Coup De Grace by Misa Buckley

July 30, 2015 By Leave a Comment

GRACE
Coup De Grace by Misa Buckley
Publisher: Champagne Books
Genre: Sci-Fi/Fantasy, Contemporary
Length: Short Story (35 pages)
Heat Level: Sensual
Rating: 3 Stars
Reviewed by Astilbe

Rescued from the evil clutches of Hammel, Grace gathers the mutated ex-residents and goes to war, determined to strike a finishing blow against the evil company.

How would you go about saving the world?
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The pacing was so strong and steady that I read this whole thing in one sitting. I simply couldn’t wait to find out what happened next, especially after once I’d figured out what was really at stake for the characters. Every moment was full of meaning. There weren’t any points when I was eager to move on to the next scene because all of them were so important.

The cast of characters was a little too large for something this size. While I liked all of the characters as individuals, there were times when it was a little confusing to keep track of what everyone was doing because of the short, fast-paced nature of this tale. It would have been helpful to know more about a smaller number of people.

One of the things I enjoyed the most about the plot was how the science fiction elements were included. They didn’t show up right away, so I briefly wondered how and when they would arrive. I was pleased by what Ms. Buckley did with them, though, and was fascinated by her explanation of how everything worked. It’s hard to discuss this without giving away spoilers, but it was well done.

While this story is part of a series, it can be read as a standalone work. I had no trouble figuring out what was going on even though I’ve only read some of the earlier episodes so far.

Coup De Grace is a good choice for anyone in the mood for something that moves along quickly.

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

Bai Tide: A Bai Hsu Novel by Erika Mitchell

May 28, 2015 By Leave a Comment
ID:53230048

ID:53230048


Bai Tide: A Bai Hsu Novel by Erika Mitchell
Publisher: Champagne Books
Genre: Contemporary, Suspense/Mystery
Length: Full Length (230 Pages)
Rating: 4 Stars
Reviewed by CyclamenAfter the events of Blood Money, CIA case officer Bai Hsu is assigned to a high-security private school for what he’s told is an easy assignment. Just a few months after he arrives, a hostile operative with ties to North Korea tries to break in to a school event, with motives unknown.

The generic cialis online only thing that you can inimitably share with your spouse is sex. This plant acts as an tadalafil canadian aphrodisiac. It causes stress, depression, buy generic levitra financial hardships, and relationship problems. Besides the ED Drugs that help improve blood circulation, you can also opt for exercises that can help you improve blood circulation thereby increasing your stamina and sexual potency. cheap cialis professional As his investigation progresses, he unravels a plot that, if not stopped, will result in the untimely and murderous deaths of tens of millions of people. In order to stop the attack, Bai must recruit the one person he absolutely cannot trust in order to break into one of the most isolated, dangerous countries in the world.

Bai Tide is Bai’s greatest challenge yet. A mission that will take him from the windswept beaches of San Diego to a whiteout blizzard in the foothills of Pyongyang, and make him question everything he thought he knew about working in the field…and about himself.

Bai Hsu is working undercover as Alan Broccoli, a physical education teacher at a private school in San Diego. The school is actually on Swiss soil, as the Swiss had turned their California-based embassy into a boarding school. As a result the students come from international families and the school has a very high degree of security. It doesn’t take long before the Bai’s assignment takes on multiple complexities.

Bai is a relatively new CIA agent, having joined just six years ago. I liked him and his character is well developed. However, I was surprised at some of his mistakes, most notably his total lack of suspicion about a new acquaintance. This was believable for a new agent, but then why would a relatively new agent be assigned to such an important assignment? There are a number of times in this novel where the reader must suspend a healthy dose of disbelief.

That being said, the plot is intense, filled with exciting action, which easily draws the reader into the story. I felt as if I were right there, in the thick of the action, action which never lets up. The scene shifts from San Diego to Pyongyang and the details about North Korea are well done and very believable. The plot has several unexpected twists which add to the tension, making this a very exciting novel.

There were some supporting characters who were also well developed, lending a greater sense of reality to the story. I especially liked one of the students and the school principal. These characters brought a depth to the novel which was very satisfying.

Readers who enjoy action-packed mysteries, filled with danger and suspense, are in for a real treat as they travel with Bai to North Korea. This is a mystery which is nearly impossible to put down.

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

Safari Stew: A Blenders Mystery by Veronica Helen Hart

May 12, 2015 By Leave a Comment

STEW
Safari Stew: A Blenders Mystery by Veronica Helen Hart
Publisher: Champagne Books
Genre: Contemporary, Suspense/Mystery
Length: Full Length (228 Pages)
Rating: 3 Stars
Reviewed by Cyclamen

Doll Reynolds receives word that her missing husband, Barclay, has been discovered teaching in a South African university. Rather than call the school, she arranges a trip to confirm the information for herself. Six of her Blender friends join her for support. Old Howard arranges a luxurious safari as a side trip to either celebrate finding Barclay or to console Doll if she doesn’t. Either way, the trip leads to murder.

Like oxytoxin is produced in mom to strengthen their bond with the children, it is also released when you achieve organism and that is what makes you feel more confident about cialis canadian prices yourself and how you would react in a social setting. Regardless of what is causing ED in you, there are several online stores where you can viagra price india but of you are looking for. Preventing impotence condition Depending on what the viagra sale without prescription click that site cause of erections generally. First, to determine the prevalence of headaches in people with cervical radiculopathy (shooting pain in the arm) and myleopathy (spinal cord dysfunction), and second, to determine the effectiveness’ of anterior cervical surgery buy cialis online (surgery from the front of the neck) in relieving headache symptoms associated with the cervical vertebrae. Many years ago, Doll Reynolds’ husband fell off a boat in the Galapagos and disappeared. But now, Doll learns that her missing husband has been found, teaching at a South African university. She decides that she has to go to South Africa to meet this man in person, and six of her friends rally to support her. Soon all of them are on their way to South Africa to learn the truth.

Safari Stew is told from multiple perspectives, each chapter focusing on a specific character, and the name of the character appears in italics at the start of each chapter. The group meets a film crew for a cooking show, also headed to South Africa, and this results in an even larger cast of characters. Over half of the chapters are told from Doll’s point of view. The others are from the point of view of three other women, one a friend of Doll’s and two from the film crew.

The characters are fairly flat and stereotypical. The murderer was easy to spot and that character was painted with no positive aspects. There are two minor characters who were more atypical and hence more interesting, namely Howard, the oldest of Doll’s friends, and Achi, the South African policemen. They added welcome spice to the story.

The plot had several different storylines, in addition to the murder itself. The pacing seemed a bit slow in places and some aspects were just dropped. But overall, it was interesting to see how the murderer was discovered and how the murderer ended up being tricked and deceived.

I learned a number of things about South Africa, some geographic and some cultural, and the time spent at the Haartsveld Game Preserve was very interesting. Readers who enjoy cozy mysteries set in foreign places are sure to enjoy following Doll and her fellow travelers on this adventure.

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

Unspoken by J. A. Garland

May 4, 2015 By Leave a Comment

UNSPOKEN
Unspoken by J. A. Garland
Publisher: Champagne Books
Genre: Contemporary, Paranormal
Length: Short Story (121 pgs)
Heat Level: Spicy
Rating: 3.5 stars
Reviewed by Poinsettia

Paranormal Bounty Hunter Myka Quinn has left her failed attempt at wolf pack life behind. She’s focused on providing for her brother and staying out of werewolf territory. When she’s framed for a witch’s murder, she must accept help from a very unlikely source, or watch the lives of those she loves rip apart.

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Myka is a smart, tough heroine, but she makes it very hard to like her. She is brash and intentionally pushes people away. Her painful past makes it easy to understand why she is so reluctant to get close to people, particularly men. However, she continues to act this way even after Ari proves he has no intention of abandoning her or forcing her do something she’s not comfortable with. She is so used to protecting her emotions that I think she forgets that her actions hurt others.

Ari is a good match for Myka and he demonstrates incredible patience in putting up with her rash actions. He is there when she needs him, but he always gives her the freedom to choose her own path. Ari and Myka definitely have a strong physical attraction, but I do wish there had been more interaction between the two. Ari and Myka don’t spend much time together, and when they are together, Ari is usually getting Myka out of trouble. When they do have some downtime, Myka squanders it by pushing him away. Their antagonistic interactions made it hard for me to believe they had truly fallen in love in such a short time.

The pacing of Unspoken is very well done. The last part of the tale is particularly intense as Myka learns more about her past and the reason she’s been framed for the witch’s murder. The ruthlessness of the villains in the story is chilling. I was on the edge of my seat wondering how Myka and Ari could ever win against such incredible odds. However, Ms. Garland threw in a twist that evened the playing field considerably and changes Myka’s life forever.

I enjoyed reading Unspoken. I recommend it to anyone looking for a fast paced paranormal with a strong, capable heroine.

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

The Lesson by Joyce Ward

April 29, 2015 By Leave a Comment

LESSON
The Lesson by Joyce Ward
Publisher: Champagne Books
Genre: Sci-Fi/Fantasy, Horror, Contemporary, Paranormal
Length: Short Story (62 pages)
Rating: 3.5 Stars
Reviewed by Astilbe

A rebellious, young woman and her stoned boyfriend learn an important and frightening lesson after behaving badly in a mortuary.

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Including basic backstories for the two main characters was a smart decision. Early on in this tale they make a decision that I would have otherwise found hard to believe. Knowing what kind of people they were made it easy to understand how their minds work and why they would consider this kind of choice to be a good one.

There was one plot hole that I would have liked to see addressed in this tale. It was something that I definitely would have expected at least one of the characters to notice right away, so figuring out why it wasn’t being mentioned was distracting. Had this not been the case, I would have selected a much higher rating for this story as I really enjoyed everything else about it.

Horror doesn’t always have to include blood. There are plenty of ways to frighten an audience without getting gory, and Ms. Ward spooked me with quite a few of them. I was so interesting in discovering what would happen to Kevin and Pamela next that I read the whole thing in one sitting, and I made sure to keep the lights on for a few hours after I finished it. Some images really shouldn’t be rattling around in my mind in the dark!

The Lesson made me shudder. It’s something I’d recommend to both longterm and brand new fans of the scary side of science fiction.

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

End of Normal by S.C. Arscott

November 24, 2014 By Leave a Comment

End Of Normal
End of Normal by S.C. Arscott
Publisher: Champagne Books
Genre: Young Adult, Sci-Fi/Fantasy, Contemporary
Length: Full Length (216 pages)
Age Recommendation: 16+
Heat Level: Sensual
Rating: 3 Stars
Review by: Astilbe

Sixteen-year-old Olivia Richards’ last day of normal is just that, normal. She worries about impressing Sawyer Rising, the hottest guy in school, and argues with her mother. Everything seems fine except for that strange, glowing plant in the yard and her dad lying to her and deaf twin brother Charlie, which is the weirdest thing of all because their parents do not lie to them. Ever.

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The twins join forces with Olivia’s boyfriend Axel, her best friend Clara, and heartthrob Sawyer. Together they go in search of answers only to find conspiracy, death, and an awful truth about their families.

Sometimes parents keep secrets from their kids, but most of them aren’t as dangerous as the one Olivia’s father has been keeping from her.

One of the things I appreciated the most about Olivia is how calm she stays in a crisis. She thinks through her options carefully before making a decision even when she’s in danger. This isn’t something that typically happens in this sort of tale, so it was a real treat to realize that the protagonist is such an intelligent and level-headed girl.

The pacing of this novel was disjointed. While the flashbacks to Olivia’s previous life were interesting, describing what her last few days of normalcy were like took up a disproportionate amount of space in the plot. These scenes would have made a good prequel, but they didn’t blend in very well with the fast-paced material that appears later on.

There are times when a book needs to be vivid and gross in order to get its point across. This isn’t normally the sort of thing I seek out in this genre, but it worked really well for this particular story. It’s hard to discuss it in detail without giving away spoilers, of course, but I was pleased to see how neatly the author tied everything together. Certain scenes would have been much less effective without these elements. I also thought I should mention it in my review because it’s something I would have preferred to know about ahead of time.

I’d recommend End of Normal to anyone in the mood for action-heavy science fiction.

Filed Under: Reviews, Romance, Science Fiction/Fantasy, YA/Middle Grade/Children's Tagged With: , , , , , , , ,

Castles Burning by Keith Wayne McCoy

November 21, 2014 By Leave a Comment

BURNING
Castles Burning by Keith Wayne McCoy
Publisher: Champagne Books
Genre: Horror, Contemporary
Length: Short Story (40 pages)
Rating: 3.5 Stars
Reviewed by Astilbe

Wil Warner is a tormented son tossed about by the waves of both parents. His father is a beautiful but simple father and husband, and his mother is a narcissistic woman obsessed with the art of acquisition and the relentless climb to the top of society. After his father’s death, an adult Wil is left to face the ultimate horror of his mother’s mental illness.

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Horror isn’t necessarily just about blood and guts. One of the things that first attracted me to it was how versatile this genre can be. As a fan of Mr. McCoy’s previous work, I was intrigued by what he’d come up with this time as the last book I read from him was from a completely different genre. He made the transition nicely, though, and has definitely piqued my interest. It will be fun to see where he goes with his next project.

Even though Wil is the main character, there wasn’t a great deal of time spent developing his personality. Almost everything I learned about him was due to his reactions to his severely mentally ill mother. The glimpses of Wil’s harsh childhood made me wince, but I would have really liked to see more examples of how those experiences shaped him into who he became as an adult.

With that being said, secondary characters were well drawn. Stories that explore dysfunctional families are utterly fascinating to me. Almost anything can feel normal if someone is exposed to it early enough in life or for a long period of time, but that doesn’t mean that those things are actually healthy or safe. It was interesting to see how the people around Wil responded to their circumstances. Based on what I’ve observed in real life, it was also chillingly accurate.

I’d recommend Castles Burning to anyone who enjoys horror that’s set in a realistic, contemporary environment.

Filed Under: Horror, Reviews Tagged With: , , , , ,

Dawn of Love by Starla Childs

October 23, 2014 By Leave a Comment

Dawn Of Love
Dawn of Love by Starla Childs
Publisher: Champagne Books
Genre: Paranormal, Contemporary
Length: Full Length (207 pgs)
Heat Level: Spicy
Rating: 3.5 stars
Reviewed by Poinsettia

Fiona would sooner risk the wrath of a legendary beast than submit to the brigands who chase her to the walls of Burgis Keep. There, she finds herself under the protection of the most unlikely guardian. When the rumors of a vampire stalking the halls of the crumbling castle prove true, will she have the courage to discover the truth of the curse?

The Beast of Burgis Keep likes his privacy. Cursed by the gods seven hundred years ago, Alasdair is almost a vampire, but fights his ever present hunger with each breath. Until Fiona Buchanan stumbles into his castle. She calls to him like no other woman has, and he is lost when confronted with her subtle beauty and ever-present charm.
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A legend exists which speaks of a way free of his bloody curse, but is Alasdair capable of trusting Fiona enough to find the path to love?

Is Fiona the key to Alasdair’s freedom, or a temptation that will doom him for eternity?

A single poor decision cost Alasdair everything he cared about. Cursed by the gods, he has suffered for hundreds of years. By the time Fiona enters his life, Alasdair has just about given up hope of ever regaining his humanity. Alasdair definitely had my sympathy. He always strives to do the right thing. He desperately wants to be with Fiona, yet he knows that he is dangerous and he tries very hard to push her away. As Alasdair struggles against his feelings, Fiona and Alasdair are edging closer to their ultimate fate. Will Alasdair regain his humanity, or curse Fiona with eternal life?

Alasdair’s predicament definitely reminds me of Beauty and the Beast, which happens to be my favorite fairytale. As I read, I was very curious of how Ms. Childs would interpret the classic story. I really like how Ms. Childs revealed the origin of Alasdair’s curse in segments spread throughout the book. Each section managed not only to answer some of my questions, but raised new ones as well, further piquing my curiosity. While I enjoyed this quest for answers, I still had several unanswered questions by the time I finished reading the book. The gods and their motivations for meddling with Alasdair’s life were especially murky and needed more explanation.

Fiona and Alasdair are fated to be together and have really good chemistry, but they never seem very comfortable with each other. Alasdair alternately seeks Fiona out and then pushes her away. Fiona is understandably confused by this behavior. Consequently, their interactions are a bit awkward at times. Honestly, Fiona seems to spend more time with Derry, Alasdair’s friend. I understand that Fiona and Alasdair’s situation is unique, but I would have liked to see them get to know each other better in order to make their relationship more believable.

Overall, I found Dawn of Love to be an enjoyable read. Fiona and Alasdair’s story is interesting, and their happy ending is certainly pleasing. Fans of paranormal romance might want to give this tale a try.

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

A Dying Fall by John Paulits

September 2, 2014 By Leave a Comment

FALL
A Dying Fall by John Paulits
Publisher: Champagne Books
Genre: Contemporary, Suspense/Mystery
Length: Short Story (130 Pages)
Rating: 4 Stars
Reviewed by Cyclamen

Mark Louis must solve a murder which took place on the tropical island of Illyria, but he must do it from his home on the not-so-tropical island of Manhattan.
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When the AWB Theatre troupe accepts an invitation to perform on the tropical island of Illyria, they get more than they bargained for. Sudden death. Mark Louis, company member and amateur detective, suspects murder. The actors, however, must return home to New York, forcing Mark to conduct his investigation a thousand miles from the crime.

Mark Louis just feels as if there is something missing in his life. He lacks direction. He’s an actor, and an author, and he helped solve a murder several months ago, but still, he doesn’t feel focused. He confides this malaise to his girl friend, Kristy, as the small AWB Theatre Company heads to the tropical island of Illyria at the request of Mr. Barset, who is trying to turn the island into a paradise resort. The AWB company is to perform some Shakespeare to help woo investors. But as soon as they arrive on the island they are caught up in several murders. Mark is no longer lacking direction. When Kristy comments on this he says, “I should depend on different friends being murdered to keep me from getting depressed?”

This is an exciting mystery which Mark has to solve long-distance as the theatre company only stays on Illyria for a few days. Mark comes up with various explanations which his friends find very far-fetched, something that a writer might think up. But Mark never gives up, and eventually, with some help from Kristy, he solves the case.

This is the second novel in this series and I feel it is even stronger than the first. The characters are fairly well developed and the plot has a number of twists and turns. I did figure things out, at least in a general way, before Mark did, but not by much. The island of Illyria seemed very real, and a trifle sad, as it was supposed to do. I loved all the Shakespeare quotes and I agree with Mark that the Bard has a quote for any situation. The clever ways Twelfth Night contributed to the plot just increased my enjoyment of the novel.

Mystery lovers, especially those who are also fans of Shakespeare, will certain enjoy A Dying Fall.

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

Magic Within by Sara Fitzgerald

August 18, 2014 By Leave a Comment

MAGIC
Magic Within by Sara Fitzgerald
Publisher: Champagne Books
Genre: Contemporary, Paranormal, YA
Length: Short Story (120 pages)
Age Recommendation: 14+
Rating: 4 stars
Reviewed by Orchid

Nancy, a purple-haired witch, has never fit in with the kids in town. She has always felt something was deeply wrong with her. When Josh, her best friend, is attacked by a werewolf, Nancy seeks a potion to save him from the werewolf curse within him. But Josh’s fate–werewolf or human–is his to decide, when the potion is injected during his transition at the full of the moon.
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Nancy, too, must make a choice. Her mother, her best friend, and a
steadfast young man all see the magic within her. Can she finally accept who she is and give love a chance?

Male and female witches, vampires and werewolves… this is definitely a paranormal novel. Josh and his friend Nancy search for the fur from a werewolf to save Josh’s sister who has let her vampire boyfriend bite her. The dangerous mission ends in disaster and Nancy returns home alone, carrying the precious fur to make the potion cure. Josh has been bitten by the werewolf and the pack must decide whether to let him live or die.

This tale of darkness also has the angst of teenage romance. Josh and Nancy, Sandy and Eric, Rebecca and Jake. These teenagers tumble through the throes of fascination, lust and sometimes love while battling the temptations of being a werewolf or witch and in some cases revelling in the change to wolf.

Josh starts out as a brave young man but he seems to wilt as the story progresses. Nancy becomes stronger with each page but the other characters don’t change at all which tends to make the main plot slightly unbalanced.

The book is well written but in places where excitement builds, it tends to lack vitality when the peak is reached. The story is good, just needs a little more oomph.  Still, it’s a good introduction to paranormal romance for younger young adults.

Filed Under: Reviews, YA/Middle Grade/Children's Tagged With: , , , , , , ,
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