue Moon by Helena Maevee

December 15, 2015 By Leave a Comment

MOON
Twice Upon A Blue Moon by Helena Maeve
Publisher: Totally Bound
Genre: Contemporary
Length: Full Length (155 pgs)
Other: BDSM, M/F, M/F/M, Ménage, Anal Play, Toys, Fisting, Spanking
Rating: 4 stars
Reviewed by Peppermint

Some affairs are like playing with fire, but knowing you’ll get burned is no reason to throw the game.

When her best friend doesn’t show up after a no-strings date with a man she met in a fetish club, Hazel is duty-bound to fetch her from what could be a sticky situation. She doesn’t expect to find her friend’s date so attractive—or so unflappably cool. Not that it matters. Hazel has been burned before and she knows to stay away from handsome men who are patently out of her league, especially when they’re involved with her one and only friend.

This problem can be halted before it gets out of hand because of all the cialis online improvements in science and medicine. As per the data, one out of http://cute-n-tiny.com/cute-animals/puppy-bath-time/ buy levitra online 10 men and nearly half of men above 50 years of age experience ED at some point of time. Precaution purchase viagra http://cute-n-tiny.com/tag/cat/page/2/ before Taking Kamagra Jelly : Continuously devour the prescribed dosage and never surpass the most extreme security with tact. Paul viagra in österreich Gazelka, R-Brainerd, would require doctors to be physically present when administering RU-486. Tesla-driving, suit-wearing Dylan more than fits the bill. But every barb Hazel throws him makes him rise to the challenge, and he doesn’t want her to find a way to say no. But not only does Dylan have his own playroom and a sound grip on the S&M lifestyle, he’s also a man of many secrets. Dylan sees a place for Hazel in his bed, but what he wants is more than a one-night stand.

As she acclimates to the idea that Dylan may not be entirely straight or entirely single, Hazel soon finds herself caught between two dominant men whose bond seems to balance on a knife’s point.

This story had so many aspects and elements to it that I hardly know where to begin. I adored the relationship between Hazel and Dylan from the very beginning. Even if they came together under what some may consider questionable reasons, it was clear from the beginning that they had chemistry and needed to be together. Then add in Ward, the questionable roommate of Dylan and Hazel’s past, and you get some amazing turn of events.

Hazel is one amazing woman, even though she has had some events in her life that has left her a bit jaded. I think on a personal level I related to her; she built a hard exterior to keep others out. That helped me connect with her as well as root for her from the very beginning. I knew she could find happiness if only she came to terms with her past and I was glad to watch the development.

Dylan is just too suave for his own good. I mean, how many girls and guys can he seduce really? I can tell why people seem to love him he just has a way about him. He makes you want to accept, respect, and submit to him. Yet, he does not take it for granted which really is a gift in itself.

Ward on the other hand is a guy I could never really figure out if I liked or hated, which is exactly how Hazel felt most times, and exactly what the author was going for. Even in the end I learned to appreciate him a bit more, but I still felt like someone needed to keep an eye on that one just in case. I also understand how he added a certain level of excitement and unpredictability to the story that really brought it to a different level.

Overall, I have to say I enjoyed reading this story. The relationship development was shaky at times but still continuously progressed. I have to say however that this is not one of those stories that left me thinking “and they lived happily ever after”. I felt like in the end some things went unresolved and could have used some wrapping up, but this may just be the authors way of getting me to look forward to the next story.

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

Pokergeist by Michael Phillip Cash

December 14, 2015 By 2 Comments

GEIST
Pokergeist by Michael Phillip Cash
Publisher: Self-Published
Genre: Contemporary, Paranormal
Length: Full Length (239 pgs)
Heat Level: Sweet
Rating: 4.5 stars
Reviewed by Xeranthemum

Voted BoM by LASR Readers 2013 copy

Sometimes life, as well as death, is about second chances. Luckless Telly Martin doesn’t have a clue. An awful gambler trying to scrape by as a professional poker player, he becomes the protégé of world famous poker champion Clutch Henderson. The only catch…Clutch is a ghost.

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This is not a typical ghost story. Usually ghosts are either scary, freaky or out to cause mayhem. In Pokergeist this particular ghost wants a bracelet. Not just any old bracelet. No, this one is the ultimate poker prize, the dream all poker players strive to reach. Such is the draw, not even death can stop a determined poker player. Clutch has a second chance to win, even if he has to use the hands and body of Telly, the hapless hero. At least, that’s the basic gist of the story but it’s not the whole story, not by a long shot and that is why this novel was so interesting.

Telly is the epitome of the man who dreams big, who thinks he has what it takes to play with the big guys, but when he joins them, he gets a rude wake-up call. It’s very disheartening and the author made it very clear that the hero is at the tipping point. He’s not so addicted that he can’t stop, but he’s not far off. It’s the love of his life, Gretchen, that’s his anchor. But can he really stop gambling?

Their relationship bears the strain of his dream and it’s very gripping, gritty and true-to-life. When you love someone, you want to help them, support them and encourage their hopes and ideas and Gretchen does that the best she knows how. Sometimes, there’s a breaking point and the author explored that a little bit. Telly’s dream comes close, very close to destroying one of the best things in his life, his relationship with Gretchen. The major complication comes from Clutch, the ghost.

Clutch’s influence is a good thing/bad thing. There are times I cheered and others I thought he was a jerk – which is sort of how he was in life. Because he dealt with loan sharks, Clutch qualified for the ‘j’ word. It wasn’t just the fact that he owed money, it was who they went after to recoup their ‘investment’. I wonder if people ever think about that – that loan sharks don’t accept death as a reason to bring the balance sheet to zero. That messed up the subplot rather nicely. The subplot was about the people Clutch left behind and the author interwove their lives with Telly and Gretchen seamlessly.

As the reader approaches the final few chapters, the author starts bringing all the players in this drama onstage for the big finale. I am happy to share that I ended up being stunned. The ending did not happen as I expected. What did happen ended up being a very savvy, clever and surprisingly funny wrap up. The angel that kept trying to get Clutch to ‘cross over’ finally got his way, but again, the why and how was greatly amusing, and yet, there was a lesson to learn, a moral to the story that was really sweet and poignant. The final showdown with Ant and Telly was a class act. The epilogue was perfect and sweet with a hint of that ol’ Clutch sass.

Pokergeist is a ghost story with depth, heart and grit. It follows a man who is basically good, timid and smart but loves poker and believes it’s the path to better things, mixed with a ghost who sees a second chance at that coveted bracelet and pursues it with a single minded purpose, and complicated by the love of a good woman who is wondering if Telly is still the man she fell in love with. Woven throughout this book is the story of real people in all their vices, darkness and passions. What redeems them are the good deeds, the integrity and the true love of Telly and Gretchen. This isn’t a fluffy book; it has teeth and it’s meaty, and it’s well worth spending time with.

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Killing Trail by Margaret Mizushima

December 14, 2015 By Leave a Comment

TRAIL
Killing Trail by Margaret Mizushima
A Timber Creek K-9 Mystery
Publisher: Crooked Lane Books
Genre: Mystery/Suspense, Contemporary
Length: Full Length (311 pgs)
Rating: 4 Stars
Reviewed by Stephanotis

When a young girl is found dead in the mountains outside Timber Creek, life-long resident Officer Mattie Cobb and her partner, K-9 police dog Robo, are assigned to the case that has rocked the small Colorado town.

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The murder was just the beginning, and if Mattie isn’t careful, she and Robo could be next. Suspenseful and smart, Killing Trail is a gripping read that will have readers clamoring for more Mattie and Robo for years to come. Fans of Nevada Barr and C.J. Box will love this explosive debut.

Mystery, suspense and a canine…who could ask for more? The canine in this story is Robo, Mattie Cobb’s K-9 partner who helps her solve a case in the small Colorado community that she calls home.

I enjoyed the opening with its introduction to Mattie and how she came to be partnered with Robo. It’s clear that Mattie hasn’t always been the best dog handler which I felt made her more of credible character. It’s not long into the story that the duo is put to work when a young girl’s body is found. There’s also a dog who’s been shot which brings into the picture a newly single dad and veterinarian, Cole Walker. I liked Mattie’s character and her determination and vulnerability at times. I also liked Cole a lot. He too seemed full of hurt from his recent divorce and his struggle as a newly single dad. There was a hint that a relationship will develop between these two which I hope is the case.

And let’s not forget the mystery. I had several suspects in mind but when the first one wound up dead, it made me read on faster to find out if my other inclination was right. This is a fast paced mystery, well layered with clues and does keep you guessing. The two things I enjoyed about it the most are the setting and the cast of characters who came across as real people.

The author obviously did lots of research on K-9 training and how police officers work with their canine partners which added to the authenticity of the story. This is a series I’ll definitely be following, and if you’re looking for a new police procedural story, this is one I’d recommend you check out.

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

Flash and Bang: A Short Mystery Fiction Society Anthology by J. Alan Hartman (Editor)

December 11, 2015 By 2 Comments

FLASH
Flash and Bang: A Short Mystery Fiction Society Anthology by J. Alan Hartman (Editor)
Publisher: Untreed Reads
Genre: Suspense/Mystery, Contemporary, Historical
Length: Short Story (115 pages)
Rating: 4 Stars
Reviewed by Astilbe

Sometimes, crime occurs with the sound of a drip of poison, or the whispering whistle of a knife moving through the air. And, sometimes, it happens with a “flash and bang.”

The Short Mystery Fiction Society was formed in 1996 to promote the reading, writing and publication of short-form mystery and crime. This includes the yearly presentation of the Derringer Awards, which celebrate excellence in the writing of stories of up to 20,000 words in length.

With over 1,600 members worldwide, SMFS represents a unique pool of authors. Now, the Short Mystery Fiction Society is pleased to present all-new stories for its first-ever anthology of stories in the short form—Flash and Bang.
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From Vikings to ancient Chinese judges, diners to pawn shops, and a variety of gumshoes and amateur sleuths, Flash and Bang not only represents a wide variety of tales, but also serves as a showcase for a sampling of the incredible talent in the SMFS ranks.

Within these pages are contributions from Herschel Cozine, Bobbi A. Chukran, Su Kopil, P.A. De Voe, Laurie Stevens, Tim Wohlforth, Suzanne Berube Rorhus, Sandra Murphy, Julie Tollefson, O’Neil De Noux, John M. Floyd, JoAnne Lucas, Andrew MacRae, Judy Penz Sheluk, Albert Tucher, Earl Staggs, Barb Goffman, BV Lawson and Walter Soethoudt.

Almost everyone has at least one secret they hope will never be revealed. For most of us, though, these secrets aren’t as dangerous as the ones found in this collection.

By far my favorite entry was “The Bag Lady.” The narrator was a successful businessperson who strikes up a conversation with a homeless woman on a train ride. The beginnings of a friendship blossoms between these two women at the same time that the businessperson tries to figure out what lead the bag lady to end up in such a precarious position in life. I was completely enthralled by the clues her unlikely seat mate revealed as the journey progressed. There were a few of them that I didn’t recognize at all until after the final scene ended. This could have easily been expanded into a full-length novel, although it was perfectly satisfying as it was written.

I loved almost every single tale that Mr. Hartman compiled here. There were only a handful of exceptions to this, and even in these cases I still found something to like in the ones that didn’t fully capture my attention. Most of these stories were incredibly short. A few were only a page or two long. While this format worked well for the majority of them, ““Fireworks (from Judge Lu’s Ming Dynasty Case Files)” would have benefitted from a much longer format. It involved a death that occurred at the same time that a large group of fireworks were being set off. There were so many characters milling around, though, that I had a hard time keeping them all straight while also trying to figure out how the victim died and who, if anyone, might be responsible for his death.

In “Fractured Memories,” Keith woke up the morning after a wild Fourth of July party to discover something horrible had happened the night before. From his disorientation in the beginning to his reactions to the stunning conclusion, I felt like I was walking alongside this character every step of the way. The clues were revealed steadily enough to keep me revising my theories about what must have really happened after he went to sleep. I was so interested in what the solution would be that I couldn’t stop reading this one.

Flash and Bang: A Short Mystery Fiction Society Anthology was a lot of fun to read. I’d recommend to anyone who likes very short mysteries.

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