The Trouble with Christmas by Debbie Mason

November 19, 2013 By 1 Comment

TROUBLE
The Trouble with Christmas by Debbie Mason
Publisher: Grand Central Publishing
Genre: Action/Adventure, Contemporary, Holiday
Length: Full Length (380 pgs)
Heat Level: sensual
Rating: 5 stars
Reviewed by Aloe

It will take a Christmas miracle to melt her heart.

Resort developer Madison Lane is about to lose the one thing she loves most in the world—her job. Dubbed “The Grinch Who Killed Christmas,” Madison spoiled a deal that would turn quaint Christmas, Colorado, into a tourist’s winter wonderland. Now the citizens want her fired but the company gives her one last chance, sending Madison to the small town to restore the holiday cheer.

For Sheriff Gage McBride, no hotshot executive from New York City is going to destroy the dreams of the people he loves. But one look at this beautiful woman and it’s his heart that may be broken. In just a few days, Madison causes more trouble than he’s had to deal with all year. He can’t decide if she’s naughty or nice, but one thing is for certain—Christmas will never be the same again…

Madison Lane is an accountant that can analyze whether a development will pay off. She doesn’t do pie-in-the-sky projects and there must be sustaining revenue right up front. Developing the small town of Christmas is not cost-effective and she vetoes the idea. Her boss sends her to the town to explain why. She worried about leaving his nephew behind since he is trying to take her job away from her. She should have worried more about the residents of Christmas…

This is the first book I’ve read by this author and I’m very impressed by her character development, sense of humor and plotting. This story makes sense and has a cute romance between Madison and the sheriff intertwined with the nephew’s plan to own the town.

If you enjoy tough old women and silly old men, this is a story for you. Madison comes into town driving a rental rig on ice, tries to avoid hitting a deer and manages to knock over their big Santa sign welcoming people to town. They’ve already named her the “Grinch Who Killed Christmas” and now she’s telling them she killed Santa because she was trying to avoid hitting Rudolph. With humor like this, how can you not laugh?

The story is filled with ridiculous plots and an extended stay for Madison in this small town she hates. The longer she stays, the more the people touch her heart. The nephew may have evil intentions, but she doesn’t.

If you’ve ever worked on a big project, it’s not unusual for the people who are opposed to change their minds about midway through the discussion. Sometimes the presenter does the same thing. The author uses that concept to take those who hated Madison from the beginning and changing them into becoming her supporters. The ending is particularly gratifying.

Ms. Mason wraps this book up as if it were a very prettily wrapped package. Why not open the pages and have a Christmas present early?

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

Dance the Moon Down by R.L. Bartram

November 14, 2013 By 2 Comments

MOON'
Dance the Moon Down by R.L. Bartram
Publisher: Authors On Line
Genre: Historical
Length: Full Length (301 pages)
Heat Level: Sensual
Rating: 3.5 Stars
Reviewed by Astilbe

In 1910, no one believed there would ever be a war with Germany. Safe in her affluent middle-class life, the rumours held no significance for Victoria either. It was her father’s decision to enroll her at university that began to change all that. There she befriendes the rebellious and outspoken Beryl Whittaker, an emergent suffragette, but it is her love for Gerald Avery, a talented young poet from a neighbouring university that sets the seal on her future. After a clandestine romance, they marry in January 1914, but with the outbreak of the First World War, Gerald volunteeres but within months has gone missing in France. Convinced that he is still alive, Victoria’s initial attempts to discover what has become of him, implicate her in a murderous assault on Lord Kitchener resulting in her being interrogated as a spy, and later tempted to adultery. Now virtually destitute, Victoria is reduced to finding work as a common labourer on a run down farm, where she discovers a world of unimaginable ignorance and poverty. It is only her conviction that Gerald will some day return that sustaines her through the dark days of hardship and privation as her life becomes a battle of faith against adversity.

There’s more than one way to be a hero.

The characterization in this novel is so nuanced that even characters who only participate in a portion of Victoria’s adventure feel just as well-rounded and three-dimensional as the protagonist herself. It was delightful to meet Victoria’s friends, neighbors, and coworkers and gradually explore the depths of their personalities. A few genuinely surprised me when certain facts were revealed or when colorful personality quirks spilled out of otherwise somber conversations.

At times certain characters voice opinions that are more suited to twenty-first century life than they would be for individuals who grew up at the turn of the twentieth century. Of course it is possible to grow up immersed in certain prejudices and assumptions about how society ought to function without continuing to endorse them as an adult, but at times in which I found their progressive stances unrealistic for the the World War I era because such a high percentage of the characters seemed to believe things that would have been extremely radical for their culture. Once I was jarred out of the narrative altogether because what was happening felt so unlikely to have actually occurred.

The plot is full of details about what World War I was like for civilians that I had never heard of before. It also includes references to events and social mores from that decade that I was familiar with but that are not necessarily common knowledge. The author clearly spent a great deal of time researching this time period, and his hard work pays off with a story that reads more like a memoir than a work of fiction. For a short time I actually wondered if it was loosely based on true events!

While Victoria’s experience of the war is utterly fascinating, the author has a tendency to tell readers what is happening to her and her community rather than show it. Earlier chapters tend to do this more often than later ones, but I would have given this book a much higher rating had the scenes that describe what happens to the land and the people who rely on it been written with more subtlety. There is a lot of great material in the plot, it just never quite had the chance to have an emotional impact on this reader because I was so often told how it made those individuals feel instead of being shown their reactions to those scenes.

A list of characters is included just before the first chapter begins. While I found it really useful when trying to recall the identities of people who only show up occasionally, there are a handful of spoilers sprinkled in this list. It is something that can be skipped for readers who strongly prefer not to know what will happen ahead of time. Anyone who chooses to use it can avoid nearly all of the spoilers by ignoring the short descriptions after some of the character’s names.

I couldn’t stop reading Dance the Moon Down until I knew how it ended. This is a great choice for history buffs and fans of romance alike.

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Carrier by Stewart Felkel

November 14, 2013 By 6 Comments

CARRIER'
Carrier by Stewart Felkel
Publisher: Self-Published
Genre: Sci-Fi/Fantasy, Horror, Contemporary
Length: Short Story (33 pages)
Heat Level: Sensual
Rating: 5 Stars
Reviewed by Astilbe

Voted BoM by LASR Readers 2013 copy

When the zombie invasion finally came Tim was caught unprepared. Bitten and left for dead he refuses to give in to defeat. Despite all odds he recovers from the disease that is ravaging the world. But what does a man alone, even a man apparently immune, do with a second chance at life in a post apocalyptic world?

How long could you survive injured and on your own in a post-apocalyptic world?

The characterization of Tim is subtle but incredibly rewarding. I never would have guessed that watching him kill zombies is a good way to get to know him, yet I learned the most about his personality, habits, and values by seeing how he reacts in life-threatening situations. It was fascinating to peel back the emotional layers of a quiet, lonely, grieving man who hasn’t so much as caught a glimpse of another human being in a very long time.

The myriad of ways in which living in constant fear and total isolation grind down one’s spirit bleeds through the author’s crisp, economical prose. In a story of this length space is at a premium. The author packs atmosphere and character development into every sentence, and he accomplishes this so unobtrusively that I unwittingly absorbed an incredibly complex understanding of Tim’s backstory as well as a solid mental map of the physical places he visits within a dozen pages.

What surprised me even more was how much I looked forward to further flashbacks. They pop up at precisely the right times and answer the questions I had about how Tim came to survive his initial attack. The idea of anyone being bitten by a zombie and living to tell about it was what initially drew me to this tale. Even though the blurb reassured me that he would survive that injury I was still perched on the edge of my seat for all of the flashbacks that involve that slice of Tim’s life. The tension in them was deliciously unbearable,and the author’s execution of Tim’s initial reaction to the bite was completely appropriate for the character traits the protagonist demonstrates again later on in the plot.

Mr. Felkel left me yearning for more. While all of the loose threads are wrapped up more than satisfactorily, I went to bed last night wondering what happens to Tim after the final scene. I felt like I had said goodbye to a new friend, and I wished there was a way for me to keep in touch with him.

Carrier is a must-read for anyone who loves horror or zombie tales. This is a book I couldn’t put down, and I can’t recommend it highly enough.

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

Ribbons of Steel by Carol Henry

November 13, 2013 By Leave a Comment

STEEL
Ribbons of Steel by Carol Henry
Publisher: The Wild Rose Press
Genre: Historical
Length: Full Length (320 pgs)
Heat Level: Sensual
Rating: 2 Stars
Reviewed by Hollyhock

Charley Carmichael’s loyalty may be with the Pennsylvania Rail Road’s main man, Mason Aderley, but his heart lies with the men who work the rails. With the railroads cutting wages, a major strike is imminent. Caught up in the riots and bloodshed sweeping the continent, Charley’s friends are threatened; workers are dying. Charley’s life turns tragic when his wife is diagnosed with consumption.

Emily, forced to leave her family due to her health, travels to her cousin’s home in the California Territory. A damaged trestle prevents her train from crossing a ravine, stranding the passengers with nowhere to hide when an Indian hunting party causes a deadly buffalo stampede. Fearing for her life, Emily worries she will never see her children again. Who will care for them should her husband not survive the railroad strike?

Set between a farming lifestyle in the rolling hills of south central New York and the gritty railroad realities of Philadelphia, this is one family’s story of courage, spirit, and resilience.

In 1877, the Great Railroad Strike swept across the United States, suspending the nation’s freight and passenger trains and bringing death and destruction in its wake. Ribbons of Steel by Carol Henry brings that violent era to life and shows what it was like for a man to find his loyalties divided between his employer and the rail workers whose cause he understands all too well.

The main character, Charley Carmichael, grew up in Philadelphia where trains and coal mines were the destiny of most families. Fortunately for him, his wife inherited a farming property in New York, enabling him to move his family away from the tenements, but he still works the Philadelphia railroad because it’s in his blood. Siding with management, Charley walks a fine line between sympathizing with his fellow workers and trying to avert the strike. Charley often curses the railroads and his boss for keeping him away from his family and for asking him to back management over labor, but since he had a choice in both instances, I didn’t really understand why he kept blaming others for his decisions. At times, it made him a little hard to sympathize with.

The story follows other members of Charley’s family too. His wife, Emily, is ill and travels to California to convalesce. Emily’s heartbreak at leaving her family behind is affecting, and her dangerous adventures out west make for interesting reading. Charley’s eighteen-year-old son, Seth, runs the family farm and is struggling to take care of his siblings while his parents are away. The strike affects his ability to get his product to market and puts a crimp in his love life. The farm scenes, which take place in and around Candor, New York, have a nice authenticity to them, but the author uses both these subplots to pull in extraneous characters that she devotes quite a bit of time to. Perhaps it’s meant to set up sequels, but I didn’t like the way it drew focus away from the essential story.

The author has clearly done her research about the railroad strike, and I liked the depth of information in the novel, but I didn’t think she found the right balance between sharing her research and entertaining the reader. Rather than immersing the characters in the action and showing how the strike affected them, she seems to stand back from it. Scene after scene involves people describing the events of the strike in unrealistic-sounding dialogue: “The crowd gathered along both sides of the track right down over the hillside like a sea overflowing its banks.” That static quality makes the story less involving than it could have been.

The many spelling, grammatical, and formatting errors in the book were also a problem. (For instance, it doesn’t make the best impression that the book begins with a “Forward” rather than a “Foreword.”) Overall, I think with more work—tighter focus, sharper dialogue, better flow—and a good copy edit, the book could have been a polished and absorbing read.

Before I picked up this story, I had never heard of the Great Railroad Strike of 1877, so I’m grateful for the educational information Ribbons of Steel conveys. If you like wide-ranging stories about farms and railroads and western adventures, you should give this book a try.

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Echo Prophecy by Lindsey Fairleigh

November 6, 2013 By 8 Comments

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Echo Prophecy by Lindsey Fairleigh
Book #1 of Echo Trilogy
Publisher: L2 Books
Genre: Contemporary, Paranormal, Sci-Fi/Fantasy, Suspense/Mystery
Length: Full Length (386 pages)
Heat Level: Sensual
Rating: Best Book
Reviewed by Gardenia

Discover what’s hidden–a powerful, mythic race, an ancient Egyptian prophecy, and a love strong enough to shatter the boundaries of time.

Alexandra Larson isn’t human…but she doesn’t know that. As far as Lex is concerned, she’s simply an ambitious and independent archaeology grad student with a knack for deciphering ancient languages, especially the various forms of Egyptian. When she’s recruited to work on her dream excavation, her translating skills uncover the secret entrance to an underground Egyptian temple concealed within Djeser-Djeseru–the famous mortuary temple of Queen Hatchepsut. Lex is beyond thrilled by her discovery…as is the enigmatic and alluring excavation director, Marcus Bahur.

As the relationship between Lex and Marcus heats up, a series of shocking revelations leave the young archaeologist reeling. Once Lex discovers the truth of her ancient Egyptian roots–the truth of her more-than-human nature–the people she trusts most make one final, terrifying revelation: Lex is the central figure of a four-thousand-year-old prophecy. She is the only thing standing between the power to alter the very fabric of time and an evil megalomaniac…who also happens to be her father. As events set in motion over four millennia ago lead Lex and Marcus from Seattle to the heart of Egypt, the fate of mankind depends on one thing: the strength of Lex’s love.

I feel like I just took a trip to Egypt. One of my dreams as a child was to become an archaeologist, so I could explore the Pyramids. Anything that dealt with Ancient Egypt excited and delighted me. If a reader is passionate about Ancient Egypt with a twist, there’s a good chance this book is going to please.

This story is set in contemporary times with a twist. The ability to explore the past, the present, and the future as an out of body experience is not something we humans can experience. The book’s characters are only partly human, therefore able to develop unique abilities. This is not what we might call time travel. Their ability is one that allows them to view but not participate. Only special ones can actually manipulate, mask, and smell, etc. during these exposures. I loved the ability they possess. They are able to help humanity avoid catastrophes. Although due to an evil faction masking of the Hitler era prevented them from foreseeing the impact would have on humanity, their purpose now is to prevent this ability from being taken away from them. This is a real threat as the evil faction lead by Set (Lexi’s biological father) attempts to usurp unknown power and control time to the detriment of humanity.

The developing love affair between Marcus and Alexandra (Lex) is a “slow simmer” coming to a boil that will embrace you in pure fire. Theirs is a love that has been in the making for centuries. Unbeknownst to Lex, she is the ultimate partner for Marcus. It takes her a while to accept her ancestors, parentage and her place in the hierarchy of this new race, including her purpose as a leader.

The historical facts the author uses in developing this story are accurate and factual, as we know them today. She just takes them and gives them a fantasy/sci-fi twist. She has creatively taken a spin that is both believable and engrossing. I was not able to put this book down once I started reading it.

I am eagerly awaiting book #2. I hope Ms. Fairleigh provides us with this book early in 2014!

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

A Fallen Star by Janie Summers

November 5, 2013 By Leave a Comment

STAR
A Fallen Star by Janie Summers
Publisher: Samhain Publishing
Genre: Contemporary
Length: Short Story (130 pgs)
Heat Level: Sensual
Rating: 4 stars
Reviewed by Fern

When it comes to both love and mountaineering, one wrong move can be fatal…

Even before she arrived at Invergarth Outdoor Pursuits Centre on the west coast of Scotland, Holly knew she’d made the wrong decision. She should never have allowed her uncle to persuade her to return to the tough, sometimes brutal world of mountaineering.

Her devastatingly handsome boss, Torquil Sinclair, shares Holly’s opinion completely. In fact, he seems determined to make her new job unbearable. As his assistant, Holly understood that she wouldn’t be expected to participate in the more hazardous activities, and could concentrate on re-establishing her neglected photographic skills.

But even her uncle cannot protect Holly from the truth—about the past, herself and Torquil. A truth Holly would never willingly have faced, if Torquil had not forced her to…

A flat tire puts a decided crimp in Holly Towers’ plans. With dusk falling in the Scottish Highlands she sets out to walk to the nearest town. A few miles down the road she finally is met by a stranger in a Land Rover who ends up helping to change her tire. Finding her random guardian is actually her soon-to-be-boss, Torquil Sinclair sets her heart racing. After the loss of her husband, Adam, two years ago Holly has fiercely protected her heart. But there’s something about Torquil that gets under her skin and sets her pulse racing.

I really enjoyed this book. While seeming very simple in some respects, I was delighted to find that the plot goes quite a lot deeper than I expected. At a first glance, one can be forgiven for thinking this is a simple story about a widow letting go of her grief and finding love again, opening herself back up to life and living instead of wasting away with her dead husband. But this story is so much more than that. I love the added complexity of Torquil and his situation. Having been the only member of the party to turn down his spot—which was then taken by Holly’s husband which resulted in his death—Torquil has his own bag of issues. Even though no one was to blame for the tragic accident that killed Adam, as Torquil initially was supposed to be in his place, he feels a weight of guilt. I found this added another, more uncommon and quite interesting, turn of events for the progression of the plot.

At first I struggled with how Holly came to be in this position. While it’s explained she’s taken this job as a favor to her godfather, many of her thoughts seem to negate this statement, and that confused me. Still clearly grieving, she herself admits she has avoided everything to do with mountaineering and the people in that circle. Yet this is exactly what she has stepped back into by taking this job with Torquil. In a similar vein, we’re told Holly has no interest in other men and has been protecting her heart and keeping her distance from others—yet on her first meeting with Torquil she notices the line of his jaw, how big and broad his shoulders are and such things. It’s not like she jumped on him or offered herself, but I found it confusing how we’d be told one thing, then actions or thoughts would show something very different. It made the story harder for me to follow and I had to stop a lot in the beginning and go back and reread to make certain I hadn’t missed something.

Having said all that, this is a heartwarming story that goes much deeper than many similar novels. Holly and Torquil are both complex, interesting characters and I was eager to continue reading to see more of their interactions. The plot kept me turning the pages and was not a simple, linear thing, but a wonderfully convoluted and different story line. I found this a great story to settle down and enjoy with a steaming hot tea or hot chocolate. Recommended.

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

A Thousand Years of Johnny Von by Edith M Cortese

November 5, 2013 By Leave a Comment

VON
A Thousand Years of Johnny Von by Edith M Cortese
Publisher: Trumpet Boy Press
Genre: Contemporary, Historical
Length: Full Length (420 pages)
Heat Level: Sensual
Rated: 3.5 stars
Reviewed by Nymphaea

Sure, Johnny Von is a real life movie star on the rise, but that’s no reason to think he won’t fall in love with Estella? Right? I’m mean, she’s nice, and genuine, and probably pretty enough. After all, this could be what the universe has been planning for her, placing her on the quiet, light dappled street where he lives, walking dogs in the Hollywood Hills. This could be why, at 33, she is still single, why the International Playboy wasn’t the ‘one!’ The universe has been saving her for THIS! The only hitch is that in order to fall in love, Estella will have to talk to Johnny Von. It’s going to be a problem. And not just a logistics problem, being that she is a dog walker with tendencies towards shyness and he is a big, beautiful movie star. Creating a meeting is one thing, but actually opening her mouth to speak to him is going to be an Everest of a challenge for Estella! If only he were someone like, say, Johnny Von the Priest, battling his faith in 1574 in love with a young orphaned Estella, or Johnny Von the Bossman in 1901 and Estella was a young girl running the plantation, all on her own. Yep. That would be easier. If it was 1592 and he was a Venetian Silk Trader and she was a famous courtesan! She would really have confidence then. Or 2574, and Johnny Von the Scientist is about to save the world by solving Xbox 6000! So, maybe Estella doesn’t have a network of supportive girl friends to bolster her confidence, but she has the dogs. She has Moochie. And, she is about to learn that sometimes that’s all you need, the love of a good dog and a little imagination…to get you where you need to be; to get you home to the big love that’s meant to be yours.

He’s every man and he’s hot… but is he enough for her?

Edith Cortese is a new to me author. I wasn’t sure what I was going to get when I picked up this book. It sounded cute and interesting, so I nabbed it. I’m glad I did. There were a few quirks that kept me from fully enjoying it, but it was worth the read.

First, there’s Johnny. He’s every man, but he’s still got that quality of Hollywood that comes across as being a bit of a jerk. There’s good in him that Estella sees, but there’s also a veneer that’s not so great. He’s got issues, which makes him relatable and I liked seeing “Johnny” through the years, but at times it got a tad distracting.

I liked Estella. She’s easy to relate to because she’s got issues, too. But she’s like most women. She’s unsure of herself and sometimes unsteady in social situations. She’s also got a plan. She’s quirky and when she’s working hard to get what she wants, it’s fun to see what happens.

I do have to mention this is written in first person present tense. I’m not wild about this style of writing so it was distraction for me. But, might not be for everyone. I like seeing what’s happening from both the hero and heroine’s point of view. I’m greedy that way. *Grin*. I understood what the author was trying to do by showing the different “Johnny” characters, but at times it got a little too much to take. I had to reread to make sure I caught everything.

Still, this book has a little for everyone. Estella is fun to read. I liked Moochie, the dog, the best. If you want an afternoon beach read, then this might be the book for you.

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Escaping West by Morgan K. Wyatt

November 4, 2013 By 1 Comment

WEST
Escaping West by Morgan K. Wyatt
Publisher: Secret Cravings
Genre: Historical (early American)
Length: Full Length (218 pgs)
Heat: Sensual
Rated: 4.5 Stars
Reviewed by Snapdragon

Kitty Hamilton is unsure how her life got so out of control. The unexpected deaths of her parents earned her a berth at her embittered aunt’s home. Her latest beau abandoned her, which made the prospect of leaving town appealing.

Her version of leaving didn’t include fleeing town dressed like a man, but circumstances dictate otherwise. Kitty becomes Kit to throw the law off her trail. As the pretend brother to her best friend Harriet, she accompanies her friend out west to her contracted bridegroom.

They encounter Nick Kennedy, flamboyant gambler, who takes an interest in the odd couple. Kitty enjoys the freedom her disguise allows, but she abandons any hope of attracting the handsome Nick Kennedy. Revealing her gender, might snag her a chance at the elusive gambler, but could also land her in prison. She keeps telling herself he isn’t worth it, but she’s not entirely convinced.

Escaping West is a snappy cowboy-centered romance that brings us the indefatigable heroine Kitty Hamilton, who takes up life as a man (out of necessity) but discovers the bonuses of her charade pretty quickly. She never was a stuffy one to start with…and inhibitions and ladylike manners depart without regret.

Unfortunately, the down side is the difficulty she’ll encounter trying to attract super-hot bad-boy Nick Kennedy … She’s discovered a great side of life but Kennedy is oh-so-tempting. Escaping West keeps readers absolutely hooked from the start – because even though we know what we want to have happen, we just cannot imagine how it actually can happen.

Best friend Harriet is a bit more ladylike, but a true friend nonetheless. She’s also ready for adventure and preparing to plunge into marriage …to a lovely fellow she has never met. Crazy as it seems, it soon becomes apparent that Kitty ought to make the same sort of arrangement – or at least, get out of town, quick. Hopping on the train, common as it must have been for them, becomes a whole new world for Kitty, as a young man! Some of the funniest incidents happen to Kitty traveling… Ms. Wyatt has a deft touch with the humorous moments.

Nick Kennedy is that so-likable rascally type that thoroughly enjoys Kitty’s situation – maybe a bit too much. Absolutely enjoyable.  Escaping West should be added to your Must Read list.

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Trapping the Butterfly by Debra Parmley

October 31, 2013 By Leave a Comment

BUTTERFLY
Trapping the Butterfly by Debra Parmley
Publisher: Desert Breeze Publishing
Genre: Historical
Length: Short Story (74 pages)
Heat Level: Sensual
Rating: 3.5 stars
Reviewed by Hollyhock

Bethany is looking forward to celebrating her eighteenth birthday in Hot Springs. If Aunt Margaret and Uncle James have their way she will return from the trip engaged to Mr. Rivalde. Every part of Bethany’s life has been controlled, from the clothes she wears to the food she eats. Bethany can’t wait to cut off her long hair like other girls and to fly free.

Paul studied and chased butterflies when he was a small boy. Now he chases gangsters and he’s in Hot Springs following Al Capone’s gang.

The sight of Bethany amid butterflies, sun streaming down and lighting up her pale skin and long blonde hair, is one that stops Paul Tollick on the spot. She is the most beautiful female he’s ever seen.

But two other men have determined to catch her for themselves and one is a dangerous gangster. Will she fly free or be trapped?

Start with a resort location, throw in a famous gangster with a detective hot on his trail, add a Jazz age setting, and you’ve got the makings for a fun read. Trapping the Butterfly has that and more, taking the reader on a Roaring Twenties tour through Hot Springs, Arkansas where the rich and famous traveled to “take the cure.” In this case, the famous resident is Al Capone and our heroine becomes dangerously fascinated with the lives of gangsters and their glamorous molls, even as she falls in love with the detective who’s determined to bring them down.

Bethany Robinson is the kind of heroine it’s easy to sympathize with. She’s young enough to still be under the thumb of her tyrannical aunt, but old enough to wish for more. She longs to be like other girls and bob her hair, raise her hemline, and learn to do the Charleston, but first she has to break free from the aunt and uncle who have kept her—and her inheritance—very close. I liked Bethany and rooted for her as she took her first tentative steps toward independence, but I would have liked her character to be fleshed out beyond innocence and beauty so the reader could understand what makes Paul fall in love her.

Paul Tollick is a worthy hero, a detective whose job plunges him into the harsh underworld of gangsters, bootleggers, and fast women. No wonder, then, that he is captivated by the sight of innocent Bethany, sitting in the park surrounded by butterflies. I liked how the author contrasts the two worlds Bethany is exposed to—the gangsters and the detective shadowing them—but because the author packs so much into a short novel, I sometimes felt the romance was a little stinted. I would have preferred deeper characterizations and fewer subplots so the relationship between Bethany and Paul could develop.

The author incorporates lovely scenery of Hot Springs, its hotels, and describes what the spa treatments were like. She also includes nice details from the twenties, like what films were famous at the time, and shows how life was changing in America, especially for young women. Overall, I enjoyed my visit to Hot Springs with this charming Jazz age story.

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

Refrigeration Blues by Richard Natale

October 29, 2013 By Leave a Comment

PINCH
Refrigeration Blues by Richard Natale
Publisher: Prizm Books
Genre: Young Adult, Contemporary
Length: Short Story (19 pages)
Age Recommendation: 16+
Heat Level: Sensual
Rating: 3 Stars
Reviewed by Astilbe

When you have the perfect lover and he’s suddenly taken from you, what’s the point of going on? I mean, really. Might as well go out in a blaze of glory, or in this case, a chill of glory. Of course, something could go wrong, and in Matthew Robins’ case, it almost always does.

Not everything in life has a happy ending.

Mr. Natale captures the numbness and fog of grief quite well in Refrigeration Blues. Matthew’s reaction to the sudden death of his life partner is heartbreakingly realistic. The first few pages in particular painted such a vivid picture of Matthew’s state of mind that I felt as if I were walking alongside him as he struggles to figure out what to do next. Due to numerous references to suicide and sex, the age recommendation for this piece is a firm 16+ and should be taken seriously.

Uneven pacing, flashbacks that took up a large percentage of the ninteen pages of this story, and an abrupt ending made it difficult for me to understand the author’s intentions at times. Had this been the first chapter of a novella or full length novel it would have made more sense to include some of the anecdotes that explain how Matthew and Nathaniel met and they type of life they built together. Adding these things into such a short piece distracted me from the main plot, though, and made it difficult to remember where the original narrative had previously ended. While I understand there is at least one sequel in the works I would have also preferred to see the conflicts in this installment wrapped up more sufficiently.

Matthew’s wry sense of humor was what kept me so interested in the conclusion of this tale. I never expected to laugh while reading such serious material, but Matthew is able to find the humor in even his darkest experiences as a brand new widower. He’s an extremely intelligent and witty character who Mr. Natale has clearly spent a great deal of time developing. The end of this story promises that it will be continued, and I am looking forward to finding out what Matthew does next.

Refrigeration Blues is a good choice for mature teens. I’d especially recommend it to anyone who has ever lost someone they really loved.

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