All’s Fair in Love and Scandal by Caroline Linden

June 23, 2015 By Leave a Comment

LOVE
All’s Fair in Love and Scandal by Caroline Linden
Publisher: Avon Impulse
Genre: Historical
Length: Full Length (176 pgs)
Heat Level: Spicy
Rating: 4 Stars
Reviewed by Bluet

Nothing wagered…

Listen to what your people really need and give it to them cheap cialis for sale – or explain why you can’t provide it at this time. Placing the order online requires very few efforts and extremely short time. generic cialis tonysplate.com Second, it does not increase buy viagra from canada the sexual desire of the user. So, never left untreated sex related problems. lowest prices cialis Douglas Bennet can’t resist a good wager, especially not one that involves a beautiful woman. When a friend proposes an audacious plan to expose the most notorious woman in England, Douglas agrees at once. After all, it would be quite a coup to discover the true identity of Lady Constance, author of the infamous erotic serial scandalizing the ton, 50 Ways to Sin.

Nothing won…

Madeline Wilde is used to being pursued. For years she’s cultivated a reputation for being unattainable and mysterious, and for good reason: her livelihood depends on discretion. When Douglas turns his legendary charm on her, she dismisses him as just another rake. But he surprises her—instead of merely trying to seduce her, he becomes her friend…her confidant…and her lover. But can it really lead to happily-ever-after…or are they about to become the biggest scandal London has ever seen?

I have a love / hate relationship with novellas. On the whole, I generally find that they don’t tend to have characters who are fleshed out enough, or a plot that is satisfying. I’m happy to say that’s not the case here. Douglas Bennet is your typical young gentleman who enjoys, among other things, women and wagers. When an opportunity presents itself that involves both, he can’t resist. At a ball, a friend wagers that he won’t be able to convince the aloof widow, Madeline Wilde, to dance. Sure of his charms, he takes the bet, only to be turned down.

Rather than become discouraged, he finds himself intrigued by the beautiful lady, who doesn’t dance or socialize. The stakes are upped when his friend tells him that he suspects Madeline of being the mysterious author of a scandalous publication called 50 Ways to Sin. There is a substantial reward offered for being able to prove the author’s true identity, so Douglas is even more intrigued. I found Douglas to be charming, if a bit shallow at the beginning. But the more he pursued Madeline and got to know her, the more he developed as a person. I love that he realized and admitted his feelings for Madeline and became protective. Madeline was a bit of a mystery for most of the story. She was widowed, but not a whole lot of information about her first marriage was given. I got the impression that it was not an unhappy union, though not a great love match. I wondered what it was that made her so aloof. Why would she attend all these functions if she didn’t dance or socialize, or if she weren’t looking for a husband or lover? I enjoyed watching her walls crumble as Douglas wore down her resistance.

All’s Fair in Love and Scandal is a must read if you’re following Caroline Linden’s Scandalous series, and the continuing saga of the mysterious 50 Ways to Sin. You can read this as a standalone, but will appreciate it much more if you’ve read the previous novels. I enjoyed watching the passion and love develop in two very different personalities. As far as Madeline’s mysterious behavior, you’ll have to read and discover the answer for yourself. I recommend that you do, as it’s a lovely and enjoyable journey.

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

Centerfold by Kris Norris

June 23, 2015 By 1 Comment

CENTER
Centerfold by Kris Norris
Publisher: Totally Bound
Genre: Contemporary, Mystery/Suspense
Length: Short Story (123 pages)
Other: MMF, MM, MF, anal play/intercourse, spanking, exhibitionism
Rating: 4 Stars
Reviewed by Honeysuckle

Lights. Camera…die.

Detective Scarlet Reid has spent the past three months trying to make her alter ego, Ms. December, a ghost of Christmas past. Forced to become the sexy centerfold in a high-stakes undercover assignment, she’s spent more time pulling copies of her naked butt off the bulletin boards at the precinct than she has collaring criminals—and it’s far from over.

A deadly agenda. A gruesome new case has revealed a disturbing trend—one that has placed Scarlet on a list of possible targets. With limited options, she’s going to have to resurrect Ms. December—and her old partnership—which means facing the one man who stole more than just a kiss.

A love worth fighting for. Federal Agent Roman Kinkaid has some explaining to do. His final assignment with Scarlet changed him, and he’s been running from her ever since. But he’s ready to make things right—only he’s not alone. His partner and lover, Special Agent Aiden Cross, is just as invested and determined as Roman is to claim Scarlet as theirs. And they aren’t taking no for an answer, especially when their souls—and Scarlet’s life—are on the line.
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They have three weeks to catch the stalker before Scarlet’s time runs out and they lose their one chance at a happy ending.

Angel is a centerfold. Okay, so the popular 80’s song by the J Giles Band pretty much became a reoccurring earworm throughout reading this sexy little short story.

Scarlet, aka Ms. December, is deep undercover when the book opens. Actually, she’s very exposed and is wishing for some cover. I had to laugh in the beginning because she is so clearly uncomfortable in her role as a play bunny being photographed in her birthday suit. She holds her cover well and thanks to a nasty little man who likes to watch, she gets some serious and sweaty one on one time with her partner, Roman. And then all goes to pot. No pun intended but readers will understand that line when they read the book.

Circumstances bring them back to the scene of a crime but it isn’t just Scarlet and Roman. Roman’s partner in and out of bed, Aiden, has feelings for Scarlet and is determined to keep her safe so he and Roman can show her they’re in it for the long haul.

The story was fun and well developed. The sex, HOT! Great dialogue and a villain who isn’t revealed until the very end. There are clues and red herrings but it was fun to guess along the way. This story had it all. What I liked best were the characters themselves. I wish I knew how Roman and Aiden became a couple. These guys are both heavy on the alpha side and both happy to give an erotic spanking when opportunity presents itself. Let’s just say they’re a tiny bit obsessed with Scarlet’s posterior. But it’s sweet and sexy at the same time. They truly dote on her and I couldn’t help but love watching them engage.

Something else I appreciated about this book is that Ms. Norris didn’t weigh the story down with tragic back stories for the characters. They are all in law enforcement in one form or another and the present is what’s emphasized rather than their pasts. I’m not saying how they came to be in the present isn’t important but where they’ve been isn’t as important as where they’re going. The only caveat to that is that I didn’t get to see how Scarlet came to be interested in Aiden before he enters the picture and she’s admitting to herself that she’s been attracted since the first time they met. That was glossed over but it didn’t kill the book for me. I was cheering for them as soon as Aiden walked into the room and started taking charge. It was intoxicating.

I could happily read more stories with Scarlet, Roman and Aiden at center stage. The chemistry was there and so was the love.

This is a quick read for someone who doesn’t have much time but wants a story that is totally satisfying. I’ll be checking out more Ms. Norris’ books to find other great stories.

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

Stay of Execution by Kellie Larsen Murphy

June 22, 2015 By 2 Comments

STAY
Stay of Execution by Kellie Larsen Murphy
Publisher: Self-Published
Genre: Mystery/Suspense, Contemporary
Length: Full Length (311 pgs)
Rated 4 stars
Reviewed by Snapdragon

Little Springs was just a small college town, the kind of town where everyone knew everyone and violent crime was nonexistent—until a series of rapes and murders at the college. After an outbreak of fear and hysteria, only the arrest and conviction of Leo Spradlin, the “Co-Ed Killer,” could end the terror.

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Stay of Execution opens every bit as grim as we expect from the title. It’s a small town and the conviction rang true, way back when, and a little matter of changing evidence isn’t going to change people’s minds. They know who the guilty party is.

Detective Michael Cancini is devastated to see this old case fall through: it was a seriously dark case, involving the years-ago deaths of five young women. New evidence came to light, and it changes everything…and unknown to him, a young reporter, Julia Manning, has also decided to investigate.

Eerily, we can see into the minds of all three: the two ‘on the case’ as well as the killer. Ms. Murphy presents these viewpoints skillfully, and we slowly begin to puzzle out this crime, both from the strictly evidence-collected side, as well as from the motivation side. We also get a strong sense of public opinion; a sense of the fear running through the small town. There were the rapes and murders and now there might be… revenge? The possibility of revenge amps up what is already an eerie mystery to one more fitting in the ‘thriller’ category.

The forensic evidence, faults with DNA testing, and what caused the re-examination of evidence is thoroughly discussed, in an interesting and informative way. Fans of the facts-based contemporary mystery/whodunits will really enjoy the discussions focused on forensics. The case doesn’t dwell long on forensics though; various characters carry the story forward at speed. The local barkeep knows everyone, or he knows someone who knows someone. Regular old gossips supply some information, too. There’s a real sense that everyone’s business is known and discussed, but for some things… it’s not.

The author’s maddeningly casual approach to pronouns makes you guess about who is meant, on occasion. It wouldn’t be so irritating if the story weren’t so riveting! However, it’s a small complaint, in an otherwise well-plotted, well-written mystery. Do put Stay of Execution on your to-read list.

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

The Highlander Takes a Bride by Lynsay Sands

June 19, 2015 By Leave a Comment

BRIDE
The Highlander Takes a Bride by Lynsay Sands
Publisher: Avon Books
Genre: Historical, Suspense/Mystery
Length: Full Length (238 pgs)
Heat Level: Spicy
Rating: 4 stars
Reviewed by Xeranthemum

A bold, seductive laird meets his passionate match in a scintillating Highland romance from New York Times bestselling author Lynsay Sands…

Sword fighting, swearing, and riding astride come naturally to Saidh Buchanan. Simpering and holding her tongue—definitely not. Raised alongside seven boisterous brothers, Saidh has little interest in saddling herself with a husband… until she glimpses the new Laird MacDonnell bathing naked in the loch. Though she’s far from a proper lady, the brawny Highlander makes Saidh feel every inch a woman.

She has an angel’s looks, a warrior’s temper, and seeks out his kisses with wanton eagerness. Little wonder that Greer is intrigued by his comely guest. When reckless desire overtakes them, he’s more than willing to make an honest woman of her. But Saidh is the target of a hidden enemy, and Greer faces the battle of his life to safeguard the woman he wants above all others.

So What are you sitting tight for you to survey and you needn’t bother with a better lifestyle which you could do by maintaining healthy body generic sildenafil india weight. For downtownsault.org cheap viagra without prescription adults, the first change is to increase the blood flow to the penile area of the male body. As well, it supports the erection process by boosting Cyclic levitra without prescription downtownsault.org GMP. Sildenafil Citrate from the tablet gets assimilated inside 20-30 cialis professional no prescription purchase at drugstore minutes. Who exactly is doing the killing is a question that dogs the heroine all through The Highlander Takes a Bride and it was a chilling yet fascinating plot that kept me glued to my chair. The culprit is surely whom everyone thought it was, right? It’s Saidh’s point of view that takes a reader on a journey of discovery and an unexpected romance. I really enjoyed this novel.

I received the bulk of knowledge of what might be going on from Saidh. It’s her thought process, her adventures, her daring questions and pursuit of the truth that not only got her in trouble but earned her the interest of the new laird, Greer. Their first meeting was rather funny because the heroine is full of cheek and I greatly enjoyed that about her. In fact, her personality was refreshing. It stems from being the only girl in a big family with many brothers. She’s filled with confidence and has a pragmatic mind which differentiates her from other ‘ladies’ who swoon, cry and seem noodle-headed. Saidh has a sharp sword and an even sharper tongue and isn’t afraid to use it, much to my great amusement.

Greer is the hero and as a man, I liked him. As a hero, he certainly filled the role nicely. He too, is unconventional. The story sometimes was told through his point of view as well. He’s not the type to demean a woman but to celebrate her strengths and respect them. He still believes that a woman has her place in the keep, at a man’s side and in his bed, but it’s tempered with appreciation for what a woman, a lady, brings to the relationship. Because of that attitude his reaction wasn’t the same as other men’s which threw off Saidh time and time again. I liked that he could surprise her. Then again, some of his surprises were a bit silly and fun – like the part with the letter. When I think about it, it was a rather sweet, impetuous and goofy thing for him to do but seeing he was thinking with the wrong body part, well, that just made it adorable. Of course Greer couldn’t know just what kind of Pandora’s Box he opened by doing that. The story was good and solid before that, but after? Giggles galore and a rapid uptake in the plot momentum.

There were some important secondary characters that ran the gamut of my liking or my distrusting them in equal measure. As the mystery comes close to being solved, truths and secrets are revealed. One is sad, the other interesting and one is shocking. This book is truly a fascinating page turner.

I think the one thing that bothered me was that I could never figure out how to pronounce the heroine’s name. It was like a thorn in my brain. I settled on Sadie and my brain was happy with that. Another thing that I question was Alpin. Do eight year olds really have that kind of introspection and wisdom? If I hadn’t been told his age, I would have guessed his age as more tween than anything.

All in all, The Highlander Takes a Bride is a novel that delivers a suspense filled story making the romance that much more powerful. Both Greer and Saidh prove their mettle to each other by overcoming and dealing with the many conflicts, threats and surprises that come their way. There’s a lot of humor and cuteness to soften the harshness of their situation which is a strength in this novel. My favorite part is when Saidh is introduced to physical pleasure by Greer. Her response is delightful and her enthusiasm totally grin-worthy. Watching them fall in love is a ton of fun.

The Highlander Takes a Bride gets a huge and happy recommend from me. It’s great entertainment.

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Brokenhearted Beauty by Heather Rainier

June 19, 2015 By 1 Comment

BEAUTY
Brokenhearted Beauty by Heather Rainier
Publisher: Siren Publishing
Genre: Contemporary
Length: Full Length (281 pgs)
Other: M/F/M, Ménage, Anal Play
Rating: 4.5 stars
Reviewed by Mistletoe

Voted BoM by LASR Readers 2013 copy

We will study their benefits below:order cheap cialis appalachianmagazine.com It is known as the world’s first medication for ED namely cialis and will tell you how to perform jelqing and kegel exercises. For that reason, lowest prices for cialis there are several driving courses available these days. But these days younger buying levitra online generation is suffering from problem of incapability should take the “women lovegra sex pills”. The outcomes they obtain through male extra do not appalachianmagazine.com purchase cheap levitra fade. Brokenhearted and grieving, Leah Woodworth’s heart is filled with regret for never confessing her love to Patterson Elder. His loss haunts her dreams and she can’t set eyes on his brothers, James and Vincent without seeing his face. Having denied her attraction to them until it was too late, how can they possibly still want her?

James and Vincent were sure Leah was the one from the moment they met her. Patterson had always shared that belief, taking every chance to convince her that she was meant to be theirs. With Patterson gone, James and Vincent are deep in their own mourning and at a loss as to why Leah avoids them. When she is offered an opportunity that may take her permanently out of Divine, they realize time has run out and seize what may be the last chance they have to make her theirs forever.

When you read this book make sure you also grab a box of tissues. Leah’s book is a very touching story about loss and finding love again. Having been through the pain of losing someone like Leah did, not in the same manner but someone that I could have and should have; I could not help but understand her pain and just where she was coming from. Her story shows us that love is strong but you have to reach for it and hold on tight because you never know when it could slip from your grasp. Leah learns this the hard way, but thankfully she has two men that want nothing more than to help her to heal. Vincent and James are more than willing to let Leah make her own decisions and give her time but when it looks as if their time is running out what else can these two men do but fight for the woman that they love?

I cannot tell you how many times I had to stop and catch my breath with this book. The pain and the love that these characters have for one another is immense. Leah loved all three men and losing one before they even have a chance has her tied up in knots and not knowing where to go from here. The emotions that Vincent and James go through are just as strong. The three are wonderful together but Leah must figure things out for herself. She knows what her heart feels but can she give it again or is she just setting herself up for more pain? The love that the two men have for Leah is so strong and shows in everything that they do. I loved seeing how happy they could make Leah and how much that they cared for her.

Not only did I enjoy watching their relationship take shape but I also enjoyed seeing many of the other characters and their relationships grow. I am excited to see more from Kendry and Jared. It is obvious that the brothers are good men. I especially liked the moving scene where Leah listens one more time to Patterson’s heart. Like I said make sure you have those tissues handy.

This story had me right from the start and did not let go. The story moves along nicely and the characters quickly endear themselves to you. I am a big fan of the Divine Creek Ranch series and it seems that it only gets better with each new book.

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

A New Hope by Robyn Carr

June 18, 2015 By Leave a Comment

HOPE
A New Hope by Robyn Carr
Publisher: Mira
Genre: Contemporary
Length: Full Length (330 pages)
Heat Level: sensual
Rating: 4.5 stars
Reviewed by Camellia

After losing her child, Ginger Dysart was lost in grief. But since moving to Thunder Point, a small town on the Oregon coast, and with the help of her cousin Ray Anne, Ginger is finally moving forward. Her job at the flower shop is peaceful and fulfilling, and she’s excited to start her first big assignment, assisting with the Lacoumette wedding.

In spite of her lasting heartache, Ginger finds herself swept up in the pleasure of the occasion. But the beauty of the Lacoumette farm and the joy of the gregarious family are ruined by an unfortunate encounter with the bride’s brother, Matt. Struggling with painful memories of his own recent divorce, Matt makes a drunken spectacle of himself and Ginger when he tries to make a pass at her, forcing Ginger to flee the scene in embarrassment.

But when Matt shows up at the flower shop determined to make amends, what started out as a humiliating first meeting blossoms into something much deeper than either of them expected. Discovering they have a lot in common, they form a solid friendship, though everyone around them worries that Ginger will end up with a broken heart yet again. But if Ginger has the courage to embrace the future, and if Matt can finally learn to let go of the past, there may still be hope for a happy ending.

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A New Hope, a Thunder Point novel, invites the reader to meet new people who become a part of a village of people who support each other, accept each other “warts and all,” and certainly share information freely about everyone. While a novel that stands alone very well, A New Hope is richer and more delicious if blended with other Thunder Point novels.

Robyn Carr weaves together remarkable human relationships that encompass all level of love. Emotions run strong and often hot, as life problems are dealt with and love, with its innate wisdom, makes itself at home, even when it doesn’t seem to have been invited in. Family love, love for fellow human beings, and love between a man and a woman that sizzles at times, keeps A New Hope bubbling and bustling with activity.

If you’ve read earlier Thunder Point novels, you’ll get to revisit Grace who is moving her wealthy mother, who has ALS, to Thunder Point, while all the time planning to marry Troy, her love. You can catch ups with Cooper, Raye Anne, and so many others in the previous novels. They add depth and strength to the story.

Matt’s and Ginger’s exes, who don’t want to stay exes, create their share of conflicts, but they also help Matt and Ginger resolve to face the future with courage as they work to let their wounds truly heal before making a commitment.

Matt and Ginger share fun, simple pleasures, gentle caring, mutual interests, and finally love that is patient, kind, and enduring as they gain emotional good health and best of all the reader get to share their journey to a happy-ever-after and be a part of the endearing community of Thunder point.

Delightful reading!

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

Lone Rider by BJ Daniels

June 18, 2015 By Leave a Comment

LoneRider

Lone Rider by BJ Daniels
Publisher: Harlequin
Genre: Contemporary, Suspense/Mystery
Length: Full (320 pgs)
Heat Level: Sensual
Rated: 4 stars
Review by Poppy

A cowgirl at heart, Bo Hamilton does her best thinking in wide-open spaces. So when money goes missing from the family foundation, Bo rides into the Crazy Mountains to figure things out. But a killer hiding among the sawtooth ridges takes her captive and isn’t planning on ever letting her go.
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Bo’s disappearance gets folks thinking she’s the guilty one who’s run off with the money, but Jace Calder would bet his ranch that she’s innocent. Not that he has any reason to trust the beautiful, spoiled senator’s daughter. Still, Jace is going after Bo and bringing her home to face the truth. But in the wild, rugged Crazy Mountains, he finds Bo at the mercy of a suspected murderer. Jace is her only hope, and he’s about to find out what they’re both made of.

This was my first foray into a BJ Daniels novel, and it’s part of The Montana Hamiltons series. Although well written and exciting, it was clear from the first page that I was missing previous information about the numerous characters and storylines. I was intrigued enough, though, to go back and find out more about previous installments

The blurb made me feel as if the main characters were going to be Bo and Jace — and while they are the couple who get their HEA, their story had no greater preference given than the ones between Jace’s sister, Emily and her new beau, Alex (who I loved!), Sarah and Russell, or Buckmaster and Angelina. Honestly, they all seemed to have the same number of pages allotted to their stories. There’s a pretty significant ongoing storyline going on here as well about Sarah and her mysterious return from the dead, along with the mystery of Emily’s stalker. It almost made Bo’s kidnapping a bit dull!

I zipped through the book quickly, because there is so much happening. I wanted to find out more and more and more and so kept turning pages! Honestly, though, I was most invested in the new relationship with Alex and Emily … more so than Jace and Bo. I’m hoping that the next book is theirs–I’ll snap it right up!

The author has a way with wordsmithing. I was never bored or confused or kicked out of the story due to odd phrasing or confusing description. She kept the pace galloping forward and while I wouldn’t say it was edge-of-your-seat, exactly, the tension seldom lets up. I can’t fault her skill in the least.

I suppose ultimately I felt frustrated at having missed book one. This book just didn’t stand alone as strongly as I would have liked. However, it definitely caught my interest enough that I’m off to find book one and catch up so that I can be first in line for the next in the series. I recommend the book and the author … I just also recommend that you start at the beginning. You won’t regret it!

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The Hardest Ride by Gordon Rottman

June 17, 2015 By 1 Comment

RIDE
The Hardest Ride by Gordon Rottman
Publisher: Taliesin Publishing, LLC
Genre: Historical
Length: Full Length (202 pgs)
Rating: 4.5 Stars
Reviewed by Myrtle

The Texas-Mexico border, the winter of 1886—The Great Die Up. A raw rift separates Mexicans and Anglos. A loner cowpoke and a mute Mexican girl fight man and nature to reunite.

Out of work cowpoke Bud Eugen comes across Marta, a mute sixteen-year old Mexican girl whose family has been killed by Indians. Bud reluctantly takes her along, even though he’s never had to accommodate another person in his simple life. He’s unable to find anyone willing to take her. In spite of his prejudices, Bud grows to like the spunky girl (and her excellent cooking).

Actually, it is said to be levitra online canada most dexterous and result arranged treatment for the issues of a sexual issue in his life. The frequent nightfall problem is mainly india viagra for sale experienced by the teenagers, but the aged persons also suffer from this health issue. Medicines for hair care cheapest viagra in australia and natural skin care can also be the source of later pain and dysfunction. The remedies to manage viagra großbritannien diabetes are many. Eventually, they both find work on a border ranch. Here, the relationship between the girl and the young cowboy hesitantly grows. But banditos raid the ranch, kidnapping the rancher’s daughters and Marta. Bud, with twelve other men, pursue the banditos into the most desolate reaches of Mexico. Ambushes and battles with banditos, Rurales, and traitors are constant, and the brutal weather is as much a threat as the man-made perils. Life and death choices are made at every turn as one side gains the advantage, then the other.

The rancher’s daughters are rescued, and the exhausted party turns back. But Bud presses on alone, against insurmountable odds – determined to fulfill an unspoken promise to Marta.

A real Texas cowpoke rarely needs more than a good horse and a reliable gun while he’s on the job, but a good hot cup of coffee and a pot of frijoles sure has a way of making things more pleasant. So when Bug Eugen finds a mute Mexican girl out alone on the trail, he’s grateful for the grub she can cook, even if she can’t carry on a conversation.

It’s 1886 and Bud has just lost his job and his vaqueros friend and mentor. He’s not to blame. Times are hard and sometimes even the best cowpokes have to move on to the next job. Bud sets off with a “letter of introduction” and the promise of a job at the San Isidro working for Mathew M. Picket. But on his way there, Bud comes across a brutally murdered family who he deems had a bad run in with the “damn injuns.” Soon, he realizes that one member of that poor family managed to escape. He finds Marta, a mute girl of maybe sixteen, who has enough spunk, smarts, and fight left in her to keep any man on his toes. Especially Bud.

An unexpected bond forms between Bud and Marta. He feels responsible for her and she feels indebted to him. No matter how hard Bud tries to find a good home for Marta, it always turns out that she returns to him, usually mad as a hornet that he tried to give her away.

This story was written in first-person and is heavy on narrative, which works well considering Marta can’t speak. However, it was not written in the usual commercial-style of most novels. This story has a flair and a voice all its own. It includes many phonetic spellings, which does give the reader a sense of dialect, but sometimes has too much of it making it a difficult read. And true to the Old West, the story has its gruesome aspects with scenes of scalped and butchered families. In fact, it reads like an old handwritten, historical account. It’s blunt, factual, and realistic. It is not for the faint-of-heart.

If a historically accurate and well-portrayed tale of a cowpoke’s life in 1880s is on your wish list, this novel should definitely be in your hands. But be prepared for prejudicial phrasing – this is as authentic as it comes.

Filed Under: Other, Reviews Tagged With: , , , ,

Service before Self by Tegon Maus

June 15, 2015 By 2 Comments

SERVICE
Service before Self by Tegon Maus
Publisher: Tirgearr Publishing
Genre: Suspense/Mystery, Contemporary
Length: Short Story (97 pages)
Rating: 4 Stars
Reviewed by Astilbe

A recent transplant to Southern California, Toby Grant has landed his dream job. He’s a service tech for Handy Dandy Services—the premier handyman service in the southland.

Things don’t go well for Toby on the first day when he is teamed up with Ryan Burnell, a twenty year veteran of Handy Dandy. Toby quickly learns the hardships of being Ryan’s partner, and finds himself in one uncomfortable situation after another.

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Haunted by one misunderstanding after another, Toby learns the true meaning of the company’s motto—“Service before Self.”

Everyone feels nervous on their first day at a new job, but Toby has a few extra reasons to worry.

A murder mystery generally isn’t something I’d expect to find funny, but this one provided me with a lot of opportunities to laugh. Mr. Maus has a unique sense of humor that worked really well with the tone of this story. His uncanny ability to draw out the humorous side in all kinds of unlikely scenarios is one of the biggest reasons why I get so excited when this author releases something new.

There were a few minor pacing issues in the beginning. This tale needed to introduce several important characters before the plot picked up. While all of the characters were important to what happened later on, I would have preferred to dig into the mystery sooner because it was such an interesting one. A slow introduction works well for a novel, but it felt a little out of place for something this length.

Some of my favorite scenes in this book showed how the customers that Toby and his coworker visited were actually living. How people present themselves to the outside world doesn’t always match what is really going on their lives. The gap between that image and the reality of their private lives was a fascinating place to explore.

If you haven’t had the pleasure of reading one of Mr. Maus’ books yet, Service before Self is a great place to start. If you’re already a fan of his work, I’d recommend it just as strongly. There’s something here for everyone!

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

B Is For Broken Anthology

June 12, 2015 By 1 Comment

BROKEN
B Is For Broken Anthology
Edited by Rhonda Parrish
Publisher: Poise and Pen Publishing
Genre: Sci-Fi/Fantasy, Horror, Paranormal, Contemporary, Historical, Action/Adventure
Length: Full Length (296 pages)
Rating: 4 Stars
Reviewed by Astilbe

Broken people, broken promises, broken dreams and broken objects are just some of the ways these 26 fantastic stories interpret the theme of ‘Broken’. From science fiction to fantasy, horror to superheroes the stories within these pages cover a vast swath of the genres under the speculative fiction umbrella.

Featuring original fiction by:

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Science fiction has a creepy side. You can read about it here.

The titles of these tales give away major spoilers about what happens in them. Ms. Parrish used this same creative technique in her previous anthology, A Is For Apocalypse. Once again I will be referring to the author’s name in this review instead of the titles of their contributions so that other readers will remain just as surprised as I was by what happens in them.

Ms. Cleto caught my attention immediately. It was fun to figure out what a Snow Queen with a rare, magical gift could possibly have in common with an ordinary teenage girl like Gwyn. I enjoyed jumping back and forth between their timelines as I attempted to piece all of the clues together. The ending worked particularly well for the short story form due to how quickly the plots were sketched out.

This doesn’t happen very often when I read anthologies, but I enjoyed every single selection in this book. Some of them would have worked much better as novellas or full-length novels, though, due to their complicated plots. Ms. Simon and Mr. Fosbury’s piece of fiction was a good example of this. It showed what happened to a village midwife named Hessura after she made a difficult choice for one of the pregnant women she had helped. The premise was fascinating, but the plot simply didn’t have quite enough time to fully develop.

As soon as I started reading Mr. Phillips’ entry, I couldn’t wait to discover out what happened next. He described a little girl named Adina who born with an unusual birth defect. Her mother soon figured out how to turn this anomaly into a steady source of income for the family. The character development was incredible, especially considering how quickly the author needed to work in order to pull everything together. I never wanted to stop listening to what Adina had to say.

I’d recommend B Is For Broken to anyone who loves contemporary science fiction as much as I do. There is a lot of great material to explore in this collection!

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