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The following titles were reviewed in October 2009:

The Saucy Celt by Kerri Nelson
Good to Know by D. W. Marchwell
Secrets of the Past by Tatiana March
Mr. Darcy, Vampyre by Amanda Grange
The Darcy Boys & the Case of the Secret Skulls by A. J. Ryan
Suburblicious by Eric Arvin
Rose Red and Black Bear, an Erotic fairy Tale by Gwen Williams
Symptoms of a Broken Heart by Cory Cramer
As You Are by Ethan Day
Come as You Are by Melinda Barron
Faewolf by D. M. Atkins and Chris Taylor
The Haunting of Sam Cabot by Mark Edward Hall
Early’s Fall by Jerry Peterson
Immortally Theirs by Ann Cory
The Tiger Within by Viki Lyn
Journey to Redemption by Anne Patrick
Deception & Desire by Mina Carter
Spanish Eyes by Phyllis Campbell
The Phoenix by Ruth Sims
The Trouble with Destiny by J. K. Coi
Desire and Depravity by Iona Blair
Holy Smokes by Katie MacAlister
Deadly Slumber by Victor J. Banis
HeavenSent.com by Stephanie Worth
Jealous Lover by Brandi Michaels
Almost Home by Kate Steele
Cosmic Hero by Diane Merlin
The One Percenters by John Podgursky

Title: The Saucy Celt  
Author:  Kerri Nelson
Author’s website: http://www.kerrinelson.com/  
Publisher: Whispers Publishing
Release Date: October 2009
ISBN: N/A
Length: Short Story
Format: Electronic
Genre: Saucy Contemporary
Source: A
Sensuality Level: 2.5
Rating: 4.5

Reviewed by: Teagan S. Boyd

Sasha Adams is lost and nearing a deadline that could make or break her as a restaurant reviewer. She has spent more than she can afford to get to Ireland to review a high-end restaurant that she just can't seem to find. What she does find is Cian Mahone, third generation pizza bar owner, and making pizza has never been so naughty. Maybe not getting the review she was supposed to and losing a coveted award isn't looking so bad in exchange for an encounter of a lifetime.

********

The Saucy Celt is a deliciously, cute story that will have you wanting to go "make" your own pizza. Let me tell you, I will never look at pizza dough the same again. As a fan of food and fun, I was delighted by this book on a few different levels. The characters are fun and well-rounded for such a short story. Cian is every womans fantasy; he is sexy, caring, and imaginative.

Ms. Nelson has a fabulous knack for putting a whole bunch of fun into a little package. This book was fast-paced and fun from page one. I want to go to Ireland...NOW! Kerri Nelson continues to provide readers with wonderful entertainment, and steamy hot sex.

Title: Good to Know
Author:   D. W. Marchwell
Author’s website: http://www.marchwellbooks.ca/
Publisher: Dreamspinner Press
Release Date: October 2009
ISBN: 978-1-61581-077-2
Length: Novel
Format: Electronic
Genre: Contemporary Romance GLBT
Source: R
Sensuality Level: 3.5
Rating: 4.25

Reviewed by: BD Whitney

Jerry McKenzie isn’t prepared to raise a child, but when his cousin and her husband are killed in an automobile accident leaving their ten-year-old son William an orphan, he all of a sudden finds fatherhood staring him in the face. Jerry’s an artist and a recluse, and there is simply no time or room in his life for family, especially of the pint-sized persuasion. The only reason he agrees to give the boy a chance is to get the woman from Child and Family off his back.

William’s teacher at his new school is David Loewenberger. David is dedicated to his job and the children, and when he hears of Jerry’s initial reluctance to take in the boy, he immediately goes to confront the man. He is expecting to meet an offensive jerk, but instead he finds Jerry to be much more human – and much more attractive – than he imagined.  

It doesn’t take long for William to worm his way into Jerry’s heart, and with David’s help, he plans on making a permanent home for the little boy. He also finds himself falling in love with David, and the feeling is definitely mutual.

David is determined to be discreet, but when a parent with a grudge catches wind of his relationship with Jerry, the resulting outcry from indignant parents threatens his teaching career. David is placed in the unenviable position of having to choose between the career that he loves and the man and boy he adores.

********

D.W. Marchwell’s Good to Know is a novel about being true to yourself and your heart regardless of any perceived consequences. I found it to be an agreeable read with memorable characters, a believable situation, and more than its fair share of emotion.

Perhaps it is the parent in me, but I’m pretty much a sucker for stories that have children in them, especially children who need love and family as much as the child does in Good to Know. The little boy, William, is simply adorable. He’s a little young for a 10-year-old, but that can be attributed to the emotional neglect of his parents over the years. From the very beginning of the novel, he grabbed my heart, and my emotional investment in the story continued throughout. I’m not sure that I would classify this story as a “tear jerker,” but I will definitely admit to needing a tissue or three by the conclusion.

I appreciated the fact that both of the heroes in this story are over the age of forty. Those of us over a certain age know that love isn’t just for the twenty- and thirty-somethings; however, most romances focus on younger characters.

In David and Jerry, Mr. Marchwell gives readers two less-than-perfect but quite sympathetic heroes. David considers himself an “emotional wreck.” He has brought a lot of heartbreak down upon himself over the years by allowing others to take advantage of his fears, but this time if he wants to keep Jerry and William in his life, he’ll have to stand up and fight for who he is and what he believes in. I’ll admit to feeling a little impatient with him a time or two for his passivity, but he is overall a quite loveable character. Besides, he’s an adorable drunk, and you’ve got to love a guy who becomes funny when his inhibitions are lowered.

While David has to learn to “cowboy up” and do what it takes in this story, Jerry learns what it is like to need a family. His extreme anger at David regarding what he sees as David’s cowardice and his subsequent verbal cruelty to the man are a little hard to take, but they are an entirely human knee-jerk reaction to his feeling as if his trust were betrayed.

Along with the trio of main characters, Good to Know features a number of memorable secondary players: Lenore, the tough-as-nails ex nun; Sara, the wise lesbian Child and Family agent; and Bennett, the nasty homophobic bible-thumper and rabble-rouser. They add color and depth to the story, and the repartee that flies between Lenore and David is especially amusing.

The author bio at the end of Good to Know indicates that Mr. Marchwell is a teacher. That doesn’t surprise me, because the character David is a very believable and realistic teacher. As an American, I won’t pretend to understand the working of the Canadian school system, but David and his experiences still felt very “real” to me. Overall, I found this story to be quite readable. It made me smile, it made me a bit teary-eyed, and it definitely appealed to the romantic in me.

--Bobby

Title: Secrets of the Past
Author: Tatiana March
Author’s website: http://www.tatianamarch.com/
Publisher: The Wild Rose Press
Release Date: August 2009
ISBN: 978-1-60154-492-8
Length: Novel
Format: Electronic and Print
Genre: Romantic Mystery/Suspense
Source: R
Sensuality Level: 3
Rating: 3.75

Reviewed by: BD Whitney

Antonia Henderson arrives in the tiny rural community of Oakhill, Virginia with a wad of cash, a rapidly expiring US visa, and a determination to stay hidden. A British citizen, she is on the run from troubles that could very well see her extradited back to England on trumped-up criminal charges. Now she is in Oakhill, Antonia plans to find a home and a job and to live her life completely under the radar.

The house that Antonia buys is in dire need of repair, and when the seller shows up to make those repairs, Antonia meets the last member of the local gentry – the McShane family. Kyle McShane is still a young man, but he has been a recluse for the past twenty years. His shyness and almost innocence fascinates Antonia, and she quickly finds herself falling in love with him. But just how safe is it for her to take him as a lover? Whispered rumors around town say that he murdered both of his parents as a child in the very house where Antonia resides, and while Antonia finds that very difficult to believe, she knows that she owes it to herself to find out the truth.

As Antonia gets closer to the truth about the man she loves, her own past begins to catch up with her. And she comes to realize that she and Kyle share a painful truth: Family may be bonded to you by blood, but they can be your worst enemy as well.

********

Tatiana March’s novel Secrets of the Past is a story about love and family and betrayal and the secrets that an entire town can hold close to their chest. It features a woman running from the mistakes of her past, a man hiding from the trauma of his past, and the truths that once revealed could pull them apart forever.

I found this to be a mildly suspenseful read as I accompanied the heroine on her voyage of discovery and tried to puzzle out what happened with Kyle’s parents on the day that they disappeared. Ms. March whets our interest in the mystery from the prologue of the story; she presents a bloody and distressing scene featuring Kyle and his parents. Then, having armed us with the partial truth of what happened to this family, she walks us through versions of the story built by the fear and conjecture of the townspeople before Antonia works her way through to the actual events of the day.

Secrets of the Past is charged with many emotions: love, fear, denial, hatred. Ms. March puts her characters through their emotional paces and brings the reader along for the ride. She gives us a hero and heroine who make quite an impact, but she also populates the town with characters who are both real and individual. From the woman who runs the general store and who feuds with Antonia over a semantic misunderstanding, to Antonia’s tough but kind boss and her coworkers at the café, to the aging real estate agent who has tried to protect Kyle from what he believed was the truth for over twenty years, the residents of the town of Oakhill are worth sitting down with and getting to know a little better. I enjoyed the close-knit environment that Ms. March has given this town. Everybody knows everyone else’s business, but they are reluctant to talk to those they deem “outsiders” about it.

Antonia is one of these “outsiders” and must work hard and be persistent to gain the confidence of the townsfolk. I found her to overall to be a sympathetic character, but still there was something about her that rubbed a little against the grain. Perhaps it is her insistence in digging into an issue beyond what concerns her that I didn’t care for. I could understand Antonia’s desire to find out the truth about whether or not Kyle killed his parents, because she doesn’t want to become involved with someone who is going to hurt her, but it feels as if she goes a little bit too far. Instead of merely protecting herself, it feels like an invasion of privacy.

The character Kyle has a sweetness and an innocence about him that is at odds with his age. It appears that some of the emotional parts of him haven’t grown up, as is evidenced by his tendency to run away when he is feeling pressured or afraid and his avoiding issues instead of dealing with them. While the town has tried to shelter him all this time, they really haven’t done him any favors, and although we may feel a little exasperated at some of his behavior that might appear immature, we still have a lot of sympathy for him.

This story contains a secondary plot regarding Antonia and her legal issues that had the potential to be quite interesting, but I felt as if it got lost in the shuffle a little bit and was resolved as an afterthought. Regardless, I found Secrets of the Past to be worth my reading time. Its mixture of mystery, suspense, and emotion make for an overall diverting read.

--Bobby

Title: Mr. Darcy, Vampyre
Author: Amanda Grange
Author’s website: http://www.amandagrange.com/
Publisher: Sourcebook Landmarks
Release Date: July 2009
ISBN: 9781402236976
Length: Novel
Format: Electronic
Genre: Paranormal
Source: R
Sensuality Level: 1
Rating: 4.25

Reviewed by: Teagan S. Boyd

Ever wonder what happened after Pride and Prejudice ended? Did Elizabeth and Darcy live happily ever after? Possibly...possibly not.
Initially heading for the Lake District to start their honeymoon trip, Darcy suddenly decides to head for Europe instead to visit family and friends. Elizabeth is stunned to learn that her marriage might not be as idyllic as she thought it would be. Darcy may not be the man she thought he was, and even though she knows he loves her, she is sure he regrets it as she glimpses something dark and undefined in his eyes. Take a step on the dark side with your favorite Austen characters.

********

As a huge Austen fan, I find that I want to read anything and everything that has to do with my favorite author. The vampyre angle is a new one to me in relation to Austen, and I was interested in reading Ms. Grange's take on the classic. I was pleasantly surprised. The storyline is well thought out and takes many twists and turns before we actually glimpse what exactly Darcy is. The subtle hints that allude to the darkness in Darcy keep the reader on their toes trying to decide when and what is going to happen.

I'm not sure how much I like the lead up to the finish; it left me wanting a bit more or at least something different. All in all, however, it was an entertaining read, and as always I admire an author that would take on the daunting task of carrying on such a classic and doing it so well.

Title: The Darcy Boys & the Case of the Secret Skulls
Author: A.J. Ryan
Author’s website: N/A
Publisher: Eternal Press
Release Date: October 2009
ISBN: 978-1-926704-72-2
Length: Short Novella
Format: Electronic
Genre: Humor/Satire GLBT
Source: A
Sensuality Level: 4
Rating: 4.75

Reviewed by: BD Whitney

Jeepers, it’s a mystery!

Tommy and Dash are brand-new stepbrothers and best buddies. Left to their own devices when their parents fly off on their honeymoon, these two high spirited young men of course dive head first into trouble. Dash, a pre-pre-pre-law student at Yalebridge University, has received a super secret invitation to the annual ball of the TOP SECRET Secret Skulls society at Yalebridge, and he’s convinced the society is up to no good. Grimly determined to put a stop to whatever shenanigans the Secret Skulls are up to while at the same time upholding his promise to spend the summer with his new brother, Dash carts Tommy along on his investigation.

While Dash attends the ball, Tommy turns super-sleuth in order to discover more about the Secret Skulls. What Tommy doesn't expect is to be immediately identified as a virgin, knocked unconscious, and dragged naked to the Secret Skulls ball in order to be presented as a human sacrifice. And Dash is shocked to find out that in order to be indoctrinated into the society, he has to murder a hot young male virgin. When that virgin turns out to be his best pal and stepbrother, Dash knows that he needs to act and act fast. By golly, if only Tommy weren’t a virgin, they wouldn’t be in this bind.

********

Here’s a question for the mad scientist in you: What would you get if you mixed The Hardy Boys with The Rocky Horror Picture Show and added a healthy dose of Monty Python’s Flying Circus? While I haven’t had the chance to roll up my sleeves and experiment for myself, I have a pretty good idea that the results would closely resemble A. J. Ryan’s tongue-in-cheek novella The Darcy Boys & the Case of the Secret Skulls. This is a mischievous, bawdy, farcical romp of a story, and while it may not appeal to those who take themselves and their reading material seriously, it should entertain and delight those with a more twisted and lighthearted outlook on life.

I’m not sure when I last read something that made me laugh more than The Darcy Boys did. I picked this up to read one evening on the train during my commute home, and my fellow passengers probably thought I was demented, I chortled so much. I’m still grinning days later, because this story is completely outrageous and “out there” from the very first page, and it simply doesn’t let up until the final paragraph.

The central mystery in The Darcy Boys borrows wildly from Yale’s Skull & Bones secret society that so many political and notable public figures have belonged to over the years. It makes delightful fun of the overt mystique that surrounds this society. Somehow, though, I don’t think that those tapped for Skull & Bones have ever had to sacrifice virgins, especially not young strapping lads, although rumors do abound regarding their initiation requirements.

The Darcy Boys & the Case of the Secret Skulls contains so many memorable comic moments that I found it almost impossible to weed out my favorites, but I was especially tickled when the narrator insists that Tommy and Dash look just alike when they most certainly do not and also when the murderous Skulls sigh romantically en masse over an imagined kiss. Is this high literature? Of course not. But I can tell you that it is clever and highly entertaining. Leave any prudish tendencies at the door when you pick this story up, because it is most definitely “naughty” in tone throughout. And then prepare to grin until your cheeks hurt.

--Bobby

Title: Suburbilicious: vignettes from Jasper Lane
Author: Eric Arvin
Author’s website: http://www.daventryblue.blogspot.com/  
Publisher: Dreamspinner Press
Release Date: September 2009
ISBN: 978-1-61581-043-7
Length: Novel
Format: Electronic
Genre: Contemporary GBLT
Source: A
Sensuality Level: 3.5
Rating: 4.75

Reviewed by: Teagan S. Boyd

With the return to Jasper Lane, all of our favorite characters are back with the addition of a few new ones. A lesbian couple, a stranger in a tree, and gay porn politics are just a few of the delights that await you. Cassie and Vera are back and up against someone that wants them in hot water. The biggest porn film of the times is taking place, and the political machinations are enough to make anyone blush. Sandy is kicking political ass and taking numbers. Jasper Lane is a hotbed of hedonistic fun.

********

I loved it; plain and simple. Suburbilicious is pure fun with a healthy dose of suburban absurdity. In the second installment from Jasper Lane, Suburbilicious continues with the resident's lives while introducing three new residents. The story is a combination of different lives going on completely different adventures, yet at some point they all intertwine. I enjoyed the continuation of Cassie's secret, with Vera in the middle playing a game of cat and mouse. I was thrilled to see Jason in this book and to get an inside look into how he ticks.

The addition of lesbian couple Keiko and Asha adds a new dimension to the story.
Of course I was thrilled with more drama with Rick and James. Their interaction is a highlight, and I enjoy the dynamics that Mr. Arvin put into play with their relationship difficulties. I am happy to see Melinda growing and expanding her horizons . . . and that's all I'm going to say on her because you just have to read it to believe it . . . and love it. Terrence is as hilarious as before. I have this "Private Benjamin" picture going on in my head when I try to imagine him camping. Of course you have to add plenty of booze to that picture. I found myself giggling out loud at his many "adventures" while on a camping retreat with his son. I absolutely love Sandy in this book. She has grown by leaps and bounds. She would have my vote any day.

Eric Arvin has quickly moved into my top "must read" category. He has a deliciously unique talent that I am so happy I have found.

Title: Rose Red and Black Bear, an Erotic Fairy Tale
Author: Gwen Williams
Author’s website: http://www.gwenwilliams.net/
Publisher: Red Sage Publishing
Release Date: October 2009
ISBN: 978-1-60310-366-4
Length: Novella
Format: Electronic
Genre: Fantasy
Source: R
Sensuality Level: 3.5
Rating: 3.75

Reviewed by: BD Whitney

Rose Red and Black Bear, an Erotic Fairy Tale, is a partial retelling of the German Snow White and Rose Red fairy tale. In this story, Rose Red’s family offers shelter to a bear during the winter. The bear ends up being a prince who has been bespelled by an ugly and wicked dwarf, and once the bear kills the dwarf he turns back into his true form and marries one of the sisters. In Ms. Williams' telling of the story, she has eroticized the relationship between Rose Red and the bear. She changes the tale somewhat by imbuing Rose Red with a sexual curiosity that gives her quite a bad reputation in her village, giving her two failed sexual relationships, and making her the target of the prince/bear’s romantic attentions rather than her sister.

Ms. Williams has done a very nice job of maintaining the fairytale atmosphere of this story by using the language and cadence that we usually associate with such tales. She also develops Rose Red’s character enough to make her seem like a real girl with complex emotions. Rose Red is not sticky-sweet like Snow White appears to be; she feels anger and lust, and her verbal battles with the evil dwarf on the occasions that she encounters the extremely nasty fellow prove that can hurl insults with the best of them. I felt like the most entertaining scenes in the story are the ones that she shares with the dwarf, because neither of them pulls their punches as they shout invectives at each other.

I have admit feeling that the story dragged a little bit in the middle as Rose Red pines for her lover, waiting for him to return from war. I kept waiting for the bear to make an appearance, since he is one of the main characters in the tale. This wasn’t enough to lose my interest, however, because appearances by the dwarf kept the action alive.

It is my understanding that Rose Red and Black Bear, an Erotic Fairy Tale is only half of a complete story and that Ms. Williams intends to tell Snow White’s tale next. I’m very interested to see how she handles this given the ending to Rose Red. I’ll look forward to getting to know Snow White a little better and to seeing how this story differs from the version that Walt Disney made so famous. Fairy tales by the Brothers Grimm all seem to have a dark edge, so somehow I don’t think that jolly dwarves with names like “Sleepy” and “Doc” are going to make an appearance.

--Bobby

Title: Symptoms of a Broken Heart
Author: Cory Cramer
Author’s website: http://www.corycramer.com/
Publisher: Damnation Books, LLC
Release Date: September 2009
ISBN: Digital: 978-1-61572-033-0
Print: 978-1-61572-032-3
Length: Short Story
Format: Electronic, Print
Genre: Horror
Source: A
Sensuality Level: 3
Rating: 4.75

Reviewed by: Teagan S. Boyd

Straight-laced Susan tells her sister, Lisa, that she wants to be the bad girl and party before she gets married. Lisa, the party sister, has a plan. She met a guy on the Internet that invited them to a Full Moon Party in New Orleans, and the two girls are interested to see what werewolf and vampire worshippers are into. Tragedy strikes, and Lisa must turn to dark forces to cover up what has happened. To what lengths will she go to cover up her sister's death?

********

I started Symptoms of a Broken Heart having no clue what to expect and admittedly with a bit of dread. I know that sounds terrible but the dread was not the dread of a bad story, it was the dread of horror. I am your typical "rose-colored glasses" reader and basically a weenie, so my own fear was getting the best of me. A girl has to step out of her comfort zone, and I am so glad I did.

This book will make you think. It will make you think about choices. It will make you think about fear, and will have you questioning what you would do if you were in a position like Lisa found herself in.

It took me days to decide how I felt about Symptoms of a Broken Heart; I even read it again. The sign of a good book is that you enjoy it; the sign of a great book is that it makes you think...and think...and think. I would like to call this book "unique" but it is beyond that, it is "individual" and out there.

It feeds upon a different kind of fear, and it broaches a subject that I haven't read before. It is paranormal with twists that put it into the horror genre. Mr. Cramer has talent; a talent that I hope keeps putting forth book after book. Thanks for getting my brain working overtime.

Title: As You Are
Author: Ethan Day
Author’s website: http://www.ethandayonline.com/
Publisher: Loose Id, LLC
Release Date: September 2009
ISBN: 978-1-60737-440-4
Length: Novel
Format: Electronic
Genre: Contemporary GLBT
Source: A
Sensuality Level: 3
Rating: 4.5

Reviewed by: BD Whitney

For the past year, hopeful romantic Julian Hallowell has been in love with his apartment mate Danny. Convinced that Danny is “The One” for him, Julian has basically tried every trick in the book to get the man’s attention, but “Operation Danny” has so far been a bust. Danny seems to prefer one-night stands and vapid relationships with younger men and treats Julian with a brotherly affection makes him just want to scream.

When hopeful turns into hopeless, Julian tries to get over his feelings for Danny with a “Reverse Operation Danny” campaign. First item on the agenda: find a boyfriend. Enter Andy Baker, potential boyfriend. Andy is gorgeous and attentive and almost too good to be true, and Julian feels like he may have finally hit the dating jackpot. Why, then, does Danny pick this time to finally take notice of him? Danny may be Julian’s one big chance of happiness, but he could also break Julian’s heart beyond repair.

********

You really don’t want to know how many books I read for every review that gets posted on this website. Suffice to say, it is not a one-to-one ratio. There is a lot of clutter out there in the ebook community, so I’m always happy when I find an author whose work stands out as consistently pleasing to me. One such author is Ethan Day, whose latest offering and third novel, As You Are, is a well-written and clever romantic comedy that will tug at your heart, make you smile, and lead you to think about the complexities of human nature.

Mr. Day writes wonderful main characters and is no slouch in the secondary character department, either. His protagonist and narrator Julian is clumsy, quirky, spoiled and a little neurotic, but he is also completely loveable. He is so tied up in his own drama and his own world that he frequently neglects to take other people’s viewpoints into consideration. His own mother calls him a flake, but it is this very flakiness that makes us embrace him. Julian has an irresistible humor that makes him shine and that causes us to overlook his many faults and foibles. As I read As You Are, I found myself riding along with Julian, sucked into his personal drama, and completely sympathizing with him, sharing his indignity and sense of betrayal over Danny and his perplexity over Andy’s political and religious viewpoints.

Competing with Julian in the charisma department are his friend Gabby and his mother Delilah. They are both unique and strong characters, and while they support Julian throughout his traumas, they also bring hard truths to his attention and force him to look at the world beyond his self-absorption.

As You Are incorporates an irresistible good-natured humor as the narrator races at a breakneck pace through just about every emotion known to man: angst, confusion, betrayal, starry-eyed devotion and then back again. The narrative has a casual and comfortable tone that speaks directly to the reader, the dialogue is witty and realistic, and the pace is quick enough to keep and maintain a reader’s attention. I finished this story with a grin, feeling that I had been entertained in style and hoping that somewhere out there is some carpet grip with Julian’s name on it.

--Bobby

Title: Come As You Are
Author: Melinda Barron
Author’s website: http://www.melindabarron.com/   
Publisher: Resplendence Publishing, LLC
Release Date: October 2009
ISBN: 978-1-60735-072-9
Length: Novella
Format: Electronic
Genre: Paranormal
Source: R
Sensuality Level: 3
Rating: 4.5

Reviewed by: Teagan S. Boyd

Tempest Gandy has sunk all her money into the renovation of the old house near the heart of New Orleans in order to make it a Bed and Breakfast. She never thought she would have to enlist the help of her friend Quinn, a member of a Ghost Hunters team, to come and help her figure out what is inhabiting her house . . . and her. Sleepless nights, no energy, and strange happenings have Tempest looking for any help she can get; even if it comes in the form of a very hunky, mind-reader that can hear her naughty thoughts about him.

********

Incubus, ghosts, mind-reader, and psychics are just a few things you will meet in Come as You Are. As a fan of the television show "Ghost Hunters," I found myself instantly wanting to read this book when I read the blurb, and I am so glad I did. This book is a page turner from the beginning, and I couldn't wait to see what was going to happen next. Tempest grew on me instantly. Her inner thoughts are laid open when she meets Franco, and the chemistry between them is outstanding. The story is well-written with interesting characters. The paranormal investigative aspect is a winning addition to an already great story. Ms. Barron is very talented, and I always look forward to reading her work.

Title: Faewolf
Author: D.M. Atkins and Chris Taylor
Author’s website: http://www.dmatkins.net/  
Publisher: Circlet Press, Inc.
Release Date: May 2009
ISBN: 978-1885865678
Length: Novel
Format: Electronic and Print
Genre: Paranormal GLBT
Source: A
Sensuality Level: 4.5
Rating: 4

Reviewed by: BD Whitney

Kiya White Cloud is a typical college freshman in many respects. He has a busy class schedule, friends he likes to hang out with at the campus LGBT center, and a crush on his TA for biology class, Brian. Although he knows that student/teacher relationships are forbidden, he can’t help but flirt with the man and try to get his attention. When Brian pushes him away, he turns to the forest for comfort, and there he encounters a massive wolf. Instead of reacting with fear, Kiya forms a friendship with the affectionate and unusual wolf.

Brian Fenwick is a lone wolf. The faewolves may be magical creatures, but their numbers are dwindling at an alarming rate. Brian, whose wolf name is Saoi, has left his pack in order to study wolves, hoping that his research will one day help find a solution to the pack’s population problem. Even though he knows that it is against the college rules for him to get involved with Kiya, he feels fiercely protective of the young man and can't help but watch over him.

Ultimately, neither Brian nor Kiya can deny their attraction for each other, although they both realize that any relationship must remain clandestine on campus. Brian worries about how will Kiya react when he discovers that his wolf friend and his lover are one and the same. Before he can divulge his secret, however, their lives are invaded by a ruthless band of hunters. They have their sights set on the faewolf, and they have unpleasant plans in mind for Kiya as well.

********

In their novel Faewolf, D.M. Atkins and Chris Taylor give readers a story that focuses a spotlight on the plight of wolves in North America while at the same time telling us a story of magic and danger and love. This is a very readable tale that mixes Lakota spirituality with paranormal elements to give us a unique and entertaining whole.

The authors handle the paranormal element in such a way as to make it feel slightly more realistic than your usual werewolf fare. Instead of simply being a “werewolf” story, Faewolf makes a distinction between different types of shifters: werewolves, skinwalkers, and faewolves. I found this to be an interesting touch that underlined the mystical nature of the creatures in question.

The main characters of this story are an appealing duo. Kiya exhibits a blend of typical young college student and his Native American background. He is a member of the Sioux nation and has been raised with the Lakota beliefs of his family. He exhibits a charming cockiness about his appeal that is typical of the young, but this is something of a smokescreen, because Kiya’s self-confidence has been shaken by a string of abusive physical relationships. His need for comfort and nurturing is evidenced by his compulsion to suck his thumb, which I found to be a realistic touch. Brian puts himself into the role of Kiya’s protector, but in actuality they are protecting and providing for each other.

I had a little trouble assigning a sensuality level to this story. The love scenes between Brian and Kiya are sensual enough to singe the pages of the book. That’s certainly not an issue, nor is the fact that Brian’s wolf nature comes to the forefront in most of the love scenes. There are a couple of sex scenes with Brian in his wolf form, though, and these skate very close to being bestiality. For this reason, I’ve assigned a level 4.5 to Faewolf. It didn’t offend me at all, but others may have a different perception.

The authors are obviously concerned with the fate of wolves in this country. At the end of the book is a statement urging the readers become advocates of common sense wolf management. They also include lists of recommended reading material regarding the Lakota and wolves. I thought this was a nice touch, and it also proves that the authors did their homework before writing this novel. Overall, I believe that readers looking for a paranormal male romance that is different from the norm should find Faewolf to be worth their reading time.

--Bobby

Title: The Haunting of Sam Cabot
Author: Mark Edward Hall
Author’s website: http://www.markedwardhall.com/  
Publisher: Damnation Books, LLC
Release Date: Seeptember 2009
ISBN: Digital: 978-1-61572-031-6
Print:   978-1-61572-030-9
Length: Novella
Format: Electronic, Print
Genre: Horror
Source: A
Sensuality Level: 2
Rating: 4.75

Reviewed by: Teagan S. Boyd

When Sam Cabot and his wife bought the old Farnham Inn for their family of three, they knew it needed alot of work. What they didn't know was that evil was lurking, and waiting for them. At a price that was too good to be true, they jumped at the offer and found themselves locked into nightmare upon nightmare. Sam's descent into madness is surrounded by evil, death, and obsession.

********

Scary seems too simple a word to describe this psychological horror; I found myself a little afraid to go to sleep the night I read The Haunting of Sam Cabot. The way the story is told creates a great impact upon the psyche. Mr. Hall fools the reader into a false sense of security and them BAM he hits you with something that sends chills up your spine.

The reader knows evil is hiding just around the corner, but I could barely get the grasp on it even though I knew it was there. This lends a much more chilling feel to the book than any blatant gore ever could. The book plays with your mind and has you in its grip throughout. The vivid details in the book paint a picture that isn't easily forgotten; you know you are reading a skilled author when you can't get the story out of your head, and you find yourself thinking about it days later and still getting chills up your spine. Kudos, Mr. Hall, for scaring the daylights out of me: I'm not sure I will ever look at a furnace the same way.

Title: Early’s Fall
Author: Jerry Peterson
Author’s website: http://www.jerrypetersonbooks.com/
Publisher: Five Star Publishing
Release Date: February 2009
ISBN: 978-1-1594146787
Length: Novel
Format: Print
Genre: Historical Mystery/Crime
Source: A
Sensuality Level: 1
Rating: 5+Keeper

Reviewed by: BD Whitney

Although he hobo’d across country riding the rails as a young man and served as an infantryman in the Big Red One in the Second World War, these days James “Cactus” Early is sheriff of Riley County, Kansas. He always thought he’d die a bachelor cowboy, but now he has a new wife and a baby on the way.

Life is pretty quiet in Riley County, so when a man on a horseback robs the local bank right under Early’s nose, it certainly makes the news. And to add insult to injury, after the miscreant gets away, he repeatedly comes back to taunt the sheriff. As steamed as Early is, this fades into the background when a local teacher, his wife’s friend Judith, is murdered. And while the woman’s husband is a natural suspect, his alibi appears to clear him of the crime.

Early’s investigation will take him to every corner of his county, involve him with the Union Pacific Railroad, and even send him to visit the young woman’s family in Kansas City, where he will have a run-in with a Secret Service agent, meet President Truman, and find out that the victim was much more than simply a teacher. She was a soldier involved with the Jewish movement to create the new Israel in Palestine. So now the question is was Judith murdered by Palestinians or by her husband?

As Early hunts for a murderer and a bank robber, his life is additionally complicated when his wife Thelma begins acting strangely. The baby is due soon, and Early is beginning to worry about his wife’s health. Early’s Fall is a tough season this year; it brings changes that will affect James Early for the rest of his life.

********

I’m not sure what I expected when I picked up Early’s Fall by Jerry Peterson. A western, perhaps, something along the lines of Zane Grey, not usually the kind of book that I read. So I’m going to admit that I began to read it somewhat reluctantly, expecting mild entertainment at the most. Well, I was wrong – oh, so wrong. Early’s Fall is one of the finest books that I have read recently. It an extremely well-written, involving, entertaining, and touching mystery/crime novel that is set in the decade after the Second World War, and I am placing it smack in the middle of my keeper shelf.

The tone of this novel is very folksy and friendly. Mr. Peterson’s narrative flows smoothly and is extremely readable with a comfortable cadence that immediately pulled me into the story. The action feels so real that the overall effect is almost cinematic. As I read, I felt as if I were riding along with Early in his Jeep, standing nearby as he converses with his fellow townspeople, and riding the train with him as he travels on his investigation. There are many priceless and notable scenes in this story.

The characters spring to realistic life in the pages of Early’s Fall. Mr. Peterson succinctly and thoroughly develops his large cast in just a few words, and many of them leave quite an impression. Not only do we get to know the various lawmen that Early works with on a regular basis, but we meet President Truman, an Israeli spy, a sheriff who is also a cousin of the then-future president Eisenhower, and many other colorful and memorable characters.

If ever there was a “good” man, it is James Early. He is a character that you can admire, respect, and root for. The man doesn’t have a prejudiced bone in his body, and he has a very deep and ingrained sense of justice. Early has a quiet intelligence that stays hidden behind the old cowboy persona he wears, and it seems like the only thing that frightens him is his impending fatherhood.

Early’s Fall incorporates many different tones and emotions. The bank robber that keeps coming back to taunt Early adds a humorous tone, as do a few of the strange situations that Early lands in. Suspense abounds as we wonder what on earth is going on with his wife Thelma with her erratic behavior and memory lapses. And intrigue exists in the story of the formation of the new Israel and the murder of the young teacher who was involved in the Zionist movement.

If you asked me if I would recommend Early’s Fall, my answer would be a resounding “yes.” This is a wonderful and well-crafted story, and I enjoyed it immensely. In fact, I suggest that you grab a copy of your own, because if you pass this novel up, then you are simply doing yourself a disservice. Mr. Peterson is an excellent story-teller, and I would hate for you to miss out.

--Bobby

Title: Immortally Theirs
Author: Ann Cory
Author’s website: http://www.anncory.com/ 
Publisher: Resplendence Publishing
Release Date: October 2009
ISBN: 978-1-60735-071-2
Length: Short Story
Format: Electronic
Genre: Paranormal Vampire
Source: R
Sensuality Level: 3
Rating: 4

Reviewed by: Teagan S. Boyd

All Hallow's Eve is coming too quickly for Shayla McDormand. One year ago she reluctantly returned to the childhood mansion she grew up in only to be seduced by two extremely sexy vampires. Bastian Trabor and Armand Coudray both cater to every desire Shayla could have. Bastian is all heat and fire while Armand is slow and sensual. It's the best of both worlds. Unfortunately they are forcing Shayla to choose only one of them to be her eternal mate or she will lose both of them forever. The weight is driving her to depression and her time to choose is coming to an end on All Hallow's Eve.

********

Immortally Theirs is a couple of heat levels above hot. One woman and two sexy and very sensual vampires equals pure sizzle. Shayla has the best of both worlds: hard and purely primal, and sweet and sensual. I read the entire story in total envy of her. The only thing I didn't envy was the choice she was being forced to make between the two of them. The sexual scenes are fiercely erotic. I enjoyed the forced friendship between Bastian and Armand; it seemed to genuinely characterize two alpha males at odds over what they deem theirs.

I think the story would have made a wonderful novella since there were so many aspects of the book that could have been elaborated upon. I felt it was a bit rushed towards the end. I know I will be reading more of Ms. Cory's work as her characters are unique as well as intriguing.

Title: The Tiger Within
Author: Viki Lyn
Author’s website: http://www.vikilyn.com/
Publisher: Loose Id LLC
Release Date: September 2009
ISBN: 978-1-60737-422-0
Length: Novella
Format: Electronic
Genre:  Historical Paranormal GLBT
Source: R
Sensuality Level: 3
Rating: 3.75

Reviewed by: BD Whitney

It is the aftermath of the Second World War, and Jack Hunter is an agent for an underground agency known as the Sentinel, whose purpose is to eradicate the evil paranormal entities that prowl the earth. Jack’s current mission sends him to France on the trail of the murderous Bête du Gévaudan, which in itself is not an issue for him. The problem is that his agency has teamed him up with Frenchman Antoine Fortescue, a tiger shape-shifter also known as Le Tigre. Antoine is notoriously gay, effeminate and flamboyant, and he makes no secret of the fact that he wants Jack. The man disgusts Jack, who would as soon shoot Antoine as work with him.

Antoine knows that Jack’s antagonism masks a weakness, and he is not above exploiting that weakness to get what he needs. He is crazy about Jack and is determined to pursue the man and batter down his conviction that love between two men is sinful and wrong. Jack is his khalid, his life mate, but he just doesn’t understand that yet.

As Antoine and Jack work together, however reluctantly on Jack’s part, to locate and destroy Le Bête, they come face-to-face with the root of the creature’s existence, their nemesis Eidolon. As they unite against this common enemy, Jack realizes that he and Antoine have more in common that he ever would have believed. He feels safe in Antoine’s arms, so maybe the man is right. Maybe he and the free-spirited tiger do indeed belong together. They may have a shot at forever, if Eidolon doesn’t kill them first.

*******

Viki Lyn’s novella The Tiger Within is a somewhat unusual story that is hard to categorize. I guess I would call it a historical paranormal romance action super-hero story. It features a larger than life good-versus-evil struggle between a nasty villain and the heroes, a were-tiger and a super-enhanced soldier, that gives the story the feel of an action-packed comic book. It also incorporates a love story and clash of wills between the two heroes that will appease the reader’s romantic side.

What drew me to this story? First of all, it was the tiger, and yes I know that’s probably a silly reason to pick up a book. Blame it on the cute-cuddly-fluffy-critter- and cat-lover within me. I’ve always loved big cats, specially the massive and glorious blue-eyed Siberian tiger, so a hero who is a Siberian-tiger shifter seems pretty irresistible to me. Add to this the unusual historical time period of this story – I haven’t read many set post WWII – and the element of danger, and well, I just had to have it.

Ms. Lyn has created a set of very colorful characters in The Tiger Within, and given the almost comic book effect of the story, this seems to work pretty well. Antoine the were-tiger combines two opposites. Jack describes him as an “outrageous nellie,” and the contrast between the flirtatious effeminate nature of the man and the power of the tiger is quite striking. Jack may have superhuman skills, but he hates what he has become. His religious beliefs have him convinced that love between two men is sinful, so he is in a constant battle with himself over his sexual inclinations. The love scenes between these two are breathtakingly sensual, with Jack, although still a little uncertain, realizing that he can no longer fight his feelings for Antoine.

For all that I am a fan of the antagonists having some redeeming qualities, there is something refreshing about have one who is just plain evil. And this villain, Eidolon, is an evil mad-scientist type who is rotten to the core.

It is my opinion that this story would have made a more successful novel than it did a novella. The Tiger Within would probably have benefited by fleshing out the origins of the Sentinel agency, Jack’s enhancement at the hands of Eidolon, Antoine’s background, and also developing Dr. Beyer a little more. As it is, it feels just a little thin and somewhat rushed, and I was left with a number of unanswered questions nagging at me.

There was one aspect of the story that I found somewhat distracting, and I can’t lay the blame upon the author for this. Antoine’s tiger persona is called “Le Tigre,” and throughout the book, I had images of Derek Zoolander bouncing around in my head. Not pretty. This story is much better than that movie was, to be certain.

Overall, I found The Tiger Within to be pretty entertaining. Sure it has a few weak points, but it is quite unique, and I’m always happy to find a story that is just a little bit different. I’ll definitely be on the lookout for Ms. Lyn’s next release.

--Bobby

Title: Journey to Redemption
Author: Anne Patrick
Author’s website: www.suspensebyanne.blogspot.com/
Publisher: Rogue Phoenix Press
Release Date: 2009
ISBN: 978-0-9824833-67
Length: Novel
Format: Electronic
Genre: Mystery/Crime
Source: A
Sensuality Level: 1
Rating: 4.5

Reviewed by: Teagan S. Boyd

A serial killer with a vendetta has kidnapped detective Morgan Reynold's son, Jared. After being convicted for the murder of Morgan's husband, Charles "The Slasher" Tate, has escaped, and is now threatening to kill her son if she doesn't come up with the correct "answers.” Though she doesn't know what the answers could be, she is willing to do anything to get her son back.

Chase McAdams is Morgan's new boss, and he is immediately pulled into the twisted case of Morgan's kidnapped son. Chase soon realizes that not everything is as it seems and there is much more to this mystery than just a kidnapping. Chase and Morgan must delve into the mind of a killer and do what they can to save Jared.

********

I was riveted by this physiological thriller from the moment I opened the book. I am hard-pressed to come up with a specific genre to put it in since it combines so many: from the mystery of a whodunit to the growing feelings between Morgan and Chase; there are so many other elements in between.

Morgan's strength is evident throughout the book, and I found myself drawn to her inner workings, and also I found myself relating to her as a mother. Morgan's depth of pain that she has experienced molds her life, and though I have never experienced the trauma she did in the book, the author does a wonderful job of evoking deep-felt feelings in the reader right along with the character. Chase on the other hand is a man of all seasons. I felt as if he could easily be the well-rounded man most women dream of finding, yet at moments we get a few glimpses of previous parts of his life that have left him bitter.

The entire book kept me on the edge of my seat wondering what might happen. The story was fresh and memorable. Ms. Patrick is truly a talented storyteller. I recommend this book to anyone that enjoys a good crime mystery.

Title: Deception & Desire
Author:  Mina Carter
Author’s website: http://www.mina-carter.com/    
Publisher: Changeling Press, LLC
Release Date: October 2009
ISBN: 978-1-60521-211-1
Length: Novel
Format: Electronic
Genre: Contemporary Paranormal
Source: P
Sensuality Level: 3.5
Rating: 4

Reviewed by: BD Whitney

Part of the security team for the paranormal/human nightclub Moonlight & Magic, Tiny relies on his size and his winning personality to keep the undesirables out. Well, that and a few well-chosen weapons hidden under his jacket. Demon-born, Tiny figures he has pretty much seen it all, until he runs into vampire and paranormal bounty-hunter Cassia Leyland. Petite, take-charge, and beautiful, she is unlike any vampire he has ever known, and even though vampires and demons are ancient enemies, Tiny finds her completely irresistible. Instead of ejecting her from the club as he is supposed to, he finds himself in the middle of the most mind-bendingly sensual encounter of his life.

But this is not just sex. Against their volition, Cassia and Tiny find themselves mated to each other. Or so the markings that mysteriously appear on their palms indicate. A vampire and a demon together? Impossible. Ridiculous, even, except it simply feels right to them both.

This unconventional bond isn’t their only problem, however. Tiny isn’t just any demon. He is Seren Di Lakai Telosa, Son of Lakai, Prince of the Night and Shadows, Lord of the Seventh Gates. Although he fled the demon court before he could perish of boredom, his father has been looking for him. And when Lakai finds that Tiny has mated with a vampire, he is less than happy. Demon law requires the king’s permission to bond with a member of the royal family, and this law has now been broken. Spirited back to Hell, Cass and Tiny face the wrath of the demon ruler, and Cass finds suddenly herself facing a death sentence.

********

In her novella Deception & Desire, Mina Carter continues her series of stories about the denizens of the paranormal club Moonlight & Magic. This time, she pairs up a vampire and a demon, and the resulting conflict sends sparks flying – and bodices ripping – in all directions to the great entertainment of the reader. This story is sexy and frequently amusing with just a touch of a dark undertone.

Ms. Carter writes bad boys oh, so well, and Tiny – who is anything but small – is the perfect example. Tattooed, pierced, and bald, he is the very image of an irresistable badass rebel, and this is just underscored by the fact that he is a demon. But for all the hulking exterior, he has a softer and more nurturing side that is brought out by Cass. This is made especially clear when he offers to let Cass feed from him, because no demon in his right mind would voluntarily allow one of “them” to bite them.

Cass is tough and brave in a “kick ass and take names later” kind of way, which makes her Tiny’s perfect complement. Although she didn’t choose to be bonded with a demon, it seems that Tiny is her “Mr. Perfect.” Both she and Tiny accept the bond with something like resignation, and it takes a trip to Hell and a confrontation with the beautiful and extremely nasty demon king to make them truly embrace each other and to appreciate how strong the mate bond actually is.

The love scenes between these two characters are intensely sexy as well as playful. A little role-play with bondage and dominance seems fitting for a demon and a vampire, and the fact that Tiny’s hot button is being dominated by his mate is both surprising and humorous.

Deception & Desire is a quick read, but Ms. Carter does a good job of developing the characters and telling a well-rounded story given the brevity of the tale. While this didn’t touch me like the previous story in this series (Sunlight & Slavery), I still found it worth my time, and I will definitely look forward to whatever Moonlight & Magic has for us next.

--Bobby

Title: Spanish Eyes
Author: Phyllis Campbell
Author’s website: http://www.phyllismariecampbell.com/   
Publisher: BookStrand
Release Date: October 2009
ISBN: 1-60601-566-4
Length: Novel
Format: Electronic
Genre: Historical
Source: A
Sensuality Level: 2.5
Rating: 5

Reviewed by: Teagan S. Boyd

Rebecca Wakefield would be a real Pinkerton agent, and not just an office girl, if she could solve one of the cases that came across her desk. In order to prove it to Mr. Pinkerton, she decides to uncover the thief of some precious family heirlooms. Her investigation leads her right into the arms of the very sexy and charismatic Spanish opera singer, Anton Carrera. She never thought she would find herself "kind of" kidnapped, and on her way to Spain with a man who protests his innocence very convincingly. Rebecca finds herself falling for this man that she isn't sure she should trust, but as danger lurks around every corner she must face her deepest inner feelings.

********

Ms. Campbell has penned a devilishly good romance with a healthy dose of suspense. The blend of intrigue, conflict, and sensual delights will have the reader hooked from the beginning. I am fascinated by the unusual type of heroine that I found in Rebecca; she is going outside the bounds of what is expected of women during this era. Her strength and tenacity combine to make her an unforgettable character. Her interaction with Anton and their ensuing relationship will keep the reader on edge wondering what might be the possible outcome, and what the journey will bring. The story is well rounded, and the secondary storylines add an extra level of enjoyment. I am already a fan of Ms. Campbell and, as usual, she does not disappoint; she has another winner in Spanish Eyes.

Title: The Phoenix       
Author: Ruth Sims
Author’s website: http://www.ruthsims.com/    
Publisher: Lethe Press
Release Date: February 2009
ISBN: 978-1-59021-046-8
Length: Novel
Format: Electronic and Print
Genre: Historical GLBT
Source: A
Sensuality Level: 2.5
Rating: 4.75

Reviewed by: BD Whitney

Kit St. Denys might be exceedingly wealthy and the darling of the London stage, but the fame, the glamour and the influential name are just borrowed plumage that masks much more humble origins. He has an ugly past that haunts his nightmares, and secrets that could ruin him if they became public knowledge.

When Kit meets young physician Nick Stuart, he knows he has found the one who can keep the nightmares at bay. But while he and Nick find passion together, Nick’s strict Puritan upbringing stands in the way of their happiness. Nick is convinced that what he and Kit do is sinful, but while he does his very best to fight his feelings and do what he believes is right in the eyes of God and society, he can’t put his feelings for Kit behind him.

Buried secrets have a tendency to be exhumed, and when Kit’s past finally catches up with him, his nightmares overwhelm him. He is thrown into a world of murder and insanity that may consume him forever, in spite of Nick’s best efforts and sacrifices on his behalf. Kit may have been able to rebuild himself after the tragedy that ended his youth, but only a phoenix can be reborn from flames such as these.

********

When you open the pages of Ruth Sims’ novel The Phoenix, you will step into the Victorian era and be enveloped by the sights, sounds, and sensibilities of the time. This story is on a grand scale and will take its reader on an exploration of London and New York of the early nineteenth century, all the way from polite society to the world of the theatre and the working class man on the streets.

The Phoenix encompasses many emotions and explores many issues of Victorian society. It is a tale of love and friendship, devotion and betrayal, revenge and madness and hatred. During the course of the story, it not only examines romantic love between two men, but it also touches on race relations, racketeering, and the treatment of the insane at that time.

The story explores many kinds of love: fraternal love, friendship, unrequited love, the love between parent and child. However, this is essentially a tale of impossible love. Not only is the love between two men forbidden, but Ms. Sims has given us two heroes who are so unalike as to have almost conflicting motivations and morals. The conflict in The Phoenix comes not only from antagonistic outside forces but also from within the main characters themselves.

With Nick and Kit, Ms. Sims gives us two characters who are less than perfect and who are struggling with their own internal demons. Although they profess to want what is best for the other, they tend to be self-absorbed and quick to judgment. In fact, they are not even particularly likeable at times. But somehow, their being so flawed makes them appealing characters, and the fact that they share a love that is forbidden by religion and society just makes them more sympathetic. I spent the entire book alternating between feeling exasperation at each of them and hoping desperately that they could find some small measure of joy together in spite of their situation.

Our heroes have to struggle for their happiness, but that makes it all the more precious in the end. By the time I finished reading The Phoenix, I felt as if I had been put through an emotional wringer along with the two main characters. This is not a sweet and easy read; it is heavy on drama and light on happiness. However, I found Ms. Sims’ writing style to pleasantly echo the flavor of the time, her characters to be colorful and well-developed, and her plot to be interesting enough to grab and hold my interest.  Overall, I found this novel to be satisfying and quite involving, and I will certainly look forward to seeing what Ms. Sims has to offer her readers in the future.

--Bobby

Title: The Trouble With Destiny
Author: J.K. Coi
Author’s website: http://www.jkcoi.com/  
Publisher: Samhain Publishing, Ltd.
Release Date: September 2009
ISBN: 978-1-60504-755-3
Length: Novella
Format: Electronic
Genre: Paranormal
Source: R
Sensuality Level: 3
Rating: 4.5

Reviewed by: Teagan S. Boyd

Though student Sarah had plans of becoming a boring accountant, fate has other plans for her life. Unable to remove the unusual "birthmarks" that have entwined her arms since she was a child, she has finally found that they have a curious purpose: the ability to demolish daemons. It's surely not everyday a girl becomes a daemon slayer. The plus of this little side job is Sarah's hunky boss, Dorian. With his ripped muscles and unparalleled physique, how is a daemon slayer suppose to keep her mind on the work at hand? Though having a half daemon hottie as your boss might have a few downsides.

********

The Trouble With Destiny is an action-packed, hot-blooded, paranormal romp. I enjoyed this fast-paced novella from the first sentence. The witty thoughts that come from Sarah kept this reader smiling throughout the book. The quick morphing of her character from student to slayer is cleverly written to give the needed background concisely. The rapport between Sarah and Dorian is unique, and I enjoyed Sarah's approach to breaking down Dorian's barriers. This book puts a new twist on paranormal. I can only hope that Ms. Coi carries on with this unique world she has created.

Title: Desire and Depravity
Author: Iona Blair
Author’s website: ionablair.blogspot.com 
Publisher: Total-E-Bound Publishing
Release Date: August 2009
ISBN: 978-1-907010-67-5
Length: Novella
Format: Electronic
Genre: Contemporary Erotica
Source: A
Sensuality Level: 4.5
Rating: 3.75

Reviewed by: BD Whitney

When they purchased their expensive new homes, the residents of the newly-built Pierpont townhomes didn’t know that they were buying into an area of the city with an active sex trade and raucous nightlife. They don’t appreciate the ambiance it adds to their lives, and they are now on a mission to clean up their neighborhood, drive out prostitution, and close down the low-class bars. But for all their upright moral outrage, the residents of the Pierpont have less than lily-white private lives of their own.

Muriel McBain, a forty-something spinster, has a sexual obsession with a young male stripper who works in one of the clubs. She will do anything to have him, regardless of the fact that he is half her age. And Chuck Cleghorn, leader of the outraged homeowners, has a secret sexual life that doesn’t involve his long-suffering wife. His penchant for spanking and discipline from a dominatrix as well as for anonymous sex fulfills his fantasies, while he bullies and dominates his wife to feed his need for power.

While Muriel follows her desire and Chuck indulges his depravity, they will find out that life’s choices have their consequences. Sometimes you don’t know what you have until it gets away from you, and sometimes life’s lessons can be almost too painful to bear.

********

Iona Blair’s novella Desire and Depravity is a story of lust, love, hypocrisy, and consequences. It follows the lives of two main characters with highly different morals and motivations as they follow their desires, and it details the impact that their actions have on their lives and on those who surround them.

A word of warning: this is very explicit erotica. While there are a couple of love stories tucked into the pages, the overwhelming majority of the work is focused on the sex lives of the main characters. And these are not tame sex lives, either. They are filled with fantasy and fetish and just about every range of indiscretion in-between. Characters are unfaithful to their spouses, and not all the endings are happy ones. I had to ruminate for a while before assigning a sensuality level to Desire and Depravity, and while I was very tempted to give it a 5, I held back. Because there truly is a story buried among the sexual exploits.

In Muriel and Chuck, Ms. Blair gives us two intriguing if somewhat twisted characters. They both lead lives of hypocrisy, but the difference between them is that Muriel acknowledges this and tries to work past it while Chuck ignores it until it turns around and bites him in the butt. While Muriel works to woo the young stripper Darren, we can sympathize with her as she fights the inner voice that tells her she is acting like a fool. Chuck, on the other hand, is something akin to a train wreck. Ms. Blair has created him to be a delightfully hateful character. His exploits and adventures elicit a curled lip and an expression of disgust.

As I read this story, my overwhelming desire was to peel away the inner plots that surround Chuck’s and Muriel’s relationships. Perhaps it is the romantic in me, but I was more interested in the consequences of Chuck’s actions than his fetish-of-the-moment, and I was truly invested in whether or not Muriel and Darren had any chance at all at happiness. Ms. Blair ties up both storylines nicely in the end, and while I can’t say that she gives us a happily-ever-after, she does resolve the issues in a pretty satisfying manner.

So, did I enjoy Desire and Depravity? While this level of erotica is not my particular fancy, I have to admit that it tells a good story. I’m happy that I had the chance to meet Muriel and her beautiful dancer as well as the obnoxious Chuck, so even though the sexual high jinks were a little extreme for me, I’m glad I gave it a read.

--Bobby

Title: Holy Smokes
Author: Katie MacAlister
Author’s website: http://www.katiemacalister.com/
Publisher: New American Library
Release Date: November 2007
ISBN: 978-0-451-22254-1
Length: Novel
Format: Print
Genre: Paranormal Humor
Source: R
Sensuality Level: 2.5
Rating: 4.75

Reviewed by: Teagan S. Boyd

Aisling Grey is getting married...maybe. If her and her dragon wyvern mate, Drake Vireo, could show up at the same time at the altar. The green and red dragons are at war, and the red dragons are attacking the green sept at every turn. Being a demon lord and Guardian is nothing compared to Aisling being tricked into becoming one of the princes of Abaddon (Hell): Aisling has her hands full. One small use of her dark powers when she didn't have choice has left her marked by the dark side, and and she will be heading towards eternal damnation if she can't get the proscription lifted. Weddings bells, baby booties, and super sexy dragons are just part of the craziness.

********

The fourth book in the Aisling Grey, Guardian series is one hell...I mean Abaddon...of a ride. I simply love this series, it has all the things I love: humor, romance, and mystery, not to mention a demon Newfie that has won my heart with his hilarious remarks. I felt that I saw a different side of Aisling in this book. Her fight against the dark side attempting to sway her to their side shows an even greater strength of character than before. I like that I also got to see deeper feelings come to the surface when she is forced to do things she never thought to face. I also enjoyed Drake thoroughly in this book; his feelings for Aisling are sweet with the perfect amount of edginess. The only downside to this book is knowing that it is the last in the green dragon series, but a girl can hope that Ms. MacAlister comes back and gives us more, can't she?

Title: Deadly Slumber
Author: Victor J. Banis
Author’s website: http://www.vjbanis.com/
Publisher: MLR Press
Release Date: August 2009
ISBN: 978-1-60820-09-00
Length: Novel
Format: Electronic
Genre: Contemporary Mystery/Suspense GLBT
Source: P
Sensuality Level: 3
Rating: 5

Reviewed by: BD Whitney

Something is amiss at the House of the Dead. Bartholomew’s Mortuary in San Francisco has been a family business since it opened decades ago. Catering to a predominantly gay clientele, Bartholomew’s has the reputation of providing excellent service and having funeral directors who not only are blindingly beautiful but also offer discreet physical comfort to the grieving. When a rash of criminal mischief disturbs the stillness of the mortuary and interferes with business, the director hires professional help to investigate, bringing Stanley Korski and Tom Danzel onto the scene.

Although they are hired to find the source of the trouble, Tom and Stanley uncover secrets and troubles that include suicide, a mysterious disappearance, and enough sexual indiscretion to raise the eyebrows of even the most jaded of investigators. The leads tend to cancel each other out, though, and answers are elusive. But when it becomes apparent that they are dealing with murder, Tom and Stanley know that they have a much more serious issue on their hands.

This case is not the only challenge that Stanley currently faces. Surrounded by beautiful and perpetually horny men at Bartholomew's, he must dig deep to resist the physical temptation that they offer. After the accident that left Tom permanently scarred, Stanley’s relationship with his lover is shaky enough without adding infidelity to the mix. But even when he’s trying hard to be good, Stanley is a magnet for trouble. If he doesn’t watch where he’s going, he might find himself joining Bartholomew’s clientele in their permanent slumber.

********

Victor J. Banis’s Deadly Slumber is the fourth novel in his Deadly Mystery series. It combines the ongoing tale of Tom Danzel and Stanley Korski and their mismatched relationship and an intriguing and unique mystery that will keep the reader involved and entertained and, ultimately, sitting on the edge of their seat in suspense.

Our heroes,Tom and Stanley, are an addictive duo. I’ve said in the past that Tom is the caveman and Stanley is the butterfly. Well, Tom seems to be settling down a bit with time. His eye still roves but his heart is firmly attached to his partner. Stanley, on the other hand, is suffering from quite a bit of angst regarding Tom’s accident from the previous novel as well as emotional fallout from having killed a man. While Stanley is always handy with a quote and always searching his soul, Tom is much more concrete and is the anchor that Stanley relies on to keep himself grounded. Tom knows his own mind and is comfortable and confident with his decisions.

With some series, the main characters tend to get old after a while, and the plots lean towards repetitive. Not so with Tom and Stanley and the Deadly Mystery series. Mr. Banis keeps his two heroes as fresh and interesting as they were in the very first book. In fact, they are more intriguing now, because while we now feel like we know Stanley and Tom somewhat, their relationship and their psyches are constantly evolving.

Readers will find that this story appeals to their intelligence, their emotions, and even to their sense of humor. Mr. Banis is an artist and a philosopher, and reading his work is always a pleasure for me. If you haven’t read this series, you’ve simply been missing out. Go pick up Deadly Nightshade and get cracking…I think you’ll be glad you did.

--Bobby

Title: HeavenSent.com
Author: Stefanie Worth
Author’s website: www.stefanieworth.com
Publisher: Leisure Publishing
Release Date: October 2009
ISBN: 978-0-8439-6319-9
Length: Novella
Format: Electronic
Genre: Paranormal Romance
Source: A
Sensuality Level: 2.5
Rating: 4.75

Reviewed by: BD Whitney

Brenna Campbell firmly believes in meeting her goals, and one of those goals is marriage. But after five years of searching, with no potential spouse in site, she is beginning to get just a little bit desperate. She has even signed up for an online dating service, but before anything positive can come of that, she is laid off her job, and her life comes crashing down around her ears. Now not only does she not have a man, but she doesn’t have a job or a future, either.

Evan Shephard has enjoyed his single days, but he’s ready to settle down now. When his friend and coworker, Brenna, is unexpectedly fired from her job, Evan helps her pack up her office. He and Brenna have always had a somewhat brusque relationship, but he tries to offer a little consolation anyhow. Neither has ever had a romantic thought about the other, but somehow high emotions lead to physical intimacy. The moment is wonderful, but the aftermath is awkward, and their tentative friendship dissolves into so much dust.

If left on their own, these two will never realize that they’re perfect for each other. But with a little divine intervention and an unusual online dating service, they just might get a little boost in the right direction. That is, if they’ll sit still and let the angels do their jobs, and if the angels themselves can agree on the same course of action.

********

Stefanie Worth’s novella HeavenSent.com borrows the phrase “a match made in heaven” and runs with it, taking its readers on an sweet, enveloping, and emotional ride. This story actually encompasses two separate but intersecting love stories, one in heaven and one on the earthly plane. As two angels try to match two hard-headed individuals, sparks fly, mistakes are made right and left, and miscommunication runs rampant.

I found Ms. Worth’s writing style to be extremely appealing. Her narrative and dialogue flows easily, giving a natural and comfortable reading experience, and her phrasing is fresh and entertaining. Her characters are well-drawn and personable and surprisingly complex. Brenna and Evan are dealing with real-life situations and have very believable dilemmas and anxieties, and Ms. Worth does an outstanding job developing their drama and making it “real.” I felt Brenna’s devastation when she is laid off of her job, and I found the scene where she asks Evan for a little comfort to be very touching.

The secondary story with the angels Kay and Jay, who want Brenna and Evan to have the life they were never able to have together, has quite an emotional impact. In fact, soft touch that I am, it brought tears to my eyes as I read it, sending me scrambling for the box of tissues on a couple of occasions.

Overall, I found HeavenSent.com to be clever, well-written, and very enjoyable. Ms. Worth is quite talented, and I am very pleased to have been introduced to her writing.

--Bobby

Title: Jealous Lover
Author:  Brandi Michaels
Author’s website: N/A
Publisher: Samhain Publishing, Ltd.
Release Date: June 2009
ISBN: 978-1-60504-584-9
Length: Short Story
Format: Electronic
Genre: Contemporary
Source: R
Sensuality Level: 3
Rating: 4

Reviewed by: Teagan S. Boyd

Crystal Moran’s heart was broken three years ago when her lover accused her of infidelity and wouldn’t listen to anything she had to say. She has moved on with her life and is now working for a non-profit foundation. She is acting as hostess of a fundraiser when Demetrius Vardolas, her ex-lover walks back into her life. Though she tries her hardest to resist him, they find themselves just as much in need of each other as they did three years ago. Can they move on from the pain and betrayal of the past?

********

Jealous Lover is a short story rife with conflict and hot sex. Crystal has feelings for Demetri but her pain from their past experience colors her outlook. Crystal knows that she must guard her heart from the man who broke it. She finds herself in a predicament of knowing she still loves Demetri but can't trust him. I enjoyed the relationship between the two main characters, and I like the amount of conflict it showed. The author did a fine job of keeping the story interesting, and I will be looking for more to read by her.

Title: Almost Home
Author:  Kate Steele
Author’s website: http://www.katesteele.com/
Publisher: Changeling Press, LLC
Release Date: September 2009
ISBN: 978-1-60521-257-9
Length: Short Story
Format: Electronic
Genre: Contemporary Werewolf
Source: P
Sensuality Level: 3
Rating: 3.25

Reviewed by: BD Whitney

The black of night calls to Shannon. It fascinates her and tugs at her soul, but as much as she would like to explore the mysterious darkness outside after night falls, she is also afraid. And she has held this fear since she was a small child. For her entire adult life she has successfully avoided venturing outside after twilight, but when her car breaks down one evening a short distance from home, she has no choice but to get out and walk. In the dark.

In this short distance, Shannon will discover what secrets the darkness holds. She will come face-to-face with her both forgotten past and with her future, and she will come to understand the true meaning of home.

********

Kate Steele’s Almost Home is a story about a woman who finds her identity and her destiny where she least expects it. This is a quick read with a sympathetic and appealing heroine who faces her fears and regains memories and love that had previously been lost.

I was a little bemused by the beginning of the story, which is a sex scene from a book the heroine is reading that features capture and bondage and which does not fit the rest of the story. Were this scene, which is almost a third of the entire story, not in Almost Home at all, I don’t think the story would have suffered for it. I found it to be distracting, in fact.

Ms. Steele conveys Shannon’s fear and anxiety of the dark very convincingly in Almost Home. Her portrayal of the night-time is very “real,” and as I read this story, I felt as if I could hear the crickets and see the fog and the shadows. This atmosphere of stillness and trepidation creates a tension that is broken when the coyotes first howl, and the reader can almost see Shannon’s panicked reaction.

My reaction to Almost Home is mixed. There are parts of this story that I enjoyed very much, such as the heroine Shannon, the imagery, and the sweetness of the hero Ethan. Other parts fell a little flat, such as the beginning scene and Ethan’s slightly long-winded description of wolf pack politics. Still, I found this story to be unique and the happy ending sweet, so overall for its positive characteristics, this was worth the read.

--Bobby

Title: Cosmic Hero
Author: Diane Merlin
Author’s website: http://www.dianemerlin.com/
Publisher: Tease Publishing LLC
Release Date: June 2009
ISBN: 978-1-60767-248-3
Length: Novel
Format: Electronic
Genre: Contemporary Sci Fi
Source: R
Sensuality Level: 3
Rating: 4.5

Reviewed by: BD Whitney

Can a spoiled brat and a spaceman save the planet and make a future together?

When Samantha Alexander’s ex-boyfriend abandons her in the middle of the woods, she is beside herself in anger. She has absolutely no wilderness skills and zero sense of direction, and every small noise has her envisioning herself being eaten by a bear or some other wild animal. With no cellphone reception to call for help, the best she can do is stay put and hope for rescue. When that rescue comes, she gets the shock of her life, because it’s not the Forest Service that comes to her aid but a man dressed in a super-hero costume, complete with cape and goofy boots. He is the very image of male beauty, but the moment he opens his mouth, Sami is convinced he is nuts, because the dude swears that he’s from outer space and that he’s hunting down space vampires who want to take over the earth.

Croghan is an Interceptor, bred to hunt and dispatch the Fala, a vicious race of blood-drinkers whose sole purpose is to move from planet to planet feeding off its sentient beings. While he’s willing to help the Earth female find her way out of the woods, his primary objective is to destroy the Fala landing party before they can infest the Earth. He could certainly travel more efficiently without her, but the woman is bent on “helping” and won’t let him leave her behind.

Unexpectedly, they find that they make a pretty good team. As the Fala move through the countryside leaving a trail of mutilated bodies in their wake, Sami and Croghan race to stop them and save the planet. And while the middle of a life-or-death struggle is not the most convenient time to fall in love, that is exactly the situation that Sami and Croghan find themselves in. Croghan’s life has always revolved around his mission, but when Sami is captured by the Fala, it suddenly becomes personal. Croghan will have to find resources within him that he didn’t know existed in order to save his mate and eradicate the enemy.

********

There is just something about a super hero. Saving the world, vanquishing the enemy, and getting the girl, you gotta love these guys. But what if super heroes weren’t just the stuff of comic books and cartoons? If there were truly something evil out there that wanted to destroy the world, wouldn’t you want such a hero by your side? This is exactly what Diane Merlin gives us in her novel Cosmic Hero. This is a story to delight and entertain you, featuring a fabulous and beautiful hero, a dizzy heroine, and some of the more horrible villains that you’re ever going to encounter.

I promised myself that I wasn’t going to burble about this book, but I just have to tell you that this book is fun. F-U-N. Sami and Croghan are about as different as a pair can possibly get, but they mesh perfectly together. Their interaction is sweet and comical, the love they make is sensual, and the fact that they’re on a mission to save the planet? Unparalleled. Sami is a spoiled young miss who can only be labeled an “airhead.” Who else would go camping with impractical shoes and a designer handbag? But despite the fact that she is less than a genius, she has a good heart, a sense of conscience, and more bravery than one would ever expect.

Croghan is a genetically engineered being with one purpose and one purpose only: wipe out the Fala. He begins as something of an automaton – he has a perfect poker face – but as the story progresses, Sami brings emotion into his world. And even though he never felt that was something which was missing from his life, he comes to realize that he needs the emotions she brings, whether that be anger or love.

Cosmic Hero is a contrasting mixture of light-hearted and serious. Because while the romance and repartee between Croghan and Sami is humorous, the antagonists are anything but. The Fala are dark and vicious, bent on death and destruction, and delighting in the pain they cause. The blood trail that they leave behind them is certainly not pretty, and the plight of the young woman that they capture can only be called heartbreaking.

This story is well-written and fast-paced. There is continuous tension and a real sense of life or death urgency as Croghan and Sami rush to overcome the enemy. But even though the situation is dire and the world hangs in the balance, there remains an irresistible thread of humor woven throughout. After reading this story, you’ll never look at Google the same way again. I certainly won’t. Nice job, Ms. Merlin. This was more than worth the read.

--Bobby

Title: The One Percenters
Author: John Podgursky
Author’s website: at Damnation Books
Publisher: Damnation Books
Release Date: September 2009
ISBN: 978-1-615720-13-2
Length: Novel
Format: Electronic
Genre: Contemporary Horror
Source: A
Sensuality Level: 1
Rating: 4.5

Reviewed by: BD Whitney

After his wife Jill is murdered, Edward Caine loses his sense of purpose and has trouble dealing with life. He retreats into himself and obsesses over his wife’s death. Even when he begins to rebuild his life and moves to another town, Ed remains preoccupied with death, but it is not until he meets another woman and has her stolen from this life as well that he finally has a revelation. Ed is a rare individual: he is one of a small group of people known as “one percenters,” whose sole function in life is to maintain the integrity of the human race, to cleanse the world of the inferior members who would muddy the gene pool.

Finally aware of his purpose in life and eager to fulfill his mission, Ed arms himself with booze, cigarettes, his wife’s gun, and a belief that he is working for a greater good. Convinced that he is now a part of nature, Ed abandons his home for the woods. And over the course of the next year, he carefully selects and destroys those members of society whom he deems to be flawed.

Ed knows that the outside world considers the service he is providing to be murder, so he plans one final act of violence to fulfill his destiny. What he plans will shake the foundation of a world gone haywire and will transform Ed from mortal to savior of humanity.

********

If you are looking for a bit of dark fiction to distract and entertain you, look no further than John Podgursky’s novella The One Percenters. This is a mixture of horror and psychological thriller that will hold its reader shocked and mesmerized as they travel through the nightmare of the narrator’s existence.

As we begin the story, we are caught up in the narrator’s tragedy. Even though it is evident that he has committed a horrible crime, Ed seems initially to be a sympathetic character. But as Ed loses his grip on reality, we realize that there is more going on than he tells us about. And as we get to know Ed a little better and his mind begins to open up to us, we see the frightening and insane landscape that exists in his head. And he is no longer sympathetic…he is horrifying.

Ed’s story is told as a memoir. He is either speaking or writing his story to a doctor in whatever facility he resides in. He addresses some of his comments to “you” meaning the doctor, but after a while, it feels as if Ed is actually speaking directly to the reader. The result is personal and quite chilling.

In the character Ed, Mr. Podgursky has given us a wonderfully unreliable narrator, and I spent much of the story trying to puzzle out exactly what is happening with him. How much of what he tells us is real, and how much is a fabrication of his unstable mind? Just how crazy is a guy who will abandon his life and go on a year-long murder spree to make up for where natural selection has failed? This person sees himself as a god, a savior of the human race, and he justifies his actions over and over again during the course of the narration. Towards the conclusion of the novella, I had convinced myself that I knew the story beneath the madman’s ramblings, and I even felt somewhat smug and clever for having figured it all out. Wrong. I was completely and utterly wrong. At the end, Mr. Podgursky tosses us an unexpected curve that changes the entire story and that took my breath away.

I enjoyed reading The One Percenters very much. The story surrounded me and pulled me straight into the mind of a madman, who then spoke to me on a very personal level. And one of the most uncomfortable and frightening aspects of this is that some of his ramblings made a horrible kind of sense to me. I ended this book feeling a little unsettled and quite entertained. This story is very well-written and executed, and I would definitely recommend it to anyone wanting a bit of a chill.

--Bobby