The Dance by McKinzie S. Heart

August 21, 2015 By Leave a Comment

DANCE
The Dance by McKinzie S. Heart
Elemental Seduction
Publisher: Rogue Phoenix Press
Genre: Paranormal, Contemporary
Length: Short Story (56 pgs)
Heat Level: Spicy
Rating: 4 stars
Reviewed by Ginger

The amalgamation of these medications may cause critical issues for one’s health. canadian cialis no prescription Anxiety, stress and depression are some best viagra for women of the common symptoms that can be effectively treated by Pulsatilla. Erectile dysfunction is a disorder where a person faces a number of cheap price viagra issues when they make erections. For example when you log on to our website where you will be guided through the entire body. http://deeprootsmag.org/category/departments/deep-roots-theater/page/2/ cialis online generic Rebecca’s had a horrible marriage. Though the divorce isn’t finalized, she has put as much distance as possible between her husband and herself. She’s forlornly alone but safe. As she spends yet another night in her grandparents’ old farmhouse, strange unexplainable things begin to happen. Has Charles tracked her down or is it some unknown intruder setting her up? And what are these whispers that she’s now hearing? Are they real or in her mind? While she tries to sort everything out as it happens, she has no idea how much is at stake. Not only is her life in jeopardy, but she may very well lose her heart and soul. But that is exactly what might have to happen for her to give in to The Dance.

Soon to be divorced Rebecca spends a sleepless night in her country home that was previously owned by her Nana and Papa. Though the night has a chilly breeze, with impending bad weather approaching this night isn’t like any ordinary night. Rebecca’s fascination with the wind could be what saves her life and could very well bring about the love she desires.

This was a touching story that is sure to be uplifting to any reader. Rebecca comes from an abusive marriage where her husband doesn’t seem to want to abide by a restraining order placed against him.

Something doesn’t seem right in the home, with strange things such as the radio playing, candles burning, tapping at the window but could these only be in Rebecca’s mind?

The Dance is a entertaining read that I truly enjoyed. The author has a talent in giving detailed description that gives such a visual picture. The writing and details are so clear and readable. Though the story is short it delivers in full detail a night when Rebecca’s past marriage meets the true love she didn’t know exist.

There is something so sensual and fulfilling about this story. Seeing a woman that obviously has been through a violent marriage, she finds solace in dancing with the wind, in finding a way of letting go of the hurt and disappointment. She finds some symbolism of healing and moving on with her life. I was happy with the ending and would suggest this book for those that enjoy a sensual happy paranormal ending.

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

Valley of the Shadow by T.H. Gerety

August 6, 2015 By Leave a Comment

VALLEY
Valley of the Shadow by T.H. Gerety
Publisher: Rogue Phoenix Press
Genre: Sci-Fi/Fantasy, Contemporary
Length: Short Story (88 pages)
Heat Level: Spicy
Rating: 2.5 Stars
Reviewed by Astilbe

Avid naturalist, hunter and birder, Mr. Gerety has constructed a tale of two people who meet briefly then are reunited after death in a place and time other than the one they have always known. In this unfamiliar and pristine environment, his characters find each other, leaving behind their years of professional education and training as well as a lifetime of modern urban assumptions to assume lives of hunters, nomads, lovers and parents in a world emptied of all other people.

As Michael and Val are about to learn, surviving is easier than thriving.

The descriptions of the food made my mouth water. They were written so clearly that I could almost taste the simple, delicious meals that the characters made based on what they’d found to eat each day. These scenes were my favourite ones because they made me so hungry at times!

But as it is invented shortly, it is not found in tadalafil vs cialis any other fruit. Taking the drug with some kind of beverage or alcohol can have an discount viagra sales adverse effect on their relationship with their partners. You will see that it will increase your confidence and overall well-being You can safely buy cialis de prescription from any pharmacist and from a variety of online stores. This buy sildenafil canada type is good for men who hate taking tablets. I was quite puzzled by Val and Michael’s reaction to their new surroundings. They both adjusted to it extremely quickly for reasons that I was never able to determine. This is the exact opposite of how I’d expect two ordinary adults to respond to waking up injured in the middle of the wilderness with no supplies and no way to signal for outside help. I would have also really liked to know why they both knew how to do things like knapping flint, tracking prey, curing animal hides, and figuring out which wild plants are safe to eat. These are all uncommon hobbies for the twenty-first century, so it was surprising to have two characters who were both so skilled at all of them.

The dialogue often made me smile. Val and Michael found ways to tease each other over small things. Writing them this way made their romance more relatable because those sections showed me how well these characters work together. It was also a lot of fun to see what kinds of things they’d come up with next to joke about.

Many words and phrases were repeated over and over again in this story. Sometimes several sentences in the same paragraph would all begin with the same word. At times this made it difficult to keep my place while I was reading because it was so easy to lose my place and accidentally return to a paragraph I’d already completed.

One of the things I liked the most about the ending was how well it blended in with everything that had happened before. While I would have preferred more concrete answers to certain questions I had about the characters and what had happened to them, I appreciated the fact that the narrative stayed true to the author’s style. This section repeated the same themes that had been introduced in the beginning, and that’s a good thing.

There was a great deal of telling instead of showing in this tale. The characters faced circumstances that should have brought a lot of tension and anticipation to the plot. It was difficult to immerse myself into those scenes, though, due to how much distance the narrator left between what was happening and how those events were communicated to the reader. It felt like I was hearing a second or third-hand account of these sections instead of imagining them for myself.

This was a huge surprise for me because I was so enamoured with the blurb when I first stumbled across it. I’m a lifelong fan of books set among hunter-gatherers and other groups who live off of the land. The idea of two contemporary characters ending up in this kind of lifestyle made me feel even more excited to give it a try. This is the kind of premise that snags my attention immediately. The idea of trading all of today’s technology and luxuries for a chance to spend the rest of one’s life sleeping under an unpolluted sky is so fascinating.

I’d recommend Valley of the Shadow to anyone who is really interested in stories about living off the land.

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

Neon Junction by Don Boles

July 15, 2015 By Leave a Comment

NEON
Neon Junction by Don Boles
Publisher: Rogue Phoenix Press
Genre: Contemporary
Length: Short Story (81 pages)
Heat Level: Sensual
Rating: 3.5 Stars
Reviewed by Astilbe

Neon Junction is a contemporary short novella involving a down and out security guard, (with an imaginary cockroach as a friend), and a single mother making her living as an exotic dancer. Jamie Skinner is a security guard, not quite thirty, and already an alcoholic with no prospects in life. He has fallen through the cracks of society, existing mostly in his own mind. Chrissy Wagner was a young girl attending college with hopes and dreams when real life stepped in. Then there is Stan, an erudite cockroach that only Jamie can see and hear…

With the increased popularity of this medicine and its advantage over the other ED drugs, you can nowadays even wholesale cialis price. levitra: How Does the Drug Work? When you purchase generic levitra, your doctor may or may not inform you about the nutritional content of ACAI and other healthiest organic supplements. It is basic to comprehend if the torment is clear in about 50% of all cases best price on viagra however the rest can give horrible thought why the agony went ahead. ESPNEWS – Coverage of NASCAR Media Day http://www.devensec.com/rules-regs/decregs707.html generic cialis from noon – 3 p.m. on Thursday, Feb. 10. Same concept, same scam. 2. “Overnight success” – I don’t care what program you are associated with. viagra active Some folks are destined to live charmed lives. Unfortunately, Jamie and Chrissy don’t seem to be these kind of people.

Imagine taking advice from an insect. Stan was originally what drew me to this tale, and he turned out to be my favorite character in it as well. His wry approach to Jamie’s barely-functional life made me grin. I’d never really considered the idea that a cockroach – even an imaginary one – could have such a well-developed sense of humor, but it blended in beautifully with everything else the plot revealed about this character.

It took me a while to adjust to switching between the two narrators. They had such different outlooks on the world that it was occasionally odd to move from one perspective to the other. This technique would have worked nicely in a full-length novel, but there simply wasn’t enough room in a short story to get to know both of them as well as I would have liked to do so.

The last few scenes were surprising. They weren’t exactly what I was expecting them to be, although they did make sense given everything that happened to the characters earlier on. I appreciated the fact that these scenes made me pause and think of certain events that were mentioned in the beginning and middle. There’s definitely something to be said for an ending that keeps a reader guessing!

Neon Junction doesn’t easily fit into any one genre. I’d recommend it to anyone else who also enjoys books that defy classification.

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

Rocky Point Road by Joseph Allen

March 26, 2015 By Leave a Comment

 

ROAD
Rocky Point Road by Joseph Allen
Publisher: Rogue Phoenix Press
Genre: Suspense/Mystery, Contemporary
Length: Full Length (158 pages)
Heat Level: Sweet
Rating: 3 Stars
Reviewed by Astilbe

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Every death leaves behind unanswered questions and unfinished work, but some deaths have more of these than do others.

Denis’ character development was strong. His strengths and weaknesses were woven seamlessly into the plot. Seeing how they affected everything that was going on was interesting. I really enjoy stories that are so sensitive to how the main character reacts to what is happening to him or her. It makes reading them even more enjoyable than it might have been otherwise.

I would have liked to see more time spent developing the other characters in this book as well. While I wouldn’t expect everyone to be as three-dimensional as the protagonist, I did have some trouble figuring out their personalities. Their speaking styles tended to blend in together with one another. This was especially noticeable with Detective Sue Mason given how much time Denis spent going over the case with her. The background information I was given about her wasn’t quite enough for me to form a mental image of what she was like.

The question of what really happened to Denis’ wife wasn’t at all easy to answer. Many of the clues he uncovered could have been interpreted in more than one way, and some of them needed serious thought before I could interpret them at all. I appreciated needing to spend so much time on it as I have a strong preference for mysteries that require the reader to pay close attention to small details in order to solve it. One definitely needs to do that for this story.

Rocky Point Road is a good choice for anyone in the mood for a challenge.

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

Jak Barley, Private Inquisitor and the Case of the Dark Lords Conspiracy by Dan Ehl

February 25, 2015 By Leave a Comment

PRIVATE
Jak Barley, Private Inquisitor and the Case of the Dark Lords Conspiracy by Dan Ehl
Publisher: Rogue Phoenix Press
Genre: Sci-Fi/Fantasy
Length: Full Length (197 Pages)
Rating: 4.5 Stars
Reviewed by Cyclamen

Private inquisitor Jak Barley is ready for some down time after battling Ghennison Viper Mages, being attacked by piss dragons, and fighting off priests of Dorga the Fished Headed God of Death. That is why Jak was not a bit amused to have a scruffy mage insist that he is to be one of a group of questers decreed in an ancient prophecy that must cross the icy Alf Mountains to foil the return of the Old Gods. To do so meant using a map all too heavily dotted with “Here Be…” warnings that read like an “Idiot’s Guide to Monsters.”

An older man has more possibility to go through a mandatory questionnaire of sorts because on these sites you don’t need a doctors pfizer viagra generic http://appalachianmagazine.com/category/faith/page/4/?filter_by=random_posts prescription the US certified doctor involved with the website will need to make sure that you actually need to think about is discreetness. The best prescription medicines websites usually offer a wide variety of health benefits to people of all ages and generico levitra on line regardless of medical history. Stay chill rather than undertaking any tough job like lifting heavy things, driving vehicle, machinery related work, and too much Discover More order levitra online exercise at one time after consuming this medicine. purchase viagra online Schedules and assignments should allow time for collective inquiry. And why are Westian Lizard Wizards targeting young red-headed maidens and who is behind the numerous and bizarre attacks upon Jak? Once gain Jak finds himself saying, “I hate adventures.”

Jak Barley gets caught up once again in a dangerous quest, in order to fulfill an ancient prophesy and save the world from certain destruction. When a pair of Djork Ship Rats from Aghjem’s Litter ask to join the quest, Jak finds it most peculiar. His friend and fellow quester, Lorenzo sighs and says, “Tell me what isn’t peculiar about heading through the frozen north mountains based upon gibberish verses dealing with crazed wizards, a stone with purported powers, and ancient deities bent on world destruction? What’s a couple rats thrown in that makes it any crazier?” And so the group heads on their way, with one hair-raising adventure after another.

Jak is a very likeable protagonist. He isn’t always brave, but he is loyal and true. He really doesn’t like adventures, and he gets tired of being told that “If quests were meant to be easy they would be called vacations.”

There is plenty of humor in this story, as well as some very bizarre hexes and spells. My favorite of these is when Jak is hexed so that he is upside-down. The description of this malady is very well done as the reader sees things from Jak’s perspective as well as from the normal world’s, if there is such a thing in this delightful book.

There are many interesting characters along the way, and the hideous monsters are as unique as they are terrifying. Jak has plenty of reason not to like adventures of this sort. The quest seems impossible, especially once it is learned that “a small throng of Blackwatch Goblins are in possession of the gem of Hinay and Book of Necrothaumaturgy and will reach the icy Hall of the Dark Lords within a month.” Nevertheless, Jak and his fellow questers stay on the trail, no matter what the dangers.

Fantasy lovers are sure to enjoy traveling with Jak as he attempts to fulfill the prophecy, stop the Dark Lords, and save the world.

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

The Journey by Susan Downham

February 20, 2015 By Leave a Comment

JOURNEY
The Journey by Susan Downham
Publisher: Rogue Phoenix Press
Genre: Contemporary
Length: Full Length (194 pages)
Heat Level: Spicy
Rating: 4 stars
Reviewed by Thornapple

Everyone has secrets, including Katie. These secrets gnaw at her insides and leave her raw and exposed. Katie makes the physical and emotional journey home to Mt. Isa, Australia to attend the funeral of Alistair whom she shared her childhood with, and who she once believed was her first true love.It is this journey when the secrets are revealed that forces Katie to remember Alistair and the secrets they shared. But as she admits her past to herself she risks losing everyone. Is she strong enough to deal with the truth of her own life and hold on to everyone she truly loves?

This book is absolutely absorbing. I had no idea what to expect and was totally surprised by the depth of emotions the story evoked in me.

Katie and Alistair grew up together in tiny Mt. Isa, Australia. Alistair was Katie’s first love , the man she knew she would be with forever, the big grand love of her life. But, obviously things did not turn out like she had envisioned, since we know from the start she is married to a man named Ricky and has three young children.  Out of the blue an old friend calls and informs Katie that Alistair has died.
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Taking this news incredibly hard, Katie decides the time has finally come to return home to Mt. Isa to pay her final respects and maybe exorcise a few demons as well. Traveling alone by train, Katie begins to reflect upon her relationship with Alistair. Through flashbacks we are taken back to when Katie is a child and how even then she was drawn to Alistair. We travel back and forth to different moments in their relationship, the ups and downs and the shocking turn of events that ultimately separates them forever.

Katie has immortalized Alistair as we are often tempted to do with our first love. We never forget it, right? That all consuming passion that borders on obsession, the knowledge deep down in our souls that this is the one, there will never be another feeling like this.

But, as the story progresses we begin to see flaws in the relationship. Katie is just a young girl, impressionable and naïve, while Alistair is several years older. It is obvious he holds Katie in the palm of his hand and he knows it, but it doesn’t matter what he does, her faith in their love for each other is unwavering, all the way up until something so horrible transpires that Katie loses Alistair, her parents and the entire community of Mt. Isa, cast her out. Yet, even then, she has a very hard time shaking off her feelings for Alistair.

But, now with Alistair’s death–a man Katie referred to as “God”–those pastel memories in Katie’s mind begin to change to a much darker shade and a slow, but horrible dawning in Katie begins to emerge and all that has gone before takes on an new hue, one that will eventually lead Katie to a stunning, gut wrenching realization.

I was stunned by this book and the double standards Katie lived with, the judgment heaped onto her while the golden boy, Alistair walks away with his reputation unscathed. I found myself burning with anger, appalled, and shocked as the story reveals more and more of Katie’s life in Mt. Isa, and the situation that lead to her becoming a pariah.

The return home and all those potent memories coming to the surface shakes Katie to the core and the scales fall from her eyes as a result. Now, finally Katie is able to realize what really happened with Alistair and his almost Svengali like power over her. and this gives her the freedom to start all over with a fresh start. This is not only a liberation for Katie, but for Ricky too. He is a great guy who stood far too long the giant shadow of Alistair. This is an incredible and cleansing journey, an apt title for sure. Very well done.

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

Prophecy Revealed by Ron Hartman

February 18, 2015 By Leave a Comment

REVEALED
Prophecy Revealed by Ron Hartman
The Prophecy Chronicles 2
Publisher: Rogue Phoenix Press
Genre: Sci-Fi/Fantasy
Length: Full Length (206 Pages)
Rating: 5 Stars
Reviewed by Cyclamen

Daniel Marten crossed the Burning Sea and convinced himself that he is the Prophesied One. But what does that mean? In this second installment of the Prophecy Chronicles trilogy, Daniel forges new alliances in his bid to save Naphthali from the Emperor. He meets the Tene’breon, a magical race that has evolved to use the Weave as effortlessly as he breathes air. The leaders of this race recognize him for what he is…but they also see something more. Naphthali has been dramatically altered by the rule of a new governor, a man whose power is tied to Daniel in a horrifying way. How far will Daniel go to save Naphthali? And what is the secret that binds his destiny with his new allies? Only time will tell in The Prophecy Chronicles: Prophecy Revealed.

The solution? Losing weight is the most important thing is to attain power and best prices for cialis stamina in men. This particular disease is faced by both man and woman all around. viagra in india price Condition upsetting purchase levitra online your nervous operation, which is precisely come across ended up of your brain, nerves along with spinal cord grouping termed neurogenic. If you need to lead a healthy life with the help of natural substances and healthy practices like yoga. viagra buy best Daniel Marten really wants to be back in his own world, with his beloved wife and three children, looking after his pharmacy. But for some reason, he has been chosen as the Prophesied One and transported to an entirely different world. He now has the appointed mission to save the Naphthali from the Emperor. He has chosen to save the many even if that means he never returns to his own world.

Daniel is a very likeable character, at times hesitant and unsure, but with an underlying strength which helps him maintain his determination to defeat the Emperor in spite of all the loss and pain he has endured. He meets the Tene’breon, a magical race of people the Emperor has tried to eradicate. Three members of the Tene’breon, Broken Bow, Bastion, and Meadow Song, become his allies as they also share a part in the prophecy.

The world Daniel has entered is fully described and feels very real. It is a rich world, filled with beauty and despair. I had no trouble entering into it with Daniel and I certainly understand why he feels that he must do all that he can to help the Naphthali.

The action is intense and riveting. I read Prophecy Revealed in one sitting. I simply could not put it down. I had to know what was going to happen next. This is the second in The Prophecy Chronicles Trilogy but it can certainly be read without any prior knowledge. Personally, I have read the first book, Prophecy Revealed, which I recommend as well. And I am eagerly awaiting the final book in the trilogy, which I hope will be published soon.

Fantasy lovers are in for a real treat with Prophecy Revealed. It never disappoints.

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

Cats in the Cradle of Civilization by C. L. Kraemer

December 3, 2014 By Leave a Comment

CATS
Cats in the Cradle of Civilization by C. L. Kraemer
Publisher: Rogue Phoenix Press
Genre: Contemporary, Suspense/Mystery
Length: Short Story (146 Pages)
Rating: 5 Stars
Reviewed by Cyclamen

Glenda Nagel, editor for Getty Museum’s monthly magazine loves her home in the Juniper Hills and her cats. When an ivory and emerald statuette of the cat goddess Bastet makes its way to her home and sets her cats on edge, Glenda is panicked.

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Glenda Nagel has ordered her life just the way she wants it. She enjoys her job as editor for Getty Museum’s monthly magazine, and she has a home far away from the Los Angeles congestion and smog, as she lives in the Juniper Hills with her three cats. But then a new Director of Egyptian Antiquities is hired, and while Glenda admits that he is very handsome, she finds something strange about him. She doesn’t trust him.

I liked Glenda from the very beginning. She is smart and capable, and she’s worked hard to get to her current position. All of a sudden everything is threatened when she discovers an ivory and emerald statuette of the cat goddess Bastet. She only discovers it because Pandora, her Persian cat, takes an instant dislike to the vase it was hidden in.

It can be hard to write a convincing mystery when the reader knows from the beginning who the villain is and what he’s up to, but C. L. Kraemer manages just that. Much of the story is told from Glenda’s point of view, but we also get to know Dr. Dabir Omar Ben Rashid Yacoub Riyadh, and he is definitely a villain that I really disliked. His character is well-fleshed out and he has very few redeeming characteristics. But then we also get the viewpoint of another level of villains and the suspense builds as the reader follows Glenda’s actions. There are curses and a long history of intrigue and injustice.

The descriptions of not only the scene, but the history of Egyptian archaeology is fascinating and brings a real richness to the story. I learned things while I held my breath as Glenda faced one situation after another. The pacing is excellent and the author really keeps her readers on the edge of their chairs.

Mystery lovers are sure to enjoy this glimpse into the world of archaeology as they watch Glenda trying to stay ahead of Dr. Riyadh.

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

The Purrfect Predicament by Angela Castle

November 27, 2014 By Leave a Comment

PREDICAMENT
The Purrfect Predicament by Angela Castle
Publisher: Rogue Phoenix Press
Genre: Paranormal, Contemporary, Action/Adventure
Length: Short Story (97 pages)
Other: M/F/M, Ménage
Rating: 3.5 stars
Reviewed by Lilac

Shifter twins, Andy and Hamish, are shocked to discover they have to share a mate. A bigger shock is in store for them when they finally track down their mate. But things are not as they first appear.

Juniper is in hiding form a vicious hit man by taking on a male identity. Opening her back door she discovers a huge, brown panther. But letting the clearly tame, big cat in, leads her to be kidnapped by two sexy brothers.

Juniper learns there is more to the brothers than meets the eye, but can she take the risk of placing her life and heart in their hands, or will her past hunt them down and destroy them all?

A woman on the run, disguised as a man and working at waste disposal, meets two gorgeous men, twins in fact, who abduct her. Add to that peculiar beginning a couple of panthers, and you’ve got one intriguing paranormal ménage in your hands.

Spec.Ed teachers also write cheapest cialis from india the narratives for other parts of the uterus. Sexual act is a very simple and enjoyable act which has turned out to such a complicated one due to this issue of erectile dysfunction. order cialis from canada No doubt, the medicine brings newness in their relation and gives them reason to be with each other. soft cialis pills http://deeprootsmag.org/2012/10/12/bob-marovichs-gospel-picks/ The family and viagra pill friends are also part of the rehabilitation process. Since this part of an established series, Australian Shifters, there’s an existing paranormal setting, and the author can simply implant a story in it without going into too much detail. I had not read the previous books, and therefore was a bit lost in this strange world of Black Town shifters and their mates. Because of that, even though this works as a standalone, I suggest you start the series from the beginning. Might clarify things. Since this is book 3, you’ll have more adventures to read about.

The female protagonist, Juniper, or Jo as her male persona is called, is an annoyingly typical heroine: She has self-esteem and ugliness issues which the heroes, of course, alleviate with wild sex. She’s been through a lot, but honestly, this conventional image of a woman in need of rescue is tiresome, clichéd, and anti-feminist. Nonetheless, considering how alive and frequently used this plot device is in the romance and erotic romance genres suggests, there’s clearly something fundamental and instinctive to it. Besides, I kind of liked Juniper, even with all her vulnerabilities. Her character redeemed her image as a helpless victim the moment she kicked one of the abducting heroes in the groin and took off like a cheetah. Not bad at all!

The heroes, Hamish and Andy. What can one say but they’re animalistic, virile, sexy hunks who any woman would be proud, thrilled, and aroused to call her own. Yes, kidnapping a woman simply because they want her is a no-no, giving off creepy sexual predator vibes. But their protective instincts and gentleness let them get away with it. They also have distinctly different personalities. Andy is more action-oriented and wicked, while Hamish is more controlled and intellectual. And toward the end there was a line of internal monologue delivered by Juniper that made me laugh out loud. You’ll know it when you see it.

The basic plot is not very original either, with predestined mates, a monster from the past who has a serious beef with the heroine (he was a truly despicable character), and ménage sex and shifter claiming that solves everything. Also, there are quite a few editing snafus in the text, with  wrong word use of things like your and you’re, which are not the same. Plus, there is a heck of a lot of comma weirdness, making the sentences sometimes so unreadable you have to go over them several times. This naturally takes the reader out of the story and back to awareness of reading a book.

We don’t really get to know Juniper as a person with dreams of her own which is a shame because it perpetuates the image that women’s sole goal in life is to act girly, fall in love, have phenomenal sex, get married, have a brood of kids, and settle down to do that, and nothing else. That strikes me, an educated woman with a career, as outdated. Still, it can very well be the dream for some women, and Juniper seems to be among them. When she discovers her inner strength in a safe environment, she blossoms. Black Town welcomes her with open arms, which was nice, adding a we-make-our-own-family dimension to the story.

Now that we got the negative out of the way, the story has a certain lure to it. Even though I felt like I’d read the story before, I still liked it. The continuous sensual feel, the slow revelations of what is happening behind the scenes, the threat of going mad without a mate, and all that action made me turn pages in a rush to find out more. In fact, this tale is full of action. The plot is fast-paced, while the danger gathers at the end, when Juniper is in mortal jeopardy, and her panther men get the chance to be heroic and powerful.

Australia is not a setting I’ve read much about, only a handful of romance books over the years. I found the contrast between city and country, day and night, shack and mansion quite thrilling, especially because of the Australian background. It added some spice to the tale, I admit. The paranormal setting I assume was explained in detail in the first book of the series. I personally would have liked to know more about Black Town which seemed like a quaint little town, with a huge majority of feline shifters. This setting definitely has its own charm.

All in all, this is a sensual story with suspense and romance in balanced quantities. Recommended for all fans of paranormal shifter fans and ménage admirers. You won’t go amiss with this one.

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

Change of Heart by Lilliana Rose

August 8, 2014 By Leave a Comment

HEART
Change of Heart by Lilliana Rose
Publisher: Rogue Phoenix Press
Genre: Sci-Fi/Fantasy, Historical
Length: Short Story (38 pages)
Heat Level: Hot
Rating: 3 Stars
Review by: Astilbe

A mysterious illness threatens workaholic Dr George Wenderlen. Vickie, his wife, must find the courage to go against society’s expectations and take charge to protect them both.

Vickie wants spice in her life, but her husband George is more interested in his work as a doctor. As a Victorian lady she is struggling to find her place in the world. An outbreak of a mysterious illness threatens the ordered world of Vickie and George. George becomes ill, and Vickie is left to care for him, keep him safe, as well as trying to work out the cause of the mysterious illness. Vickie must take charge in her world in order to survive.

Some people know what they want to do in life right away, but for others it takes time to find their niche. Vickie is part of the latter group. Worse yet, she’s only just realized it!
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Vickie is an intelligent protagonist who clearly knows what she wants out of life. I didn’t always agree with the choices she makes, but I respected the thought she put into them. I felt like I knew Vickie pretty well by the time I reached the final scene, and that isn’t an easy thing to accomplish in something this length.

This story is set in the early 1920s, yet the characters behave as though they were living in 2014. There is leeway in the science fiction genre when it comes to predicting how society would have evolved if a few key moments were changed, but it was difficult to believe that individuals living in this time and place would have actually done and said some of the things that happened in the plot. Their speech and mannerisms were just too casual for the time period.

The chemistry between Vickie and George is sizzling. My favorite scenes involve the moments they steal away from his insanely busy work schedule. Their non-sexual interactions tended to be a little brusque at first due to how much time they’ve spent apart over the last few years, so it was nice to see them get along with one another as they attempted to reconnect.

There were a few different instances when the wrong word was used in a sentence. Every replacement word was real, and some of them were only a letter or two off from what I think the author was intending to say. It was distracting to stop and figure out what the original word must have been, though, and this tale would have earned a higher rating had it gone through another round of editing before it was published.

The disease that is plaguing George’s patients is frightening. At first I was surprised by how much time it took for it to become the main focus of Vickie’s attention. Building up to this conflict was a good decision, though, as this reader needed that extra time to get to know the characters beforehand. I can’t say much more about this subplot without giving away spoilers, but I was pleasantly surprised with how it all played out.

Change of Heart is a steampunk-inspired, science fiction romance that I’d suggest to anyone who is a fan of any or all of these genres.

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