Eliza's Awakening by Zaide Bishop (Carina Press, 2012)

Eliza's Awakening by Zaide Bishop
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

4 stars! A short fast paced, very erotic read!

Warning: This novella contains dubious consent, so if that is not your cup of tea, I would suggest passing on this one.

This was a very quick read, with a very hot, nicely drawn out scene. The events unfold in a seamless manner, giving the characters a quick background, and the lore plenty of description. I would have liked the spicier parts to have begun sooner in the tale, yet it was still artfully done. And very, very hot!

This is my first Zaide Bishop story and I curious to see what else she has in store for future books and novellas. I would recommend Eliza’s Awakening to those who like their stories steamier and edgier than your average read. I, for one, enjoyed it quite a bit;-)

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Lord Atwood's Lovers by Eva Clancy

Lord Atwood's Lovers by Eva Clancy
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

4 Stars! A lovely (well, maybe lovely is not the best word, just the first that came to my mind, lol!) menage a trois. Even though it was erotica, Lord Atwood’s Lovers was actually quite sweet in its execution in regards to the main couples relationship. I enjoyed the brief glimpse into their life as husband and wife, as well as seeing Imogen's emotional growth. Alexander was a fun and perhaps quirky addition!

I probably would have enjoyed it more if the scenes were more detailed (Did I just say that?) I am keeping this review short, since this was a novella/short story, and I am trying to stay away from spoilers. Overall, I really enjoyed the story and would recommend it to anyone who wants a “quickie.” ;-)

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Desert Blade by Ella Drake

Desert Blade by Ella Drake
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

Ms. Drake sure has a way of packing a ton of story into a short word count. When I heard that she was going to be writing a post-apocalyptic story, a favorite sub-genre of mine, I knew I had to get my hands on it. And of course, this very talented and creative author did not disappoint!

Desert Blade opens up amidst disaster and tragedy. Derek, a guardsmen, loses his arm in an attack, leading him to a hospital where he meets Dr. Lydia. A team of doctors including Lydia fit him with a unique prosthetic arm that comes with a blade! During the time of healing, Derek and Lydia spend a great deal of time together, and form a bond of sorts. However, the unsafe circumstances of the land call Lydia to leave town and Derek to stay behind.

Ten years later, Lydia still pines for the guardsmen she only knew briefly. Derek cannot forget her kindness or her touch. And a small boy needs a doctor. Derek shows up where Lydia resides and she agrees to help even though the trip will be dangerous with gangs running amok. And Lydia being a rare woman left in this post-apocalyptic world, puts her in an even more dangerous situation for travel. So the guardsman and the doctor set sail in a land sail. Their earlier bond rears up and sparks fly. Yummy, indeed!

I am always so thoroughly impressed with Drakes thoughtfulness to detail without bogging down the story. One can only hope she revisits this landscape in a future story. There seems to be a lot more to explore. Very highly recommended!

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Gate to Kandrith by Nicole Luiken

Gate to Kandrith by Nicole Luiken
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

Gate to Kandrith is truly a gate to an imaginative world that left wanting more, much more! The story was not what I expected at all. Luiken wove a great deal of twists and a turns, with an ending so explosive I am unable to stop thinking about it. I seriously NEED the next book in this series now!

Gate to Kandrith starts off with political intrigue, and a ton of world building. Our heroine, Sara, is tasked with finding out the secret of Slave Magic. She is to journey to Slaveland, accompanied by Lance, whom is a Kandrithian. Along the way, as with any solid fantasy, there are many mishaps, and many friends and foes discovered. I was shocked to my bones on most of these revelations!!

There were times when the fantasy and lore of this land became confusing. There was certainly a lot the author had to introduce. But Luiken always managed to clear any confusion later. And I also think it added to the suspense of the plot:-)

As the blurb for this book implies, Sara is betrayed in a most gut-wrenching way. She is forced to make a series of harsh decisions based on this knowledge to save the people of both lands. And the secret of slave magic?? Worth the read!;-)

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Worlds Burn Through by Vicki Keire

Worlds Burn Through by Vicki Keire
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

5 Stars! A very short, action-packed start to a new series by Vicki Keire. This is my first read by this author, and I am eager to dive into the next installment!

This is one of those reviews where I hesitate to say too much, as it was really short. Therefore, easy to give away spoilers. Yet, there was so much folded into the short format. The characters that were introduced were solid. Chloe was a typical teenager thrown into a rough situation. Eliot, her guardian, was just a fantastic character to meet. I love the whole Guardian/Ward relationship, that was very well fleshed out.

Between the Abandoned and the Guardians, this little package packs quite the punch! Chloe and Eliot must survive!

This story does not end at all, I must warn you. It is expected to pick up immediately in the next installment.

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Horizon by Sophie Littlefield

Horizon by Sophie Littlefield
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

*If you haven't read Books 1&2, there may be spoilers for the in this review*

5 Stars! This is the third, and possibly the most terrifying and gritty, of the Aftertime trilogy. The world Littlefield created is a very scary, believable one. Her characters are raw, tainted, and real.

Horizon starts off a few months after Rebirth ends. Cass is living in a place called New Eden with her daughter. Smoke, Cass's lover, is there as well, but still seriously injured from events that took place in the previous book. Dor is living there with his daughter. New Eden seems like an ideal place to for the survivors. So why would they pack up and leave? The reason is actually much more frightening than the back blurb suggests.

This book kept me up well past my bedtime. There were so many twists and turns I had to remember to breath. The beaters were even more awful and much smarter as they begin to learn. As a reader I found myself really wanting Cass to make the right decisions. I rooted for her, ached for her, and even cringed at times for her.

There were many reveals in this installment. Even one that had me scratching my head, thinking it just was not plausible. Yet, after reading further, I realized just what an amazing weaver of words Littlefield is, to be able to make that part of the story work. The ending was a complete shock. I knew it had to go one way or another, yet I was still surprised. Littlefield wrapped up many issues that were ongoing from the previous books. Best book in the series!

An absolutely amazing read! Very highly recommended!!

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Demon's Fall by Karalynn Lee (Carina Press, 2010)

Demon's Fall by Karalynn Lee

My rating: 3 of 5 stars


3 Stars! Angels and demons and incubus's....Oh, my!! Karalynn Lee did some very creative world building with this one!

We meet Kenan as he is strolling the Hellsgate marketplace and finds an angel caged. Jahel came to Hellsgate looking for a soul of a girl she was looking out for. Kenan immediately buys her from the merchant and takes her home. He decides to help her find the soul in hopes of getting her to bed and gaining Jahel's soul, as Kenan is an incubus.

I really had a difficult time getting into Demon's Fall. I didn't immediately connect with either of the characters. The pacing of the story was really slow for the length. It took me over a week to finish it, and it was only a novella. However, the world building and the last few chapters were able to redeem this story for me.

Lee designed an entire Hellsgate culture, along with a battle between Heaven and Earth that was really quite intense for a 26,000 words or so. And I really loved how the Kenan collected souls, very clever! I would definitely recommend this story, if only for the world building!




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Angel Thief by Jenny Schwartz (Carina Press, 2010)

4 Stars! Jenny Schwartz delivers an inventive take on the genie in a bottle, with a very angelic twist! I was pleasantly surprised with how many twists and turns there were while still being a novella.  Getting into the story took a few chapters, but once I did I was certainly addicted Angel Thief!

Sara is an angel searching for a cure for a sick little boy. The said cure is apparently hiding in drug lord’s collection of books. Filip is a djinni ordered to protect the library. When Sara runs into Filip, sparks fly, yet Filip is still duty-bound to bring her to his master. Then his master’s daughter is kidnapped, and another wish is used. Will they be able to save the daughter as well as find a cure for the little boy? And where could the attraction between a djinni and an angel go?

Quickly paced, high tension, and unexpected turns all make this novella one heck of a ride! Now I need to go back and read the first novella in the series, The Price of Freedom, to see what happens to another djinni, yay!

Copied Blurb:
She's breaking the rules. Again.
An archivist in the heavenly library, Sara must follow protocol when it comes to curating the knowledge of the universe. But "liberating" an ancient text from the collection of a human-an Australian drug lord-could save a boy's life. Sara has no way of knowing that one of the man's other treasures is a sexy-as-sin djinni, bound by a wish to guard the estate.
 
He's only following orders.
Filip is compelled to turn over intruders, even celestial ones, to his master. When he catches Sara in the library, he isn't above indulging in some sensual kisses with her, or using her to trick the mobster into wasting a wish. It's what he must do to preserve his facade of freedom and protect his heart.
But the kidnapping of the drug lord's daughter forces Sara and Filip to work together-bringing out the hero that lurks within the soul of the djinni, and the passion within the angel.

My Rating: 4

Aftertime by Sophie Littlefield (Luna Books, 2011)

4 1/2 Stars!! Aftertime is an engrossing and gritty romp through a tainted post-apocalyptic land. I bit my nails, I slammed down caffeine, all in the name of reading just one more chapter.  Aftertime is at times gross and at times lovely.  Engaging and exciting, oh, yeah!

Cass is a woman searching desperately for her young daughter across a dangerous land full of Beaters, zombie-like creatures.  She has woken up, far away from her last memory, missing a few weeks of her life. Her body is scarred, her flesh torn, yet healing.  She meets a man dubbed Smoke who agrees to help her.  Cass has a history that has taught her to trust no one, often not even herself.  Yet, she needs to trust him just a little, as he may just be the one who can help her get to her daughter.

My only complaint for Aftertime is that there are several situations I would have liked to know more about.  When Cass and Smoke encountered different groups of people, the reader just starts to see what the group has been doing, or what they are about to do, and then Cass and Smoke move on.  I really wanted more detail! That said, I do so hope Ms. Littlefield will write more about this land, even if the main characters are different.

A good, scary, well plotted story!  I highly recommend!!

Copied Blurb:

The World's Gone.
Worse, so is her daughter.
Awakening in a bleak landscape as scarred as her body, Cass Dollar vaguely recalls surviving something terrible. Wearing unfamiliar clothes and having no idea how many days—or weeks—have passed, she slowly realizes the horrifying truth: Ruthie has vanished.
And with her, nearly all of civilization. Where once-lush hills carried cars and commerce, the roads today see only cannibalistic Beaters—people turned hungry for human flesh by a government experiment gone wrong.
In a broken, barren California, Cass will undergo a harrowing quest to get her Ruthie back. Few people trust an outsider, let alone a woman who became a zombie and somehow turned back, but she finds help from an enigmatic outlaw, Smoke. Smoke is her savior, and her safety. For the Beaters are out there. And the humans grip at survival with their trigger fingers. Especially when they learn that she and Ruthie have become the most feared, and desired, of weapons in a brave new world....

My Rating: 4.5

Jaq's Harp by Ella Drake (Carina Press, 2011)

4 ½ Stars! A stimulating futuristic twist on Jack and the Beanstalk! With a kick-ass heroine, and a fabulous title, you can’t go wrong grabbing this one up! And I so love the cover :D

Jaq’s main plight in this novella is to get the cure her younger sister needs to live. She must find a way to get to the floating islands, sneak into Giant’s secure headquarters and steal the antidote. Oh, and then get out. Adding to the mix, a year ago her fiance went deep undercover in the same place, leaving Jaq behind brokenhearted. And he is still there, somewhere. Will she run into Harp while searching for the antidote?

Ella Drake kept this reader glued to the page with her well paced plot, with lots of action! I really liked both of the characters. I also felt Drake did a great job of world building and creating the romance within a shorter word count. Perhaps because the couple had a previous relationship, I found their current attraction quite believable. Highly recommended whether you like sci-fi or not. Jaq’s Harp is an exceedingly entertaining novella with a conclusion much different than the original fairy tale. I hope that Ms. Drake revisits this world, as I would love to learn more about it! I will be watching for more stories by this creative author!

Copied Blurb:

In a world of floating islands and bio-engineered beans, the bad guys are taken down by agents of the MOTHER organization-agents like Jacqueline "Jaq" Robinson. Instead of accepting her next routine assignment, she sets out on a mission of her own-to destroy Giant Corp, the company responsible for her sister's wasting illness. Jaq must steal her cure from Giant's headquarters high above the city...even though she'll be brought face-to-face with Harper English, the man who left her to go deep undercover at Giant.

For Harp, Jaq had been a distraction the mercenary thought he couldn't afford. But once he sees her again, Harp knows he's made a mistake. Even though she vowed he won't have her again, it's clear they still have a powerful attraction. Harp's determined to get a second chance with Jaq-if they can escape Giant Corp and get back to solid ground in one piece...

My Rating: 4.5

Outside In by Maria V. Snyder (Harlequin TEEN, 2011)

4 1/2 Stars! Oh Wow!  This book, Outside In, grabbed me from the beginning and kept me from doing anything else until the end!  Snyder has created a unique place in time, with an equally unique heroine.  If you haven’t first read Inside Out, I recommend not reading the rest of this review as the two books are tightly woven together.

Trella, a pipe cleaning scrub whom we met in the first book, never wanted to be a leader.  She preferred to keep to herself.  However, after what happened in the first story, the people of Inside did and do look up to her.  A committee is formed and Trella finds it mundane and boring and therefore resigns.  During her absence strange things start occurring.  Perhaps she shouldn’t have resigned?  In the meantime she discovers more fascinating details about Inside.  And then Outside wants something….

Overall, a fantastic second book to Maria V. Snyder’s series.  I seriously could not put it down!  I definitely recommend this book and the one that comes before it….read in order.  While it could possibly be read as a stand alone, the story is so much richer read together.  Highly recommended!!

Copied Blurb:

ME?
A LEADER?
Okay, I did prove that there’s more to Inside than we knew. That a whole world exists beyond this cube we live in. And finding that led to a major rebellion—between worker scrubs like me and the snobby uppers who rule our world. Make that ruled. Because of me, we’re free. I thought that meant I was off the hook, and could go off on my own again—while still touching base with Riley, of course. He’s the one upper I think I can trust. But then we learned that there’s outside and then there is Outside.
And something from Outside wants In.


My Rating: 4.5

Should We Drown in Feathered Sleep by Michael Merriam (Carina Press, 2010)

5 Stars!! I was really looking forward to this short story by Michael Merriam. For one it takes place in the state I live in, MN. And for two, loons have such a special place in my heart. And after reading the blurb for the story, I had to guess that Merriam has looked into the eyes of a loon and seen their remarkable intelligence. That said, I still seriously wondered how a futuristic story like this would turn out!

Grace Kriske is an unhappy woman in a war-torn society, and she is bound to a wheelchair. She feels dependent on those around her. Her boyfriend longs for her to leave with him, yet she is hesitant to do so. She dreams of the loons, and is soon called to make a frightening sacrifice.

Should We Drown In Feathered Sleep turned out beautifully! It was a touching story, even while Merriam did not hesitate to show mankind's unkindness, or gloss over certain subject matters. Hard for me to say more without really giving away the story, since it was short. But I do recommend it!! And I hope to see more from this very talented and insightful author!

My Rating: 5