Leading Her to Heaven Aphrodite’s Apples Press

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Author: Kayleigh Jamison
Publisher: Aphrodite’s Apples Press

REVIEW:

Nineteen year old Lady Susanna Cavendish, the spirited and beautiful eldest daughter of the Earl of Devonshire, has been summoned to travel to Scotland to be married to the man chosen for her by the King of England. She is very apprehensive because her intended, Blair Ruthven, is a Scot, and she has heard all sorts of terrible stories about how the Scots treated their women, and how they hate the English.

The man hired to guard Susanna and her maid, Mary, on the journey to Scotland has a deep seated dislike of nobility, and has no loyalty whatsoever to his employer. A bit of double dealing, and turning a blind eye results in… No I won’t say, it will spoil it.

Her fiancé, tired of waiting, and fearful that something terrible has befallen his intended bride, in spite of their never having actually met, feels it is his duty to set out in search of her.

He finds her in a terrible predicament, and proceeds to save her by whatever means necessary. She has seen things no genteel woman should ever see, and in order not to scare her further, Blair makes a snap decision not to reveal his true identity.

Despite being “betrothed” Susanna finds herself falling for the charms of her mysterious saviour “James” and their journey North is nothing if eventful. She tries to harden her heart against him believing him to be in the employ of her fiancé.

The remainder of the journey is not without incident; it’s a roller-coaster ride of emotions for both of them. Before the wedding takes place, Susanna’s naivety, stubbornness, and headstrong nature gets her into all sorts of predicaments.

Just when I thought the story was coming to a close, there came a sneaky little twist that tweaked my interest yet again. It had me reading as fast as I could, wanting to know what would happen, my heart yammering in my chest, because by now I had a real liking for the characters involved. Page after page gripped my imagination, and vivid scenes opened up in my minds eye. EXCELLENT!

All in all, I thoroughly enjoyed this book. Much, much more than the normal run of the mill historical romance and I look forward to reading more of Kayleigh Jamison’s work.

Favourite line:

“I hope rats eat your eyes and the Devil pisses on your bones!”

Cringeworthy Line:

Spencer licked her face crudely and she turned her head to the side, squeezing her eyes shut. (Bleh!)

LOL line:

Vomit…lots of vomit. Rotting meat. Stale milk. Castration.
You’ll understand why it’s so funny when you read this book for yourself.

I give this FOUR champagne Flutes.

Fortune’s Fool Cobblestone Press

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Author: Sara Dennis
Publisher: Cobblestone Press

REVIEW:

From the first page I was hooked. This is a cracking read. I loved the characters, Dylan and Valerie, and although it was obvious from the outset that they would end up together, you will want to read it to see what they go through to get there.

Dylan has his demons to contend with. His brother died, and Dylan blames himself for his death, tormenting himself with what he could have/should have done. Since his brother passed, he doesn’t want to let anyone into his heart, as loving someone ends up hurting too much.

He meets Valerie when her son gets accidentally shot by his friend. He is the police officer on patrol that day when she zooms past him to get her son to the hospital.

Dylan becomes Valerie’s shoulder to cry on whilst her son is undergoing surgery. At this point I felt something sparking between them, and as the story unfolds she basically puts herself out there to get him. Dylan, in turn, wants to be with Valerie too, but thinks he is wrong for her.

By all accounts, I loved Fortune’s Fool. On one or two occasions the pace slowed down (but only for a page) and I was soon back into it again with massive enthusiasm. Sara Dennis can spin a tale that will have you eager to turn the page. Super!

4 flutes

Funky Woman Triskelion Publishing

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Author: Deborrah Girard
Publisher: Triskelion Publishing

REVIEW:

I would say for my tastes this was a slow start to begin with, though a very good read once I got in to it. Half way through chapter 2 and I couldn’t put it down until I’d finished. Gripped! In the beginning I wasn’t sure where the story was going but it quickly became abundantly clear once I got going and read more. 

Although a few other characters are mentioned, they are not a big part of the plot. I liked that, and enjoyed the story centring solely around Jennifer and Jason. A married couple with a daughter, they both have good careers. However, Jennifer’s takes off better than they could have foreseen. Finding another side of herself, Jennifer appears to change in Jason’s eyes.  Sadly, their paths drift to the point of near separation, but Jason is not prepared to lose the love of his life. Whilst he comes across as domineering at times, it is quite obvious how much he loves Jennifer. She in turn still loves him, but can’t stand the fact he wants to organise her life. She is enjoying her career, her new way of life… What she doesn’t realize is he just wants her nearer to home and not gallivanting around the country—because he misses her so much. Oh how I wish life was really like that. To have someone care for you so much like Jason did for Jennifer. It is so nice to sink into the realms of fantasy with a great book, and this book did it for me. 

The love scene in the bath was very erotic but not x-rated. I would say it had just the right balance and didn’t border on anything distasteful or obscene. This scene was particularly very well written—in fact, the whole book was. Bravo, Ms. Girard! I give this 4 champagne Flutes as I really enjoyed it. 

 

A Taste of Italy Freya’s Bower

REVIEWED BY:

SCORE:

So very well deserved: The Whole Bottle of Champagne! 

 

Author: Lucie Simone
Publisher: Freya’s Bower
ISBN: 1-934069-46-9

REVIEW:

A Taste of Italy is a total and utter RIOT. From the first few lines this book had me laughing out loud. With superb wit and perfect delivery, Lucie Simone has created a must-read tale. How pleasing to read something that is so funny, yet at the same time romantic. Stunning 1st person POV, I couldn’t put this one down, reading from cover to cover, literally scoffing down the words. This is one mad-cap ride of thrills!

Carly Simpson sets off abroad in the hopes of snaring a man. Fed up of waiting for Mr. Right to come along, she first tries Paris. Not enamoured of the French city, she moves on to Florence, Italy.

Decidedly unkempt from travelling, with clothes in need of a jolly good wash, one of my favourite lines from A Taste of Italy came along:

I was an exhausted mop of greasy hair in a pair of jeans that had been worn so many times they nearly stood on their own.

Carly visits the local laundromat, where a man flirts with her. He gets told off by his mama, who runs the establishment. This is an amusing scene - trust me!

After a shower and nap at her run-down hotel, Carly visits the city where she buys a scarf from a vendor named Helena. Helena invites her to watch her perform in an opera.

Favourite line in this scene:

It was nice, but not that nice.

You’ll have to read it to ’get it’ but that line gave me a real belly laugh. 

The opera turned out to be full of older people, and Carly didn’t really enjoy herself, although the singing was wonderful. She explains to Helena what she’s doing in Italy, and Helena offers to help.

Funniest line in the whole book:

“You give me name, I find him.”

Meeting Helena later on at a club, Carly finds herself floundering. She feels too old to be there among the younger people, who think nothing of gyrating with one another and displaying their amorous antics in public. Despondent, Carly leaves the club and wonders if she’ll ever find a man…

The next day Carly goes on a tour of Florence with other tourists, mainly couples, and this just enhances her feelings of loneliness. She decides to go and watch a play, only to find it cancelled when she arrives due to the weather.

The poor woman isn’t having much luck at all. Until she meets with David, one of the actors in the play. He offers to show her the real sights of Florence.

Carly and David go out for a meal, comfortable in each others company. Afterwards, they stroll through the city, take in the sights and end up back at Carly’s hotel…

With a very hot erotic scene, Ms. Simone will have your nether regions on fire, and you’ll be more than ready to attack your other half when comes home from work, or, if he’s sitting anywhere in your location after reading, prepare yourself (and him!) for a damn good time!

Phew!

A Taste of Italy ends on a really smile-inducing note. I would definitely recommend this story to anyone, actually, I’m going to gas-bag about it to everyone. Really good, really funny, and really bloody wonderful!

Encore! Encore!

*gets her boppy instrument ready in case any more of Ms. Simone’s works arrive at Cocktails.*

They’re mine, mine I tell you!

A Wild Love: Escape Lavender Isis Press

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Author: Rose Paisley
Publisher: Lavender Isis Press

REVIEW:

Neela was forced to marry the nasty Harold to pay off her father’s debt. Harold humiliates and hurts Neela, alone and in front of witnesses, uncaring of her upset. Knowing she has no choice but to stay with this man, she resigns herself to her fate. This guy is a pig, people! Prepare to hate him.

While out in the gardens that surround Harold’s huge house, gained by lies and deception, Neela senses someone close. Mindful of the rumours she’d heard of a huge cat that stalks the area, she calls out.

Hajj is that huge cat; a man born centuries ago who can shape-shift into a feline. In his human form, he had lived in Harold’s house, nurtured the gardens. The tribe Hajj belongs to lives in a cave in the jungle that surrounds the house.

Neela is not afraid when she feels Hajj’s fur as he nudges her hand. She is accepting of his touch, had sensed him on many occasions, and as he settles against her, she tells the feline about her wicked husband and all she endures. Hajj is devastated, realises that he has strong feelings for Neela, and the urge to protect her grows inside him.

Footsteps can be heard, along with Harold asking a female where Neela is. Neela tells Hajj to remain hidden, and then she makes her way over to the part of the garden that houses the fountain. She sits there innocently, and waits for Harold to find her.

Harold, thin and spiteful, shouts at Neela, grabs her and takes her into the house. His intentions are despicable (I won’t reveal them, if I write out my feelings on this guy I’ll be here all day. P.I.G, he’s nothing but a P.I.G!) and Hajj follows them…

The door to the house barring his entry, Hajj hears Neela’s cries of distress. Intent on saving the woman he now realises is his lifelong mate, he springs into action.

A slight twist to the tale ensures it is possible for Neela and Hajj to be together, and I was glad. The description of the cave is especially good, I was able to visualise everything inside as if I were there myself. When the human version of Hajj emerges, be prepared to swoon ladies!

A Wild Love: Escape, is written very well, with lush wording and great visuals. I would read more from Rose Paisley, and recommend her to others.

The only thing I found to pick at was the POV switches–though there are scene breaks, there are a couple of instances where the POV switches occur within the same scene. Thankfully, the switches aren’t confusing.

A good read, one I enjoyed a lot. Are there any more of these super little tales, Ms. Paisley?

 More please!

Juliana Forbidden Publications

REVIEWED BY:

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Author: Adelle Laudan
Publisher: Forbidden Publications

REVIEW:

Juliana receives a telephone call to say her disgraceful and bullying husband, Gary, is dead. For seven years she has remained hidden inside their home, unable to face the outside world, due to Gary diminishing her self-confidence and controlling every aspect of her life.

In chapter one, I learned just what a despicable man Gary was. Hateful images filled my mind, and if I were Juliana, I would have killed the rotten S.O.B well before his death by dangerous driving. What an utter pig!

Unable to believe that Gary was actually dead, that the phone call had been another of his ways to control her, frighten her, she continues her daily routine as usual. This tugged at my heart. That Juliana was so insulated by what Gary wanted that she was even afraid to let herself believe he had really passed away–fear of being caught in one of his sick games.

From what she wears to even the smallest of her acts, Gary controls. Some of the things described in Juliana that Gary does are so terrible that anger inside me caused me to leave the book and have a cigarette to calm down. That women are subjected to this kind of life makes me very angry.

Gary insists Juliana wears ‘uniforms’ not normal clothes. Underwear is a frivolous expense, so she has to go without wearing any. She is allowed to wear make-up, however, because Gary likes her to look good.

*pause in review again for a break*

After continuing her routine of getting Gary’s dinner done exactly on time, a police officer arrives, and it is only then that Juliana accepts that maybe Gary really is gone for good. Oh my. What an utterly startling set of emotions I felt here, as Juliana realises she can go into Gary’s office, do whatever she likes without fear. She decides to call her sister, the only person she can think of who may still want to know her despite Gary’s attempts of isolating Juliana for so many years.

Cyndi, Juliana’s sister, arrives to take her back to her house. Juliana acts oddly, following the many rules Gary had insisted upon, rules that had ingrained themselves so deeply in Juliana that she didn’t realise she did them. She had, quite simply, forgotten how to live normally.

Cyndi senses the negative energies that surround Juliana, feels them pervading her own, formerly well-balanced home, and when everyone in the house is asleep (Cyndi has a husband and child) she sets about cleansing the house with an aged Indian custom.

Juliana opens up to Cyndi and tells her of the terrible treatment she suffered at Gary’s hands. Julia explains that she is still in the mind-set of the Gary years. I suspect it will take a long time for someone who has suffered such terrible abuse to ever be anything close to normal again–if that is possible at all.

For someone who has experienced some form of abuse, be it mental or physical, certain lines in Juliana will re-open old wounds, or, if a reader is still living the nightmare, they will be able to connect strongly with Juliana’s plight and character. One such line struck a chord with me:

For years now, she had perfected the art of staying detached. Of not feeling, not caring and most of all, not letting her guard down.

Cyndi decides to treat Juliana and takes her out for the day to a health spa. I queried in my mind one small thing–that Cyndi noted Juliana obviously hadn’t seen a razor in a very long time–yet Gary had expected Juliana to be ladylike at all times, so I would have thought his preference would be a woman with smooth underarms and legs.

They then went clothes shopping. Juliana experienced a surge of excitement at this–to choose something to wear that wasn’t anything like the uniforms she’d had to wear before.

Juliana is amazed that Gary’s estate is hers now he is dead. He had no family, therefore everything went to Juliana. She had gone from a terrified woman, trapped in her apartment, to someone finally able to come out of her shell, with money to her name. Juliana then feels ready to embark on a cleansing of her mind, spirit and soul, and Cyndi is more than willing to help. Juliana is soothed, and slowly begins to learn to live again.

David O’Leary enters her life, a policeman who has come to discuss the issue of Gary’s remains.

Juliana comes to a big decision–that she would like to move out of Cyndi’s home and find a place of her own. How wonderful that she is able to make such a simple decision like that, one ‘normal’ people take for granted every day. Juliana’s spirit slowly begins to heal, she enters this new life with caution, but knowing in her subconscious that Gary cannot hurt her ever again–except in her memories–memories that lurk inside her mind, for when she purchases that new house she insists on new locks on the doors and windows, not really able to totally believe that Gary won’t come back and track her down, find her, and punish her all over again. What a terrible state of mind to be in, just terrible.

Embracing the same life her sister leads, Juliana learns the power of her own mind–that it has the ability to heal her wounded soul. After moving to her new home, her life takes on a whole new meaning. I won’t go into details of what the rest of the book is about, for it would spoil the read.

Just know that in life, we sometimes have to go through terrible things before the goodness is bestowed upon us. We have to learn certain lessons before we can progress to the next stage. Juliana proves that, and not only is it a shocking/heart-rending/lovely tale, it also shows that good things do happen.

Having read Destination Unknown, Ms. Laudan’s other title reviewed here, for purposes of our fair review policy, I can say, without a shadow of a doubt, that the plot/story subject in Destination Unknown, in my opinion, doesn’t suit Ms. Laudan’s ‘voice’.

Juliana, however, suits her perfectly, and shows us that she can indeed write a gripping tale, one I’m very glad to have read.

Thank you, Ms. Laudan.

 

 

Eye of the Beholder Freya’s Bower

REVIEWED BY:

SCORE:

Author: Sara Dennis
Publisher: Freya’s Bower
ISBN: 1-934069-06-4

REVIEW:

Story 1: Eye of the Beholder

Every now and again, an author that has writing short fiction down to a fine art crosses my path. Sara Dennis is one of them.

In Eye of the Beholder, Ms. Dennis has created a kind of virtual world of the future, an entirely believable one. Not usually into sci-fi-ish works, this one held my interest literally from the first sentence.

After a night out, Raine waits on the side of the road for a taxi cab. In this world, taxis have no drivers, you pay for your fare by swiping a credit type card. The taxi cab alone fascinated me and I was able to picture everything.

While in the taxi, Raine drops her earring in between the seat cushions. Reaching for it, she is surprised to find the handle of a mobile telephone. She pulls out the phone. Now, the telephone in Eye of the Beholder is a very good example of how our imaginations as humans can conjure up possible future models of our every day appliances. Ms. Dennis’ phone is a unique (for me anyway, I don’t read sci-fi as a rule) item. I found it intriguing, just like the cab.

Peeking at the one message on the phone, Raine is presented with a picture video involving someone famous in a menage a trois. Unable to look away, she becomes engrossed in the video, and as it comes to an end, the voice of the taxi operator informs her that she has violated laws.

Confused, Raine is deposited a few blocks away from her destination of home.

Once home, she is startled to find that she can’t enter her apartment building. Nelson, the apartment doorman, seemingly doesn’t recognise her and accuses her of stealing her own identity. Police sirens wail in the distance, and Raine runs…

She calls the famous owner of the phone. She tells him she wants to return the phone, and he invites her to his home.

Eye of the Beholder finishes with a good explanation as to why Raine’s world went suddenly strange, and finishes on a note where as a reader I was able to realise exactly what Raine’s future would be, without being told.

I really enjoyed this story. I want to read more from Ms. Dennis.

Story 2: Skin Deep

Detective Maxwell Lincoln has been maimed in an accident. He looks highly unsightly, and with two short paragraphs I am made to feel immense sorrow for the fellow. Candace, his partner, had survived the accident without any major scarring. Due to being seen as a monster, Maxwell pushed her offers of help away. From these two paragraphs, I got the sense of total helplessness Maxwell suffered; loving someone so much it hurts yet willing to set her free from the burden of living and looking after him. Twice I have noted the amounts of paragraphs taken to inspire very strong emotions inside me. With the right amount of wording, evoking such a response from a reader…I would say Ms. Dennis is one of the finer ebook writers I have read.

While getting ready to go to court and testify, Maxwell catches the scent of Candace in his room. He discovers she’s been inside his home and left one of those funky phones on his dresser, and he opens the message. She expresses that she still cares for him, and a vivid scene showing an intimate moment of theirs comes into play–excellent description of his body scars had me wincing in sorrow for him.

Used to people shying away from him, or gasping in horror when they see his facial scars, Maxwell is slightly confused when he turns up in court and no one seems to see him as anything but a regular-looking guy.

With a clever twist and use of futuristic appliances, Ms. Dennis made my mind rattle trying to work out her twist before she showed her hand, yet I couldn’t do it. Excellent!
Two stories set in the future, two stories that gave me an excellent hour of reading.

Watch out for Ms. Dennis. If these two tales are anything to go by, I’m guessing her other books will also be top notch.

Charade Freya’s Bower

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Author: M.E Ellis

Publisher: Freya’s Bower 

Shirley Langford is looking forward to nothing more than getting out of her house, getting away from her husband and kids and indulging in a good stiff one! It’s a drink I am alluding to, of course. If you were thinking otherwise, however, Charade will not let you stray too far off the beaten path.  The beaten path you ask? That would be the life Shirley has been wandering since child #4 was born. Then, somewhere between #2 and #3 Shirley forgot who she was and the purpose she had, if there was any to begin with… Her mind has since been kidnapped by Teletubbies and sock eating dryer gremlins. 

 Domestic life is never as blissful as any blushing bride imagines and when it all becomes too much, Shirley simply wants a break. Is that too much to ask? Her only outlet, her only smidgeon of sanity, lay in the hands of her oldest and dearest friend, Kathy, who is having some marital problems but lives miles away… How horrible it is for Shirley to know that such a close and dear friend is having relationship problems. How terrible that Kathy must go through this storm alone, must watch as the cracks that often form in the fibre of a relationship soon turn to sink holes of suspicion… And all without best friend Shirley there to console her. Email, it seems, is the closest the best friend’s can get these days… 

If only best friend Kathy could get away. How wonderful it would be if she brought her anxiety, her melancholy, her restless nerves along for a little visit. Shirley  could console her friend then (she has four kids after all, consoling was her middle name, right after Mummy ‘Can I?’ and Mummy ’She hit me first’). And when Kathy was feeling better (or not) they would celebrate as best friends do with a night on the town dancing while tossing a few back. Shirley even ordered a lovely new outfit off the Internet! Come on, Kathy? Help a stranded housewife out! 

In the midst of domestication, during the struggle to stay sane, to stay calm, to not murder children or spouses, sometimes we forget what it was that gave us such an urge to nest in the first place. That love that once burned like hellfire, now a tiny shimmer of sunlight against a distant airplane in the sky; flying to exotic destinations the average housewife will never get the opportunity to visit. Suspicion of love lost or forgotten can get the best of any woman and her dishpan hands.   Is it possible that all husbands are the same? 

Charade will keep you wondering and cheering for that ever well-meaning woman,  whose curves have turned to lumps, whose long, lush hair has turned to hay, whose half hour bubble bath surrounded by scented candles has turned to a wash cloth under each arm and a dab of toothpaste on the tongue. No time for that now, #3 has missed the school bus again! The sacrifice of a great wife and mother… 

Can love endure the monotony and pressure of day to day life? Is their still humour in her little world? Is there still love? Ask author M.E. Ellis, though she may look at you with a strangely dulled gaze over a pile of laundry the size of Godzilla and answer, “Don’t ask me…I’m not that type of person…” You know the type…  

When I realized I would be reviewing one of M.E. Ellis’ stories I was excited. From what I understand, she has published some pretty dark and spooky reads. I was disappointed to learn this would not be one of them. That certainly did not change the fact that I couldn’t put this quaint story of love down. Don’t go getting all teary-eyed, Voodoo Sunrise! There’s plenty of horror to go around, and some husbands may very well feel that way while reading this as they try hide the lipstick stain on their own collar… 

Charade was indeed a wonderful read. I recommend it to anybody who wants something light, something to let their mind drift away from their own pile of laundry if only for a moment. I suppose I should be honest however… If there is anything wrong with Charade, anything at all… well… it could have used some zombies… 4/5 flute glasses!

Of Lilies Freya’s Bower

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Author: F.R.R Mallory
Publisher: Freya’s Bower
ISBN: 1-934069-45-0

REVIEW:

 

Story One: Of Lilies

I must say the first line of this book had a beauty to it that made me want to read on. Rich, with a literary feel, the words were beautifully placed. I enjoy literary fiction every so often, and this fitted the bill perfectly. Don’t get me wrong, I do like mainstream writing, but to read something so poetically lovely made my day.

Martin senses things. He is able to astrally project. He drifts into his subconscious and the woman his mind creates comes into view. Of course, she is beautiful, everything he has ever dreamed of. She teases, entices, and this short story, though steeped with eroticism, is very nice indeed. There isn’t much I can say about this story without giving the whole plot away. Suffice to say, Of Lilies is a wonderful literary journey, one I’m glad I took.

An especially great line: …ripped away the remains of his cloak of civilization.

Ah, the wonderment of the written word and the images they inspire within.

FABULOUS: She tasted of dark nights, hidden moons, and vapors rising up from still waters.

What a fantastic line! Wow. Hidden moons particularly grabbed me, but that whole line brought so many images and odours. Just fabulous!

Story two: Cherie

Again, first line, another well written hook:

Downtown Santa Rosa had lost some of its luster as the brisk breeze of early spring tore anti-war flyers off staple ridden posts to scatter their bits like giant uneven snowflakes across the lawn and fountains of the central square.

Is that just delicious or what?

The voice of this story isn’t literary as in ‘Of Lilies’. It couldn’t be really, because it’s a totally different story, although the two tales do tie in with one another.

Cherie is a sex columnist. After doing research, she finds out that men who succumb to a Succubus have a penchant for lilies. This ties in with story one. It makes her giggle, as she eyes a man buying such flowers from a vendor.

The story progresses, and Cherie finds herself with the flower buyer in a cafe. He shows her to a room out the back where a psychic healer works. The healer works on Cherie, and she finds out who the flower buyer really is.

A very well written pair of stories. I liked Of Lilies best, purely for the richness of the wording. I also liked the fact that erotica can be written without resorting to ‘those words’ that cheapen the work somewhat.

Lovely. Glad I read this lovely little book.

Her Protector New Concepts Publishing

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Author: Pamela Tyner
Publisher: New Concepts Publishing
REVIEW: 

 Right from the start this book compelled me to read on. I was desperate to know what had happened in Tricia’s life. As the book progresses I discovered that Tricia has suffered violence at the hands of her partner, Matt. Her Protector reveals a tale of fear and violence that Tricia suffered because of Matt. He made her totally dependent on him by moving her to Florida, away from her security in Lexington, Oklahoma. She finally managed to leave him, but he returned to their hometown looking for her.  Tricia’s first love, Clint, arrives to take her to safety. I immediately spotted something bad between her and Clint. Tricia shows a lot of anger towards him, even though he has taken her into his home to keep her safe.   

Pamela Tyner has a great way of making me feel emotions while reading.  In the scene where Clint reaches to knock on the door just as Tricia opens it, my heart stopped a beat and I felt the fear of being hit, just as Tricia did. When they kissed at the Bushwhacker it made me feel bubbly and warm inside. I thought she had finally given in to his advances, made me wish she had given in. Clint remembers everything about Tricia.

Throughout the book they slowly come together again. There are moments where they both feel exactly the same, but neither do anything about it. I willed them to just give in and let it happen.   Throughout the book Tricia had a habit of becoming jealous whenever she thought a woman may be getting close to Clint, even though she thinks she doesn’t want him herself. In one scene the phone rings and she says, “I’m going to bed now, Honey.  Make sure you don’t make me wait too long. It gets awful lonely in there by myself.” I soon discovered that it wasn’t the person she had first thought it was. It gets her a little more into trouble than she first anticipated. I couldn’t help but chuckle. 

I felt completely drawn in to the way Tricia felt, especially when she spoke to Clint on the porch about what she had endured in her time with Matt. I wanted to hug her and say, “You know what? It wasn’t your fault. He made you think it was your fault so he didn’t feel guilty about the way he behaved.”   Pamela Tyner makes use of the word brainwashed during a particular scene, which is such a powerful word in Her Protector. It is the only word that can describe what Tricia suffered.  

Finally, she gives in to her feelings and approaches Clint. This part made me want to cheer and clap for them. The description of the scene is short which gives it more impact, in my opinion.   For a brief moment Pamela Tyner took me to the darker side, telling the story from the violent Matt’s point of view.  She writes, Changes would be implemented, when he was done with her she wouldn’t even go to the bathroom without asking his permission first. That was it for me. I wanted to thump Matt there and then. No man should ever try to dominate a woman the way Matt does. Not only that, he was going to ruin everything Tricia had started building up again with Clint. 

During an erotic scene I felt encased by the moment. Clint is so gentle and so understanding of her needs. Afterwards, Tricia is drifting off to sleep and Clint says, “I missed you, honey.”  My heart melted with the passion. The brief encounter when Matt made Tricia drive away from the ranch, him holding her in a lock around her neck, made me scream for her to remember the self defence Clint had taught her. When Clint and Tricia finally embraced I felt a gush of relief. Then it was revealed Clint had been shot. I just burst into tears. I really thought this was the end for them. 

Pamela Tyner successfully ties up all the ends in the story and succeeded in coaxing tears from my eyes. I really loved the ending to this story, and in the epilogue I saw that in the end, Tricia has learned to finally trust again. I would definitely recommend this book if you want some passionate reading. 

Visiting Donna Dee Amira Press

REVIEWED BY:

 

SCORE:

 

 

Author: Zinnia Hope

Publisher: Amira Press

 

REVIEW:

 

A hurricane approaches the Ohio Valley. Arnold Cuttshaver, jaded and cynical from fifty years in prison, starts work at a bookstore managed by Regina, a young woman who reminds him of his wife, Donna Dee, and of his old self: full of faith and hope. She believes he is innocent, and, although they clash at first, mainly because of his anachronistic views and cynical attitude, they form a bond. As flood waters rise and they are imprisoned together she breaks through his hard outer shell and learns something of the man inside.

This is an accomplished and vivid story set amid the rising tension and humidity of an approaching storm and containing believable and interesting characters. Arnold Cuttshaver is a man out of time, with no connection to the current world besides golden oldies on the radio and a distant thirst for knowledge. His views clash with Regina’s, his apparent racism and atheism shocking her. He is cranky and belligerent, but these traits only serve to deepen his character as we sense it’s a show, a defence built to protect him from further hurt.

He helps a young black kid, Tyrell, with his homework, and for a while we see something of the real man, but it’s quickly hidden away, lest anyone get too close. The same is true of his relationship with Regina, who reaches out to him, believing him innocent, and who he tries to keep at a distance. But eventually they are forced together by the rising waters, and he has to confront her likeness to his long deceased ex-wife, on whom he forced a divorce out of a desire to protect her.

It’s an interesting and touching tale, and the characters are handled well, particularly Arnold, who manages to be both endearing and frustrating. It is pacey and well written, with nice descriptive flourishes, such as the following, describing his detachment from the world: ‘Arnold examined the toes of his wing tip shoes. Dust settled upon their shiny noses. He felt like those shoe tips–dust-coated, out-of-date, and obsolete. He drifted in the world like a small boat escaped from its mooring.’

Now personally I’m not one for similes, but this, I felt, was an example of how to use one subtly and effectively to paint a character. My favourite line however, was very short and sharp, coming after Regina has been accused of pre-judging Arnold and has answered him, denying it: ‘She shrugged into her lie like an ill-fitted jacket.’

My only complaint plot-wise was Regina’s shock at Arnold’s apparent atheism. A nineteen year old being shocked at someone’s disbelief in God struck me as a little unlikely, but maybe that’s due to who I am and where I live. I’m willing to believe there are places where this applies and would be entirely believable. It certainly didn’t spoil the story.

As it is this is a heart-warming, though slightly sad, tale, told very well with interesting characters and plenty of style. Four flutes. Recommended.

Wasting The Dawn Forbidden Publications

REVIEWED BY:

SCORE:

Author: Elisabeth Drake
Publisher: Forbidden Publications

REVIEW:

 

Rhiannon and Gareth visit the grave of Gareth’s late wife, Irina. Gareth and Rhiannon are now married, but each one mourns Irina’s passing just as much now as they did five years ago when she died. Each Valentine’s Day they visit her grave.

This year Rhiannon takes a white rose, Irina’s favourite flower. As the couple stand and think about the past, a raging storm arrives. The rose is snatched out of Rhiannon’s grasp, and when she looks at the grave of her former friend, she is shocked to find a naked female form in the foetal position on the ground.

Hardly believing her eyes, Rhiannon takes a closer look and sees that it is her friend, Irina. How was this possible? How did she manage to come back after so long?

There is tension and awkwardness here. Of course, there would be. Imagine yourself, married to a man whose first wife comes back to life. You’d ask yourself many things. Does he still love her? Does that mean our relationship will become redundant? Many emotions must race through your mind, and for that, this story made me think.

To begin with, the prose is so mournful I would deem it beautiful. I was captured by the voice from the start. However, it does change throughout the book. Upon taking Irina home, and hearing her reasons as to why she’s alive again, the ‘voice’ of the story changes, as does the tone. This isn’t a problem, but I was actually quite sad that this tale lost its earlier poignancy. I realise the tale couldn’t continue in the same vein as it started, but still, such beautiful wording and ‘feeling’ is very rare, and I admit to feeling sad when it went away.

The trio go back home to discuss their circumstances, and Rhiannon reveals a secret she has kept for many years. Irina knew what that secret was, although she never revealed this knowledge when alive.

Irina is a little spiteful, in my opinion, when she spills out one of Gareth’s secrets–that he had visited church and mourned her passing even while married to Rhiannon. I went off Irina after that, though I can understand how she must have felt.

A lot more happens in this story, which I won’t reveal.

Very well written, Wasting The Dawn is a good read for a shorty. I did find myself wishing it didn’t take the path it did. This doesn’t mean the path it did take wasn’t enjoyable, but for my own preference–that beginning was just so powerful… For me, what happens in the last third of the book took some of the earlier magic away.

Enough lamenting about it.

Sigh.

So, I gave four flutes for the tale it was, not for the tale I wanted it to be. It deserves the score as Ms. Drake has an exceptional voice and a unique ‘thing’ that just shines from the page. I like some of the word combinations she uses–she doesn’t seem afraid of experimenting, veers from ‘the usual’. I like that.

I especially liked the ending. Very sweet.

Made my eyes sting.

She’s Got Legs Freya’s Bower

REVIEWED BY:

SCORE: 

Author: Amanda Brice

Publisher: Freya’s Bower

ISBN: 1-934069-13-2

 

Two stories that merge as one.

REVIEW:

 

I opened the pdf for this book and saw on the cover the most hideous pair of shoes on the feet of this woman.

What? Who the hell would wear something like that? All becomes clear when I read on. And let me tell you, this is one of the best chick-lit voices! Scrummy!

Daria doesn’t really want to go to her high school reunion. She hated ‘those bitches’ (funny!) while at school, so having to go back and see them all again isn’t exactly her idea of a good night out. She has a think, as we do when going back to face our pasts, of what she’s achieved so far. Good job, good money, nice condo, cool friends. But she hasn’t got married, hasn’t had kids. Has she been doing something wrong to still be young, free and single? She’s only 33, but still, shouldn’t she have bagged a hubby by now?

Plagued by these thoughts, and some of how she ended up agreeing to go to the reunion in the first place (her sister Kara persuaded her to go. After all, the lure of borrowing Kara’s clothes has got to be worth it, and the shoes! Oh, she could pick a pair of wonderful shoes and feel a million dollars in them) Daria gets used to the fact that she’s going to see those cheerleader bitches again.

Selecting a dazzling dress from Kara’s wardrobe, Daria is just about to pick some shoes when the taxi cab toots its horn. Grabbing a pair of shoes from the bottom of the wardrobe, she races out to the waiting cab.

Dressed up, Daria dons the shoes in the back of the cab, and doesn’t see she has an extremely ugly pair of shoes on her feet.

Daria enters the party with a deep breath. Everyone seems to look the same as when she’d last seen them. Two bitches, Jenna Ridgley and Catherine Sinclair waylay Daria. And then they notice the shoes… Great idea, great visuals, and the feelings of female mortification here are very strong. She retreats to a far corner and gulps down a glass of wine.

And out of the speakers blasts the song I wanna sex you up. Ah, Color Me Badd or some such band sang that, didn’t they? Blast from my own past seeing that song in the book, so much so I burst out laughing and went red at the same time. It’s not funny when you’re merrily enjoying a book and something in it reminds you of your former geekiness years! Only joking. I’m not joking about being a geek but what I mean is, I’m not saying this spoiled the read. It’s fine that I’m reduced to a red-faced gimp right now and reaching for the tissues… But it’s fine. Daria feels exactly the same as me so I don’t feel so bad.

Enter lovely looking man. This bit cracked me up, not because anything was particularly funny, but because Daria has on those nasty-assed shoes and a RED dress. What a total cock-up! I suspect there will be a cock-up later on in the book but I haven’t got that far yet. Oh ha @ me. If I get any wittier I’ll start giggling at myself like a baboon on an overdose of whatever it is baboon’s overdose on. Leaves? Bananas?

The man seems vaguely familiar but Daria doesn’t place who he is until he tells her his name. Greg McCauley. She’d had a crush on him in her younger years. Coupled with the shoes, could the errors of the evening get any more embarrassing? So she tells him her name is Elaine Benes. Again, I found this utterly hilarious (I swear I haven’t been drinking!). She’s picked such an un-nice name. Yes. Funny.

The pair have a good flirting session and then Ms. Brice slaps me with another song that yanks the past back into the present. ‘A classic Bryan Adams song’ can only be that terrible Robin Hood melody that stayed at number one for so many weeks I could have pulled out Adams’ eyeballs if I ever got to meet him. Which I haven’t. And am never likely to. So they dance, and Daria decides that if Greg asks her, she’ll go home with him and live out every fantasy she’d never acted on in her youth.

However, Daria is reminded of the time and she has to go. Kara will be home from her own night out soon and the dress and shoes must be returned! Greg is left all on his own and Daria totters out of the reunion on the nasty heels…

Story two shows us Greg’s POV. He wonders if he’ll ever see Daria/Elaine again. The spell of the party has been broken and Greg just wants to go home. He can’t get Daria out of his mind in the following days. Something about her got to him. Plus he finds out she’s really called Daria, and finds himself searching the crowds for her every time he goes out. Haven’t we all done that at some point? Also, has anyone else had phantom conversations with that person we’d so like to see again, acted out what we’d say?

No?

Oh.

Greg is out and about and then he sees the shoes again…

I am revealing no more. If you want to know how it ends you’ll have to buy the book to find out.

This tale is funny, brought many things to mind, and made me connect with the character because we’re round about the same age. I think any woman of any age would connect with Daria though. She’s too likeable not to.

I’m glad I read this book. I liked it very much. It’s put a smile on my face and made my mood lighten. Now, any book that does that will make my partner smile. He’ll come home and think that I’ve either been on the sauce or taken some form of medication. I’m seriously in a crazy mood now.

Thanks, Ms. Brice!

Nine Inches of Snow and the Ebony Princess Siren Publishing

REVIEWED BY:

SCORE:

AUTHOR: Gracie C. McKeever

PUBLISHER: Siren Publishing

REVIEW:

Aziza is used by her stepmother, Philomena, as the hired help. Aziza’s father died, leaving Philomena his vast fortune, which really should have gone to Aziza.

The book opens with Aziza working at one of Philomena’s partys, and one of society’s most eligibile men, David Healey, seeks her out. He doesn’t see her as the hired help, far from it. He sees her for who she is as a person and not what she would have been if she had inherited her father’s fortune.

Aziza is attracted to David, as he is to her, but she forces her emotions down. David has his own money so he obviously isn’t after Aziza for that. All he appears to want is one dance. And to make her his. But, he is with Philomena so this isn’t really a good idea… Despite that, they get a little frisky with one another.

Aziza can read people’s feelings and emotions, and their minds if she feels the need. She attempts to probe David’s mind but it seems he has blocked her entry. What forces are at work here?

David has decided to let Philomena go, more so after she finds him and Aziza together in the kitchen, thankfully not in an uncompromising position… Philomena quite firmly tells Aziza to tend to the guests, and just as firmly grips her arm. David witnesses this and his resolve to get Philomena out of his life strengthens. He tells Philomena they are over, and she isn’t pleased as she suspects it’s because David likes Aziza. She makes it quite clear that David and Aziza will ‘never be’.

Philomena is just horrible. Outer appearances are most important to her. She’s had plastic surgery in many forms, considers herself full of class and beauty. Ugly on the inside though. She’s the female villain we all love to hate… She’s wanted to snare David as her second rich husband, and now that her plans had been thwarted, she wasn’t a happy bunny. More like a bunny boiler. David leaves the party and she trails him in her car. Intent on keeping him away from Aziza at all costs, this quite zany mad-as-a-hatter woman drives at him in her car and leaves him for dead on the pavement!

Shudder! This woman is seriously odd, yet at the same time a creepiness is attached to her. Here, when she rammed the car into David, I ’saw’ mad, staring eyes, gritted teeth and a totally insane woman. Much as it made my eyes widen, I was pleased to read something with a little psychological element to it. Crazy people in books make for a good read.

Oh wow. Major twist to this tale. David is only a bloody wolf! Yip! Liking this tale more and more as I read along…

David, on the ground after the ‘accident’ is on the pavement in wolf form. Onlookers rush to the scene. There is a problem, though. As a wolf, David can still see his human form on the ground, and this is not supposed to happen… His body is taken to hospital in an ambulance. He wants to follow the body, but the urge to be with Aziza is stronger. He wants her as his mate, and he can feel her close by.

Aziza is at home merrily reading a book when David appears in wolf form at her apartment. This is written plausibly, so there isn’t any “Oh, yeah right!” coming into my mind at this point. The book is written in such a way that it seems entirely natural that a man can be a wolf, sniff out his mate and find out where she lives and then go to visit her. I liked that aspect of this story. It was a natural progression in the tale. He speaks to her in her mind and she can hear him.

Though Aziza can see David/Wolfy, other people can’t, so he is able to go to the hospital to check up on his human form. His family are at the hospital and one senses him in his wolf form. The whole family are wolves.

David tries to ‘leap’ his wolf form back into his inert human body but something is stopping him. This hasn’t happened before, he can usually merge with himself quite easily.

Back to the bunny boiler, who is incensed that David is still alive. She’d got rid of the car she’d used to run David over, and decides she has unfinished business to attend to at the hospital. Again, this woman is totally creepy and utterly weird. I love the way she is shown in this book. I keep getting goose bumps when reading about her. So, knowing she’s on her way to the hospital to finish what she started, I’m on pins and needles when the next chapter starts and it’s in Aziza’s POV. I feel the need to race through and see what’s going to happen. Good job.

Aziza works at the hosptial and is assigned to look after David. David’s grandpa is in the hospital room when Aziza goes to check on him. She sees David as a ghost-like form and they communicate. Grandpa is convinced Aziza is the one to pull David out of his coma, and leaves her to look after him.

David is able to ‘wish’ for things and they happen, so he whisks Aziza away to a replica of his bedroom at his house. They are drawn together sexually, and afterwards Aziza senses someone back in David’s hospital room (I’m betting it’s that creepy bunny boiler woman!). Aziza catches Bunny-boiler trying to finish David off. David leaps at Bunny in wolf form. She can see him but the two police officers that arrive cannot. The man who took Bunny’s car to trash it had informed on her…

Aziza must use her powers to lead David back into his body, to bring him to life again. Will she manage to do it? Will Bunny wreak havoc in her mad way all over again? You’ll have to read the book to find out, but this is one weird ride of a tale - and I mean that in the nicest way possible.

Shape-shifters, mind readers and bunny boilers. Just my cup of tea. I am so glad I read this book. I haven’t been given the chills like this with a character for quite some time. And Philomena is one strange chick.

Now for the bit I didn’t connect with:

It took me a while to get my bearings with this book. The first few pages I had to keep back-tracking to check I hadn’t missed something I was supposed to know. It seemed as if this was a second book, and that I should have read the first one before tackling this. The reference to ‘homegirl’ puzzled me to begin with. ‘Homeboy’ was obviously David Healey, and it wasn’t until further reading that I gathered ‘homegirl’ was Aziza’s stepmother. I don’t like to frown when reading, and to do it first off didn’t bode well. However, the writing kept me from switching my mind off. Good, solid prose was what made me read on. If this hadn’t been so well written I would probably have given up because of the beginning.

Other than that quibble, this book was highly enjoyable.

Sorcha’s Heart Freya’s Bower

REVIEWED BY:

 

SCORE:

 

Author: Debbie Mumford

Publisher: Freya’s Bower

ISBN: 1-934069-19-1 

REVIEW: 

While making a strengthening potion with her mother, Elspeth, Sorcha voices her intention to seek the Heart of Fire. Elspeth worries that Sorcha isn’t as capable a wizard as she thinks, and doesn’t want Sorcha searching for the Heart.

 

Leofric is stirring up unrest amongst the dragon community. Sorcha is afraid Leofric will push the dragons too far, resulting in them wiping humans from the face of the earth. Elspeth has been trying to convince Leofric to back away from warring with the dragons. The Heart of Fire is needed to end the war, and Sorcha is determined to find it—with or without her mother’s blessing.

 

While visiting a lagoon that evening, I got my first taste of Ms. Mumford’s ability to create beautiful visuals. Having read her short story in the Dreams & Desires anthology, I eagerly pounced on wanting to read Sorcha’s Heart. I would have taken Glass Magic too, but, having opened my big mouth to Sangria about liking Ms. Mumford’s style, she got there first.

 

Apologies for going off topic… 

Lagoon: great visuals, and the added line about the smell of seaweed put me right beside Sorcha. Being a wizard, she sensed company arriving before it came. In the form of a dragon, who landed at the edge the lagoon. He lets Sorcha know that he knows that she seeks the Heart, and explains that more than one witness is needed before the Heart can be claimed.

 

Great line in this scene, bringing awesome imagery to mind: He laid his huge head upon his front feet, reminding Sorcha of her mother’s sleek black tomcat.

 

 

I ‘saw’ huge dragon nostrils, claws the length of human fingers. Large eyes, glinting with moonlight, all without Ms. Mumford having to describe those things, all from that one line above. Fantastic.

 

Sorcha calls to the Heart of Fire, and it comes to her in the form of a necklace, A fire opal in a filigree setting. This then brought the cover work for this story to mind, as I saw the necklace on there. I must say this cover fits the story perfectly.

 

The dragon demands the Heart of Fire, fearing that Sorcha will kill his community if she takes it with her. She slips the chain around her neck and instantly pain assaults her. Her whole body is wracked with spasms, and she collapses down onto the sand. She awakes to new sounds, and enlightenment, for she can hear dragons talking—and understands them. 

Realising the price she had to pay for taking the Heart of Fire was to become a dragon, she frantically searches the human side of her brain for a spell, any spell to reverse this terrible occurrence. The dragon from the lagoon is by her side, and he warns her not to try and change what is done. He is more kindly that when Sorcha first met him, and I loved the way he called her ‘Little One’. I will confess to melting towards the dragon, named Caedyrn, at this point. Is it a little weird to admit to falling in love with a big, scaly beast, complete with triangular pointy tail? You may think me a little odd, but I think you’ll find if you read this book, you’ll love him too…

 

Idly wonders if she’ll call out Caedryrn’s name in her sleep tonight. Husband will wonder what the devil she’s talking about… Titter. 

Caedyrn tenderly (swoon) takes care of Sorcha. On her first ‘flight’ he is there to ensure she doesn’t fall. This scene is amazing. I actually felt as though I were Sorcha (I mean, who wouldn’t? If it means flying in the sky with Caedyrn, then damn it, I’m going to pretend I’m her, right?) and the exhilaration of being airborne comes across very well here. She says, “I am Sorcha and I can fly!”. I’m a soppy thing, and this brought tears to my eyes. The pair then eat, as the transformation into being a dragon and also flying has sapped Sorcha’s strength.

 

I enjoyed the fact that Sorcha was a dragon yet could think like a human. Glimpsing her inner thoughts here as she accepts and comes to terms with her new body is a bonus. I’m not into fantasy usually, but this tale has made me want to try something else in this genre. I mean, how can a human being changed into a dragon be plausible? I don’t know, but Debbie Mumford pulls this off exceptionally well. I am actually amazed that I have been made to believe this can happen. Astounding talent on Ms. Mumford’s part.

 

Caedyrn takes Sorcha to his home. A vast Ice Aerie, a cave with many passages and rooms. This part of the book is fantastic. The description is so wonderful I felt I was actually in those caves. Sorcha is introduced to the other dragons. Her emotions are shown well here—insecurity, being a little scared, excited, unsure. Again, wonderful.

 

It takes a little time for Rex, the head dragon, to accept that Sorcha means the dragon community no harm. She is told by other females that their first ‘mating’ will soon happen. Females fly up into the air, and a male chases her to claim her for himself. The bonding between Sorcha and the other females is well done. It is almost like they are human females having a natter and chatter about the men they fancy. You tend to forget they are dragons—indeed, so steeped was I in this tale (or can I say ‘tail’—ooo, makes me think of Caedyrn…) that even knowing at the back of my mind they are dragons doesn’t seem weird. I can’t explain it, but you’d understand if you read the book.

 

Sorcha feels the pull of the ‘flight’ but Rex doesn’t want her to participate this time round. However, it is Sorcha’s choice if she does so, and of course, she does. I was so happy (and jealous, mind) that Caedryn caught up with Sorcha and made her his lifetime partner. And their coupling—ooh la la! How on EARTH can two dragons having sex be sensual and beautiful? You can’t imagine it until you actually read this book, but it does indeed come across as a wonderful union.

 

Can you tell I am in love with this book yet?

 

I won’t reveal what else happens in Sorcha’s Heart, but just know that the ending doesn’t disappoint in AT ALL. I’m so very glad that I read this story. It has opened up a new genre for me that I had previously ignored and secretly scoffed at as being weird and unreal. To be shown that ‘unreal’ can indeed be made totally ‘real’ was a pleasure. I am a little reticent though, to try other fantasy books for fear that none of them will ever match up to this one. They say your first is always special—and indeed it’s true. My first ‘fantasy’ will, I think, always remain the best. It will always be Sorcha’s Heart.

 

WARNING! Fellow reviewers, please be prepared to be bopped over the head with my boppy instrument if Ms. Mumford submits another book for review. I WANT IT!

 

You hear me?

 

Gasp! Pant!

 

I’m okay…honestly. I’m fine.

Glass Magic Freya’s Bower

 REVIEWED BY:

 

SCORE:

Author: Debbie Mumford

Publisher: Freya’s Bower

ISBN: 1-934069-06-X

 

 

REVIEW:

 

 

Red is trapped in an ancient pane of glass. The glass pane has been packed up and sent to Maureen McBride’s establishment and installed there. The description of the glass being taken out of its packaging, right at the start of this delightful little ebook, let me know that I’d be in for a good read, as the visuals had started inside my head already.

 

Maureen is snooty and reminds Red of the Summer Queen, whom he abhors. He decides that, as he can’t wreak vengeance on the Summer Queen, he will satisfy his urges and play a game with Maureen. Sean Flynn, the man fitting the pane of glass that Red resides in, will do very nicely for what Red has in mind, thank you very much, and Red sets to work.

 

Maureen inspects Sean’s work and unfortunately for Sean, Red’s mischief captures him in a very unique way. As the unique way begins to take ‘shape’ (this is a very funny tale) Red makes the floor buck and Sean and Maureen are thrown together. Ms. Mumford’s dialogue is very amusing, and I laughed out loud with this scene.

 

Red uses his powers to lock the door, and after the couple realise few discoveries, Red ensures that Sean and Maureen are a couple before he releases them.

 

Maureen and Sean are called away on family business when they have a guest arriving. Their neighbour, Kathleen Mallory, agrees to let the guest in and see to his needs while they are away.

 

Maureen had prepared the Rose room for their guest, Maureen’s cousin, Raymond O’Conner. Raymond has other ideas, and chooses to stay in a different room. Kathleen tries to explain that he really would be better off staying in a different room and not ‘Red’s Bower’…

 

Again, Red stirs up mischief and certain things happen. I warmed to Kathleen here, a lonely woman being loved after thinking the rest of her life would be spent by herself. Ms. Mumford then inspired sorrow by Kathleen leaving the room upset. I really felt sorry for Kathleen at this point, and also, to a lesser degree, Ray.

 

Ray is a famous musician, and he thought Kathleen was a star struck fan. Once he realises she isn’t, he begins to think about Kathleen in a different light. Red certainly knows how to weave his magic!

 

Great visual: When Maureen asks Red to show himself in the glass to Ray. I ‘saw’ a rippled effect, much like the top of a lake when a pebble skims it, and then Red’s face appeared. What a great image.

 

Overall, the first story in this set of two is amusing and very witty. The second tale inspires more emotions and with both tales I was left satisfied that love indeed wins the day. A great pair of stories that tie together wonderfully. For a quick read when you’re short on time, I’d recommend buying Glass Magic. Even if you have time in abundance, this ebook is highly satisfying. In more ways than one. Wink!

 

 

Stripped Freya’s Bower

REVIEWED BY: 

SCORE: 

Stripped has won our new award of ‘The Whole Bottle of Champagne’. This score far surpasses 5 flutes.

Author: Rhonda Stapleton
Publisher: Freya’s Bower
ISBN: 1-934069-42-6

REVIEW:

Amanda

Over-looked for a promotion that she thought she had “in the bag”; the story begins with her girlfriends throwing her a party to cheer her up.  (I liked Amanda immediately; I love a book where you get to “read” the thoughts of the characters).  A male stripper had been booked, but had let them down, so a “substitute” had to be found at the last minute.  The substitute is a terrible dancer, but sexy as hell, and certainly cheered Amanda up, but as she was extremely drunk, she didn’t get the full works, if you get me!

She awakes the following day and the events of the previous night come back to haunt her. She is mortified and nursing a hangover, but what the Hey, she’ll never see him again anyhow, right?

Returning to work she is introduced to the man who, as far as she is concerned, got “her” job?

The first time the two meet up again following the party is hysterical, I won’t go into that, it would spoil it for you, but suffice it to say it had me laughing out loud! 

Amanda shares her affections between her widowed, matchmaking, immaculate mother, her feisty grandmother and her beloved sister, and baby nephew. She gets involved in many aspects of their lives with sometimes hilarious, other times heart wrenching results, which only endeared the character to me all the more.

One scene that had me literally wiping away tears of mirth, was when Amanda had been to the dentist, and had to attend a dinner whilst still numb from the anaesthetic. It was as if I was there seeing and hearing it for myself, it is so well written and believable.

Jake

Divorced father of a little girl, Jessica, he has taken a new job and is moving away from his overbearing mother to try and make a new life for himself and his adorable daughter.

He finds himself the reluctant “substitute” stripper at Amanda’s party because he owes one of Amanda’s girlfriends a favour.  There is an instant spark between the two of them, but the effects of alcohol on Amanda conspire against the lust struck pair.

He juggles his work and home life, and inevitably, the two clash forcing Jake to take a leap of faith regarding childcare for his little girl. This links him to Amanda in other ways besides the “strip”.

A fantastic read, a real page-turner that had me engrossed from the first page to the last.  The writing was such that I felt that I knew the characters personally, and when the book was over it left me feeling a little bereft. WONDERFUL.

Would I recommend it? YES absolutely!  I would certainly put Rhonda Stapleton on my list of favourite authors.

Favourite lines –

1.  If I had her body, I’d wear the tiniest clothes possible. Okay, I’d be naked.
 

2. Probably because he’s gorgeous, funny as hell, and his kisses taste like sin.

3. She looks to be about seven or eight, and I briefly wonder if a blind woman with no fingers braided her hair.

LOVED, LOVED, LOVED this book so much that when I opened the pdf to write my review I read Stripped AGAIN. I felt it far surpassed 5 flutes and I give Stripped the new award of ‘The Whole Bottle of Champagne’.

 

 

 

The Virgin Courtesan Forbidden Publications

REVIEWED BY:

SCORE:

Author: Sela Carsen

Publisher: Forbidden Publications

ISBN: N/A

Genre: Erotic Historical Romance

Length: Short Story

REVIEW:

Set in Venice, 1528, we are transported to the interior of a brothel. A young woman, Nerina, is rebuffing gentleman after gentleman and draws the attention of Domenico Venieri. She’s not particularly beautiful, but there is something about her that makes her unique.

Nerina doesn’t want to be a courtesan, but with her family dead or unable to help her, her options are to “earn” her living or starve. Sensible girl that she is, she chooses to “earn” her living. Or thinks she can do it, but she can’t. When a particularly disgusting patron pushes her, she slaps him and makes an enemy.

Domenico saves Nerina from the powerful patron, but he has his own reasons for helping her, and it’s not just to get into her drawers. The rest, you will have to read to find out. I will not ruin it for you.

Sela Carsen has a very distinct voice, is excellent at creating atmosphere, mood and characters, and obviously has done her research. I like the fact that Nerina wasn’t drop dead gorgeous, was intelligent, and resourceful. I also really like that Domenico showed enough respect for Nerina that he didn’t force her into doing something she didn’t want to do. He was a bit of a pig, but considering the time period this is set, he wouldn’t fit in if he weren’t.

My favorite part of the book came when Nerina took out her stiletto and used it to obtain some information in a very enterprising fashion, much to Domenico’s surprise. Being the sadistic slut that I am, this particular scene made me grin. Nope. I will not reveal more. You will have to read it to find out. I also really enjoyed the scenes where they separate and then masturbate. Oh, that was priceless and unique. She refuses, he lets her go, then both take care of their needs. It made me laugh and cheer that Ms. Carsen wasn’t afraid to be different.

Now, I did have issues with the book. While Ms. Carsen obviously did her research, some of the dialogue didn’t work. I felt like I was listening to my teenage daughter talk to her friends and some of the scenes were over the top. For instance, not only did Nerina slap a man for kissing her, she threw wine in his face. This has been so done much in movies and other books that I shook my head. The slap was enough. The wine was, well, Hollywood.

I also had issues with Domenico and the first scene where he sees Nerina. Men are visual creatures… in the beginning. They look first then are attracted to the talk. However, I found it a bit unbelievable that he would automatically think she was something special. Nerina was nothing really special. Great boobs, great figure, great singer, but only pretty, not breathtaking, yet Domenico is thinking: “But this woman intrigued him for some reason. It wasn’t her beauty, strictly speaking, just some vague notion that she might…match him.” Later in the book, after they have had conversations and arguments, when he admits that she intrigues him, that is believable, but at this point? No. And especially not thinking about matching him. When you consider he is a very wealthy merchant and she is a penniless, wannabe prostitute, this just doesn’t fit with the time period. Class was a huge barrier in Renaissance Venice. 

There was also an issue with POV switches in the middle of a scene. At times, this became confusing and I had to stop and go back to make sure I knew whose viewpoint I was in now. 

While there are other things that bother me, there is only one more I will mention. One of my biggest pet peeves is when an author cops out on description: “Dressed in a doublet of midnight blue velvet trimmed in gold, he held himself with military bearing. He was large and muscular…” You get the picture. I don’t want a run down of what he looks like. I want to know how she perceives him, if she finds him attractive and why, not this analytical listing of “he was dressed in this, was large, was muscular”. Later on, she weaves description into the action very successfully from the POV of the heroine/hero, giving me a lot more information than the previous list, information that shows me what the characters are thinking, how the other affects them and so on. 

Despite all of my issues, I did enjoy the story and I really waffled between giving this story three or four champagne flutes because I like the characters, I like the tale, and I like the mood of the piece. And I think Ms. Carsen has a unique voice and a great deal of talent. I think the issue here is that she didn’t have an editor to bring up some of the issues I mentioned, and many others that I didn’t. Do I think you’ll enjoy it? Yes, but because of the issues, I cannot give it a four.

 

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REVIEWED BY:

 

SCORE:

 

REVIEW:

This little e-book gave me fits and I couldn’t decide on three or four flutes of champagne. I love historical romance, but this story has so many pros and cons that I finally had to open the PDF again and looked over The Virgin Courtesan a couple more times. The flaws kept jumping out at me and I decided to settle on three flutes. However, that’s not to say that Ms. Carsen’s material doesn’t have redeeming qualities—it does.

First, the good qualities.

I must say that I’m probably one of the pickiest reviewers online, so imagine my surprise when I started reading Ms. Carsen’s e-book and actually enjoyed the opening pages. There is much lovely description in the work and the setting is done well; I really saw, smelled, felt, and heard the various aspects of Venice described throughout the story. The heroine, Nerina, is fleshed out well and is both innocent and strong. Plus, I liked the glimpse into the historical side of prostitution and the fact that women often did not have a choice. Selling their bodies was a matter of survival.

The hero, Domenico, is likeable, sophisticated, and worldly, but he could have used a bit more character development beyond the stereotypical qualities.

The flaws of The Virgin Courtesan really jarred me out of a good read. The many POV switches in mid paragraph and even mid sentence had me sighing in frustration. Modern speech crept into the 16th century dialect and the characters’ thoughts. (This is one of the main errors many new historical fiction writers make.) Moreover, the fight scenes between Domenico and the villains are flat and uninteresting; Nerina’s knife play was more believable. She’s a wicked little minx with that blade!

Good fiction must show, not tell. I hate it when I read sentence after sentence of his vest was blue when the author could show me how the moonlight glimmered on his blue vest. A good editor would have caught this stuff. Lastly, despite the e-book’s nice qualities, I felt that all the highlights of a full-length novel had been condensed into a micro-short story. I wanted more…but alas, it just wasn’t there.

My favorite scene was the opening pages in the salon where Domenico watches Nerina and surveys all the courtesans in the room. The imagery, colors and atmosphere are very rich. My favorite line involved Giada, Nerina’s pet cat who had just watched a bloody fight from the safety of her high perch: She stopped to sniff at Terullio’s body, sneezed in disgust and leapt into Nerina’s arms. This gave me a chuckle because only a cat owner could describe one so well in so few words.

My opinion is one of many, dear author, but regardless of my views, I see a lot of talent in The Virgin Courtesan. I really wanted to give this work a four-flutes rating or better, but it truly does need more work to nudge it up there, so I’m sticking with three. If you ever decide to write a full-length novel and find a knowledgeable editor, I’d be happy to read more of your historical fiction in the future.

The Twilight Deception Cobblestone Press

 

REVIEWED BY:

SCORE:

Author name: Elisabeth Drake

Publisher: Cobblestone Press

ISBN: 978-1-60088-073-5

REVIEW:

Arielle Thompson works for the FBI, just not in the division you’d imagine. She’s a witch and her speciality is in the Paranormal Investigations subdivision: Shadowguard. She hunts down creatures the general public would lose their lunch over should they see them. She’s got to be one tough woman to deal with such investigations, and right from the start I see that she is.

Firstly, noting the 1st person POV, I smiled and settled down deeper in my seat. I prefer reading 1st person. Second, a few lines down from the start, I read the first of many great lines:

My face went cold and goose bumps shivered over my skin as I saw picture after picture of dead men and women, raised bite marks prominent on their skin.

There you go, Wilga is hooked. Hooks are a major factor in stories for me. If one isn’t present on the first page, if nothing grabs my attention, then I’m a tad bit disappointed. So, two good things going for this book on the first page was a major bonus here.

Arielle has been called in to find and destroy either one or more vampires that are killing people. Too many people. Chief Anders, head of police in charge of the case, isn’t too happy to have Arielle arrive to ‘take over’. Anders blames the Gothic kids of the town. Arielle thinks the culprit is someone else entirely.

2nd great line, and I’m only on page 8:

He tried to stare me down, but when you’ve grown up around cats, you can out-stare just about anything.

A startling image flew into my mind with 3rd great line at the bottom of page 8, beginning of page nine, in the morgue scene. The description of the bite marks on the cadaver’s neck were simple, yet startling. The whole morgue scene is so well done, I found myself gripped by the visuals. This is still chapter one. So much information in one chapter, chock full of action and images. Excellent.

While in the morgue doing a mind search on a corpse, clever forces conspire to reach into Arielle’s mind. Overwhelmed, she blacks out and wakes up elsewhere… Listening to the conversation of her captors, she realises she must try and escape them. A hand closes over hers and she is painfully yanked through a portal, where the force of her arrival causes her to again black out. This time she wakes in sunlight (I must just mention here, before I forget, that Ms. Drake uses very original and witty metaphors and similies). A man, Jackson, takes her through another portal to safety, as the Nasties (my term) that invaded Arielle’s mind in the morgue would be trying to find her very soon.

Jackson is involved somehow. He knows who is committing the murders. He explains the realm he is from, and how the vampire killer, Eliro, managed to travel to earth. Jackson has been sent to find out how many people Eliro has brought with him and take him back to face the Council.

Laugh out loud lines in this scene:

Now I turned spanked-bottom red.
What next? A strip-teasing unicorn?

The next scene is very gripping. Jackson takes Arielle to a room where a bound and gagged woman is. Not wanting to spoil this story, I shall refrain from going through this scene, but yet another funny struck me with one simple word on page 28: Oops. And on the same page: How lovely. You’ll have to read this book to find out why this is so funny. Ms. Drake, after creating tension and making my eyes widen with Jackson’s swift change of personality, was able to swing me right back the other way, causing me to laugh out loud.

Pause in the review to say:

Have I said yet that I have caught White Russian’s ‘Fan Attack’ affliction? No? Well I have. I feel one coming on… Ms. Drake is a very clever writer. Why isn’t she on the NY best sellers list? Is she querying agents? If not, she should be. With talent like this, she deserves the biggest publishing deal she can wangle. The voice in this story—and believe me, I’ve read many and I know what I am talking about—is absolutely superb. I don’t say this lightly.

Resume review…

Quote: Tabasco sauce with lube—seriously can’t stop laughing.

Arielle and Jackson encounter a crowd of fledgling vampires, created by Eliro. A very cool chapter that shows their meeting and an unfortunate occurrence at the end of the scene.

Called back to the police department by Chief Anders, Arielle and Jackson find out that the bodies in the morgue aren’t keeping still anymore…

Following Eliro’s trace, Arielle and Jackson locate the killer. A confrontation takes place, one I won’t go into details over. I enjoyed this scene as great visuals came into play when Arielle searches for ‘something’. A nicely drawn scene.

In the same chapter I’m taken from one kind of action to another. The love scene between Jackson and Arielle was very well done. With well-placed hints of humour, they couple, and by the end of this chapter I am in tears. What a lovely, lovely, just damn lovely scene.

Epilogue—again, expertly done, I’ve gone from being terribly upset, crying, lump in the throat, snot a-dangling from my nose at the end of the last chapter, to heart beating, smile widening, stupid-ass tears of happiness in the epilogue.

WOW.

What an utterly fantastic read. I haven’t read a book that has affected me in this way for a while.

1.Will I search out Elisabeth Drake’s other titles?
     
Damn right I will.

2.Should you buy this book?

If you enjoy tales of vamp