The Destiny Equation by J.S. Frankel

September 25, 2024 By Leave a Comment


The Destiny Equation by J.S. Frankel
Publisher: Extasy Books
Genre: Young Adult (14 – 18 y.o.), Sci-Fi/Fantasy, Romance, Contemporary
Rating: 4 Stars
Reviewed by Astilbe

Tempting fate. Is it fixed, or can you fight against it? Jordan Maduro and his girlfriend, Lydia Horiuchi, are about to find out!

Two universes, two lives… one shared fate. Jordan Maduro and Lydia Horiuchi come from two different Earths, but they share a destiny, one that could either mean their salvation—or their destruction.

Adventure is right around the corner.

The pacing was strong and exciting. This was one of those cases where I couldn’t find a good stopping spot when I needed to do something other than read for a while. No sooner did Jordan and Lydia get out of one sticky situation than they soon found themselves in another one thanks to fun plot twists and, in some cases, characters who didn’t do what I expected them to do in all sorts of creative ways. As much as I want to share specific scenes here, I don’t want to spoil anything for other readers given just how many surprises were packed into these pages and how closely entwined some of them are to each other. All I can say is to expect the unexpected, beware of moments that feel peaceful, and don’t assume that the way our world works is necessarily going to be repeated in other universes.

What held this back from a higher rating for me was the character development. There were details about Lydia and Jordan’s lives that were never fleshed out. For example, I wondered why both of them had spent so much of their childhoods in foster care without anyone adopting them. Normally, young, healthy children who can’t reunite with their birth families are adopted pretty quickly where I live, so it surprised me that these two had grown up in foster care. I would have also liked to learn more about their personalities and hobbies as I’d struggle to describe those things in much detail.

As usual, Mr. Frankel did an excellent job with his world building. I’ve been reviewing his books for about a decade now, and his ability to immerse his audience in worlds that have so many important differences from our own is one of the many reasons why I try to be the first reviewer to request his works whenever Long and Short Reviews receives them. I especially loved his descriptions of how one logs into the Internet or makes dinner in this particular world, but I really should leave the details of that for others to discover for themselves just like I did earlier. It was well worth the wait once it did show up in the plot.

The Destiny Equation was an engrossing read.

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

Seven Times Unto Eternity by J.S. Frankel

July 12, 2024 By 2 Comments


Seven Times Unto Eternity by J.S. Frankel
Publisher: Extasy Books
Genre: Young Adult (14 – 18 y.o.), Sci-Fi/Fantasy, Romance, LGBTQ, Contemporary, Historical
Rating: 5 Stars
Reviewed by Astilbe

Being reincarnated over and over is one thing. Becoming the opposite sex is another. But saving the world is an entirely different story—and it’s also a lot stranger.

You get only one go-around in life, or so the experts say. Paige DeMaster, almost nineteen years of age, formerly Callisto Merriwether, formerly five other lives, has seven chances to right a major wrong. She has seven chances to save the world as well as save herself—and now she’s down to her last chance.

Saving the world is much more difficult than it looks!

I enjoyed the casual and friendly dialogue in this book. It sounded just like the sort of conversations one might accidentally overhear in public places or share with friends and family. This also made it easy to get to know the characters and figure out what their personalities were like as the way they spoke always felt natural to me. It’s certainly not easy to write these things out in such a realistic manner, so I must tip my cap to Mr. Frankel for pulling it off!

Some of my favorite scenes were the ones that explored Paige’s romantic relationship. They fit in so seamlessly to everything else that was going on in the storyline and showed me aspects of her personality that I probably wouldn’t have otherwise taken note of. I thought she and her partner were a lovely match and hoped for a happy ending for them as soon as they became an item.

The world building was strong and consistent from beginning to end. I especially liked the flashbacks to Paige’s previous lives that showed what she learned from them and how she adjusted every time she woke up again in a new era. Of course it would be disorienting at first to speak a new language, worship different gods, and eventually even figure out how the Internet works! Seeing how the main character interacted with the various people she met from one lifetime to the next as she tried again and again to save the world made me yearn for more.

Seven Times Unto Eternity was lovely.

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

When a Wolf Howls by Fiona McGier

May 5, 2020 By 1 Comment


When a Wolf Howls by Fiona McGier
Publisher: eXtasy Books
Genre: Paranormal, Contemporary
Length: Full length (327 pages)
Other: M/F
Rating: 3.5 stars
Reviewed by Moonflower

Saoirse McColl, a research biologist, keeps getting fired from labs for refusing to produce results the clients want. Her best friend suggests she look for a new line of work. She applies to an ad for a high school biology teaching job at an academy in northwestern Maine that promised living quarters plus salary.

Diego Vargas, a werewolf, is the principal of the academy, despite having no background in education. He has proven to the pack leader that he is dependable and detail-oriented, but he hates hiring new teachers, not knowing what to ask them.
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Once Saoirse is in his office, Diego can’t concentrate because his wolf loves her smell. When it turns out that she is the best-qualified candidate, Diego and his wolf rejoice, because both are convinced she’s their mate. But she’s not a shifter, so they need to bide their time, waiting for the right moment to inform her that she’s living in a compound of mostly wolf shifters.

Can these two find happiness together, once the scientist discovers that myth is reality?

Saoirse McColl is a research biologist who has been fired again. She sees herself as having bad luck but the amount of things that fall into her lap tell a different story.

This is an intriguing story about Pack life and what happens when you get a Leadership changeover. Saoirse gets her job as a teacher and has a great rapport with the kids. Things change for her dramatically though when she realises the man she has fallen for is a werewolf. There is something for everyone here – mystery, kidnap, fights to the death, and LOTS of sex.

The writing style is different from others, and I didn’t particularly like the long internal monologues and reviews of what “whoever” had done and when. However, they are part of the story and it needed them to be able to move forward. I just found them to ramble on and they became a detraction from the interaction between the characters themselves.

All in all, though, this was a very good story that shows that life isn’t all that it’s cracked up to be, even if you think you have it all. There are some great characters in here that I would love to learn more about. So, yep, recommended by me.

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The Birthday Present by Sean Kerr

October 3, 2017 By 1 Comment


The Birthday Present by Sean Kerr
Publisher: eXtasy Books
Genre: Contemporary
Length: Short Story (26 pgs)
Other: M/M, Anal Play
Rating: 3.5 stars
Reviewed by Fern

Ronald feels old, washed up. As a middle aged gay man on the scene, he cannot help but wonder if his time is over. His frustrations are further exacerbated when he finds himself the victim of a group of thugs who seem to find it funny to torment him in his own home.
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Ronald is planning a party, a summer celebration of his middle age, but as he begins the preparations in his hot kitchen, a Policeman turns up to question Ronald about the attacks. Over the course of the interview, Ronald comes to understand that perhaps age is just a number after all.

Ronni is baking to try and forget everything. In his mid-forties and very single, he’s reached the end of his rope when the local idiot teenagers wouldn’t quit with the homophobic abuse at his doorstep, forcing Ronni to call the local police. When Andy turns up – all six feet plus, sculpted delicious muscle of him – Ronni’s birthday will certainly be special this year.

This is a smoking hot, lovely short story. I really enjoyed both Ronni and Andy’s characters and the chemistry between them came across to me as deliciously intense. I was a very little bit disappointed in how slow the story was to start. Considering the very short word-length I usually like my short stories to jump right into the action and zoom along from there – I’m quite happy to read slower-paced stories but there needs to be the gradual build up and enough room left over to make the romance feel satisfactory to me. But this story while scorching hot and erotically written once it got moving felt comparatively quite slow for the first few pages. I understand what the author meant to do – convey a good basis for the reader to know about Ronni’s problems and situation before the steamy action began between him and Andy. I just couldn’t help but feel it was pages of missed action – both emotional and character growth between Ronni and Andy, and also I feel it would have been better spent towards the end, deepening the romance between the two men.

Once the action began, however, this story really hit all the marks for me. Steamy sex, bucket loads of chemistry and a lovely “happy for now” ending this was a glorious quick read. I actually also enjoyed the first-person narrative. These are often hit or miss with me so I was thrilled when the author’s voice really resonated with me and I found myself completely caught up in Ronni’s tale and his expressions (very British which was a thrill for me!) and the whole story just flew by in a delightful, happy breeze for me. I know this is an author I will eagerly be searching out more of as the story was a real pleasure to read.

A quick, steamy read I found this M/M to be a wonderful, naughty way to while away a bit of time. Really lovely.

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Bear Hugs by SA Welsh

September 21, 2015 By Leave a Comment

BEAR
Bear Hugs by SA Welsh
Publisher: eXtasy Books
Genre: Contemporary, Paranormal
Length: Short Story (93 pgs)
Other: M/M, M/M/M, Ménage, Anal Play
Rating: 4 stars
Reviewed by Mistletoe

Cage has finally had enough of Rob’s hot and cold routine. The flirting one minute and avoiding him the next is getting old, so he drives up to Rob’s cabin to demand answers. Except the ones he finds aren’t the ones he expected, and he isn’t sure what to do with them. That’s when things get hairy…literally.
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Rob is a shifter. He and Cage are from two different worlds, and he doesn’t stand a chance at being more than friends with the cute human. Unfortunately his bear won’t take no for an answer and keeps insisting Cage is theirs. He escapes to his cabin hideaway to think—when Cage shows up, hammering on his door, Rob can’t resist any longer.

When Rob is caught unawares by a hunter, things almost end before they really begin, but a wolf jumps into the fray, and the tenuous relationship between Cage and Rob gets pushed to the breaking point. Noah is a wolf shifter hunting his sister’s killer, but on the trail he unexpectedly scents his mates. The only problem is they are already a couple and might not have room for one lonely wolf.

This may be a quick story but it is full of emotions and will pull on your heart strings at times. This story gives us three men and three different lives that all become intertwined. Can a friendship turn into something more? When you add in a total stranger to the mix just what will happen? Cage is a human and is quickly thrust into the world of shifters. When he finds out the secret Rob has been keeping will he take it all in or will he run? Can their friendship withstand it all or are they doomed from the start? Will the two men accept a stranger who claims to be theirs?

I was totally lost in this story from the start. Each of the men in this story endeared themselves to this reader almost immediately. I could not help but feel each ones plight and emotions. Cage knows nothing of the world Rob lives in but is more than happy to trust Rob and accept what comes their way and Noah is what comes their way. I loved the way these three interacted and easily cared for each other. Their connection may happen quickly but it runs deep. I loved seeing the way they each cared for each other and wanted to fix things for the others. Their bond is strong and as hot as they get in or out of the bedroom the love that they have shines through in everything that they do. They each have their crosses to bear but Noah seemed to need the most reassurance and made the strongest impression on me. I just wanted to hold him and make everything alright.

This book moves at a quick pace and keeps you interested all the way to the end and more. I was quickly pulled in and did not want to leave. I hope that this is not the last time this author brings readers to this world.

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For a Dragon’s Treasure by Charlie Richards

July 2, 2014 By Leave a Comment

DRAGONS
For a Dragon’s Treasure by Charlie Richards
Publisher: Extasy Books
Genre: Historical, Paranormal
Length: Short Story (105 pages)
Other: BDSM, M/M, Anal Play
Rating: 3.5 stars
Reviewed by Lisianthus

Two men. One wants to earn the treasure. The other wants to prove what treasure really is.
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Thom McDoffrey is shocked when he’s waylaid outside camp by Kaiser, the strange warrior he’d fought a few nights before. He listens as Kaiser speaks of treasure and adventure and freedom. Being the youngest son of a known thief, Thom has worked diligently to live honorably, choosing the hard life of a mercenary in Chieftain Goth’s employ. This, however, is an opportunity too good to pass up. Especially when Kaiser promises that the treasure would be freely given, because the owner needs a boon. Giving in to temptation, Thom agrees. Upon arriving in Karstelle Valley, Thom discovers that he is the boon…Kaiser completing the favor of bringing a human to a dragon. Feeling betrayed, Thom flees. When the dragon tracks him down, will Thom give in to curiosity, see why the dragon wants him, or keep running?

Tricked into being the treasure delivered to a dragon, Thom is both curious and a bit afraid of the dragon and his big teeth. I really liked Thom, he’s made more out of his life than the cards dealt him as the son of a thief. This is a shorter tale, and part of an already established, but other than mentioning past characters it was easy to follow what was going on.

The dragon, Glarzy, was an interesting character. He obviously was attracted to Thom and was willing and ready to worship him.

Unfortunately Thom is a bit overwhelmed and has never been with a man, though he has been attracted to them before. It’s an interesting idea, and I think it works because Thom does mentally acknowledge his attraction to men before he meets Glarzy, so it’s not just Glarzy although he is the one that Thom acts with.

I really enjoyed the idea of dragons living in the highlands, so I got my kilt wearing hero with the added benefit of the paranormal dragon hero. I easily fell into the story, and it was a great little fix of good storytelling and I definitely recommend it for a fast read that left me satisfied.

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Betrayed by Dragons by Caitlin Ricci

March 14, 2014 By 1 Comment

DRAGONS
Betrayed by Dragons by Caitlin Ricci
For Love of Dragons 2
Publisher: eXtasy Books
Genre: Action/Adventure, Contemporary, Paranormal
Length: Short Story (121 pgs)
Other: M/F
Rating: 4 stars
Reviewed by Peppermint

What price would you pay to save the life of someone you loved?
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High in the mountains, Isabelle Falcone is able to watch her brother’s health slowly improve each day. But she can never forget the price she will have to pay for his life. Now she’s found love with a man that is much more than he appears and a simple bargain is turning into something far more complicated. She’s strong enough to pay the devil his price, she’s proven that already. But will the broken pieces of her soul be enough to walk away with when he’s done with her?

Isabelle’s need to protect her brother no matter the cost to herself is remarkable and demonstrates a selflessness that is heroic. Yet, some may say it is completely naive since she puts her brother and her life in danger by entering the den of the dragons, but with no other choice she must do what is necessary at all costs.

I found following the story a bit challenging at times including the very beginning because I did not have the pleasure of reading the first installment of this series. It was clear that this story picked up where the first ended, which left me a bit disoriented. I would definitely recommend reading the first story first. When I started to read further I was able to place some pieces which helped me to catch up and enjoy this story.

Faolan is a complete conundrum to me, and I liked it. Maybe it is because I did not read the first story, but I have a feeling his character is so complex even if I had read it I would still not understand him on some levels. Since he is a dragon shifter this added to the excitement of his character. It is clear that he is waging an internal battle within himself as to what his father expects, his people, himself, as well as Isabella whom he has grown to care for. I really enjoy these multiple layers of his character and look forward to learning more.

While I enjoyed the relationship development with Faolan and Isabella there are some aspects I still found puzzling at times. It seems to me that many things remain unresolved and almost impossible to resolve, especially the differences in their lives since dragon shifters are raised and live so differently compared to humans. Even in the end I had to question if these two would ever truly have a happy ever after, but I certainly want to continue to read the series to find out.

The dynamic plotlines within this story really sold it for me. Isabella and Faolan have a many challenges they must face both together as well as separately. Both have pressure from their families, each other, as well as still trying to figure out their own way through life. It made me truly root for them both as individuals as well as a couple. When I finished reading the story I immediately wanted to get to the next to find out if they can truly work past everything and achieve the happy ending they so deserve.

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Bride of Death By Viola Grace

January 24, 2014 By Leave a Comment

DETH
Bride of Death By Viola Grace
Publisher: eXtasy Books
Genre: Paranormal, Sci-Fi/Fantasy
Length: Short Story (56 pages)
Heat Level: Sensual
Rating: 5 stars
Reviewed by Orchid

Prepared to die for her people, she is ready for a fight, but what she gets is an imprisonment that evolves into something unexpected.

Saloa is in charge of the last group of guards for her people. They were unable to join the exodus that took their people away from their home, but they are prepared to die for their home.

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If only he had known that Saloa was a hand-to-hand combat specialist, he might just have thought twice before separating her from the other prisoners.

The Prothean’s have fled their world after a message arrives to warn them they are trespassing and the Death Bringers will be coming to Laksiira to cleanse the surface of their presence. In an attempt to stop the Death Bringers from following the colonists, Saloa Winger and fifteen colony guards are all that is left to fight the enemy. A hopeless task.

General Hinlior, leader of the Death Bringers, is surprised there are only sixteen defendants of the planet. He knocks the guards unconscious and imprisons them on his ship. Another surprise awaits him when he finds one of the guards is a female, what Hinlior’s people call a Life Bringer. Saloa is treated with respect and discovers only certain males are considered suitable for breeding purposes, due to the fact there are not enough females and Hinlior’s people are a dying breed.

Both main characters are feisty and Saloa has a mind of her own when told of the laws of the Anvin. She is inwardly amused as the Anvin are obviously not conversant with the breeding requirements of her own people.

This story made very enjoyable reading. Individual in style, the plot leads the reader to a well thought out conflict Saloa and Hinlior add a touch of amusement to the tale. A good meeting of two races at odds with each other, and the discovery they can help one another if they wish, but each race must make the other believe they are in earnest when offers of friendship are made.

Ms Grace has a way with short Sci-Fi Fairy Tales and I’d be happy to read more of her work.

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

Delta Blues by Ellen Cross

January 14, 2014 By Leave a Comment

BLUES
Delta Blues by Ellen Cross
Publisher: Extasy Books
Genre: Contemporary, Paranormal
Length: Short Story (101 pages)
Other: M/M, Anal Play
Rating: 5 stars
Reviewed by Lisianthus

In a World where the Alpha are the law, Beta the order, and Omega the knowledge…the Delta have become the oppressed.

The night of Samhain is fast approaching, and for that one night a year, Gray and the last remaining Dire Wolves—amongst others—are entrusted with the protection of the veil between worlds, while it’s at its thinnest. Add in the threat of a new drug on the market, and they’ll have to work twice as hard to keep everyone safe. The last thing he needs is a sexy little Delta to save.

After discount generic cialis a stressful hectic day or after a light meal. He showed the Budget viagra sans prescription box to the press. If you are meant to buy a top quality drug, it could cost you a great deal for getting the best bit of service. viagra pills without prescription find out that pharmacy store However, studies have showed that there is no potential risk of newly growing viruses, on line viagra spyware etc. and thus improve your computer’s immunity. As a lowly Delta, Red Wolf shifter Ryan has never known peace. Cast away and unwanted, he is quickly taken captive and trained as a dancer at The Howling, a strip club in the worst part of Praeter. Hungry, abused, and kept in a drug-induced fog, his life is nothing. He is nothing but the orders and twisted demands of his captor. All that changes when he catches the scent of a wolf in the crowd.

Long ebony hair, eyes that can’t decide if they’re green or blue as they follow him on stage. Unable to stop himself, Ryan does the one thing guaranteed to earn him punishment. He touches the other wolf. Peace. For those few brief moments, the hunger, the pain, the torment…all gone. The price to feel that respite again, though, could very well be his life.

A fascinating and new spin on the paranormal romance, Delta Blues was the one of the best shifter books I’ve read in awhile. Ryan has lived a life of abuse and captivity but just one moment with Gray and he’s willing to suffer any amount of punishment for just one more moment of peace with him.

Gray, is an Alpha wolf and a Dire wolf to boot, which means when he shifts he’s huge, and very much in charge. He saves Ryan and their mating and love story may be fast forwarded but I felt every moment with them. I really hope to read more in this world. This book does a great job setting up the rules of the world and introducing characters who might want to take that world down and reshape it into a better world.

Ryan is a Delta and definitely not the type of character who would normally be in charge in situations but the way Ryan charges in to save the man he loves. I really loved that amount of moxie, It really made Ryan someone I could easily root for.

Overall, this is a great new world and series that I hope to spend more time in. I highly recommend it for fans of unique and fun MM paranormal romance.

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Fool’s Paradise by David Russell

January 9, 2014 By Leave a Comment

PARADISE
Fool’s Paradise by David Russell
Publisher: eXtasy Books
Genre: Recent Historical
Length: Short Story (39 pgs)
Heat Level: Sensual
Rating: 3 stars
Reviewed by Fern

In the heyday of the Hippie Counterculture, Jim, a disaffected postgraduate, goes on a rural retreat in quest of his identity. He finds a cool alternative abode, which initiates in a bizarre relationship with the housemother, Celia, who turns out to be an undercover police officer, but also with dubious connections. Things develop, including a delicious one—off with Celia, and Jim is drawn towards the edges of nefarious activity. He ends up waiting for his Barrister, convinced he will clear him.

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This is a slightly strange book, unlike most anything else I’ve read. Told in the first person in some ways it’s difficult to understand what’s going on, as we can only see things from Jim’s perspective and experience. Also, while much is alluded to throughout the story, I didn’t feel as if some things were very clearly explained, things like why – exactly – Jim found himself at this hostel, what he was running from and whether he was complicit in much of the drug trafficking and such. In some ways this felt to me like one of those “confessions of” stories, and while I did enjoy it, I spent most of the time mystified as to where the story was going, what was fully happening with the plot, and what the thrust of the plot really was. Despite this I wanted to understand, the author’s writing was quick, precise and interesting and so I continued to read in the hopes of illumination. While even upon completion I still didn’t get most of it, I didn’t feel as if I had wasted my time either, reading something completely alternative and refreshingly different.

There’s no traditional romance or erotica in this short story, the sex is held pretty much behind closed doors (there’s no graphic content to it, merely a build up to it and then declaration of the act having been performed) and while it’s clear the main relationship is between Jim and Celia, I didn’t personally find any romance between them. For an erotic short story this surprised me, but seemed to resonate with the first person, slightly disjointed, mysterious tone and presentation of the whole tale. I feel that readers who are looking for something completely outside the box and different might truly enjoy this, but readers wanting just a quick, sexy read mightn’t find what they’re looking for here.

A really different read, but still enjoyable.

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