Tag Archives: Reviews

Review: Lokant

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Lokant
Lokant by Charlotte E. English
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

Llandry was learning that when two stubborn old men were placed into the same room together, their individual stubbornness not only doubled but increased tenfold

Draykon once again fly the skies of the Seven Realms. War is building. Llandry is being chased by a white-haired sorcerer while Eva is trying to find out how her own heritage ties into who the Lokants are and what they want. Will there be peace again in the Seven Realms, or will warring factions destroy what was once these quiet lands?

Picking up where the first book left off, Lokant dives right back into the thick of things. The characters are given no time for reprieve, forced to set off almost at once to answer questions burning in their own minds. Llandry now has to figure out not just her new form, but also Pensould – the awoken Draykon that proclaims her his mate. Eva and Tren’s relationship also comes to a test as Eva’s wedding approaches but she finds her heart not in it. All the while, war is building between rival Lokants with the Draykon picking sides – and the humans are caught in between.

The details of the world are just as vivid as the first book, masterfully woven together to create a real sense of the different places the characters travel. The magic is evolving, changing as the characters learn to interact with it in ways they hadn’t thought of before, yet it is still as integral to their beings as it was before.

Riveting and full of new (and old) characters to love, Lokant keeps the action, mysteries and even a bit of romance building until the very end.

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Review: Second Time Around

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Second Time Around
Second Time Around by H.A. Caine
My rating: 3 of 5 stars

The more he thought about it, the more he was certain Matthew had no idea he was a guy.

Jamie is finally going to open his own bakery, and his roommate, John, throws him a party to celebrate. There he meets Matthew, the hot co-owner of the Home Improvement store on the same block as Jamie’s bakery. But since Jamie prefers to wear female clothes, he’s not so sure Matthew knows he’s a guy.

This short story is all about second chances, being true to yourself, and following your dreams. Jamie has a strong sense of character and knows what he wants out of life – even if he goes against the grain, he’s true to himself. While part of the plot seemed a little cliche, it had a slight twist that did work out for Jamie.

Second Time Around is a quick read with a feel-good ending, leaving the short and sweet romance blossoming.

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Review: One Bite To Passion

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One Bite To Passion
One Bite To Passion by MaryLynn Bast
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

You’re a beautiful women Paige, remember that and don’t let anyone make you feel any different.

Paige is on a business trip to Japan when she meets Casey, a young man taken with her at the first glance. Though married, Casey makes her feel in ways her husband never has, and she ends up having a wild night of passion with him. But when her husband, Dalton, shows up and proves that her recent dreams are, in fact, true, Paige will have to decide which man is worth standing up for and giving herself to forever.

In this sexually charged story, Paige is an older, self-conscious women stuck in her marriage for the sake of her children. The range of emotion Paige displays – doubt, for Casey is younger than her; passion; fear; betrayal – is very realistic, lending credence to her depth of character. Though the introduction of the vampires seemed a little forced, the paranormal aspect of this book was a slight twist different than other vampire books, which made it interesting to read about.

Not for the easily embarrassed but for those who love a good explicit story, One Bite To Passion fills the pages with lust and charged tension and finds an unique way for everyone to be ‘happily ever after.’

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Review: Bedtime Stories for Dogs and Bedtime Stories for Cats

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Bedtime Stories for Dogs and Bedtime Stories for Cats
Bedtime Stories for Dogs and Bedtime Stories for Cats by Amy Neftzger
My rating: 3 of 5 stars

In heaven, cats swim in a warm pool of cream that never goes cold or sour.

These same jobs we perform here on earth will also exist in heaven, but in much greater magnitude and importance because our performances will have eternal consequences.

From creation to heaven, squirrels to bunnies, cats and dogs have their own unique tales of how things work in the world and what their place is in it. Bringing order to chaos and protection from evil are very important jobs that our canine and feline friends partake in every day to make the world a better place for us humans.

Containing short stories, poems, and essays, the tales set up as intended to be read to your pet. There are tales of horror, of adventure, and of joy to explain some of our pet’s behaviors. There are also tales that have a counterpart in the opposite section (a dog perspective and a cat perspective).

A cute collection of dog- and cat-friendly stories, Bedtime Stories for Dogs and Bedtime Stories for Cats offers a unique take on pet behavior while giving them folk tale-type legends fit for any pet lover’s to share with their pets while curled up together for bed – or any other time.

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Review: Purgatory

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Purgatory
Purgatory by Tomás Eloy Martínez
My rating: 3 of 5 stars

When I woke up, it occurred to me that the most unbearable loneliness is not being able to be alone.

Emilia has spent the last 30 years of her life looking for her husband, Simón, who had disappeared while on a trip to map obscure Argentinean country. When she finds him, he is exactly the same as the day he vanished, yet she is changed – older, more worn – and she questions if he would still love her, and if she’s in her right mind.

Do not be fooled – this isn’t your paranormal ghost story. The ghost portrayed here is one on of the thousands of “subversives” that the government swept under the rug – torturing, killing, and executing them. But Emilia had never given up hope that she would see her Simón again, though whether he was able to stitch together a new map back to her or if he is in her head is left unclear.

Inserting himself (or the fictional “author” of the piece), Martínez’s statements about the Argentinean government and the country’s inability to integrate its past with its present is sharply contrasted and interwoven with a love story that spans several decades. Slow – ponderous – at times, Purgatory takes the life of Emilia and what ‘has been’ and weaves in here thoughts of ‘what might have been’ to complete a complicated picture of not only one women, but also her family and government and country, into a political statement and a love story bound together like lines on a map where only Martínez’s knows the key.

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New Release: Have Book, Will Travel

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Today’s new release is a YA book I enjoyed reading called Have Book, Will Travel by KfirLuzzatto and his son Yonatan Luzzatto. Make sure to check out my review as well as the blurb below. This is a quick read great for teens that like adventure stories, with easy language and lots of action.

Authors:           Kfir Luzzatto & Yonatan Luzzatto

Release Date:  June 1, 2012

Publisher:       PINE TEN, LLC

Formats:          Paperback, Kindle, Smashwords

ISBN:                   978-1-938212-08-6 (Print Edition)

Cover Art:      Laura Givens

Back Cover Blurb:

Max fears that his family will disapprove of his friendship with Darla, a common girl from the village outside his uncle’s fortress walls. That’s why they meet secretly to read together from an old book, which she has found in a dusty room near the fortress laundry where she works. Continue reading New Release: Have Book, Will Travel →

Review: Carbon: Session 02 – Forsaken Fates

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Carbon: Session 02 - Forsaken Fates
Carbon: Session 02 – Forsaken Fates by Jason J. Berg
My rating: 3 of 5 stars

Yet Arin never quits moving forward, and though he is under the constant threat of the invader, he never allows a morsel of respite to be taken for himself, or for the enemy.

Arin is changing. Due to the demon blood from the tainted katana and then from Shenmaru, his quest for vengeance takes a turn towards survival – not for himself, but from those he once lived with in the town of Sunnfal. Desperate to get away before killing someone, Arin takes his tortured body into the surrounding forest. Still wanting to rid the world of demons, he slaughters any he find, while the mysterious man, Vail, brings word of Arin’s deeds to the Council.

Continuing where Session 01 left off and containing much of the same qualities of the previous book, Session 02 expands upon the cast of characters. The mysterious man, Vail, has a larger part to play in this story than first hinted at, and Arin meets another interesting creature that he calls Regret. The world continues to expand, the artwork lending visually to the action portrayed. Still, the ending isn’t really an end, but more like a beginning to the bigger plot arch.

Quick and manga-esque, Carbon follows one man’s quest for vengeance that changes into his quest for saving his people from the monsters of the world – including the one he’s becoming.

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Review: Carbon: Session 01 – Alignment

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Carbon: Session 01 - Alignment
Carbon: Session 01 – Alignment by Jason J. Berg
My rating: 3 of 5 stars

And so, it has been this way for the humans dwelling inside the ancient cities of Terra for well over five hundred years.

Arin has one of the most dangerous jobs in the city: collecting wood, stones, and anything else of use from the banks of the Orchid River. Still, he is happy and he makes enough to support his small family. Until, on his son’s 9th birthday, his life changes in ways he never imagined. Now, he’s on a warpath for revenge, battling demons – both inside his head and in his world.

While the world is vividly detailed and the pictures that are interspersed are masterfully done, the characterization fell a little flat. Arin is very single-minded in his quest for revenge, ignoring what could be helpful advice from a stranger to go after the demons that ransack his town. He also doesn’t question the interesting cloak that magically appears – he simply accepts it and moves forward. Also, there wasn’t a satisfying ending, but since this is made to read as a series, it would seem that Session 02 will pick up where this one left off.

Carbon introduces the reader to a world with plenty of untapped depth and tosses Arin into a fast-paced and bloody battle of revenge. The maps and artwork accurately depict the action of the story, adding a level of intimacy to the writing.

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Guest Post: Behind the Words by Bill Talcott

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I just so happened to be talking to my pal, Bill, the other day and he kindly agreed to stop by again. You see, he’d written this post, but thought it would be nice to post it on my blog – and, of course, I said yes! He poses a good question and I’m curious to see what you think about it. Oh, and he’s the author of a really good story – perhaps you’ve seen my review?

Behind the words

Often when I sit down to write I’ll bring my story up on the screen and at first glance it is just pages of words. Hit Ctrl + End and I’m where I left off yesterday. I go back a couple of paragraphs just to be sure I approve of what I wrote the last time I sat down at it. That’s when the images begin to develop.

Behind the words I see the faces and hear the dialog between my characters. I can feel their joy and happiness when things are going right for them. I can also feel the pain of their losses and tragedies. I know their fears and their realities. Realities? Yes, during these moments, it is all that exists.

During conversations, I am there participating in all sides of it. Does that make me crazy? No, don’t answer that. When you think about it though, you are formulating both sides of any argument between characters and you have feelings one way or another about the current topic of that conversation. Okay, I am crazy, or perhaps there are just those of us who can see both sides of the coin. Yeah, that’s it. Continue reading Guest Post: Behind the Words by Bill Talcott →

Review: The Black Orb

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The Black Orb
The Black Orb by Sabine A. Reed
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

Don’t mistake me for a lady, old man, or that might be the last mistake you’ll ever make.

Aria has been searching for her brother for several weeks when she finds out he’s been taken prisoner by the Queen. In her desperation to bring back her only family member, Aria places her trust in Bikkar after he aids in her escape of the guards. They head to the seat of the throne, only to find Aria’s brother has been put under the spell of the Black Orb, leaving him a mindless husk intent on serving the Queen. To rid the world of the Queen’s rule, Aria and Bikkar travel to the end of the kingdom in search of the Dragon Claw, a magical item to break the Black Orb – and her only hope at getting her brother back.

While the world was very detailed, the characters were very simple. Aria only wants her brother back, and repeats this often. There were few minor characters that could have been developed further that would have helped flush out the story, yet Aria was a strong character and Bikkar was a nice compliment to her. The writing was very smooth: the places Aria and Bikkar went seemed to come alive. The ending, while nice and tidy, felt abrupt or forced, the climax too-quickly resolved.

With wonderful descriptions of the surrounding world and enough action to keep the plot moving nicely, The Black Orb is a quick fantasy story that readers can get lost within its pages.

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