The Pirate and the Pussycat Wild Rose Press

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Author: Paisley Scott
Publisher: Wild Rose Press

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Dressed as a seductive cat woman, Celia is determined to enjoy the charity Halloween party. A teacher, she longs to shirk the professional demeanour and live a little. Above all, she really does need to have some sex!

Handed a number upon entering the party, Celia is intrigued to know what the number is for. She heads off to explore the rooms inside the establishment. Each room has a title, and she chooses The Jolly Roger. The room is decked out—pun intended—like a ship. A pirate captain greets her, and she then realises just what that number is for…

Celia sets the pace for her time with the pirate captain, who reveals a secret she never knew he harboured.

A bouncy little tale! I say bouncy, because the images seemed to ping into my head and make me feel as though I was at the party. A good, fun read. Shame there isn’t a party to attend around here. I’m in the mood now!

The Thorazine Mirrorball Wild Child Publishing

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Author: Jack Maeby
Publisher: Wild Child Publishing

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James Avery—street name Jimmy Mack—has been in a mental institution for the past two years. The drug, Thorazine, was used to control his depression, and Jimmy has learned that though Thorazine helped him in his darkest moments, it didn’t take the problem away. However, newly ‘released’, he is able to return to the love of his life—music.

Jimmy plays the saxophone—can also play the organ and piano pretty well too—and accepts the offer of a job from Mr.Cleveland to play the organ in a band he manages. Despite the money being good, the main lure for Jimmy was the chance to spend time in the company of the female singer, the rather lovely Yvonne—stage name ‘Bubbles’. Yvonne has something about her that stirs Jimmy’s previously dormant libido, though Mr. Maeby doesn’t dwell on this fact in an erotic manner.

Jimmy joins the band and soon realises that maybe he should have hung around with his old pal Tommy Laidlaw instead. Laidlaw is an amusing character that shines from the page. Jimmy’s friendship with Laidlaw, though based on their mutual addictions, is solid. So, when things take a turn for the worst, when people start getting murdered and the blame falls solely on Jimmy, who else would he turn to but his good buddy?

A thriller of exciting proportions, The Thorazine Mirrorball will have you reading as quickly as you can to find out what happens next. Running from the police—and the real killer—brings a question to Jimmy’s mind: How can he really be sure he didn’t kill those people? After all, his memory isn’t what it used to be—the drugs saw to that…

The ending chapters are heart-thumpingly fast paced. Everything falls into place, and the killer and their reasons for committing murder become apparent. Yes, I had an idea of a certain person’s involvement, but I didn’t guess who the main perpetrator was—and guessing who aided in the killings didn’t spoil the read.

Not only a thriller, The Thorazine Mirrorball has light and dark humour smattered throughout. A brilliantly penned novel, one I’m glad I read. Mr. Maeby has a distinct voice that drew me into the read immediately, making me think that Jimmy was telling me his story right there and then.

Fabulous!

Between the Gutter and the Sky Freya’s Bower

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Author: Babe King
Publisher: Freya’s Bower

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Jaclyn Donnel runs an under-funded ER department. She’s passionate about her job and wants to help as many people as she can. However, the lack of funds prevents her from doing her job properly and brings increasing pressure to her everyday workload. When Sam Allen turns up, she’s about ready to blow a fuse…

Sam Allen’s aim is helping street kids get themselves out of the mess they are in and into a better life. His project, at the same hospital Jac works in, takes precious space and money from Jac’s department. Sam realises this, but his passion for helping the kids blinds him a little. Sam and Jac regularly butt heads over this issue, especially when Sam seems intent on getting exactly what he wants for ‘his kids’, despite the ramifications.

Frustrated by his attitude, Jac wants to show Sam what damage his project is inflicting on her already stressed job and patients. Sam, on the other hand, wants to show Jac that her attitude towards the street kids shouldn’t be so negative. Jac feels these kids, who do drugs, mess up their lives, and cause general mayhem, shouldn’t be given priority over other patients that don’t abuse their bodies. Sam feels they should be treated the same as everyone else, because their upbringings/social standings have led them to the place they are now.

One street kid causes more hassle than the others. He even tests Sam’s patience, causing Sam to question whether Jac’s opinion of these kids is, in fact, right.

A thrilling finale gets the heart pumping and the tummy doing flip-flops. Will Jac and Sam come to an understanding? Or will they constantly be at loggerheads?

Read Between the Gutter and the Sky and find out!

The Whispering House: Book 2 Freya’s Bower

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Author: Kit Wylde
Publisher: Freya’s Bower

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The sheriff arrives to investigate the goings on at Eleanor’s house and tells her that the neighbourhood kids like to play pranks. However, the nearest neighbours live quite far away… One such neighbour, Lily, drops round with cookies to introduce herself. I immediately liked Lily. She’s a chatterbox, and her gabble made me smile. Lily offers Eleanor a place to stay should the pranks and noises become too much. If only it had been Michael knocking at her door!

The next morning, he does. The pair go on a horse ride together. Eleanor finds herself even more attracted to him—Michael is a gentle soul and a gentleman. I learned a little about the Fresno countryside during the riding scene—a bonus! I like gaining new knowledge in my reading matter.

Eleanor returns home alone after the ride. But is she really alone…?

I’m excited to read the next instalment of The Whispering House. Hurry up and write, Ms. Wylde!

Tahitian Nights: Book 2 and 3 Freya’s Bower

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Author: Alyce Brown
Publisher: Freya’s Bower

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Tahitian Nights: Book 2

Tammy is woken up by Brandon Williams, the gorgeous man she fancies the pants off. It’s slightly embarrassing. A plan forms in her mind, and she challenges Brandon to a swimming race.

Tammy and her sister, Cassandra, join the irritating twins, Cora and Cara, with plans to do a manta ray dive. With a funny scene on the boat, Ms. Brown brought the aspect of female vanity to the fore here. I know people like those twins! Also, one of the divers is named Moana, something I found exceptionally funny.

Another brilliant instalment. Tahitian Nights: Book 2 is every bit as well written as Book 1. I’m excited, because I can go straight on to reading Book 3. See you in a while…

Tahitian Nights: Book 3

Tammy takes a deep breath and, despite her fear of sharks, gets into the water on the manta ray dive. Brilliant writing here as I was transported beneath the sea. I felt like I saw those rays myself! After the dive, the other diver, Ari, asks Cassandra out on a date. Tammy had plans for herself and Brandon, but Ari said they could be a foursome. Unfortunately, the twins will have to go too…

It’s cool the way Tahitian Nights goes from a holiday in the sun to getting to know the locals. I honestly ‘see’ the sights of Bora Bora while reading, and I’ve never even been there. Brilliant, funny, a breath of fresh air, so far the Tahitian Nights series is well worth buying.

Roll on Book 4!

Cinematic Royalty Freya’s Bower

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Author: Isabelle Santiago
Publisher: Freya’s Bower

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Charles Whitmore is the owner of the Winmont Hotel. He’s poised, professional, and a good businessman. However, one of his latest guests, movie star Bridget Phillips, comes to stay at the hotel, and Charles’ professional demeanour turns into mush. Charles finds Bridget fascinating and does all he can to ensure her stay at his hotel is comfortable and enjoyable. She intrigues him, but not because of her fame. There is something about her that draws him to her—a certain vulnerability that he has spotted despite her outward behaviour. Bridget allows Charles into her life, but he senses she is holding something back from him.

Bridget is famous, glamorous, and exceedingly beautiful. Obviously used to attention, she acts accordingly for her public. But inside she’s a different woman. She harbours a deep secret, one that is not only the twist in the tale, but a heart wrenching dilemma. She enjoys Charles’ company, but can she allow her emotions free reign?

Tessa, Eleanor, and Betty are Charles’ friends. They spot the attraction Charles has for Bridget and create a full-proof—or is it?—plan to get the couple some time alone. Bridget’s agent—what an insufferable prig!—butts in, and at this point I could have spat at the keyboard as if it were his face!

With a sub-plot that is both touching and interesting, Cinematic Royalty is a must read. Set back in the day, which I must say is refreshing and spot on, I found myself transported back in time believing every word. Oh, the glamour! The decadence! I wanted to wear the clothes, saunter around the Whitmore Hotel in all my finery, and visit Bridget while on set.

Bridget’s secret emerges, and the love affair is doomed. “Noooooooooo! This can’t be happening!” I yelled at my computer. Be warned, this tale brought more than a tear to my eye. I’m not ashamed to admit I cried like a baby—for the sadness and the happiness. If Cinematic Royalty doesn’t make you turn to your significant other and express your love for them, then I’ll eat my errr, umm, I’ll eat something unpleasant.

Absolutely BRILLIANT!

Bedevilled: Book 4 Freya’s Bower

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Author: J. Emberglass
Publisher: Freya’s Bower

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A very hot and creepy book 4! Phew!

Rowan seduces Dean. Dean struggles with wanting the seduction to stop, yet at the same time he can’t help but let it continue. Rowan is very persuasive, and the ecstasy Dean feels is like nothing he’s experienced before. Rowan truly gave me the creeps—I think it was his pointy ears that did it!—and I read wide-eyed and intrigued. A very gripping first scene.

Dean returns home to find out that the puzzle piece he’s been instructed to look for was there all along. Very cool twist! I didn’t expect the ending at all, and though I was strangely upset that book 4 ended, J. Emberglass leaves the reader in no doubt that it we haven’t seen the end of Dean, Rowan, and all the other fantastic characters. I’ve thoroughly enjoyed reading the Bedevilled series.

More! More!

Please?

Oh, Ragnarok Wild Child Publishing

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Author: Gabriel Llanas
Publisher: Wild Child Publishing

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He is one strange man. He believes he has the power to change the world. Stalking victims, he removes a part of their body while they are still alive, believing that their essence, their very soul, will remain in the body part for when he passes it along to someone else. Yes, you heard right! I told you, this guy is WEIRD.Sarah is a psychic. She senses something, sees a vision and means to find out what it means… She’s drawn into His strange world, and finds her life dramatically changed as she follows his trail. She meets Carlos, who joins forces with her. Together, they work to find out just who He is and what he’s up to. Never would they have envisaged a war between gods.

He grows ever weirder throughout the book. His ‘children’ are more than mere children… Fantastical beasts inhabit the pages of Oh, Ragnarok, ones that I’m glad don’t exist for real.

Oh, Ragnarok starts off seeming like a thriller, but it swiftly changes into something more twisty, more interesting. Fantasy? I loved the way the tale swung from one genre to another.

Excitement, weirdness, good writing. Bravo, Mr. Llanas!

The Writing on the Wall Wild Child Publishing

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Author: James Goodman
Publisher: Wild Child Publishing

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The Writing on the Wall really does bring it home that there are some seriously weird people in this world. Beezle is one of them. He believes that by killing people, he is pleasing gods. Gods that preside over public restrooms. Sounds insane, right? But there must be some people out there that do believe in these kinds of things, otherwise our mental institutions wouldn’t be so full…

Beezle leaves a trail of scrawled messages in public restrooms for a young man, Dennis, to find. He met Dennis in a bar and tried to impress his beliefs upon him. Poor Dennis thought he’d just met an odd man. He had no idea just how odd Beezle was.

And off we’re taken on a fantastically crazy ride. The Writing on the Wall made me wonder about people, look at them differently. Shudder at the thought of living in a mind like Beezle’s. And I also sat on the edge of my seat, leaned a little closer to the monitor when Dennis was suspected of being the killer. I wanted to scream at the policemen, “It isn’t him, you jerks!”

So did I enjoy The Writing on the Wall? You bet I did. I haven’t read such a creepy, grippingly weird tale in a long time. Superb!

The Edge of Sanity: Book 3 Freyas Bower

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Author: Jamie Hill
Publisher: Freya’s Bower

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So, Jake and Joss are a couple now. They fit easily together, and while reading, it feels like they’ve been together a lot longer than they have. I do enjoy their banter.

They get a copy of Joss’ father’s will. Something is amiss, and Jake intends to find out what’s going on with regards to the possible bogus charity mentioned. He surfs the Internet for clues.

Nice to find out a little more about Jake’s past in this chapbook. I warmed to him even more. I mean, he’s a nice guy, but it’s his past that makes him so understanding in the present. He’s got to be understanding if he stays calm after Joss throws a book at his head in a strange fit of anger. Why did Joss become disorientated enough to do that? Has someone been putting something in her tea…?

A nice coupling scene between Joss and Jake, and now I’m eagerly awaiting news on the charity and its founders. Have they got something to do with the weird noises and goings on at Joss’ house? Come on! I need to find out who is doing this!

 Jamie Hill is driving me crazy!

Tales of a Texas Boy Texas Boy Publications

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Author: Marva Dasef
Publisher: Texas Boy Publications

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Dad Boles and Sophie

A charming tale with an excellent voice. Dad Boles brings his bear, Sophie, to the carnival every year. And every year folks bet that their dogs can beat Sophie in a fight. Sounds alarming, right? It isn’t—trust me.

Rattlesnakes and Jackrabbits

A tale where you learn something as well as being entertained. While out hunting jackrabbits and rattlesnakes with Pa, Eddie notices a bullsnake has decided a cottontail looks tasty enough to eat. Great visuals here, and the emotions wrought are brilliantly done.

The Auction

Eddie goes on a ride to Amarillo. Pa wants to buy some new stock. The auction takes place at a fairground. Pa bids on a jackass. The jackass was sold by the owner due to hard times. Made me cry.

Out of the Chicken Coop

An amusing tale where Eddie has to try and get a chicken and a dog out of the farmhouse. Neither animal are allowed inside. Things don’t go easily, and Eddie finds himself in a bit of a bind! Fun!

Pa’s Story

Pa goes to fight a war in France. He’s in charge of the horses. He loves them, so having to put the wounded horses down is a great sadness.

Favourite line: They called this an ‘offensive.’ I can see why as it offended me a lot.

The Corn Patch Incident

Mr Simmons’ barn was flattened by a tornado. All the neighbours joined in to rebuild it. A couple of cows died in the barn and they were set to roast—food for the helpers. Sent to pick corn for the meal, Eddie and his sister, Dorothy, come upon a crowd of skunks. An amusing tale, especially since the children stank…

Moonlight Ride

One night, Eddie is sent to check on the old woman who lives on the neighbouring farm. When he arrives, he has to face one of life’s biggest upsets. The last paragraph is quite poignant.

The Bone Hunters

While out searching for bones to sell, Eddie and Dorothy happen upon a man also looking for bones. Mammoth bones. The man, Mr. Whiteman, offers to show Eddie and Dorothy where the mammoth bones are, and I had to fight my internal emotions to not shout that the kids really shouldn’t go with him. Of course, in the days where these stories are set, nasty things didn’t happen to children who went off with strangers. Still, this brought to mind the fact that life has indeed changed over the years, so this tale made me think. A lot.

Frank Norfleet – Detective

Pa takes Eddie to visit Mr. Frank Norfleet. In the past, Frank had been swindled, but took it upon himself to catch the swindlers. Now Pa has been swindled and wants the bad man caught.

The Cattle Drive

Living on a farm in the middle of nowhere, Eddie is excited when he spies a cattle drive heading towards their home. They rarely get visitors, so this is something to jump up and down about. The cattle being herded are bulls, and the cattle herder is on his way to Clovis, then moving on to Spade Ranch. Mr Browning, the herd master, offers Eddie the chance to help him and his assistant, Mike, to herd the cattle to Clovis. Eddie joins the men and finds out how it feels to be a real cowboy.

One Fine Dog

Pa needs Eddie’s help in collecting their flock of ewes. Pa allows Eddie to drive the truck, an exciting moment for the boy. However, excitement turns to worry when an eagle circles above the flock with the obvious intent to snatch a lamb. Pete, the sheepdog, saves the day.

Mr. Young’s Arkansas Cedar Float

Eddie is allowed time off from farm work to go fishing. He sets off on his horse, Brownie, to visit Mr. Young, who makes fishing floats out of Arkansas cedar. Eddie needs to borrow one. Mr. Young warns Eddie not to lose the float. Arkansas cedar is hard to come by…

Eddie fishes, snoozes, and then heads home. Only to realise he can’t recall putting the float in his saddlebag… Returning to the fishing site, he finds the float and returns to Mr. Young, who promptly tells him he can keep it! Amusing!

On the way home, Eddie encounters a Mexican camper, who offers him to stay for dinner. Eddie commits a kind act in return for the food, so this tale made me smile.

Beau the Jack

A tale about the jackass Pa bought in an earlier story. Used as a stud, Beau the jackass is a feisty fellow. Tethered by a long rope, Beau gets himself in a tangle and nearly chokes to death. Though a tense moment, the dark humour in this tale made me smile. Eddie really has got a dry sense of humour.

No Angel

Ma and Pa visit town one day and leave Eddie in charge of Dorothy. The devil sometimes hides inside Eddie, and when he sees a row of blackbirds on Ma’s washing line, he feels the need to shoot them down. Unfortunately, the clothesline snaps, and Eddie has to figure out a way to repair it. Now, if only Dorothy would unlock the door and let him in so he can get some twine…

The Luck Brothers

Pa and Eddie go and visit Fred and Frank, twin brothers. The twins inherited their farm when their parents died while the boys were still quite young. They brought themselves up after that. And dislike one another immensely. Pa’s job was to bring Aunt Lyddie’s daughter, Eva, home. She’d been hanging around the Luck farm too much.

Upon their arrival at the farm, Pa and Eddie hear shouting. Pa has to try and stop one brother from shooting the other. Eddie watches from a safe distance. Eva goes back to Pa’s farm, only to return to the Luck’s the next day. An amusing tale.

Ma’s Story

Ma plays a small part in all the other tales, so it was nice to ‘meet’ Ma properly in a tale of her own. She doesn’t say much, but what she does say tugged at my heart. Bless Ma. A rather melancholy tale, but one I’m glad I read.

Cage McNatt’s Prize Sow

Cage puts his sow, Petunia, up for judging. The Luck brothers bring their sow, Whitey. While following Pa, Eddie notes someone pulling an animal along in the darkness. Upon closer inspection, it’s obvious that Cage is pulling along the Luck’s sow, Whitey. Add Dad Boles’ bear, Sophie, and a ferris wheel to the mix, and you’ve got a rather hilarious image to watch in your mind.

Crossin’ the Creek

The rain poured down, yet Eddie and Dorothy still had to travel on their horses and go to school five miles away. They had to cross a creek, which had swelled with rain. An alarming experience for Eddie and Dorothy occurs. Made my heart beat faster!

The Thief

Pa and Eddie set off in the truck to Amarillo, fifty miles away. They’d need to camp out overnight before making the return journey. After buying their purchases, Pa and Eddie take a look around town. They eat a hotdog sold from a street vendor, and the differences between Amarillo and Eddie’s home life are highly apparent just from that one small image. Amarillo must have seemed such a fascinating place for such a young farm boy.

They set up camp beneath an oak tree, and Eddie is woken up in the night by someone who shouldn’t be there… A tale with a moral. Made me think.

Chance Encounter

Eddie and his family leave the farm and move to East Texas. Eddie found himself in a whole new world. In high school, Eddie excelled at football. While on a trip to Dallas for a football championship, the team stop at a diner. A woman catches Eddie’s attention, and he introduces himself to her. Eddie is shocked when he realises just who that woman is…

Summary

A lovely set of tales, read in one sitting. I couldn’t put the book down. With a wonderful voice throughout, Ms. Dasef brought sadness, humour, and contentment to my day. I’m very glad I selected Tales of a Texas Boy for review. Delightful!

The Second Wife Penguin

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Author: Elizabeth Buchan
Publisher: Penguin

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Minty stole her best friend’s husband. Nathan is handsome, successful, and twenty years older than Minty, and when they marry – because Minty is pregnant – it’s all very low-key. Because Nathan has done all of this before: wedding, marriage, children, and he’s confused by Minty’s demands that he erase all trace of his ex-wife, Rose, from his new life.

Minty gives birth to twin boys, and though she loves staying at home with them as they grow up, she misses her job. Nathan can’t understand why she feels the need to return to the workforce, and constantly compares his second wife with his first.

Frustrated and alone, Minty looks for support from her friends, whose own marriages are far from perfect. Paige sees her husband Martin as nothing more than the means to give her the baby she dotes on to the exclusion of all else, and the glamorous, thrice-wedded Gisela is willing to sacrifice love for financial comfort.

Minty struggles to maintain a good relationship with Nathan’s grown-up children from his first marriage, both of whom regard her with suspicion and who have marital issues of their own to sort out. And behind it all is Rose, the perfect first wife, who’s now happy and successful in her own life. But Minty, paranoid and fearful, is convinced that Nathan longs to return to Rose – and only a tragedy can give her the strength to be her own person at last.

This is the sequel to The Revenge of the Middle-Aged Woman, but can easily be read without reference to the first book. Frank, sometimes cynical, sometimes hopeful, this is an exploration of the varied types of modern marriage and how our worst enemy is usually ourselves.

Favourite line: I’m a great believe in self-help manuals – although, lately, I have found myself wondering if they only add to the confusion by suggesting problems you didn’t know you had.

Minty is a less sympathetic character than Rose in the first book, but Ms Buchan doesn’t demonise her. Minty knows that what she did was unforgivably wrong, but it’s true that often, the best revenge is to live well. Rose’s newfound happiness doesn’t have its source in Nathan, but Minty convinces herself otherwise. Her vulnerability and jealousy are exquisite as she torments herself with her own guilt, the whole thing so painfully real you want to shake her.

A deep, poignant and heartbreaking ‘hen-lit’ book that also lifts the spirits as Minty struggles to face her insecurities, this is a brilliant read. Recommended.

A Sultan’s Ransom Mills and Boon

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Author: Loreth Anne White
Publisher: Mills & Boon Intrigue

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Rafiq Zayed, a member of a covert organisation dedicated to bringing down a powerful gang of criminals intent on world domination, has returned to his homeland of Haman. A state ruled by a tyrannical and medieval-minded king, Haman is also home to a scientific lab that’s manufactured a virulent fatal disease – one that’s about to be unleashed on thousands of innocent civilians.

Searching for a vaccine, Rafiq infiltrates the lab only to discover the woman who created the disease, Dr Paige Sterling. He kidnaps her as easily as he bugs her computer, and fakes her death in a car crash.

Paige is horrified when she learns that ‘her’ disease is being used as a bio-weapon. At first she believes that Rafiq is her enemy, but as he protects her in the police state, where women must wear veils in public and foreigners are unwelcome, she realises that Rafiq isn’t merely the freedom fighter he claims to be. There’s a deeper mystery to him, but can Paige handle the truth?

Okay, I admit it – I only bought this book because (a) I love romances about sheiks and (b) the cover guy is a real hottie. I’ve never read an Intrigue title before but this was a great introduction. Even though A Sultan’s Ransom is part of a series, the story works well as a standalone.

My favourite part of this book was the setting. So many sheik stories are set in thoroughly modern, liberal capitalist Arab states, so this one, with its unusual inward-looking, medieval regime, was a real delight. The descriptions of the market and later, Paige and Rafiq’s flight into the mountains, are strong and evocative scenes that stayed with me after I finished the book.

There are three plot-lines in The Sultan’s Ransom, and hats off to the author for keeping them tautly balanced all the way through the story. The action is well paced and the romance unfolds gradually. Considering the potential doomsday outcome of Rafiq’s mission should he fail, it’s far more believable for Paige and Rafiq to wait and enjoy the slow burn of their relationship rather than leaping into bed at the first opportunity.

If you like more adventure than spice with your romance, then I’d recommend this book. I’m impressed enough to try another of this imprint next month.

Being Plumville iUniverse

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Author: Savannah J. Frierson
Publisher: iUniverse

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The title’s meaning, Being Plumville, becomes apparent quite early on. And it isn’t what I first thought. You can read a book title and get pre-conceived ideas. I had the misconception this book would be a chick-lit. How wrong could I be? Plumville is a town, a place where certain rules and regulations hum. Hum? Yes, they’re there beneath the surface of everyday life. Every resident abides by them automatically.

It’s a nice place to live. The residents get along. As long as you do what’s expected of you…

At the ages of seven and four, Benjamin Drummond and Coralee Simmons become best friends. Benjamin adores Coralee and sticks up for her, shares his toys, and gives her a book. Benjamin’s mother is a well-to-do Southern lady, her husband a judge. Coralee’s mother is the Drummond’s cook.

Benjamin’s mother notices how close her son and the cook’s daughter become and voices her concerns to Coralee’s mother. The children are separated; the cook is no longer permitted to bring Coralee to work. How devastated Benjamin must have been, for he proclaimed while young that he would marry Coralee, and they would play together for ever and ever. A touching first chapter sets the scene for a tale I knew I would become engrossed in.

The children grow up knowing about one another, but they don’t become properly reunited again until fifteen years later. Set in the 1960s, where racism is still rife, Benjamin and Coralee find themselves wanting to become friends again. They also find that their childhood playtimes set Fate in motion, and the pair are destined to be together. However, Benjamin is white, and Coralee is black. How will they convince the bigots that love is more important than Being Plumville?

Being Plumville mainly explores two people’s emotions and how society can play a huge part in deciding someone’s destiny. That outside influences, other people’s opinions, and a general ‘That is not allowed’ can make the weaker person cower down and act in a manner others feel they ’should’ act in. But love is a strong emotion and, despite what other people say, sometimes, following your heart is the only option, whatever the outcome may be.

A charming novel, one that made this reader think: What is colour?

A fabulous read. Being Plumville will make you angry, make you cry, and also make you laugh a little. What a wonderful package!

Spinning Wildly Wild Rose Press

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Author: Elle Fredrix
Publisher: Wild Rose Press

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Megan is at Wonderland on a day trip with her son Cody. Cody’s father died in a freak accident, and Megan has found herself taking on the role of mother and father. While eating a hotdog, mustard plops onto her top—right where her boob is. Her attempts at cleaning the mess results in a larger stain.

Favourite fun line: Why turn herself into a Quasimodo look-alike on top of everything else?

Megan bumps into Mitchell, a man she’s fantasised about for quite some time—a man who was once her son’s teacher. She’s thought about bumping into him, but when she did, she wished she hadn’t, especially with a yellow elbow-sized stain on her top (funny!). She’d rather have been wearing something sexy… Mitchell is at Wonderland with his nephew. Megan rushes off with Cody, but bumps into Mitchell again later…

A charming read, and funny too. How LOVELY to read something so light-hearted and fun. A great romance tale. Brilliant read.

Burn Baby Burn Wild Rose Press

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Author: Lynne Logan
Publisher: Wild Rose Press

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Marisa hires Ethan as a model for the firefighter’s calendar she’s making to raise funds for the local women’s shelter. Ethan’s urges to have sex with Marisa have to be ignored—his former best friend, Alex, used to be her husband.

Ethan is a rare man. He broke off his friendship with Andrew because of how he treated Marisa. Due to the circumstances of the photo shoot, what with Ethan having to disrobe a little, Ethan and Marisa share a kiss. But Marisa pulls away, obviously still confused about her ex husband and the fact that Ethan was his friend. Alex had told her stories about Ethan’s sex life, so naturally, Marisa doesn’t want to get involved. If only she knew how Ethan really felt and acted!

Marisa speaks to her friend Jenny, who advises her. Marisa sets up another photo shoot, and things take a saucy turn. Will Ethan and Marisa get it together? Or will the ever-present hurts from the past linger and spoil the fun?

Tears on Stone, Book 2 Falcon’s Bend Series Hard Shell Word Factory

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Authors: Karen Wiesner and Christine Spindler
Publisher: Hard Shell Word Factory

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Pete Shasta and Danny Vincent are back for another thrilling mystery in TEARS ON STONE. This time we get to know more about Pete and Danny and their wives. We get to know Pete’s brother, Jordan.

Jordan is Pete’s younger brother. He’s divorced and has a daughter, Nicole, who lives with him. He’s handsome, healthy, and one heck of a nice guy. Jordan happens to live in a house that once housed a friend of his, MaryEmma Gold. During adolescence, they shared joys and secrets until one day, MaryEmma’s mother picked up and left.

Jordan’s got new neighbors. Three women and a young girl moved into the house next door. When he finds out that one of the women is MaryEmma, he can’t believe it! She’s always had a place in his heart and now she’s back. MaryEmma avoids all of his questions and attempts to get her to talk about her life after having moved away.

He succeeds to make the connection by encouraging MaryEmma to rebuild the once beautiful garden in Jordan’s back yard. MaryEmma has two green thumbs. Everything she touches grows! In no time, with the help of Jordan and Nicole, she’s got the garden back in beautiful shape. But she still is very hesitant to warm up to Jordan.

This is the first hint that MaryEmma has a dark secret. The two other women, Shelley, MaryEmma’s sister, Shelley’s daughter, Ariel, and Pam, their legal tutor, are also very cold towards any attempts at being neighborly.

Why did MaryEmma, Shelley and Pam come to Falcon’s Bend? Pam is a leader of a women’s help group called SOS. She’s starting a branch in Falcon’s Bend to support and counsel abused women and children. The authors compassionately draw us into the suffering of the abused women and children treated by the SOS organization.

Shelley’s husband has recently died, and she is in a deep depression. She ignores her daughter, Ariel, and hangs out in bars picking up strange men. Shelley gets hooked up with Pugh Braun, a local good-for-nothing. After several bar fights, the jealous Braun is found dead in an out-of-town park. This leads Pete Shasta and Danny Vincent into twists and turns of possible motives for this crime and, soon, for others.

A bottle of champagne is merited by this book. It is a good mixture of a love story and a murder mystery wrapped up in a nicely coherent package. The sequel to a successful first book is often a disappointment. But TEARS ON STONE shows just how talented Karen Wiesner and Christine Spindler are. This reviewer awaits the following book in the Falcon’s Bend Series.

Weirdly Wild Child Publishing

REVIEWED BY:

SCORE:

Authors: Multiple
Publisher: Wild Child Publishing

REVIEW:

C.T.Adams & Cathy Clamp

Those That Won’t be Missed

Father Patrick visits those unfortunate enough to be in an extended care facility. While taking a cigarette break during visits, a woman, Francie, joins him. Francie visits her sister at the facility. After the electricity shuts off, Father Patrick finds himself in a terrifying position. His faith tested, he has to make a difficult decision. One that will change the rest of his life.

An excellent read. Pulled into the story from the first word, the voice is the clincher. It was almost as if Father Patrick was telling me this tale. For real. Superb delivery. I’ll be searching out more from C.T. Adams and Cathy Clamp.

Faith Bicknell-Brown

Little Karen

Harland’s wife, Karen, has died. Harland has to come to terms with her death and, after leaving the funeral and returning to the home they shared, memories if their time together filters through. Harland’s grief is palpable when he wakes the next morning and realises that Karen is really dead. After all, it’s easy to kid yourself a loved one has just gone away for a little while. The writing here is superb.

With a twist involving a Mourning Dove, this tale brought a tear to my eye, but also gave me hope that death is not the end. Wonderful!

The Violin’s Cry

Dawn sets off on a journey to visit Buddy Alljoy, a man who crafts violins. Dawn’s a journalist, and Buddy’s story would make good reading. Touched by the fact that Buddy’s wife is wheelchair-bound and can’t speak properly, Dawn settles down and listens to what Buddy has to say.

That short blurb there doesn’t do this tale justice. A charming story with a poignant twist, this one also made me cry. Excellent!

The 63rd President

A different feel this time, proving Ms. Bicknell-Brown can spin yarns in different voices and genres easily.

Forty-four years ago, Marshall fled an invasion on earth with his Pap. He has a small chest containing things that remind him of his past. Memories of his parents linger in his mind. Upon finding something inside a lost time capsule, Marshall faces truths that will change his life forever.

An intriguing tale, well written. Hugely enjoyable.

Uncle Willy’s Cure

William looks old. Ancient. He sits in a wheelchair while his sister, Victoria, pushes him along. Yet Victoria is a child and, despite appearances, so is William. To prevent questions from strangers, they name William ‘Uncle Willy’. Mama and Papa have taken William and Victoria out on a day trip. William is eager to visit a fountain, one that may, or may not change his life…

Lovely wording, Uncle Willy’s Cure is a tale that draws you in and doesn’t let go until the last word.

Collecting Data

Transported back in time with this tale, back to a place where people are beheaded for their crimes. Denise observes an execution, but she has a reason for loitering at such events… A brilliant short tale that sated my lust for the macabre—excellent twist.

James Cheetham

The Beekeeper

One of my favourite tales of the whole collection, The Beekeeper delves into the mind of a dying man. A stubborn man who, in his younger days, ruled his household in a strict manner. With his wife no longer living, The Beekeeper is cared for by his daughter. A daughter whom he failed to express his feelings for. She needs her father to tell her just once that she is loved—and has reasons for wanting to hear those precious words.

A literary feel to this one, and immensely enjoyable if you like tales with a deeper meaning. With a hint of creepiness and otherwordly-ness (is that even a word?), I’ll remember this tale forever. It must be PMT or something, as this one made me cry like a snotty kid. Brilliant! Not brilliant that I cried and snotted, but a brilliant tale.

Marva Dasef

The Country Faire

Oh! Much delight with this one. Gritty, to the point, the voice in this story is punchy and spot on for the subject matter. MC has an unfortunate incident happen at the country faire. One that she insists on correcting year after year…

Payback is a bitch.

This tale got my evil side going. Yeah, now where’s my knife…?

The Hunter

Oh! I cannot contain myself now. Another punchy tale by Ms. Dasef. Creepy, goosebump inducing… He is one weird fellow. He stalks women to sate his strange desires. Yet his reign of terror must come to an end. An end he, and me as a reader, wasn’t expecting.

*nods head. Damn cool story.*

Coward

Gina suffers abuse. However, it seems she enjoys it. Or does she? Confused and unsure as to what she really wants, Coward explores one woman’s hurt soul and troubled mind. A tale that smacks you in the face.

*walks off with a black eye…*

Heather’s Pain

Heather is only thirty. But she’s ill and on medication. Mother comes to visit Heather on a regular basis. She lets herself in. It saves Heather having to get up to open the door, you see. And what with her bad back, well… So when Heather’s door opens, she fully expects Mother to be her visitor…

Heather! You naughty girl! And Mother? Oh my…

M.E Ellis

The Game

A killer who uses the colours of a Rubik’s cube. Unique, original, and a short tale that packs a punch, leaving the reader gasping for breath at the end. Oh, the horror in the colour red!

Serenity Sea

The terror involved in caring for another for far too long is evident in this macabre tale. Oh, not the love of another, no, no! The care of wiping one’s nose, feeding their hungry mouth, and snapping to finally receive the care that the caregiver deserves.

This story is eloquently written and weaves the horror in a most literary way.

The Stanza

M.E Ellis brings yet another killer to her collection of Weirdly tales. This time the murderer focuses on a prostitute. I have to say that the images alone inspire revulsion and disgust within the reader. The prostitute loses her life, but the killer’s thoughts and descriptions of her as he prepares to snuff out her light are enough to inspire nightmares let alone the actual story line!

Maurice’s Job

Colours play yet another theme in this grand and creepy tale, but flowers are thrown into the mix. Maurice has an odd preoccupation with the funeral home that will make you think twice about ever going to another viewing again.

A Thousand For One

This is my favourite tale from M.E Ellis. Take a mortician, Death, and the fact that there has been a barter and you’re pulled into a macabre world that is both darkly amusing and soul tugging. Loved this tale!

You Shall be Heard

This is a super short story that will bring a tear to your eye. Young people can tell you what hurts them if you only take a moment to pay attention.

Manhunt

This is a brief glimpse into a crime scene. Who is seeing this scene? The reader…or the killer? You decide.

Bernita Harris

Stone Child

Lillie is a Talent. She is able to feel and see things that normal people can’t. She’s called in to help investigate a crime. A child has gone missing. Lillie hates those cases, but, despite that aversion, she visits the place where the child was abducted—with the sole intention of finding her.

Her usual partner, John Thresher, is unable to assist her, so Lillie pairs up with a charming man, Will Smith. Together they meet the child’s father, an unsavoury character, and search the surrounding area. Lillie sees things, and those things lead her to what she seeks.

A haunting tale in some ways, Stone Child has many aspects that I admired. I loved the introduction of people/beings other than humans—plausible ones at that—and the whole ‘feel’ of the piece. Strong voice, very well written, I enjoyed this story a lot. Fabulous!

Stacia Helman

Anya

Enter demons! Oh yeah, if you like demons, devils, or anything sinister, Anya is the tale for you.

Carly, a downtrodden, used and abused woman, is married to Mitch, a hateful pig who I could quite happily have stabbed. She finds out she is pregnant and, despite knowing Mitch will go absolutely crazy, she cannot bear to think of taking a life and getting an abortion. Note my last sentence—she can’t bear the thought of taking a life…

Mitch does indeed go crazy and hurts Carly so badly that she loses consciousness. But Carly wakes up as a completely different woman. One who has to wreak revenge on everyone who has committed terrible actions. I won’t reveal how she changes or why, but just know that the thought of taking a life isn’t quite so daunting to Carly now, and that, dear reader, was the ironic twist in this tale. Superb!

Lion Irons

Double Omega

Samantha has just started university. Shown the ropes by the weird Barbra Grove, Samantha decides that she would like to join the house of Omega for the time she’s at uni. After all, the Omega girls are slim and pretty. The Omega girls represent everything Samantha wants for herself. However, things aren’t quite as they seem, and Samantha finds herself in a frightening, yet compelling situation…

A fine tale. Well written, Lion Irons captured my attention right from the start. Despite the strangeness, there are a couple of humorous lines in Double Omega. But don’t think the laughter will last long. The sinister aspect will turn your mirth into fear.

Great!

Rae Lindley

A Day in the Life of Simplicity

A touch of Sci-Fi, anyone? Oh, yes. Being transported to the future is just what the doctor ordered sometimes.

Lyn is a cop in a world where everything is monitored. Even your thoughts. Your body mass. Pregnancy is not allowed—unless the government say so. So when Lyn finds out she is pregnant, she wonders how the hell this can be. And worries about it, for she knows what the penalty is should her pregnancy be discovered. And being a cop doesn’t help matters.

This tale has a wicked twist—a cruel one for Lyn, but an exciting one for this reader. My heart thudded loudly for a few minutes while reading, and I felt for Lyn, while at the same time hating the government. I actually shuddered, wondering just what our futures do hold, and if Big Brother really does come to pass in the centuries to come, I’ll be glad I’m not here to suffer the consequences of that large eye watching me.

Rosa Orrore

Know It All

Sarah’s brother, Richard, enters the House of the Lost Souls. Terrified that he won’t come out again—for no one ever does—and appalled that her parents follow Richard’s lead, Sarah is momentarily freaked out about what she should do. Coming to the decision that she must join her family, Sarah enters the house with the determination to get her family out again, and keep them safe.

However, the house has other ideas…

I’m telling you, some of the lines in Know It All creeped me out. It didn’t help that I read it at night, all alone. Stark images sprang into my head, and I don’t mind admitting to being scared. Just a little. Honestly, I’m tough. I can cope with horror. Yeah…

Amanda Tieman

The Surprise

Jason gets off work and drops his daughter off at a birthday party. His wife, Maggie, went off the rails a couple of years ago and ended up in a mental facility. For the first time in a while, Jason has time to himself. He goes home with the intention of making pizza, having a shower, and chilling out.

However, a news report on the TV unsettles him, and the events that occur on a night that should have been relaxing, changes his life forever. Maggie is one crazy woman, and she has scores to settle. The Surprise gave me the jitters. Crazy folk always do.

The Sickness

Alex takes her dog, Xander, camping. She enjoys sleeping out under the stars, getting away from every day life. Yet the woods hold a secret. The woods harbour a being that decides to acquaint itself with Alex.

Returning home, Alex notices changes in herself. Like the fact she devours raw meat without thinking anything of it. Determined to work out what’s happened to her, she does some research—and that research brings startling results.

Do you like werewolves? If so, The Sickness is the tale for you. Hoooooowwwwl!

Summary

An absolutely fantastic set of tales. I have nothing bad to say about any of them. Weirdly gave me everything it promised and more. Strange, odd, scary, whacky, creepy. Top notch writing. I’ll be recommending this to anyone and everyone. Stunning!

Buried Little, Brown

REVIEWED BY:

SCORE:

Author: Mark Billingham
Publisher: Little, Brown

REVIEW:

Teenager Luke Mullen, son of a former police officer, goes missing. Police feel it’s a kidnap situation and do their utmost to make sure the case is solved as quickly as possible. However, certain evidence has been hidden by Luke’s parents, and this hinders the investigation. Detective Inspector Tom Thorne senses something is amiss with Luke’s parents right from the start, but he can’t quite put his finger on it.

A sub-plot weaves through the book regarding the murder of an Asian youngster. A suspect—a cocky youth who got on my nerves (I wanted to hurt him quite badly)—brings the element of ‘teeth gritting’ to the read. Though he annoyed me, his character gave Buried a sharper edge than had he not been present.

Also fascinating is the aspect of different perspectives. We see the tale unfold not only through the eyes of Tom Thorne, but other officers, and also Luke and his kidnappers. All given a nice scene or section of their own.

I didn’t suspect the kidnapper at all, and with some deliciously dark images, Buried has become one of my favourite books. I have no complaints at all.

The Sixth Wife Harper Perennial

REVIEWED BY:

SCORE:

Author: Suzannah Dunn
Publisher: Harper Perennial

REVIEW:

Katherine Parr (Kate), the widow of Henry VIII and dowager queen of England, marries again in almost unseemly haste to Sir Thomas Seymour. It’s a love-match, something thrice-married Kate hasn’t experienced before, and even though she’s in her mid-thirties – an advanced age for a childless Tudor woman – she soon falls pregnant.

Catherine (Cathy), Duchess of Suffolk and Kate’s best friend, watches the marriage flourish –and fall apart. Cathy mistrusts and dislikes Thomas, but sets Kate high on a pedestal. She believes Thomas unworthy of her friend, and thus puts into motion a self-fulfilling prophecy.

Soon Cathy and Thomas embark on an affair, even though they both claim to love Kate – and when Kate begins to suspect something is amiss, Cathy points the finger of blame on Kate’s stepdaughter, the young Princess Elizabeth.

When treason is but a step away, Cathy’s and Thomas’s actions both singly and together bring them closer to disaster, while Kate is innocently oblivious of the tragedy about to strike down her happiness…

This is very much a book about women – about being a woman of principle, strong, well-educated and independent – and yet still being vulnerable and open to fault. The main theme is summed up thus:

Kate told me that [Senor Vives, her tutor] advised them never to marry for love. For a man, it was of no consequence, he said: a man could marry for love. But not a girl. Because it would render her vulnerable. Of all the pieces of advice from him, Kate chose to ignore this one.

The style of the narrative was not one I warmed to. Conversational, with many stops and starts, it piled on detail in one sentence and glossed over it the next. It does make the prose more intimate, as if Cathy is sitting with you telling the story, but for the first half of the book I found it a little unwieldy and it took a while for me to get into the story.

Mature and at times engaging, The Sixth Wife is full of pointed observations of human nature and its contrariness (e.g., Cathy doesn’t love Thomas but doesn’t hesitate to start the affair, even though she can’t find a reason for her actions). The author has a very good eye for detail and emotion, her almost psychological insights drawn out subtly in narrative observations, such as in my favourite paragraph:

It was spider season when I returned to Sudeley, webs everywhere in the garden, spanning paths and veiling windows, each bearing a single dark fruit. Eerily blind to us, those spiders, squatting there, clutching their lace. I walked with care, head bowed, flinching.

In composition, The Sixth Wife is almost flawless: if it were a literary essay I’d give it an A+, but as a novel it seemed to fall short. For all its sharp investigation of human relationships, for me it lacked humanity. Others may disagree, but since it never warmed my interest above tepid, regretfully I can only give it 4 Flutes. Philippa Gregory does it so much better.

Medieval Lords & Ladies Collection: Blackmail & Betrayal Mills & Boon/Harlequin

REVIEWED BY:

OVERALL SCORE:

and a half!

Author: Juliet Landon & Elizabeth Henshall
Publisher: Mills & Boon/Harlequin

REVIEW:

This is the second book in M&B’s historical series, which pairs together two books written about the same time period – in this case, the 12th and 13th centuries (the same period covered by the Brother Cadfael books).

‘A Knight in Waiting’ by Juliet Landon

SCORE:

Lady Aletta, a lovely young widow, has no desire to marry again. Her husband was an evil man who abused her and every other woman he could get his hands on, and two years after his death, Aletta isn’t keen to suffer the same fate twice.

Her new neighbour, Geraunt de Paine, thinks he can change her mind. A year ago, Aletta allowed four of Geraunt’s villeins to marry and settle on her land – a legally dubious act that Geraunt contests. The price for his agreement – and the continued happiness of the villains and their families – is that Aletta agree to bend her will to his wishes… in everything!

Geraunt has the best line. In reference to his knowledge of Aletta’s abusive marriage and his own self-confidence that she’ll come to love him: “I look forward to teaching you to fall without getting hurt”.

Oh dear. This novel really didn’t do it for me. Aletta is one of those annoying, superficially feisty and independent heroines who lacks common sense, and Geraunt is supposed to be sympathetic, understanding and gentle yet often he comes across as boorish. There’s an undercurrent of using force to ‘cure’ Aletta’s previous horrible forced experiences that, while a common enough fantasy and one I usually don’t mind, is here presented in a way that I found disturbing. And that’s not a good feeling to have when reading a romance.

It was a slog to finish this and I found myself scanning rather than reading towards the end. The research was very good and the prose was fine; but the story didn’t grab me, the characters were tedious and the romance too early 80s bodice-ripper dressed up in modern PC fashion. A disappointing 2 Flutes.

‘Betrayed Hearts’ by Elizabeth Henshall

SCORE:

Tomboy heiress Lady Ghislaine is out hunting when she’s kidnapped by the mercenary Guy de Courcy as surety for a fair hearing from the Earl of Chester. Guy has been accused of murdering a young widow, Ghislaine’s best friend, and so she has no reason to trust him. But the Earl of Chester has a wicked sense of humour. He’s long been plagued by Ghislaine, who became his ward following the murder of her father, and so he forces Guy and Ghislaine to marry.

Neither of them want this marriage, but over time, Ghislaine’s desire for the convent recedes as she grows to trust her husband – despite his vile temper and surly nature. Guy struggles to clear his name and Ghislaine determines to help him – but when she unmasks the true killer, she finds her life in terrible danger.

This is a classic historical romance, a great story with wonderful characters and a lot of warm wit. My favourite line (one of many) is a riposte from Guy after Ghislaine has shouted at him: “I take it, then, that as your father is no longer alive you did batter him to death with your tongue? My sympathies lie entirely with him.”

Ghislaine is neither shrewish nor nagging despite her antipathy towards Guy, and she’s a completely believable heroine. Her clumsiness and little touches such as her rumbling stomach make her endearing and realistic. Guy is also well portrayed, a much more approachable hero to the usual M&B stereotype. The reason they’re kept apart is grounded in a very good piece of plotting rather than the usual ’silly misunderstanding’, which raises this novel a cut above the average romance.

I loved reading this story. A fabulous 5 Flutes.

In conclusion, a very uneven pair of books in this collection. Buy it for the Henshall and give Landon’s story a miss. Henshall’s story more than makes up for the disappointment of the first story.

The Savage Garden Harper

REVIEWED BY:

SCORE:

Author: Mark Mills
Publisher: Harper

REVIEW:

22-year old Cambridge student Adam Strickland is intelligent but lazy. When his professor suggests a topic for his thesis, Adam jumps at the chance. Recently dumped by his girlfriend, Adam likes the idea of swanning around Italy for a fortnight, drinking wine and seducing the local girls.

His thesis subject is the garden of a Renaissance villa in Tuscany, and its owner, Signora Docci, is an old friend of Adam’s professor. Arriving in Italy, Adam embarks on a flirtation with his landlady in the village, but soon Villa Docci and its garden draw him closer. His interest in unlocking the coded message of the garden increases when he meets Signora Docci’s beautiful granddaughter, Antonella.

But it’s not just the garden that’s hiding its secrets. The Villa Docci was occupied by German forces during the war, and the eldest son, Emilio, was murdered. Rumour and suspicion have plagued the family ever since, but nothing has been proved – until Adam’s investigations turn from the garden to its owners.

Brilliantly written, this is a book with three intertwined plots: Adam’s study of the garden, his search for the truth of Emilio’s death, and Adam’s relationship with his maverick older brother Harry. Each segment is resolved more or less satisfactorily, but the real genius of this novel is in the description of the garden and the mystery that lies behind it. The key to the puzzle is simple yet complex, and there’s a real sense of pleasure as the reader follows the trail of Adam’s thinking, as the pieces fall into place one by one.

The Savage Garden has many great lines, but my favourite is this description of Adam’s university girlfriend, who’s trying to write a novel about a German spy in rural England:

So this was where two years of English Literature studies had led her, all that Beowulf and Chaucer, and Sir Gawain and the Green Knight: to a secret submarine base in Portsmouth harbour.

I think that sums up most Arts students’ university experience, actually!

The only things I found questionable were quite minor points. The setting of 1958 didn’t seem real – often the novel read as if it was set in the modern day, with a few throwaway references to the 50s: Elvis, air raid shelters, the Suez crisis. Outside of the Villa Docci and its garden, time wasn’t really anchored.

Also, while the mystery of the garden is solved brilliantly and beautifully (with a fabulous twist), the case against Maurizio and its conclusion is distinctly underpowered and, with hindsight, a little disappointing.

However, while reading this book, I only put it down to eat my dinner. I read the whole thing in a few hours and was totally caught up in it. It’s a novel I’ll definitely read again. Totally absorbing, with fascinating characters, lovely prose and descriptions, romance, lust, mystery and suspense, this is a subtly intelligent read that also serves as popular escapist fiction. Highly recommended.

Daughters of Fire Harper

REVIEWED BY:

SCORE:

Author: Barbara Erskine
Publisher: Harper

REVIEW:

Viv Lloyd Rees, a Celtic historian, has just published a book on the life of a little-known Iron Age queen, Cartimandia of the Brigantes. A contemporary of Boudicca, Cartimandia (’Carta’) welcomed the Roman invaders and through an alliance secured peace and prosperity for her people.

But Viv’s boss at the university, Professor Hugh Graham, disapproves of her book. He dismisses it as sensationalist fiction and threatens her with academic humiliation if she continues her research.

Hugh owns a brooch said to have belonged to Carta. But the brooch is cursed, tying Carta to her aggressive husband, the fiercely anti-Roman Venutios, and to the woman who cursed both the brooch and Carta – Medb of the White Hands.

Much of Viv’s research came to her from Carta as she sees visions of the queen’s life. Carta believes Viv is her own personal goddess, and as her world grows more dangerous, Carta clings to Viv, asking for help and guidance.

Viv is helpless to resist Carta’s increasing strength. She channels the queen’s story into a radio play, but when actress/director Pat is brought in to help her with the play, the evil Medb begins to tell her own story through Pat.

The brooch summons Hugh (the modern channel for Venutios), Viv and Pat to an Iron Age fort for the final showdown. The Celtic gods demand a human sacrifice – but who will fall and who will emerge triumphant?

You always know what you’re getting with a Barbara Erskine novel. The plot is formulaic but why deviate from such a winning formula? Daughters of Fire is much, much better than Erskine’s forays into Ancient Egypt, grounded by the academic tensions vs creative impulses of modern times and the fascinating insights into Iron Age Celtic life.

Viv is a sympathetic heroine whose interest in Carta’s world becomes a mutual relationship of care and responsibility as she takes her role as ‘goddess’ and narrator of Carta’s story more seriously.

Sadly there’s less romance than in Erskine’s previous novels, the spark between Viv and Hugh downplayed in favour of Carta’s different loves, which seem rather perfunctory as the novel progresses. I’d like to have seen more of Carta’s dalliance with sexy Roman tribune Gaius Flavius Cerialis, and her stormy marriage to Venutios didn’t quite ring true to me.

There are a couple of inconsistent characters – Steve, Viv’s graduate student who has a crush on her, and his mother, Peggy, who’s the catalyst to the events of the book’s finale. In my opinion, Ms Erskine didn’t do enough to justify Peggy’s complete transformation, and here the story dips into melodrama.

However, despite these flaws, Daughters of Fire is as gripping, well-researched and evocative as Erskine’s prior novels. It’s wonderful to read about a strong, powerful queen who isn’t Boudicca, and who has a very different response to the Roman invasion of Britain. Toss in some Druidical magick in modern and historic times, larger-than-life characters, a touch of humour and an exploration of humanity and responsibility, and you have a rollicking good read.

World Enough and Time Torquere Press

REVIEWED BY:

SCORE:

Author: J.M. Snyder
Publisher: Torquere Press

REVIEW:

What a fabulously refreshing change! J.M. Snyder has penned a tale about the end of the world, but not in the usual way. The end of the world is due to salt. Salt pelts down from the sky and taints anything and everything. Rivers, food, people… Yes, people are dying—the poor first—and Allan comes to the startling realisation that his life may very well come to an abrupt end.

After thinking about his age, about how young he is and what he’s done so far, Allan phones his boyfriend, Jack, and ends their relationship. Allan wants to find someone worthwhile to spend his remaining time with. Abandoning work—after all, what’s the point in going when the world is going to end?—he goes out onto the streets. People flee the city (the images here are brilliant), and chaos reigns.

Favourite line: I grab one of those hand baskets…you know, the ones we’re all going to hell in?

Allan goes into a small store to stock up on some food. A guy reaches for the same packet. Allan notices the guy has something on his person that he’d rather not have seen and hurries off to pay for his purchases…

Another favourite line: The hair that curls from under his baseball cap looks like spilled ink against the burnished gold of his skin.

After leaving the shop, Allan meets with a frightening experience. The man from the shop intervenes and takes Allan home. Despite things occurring in the scene that would normally put someone off in everyday life, it’s the end of the world here, so Allan going home with the guy really does make sense.

I won’t reveal any more as it would spoil the read. Honestly, what a brilliant read. Well written, and well enjoyed by this reader. Fantastic!

Impressions Wild Child Publishing

REVIEWED BY:

SCORE:

Author: Matthew Babcock
Publisher: Wild Child Publishing

REVIEW:

Allan Douglas is a lovely man who just wants to do the right thing in life. He marries Mandie Hendershot, and they have a daughter. They name her Rebecca Ruth. Though Mandie’s family are a little pushy and set in their ways, Allan tries to fit in with their way of life. It seems, at times, that the Hendershots would prefer not to have outsiders in their family, and some of their actions made me wince with embarrassment for Allan.

A couple of years roll by, and Rebecca Ruth seems to be acting a little violently. Allan, obviously perturbed by her behaviour, wonders whether Rebecca has picked up her traits from watching her auntie Rory. Rory—who, let me tell you, is a despicable creature who I hated—mistreats her own two children. The Hendershots don’t seem worried by her actions, and Rory’s children continue to be treated quite appallingly by their mother.

Allan can’t bear the way they are treated and asks himself whether it would be right for him to intervene. He knows the Hendershots would undoubtedly gang up on him and protect Rory, but Allan’s conscience keeps nagging…

Allan decides to write a letter to Rory, only to find someone else has written on the pad before him. The previous letter writer pressed down quite hard with the pen, leaving an impression. An impression that Allan reads, giving him completely the wrong idea.

I loved the way Impressions went from past to present. The way Allan and Mandie met was a smile-inducing scene. There are magnificent touches throughout the book. The ending of the book had a brilliant ironic twist. I feel privileged to have read sun fine penmanship. A book I will never forget, Impressions has certainly left a lasting one on me.

The Immortal Soul Wild Child Publishing

REVIEWED BY:

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Author: Mack Mani
Publisher: Wild Child Publishing

REVIEW:

Paul and Shaun, private detectives, usually find business slows down during the winter months. Though never totally. There are always people who go missing…

An elderly woman, Caroll Tooley, visits their office with hopes that the detectives can find a young man, Adam, who lodged with her. He left a note for Caroll two weeks previously. And she hasn’t seen him since. Caroll also produces a small pouch containing what looks like ash—Adam’s pouch.

Though Paul feels Adam isn’t ‘missing’ as such, he agrees to visit Caroll’s house to search Adam’s room for any possible clues. He finds a notebook…

The search for Adam begins. Paul and Shaun are thrown into a web of intrigue. A fire breaks out where a gathering of youths had been in attendance. All that remains of them are their teeth. Also, Caroll’s home is set ablaze. Who did this?

A man who calls himself Father was my favourite character. Sinister, weird, and obviously whacko, he feels sure he is able to eventually rule the world based on what he has discovered.

Will Paul and Shaun find Adam? Will they be able to stop Father in his tracks? A journey across the globe and a final scene that had me on the edge of my seat ensued. A thoroughly enjoyable read. Well penned, with excellent atmosphere and pace, I’ll definitely be looking out for Mack Mani in the future.

Bedevilled: Book 3 Freya’s Bower

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Author: J. Emberglass
Publisher: Freya’s Bower

REVIEW:

Poor Dean Wellern. Not only has he had more to bear in one day than the average man, he’s now sitting at a dinner table with an assortment of weird beings. Convinced that Rowan, Dean’s host, is messing with his mind, Dean leaves the table and attempts to exit the room. However, Tomalonis, the giant, hoists Dean up into the air and explains that no, Dean cannot leave Rowan’s home.

To stop Rowan from using Dean for his own amusement, like tormenting or torturing him a little for fun, Tomalonis takes Dean down a corridor to a room bedecked with fine furniture. Inside, Rowan explains a few things to Dean that leaves him stunned… Dean has something that Rowan wants, something that Dean didn’t even know he possessed…

Another exciting instalment from J. Emberglass. I sincerely look forward to reading some more of her titles.

Odd Pursuits Wild Child Publishing

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Author: Robert Castle
Publisher: Wild Child Publishing

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At first, it seemed strange to be reading a story about the description of a bed. However, in Dennis’s Bed, it soon becomes clear that the bed is not all we are made aware of. Quite a sinister little tale here. I enjoyed its weirdness! Dennis’s Bed is the opening tale to a set of short stories.

In The Heart Keeps Twitching, it took me a few paragraphs to understand just what I was reading about. Another bizarre tale that I couldn’t help getting engrossed in. Ben and Stella are clocks! This clever tale shows what is seen of a relationship between the clock’s owners (if clocks could think and speak etc.). Honestly, strange, but oddly alluring.

The Sphinx ponders the mystery of things that go missing. Which brings to mind the question: However much I make sure all the socks go into the washing machine in pairs, one goes missing. I place something in my knick-knack jar, make a conscious effort to make myself realise it’s in there, yet go back later and it’s gone. How is that? A tale where a young boy is convinced something strange is afoot when the pennies from his jar go missing. After all, he muses, there are missing people, The Bermuda Triangle, that swipes large objects such as boats and planes away. So why does a Penny Pincher seem so ludicrous?

Victoria Falls: A clever flash fiction with a twist at the end. I really enjoyed this one, possibly my favourite of the whole bunch.

The National Shame is an amusing concept. This tale starts off as a letter from an editor to an author. The editor, instead of just writing out a rejection, decides to explain, very fully, why the story was rejected. He goes on to explain all about his break-up with his girlfriend. I felt quite sorry for the editor until his attitude changed towards the end of the letter. Quite clever, Mr Castle, to ensure we feel sorrow for the chap only to make us hate him, want to smack the smugness out of him. Or, perhaps that’s just me…

Why Anyone Would Care is a dialogue heavy tale which flows nicely. I found myself smiling, as Mr Castle has obviously mastered the art of how people really do speak. As the dialogue is the main feature, I was gratified that the layout of this tale didn’t use speech marks, which would have littered up the pages. Of course, this would irritate me in tales where ‘normal’ amounts of dialogue are used, but in this case, it worked.

All in all, Odd Pursuits is a collection of tales that gets you thinking. Some tales are set out unlike the ‘usual publications’ which was refreshing and fitted the stories, somehow. There are many more stories in Odd Pursuits than I have mentioned here. These ones just happened to be my favourites.

Good work, Mr Castle!

Loved Him to Death, Book 2: Omos of the Ether (2nd review)

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Author: K.M. Frontain
Publisher: Freya’s Bower

REVIEW:

Omos, a god, awakens on a beach, unable to remember how he got there. The scene is set wonderfully, with the water lapping at his lower legs. Also, a shark eyes him from the ocean. As with Book 1: Haru of Sanchone House (previously reviewed), the ominous feel of Vaal, another god that morphs from shark to human form, is prevalent throughout Book 2: Omos of the Ether.

While contemplating his surroundings, Omos spots a boat. Its inhabitants spot him. The captain of the ship? The wonderful Haru of Sanchone House, who allows Omos aboard. Now, if you read Book 1, you’d know that Haru is special. He knows things. Omos becomes aware of this trait very soon, and again, as with Book 1, K.M. Frontain gives us some wry humour interspersed with dramatic action, an excellent plot, and absolutely fantastic word use.

Omos travels with Haru, and a relationship blossoms, though it does have specifications—which again bring amusing results. Haru makes it clear that the lovely Vaal, God of the Sea, is part of the overall relationship picture. Omos comes to terms with this information—he has past dealings with Vaal—and also finds a part of himself he didn’t know existed. A fabulous character arc change.

And so the hunt for Intana—Omos’ son and Haru’s and Vaal’s former lover—begins. Though Intana (character fully realised in Book 1; a wonderful one at that!) is an infuriating man/god, Haru feels Intana deserves to be saved/found. Omos, now Haru’s lover, has to come to terms with the fact that a son he despises has also been Haru’s lover. Books 1 and 2 are such an intricate knot of emotions you may be forgiven for thinking they are full of males romping all over one another in sordid abandon. Not so. K.M. Frontain has created a wonderful relationship tangle that comes across as perfectly natural, loving, and not in the slightest bit ‘wrong’.

Vaal—the devious yet loveable rogue—slinks in and out of the scenes. His presence is strongly felt, even when he isn’t there. That’s how well K.M. Frontain writes. A scene where Haru and Omos have had ‘relations’ without Vaal knowing, and, let me add that the scene is hilarious as it involves a ‘woman’, had me on the edge of my seat worrying about Vaal catching them, but at the same time enjoying the scene and laughing.

Not many people have this power with words, hence such a high score. My last review was short and sweet because I’d literally been left reeling.

K.M. Frontain: I don’t think I will ever read anyone finer.

When it Comes To Sex Aphrodite Unlaced

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Author: Zinnia Hope
Publisher: Aphrodite Unlaced

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Snowflakes From her Tears: Naomi runs a farm, raising and selling horses—alone. Convinced she will never find love, after all, she lives by herself and is 40, she resigns herself to being by herself forever. However, someone has been leaving presents on her porch… Who is it? And will that person make a lasting impact on the lonely Naomi?

Candy-Cane Orgasm: Jilly and her boyfriend Ford go Christmas gift shopping. Ford has purchased a piece of candy. Instead of eating it, he has other uses in mind… While seated together in a rail car, another passenger sharing it, Ford wastes no time in revealing his plans for the candy.

Mother Nature’s Passion: Shane Bradford visits an old manor that has been converted into rental units. He meets his landlady, Daphne Zimerst, an attractive forty-something. He fancies the pants off her, despite her being much older than himself, and accepts her offer of a drink in her apartment. A storm rages outside, and Daphne makes it quite clear she fancies Shane too… A fun twist at the end.

The Rooftop: Demi has a hectic life. She works at a café, looks after her young daughter, Amanda, and attends university. She’s tired a lot of the time and decides to go out onto the rooftop to rest beneath the stars while her daughter is in bed. Another tenant, Ben, joins her on the rooftop. Despite being dressed in her underwear and thoroughly embarrassed, she gets Ben a beer and they chat. Among other things…

Strawberry Jam: Bill and Rhianne go strawberry picking. Bill gets a little saucy among the berries… However, the owner of the strawberry patch is far from pleased when she discovers what the pair have really been doing. With funny lines and a comedic slant, this was my favourite tale of the selection.

Titty Pink Cadillac: Brian manages to snag a pair of tickets to the Elvis Impersonator Blitz. He takes his friend, Jasmine. As well as being wowed by the pink Cadillac in the entryway, the pair have fun watching all the impersonators do their thing. Jasmine boldly removes her top and bra, and Brian promises to find an Elvis impersonator for her to have sex with in the back of the pink Cadillac…

A well written set of tales that range from sweet to downright saucy! Oh-la-la! If you like your romance/erotica in bite-sizes, or you only have a little time or need a quick read, this set of sexy tales should be right up your alley.

Yes, alley! What on earth did you think I was going to say?

Note to self: Perhaps only I find myself amusing…

Beneath and Beyond Lavender Isis Press

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Author: Debbie Mumford
Publisher: Lavender Isis Press

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Dr Erin Carstedter joins her colleagues in their bid to un-ice a lost city. Hidden beneath hundreds of feet of Arctic ice, the team’s job is arduous. The access point to the lost city is via a door inside an icy cavern. The cold surroundings are depicted well right from the start.

Despite being quite warm sitting here, I did indeed feel a chill go down my back. Good storytelling, or what? Yes, I’m a Debbie Mumford fan and proud of it. If I’m challenged and told I’m not her biggest fan, I will stomp my feet, retreat to my bedroom, and cry my eyes out upon my bed.

Enough with the dramatics! On with the review…

Matt Davidson, one of Erin’s colleagues, goes through the icy door. Erin follows, and they find themselves in a whole new world. Lush greenery surrounds them—vivid images that are well portrayed here. And it’s summer on the other side of that door. Dressed in clothes more appropriate for Arctic conditions, Matt takes off some of his winter clothing. Erin worries that they are hallucinating, seeing a glorious summer’s day that doesn’t really exist, so she opts to keep her winter attire on.

They investigate the new world in an attempt to find civilisation. Could people have survived here even though their city was hidden beneath vast amounts of ice? To further confuse the pair, after making their way through woodland, they spot a mythical creature by a stream. It turns out the creature is the Keeper of the Gate. Erin and Matt can return to their own world, or try to advance to the next. However, it’s up to this little creature, a sphinx, as to whether they will be allowed to reverse their steps or not.

A charming little tale, one that took me back to childhood, but also sated my need for cheering on a man and woman to love one another. A wonderful world, great imagery, and an exciting plot, all make for a top-notch read.

Gotta love Ms. Mumford.

And, I’m telling you, I’m a fan. The biggest one. Please don’t make me have to fling myself on my bed and get puffy eyes from crying now! Just let me live in my illusion…

Copacetic Wild Rose Press

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Author: Laura Hogg
Publisher: Wild Rose Press

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Claire Hamilton lives during the time when women were only just allowed to vote. She meets a man, Brian Reynolds, and tests him with questions designed to see if he’s amenable to women voters, women with minds of their own. Claire finds him attractive. She agrees to meet him at a diner later that evening, despite being in a stormy relationship with a man named Stanley.

Finding Brian’s company a joy, she meets him again and comes to realise there is more to life than what Stanley offers. More to a relationship. Not all men feel they need to control their women. Claire leaves Stanley, and he tries to track her down…

A whirlwind romance—something I do believe exists—follows.

Despite it not being quite clear enough from the start who Stanley is, I found this tale charming, with a fresh feel. I enjoyed Claire’s liberation from the restraints of the time and the fact that she found love—or rather, love found her.